What Works
EP 360: Slowing Down To Make Sustainable Choices

EP 360: Slowing Down To Make Sustainable Choices

Oct 26, 2021 | , , , ,

Today, you’re going to hear from 4 other business owners who have also found that slowing down has helped them operationalize their values in their businesses.

You’ll hear from Sarah Cottrell, the founder of Former Lawyer, Gracy Obuchowicz, a self-care consultant for companies & organizations, Yvette Ramos-Volz, a glass artist & aromatherapist, and Jennie Morris, the founder of Vegology.

Each one is finding ways to create the necessary space to check in with their core values before making decisions about their business—big or small. By slowing down, they make their values a core operational consideration, instead of merely good copy on a website.

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EP 352: Personal Strengths Make Strategy Stronger

EP 352: Personal Strengths Make Strategy Stronger

Aug 24, 2021 | , ,

I’ve got four more stories of business owners leveraging their strengths for you today. And the thread that runs through each of them is how using personal strengths as a filter allowed them to make components of their businesses more natural and effective.

You’ll hear from Lysa Greer, Mary Knox Miller, Nayla Bahri, Mytili Jugunaathun, and Lisa Townsend on how they’ve leveraged their strengths.

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EP 350: Slowing Down For Success With Coach Reva Patwardhan

EP 350: Slowing Down For Success With Coach Reva Patwardhan

Aug 10, 2021 | , ,

I still struggle with belonging. I struggle with the constant fear of unfamiliar situations and people—along with the fear of plenty of familiar situations and people—something Laura James describes in her book, Odd Girl Out.

But I can also see my outsider perspective as a strength—and one that I can leverage.

My guest today surprised and delighted me when she started our conversation off with her own exploration of belonging—and how finding that intrinsic sense of belonging has become a real strength for her while also leveraging her outsider perspective, too.

Reva Patwardhan is a coach and facilitator who guides changemakers and leaders working for social change to help them lead with confidence, clarity, and purpose.

This conversation had so many high points for me. We kick off with belonging, but we also talk about deep processing, narrowing the scope of her work, noticing, systems, and why slowing down is so important.

Reva and I also talk about her experience through the lens of ADHD, as well as her experience as a highly sensitive person.

This conversation is rich and useful, whether you’re a neurodivergent business owner or not. Reva’s experiences lay out a beautiful framework for better understanding yourself and your own strengths – so with that…

Let’s find out what works for Reva Patwardhan.

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EP 348: Knowing When To Get Out Of The Way With Let’s Do The Books Founder Mark Butler

EP 348: Knowing When To Get Out Of The Way With Let’s Do The Books Founder Mark Butler

Jul 27, 2021 | , ,

It’s not easy when it feels like your life or business are in chaos.

It’s hard to find the space to take a mental break, let alone some time away from work.

My buddy Mark Butler, has been working on lessening the chaos from the last few years and so I knew he was the perfect person to round out this series on taking a break.

Mark is the founder of Let’s Do The Books, as well as a CFO for 7 and 8-figure coaching businesses. He’s generous, rigorous, super fun to hang out with, and makes for great bear bait (that’s a story for another time).

Mark is actively working on quieting his mind, exploring how to create the best conditions for his team members to thrive, and learning when to get the heck out of the way—or else allow chaos to creep back in.

We talk about all of those things—plus how his high value for family influences the direction he’s taking his work-life.

Strap in.

Let’s find out what works for Mark Butler.

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EP 345: Putting Your Business In Maintenance Mode With ScaleSpark Founder Susan Boles

EP 345: Putting Your Business In Maintenance Mode With ScaleSpark Founder Susan Boles

Jul 6, 2021 | , , ,

Last week, we took our first trip of this Hot Vax Summer. And later this month, we’re driving out to Montana to enjoy a month in the mountains again. We’ll still be working but the business will largely be in maintenance mode.

Which brings me to today’s topic. When Tara and I decided I’d take over for her this month and explore the topic of taking a break, I immediately knew the first person I wanted to talk to.

My friend and YHM podcaster Susan Boles. Susan is the founder of ScaleSpark and the host of Break The Ceiling.

She has an eye for efficiency, systems, and automation that makes her the perfect candidate for talking about how to put a business in maintenance mode.

And, Susan, like many others, was forced to wrestling with the reality of building a business made for maintenance mode when the pandemic hit and schools closed.

During our conversation, you’ll hear that story and why it’s so important to her to have a business that runs in maintenance mode. You’ll also hear how Susan can fall prey to shiny object syndrome and other distractions just like any other business owner, as well as how she’s combating self-sabotage and how she balances work as a creative outlet with taking breaks.

Now, let’s find out what works for Susan Boles!

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Host of What Works

Tara is a podcaster, small business community leader, strategist, and speaker. She’s been helping small business owners build stronger businesses for over a decade.