Afleveringen
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Feeling overwhelmed by all the moving parts in your handmade business? Youâre not alone! In this episode, Iâm pulling back the curtain on the systems and processes that took me from chaos to control. Iâll share the hard lessons I learned (so you donât have to), how I stopped feeling like I was constantly playing catch-up, and why systemsânot just hustleâare the real secret to business success.
You'll learn:
â The key difference between systems and processes (and why you need both)
â How I fixed one major bottleneck that was draining my time and energy
â The step-by-step framework to streamline your business, reduce decision fatigue, and free up your creative timeIf you feel like you're constantly putting out fires and need a better way to run your business, this episode is a must-listen!
Timestamps & Key Takeawaysâł [01:31] - Before Systems: The Chaos of Doing Everything Yourself
Before systems and processes, I was drowning in tasks, constantly reacting instead of planning. Sound familiar?âł [02:20] - How I Fixed My Biggest Business Bottleneck
I went from scrambling for bare yarn stock to a smooth, automated inventory system.âł [05:51] - The #1 Mistake That Keeps Handmade Businesses Stuck
Without systems, processes are isolated. Without processes, systems fall apart. You need both to scale successfully.âł [07:29] - Beating Decision Fatigue: Why Systems Give You Mental Freedom
Too many daily decisions can be exhausting. Learn how systems reduce mental clutter and keep your business running smoothly.âł [12:52] - The 4-Step Framework for Building Systems That Work
A breakdown of how to map out, document, and optimize the core areas of your business for efficiency.âł [17:46] - Growing Pains? How to Evolve Your Systems as You Scale
Resources Mentioned
New level, new devil! Your systems should evolve with your businessâhereâs how to stay ahead of challenges.đ The Effciency Formula: Systems & Processes Workbook â Get your copy here
đ Recommended Tools for SOPs & Process Documentation:
Scribe â A step-by-step guide generator that records your workflow and turns it into easy-to-follow visual documentation. Perfect for creating SOPs without the hassle of writing everything manually.
Loom â A video recording tool that allows you to quickly capture screen recordings with voiceovers. Ideal for training, walkthroughs, and explaining processes in a more engaging way.
Letâs Connect!Iâd love to hear what system or process youâre working on after this episode! Are you tackling inventory, order fulfillment, or something else? DM me and letâs chat:
đ Website: www.indiemadebiz.com
đž Instagram: @indiemadebiz
đ Facebook: www.facebook.com/indiemadebizKnow someone who could use less stress and more structure in their business? Share this episode with themâit could be exactly what they need to hear!
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Selling can feel awkwardâespecially for creatives whoâd rather be making than marketing. If youâve ever hesitated to promote your products because you donât want to sound pushy or salesy, this episode is for you!
Iâm joined by my friend Kari Capone, founder of The Spinning Hand, to talk about the mindset shifts and strategies that make selling feel natural (and even fun!). We get real about the fears that hold people back, why "confidence" is overrated, and how to actually ask for the sale in a way that feels good. Plus, Kari shares how she went from struggling to ask for the sale in her first business to running a thriving handmade business today.
If youâve ever thought, I donât want to bother people or theyâll buy if they want itâI donât need to ask, grab a coffee and join us for this conversation. It might just change how you think about selling.
Timestamps & Key Takeaways [00:00] â Why Selling Feels Hard (and Why Youâre Not Alone)Most creatives love making but hate selling. We break down why selling feels so uncomfortableâand why that doesnât mean youâre doing it wrong.
[06:30] â The Money Stories Holding You BackThe way you grew up thinking about money is impacting how you sellâwhether you realize it or not. Kari shares how her "squeeze every penny" mindset made selling feel icky (and how she changed it).
[15:45] â The Truth About Confidence (Hint: Itâs Overrated)"You donât wake up confidentâyou wake up with courage." If youâre waiting to feel confident before you sell, youâll be waiting forever.
[24:00] â Selling Doesnât Have to Feel GrossPushy, manipulative selling isnât the only way. Hereâs how to authentically sellâwithout feeling like a used car salesman.
[35:20] â If Youâre Only Talking About Your Product Once, Youâre Losing SalesMost people arenât seeing every post or email you send. Talking about your product repeatedly isnât annoyingâitâs necessary.
[42:10] â Trust Your Customers to Make Their Own Buying DecisionsItâs easy to assume what people will or wonât spend based on our own money mindset, but thatâs not our decision to make. Our job is simply to share what we offerâour customers will decide if itâs right for them.
[51:30] â Handling Unsubscribes Like a ProEvery email list loses peopleâbut unsubscribes arenât rejection. Learn why losing subscribers can actually be a good thing.
[1:02:00] â How to Start Asking for the Sale (Without Feeling Weird About It)If the thought of asking people to buy makes your stomach turn, this section is for you. We share simple, doable ways to ease into selling with confidence.
Resources MentionedSome links in this episode may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our podcast!
The Truth About Email Unsubscribes
Break Free from Limiting Beliefs Holding Back Your Handmade Business
Email Unsubscribe Rate Calculator â See how your unsubscribe rate compares to your industry average. It only takes a minute or two to plug in your numbers to see how the percentage is lookingfor your handmade business.
We Should All Be Millionaires by Rachel Rodgers
Paperback
Audiobook
Letâs Connect!Iâd love to hear how this episode shifted your perspective on selling! Whatâs one small step youâre taking to sell with more confidence? Letâs chat:
đ Website: www.indiemadebiz.com
Instagram: @indiemadebiz
Facebook: www.facebook.com/indiemadebiz
Find Kari Onlineđ Website: www.thespinninghand.com
Instagram: @thespinninghand
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thespinninghandKnow someone who could benefit from this episode? Share it with them and help spread the inspiration!
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Do fear and self-doubt ever hold you back from reaching your business goals? In this episode of The Indie Made Biz Podcast, we uncover the hidden barriers that limit your potential: your limiting beliefs. These sneaky thoughtsâlike âIâm not good enoughâ or âI canât charge moreââarenât truths; theyâre stories you can rewrite.
Join me as I walk you through three transformative steps to flip the script on fear and replace limiting beliefs with empowering thoughts. By the end of this episode, youâll feel equipped to approach your handmade business with confidence, curiosity, and a renewed sense of possibility.
Timestamps and Key Takeaways[00:00:00] Intro
Imagine your biggest dreams for your handmade business finally taking shapeâno second-guessing, no âwhat ifs,â no fear whispering in your ear. Letâs turn that dream into reality.[00:02:22] Cognitive Bias and How It Tricks You
Learn how mental shortcuts like confirmation bias can cause you to focus on failures while ignoring successesâand how this feeds into limiting beliefs.[00:08:08] Step 1: Recognize Your Limiting Beliefs
Discover how to identify the thoughts and assumptions that quietly hold you back.Tips to uncover hidden beliefs.
Real-life examples of common limiting beliefs.
[00:11:45] Step 2: Challenge Your Beliefs
Become a detective of your own thoughts.How to question and disrupt your limiting beliefs.
Key questions to ask yourself:
Is this belief really true?
What evidence supports or disproves it?
Can I find examples of success despite similar challenges?
The power of flipping negative thoughts into âwhat ifâ possibilities.
[00:16:21] Step 3: Replace Limiting Beliefs with Empowering Thoughts
Build new, positive thought patterns that fuel growth and confidence.The role of repetition in rewiring your brain.
Visualization techniques to prime your mind for success.
Real-life examples of entrepreneurs who flipped the script on fear.
Resources MentionedFree Worksheet: Identify and overcome your limiting beliefs with this free guide
Craft Industry Alliance: Learn more about mastermind groups designed for creative entrepreneurs.
Letâs Connect!Iâd love to hear what limiting beliefs youâre working to overcome and how these strategies are helping you. Letâs chat:
Website: www.indiemadebiz.com
Instagram: @indiemadebiz
Facebook: www.facebook.com/indiemadebiz
Know someone who could benefit from this episode? Share it with them and help spread the inspiration!
Subscribe for MoreDonât miss next weekâs episode. Subscribe now so youâre the first to hear it!
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On this episode of The Indie Made Business Podcast, weâre tackling the endless to-do list that every handmade business owner knows all too well. Overwhelm ends here! Weâre diving into five actionable tips that will help you take control of your day, focus on what truly matters, and build real momentum in your business.
Each tip is designed to help you stop spinning your wheels and start making meaningful progressâwithout burning out.
Timestamps & Key Takeaways:
[00:02:21] Tip 1: Prioritize Your Tasks
Use the Eisenhower Matrix to categorize tasks into four groups (urgent/important, important/not urgent, etc.) and focus on what truly drives your business forward.[00:04:54] Tip 2: Break Tasks into Smaller Steps
Overcome task paralysis by breaking big projects into manageable actions. Example: Launching a new collection? Break it down into steps like writing product descriptions or taking photos.[00:06:01] Tip 3: Use Time Blocking
Assign dedicated time slots to specific tasks to avoid distractions and improve productivity. Test methods like the Pomodoro technique or uninterrupted work blocks to find your rhythm.[00:07:10] Tip 4: Apply the Two-Minute Rule
If a task takes two minutes or less, tackle it immediately to prevent minor tasks from piling up and stealing mental space.[00:07:53] Tip 5: Set Realistic Expectations
Avoid overloading your to-do list. Instead, focus on whatâs achievable and plan with flexibility to accommodate unexpected changes.Mentioned in This Episode:
Free time management strategies guide : Download your freebie to start implementing these tips today: https://www.indiemadebiz.com/opt-in-380f5eb2-892d-434a-9857-1f3a248a8a1b Visit the Indie Made Business blog for more resources to help you work smarter, not harder: https://www.indiemadebiz.com/blog/03Connect with me:
Website: www.indiemadebiz.com
Instagram: @indiemadebiz
Facebook: www.facebook.com/indiemadebiz
Make sure to subscribe to the Indie Made Business podcast, so you never miss an episode. Thank you for tuning in, and I canât wait to take this journey with you!
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In this episode, Iâm kicking off 2025 by sharing an important mindset shift that has completely changed the way I approach my business. Iâm diving into how you can design a business that works for you and supports the life you want, rather than feeling like youâre working for your business. Iâll take you back to my early days as an entrepreneur, where my goals started small, and share the lessons I learned along the way. Whether youâre feeling stuck or unsure about your next steps, Iâll guide you through practical strategies to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
"What would you want from your business if you knew you couldnât fail? When your business serves your life, not the other way around, everything becomes possible."
In This Episode, We Discuss:
How to get clear on what you truly want from your business in 2025. Why celebrating small wins can create big momentum over time. How to align your financial goals with the lifestyle you dream of. Steps to build a business that supports your vision and values. Why simplifying your financial needs can unlock more freedom.Timestamps:
[00:03:17] My First Big Goal: How I started with the simple dream of paying my familyâs car payment. [00:05:03] The Power of Small Wins: How celebrating tiny victories built the foundation for my success. [00:07:09] Big Questions to Reflect On: What if you couldnât fail? [00:09:54] The Power of Needing Less: Why simplifying my financial needs gave me the freedom to focus on what mattered most. [00:17:59] Mindset Shifts for 2025: How to align your goals with the life you want to create. [00:24:43] Closing Thoughts: Start designing a business that supports your life.Links and Resources :
Visit the Indie Made Biz website for resources to help you grow your business.Website: www.indiemadebiz.com
Instagram: @indiemadebiz
Facebook: www.facebook.com/indiemadebiz
If you enjoyed todayâs episode, donât forget to subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Iâd love to hear how this episode resonated with you and what changes youâre planning for 2025. Letâs make this the year you create a business that truly serves you! -
Welcome to the Indie Made Business podcast, where I help creative entrepreneurs design businesses that truly serve their lives. In this trailer, Iâm excited to share some big changes happening in 2025 and talk about how Iâm setting my business up to fit into the life Iâve always dreamed of. If youâre ready to join me on this journey of growth, mindset shifts, and making a real impact, then youâre in the right place!
Learn about the new direction of the podcast, what you can expect in upcoming episodes, and why this year is all about creating alignment between your business goals and personal vision.
Hereâs what you can expect from Indie Made Business:
New episodes packed with actionable tips to help you design a business that serves your ideal life.
Stories from my journey of turning my business into a full-time income that works with my lifestyle.
Insights into mindset shifts that will help you grow your business without burning out.
So if youâre tired of feeling like your business is running you, Iâm here to show you a better way.
Connect with me:
Website: www.indiemadebiz.com
Instagram: @indiemadebiz
Facebook: www.facebook.com/indiemadebiz
Make sure to subscribe to the Indie Made Business podcast, so you never miss an episode. Thank you for tuning in, and I canât wait to take this journey with you!
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Weâve made it all the way to the end of the year and more than likely, youâre super busy right now. In my business, we call it Beast mode because inevitably this time of year weâre working our tails off with different projects and fulfilling orders to keep up with seasonal orders. Itâs very easy to stress yourself out, so on this weekâs podcast Iâm going over what Iâve learned over the years managing stress, burnout, and rest at this time of the year.
Key Takeaways:
- Growth at the expense of your health is not worth it! Sometimes, we just need to get through the season with what we have rather than taking on new projects that may or may not bring you joy, but also bring you added work. Think about what benefits youâre getting from expanding or what you could gain by scaling back.
- This time of year is hard on everybody, including your employees! Donât forget about all of their hard work over the year and understand that doing whatâs in the best interests of your workers can pay dividends.
- Itâs a perfect time after the Beast mode to think about what youâre going to do next year, how you want to grow, what direction you want to go, and what you need to do to get there.
One more thing:
Do you run your own handmade business? And are you ready to take that business to the next level?
After seven years of growing my hand-dyed yarn business into a multi six-figure success, I'm excited to share my best strategies, resources, and actionable tips with you.
At Indie Made Biz, where handmade artistry meets business mastery, Iâm not holding back. Iâm sharing all of my knowledge and experience with you. Ready to grow your handmade your way? Subscribe to my Indie Made Biz email list for the best advice delivered straight to your inbox!
Weâre sad to say that for the time being, this will be the last episode of what weâre calling Season One of the Makers Gonna Sell Podcast. There may be a Season 2, but when that may or may not happen is still up in the air. That doesnât mean weâre giving up! 2023 is looking to be a full year for Cheryl and Nicky, but if we are able to get everything we need to build our businesses and we have the time to make this the priority it should be, youâll be the first to know. You can still connect with us through our social media profiles, and we always love hearing from you. All our previous episodes are going to be available for further listening, and we have loved bringing you the content and look forward to serving you more in the future!
Come find us online - we would love to hear from you!
Cheryl: Indie Dyed Entrepreneur on Instagram or Facebook Nicky: Avery Lane Creations on Instagram or Facebook Hypnotic Yarn on Instagram or Facebook Yarnable Subscription Box - Cherylâs Subscription Box ALC Yarns - Nickyâs Yarn Shop -
Are you so busy working IN your business that thereâs no time left to work ON your business?
Weâve all said it, âThere arenât enough hours in the day.â
It really does feel that way when youâre wearing all the hats in your creative business. And it can be downright impossible to embrace the visionary role that your business requires of you when youâre bogged down with perpetual product making and never-ending to-do lists!
But guess what? We all get the same 24 hours each and every day. Itâs what you do with them that counts.
Imagine what it would feel like if you had an extra set of hands every now and then. Would it change your life if you could take a day off (or *gasp* go on vacation) all the while things are still getting done?
Hiring is a big step, and you might be thinking, âYeah, that all sounds great, but Iâm not even paying myself yet! How the heck am I going to hire someone?â
In todayâs episode weâre going to walk you through getting the right type of help without breaking the bank, and why it might be the best thing you can do for your business.
Topics discussed in this episode:
1:00: Are you being pulled in too many directions? 5:54: The different shapes and sizes of hiring help. 28:26: Finding the right fit is sometimes trial and error. 32:30: Do you really need to spend money to make money? 40:59: Where do you find the help you need?...and so much more!
Needle Mover
Weâre closing out every episode by declaring a Needle Mover in each of our businesses. You learn more about what a Needle Mover is and what it isnât in episode 2 of the podcast. 49:01: Cherylâs Needle Mover 54:30: Nickyâ Needle MoverDonât forget to share YOUR Needle Mover with us on Instagram by posting it to your Stories and tagging us, or shoot us a DM. Together, letâs make a BIG impact in our businesses over the next 2 weeks!
Come find us on social media - we would love to hear from you!
Cheryl: Indie Dyed Entrepreneur on Instagram or Facebook Hypnotic Yarn on Instagram or Facebook Yarnable Subscription Box Nicky: Avery Lane Creations on Instagram or Facebook ALC Yarn Club For a Text Notification from Cheryl when new episodes drop, text âMakers Gonna Sellâ to 603-928-7108 -
After weeks apart doing solo podcast episodes, the stars have aligned, and fate has finally reunited us! Itâs a double the flavor, double the fun episode with both Cheryl and Nicky back from our solo journeys and weâre happy to be together again. This happy meeting has reminded us how important it is to have a business friend to share all the feelings of running a business, and if you donât have one yet weâre laying out everything that weâve learned finding each other and what the differences are between a friend in your personal life and someone to share our business adventures with.
You wouldnât think that having a business friend that you can share your wins and worries with would be an important part of being a successful business owner, but when it really gets right down to it, being able to share your experiences with someone whoâs been there before, or who might be able to give some insight, that kind of relationship can be invaluable. We donât know where we would be if we couldnât send each other messages of encouragement or bounce our frustrations off of each other. Hopefully our experience can help you find the right person for you to connect with and create your own business friend!
Key Takeaways:
- The importance of Business friendships cannot be overstated - if youâre going to be a successful business owner, you need to have a network you can relate to all those highs and lows
- Personal friendships mean well, but theyâre no substitute for someone who is going through or has been through a similar experience
- Your peers are looking for those types of relationships too! Donât be afraid to reach out and start talking
Quotes:
âBecause we're business owners, our work takes up so much of our time that our family members, our children, our parents, our significant others, they all want to be there and to be supportive of us. But if we don't have actual business buddies, kind of separate from those people, then all we have is our family and our like regular life friends to talk to about our business and it can get repetitive.â â Cheryl
âWhen you run into a problem, a business friend can usually see things from a different perspective and has the experience to see things that we miss because we're so close to it.â â Nicky
âAt some point, if you want to have a friendship, you need to trust somebody. If you're not comfortable with people in your own industry, look for people outside of your industry. Your business friend does not have to be somebody within your industry; it can be somebody who does something completely different.â â Cheryl
âBut you will surprise yourself. When we started talking, it was about if I had a question or just wanted to run something by her. But slowly it just evolved into this amazing friendship.â â Nicky
Have a subject youâd like us to cover or just want to comment about how much you love the podcast? We want to hear from you! You can like, subscribe, and leave us a 5-star rating everywhere you can download podcasts.
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We hear about it all the time: how do we, as creative entrepreneurs, maintain a healthy work / life balance? We want to dedicate as much time as we can to making our business successful, but how much of our personal life should we sacrifice to achieve that result? On this episode of the podcast, Cherylâs sharing her experience building her business from the ground up while also having a professional career and a growing family, and how realizing our life is more about seasons than work and play helped her be able to find a good balance between both.
Key Takeaways:
- Not every season of our personal and professional life is going to be the same
- As such, balancing those two aspects of our life requires thought and planning to be successful
- Communication with our family and our work associates is key to finding that balance
- Sacrificing one side for the other is tipping things too far! Weâre more than our work, but our work is important to us as well
Quotes:
âI believe that we all have seasons in our lives and in our business. A season might last a month, or it might last a quarter, or it might last six months. It could even last a year. It could be any span of time. However, we all have the seasons that bring different things into our lives.â â Cheryl
âI think to run a successful business, you need to be showing up for your people. However, we can't always be on. And there's no sense in beating ourselves up about times in our lives where we just can't show up in that way.â â Cheryl
âThere are only so many things we can do in a day, even if we are the most organized person, even if we have the most perfect systems in place. We can't do everything because we are not superhuman, and itâs okay to recognize that because it means not having a breakdown, not burning out, or not finding yourself in crisis because you're trying to do too many things. To me, having it all means being able to maintain my business while still being able to enjoy the other aspects of my life without letting the stress become overwhelming.â - Cheryl
Have a subject youâd like us to spin a yarn about? Weâre dying to hear from you! You can leave us a comment wherever you download your podcasts, and while youâre at it, subscribe and leave us a 5-star rating. Grow with us as we put out more podcast episodes!
Come find us online - we would love to hear from you!
Cheryl: Indie Dyed Entrepreneur on Instagram or Facebook Nicky: Avery Lane Creations on Instagram or Facebook For a Text Notification when new episodes drop, text âMakers Gonna Sellâ to 603-928-7108 Hypnotic Yarn on Instagram or Facebook Yarnable Subscription Box - Cherylâs Subscription Box ALC Yarns - Nickyâs Yarn Shop Nickyâs Makerâs Momentum Inner Circle -
What happens when youâve built your business to the point where in order to keep up with everything, you need to hire some help? What happens when you need help even though youâre still working out of your home? It might be time to find your first employee! Today Cheryl is talking about what happened when she hired her General Manager Jess to help her with the day-to-day working of her business.
At the core of Cheryl and Jessâs experience working together was the idea that this wasnât going to be a traditional type of employer-employee relationship. At the time she was hired, Cheryl was still working out of her house and working at a corporate job, so when she first approached Jess they established clear boundaries, clear responsibilities, and most important of all, a clear line of communication to make the relationship work. It can be hard to find someone willing to work on an irregular/flexible schedule, so clear communication is crucial when you are able to bring on someone to help out.
Key Takeaways:
- Itâs likely to start out as an irregular employment, so being flexible is key
- Clearly establish responsibilities and allow your employee to take ownership of tasks
- Communication is so important to keep the relationship professional and positive!
- Flexibility, Honesty, Appreciation, and Communication are the cornerstones of a good working relationship
Quotes:
âI think that people get held back thinking, âWell I can do this myself. Why do I need to bring somebody else in?â And yes, you can do everything yourself, but eventually youâll just be exhausted.â - Cheryl
âYou always have to be aware of the relationship between you and your employee. If youâre friends, you canât just take the friendship for granted and assume that they know what you want from them, or that you know what they want from you. You have to be able to speak to each other.â â Cheryl
âItâs really important to vocalize that you appreciate that theyâre giving you their time. Understanding that theyâre carving out hours of their day to help you and that they want to do that, showing your appreciation for your employee goes a long way.â - Jess
Have a subject youâd like us to cover or just want to comment about how much you love the podcast? We want to hear from you! You can like, subscribe, and leave us a 5-star rating everywhere you can download podcasts.
Come find us online - we would love to hear from you!
Cheryl: Indie Dyed Entrepreneur on Instagram or Facebook Nicky: Avery Lane Creations on Instagram or Facebook For a Text Notification when new episodes drop, text âMakers Gonna Sellâ to 603-928-7108 Hypnotic Yarn on Instagram or Facebook Yarnable Subscription Box - Cherylâs Subscription Box ALC Yarns - Nickyâs Yarn Shop Nickyâs Makerâs Momentum Inner Circle -
Are you worried that the market you're trying to break into is oversaturated and thereâs no room for you to stand out? Or maybe you think that getting ahead means you need to outshine the competition?
If youâve ever struggled with how to get noticed and feel like youâre attempts to be seen are falling on deaf ears, itâs not your fault. It super hard to blaze your own path. And if youâve done your fair share of Googling, you know that information on this topic is scarce.
You are not alone!
We felt this way too when we were starting out, but then realized that we're not actually in competition with everyone our market, and actually, there is plenty of room for all of us.
In today's episode, we share our thoughts on strategies you can use to stand out and grow your business, even when it feels like everyone else is selling the same thing as you.
Topics discussed in this episode:
Thereâs room at the top for everyone [00:03:15] Switching your mindset from selling product to building a community [00:14:53] How to serve instead of sell [00:29.40] Why itâs so important to get yourself a business buddy [00:34.50]...and so much more!
Needle Mover
Weâre closing out every episode by declaring a Needle Mover in each of our businesses. You learn more about what a Needle Mover is and what it isnât in episode 2 of the podcast. Cherylâs Needle Mover [0:45:48] Nickyâs Needle Mover [0:46:40]Donât forget to share YOUR Needle Mover with us on Instagram by posting it to your Stories and tagging us, or shoot us a DM. Together, letâs make a BIG impact in our businesses over the next 2 weeks!
Come find us on social media - we would love to hear from you!
Cheryl: Indie Dyed Entrepreneur on Instagram or Facebook Hypnotic Yarn on Instagram or Facebook Yarnable Subscription Box For a Text Notification from Cheryl when new episodes drop, text âMakers Gonna Sellâ to 603-928-7108 Nicky: Avery Lane Creations on Instagram or Facebook ALC Yarns ALC Yarn Club Waitlist -
Are you finding that youâre in a rut with your business? That you feel like youâre almost to that next level, but something is holding you back? This is a feeling that is way too common for first time entrepreneurs. Weâve all felt it, that feeling that something has got to give, and you just need a win to get you to that next level. Thatâs what todayâs podcast is all about: three things that can help you get into the right mindset to get you through that rut and help you have a business breakthrough.
Let go of the Labels we give ourselves â When youâre first starting out, you might have some big dreams but not much in the way of practical knowledge. You have the creativity and the products, but youâre not a salesperson or a marketer. Youâre a business owner, not a podcaster. Yâall, you can do whatever you put your mind to. Youâre so much more capable than you give yourself credit for, and you wonât be able to see what kind of potential you have if you limit yourself with labels. Operating in Fear â It might seem backwards but being worried about what success might look like can be petrifying. The idea of âwhat ifâ can be a scary thing when youâre doing things for the first time. We all have a fear of failing, but we can also have a fear of not being able to handle things if weâre actually successful. This is an irrational feeling, no matter how real it feels, and knowing youâre falling for it is the first step to pushing back on those fears. Let go of Distractions! â This one is the easiest one to fall for. Finding any reason to not do the things we need to do, letting the small things balloon out of control, distractions can stop us dead in our tracks. Identifying distractions and avoiding being caught in their trap can help us keep that momentum that will make us successful.Quotes:
âWhen you start noticing the labels that youâre putting on yourself becoming limits or obstacles, press forward into them because they are not going to move unless you push back.â â Nicky
âWhen we step into those things that scare us and we go through them, weâre going to come out the other side a little braver, a little more courageous, and a little more ready to take on the next level of your business.â â Nicky
Key Takeaways:
- Labels limit what we can achieve and sap away our success
- Identify what gives you fear and push through it. Itâs only there to hold us back
- Donât let distractions pull you away from the momentum youâve built in your business!
Have a subject youâd like us to cover or just want to comment about how much you love the podcast? We want to hear from you! Like, subscribe, and leave us a 5-star rating!
Come find us online - we would love to hear from you!
Cheryl: Indie Dyed Entrepreneur on Instagram or Facebook Nicky: Avery Lane Creations on Instagram or Facebook For a Text Notification when new episodes drop, text âMakers Gonna Sellâ to 603-928-7108 Hypnotic Yarn on Instagram or Facebook Yarnable Subscription Box - Cherylâs Subscription Box ALC Yarns - Nickyâs Yarn Shop Nickyâs Makerâs Momentum Inner Circle -
Todayâs podcast is about a subject that we mention frequently when weâre talking about how to be successful as a maker entrepreneur. In our type of business, we thrive when we build and develop our relationship with our audience. Without that relationship, without that trust between us and our audience, we wouldnât have a consistent place to sell the products that we create. Understanding this relationship is so important to staying successful, and itâs something that we canât lose sight of the bigger our business gets.
We always need to show up for our audience. Reaching out, creating content for our audience and showing them interesting ways that they can create is how we build the know, like, and trust thatâs so crucial to keeping them as an audience. Itâs that trust that allows us to turn around and sell to them when we have a new product to launch, and keeping us in mind when theyâre interested in purchasing the products that we create.
Quotes:
âThe gift that you can give to your audience is serving them so that they can get to know you and trust you so that they want to buy your product. Weâre giving something to our audience so that they can have some value out of our content, so that they can get to know who we are as people.â â Cheryl
âWhen I learned different ways that I could serve my audience, I no longer really was just selling, and now that has made me comfortable with showing up and making the pitch to sell what I had put out there. When Iâm serving my audience, I don't feel like Iâm just a door-to-door salesman.â â Nicky
âThe things you have going on in your business are interesting to other people who might end up wanting to buy from you eventually.â â Cheryl
âIf you think of creating posts on social media as checking the box off of your to do list every day, you are really missing out on an amazing, fun community that you can build with your audience if you just let yourself enjoy it.â - Nicky
Key Takeaways:
- Staying connected with your audience is key to getting them to know you, like you and trust you
- Your audience wants to hear from you!
- You can also use serving your audience as a chance to make connections in the maker community
Check out our YouTube Channels:
Cheryl: https://www.youtube.com/c/HypnoticYarnHY
Nicky: https://www.youtube.com/c/AveryLaneCreations
Have a subject youâd like us to cover or just want to comment about how much you love the podcast? We want to hear from you! You can like, subscribe, and leave us a 5-star rating everywhere you can download podcasts.
Come find us online - we would love to hear from you!
Cheryl: Indie Dyed Entrepreneur on Instagram or Facebook Nicky: Avery Lane Creations on Instagram or Facebook For a Text Notification when new episodes drop, text âMakers Gonna Sellâ to 603-928-7108 Hypnotic Yarn on Instagram or Facebook Yarnable Subscription Box - Cherylâs Subscription Box ALC Yarns - Nickyâs Yarn Shop Nickyâs Makerâs Momentum Inner Circle -
Itâs almost inevitable that if youâre a creative person, thereâs going to be a time when you create something and find another thing that looks very close to what you made. Weâre not talking about actively copying other peopleâs creations, but those coincidences when two things look similar. For creative people, this can be a real moral dilemma! Nobody wants to be seen as unoriginal, so we might tend to overcorrect to make sure that we stay on the right side of the argument.
Look, weâre not saying that you shouldnât be aware of what you put out there, but we are saying that the more you do put out and the bigger your business grows, youâre inevitably going to find that some of your products are like others, and thatâs ok! The simple fact is, art is inspired by art, so similarities are going to happen. Knowing this and being ready to be ok with that is a big step in being in a creative business, so on this episode weâre sharing our own thoughts and experience to help you though this dilemma!
Quotes:
âWe canât let a fear of copying or being copied keep us small, and if it does end up happening, we canât let it hold us back from continuing to create.â â Nicky
âI think it speaks to a scarcity mindset where you think that thereâs not enough room for both of us to have something similar, and that isnât true.â â Cheryl
âWe get to choose, when these situations come up, do we want to be bitter, or do we want to be better? And to me, I want to be better.â â Nicky
Key Takeaways:
- Donât let the idea that what you create is like someone elseâs design stop you from putting your products out there
- At the same time, donât let the fear of being copied stop you either!
- All art is derivative â itâs the intention that counts
- Be aware of whatâs out there, but try not to be quick to judge
Have a subject youâd like us to cover or just want to comment about how much you love the podcast? We want to hear from you! You can like, subscribe, and leave us a 5-star rating everywhere you can download podcasts.
Come find us online - we would love to hear from you!
Cheryl: Indie Dyed Entrepreneur on Instagram or Facebook Nicky: Avery Lane Creations on Instagram or Facebook For a Text Notification when new episodes drop, text âMakers Gonna Sellâ to 603-928-7108 Hypnotic Yarn on Instagram or Facebook Yarnable Subscription Box - Cherylâs Subscription Box ALC Yarns - Nickyâs Yarn Shop Nickyâs Makerâs Momentum Inner Circle -
When youâre starting out, every cent you make counts. Any money that you make is either put back into your business or used to keep your personal life afloat. The thought of using any extra money that you have to better yourself seems frivolous, at best. But investing in business courses or signing up to be part of a professional group, or really anything that involves bettering yourself is actually a solid investment in your future. The hard truth about starting a business is you only know what you know, and sometimes what you donât know might mean the difference between being successful or falling behind.
We wouldnât be here today with this podcast if it wasnât for us investing time and money to improve ourselves! Both of us met in a professional group where we became fast friends and eventually, business partners and podcast co-hosts. The benefits of personal development are not just in what kind of knowledge is offered, but also what kind of relationships you can build and outside of the box ideas that might never have occurred to you. Youâve taken those first huge steps turning your passion into a business that you love, and you can be proud of the progress youâve made. But itâs time to take yourself to the next level and start building the foundation of a professional entrepreneur by investing in yourself.
Quotes:
âI think that investing in yourself, no matter how that looks, is important because we donât just wake up knowing all the things. There are some things that you figure out through trial and error, but thereâs also value in not having trial and error for a year before you have a light bulb moment.â â Cheryl
âFor me, it was that point where I really started believing in myself when I realized I was willing to spend this money on this coaching group because I believed I would make that money back, plus some.â â Nicky
âWhen you show up in those professional groups and you see other people owning their businesses and acting like business owners, you start to see yourself as a business owner too. Youâre no longer think of yourself as just somebody who started a business with the hopes of selling a few things. You start to see your own success.â â Cheryl
âSo many times, the biggest thing standing in the way of growing your business is ourselves and the mindset weâre holding on to. When I realized that the one obstacle in my business is the way that that I was stuck in my own expectations, that was a game changer for me.â â Nicky
Key Takeaways:
- Donât let your mindset limit your business growth! Be open to new perspectives
- An investment in yourself is an investment in your business
- Being around like-minded people can show you paths to success you never even considered
- Youâre the boss, but youâre also your first employee, so be open to development as your best assets
Have a subject youâd like us to cover or just want to comment about how much you love the podcast? We want to hear from you! You can like, subscribe, and leave us a 5-star rating everywhere you can download podcasts.
Come find us online - we would love to hear from you!
Cheryl: Indie Dyed Entrepreneur on Instagram or Facebook Nicky: Avery Lane Creations on Instagram or Facebook For a Text Notification when new episodes drop, text âMakers Gonna Sellâ to 603-928-7108 Hypnotic Yarn on Instagram or Facebook Yarnable Subscription Box - Cherylâs Subscription Box ALC Yarns - Nickyâs Yarn Shop Nickyâs Makerâs Momentum Inner Circle -
So, youâve started your business by posting your crafts online and building an audience, and now youâre ready to start expanding. Thatâs the subject of this weekâs podcast: identifying your ideal customer so that you know exactly who youâre attracting and how best to expand your reach. Itâs not just a numbers game where any customer is a good customer. Trying to be everything to everyone is a good way to burn yourself out on doing what you love, so knowing exactly who youâre marketing your products and expertise to is so important to keeping the momentum that youâve spent so much time building.
As youâre listening and doing the work identifying your ideal customer, it can be helpful to remember that the best way to attract like-minded people is to keep doing what youâre best at: being yourself! The enthusiasm and expertise that you brought to the table and helped build your audience in the first place is one of the best ways to make sure that youâre always attracting the right people to your business. Itâs the joy of doing what you do best that is going to keep people noticing your work, and so understanding yourself can be a great way of knowing just who it is that you want to be your ideal customers.
Quotes:
âWhat we put out online is either going to attract people to you, the kind of people who are liking and resonating with everything that you're talking about, or you're going to repel the wrong people. And by wrong, I'm not using that as a negative, like one person's right, and one person's wrong. I mean some people are going to like what you have to say, and some people are just going to scroll by.â - Cheryl
âWhen people love your products, theyâre gonna want more.â- Nick
âWhat are people looking for when they're crocheting a project? What do they want to happen? How can my product do that for them, but even better than what they're already getting at their local craft store?â - Cheryl
Like is going to attract like, and you're gonna thank yourself later because you don't want to show up as somebody else and try to be all the things for everybody and end up burning yourself out and disappointing yourself.â - Nicky
Key Points and Take-Aways:
- Who is it that is buying your product? What kind of people are you trying to reach?
- How is your product helping your customers? What problems does your product solve for them?
- Donât be afraid to ask your customers the kind of questions that will help you understand them better!
Have a subject youâd like us to cover or just want to comment about how much you love the podcast? We want to hear from you! You can like, subscribe, and leave us a 5-star rating everywhere you can download podcasts.
Come find us online - we would love to hear from you!
Cheryl: Indie Dyed Entrepreneur on Instagram or Facebook Nicky: Avery Lane Creations on Instagram or Facebook For a Text Notification when new episodes drop, text âMakers Gonna Sellâ to 603-928-7108 Hypnotic Yarn on Instagram or Facebook Yarnable Subscription Box - Cherylâs Subscription Box ALC Yarns - Nickyâs Yarn Shop Nickyâs Makerâs Momentum Inner Circle -
When a big brand notices you for the first time, itâs hard not to think that youâve finally made it in the makers business! Sometimes these collaborations can come organically with them contacting you, or maybe youâve reached out to them and now youâre communicating⊠either way the clout from your collaboration is worth whatever you need to do to get it, right? Yâall, weâre here to break some bad news to you: not all brand relationships are necessarily good for your business. But donât worry, itâs not all bad! You just need to go into any agreement to work together with both eyes open.
On this weekâs podcast, weâre speaking with Sarah Korth, founder of SEK Handmade, about all the peaks and valleys of professional collaborations with brands. We talk about some of the hard lessons weâve learned as entrepreneurs, as well as some of the hidden benefits you might not have thought of. Weâre not afraid of exposure in this podcast collaboration, and weâre giving away some great freebie information!
Quotes:
âThere's always the thing out there that you feel like, if I get that thing, then I've arrived. The illusion of that is that you never arrive, because once you get there, there are other places to go.â â Sarah
âThe first thing you should think about when you work with some sort of company is: what do you want to get out of it? If you were under the assumption that working with a company is going to catapult you to the status and success that you are chasing, youâre in it for the wrong reasons.â â Sarah
âIf you are saying the only thing that makes this collaboration worth it is the potential extra exposure I might get, then I would say it's not worth it. The way that I look at those things now after my experiences is I say, what are they going to pay me is the amount that they're going to pay me to make it worth doing. The truth is a lot of times the only guaranteed thing out of collaborations is the payment.â â Sarah
âI find that sometimes the smaller people I work with, the more beneficial the collaboration because we are in similar spots in our business. And when we promote each other back and forth, it's much more mutually beneficial.â â Sarah
Key Points and Takeaways:
- Understand what you want out of any potential collaboration
- Not all exposure is created equal
- Read the fine print! Know what youâre getting into
- Big collaborations can be lucrative, but donât count out smaller collaborations
You can find Sarah at her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sekhandmade/ and on her website at http://www.sekhandmade.com
Have a subject youâd like us to cover or just want to comment about how much you love the podcast? We want to hear from you! You can like, subscribe, and leave us a 5-star rating everywhere you can download podcasts.
Come find us online - we would love to hear from you!
Cheryl: Indie Dyed Entrepreneur on Instagram or Facebook Nicky: Avery Lane Creations on Instagram or Facebook For a Text Notification when new episodes drop, text âMakers Gonna Sellâ to 603-928-7108 Hypnotic Yarn on Instagram or Facebook Yarnable Subscription Box - Cherylâs Subscription Box ALC Yarns - Nickyâs Yarn Shop Nickyâs Makerâs Momentum Inner Circle -
We became business owners to have the freedom to determine our own success. Since we are now our own bosses and sometimes even our only employee, we tend to see all of our time as potential work hours. You hear about âthe hustleâ from influencers and how as an entrepreneur, all your time must be devoted to achieving success. Look yâall, weâre here to tell you a secret that weâve learned the hard way: taking a break from work, and even planning out rest periods is not a bad thing at all but needed if youâre going to keep having the energy you need to keep advancing forward.
Allowing for some time during your week for rest is absolutely essential. This can be in the form of a slow start to the day to have some coffee or tea and do some reflecting or completing a set number of tasks and taking some time off for you and your workers. Itâs not enough to just work until youâre done and then take a rest. Taking the time to plan out some periods of rest are whatâs needed not only for peace of mind, but also to recuperate your creativity and motivation to keep going. So grab that coffee or brew that tea and listen to our conversation about the important need to take it easy.
Quotes:
âThis is the thing: your business isn't a dash, you're wanting to create longevity here, longevity in your business. It's it isn't created from nonstop work! The secret sauce is being able to rest, not just physically but also your mind; you've got to shut it off.â â Nicky
âIf you have a business, there is never going to be a day that you're going to wake up and be like, oh, there's no more work left to do. It's all been done. Never going to happen. I think we all need to acknowledge that like, there is a never-ending supply of work, and you can't work 24/7. I think when you wrap your head around that it makes it a lot easier to take rest times.â â Cheryl
âI think it was really hard for me to make the decision in my brain that rest is good. For me, it's good for my business for me to realize that just because I'm sitting here doesn't mean that all of a sudden, my business is going to fail.â â Nicky
âI would challenge you to think about doing something if you're not paying yourself yet. I think it's important for your business to be rewarding you in some way. Even at the very beginning, when you're not making a ton of money to support your household or whatever yet, you should still find some way to reward yourself for your work.â â Cheryl
Key Points and Takeaways:
- Work to live, donât live to work! Make time in your schedule for yourself outside of work
- Learning that stepping away isnât going to ruin you is crucial to renew yourself and your creativity
- Resting isnât about being lazy, itâs for your mental health and to keep you working toward your success
Have a subject youâd like us to cover or just want to comment about how much you love the podcast? We want to hear from you! You can like, subscribe, and leave us a 5-star rating everywhere you can download podcasts.
Come find us online - we would love to hear from you!
Cheryl: Indie Dyed Entrepreneur on Instagram or Facebook Nicky: Avery Lane Creations on Instagram or Facebook For a Text Notification when new episodes drop, text âMakers Gonna Sellâ to 603-928-7108 Hypnotic Yarn on Instagram or Facebook Yarnable Subscription Box - Cherylâs Subscription Box ALC Yarns - Nickyâs Yarn Shop Nickyâs Makerâs Momentum Inner Circle -
Weâre all going to run into situations when running our business where we donât make the best decisions. The reality is, weâre going to mess up and make mistakes yâall, itâs a fact of life that we all need to come to grips with. Itâs how long it takes us to get our heads back on straight and deal with those mistakes that weâre discussing and hopefully give you some perspective on this weekâs podcast.
The unfortunate part of making mistakes in your business is that most of the time, those mistakes are going to cost you money, or time, or in the worst cases: a customer. The thing we have to learn is how to quickly pivot to a problem-solving mode and push out any negative thoughts that might be trying to paralyze you. When youâre able to see those mistakes and automatically go into a mode of taking action, those rare times will start to feel less like the end of the world, and just another workday. In this episode, weâre going to hit you with some real situations that weâve gone through (and some of them are a doozy!) and what we were able to do to work through them and come out better on the other side!
Quotes:
âWhere we used to be was, âI can't do thisâ to âhow? How can I?â Just that little shift there, there's so much power in there, because you're telling yourself âI can,â now I just have to figure out how.â â Nicky
âWe all are going to do things that are going to make us go âOh my god.â Theyâre either going to be self-created or sometimes it's just stuff out of our control that happens to us.â â Cheryl
âNothing is set in stone, and everything is fixable, itâs just that sometimes it might take a stick of dynamite and just starting completely over. But it can feel very big in the moment so just take a moment and process those feelings. Once you get those feelings and emotions out and youâre not reacting in those emotions, then you can start thinking, âOkay, this is fixable, and I'm going to go forward and do this.ââ - Nicky
âBeing self-aware and understanding who you are is the key. It's not that one of us does it better, or is right, or whatever. It's knowing who you are as a person and understanding what is going to drive you bananas so that you can plan for that and work with what youâve got.â - Cheryl
Key Points and Takeaways:
- We all make mistakes! Coming to peace with this fact is a huge step forward
- Give yourself some time to process the situation and calm down, but then be ready to act
- Give yourself the grace that making mistakes is just a normal part of owning your own business
Have a subject youâd like us to cover or just want to comment about how much you love the podcast? We want to hear from you! You can like, subscribe, and leave us a 5-star rating everywhere you can download podcasts.
Come find us online - we would love to hear from you!
Cheryl: Indie Dyed Entrepreneur on Instagram or Facebook Nicky: Avery Lane Creations on Instagram or Facebook For a Text Notification when new episodes drop, text âMakers Gonna Sellâ to 603-928-7108 Hypnotic Yarn on Instagram or Facebook Yarnable Subscription Box - Cherylâs Subscription Box ALC Yarns - Nickyâs Yarn Shop Nickyâs Makerâs Momentum Inner Circle Cheryl's freebie mentioned in the episode: https://hypnotic-yarn.ck.page/top-nine - Laat meer zien
