Office Talk with Annette Stepanian: Recent Episodes
Annette Stepanian
Listen in on candid conversations with game-changing entrepreneurs and host, Annette Stepanian, as they share insights on how they’re designing a business and life on their terms. Also, Annette answers FAQs about law and your business in her Legal Quickie episodes.
Do you want to use your customer’s testimonials when marketing your products or services, but not sure about the legal implications?
In this Legal Quickie episode, I cover the legal basics of using testimonials in your business - like on your website, in email copy, or paid social media ads.
Before you start flaunting your customer’s glowing reviews, listen to this episode.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
Is email marketing dead?
Absolutely not! But some of the old strategies certainly are.
In this episode, I’m chatting with email marketing strategist, Lesley Clavijo. We get super honest about email list size, why email marketing is still more important than social media, the truth behind lead magnets, and so much more!
You’ll want to check out this episode before you hit “send” on your next email.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
From speaking on-stage to recording videos for social media, to team meetings, public speaking is a vital skill for any entrepreneur - and you too can learn how to become a better speaker!
In this episode, I’m talking with speaking coach and speechwriter, Helena Bowen. We talk about some (very big) misconceptions about learning to become a better public speaker, including the double-edged sword that is your slides, and the #1 skill you need to improve to be a better public speaker.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
If hearing the word “sell” makes you shudder, you’re not alone!
Sales calls and closing sales can be the most difficult part of being a business owner for most of us, but it doesn’t have to be.
In this episode, I’m chatting with long-time wedding planner and wedding business strategist, Lindsey Nickel. Lindsey shares how important contracts are, 4 great tips for standing out in crowded industries, how to overcome your anxiety when asking for the sale, and so much more!
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
Running an event rental business comes with its own unique challenges, especially with managing your inventory!
In this episode, I’m chatting with long-time event rental pro and co-founder of RW Elephant, Allison Howell.
Allison’s insights about inventory management, pricing, and how to stay profitable long-term are fantastic for event rental businesses and other businesses alike.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
Mamas-to-be, this one if for you!
Whether this is your first baby, or you’re adding another member to your family, pregnancy can be different every time.
In this episode, I’m sharing my favorite tips, tricks, and advice from friends, family, and my own experience to help you with your first or next pregnancy (guys, share this with the ladies in your life!)
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
When was the last time you sat down and did a legal audit of your business?
If you’re like most business owners, probably never. Likely, it’s low on your priority list.
However, scheduling an annual review of all the legal aspects of your business is a great practice that can help protect you down the road - especially as your business continues to grow and scale.
In this episode, I share key questions to ask yourself during an annual legal review of your business.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
If you’re a contractor or business owner that does business in California, you may have heard about the new law on how to classify an Independent Contractor that goes into effect on January 1st, 2020.
Confused?
Overwhelmed?
Not sure if the new law applies to you?
Check out this episode, where we chat with employment lawyer and previous Office Talk guest, Jenny Wiegley, about all of the new changes, who they apply to, and what to do next.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
Business horror story alert!
Starting a new project with a new client is always exciting, especially when they’ve already paid you!
But what if the project needs to be canceled?
And worse off, what if the client asks for a refund?
In this episode, I’m sharing a true story of a service provider who came across this exact situation, and unfortunately, because of one small oversight, had to refund nearly $25,000.
It happens more often than I’d like to admit, so that’s why I’m sharing this story and my insights on how to avoid this situation altogether!
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
Have you ever wanted to take an extended break from your business? Maybe go on vacation, or a sabbatical, or even on maternity leave?
Then this episode is for you!
I’m sharing how I’m preparing for my upcoming maternity leave, including key ways I’m ensuring that my business can run without me.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
Is there a legal question that you’ve had knocking around in your mind for a while?
Then this is the episode for you!
We’re doing a round-up of recent legal questions entrepreneurs and business owners have been asking - the answer to YOUR question may be in here too. In particular:
- The answer to, “Should I register the trademark for the logo of my business versus the name of my business? Or only the name of my program or product?”
- The answer to, “What should I do if one of my clients is asking for changes to my default contract, specifically the termination clause?”
- The answer to, “When hosting a group coaching program or a mastermind, do participants need to literally sign on the contract of can they just check a box to acknowledge the terms?”
- The answer to, “Any recommendations on how to work with vendors whose policies prohibit you from sharing examples of your work on social media or for marketing?”
Plus: Check out the new templates we’ve added to YourLegalBFF.com (specifically, the Event Venue Rental Agreement and the Group Coaching and Mastermind Terms of Service, with more to come!)
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
You never want to start out a relationship thinking about how it will end, right?
Well, if you’re talking about your relationship with clients - whether you know it will be a short-term project or not - thinking about the end can save you a lot of stress and frustration!
In this episode, we’re talking about terms and agreements for terminating a contract, no matter what the reason for the termination.
Sometimes, a working relationship has to end, but it doesn’t have to be messy. Check out this episode to learn how.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
Working on a new product, service, or business, but not quite ready to launch yet?
If you’ve picked out a name that you’re super excited to use, but haven’t started using it yet, someone could start using that name before you.
Is there anything you can do to prevent that?
Absolutely!
You can buy yourself some time by filing an Intent to Use Trademark Application.
Sound complicated? It’s simple - check out this episode and learn all about how Intent to Use application can help you secure your favorite name for your new product, service, or business.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
You’ve been wracking your brain to come up with a catchy name for your new business, product, or service … then you finally land on the winner!
Before you rush off to get a logo created, there’s one extra step you need to take, and it’s really important.
In this episode, I’m talking about trademarks and why having a unique and distinctive name is so important - both professionally and legally. Listen to this episode and save yourself lots of wasted brainstorming time (and possible trademark trouble)!
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
If you know me, you know I love a good ol’ burrito. The flour tortilla, the guac, the cheese…. mmmmmm!
Well, believe it or not, building a legally sound business is just like building an epic burrito.
Yup, you read that right...
Hear me out….
For many business owners, focusing on contracts, copyrights, and other legal topics often fall at the bottom of their to-do list.
Because it’s all so overwhelming, right?
In this episode, I’m breaking down the 5 (appetizing and bite-sized) legal ingredients you need to have to build a legally sound business!
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
When the topic of copyrights comes up, there are a lot of questions!
Are a copyright and a trademark the same thing?
Can I copyright an idea?
How can I monetize my copyrighted content?
In this episode, I’ll simplify copyrights using another food analogy and a Harry Potter reference. If you create content (think: written work, visual designs, photographs, digital designs, and more) this episode is for you!
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
A great way to grow your business and your audience is to monetize your existing content through licensing deals with other companies (totally a win-win!).
Is a verbal agreement, maybe an email, enough in these situations?
Absolutely not!
A solid, detailed licensing agreement is what you need to ensure you retain ownership of your designs, while monetizing your work with more than one partner.
In this episode, we cover the basics of licensing and the most important items to understand when it comes to licensing agreements. Whether you’re just starting out with licensing or you’ve been doing it for years, check out this episode to learn more about the essentials of licensing.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
It’s been a hot minute since I’ve brought you a show! In this episode, you’ll get an update on what’s been brewing both on the business and personal side of things. I’m also getting a little personal in this episode by sharing some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned over the last few months as we embarked on our IVF journey. I hope this helps those of you who may be going through a similar experience.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
I’ve said it before, but where the heck did the year go? Are you also standing at the end of this year, wondering what you accomplished? This episode of Office Talk is particularly vulnerable for me because I’m sharing what this less-than-perfect year has brought me. I’m pretty goal-oriented but this year tells a different story. I’m reviewing my year for you and telling you about some of the changes I’ll make in 2019 to feel more at peace with where my business is going. I also share some tricks that I remembered from my past (that I’ve never talked about before) to help me meet my goals in the future. If I set goals, that is!
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer: This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation. If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
If you find yourself frustrated in your business (or in your life), you may not be asking the right questions. In this episode of Office Talk, I’m chatting with John G. Miller, author of QBQ! The Question Behind the Question (among others).
Most of us ask externally-focused questions like, “Why are we going through this shift?” and “Why does this always happen to me?” Really, we should be asking ourselves questions about how we can ask more empowering questions that move us forward and help flip the switch on victim thinking, procrastination and blame.
As John says in our conversation, the QBQ! The Question Behind the Question helps you get on a path of higher personal accountability and responsibility. Instead of waiting for change, you ask what you can do to make that change happen--and you help others in the process. Instead of trying to change others in your life, think instead of what you can do to support the team, partner, child, or be the best you can possibly be.
If you’ve been struggling with moving forward in your business or in your home life, this episode is for you.
Disclaimer: This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation. If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
I met Kristy Rice of Momental Designs at Be Sage Conference in 2017 I found her to be a force of creativity and energy. I’ve been so impressed with how she’s really transformed her creativity into a successful business. Kristy has a unique business because she took her own unique art skills and turned it into a scalable business with multiple revenue streams. She takes us behind the scenes of her business, sharing what her team looks like and how she created her own Silver Platter Moment. If you’re a creative who has reached her limit of time you can spend creating and developing, this episode is for you. If you’re in the wedding industry, we also talk about the changing climate and how you can stay relevant and top-of-mind. Listen in to our conversation now!
Disclaimer: This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation. If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
Launching a group program is a great way to move from a 1-to-1 business model to 1-to-many. In fact, online courses have become a $300 billion industry. It’s huge, and I’m seeing more and more business owners creating courses and other group programs--and just killing it. If making this shift or leap is one of your goals, I encourage you to make it happen. But before you start signing people up for your mastermind, group coaching or course, you have to make sure your ducks are in a row. You have contracts for your 1-to-1 work; it’s just as important (if not more so) to have a contract for your group program. In this episode, I’m sharing the three things you must include in your program’s terms of service and what to consider for each one. Because the terms of service you have on your website just aren’t enough to protect you should something not go as planned with your course. Listen in now, and if you need terms of service for your course or online program, head to my shop to get yours.
Disclaimer: This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation. If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
If you’re like most business owners, you’re looking for ways to grow in the new year. I don’t blame you! It takes planning and thoughtfulness if you want to grow in the right ways. In this episode, I asked 10 business owners this question: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give someone looking to elevate their businesses in the new year? As a result, I got 10 different answers-- all of which I think are pure gold. Take a listen and pull out the ideas that work for you and your business. And then head over to Instagram and let me know which ideas you loved. Be sure to tag the entrepreneurs whose advice most resonated with you!
Disclaimer: This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation. If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
Systems are a hot topic this time of year, as people look at their goals and wonder how in the heck they’re ever going to meet them. In this episode, I welcomed Chelsea Foster to the podcast to tell you that it is, in fact, possible. But first, you need to pull yourself out of the day-in, day-out mundane to figure out how to streamline, automate and delegate in your business. Chelsea dives into how to audit what you’re doing now to help you finish off the year on a high note (so you’re feeling less stressed and more mission-driven next year). This episode really piggybacks on last week’s pep talk episode in sharing how to make sure you have the systems in place to meet those goals you have. Listen in to my conversation with Chelsea, then share your biggest takeaway with me on Instagram.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer: This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation. If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year...Back to school time! But it’s also a busy time because I think we have our heads in 2019 already. We start thinking about what’s coming up next year and how the heck we’re going to meet our year-end goals to finish off this year right. If you’re trying to negotiate your goals because you don’t want to do the work or you feel like your goals aren’t reachable, I want you to shift your mindset. There are three big (but simple) things I do to help reach my goals--little tweaks on some of the popular methods. In this episode, I’m breaking down how I set myself up for success during this busy season of the year. And I’m even sharing a rather unusual makeup that I have to my business’s board of directors. Some big names may or may not have a big role in my success, unbeknownst to them! Listento this episode, then hop over to Instagram and share with me what strategies work for you!
Disclaimer: This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation. If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
Keeping your finger on the pulse of what’s happening in your industry is so important if you want to serve your audience well. Personally, because I work with a lot of wedding and events industry professionals, I’m always trying to keep up with what’s going on so I can better understand and serve my clients.
In this episode, I’m diving into this year's Wedding Wire report which provides a snapshot of the current state of the wedding industry. I’m highlighting some really interesting statistics and what they might mean to you and your business if you’re also an events industry professional.
The more you know about trends and challenges in your industry, the better you will understand and serve your clients. If you’re a wedding planner or serve a role for couples getting married, take a listen and think about how the numbers I’m talking about can help you to run your business better. Then head to my Facebook page and let me me know your biggest takeaway from the episode so we can chat about it!
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
Who doesn’t want more profit in their business? (I see you over there raising your hand).
We’ve all heard the saying, “You have to spend money to make money.” No matter what industry you’re in, it’s pretty darn true. You need to be willing to invest in your business if you want your business to grow.
It’s not always easy, or comfortable. But luckily it doesn’t always have to be expensive. In fact, there are a lot of investments you can make for your business that don’t cost any money at all.
In this episode, I’m talking about three of the best investments you can make in your business if you want to grow, attract new audiences to you and be more profitable. Nothing super complicated, but still oh--so important! Listen up, and then let me know what investment you’re ready to make next!
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
What isn’t working in your wedding planning business? Sometimes you’re too close and emotionally attached to it to know exactly where you should make changes. But something might just feel “off” to you. One thing that trips up most newer business owners, no matter the industry, is that they treat their business like a passion project or hobby.
If you got into business because you have a passion for the process or your clients, you may be overlooking some of the common mistakes you’re making. Don’t learn the hard lessons the hard way. I don’t want you to have unhappy clients or legal issues on your plate. Insead, take a listen to this episode and course-correct now.
As a side note: These mistakes aren’t exclusive to wedding planners; I’ve seen them made in all different industries. So just because you’re not a wedding planner or in the wedding industry, don’t discount this episode. You could very well be making these mistakes in your own business too!
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
Where did the summer go? (Where did the year go!?) If you’ve been pushing, pushing, pushing to meet those year-end goals, you might be feeling burned out right now. Things start to get messy when you’re constantly in hustle mode and that’s not good for you, your business, your clients or your life.
If you know me at all, you know how important tidiness is to me--both in my business and at home. I did an episode (ep.72) about spring cleaning your business, but the idea has stuck with me. I’ve been feeling a little spread too thin recently, as my business has grown, and I really started feeling like something needed to change.
I think it’s important to be more intentional about what you’re doing in your business, day to day. Even if you’re not feeling burned out, it might be time to recharge. I recently did just that and it’s made a huge difference in my productivity and my business.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE * How growing a business is a lot like growing a giant pumpkin (really!) * How to ask yourself the right questions to get the weeds out of your business * Little things you can do today to help you feel more alive in your business and in life * Why taking a step back can help you realign your business to why you started it in the first place * The difference between a result and a to-do in your business * How to determine what you can let go of in your business
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
If you’ve ever thought of turning your passion into your full-time job, then you’re going to love this episode with Maghon Taylor! Maghon is the “she” behind All She Wrote Notes - the business she’s built around teaching her hand-lettering skills to other aspiring artists. As you’ll hear, Maghon launched her business on her iPhone one night after work! Since then she’s grown her business to include fun products, as well as in-person (and soon to-be online) hand-lettering classes.
If you’ve ever wanted to take your skills and your personality and turn them into a business that you love, then you’ll want to catch this episode!
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Have you ever wanted to get paid to be creative? In this episode of the Office Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Bonnie Christine Forkner - an artist, a fabric designer and a teacher who has made a living creating her art and she’s sharing her story of how she got there with you!
You’ll hear Bonnie’s evolution about how she went from working in her mom’s fabric shop to making an amazing living licensing her products, teaching her secrets, and building a beautiful community of other designers who are interested in surface pattern design.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
In this episode, I’m shaking things up a bit and have not just one, but two guests! Leah Weinberg, the founder of Color Pop Events is an event and wedding planner based in New York City and Debbie Orwat is a former planner and venue owner, and currently runs Planner’s Lounge - an online resource for wedding and event planners.
I asked them on to show to take a walk down memory lane with me about how they each got started and what obstacles they faced in doing so. As you’ll hear, both ladies have a wealth of knowledge to share.
Even if wedding and event planning isn’t your niche, don’t dismiss this episode. You just might find a little nugget here that you can apply to your own business and industry!
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
In this episode I’m talking to one of my favorite people that I have come across since starting my business, Alisha Johns of Lish Creative. If you’ve ever checked out my website or the cover art for this podcast, most of those pictures have been taken by Alisha.
Lish Creative is a content agency for vibrant beauty and lifestyle brands, and since founding the company, Alisha has worked with some amazing brands including Benefit Cosmetics, Delta, Dunkin’ Donuts, and many more
If you’re a photographer and looking for advice on getting your business to the next level, or if you’re a business owner wanting to develop a vibrant and consistent brand identity, then you’ll enjoy this episode.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
In this real girl-to-girl conversation, I’m speaking with Jill Stanton, one-half of the Screw The 9 to 5 community - which helps new and existing entrepreneurs solve problems related to life and business through actionable insights and simple “how to’s.”
Jill is sharing what it’s taken them to get their business to where it is today and how she sees the online marketing space shifting. She reveals what it’s been like being a new mother and how it has affected their life and business. I think you’re really going to appreciate how honest and forthcoming Jill is in this episode. So, grab yourself a coffee, sit back, and enjoy this episode.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
You may have been hearing the term “GDPR” a lot over the past few months and wondering what exactly is this talk all about? In this episode, my goal is to break down GDPR - to give you some basic background context to what this law is all about, why it’s important to understand, and what it means for your small business.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
In this episode, I’m joined by Lindsay Lucas of Lean on Me Consultants for a bit of a niche topic, but it’s a trend I’m seeing in the events industry - starting and operating a venue business.
Lindsay consults with folks to help build strong foundation for their venue businesses and teaches them how to run their businesses efficiently, profitably and most importantly, sustainably. She’s sharing some of that insight with us in this episode.
Even if opening an event venue is not a part of your future business plans, still give this episode a listen - there are helpful tips and valuable nuggets to benefit you!
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
In this week’s episode, I’m talking about two of my favorite things: spring cleaning and your business. As we approach the spring season, that usually brings on an urge to do some spring cleaning around the house. But we can take that same approach and spring clean our business too! I’m sharing the three questions that you can ask yourself to free up space in your life and business in order to invite the magic to happen.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
Do you have the next blockbuster idea?
Are you itching to get your products in front of the likes of Mr. Wonderful and Mark Cuban on Shark Tank?
Well, I can’t tell you how to get on the show, but I can tell you that if you have a product, invention, method, or something that you think is a pretty unique idea and you pitch it to the sharks - they almost always ask if the contestant has applied for a patent.
The topic of patents can be super confusing so in this episode I’m chatting all about it with patent attorney, Karima Gulick.
After listening you’ll have a much clearer idea about what patents are, who needs to be considering them, what the patent filing process looks like and much more.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
In this week’s episode, we’re shaking things up a little bit! It’s a new flavor of episodes that I’m bringing you and it’s with my friend and fellow podcast host, Kinsey Roberts.
If you don’t know Kinsey, she’s the wonderfully charming host of She Creates Business, A Podcast for Wedding Pros. Over the last few years, we’ve developed a friendship and the last time we chatted we realized that we needed to share our conversations with you. We suspect that so many of you can relate to some of the struggles and revelations that both she and I have experienced during our time as business owners.
About once a month you can expect to hear these talks, which we’re calling Chit Chat with Annette and Kinsey. It’s totally casual and super chill – just two girlfriends chatting about business, life and everything in between.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
If you’ve been listening to the podcast over the last few weeks, you’ll have noticed that I’ve been answering the most common questions I get from professionals in a number of different industries. In this week’s episode, I’m sharing your FAQs from photographers.
Regardless of what industry you’re in, don’t skip over these episodes. They all include legal nuggets that you might find helpful with your business.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
In this week’s episode, we’re diving into the most common questions I get from designers. So if you’re a graphic designer, a web designer, a print designer -- you’re going to want to have a listen. And if you’re not, listen up anyway! There might be a nugget in there for you!
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
I’m really excited about today’s Office Talk interview because we’re diving into a topic that I get so many questions about! I’m joined by fellow lawyer, Jenny Wiegley as we walk through what you need to do when you’re ready to hire your very first employee.
Based here in California, Jenny has specialized in employment law for her entire career, and in this episode, she’s sharing her checklist of what you need to know when you’re ready to hire.
As you’ll hear us mention many times in the interview, the laws around employment issues can be confusing and sometimes it can feel like you’re navigating a maze, but it really doesn’t have to be that way.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
To kick off the new year, in this brand new episode I’m sharing what’s coming your way in 2018 with this podcast, webinars, and events.
I’m also sharing my thoughts on how to handle when a potential client comes to you requesting changes to your contract.
I’m super pumped about this new year and I can’t wait to make this our best year yet - together!
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
On today's episode I'm speaking with Katie Doherty and Phil Van Nostrand of La Rousse Shoppe, a company that sells beautiful glass photo boxes. You're going to hear how the two of them took their background as long-time photographers to develop a business that, in about two years, is generating over $200,000 in sales annually. All this while taking up very little of their time. In fact, you'll be surprised to hear how many hours a week each of them are actively working on this business....
Whether or not you strive for similar results, our conversation will provide some valuable nuggets and insight on how to start designing a business and life on your terms.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
You may have heard that Google is making changes (in fact, they’re making changes all the time), but there are some big ones coming to their algorithm as it relates to searchability and search results.
As we head into the new year, I want to make sure that you have all of the information and the best tips on how to stay ahead of these changes. Cause who doesn’t love some free website traffic?
In this week’s episode I’m talking to digital strategist and SEO expert Myrna Daramy, all about the ABCs of SEO.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
If you’ve ever thought to yourself: “I have so much to do and not enough time to do it,” then I think you’re really going to love this episode of the Office Talk podcast!
Tonya Dalton, the owner of Inkwell Press and I are geeking out over how we can better structure our days, our to-do lists, and our lives so that we reduce the overwhelm and up the joy in our lives. And spoiler alert - it doesn’t involve a to-do list!
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
If you’ve ever thought about attending a live event or conference, it can get quite overwhelming trying to decide amongst the many events taking place.
And given the costs involved for things like tickets, flights and hotels - not to mention the time away from work and family - it can be quite a financial investment. So how can you ensure that you’re getting the best return on your hard-earned dollars when deciding which conference to attend?
In this episode, Michelle Loretta, the organizer of the Be Sage conference, and I are sharing our best tips on how you can go about deciding which conference to spend your hard earned dollars on. We’re talking about how to do your research, what you should be doing before, during and after the event, and even some savvy tricks on how you can start budgeting to attend that conference you’ve been eyeing.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
As a business owner, we often spend a lot of time thinking about how to brand our businesses.
We think through the details of our website,
We fuss over our logos,
We take a million pictures before we get that perfect Instagram shot…
Yet one piece of brand collateral that often doesn’t get thought of that way - are your contracts.
(Yes, I said contracts.)
You see, beyond just having the right terms and conditions, there’s another element at play with your contract. One that can help you reach and book bigger and better clients.
And I’m sharing it in this episode of the Office Talk podcast.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
It's been said that we all have a story, but do you know how to tell yours?
How could effectively telling your own story help you better connect with your audience? Your clients? Your customers?
Someone who knows all about the value of storytelling when building a brand and business is Brady Hahn, founder of Insight Collective and my guest for this week’s episode of the Office Talk podcast. She helps entrepreneurs tap into their true leadership potential by focusing on bringing people together through storytelling.
This episode is jammed packed with information that you can use today in building your brand, including the specific steps to take when starting to think about how to present your own story.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
When you get an inquiry from a potential client, you probably send over a proposal or quote that outlines the basic terms of your services, but when the customer accepts and wants to proceed, then what do you do?
Are they supposed to sign the proposal?
A separate contract?
Or should the contract terms be part of the proposal?
In this episode, I’m sharing three different solutions for this often-asked question: Should my client proposals be separate from my client contracts?
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer: This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation. If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
There's a saying that goes something like: If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together...
As an entrepreneur growing your business, there will inevitably come a time when you're going to need a little help. It can be tricky though as you try to decide what type of help to hire out.
In this episode of the Office Talk podcast, I’m talking to Katie Hunt, the founder of Tradeshow Bootcamp and the host of the Proof to Product podcast. Katie helps entrepreneurs create product lines that they can take to wholesale and she has a wealth of experience when it comes to topics such as hiring and delegating tasks. Not only is she a successful entrepreneur, but she does it while being a mama to four young kids! Yes - you read that correctly!
In this episode you’ll hear some great tips on how to start getting the support you need to help you design a business and life on your terms!
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE * A common misconception many entrepreneurs make about hiring, and how you can change your mindset to minimize the resulting overwhelm * Two specific questions you can ask today to determine if (and where) you need help in your business and personal life * How to answer the “I can’t afford to outsource” question – and the easy exercise you can do to figure out if you can. * Best practices and tips to learn the art of managing people (yes, it’s an art!) * Why hiring an expert to help your business is often the better option over hiring generalists * The very first place you should go when starting to look for someone to hire…
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
The last few weeks it seems like everyone is coming out of the woodworks asking me about copyrights + trademarks. And one thing is super clear to me - there’s a whole LAWta’ {<--- see what I did there? Law. Lot. A lot of.} confusion about the difference between the two.
So in this episode I’m breaking down copyrights and trademarks, explaining the difference between the two and the benefits of officially registering your works/marks.
Armed with this knowledge - you’ll impress all of your friends at your next cocktail party!
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
If you’re an entrepreneur, there’s a lot to know when it comes to everything you need to do to run a successful business.
Lucky for you, our guest today has spent the last three decades figuring out how to build successful businesses, but more importantly, a business based on the values that are most important to you.
Mel Abraham helps entrepreneurs bring their businesses to the world and build the lifestyle that they want. He has built, bought and sold numerous multimillion-dollar businesses for himself as well as his clients. As the author of the #1 National Bestseller, The Entrepreneur’s Solution, Mel’s strategies have helped build thousands of businesses which have generated hundreds of millions of dollars for his clients, ranging from large corporations to startups and small family-owned businesses.
In this episode, Mel opens up about his journey in business and life (the good, the bad-- and why he once did a webinar with his shirt off!) and how the choices we make in our businesses impact our lives.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY TO THE OFFICE TALK PODCAST!
This podcast has been a passion project for me and I'm beyond thrilled that we've made it a full year together. I've got some exciting things planned for the podcast in the next year that I think you’re going to love.
In this new episode, I thought it would be fun to take a look back on some of the lessons I’ve learned this past year about myself and my business. Some were inspired by conversations I’ve had with guests on this show, and others I’ve learned along the way. In fact this season, I’m going to be sharing more of these insights on the podcast.
So here we go.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
When I first started the podcast, one of the reasons I wanted to interview others in business was to learn how they were designing a business and life on their terms. After all, it was only a few years ago that I took the leap to leave a cushy and secure job to begin journey of redesigning my own life in a way that worked for me.
In this episode of Office Talk, I’m talking to Heather Crabtree, founder of the Savvy Community about her own journey from law, to running her own event planning business, to what she does today - helping other female entrepreneurs build successful businesses.
In this honest conversation, Heather reveals what her journey has really been like. Hint - it’s not always what it looks like from the outside.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE * How Heather went from law, to running an event planning business, to the founder of the Savvy Business Owners’ Community where she teaches female entrepreneurs how to run a successful business * How the loss of a family member has shaped her perspective about life and business * How she’s been designing her business to make sure it fits with her life, not the otherway around * If you think she’s an overnight success, well here’s the real story * The “‘old fashion values” that are still working in business * Things to consider when transitioning from a solopreneur to building your team * Why she started the Savvy Business Owners Facebook Group and what she attributes to the success of growing the group * What’s next for the Savvy Business Owners’ community
Full show notes available at www.annettestepanian.com/podcast/21
Are you gearing up to launch a new product or service? Anne Samoilov, creator of Fearless Launching, shared so many amazing tips for a successful (and yet simple!) launch in this episode of Office Talk.
In fact, even if you have no plans to launch anything right now, you still have to give this interview a listen. Anne’s tips are spot-on for any business owner to improve their ability to make decisions, plan, and execute effectively—in any area of their business, not just when it comes to launch time. It’s like we’re always launching, if you think about it. Every one of us has something we’re looking to get out into the world. Anne talks about how you can begin thinking with a launch mentality, not just for a successful launch, but also for a successful business.
The best part? Anne likes to keep things simple, so all of her tips are attainable and will save you so much time—and maybe even your sanity!
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
In this episode of Office Talk, I got a chance to chat with Shanna Skidmore, a business strategist and financial coach for creative entrepreneurs. I could definitely relate to Shanna, whose primary business goal is to simplify the seemingly daunting task of finance for her clients and set them up with the basic financial knowledge they need to take their businesses to the next level. For most creatives, finance and law can appear so overwhelming, but as Shanna shares with us, there are very few things you need to know, and once you know them, you’ll find it’s really not as complicated as you’d imagine.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE * The most common pitfalls that Shanna sees creative entrepreneurs making and how to avoid them * How to calculate pricing based on profit and what to do if your prices are higher than you think clients are willing to pay * How time-tracking saved Shanna’s business, plus her favorite app for time-tracking * Why knowing the purpose of your business is essential to its success * Why Shanna recommends sabbaticals for creative entrepreneurs and why it’s so much easier than you think * A bit about Shanna’s background as a financial planner and how she grew into her current business of helping creative entrepreneurs master finance
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/podcast/25
One of the first investments you need to make when you’re running a business is a solid set of contracts. But which ones do you need and why? In this episode, I’m sharing with you the four essential contracts that business owners should have when running a business. I’ll explain what they are and why they matter. Do you have all of them?
Listen to the episode to find out if you’ve got your booty covered!
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/podcast/26
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
Do you constantly daydream of new business ideas? You want to start a million projects, but you have a hard enough time getting to all those tasks already staring back at you on your to-list?
If anyone can give us insight on juggling multiple projects, it’s Eliana Baucicault of ellyB Events. In this episode of the Office Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Eliana about how she uses collaboration, delegation and the knowledge of her strengths and shortcomings to grow her business and her team. Eliana not only runs a busy event planning firm, but she also has a high-end modern loft and she hosts The B Academy group coaching program for wedding planners. As if this wasn’t enough, Eliana recently published B Inspired: The Book and in a few months will be launching a magazine as well. Phew! Now that’s a lot.
This episode is perfect for you if you want to learn how to create multiple revenue streams in your business and how to manage to get it all done too!
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
If you operate a business with any types of programs, products, courses and other offerings, you may have considered running some sort of affiliate program to recruit others to help share the news. But before you starting recruiting affiliates, there are a few things to consider before paying referrals to affiliates in exchange for sales those people bring you. In this episode of the Office Talk podcast, I’ll walk you through a few of the best practices to consider when implementing an affiliate program for your business.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
If you’re a blogger, or content creator in the online space, at some point you’ve probably thought about how to monetize your content. You might be thinking of getting sponsors or finding advertisers to get those Benjamins rolling in while while you focus on creating epic blog posts and content.
Or maybe you’ve wondered:
“Should I focus on building a large following?”
“Or forget the numbers and make reader engagement my number one priority?”
“When is the right time to approach a sponsor?”
In this episode, my guest is going to help us answer some of these questions! Bruno Bornsztein is the founder of Curbly, a website he created to explore the creative side of home decor and foster a community of people who love where they live. Bruno started Curbly back in 2006, so he’s seen it all when it comes to online trends and specifically, where the world of sponsorship is headed.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
On this episode of Office Talk, I’m answering a question I receive quite a lot when I speak to event and wedding planners.
You see, since event planners are often busy executing and designing the event, there isn’t something tangible left for them to include in their portfolio. That’s why they rely on photographs to help showcase their work and promote their business and services to others.
So the question becomes….
Is there a way for wedding and event planners to legally require clients to contractually agree to provide them with access to professional images after the wedding? If so, how do they go about asking for permission?
I’m sharing the answer in this week’s Legal Quickie episode!
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
Do you have total website shame?
Do you feel like your website or your brand is missing a little somethin’ somethin’?
Don’t worry, you’re not alone and today’s Office Talk podcast guest, - Irene Hardy, the owner and creative director of Magnoliahouse Creative - is sharing some of her designer secrets to help you uplevel your brand.
In this episode, she reveals the crucial things that you need to think about when developing your brand identity. Developing a brand is more than just picking a logo. Ultimately, it’s how you make people feel.
I also asked Irene to put my website to the test and perform a live brand audit of my website. (Yikes!) Tune in and learn from my mistakes as she points out areas where I’m doing things right and where I can improve.
Brands aren’t reserved for just large corporate companies. Even if you’re a solopreneur or a small shop, you’ve got a brand. So listen in on this episode to learn Irene’s best tips for how to create a brand that lasts.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
When you get a glowing review from a customer, don’t you just want to shout it from the rooftops? Of course you do! As a business owner, you may want to use such reviews and testimonials to help promote and market your products and services.
It’s no wonder that you’d want to use these testimonials in your marketing. According to one survey:
“[Online customer] reviews are very impactful. The vast majority of participants who have seen reviews claimed that that information did impact their buying decisions. This was true of both positive reviews (90%) as well as negative reviews (86%).”
Well - surprise, surprise - there are rules about the right way to use testimonials in your marketing. And in this episode of Office Talk, I’m breaking down what you need to know before you do!
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
As you’ve and heard (or know from experience!) getting healthy and in shape can be a tough thing to do. How can someone go about doing this while juggling family, a full-time job and launching an online business at the same time?
Our guest in this episode of the Office Talk podcast, knows all about the struggles that a working mother can face when it comes to balancing life, business, and her health. Nagina Abdullah joins us to share her own journey in a demanding role as a marketing consulting, which required frequent travel, and how she leveraged her own weightloss journey into an online business - MasalaBody.com. She’s now developed her brand to a point where she is able to impact the lives of hundreds of women by launching her signature training, Spice Yourself Skinny multiple times a year.
Nagina not only reveals how you can lose pounds and feel great while enjoying the process, but shares helpful tips about building a brand (as quickly as possible) so that you have an audience that’s ready to purchase your various offers. She also discusses the importance of investing in yourself, learning from your “failures” and focusing on the quality of your email list and getting the right people there.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Are you a blogger who receives free products or payment in exchange to share a review about that product on let’s say your Instagram account or your blog?
Or maybe you’re an online business owner and you participate in affiliate programs where you promote another company’s products and in exchange you receive a commission for each sale that you refer.
If you’re getting paid to create content promoting another company’s products or services, then today’s Office Talk podcast episode is for you. In it, I’m sharing four things the FTC wants you to know before you endorse another company’s product or service.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE * Who needs to make disclosures and why * When to make disclosures * What your disclosures should say * How to make effective disclosures when you’re using social media, your website or video to endorse a company’s products or services * And more…
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
Want to get people talking about your business? Have you considered PR as part of your business strategy?
If you’re anything like me, trying to get some good PR can sound a bit overwhelming. We’re so busy doing #allthethings that we really can’t handle pitching our story to media outlets on top of all the marketing we’re already doing to grow our audience. And even if we could find the time, who even knows where to start?
Meghan Ely does, thankfully. Meghan, owner of OFD Consulting, very generously shared her PR expertise with us in this episode of Office Talk. Meghan explains how PR can not only get you in front of the target audience, but provide you with valuable third party credibility as an expert in your field. No matter where you are in your business (and budget!), Meghan’s tips will show you how to get PR opportunities and how to make the most out of them to grow your audience and your business.
When was the last time you took a red pen to your contracts to spot formatting mistakes? Ummmmm….. probably never. Well, believe it or not, minor errors in formatting can make a BIG impact on the way your contracts are interpreted. In this Legal Quickie episode, I’m sharing three common formatting mistakes you’re probably making with your contracts. The good news is they are super easy to fix.
So grab a copy of your contract (or if you don’t have one, check out the templates offered on the website), get your red pen, and have a listen to this episode.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
With all the different things we have to think of and the tasks we have to juggle as entrepreneurs, it’s easy to classify copy as “less important” or “low priority.” Why are the words you use on your website, in your emails, and on your social media so important to your business?
In this episode of the Office Talk podcast, copywriter Sarah Grear shares explains how your copy can translate to actual sales and affect your bottom line. If that doesn’t catch your interest, I don’t know what will! Sarah shares her top tips on how to tell your unique story in a way that builds your brand and engages your target audience in order to amplify your sales. Plus, she had some really great resources that I never knew existed. If you’re struggling with writing your own copy or looking to hire a copywriter for your business, you’ll definitely want to listen to this podcast before you get started.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
Are you gearing up to launch a new product or service? Anne Samoilov, creator of Fearless Launching, shared so many amazing tips for a successful (and yet simple!) launch in this episode of Office Talk.
In fact, even if you have no plans to launch anything right now, you still have to give this interview a listen. Anne’s tips are spot-on for any business owner to improve their ability to make decisions, plan, and execute effectively—in any area of their business, not just when it comes to launch time. It’s like we’re always launching, if you think about it. Every one of us has something we’re looking to get out into the world. Anne talks about how you can begin thinking with a launch mentality, not just for a successful launch, but also for a successful business.
The best part? Anne likes to keep things simple, so all of her tips are attainable and will save you so much time—and maybe even your sanity!
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
I was curious to know what you guys are struggling with in your business.
So I recently got on the phone (yeah - the actual phone… remember that?) and spoke to dozens of folks to find out the answer to this question. In this week’s podcast episode, I’m having a heart-to-heart with you and sharing some of my observations from those conversations including the three things that are holding us back in business.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
There’s an old story about the iconic artist Pablo Picasso that goes something like this… Picasso was sitting in a Paris café when an admirer approached and asked if he would do a quick sketch on a paper napkin. Picasso politely agreed, swiftly executed the work, and handed back the napkin — but not before asking for a rather significant amount of money. The admirer was shocked: “How can you ask for so much? It took you a minute to draw this!” “No”, Picasso replied, “It took me 40 years” This struck such a chord with me because I meet a lot of entrepreneurs (me included) who have trouble valuing their work and time. How about you? Do you experience this in your business? Do you wonder if you’re asking for too much—or not enough—when it comes to pricing?
Do you have a financial plan for your business, or are you getting caught up in the day-to-day of serving your clients or customers, to find out that all that effort is paying you peanuts?
In this episode, Kristin Kaplan explains why pricing and planning are two of the most important factors in running a profitable business.
With pricing, it can be a bit tricky to quantify the value of your time, and it’s so common for entrepreneurs to wonder if they’re overcharging or undercharging. Kristin shares some tips to take the guesswork out of it and make sure you’re getting the full value of the work you provide. She also gives some stellar advice on how to increase your profits through business planning. So basically, listening to this episode will help you make you money! {wink}
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
I’ve heard it all.
Lawyers are intimidating.
They’re so unrelatable.
They don’t understand me or my business.
And they’re so darn expensive.
These are the common complaints I hear from folks about working with a lawyer. And let’s not forget all the bad lawyer jokes too….
Well, I’m spilling the beans. In this episode, I’m sharing what you need to know before you hire a lawyer - things like fee structures, costs, questions you need to ask - as well as breaking down the law into the five topic areas you need to be thinking about as you start and grow your business.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
Have you started to build an email list for your business?
We all know email lists are important—but once you have one in the works, what do you actually do with it? How can you leverage the subscribers you have through opt-ins or lead magnets and convert them into actual business?
Enter Lauren Pawell, founder of Bixa Media. In this Office Talk episode, Lauren discusses how email marketing can quickly become your highest-netting channel, even more so than social media. Lauren shares some simple tips you can apply at any point in your business to boost your list and translate those leads into clients.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/podcast/33
Do your eyes glaze over when you read about insurance policies?
Of course they do! I haven’t met anyone for whom that’s not the case. Even Nikki Luby, who works in commercial insurance at Excelsure, admits that insurance isn’t the most interesting of subjects. It’s more a necessary evil. In this legal quickie episode, Nikki breaks down the basics of insurance and what you really need to help you cover your booty—without putting you to sleep with all the insurance jargon!
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE * The two main insurances that every business needs * What kind of insurance you need if you work from home * How to save money on insurance policies * What to look for in choosing an insurance provider * How to determine the insurance limit you need to protect yourself
Catch the full show note at www.annettestepanian.com/podcast/23
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
What if I told you that you could get more potential clients and customers coming to your website to check out your services and products...with minimal effort?
You’d be all ears, right?
Well, here’s one way: Use Pinterest effectively.
After hearing repeatedly that her clients and customers had found her on Pinterest even though she was spending way more time on Instagram, Elle Drouin, creator of Wonderfelle Media, realized the value of Pinterest and became very strategic about how to leverage the platform to grow her business. In this episode of the Office Talk podcast, Elle shares her best Pinterest tips to drive traffic and gain quality leads that translate into real business.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE * How to get noticed on Pinterest and gain followers * All the essential elements of a pinnable pin and how to draw in leads with your Pinterest graphics * Elle’s favorite tools for scheduling and managing her Pinterest account and why * How to use group boards to build a community strategically on Pinterest * What the advantages of Pinterest are in comparison to Instagram or other social media platforms * What to track—and how often—to be able to tell if your efforts are working
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/podcast/31
Ever wonder if privacy policies, terms of service, or trademarks really matter?
Does the FTC really care about small businesses just starting out?
With cyber law constantly changing and trying to catch up to advances in technology, it can be really intimidating to make sure you’re complying, especially for new business owners.
In this Legal (Not-So) Quickie episode with Ryan Morrison, deemed “The Video Game Attorney,” we’re helping you sift through what is really important to protect our business right from the start.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE * What to do when you’re strapped for cash and can’t afford legal advice or a trademark * The biggest mistake social media influencers make when working with companies * Are privacy policies and terms of service really necessary? * At what point should you consider filing for a trademark? * What to do when you own a domain and someone begins using your brand name under a similar domain * What an office action is and what should you do about it
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/podcast/30
I was so glad to reconnect with an old friend for this episode of Office Talk, Yvette Bowlin, also known as the Declutterist®. Yvette exudes such a calm and focused energy that I think as entrepreneurs we’re all struggling to find. We’re often so busy doing, or we’re overanalyzing and in our heads. Yvette shares how her trip backpacking through Brazil in college taught her the importance of not only decluttering her possessions, but also her thoughts. Upon returning, she was inspired to maintain that life of simplicity and to help others find it as well. She began her business as the Declutterist®, guiding clients on their path towards clarity, freedom, and fulfillment in their personal and professional lives.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/podcast/29
Are you a social media influencer?
A YouTube rockstar?
Are you making waves on Instagram?
Do you want to turn that digital content you’re creating into profits?
Then you’ll want to listen to this episode with Ellie Altshuler, an entertainment and fashion attorney. In this Legal (not-so) Quickie episode, Ellie and I talk about our best tips for legally protecting your brand.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/podcast/28
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
One of the biggest challenges I’ve heard from some of you is finding clients and closing sales. When I have a question about sales, my mind goes directly to Maria Bayer - a sales coach for creatives. So I invited her on the show to pick her sales brain for this episode of the Office Talk podcast. Drawing from her sales experience in Corporate America, Maria now coaches creatives on how to book clients quickly and for more money. And she’s sharing some of her top tips with us in this episode.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE * The flaw in the traditional “ideal client” exercise and how to attract the “right client” instead * How to determine when to change your contract at your client’s request and when to hold your ground * The questions to ask your potential clients to reveal what matters most to them and how to use that information to sell more purposefully * Why you should avoid email when closing a sale and what to do instead * How to get your client to see your value and gain trust * Who should be included in the conversation when booking a client * The power of saying “no” to clients * Ways you can gain insight into your clients’ needs
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/podcast/27
One of the first investments you need to make when you’re running a business is a solid set of contracts. But which ones do you need and why? In this episode, I’m sharing with you the four essential contracts that business owners should have when running a business. I’ll explain what they are and why they matter. Do you have all of them?
Listen to the episode to find out if you’ve got your booty covered!
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/podcast/26
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
In this episode of Office Talk, I got a chance to chat with Shanna Skidmore, a business strategist and financial coach for creative entrepreneurs. I could definitely relate to Shanna, whose primary business goal is to simplify the seemingly daunting task of finance for her clients and set them up with the basic financial knowledge they need to take their businesses to the next level. For most creatives, finance and law can appear so overwhelming, but as Shanna shares with us, there are very few things you need to know, and once you know them, you’ll find it’s really not as complicated as you’d imagine.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE * The most common pitfalls that Shanna sees creative entrepreneurs making and how to avoid them * How to calculate pricing based on profit and what to do if your prices are higher than you think clients are willing to pay * How time-tracking saved Shanna’s business, plus her favorite app for time-tracking * Why knowing the purpose of your business is essential to its success * Why Shanna recommends sabbaticals for creative entrepreneurs and why it’s so much easier than you think * A bit about Shanna’s background as a financial planner and how she grew into her current business of helping creative entrepreneurs master finance
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/podcast/25
Do you have an online course? Or do you have one brewing in that beautiful brain of yours? As online course creation has become more popular over the years, I’ve been getting more and more questions from clients about what they need to be doing to protect their course content and your business. (Yup - even having an online course has legal implications.) In this Legal quickie episode, I’m breaking down some of the legal stuff you ought to be thinking about before you hit “publish”on your online course.
Find complete show notes at: www.annettestepnian.com/podcast/24.
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
Wish you could pick the brain of a marketing magician who’s worn every hat imaginable? Amber Housley has so much wisdom to share with us from her vast experience - from her days selling personalized invitations on eBay (before Etsy was born) to a full-time career at a digital agency. She juggles family life with two kids and her current business as a marketing strategist for Lara Casey Media without missing a beat. Amber has seemingly seen and done it all, and she shares what she’s learned along the way in today’s podcast!
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE:
- All about Amber’s experience and her business helping women entrepreneurs and bloggers develop stellar marketing plans
- How to stand out in the thousands of marketing messages consumers face on a daily basis
- When to flex your style and when it’s better to stay in your comfort zone How to structure surveys and when to automate those surveys
- How to analyze data efficiently (even if you’re not a data geek like Amber!)
- How Amber stays motivated and grounded without compromising joy in her personal and family life
- How business is like dating
- A bit about Amber’s Blooming Business Kits, her online course library
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/podcast/23
You’re a multi-passionate entrepreneur - which means that you’re always coming up with the next great business idea.
So if you’ve been looking for a way to form a formal legal entity to house all those ideas, you might be wondering “Can I have multiple companies under one LLC?”
I’m answering this listener question in this week’s episode.
To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
When I first started the podcast, one of the reasons I wanted to interview others in business was to learn how they were designing a business and life on their terms. After all, it was only a few years ago that I took the leap to leave a cushy and secure job to begin a journey of redesigning my own life in a way that worked for me.
In this episode of Office Talk, I’m talking to Heather Crabtree, founder of the Savvy Community about her own journey from law, to running her own event planning business, to what she does today - helping other female entrepreneurs build successful businesses.
In this honest conversation, Heather reveals what her journey has really been like. Hint - it’s not always what it looks like from the outside.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE * How Heather went from law, to running an event planning business, to the founder of the Savvy Business Owners’ Community where she teaches female entrepreneurs how to run a successful business * How the loss of a family member has shaped her perspective about life and business * How she’s been designing her business to make sure it fits with her life, not the other way around * If you think she’s an overnight success, well here’s the real story * The “‘old fashion values” that are still working in business * Things to consider when transitioning from a solopreneur to building your team * Why she started the Savvy Business Owners Facebook Group and what she attributes to the success of growing the group * What’s next for the Savvy Business Owners’ community
Full show notes available at www.annettestepanian.com/podcast/21
© 2017 Annette Stepanian
Now that you’re running your own business, from time to time you may decide to bring on additional help. Or maybe you’re ready to hire someone to assist you right from the outset.
The laws surrounding hiring can get quite complicated, to say the least.
In this Legal (not-so) Quickie episode, I’m sitting down with Lonnie GIamela, a partner at the labor and employment law firm of Fisher & Phillips and we’re diving into the most common questions that come up when you’re ready to hire.
Even if you’re not planning on hiring anytime soon, you’ll still want to have a listen so when the day comes - and trust me, it will - you’ll have a good understanding of the issues you need to address before you say “you’re hired.”
To learn more visit: www.annettestepanian.com/podcast/20
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
Have you ever met someone who you can talk to for hours? About topics as diverse as business, racial diversity….and peanut butter?
Well, if these kinds of conversations are your jam (see, what I did there - peanut butter a + jam - ha!), then you’ll love this episode with author, brand strategist and speaker, Monique Melton.
In this super honest and inspiring conversation, we dive deep into a variety of topics - all connected by the central theme of learning how to embrace ourselves so that we show up more authentically in business and in life.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE * How motherhood triggered this journey of self-discovery for Monique * How she has learned to embrace the transitions in life including bouts of postpartum depression and overcoming suicidal thoughts * How we can begin to think about diversity in the communities we’re building * How to build communities with authentic friendships and relationships.
And probably my favorite tidbit
- How knowing what kind of peanut butter you are can help you improve your client experience
Get the full show notes at - www.annettestepanian.com/podcast/19
Success in business has always been about creating opportunities for Samira Far, who traded a coveted position at a prestigious accounting firm to launch a wildly successful nail salon franchise. It was Bellacures’ unparalleled standards for comfort, service and technique that let the salon expand across Southern California and all the way to Texas while earning A-list clientele, awards and media coverage from Vogue, InStyle, Allure and others. More importantly, Bellacures showed women they could have, and deserve, the best when they take time for themselves. It was Samira’s firsthand experience with over 90,000 women that inspired her to co-create a brand around self-commitment and empowerment with Fred + Far. Samira is currently a contributor on INC.com and is working on a book that will distill her signature ability to transform concepts into reality.
For the full show notes, head over to www.annettestepanian.com/podcast/18
Ever wondered - do I really need to file a trademark? And at what point in my business should I consider registering my mark with the US Patent and Trademark Office? In this Legal Quickie episode of Office Talk, I’m sharing with you not only what a trademark is, but when you should be thinking about protecting your marks by registering it with the US Patent and Trademark Office.
Have a listen - it’ll take less than six minutes - promise!
To learn more visit: www.annettestepanian.com/podcast/17
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
Heidi Thompson is the chief marketing geek & founder of Evolve Your Wedding Business and she helps wedding professionals grow their businesses without going crazy in the process. Her marketing expertise has been featured on several wedding and business outlets including The Huffington Post, Social Media Examiner, Book More Brides, Sprouting Photographer, Photo Biz Xposed & she’s an advisory board member for the UK Academy Of Wedding & Event Planning.
For the full show notes, head over to www.annettestepanian.com/podcast/16
You've done all this work for a client and now you find yourself chasing down your client for payment. If you worry about ever finding yourself in this situation, then listen to this episode. Here's what you'll learn:
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What to do after you client fails to pay you
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The differences between litigation (including small claims court), mediation, arbitration and the pros/cons of each
- The questions to ask yourself before you draft a dispute resolution clause in your contract
To learn more, visit the show notes at www.annettestepanian.com/podcast/15
Disclaimer:
This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.
If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
In this episode, I'm talking to Mary Beth Storjohann - a certified financial planner - about what we need to be thinking about to make sure we're headed win the right financial direction.
To learn more, visit the show notes at www.annettestepanian.com/podcast/14
So let’s say you’ve entered into a contract with someone and you want to make some changes to the contract after it’s been signed. How do you actually do it?
In this episode, I walk you step-by-step and show you to amend your contract.
If you're more of a visual learner, you'll want to download the free pdf I created so you can follow along with the examples I describe in the episode. You can grab it over in the show notes at www.annettestepanian.com/podcast/13.
A lawyer and a CPA walk into a bar....It's the set up for the perfect joke, right? But there will come a time when you'll need to consult a lawyer and a CPA at some point in running your business. In this episode, I'm talking to Amy Northard who's a CPA for creatives. She's breaking down all those questions we have about taxes, W9s, 1099s, quarterly taxes and much more!
For the full show notes, head over to www.annettestepanian.com/podcast/12
And to sign up for the webinar mentioned in the episode, visit www.annettestepanian.com/freewebinars
Whether you're an illustrator, a course creator, a photographer, or [fill in the blank] - you work hard to create your work.
So when you see someone copying your work - whether they're selling your work in an Etsy shop or lifting pieces of your course and reselling it as theirs.... you can't help but get upset.
In this episode, find out some of the options available to you when you find that someone is using your copyrighted work without permission.
For the full show notes, head over to www.annettestepanian.com/podcast/11
Megan Sette is the founder of M Collaborative, a boutique marketing consultancy that works with companies to make a greater social impact, online + offline. She is also a co-founder of The Heart Series Conference.
You can read the full show notes at www.annettestephanian.com/podcast/10
If you regularly enter into contracts with clients or customers, then you'll want to listen to this Legal Quickie episode before you swipe right on your next contract.
We're talking about why contracts are just like dating, how to think about your contracts just like you would any other relationship, and what terms you might include in your contracts to make sure you have a way to "break up" with your (nightmare) client.
Grab the show notes and other resources at www.annettestepanian.com/podcast/9
Melissa K. Jones, owner of theCEOffice and founder of Creative Chics, is a results-oriented, ambitious leader with over 15 years of experience in building teams and customer relations for Fortune 500 companies.
You can read the full show notes at www.annettestephanian.com/podcast/8
Whether you're considering starting a business, or you've been at it for awhile - there comes a time when you've wondered to yourself -- "Should I file my business as an LLC?"
In this episode, I'm walking you through the six questions I ask all of my clients when they're trying to determine the best legal entity for them and their business.
Grab the cheat sheet and other resources at www.annettestepanian.com/podcast/7
In this honest conversation with my friend Monique Svazlian-Tallon, we dive into how we all (both men and women, alike) can better leverage both feminine and masculine traits to become more authentic leaders at work and at home. Drawing upon her experience as an international executive coach and leadership trainer, Monique’s shares the practical advice and easy to implement exercises outlined in her new book, Leading Gracefully: A Woman's Guide to Confident, Authentic and Effective Leadership. And if you’re interested in self-publishing, make sure to listen to some of the things she wished she knew before she embarked on the self-publishing route.
For more information visit - www.annettestepanian.com/podcast/6
If you're someone who regularly creates creative content for others or if you hire someone who creates creative content for you, then listen up. In this episode, I'll explain what a copyright is and who owns it.
In this episode, Michelle Loretta shares her own entrepreneurial journey - from being a CPA at a big accounting firm to running her own consulting firm, Sage Wedding Pros, dedicated to improving small businesses in the wedding and events industries. Whether you’re in the events industry or not, Michelle draws from over 20 years of experience to share some valuable nuggets of wisdom to help take your business to the next level.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE: * How and why she left her big firm accounting job to build Sage Wedding Pros * Her best advice for business owners who want to take their business to the next level * Why you should “milk” your current 9 to 5 corporate job even if you have dreams of starting your own business * What you should do before you take an expert’s advice * How to go about creating your own live workshop/conference * Michelle’s advice on pitching to for speaking engagements
For more information visit - www.annettestepanian.com/podcast
If you've ever wondered - "Do I really need all that legal jumbo at the end of a contract?" then listen to this episode to find out the answer.
To learn more visit - www.annettestepanian.com/podcast
Disclaimer: This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation. If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.
My amazing guest today is Jessica Serra Huizenga, owner of The Confetti Bar. Jessica creates custom confetti to help people spread happiness and joy. Jessica is a self-published author of contemporary romance, and is the creator of the Monarch workshop, a weekend workshop for creatives and business owners. You will love hearing Jessica’s heartwarming story of creativity, passion, following your dreams, and thinking outside the box. Have you ever met someone who SELLS CONFETTI? Today is the day---join us!
To learn more - visit www.annettestepanian.com/podcast
Welcome to Episode 1 of Office Talk! My guest is Brooke Saxon Spencer, the founder and editor of Belong magazine. Brooke left the health care industry for this digital and print publication designed to celebrate community, blogging, social media, and entrepreneurship. You’ll find Brooke to be amazingly authentic and inspirational. Join us!
Brooke is the founder and editor of Belong Magazine, a bi-monthly, digital and print magazine celebrating the art and community of blogging, social media and entrepreneurship. Belong seeks to promote community and connect women in life-giving relationship.
To learn more, head over to www.annettestepanian.com/podcast
I'm beyond thrilled to officially (and finally) unveil the OFFICE TALK podcast. This has been something I've been thinking about doing for over a year and a half now. I finally decided "What am I waiting for? The time is now." Can we say #paralysisbyanalysis?
SO WHAT'S THE PODCAST ALL ABOUT? The podcast won't be all about the law - I know how much you were looking forward to that {wink}. Rather, I'll be sharing the stories of some game-changing entrepreneurs who are designing a business and life on their terms. My journey as an entrepreneur has been full of conversations with other business owners and experts that were chock full of such insight - that I wanted to pass those lessons along to you.
But because I'm a lawyer, you'll get some Legal Quickie episodes too. These will be short episodes answering some frequently asked questions I get about law and business, or offering you some initial insight I've learned.
For more info - visit www.annettestepanian.com/podcast