Beyond The Mood Board

When was the last time you checked in on the state of your brand? I’m walking you through how to conduct a brand audit and the mistakes you may be making when communicating with your audience.   As entrepreneurs, we’re idea people. We change and add things all the time.    But as we move through business at a quick clip, we become further and further away from our customers. It becomes impossible to see our brand and hear our messages as they do.    On this episode, I’m sharing: Why the curse of knowledge is hurting your message, The real reason entrepreneurs aren’t asking for enough feedback, When you should be conducting a brand audit, And what you need to protect your creative investments.   Visit Pattern of Purpose for show notes and links to resources mentioned on this episode.

You’ve probably used #communityovercompetition in one of your social posts. But what does that really mean? Chris Spear shares his motivation behind unifying an industry and sending business to his competition.    I met Chris when he created a custom dinner for my Back to Business retreat attendees earlier this fall. After sharing the story behind each course, Chris opened up a bit about his business journey. It was then I knew I had to have him on the show to share his unique approach to bringing an industry together.   On this episode, Chris and I talk about: Building a business that didn’t exist elsewhere, Marketing an unfamiliar concept to a niche audience, Refusing to compromise your vision for a quick paycheck, Selling convenience, and Why he built a community full of his competition.   Visit Pattern of Purpose for show notes and links to resources mentioned on this episode.

You want more than a headshot—and the staged computer shot is so overdone—but you aren’t quite sure what type of images will best reflect your business. I’m sharing my best tips for capturing your brand essence when what you sell is inside your head.     On this episode, I’m sharing: Painful lessons from seven years of photoshoots, What you need to decide before you hire a photographer, How to build a mood board and shot list, The best way to dress for your shoot, and How to remain relaxed on shoot day.   Want all these tips at your fingertips? Join my list to receive this and other episode-specific action guides.    For show notes and links to resources mentioned on this episode, visit Pattern of Purpose.

Your customer experience is what will turn happy clients into referral machines. Torrance Hart of Teak & Twine shares how we can include personal touches throughout our engagements with purposeful client gifting.   The art of a handwritten note has been all but lost in the busyness of our days and instant gratification that comes with digital messaging. While our customers are looking for results, being thoughtful enough to send gratitude, connect personally, and keep their experience front of mind is what will take our brands from ordinary to stand-out.   On this episode, Torrance and I chat about: Recognizing when you’re limiting yourself, The benefits of starting small, Investing in your business strategically, Paying attention to what your audience is asking for, and The one thing your customers will swoon over (that costs NOTHING).   Visit Pattern of Purpose for show notes and links to resources mentioned on this episode.

What does your personality have to do with how you should promote your work? And how is that different based on if you’re a solopreneur vs. leading a team? Brit Kolo joins me to talk about ditching the general approach to marketing and choosing specific activities that will work for you.   I believe there are two types of people in this world — people who love creating content and people who love sharing content. I’m in the former category.    If you are too, I bet you’ve been turned off by marketing experts telling you that in order to be successful you need to be everywhere all the time. If I could guess, this advice just makes you turn more inward focusing on the work rather than the promotion.   But no one knows how to hire you if you’re hiding.    Brit has found a way to make marketing easier — and might I say enjoyable — for all of us.    On this episode, Brit leads us through: How to find the best marketing activity that fits you, Saying no and how to be intentional with how you spend your time,

Most talk about digital products comes with the promise of replacing your income and no longer trading your time for money. But for those of us that enjoy working with clients, the thought of packaging our entire process feels overwhelming. Eden Fried re-frames that expectation by introducing a tripwire offer, sharing how this simple product can turn your audience into loyal customers.   I’ve been pushing away conversations about digital products for a while. I think it’s because so many businesses are popping up online promising to make you $100k overnight by simply packaging up what you already know.    I think about business differently. I want to work with experts who aren’t new to their craft. And to be honest, I’ve bought more than one digital product that looked great but packed in little value.    For all these reasons I was hesitant to have Eden on the show. But I’m so glad I did.   On this episode, Eden and I chat about: What it means to be a rebel in your career, The purpose of a digital product,

I’ve been side eyeing e-courses for a while now. I’m intrigued by them but also a little wary of the promises I hear experts making related less work and immediate income spikes. Sharice Enis cuts through the noise, shares how you can benefit from a course, and specific questions to consider when you’re getting started.    I’m sure you’ve heard these things too: “E-courses are passive income.” “Make money while you sleep.” “Build it and they will come.”   These all feel like big promises for little work.   I’m very aware I’m working on not equating hard work with valuable work, but still -- if e-courses are really the path to cash, how is it possible to make yours stand out?   I had Sharice on the show because she approaches course creation differently. On this episode she lays out: When you might be ready for an e-course, The benefits of creating a course to supplement other services and/or products, How to be clear on your differentiators and target market needs, Whether you should consider an open or clos

Shannon Mattern ⁠— podcaster, educator, web designer, and former side hustler ⁠— joins me to debunk the myth that one-to-one services are the most profitable. She shares her system for tracking how you’re spending your time compared to how money is flowing into your business, so that you can spend time on the work you love while scaling your business.   Although the term “side hustle” is loaded ⁠— with many using the term to describe a way to make a little extra money here and there⁠ — Shannon thinks about it differently. To her, a side hustle deserves a very specific strategy that will be sustainable over the long-term so that it will fully replace your income.   It’s a training ground to make mistakes ⁠— mistakes that can happen when you’re still working full-time. That gives you a little more freedom and a little less stress so that you can invest money in certain things and learn to brand because you have a steady paycheck coming in.    On this episode, Shannon and I chat about: The distinct way she view

Six years ago Catherine Zack left her prestigious title and large paycheck as a corporate litigator to pursue yoga. Today she shares how she helps type-A, success-driven (perhaps even workaholic) entrepreneurs slow down and reconnect to their greatest resource: themselves. Catherine and I are one of the success stories of technology. We met on Instagram. This was at a time I was feeling burned out; I couldn’t see past the next thing on my to-do list. And in walked Catherine -- a source of light who can hold space and envelops you in her calming presence.    She’s pushed me to be more considerate in how I’m taking care of myself so I can show up as a better leader, a better mom, a better wife, and a better business owner.   This conversation is important -- and not because we’re talking dollars and growth strategies -- but because as the owner of your business you are its most precious resource. And you have to take care of yourself if you want to grow.   On this episode, Catherine and I chat about: The impac

Today the podcast launches under its new name: Pattern of Purpose. I’m talking all about why I named it Beyond the Mood Board in the first place, how this pivot relates to my business rebrand, and what to expect in future episodes.   Six months into podcasting can change a lot. What began as a medium for content marketing has now shifted into a referral generator, networking platform, and channel to develop my point of view.    On this episode I open up about: My intentions for starting a podcast, Why I was confused when people asked where they could learn more about my work, How my rebrand had me questioning everything, and Risking losing some of my current audience to gain long-term brand awareness.   Visit Pattern of Purpose for show notes and links to resources mentioned on this episode.

Nine months ago I got the idea to gather like-minded business women in a house in the mountains, talking business, balance, and growth. Never could I have predicted how this experience would challenge me, uncover my gifts, and fortify deeply meaningful relationships.   On the heels of my first retreat -- the Back to Business Retreat -- I sat down and hit record to reflect on what it’s like to host a retreat and how it’s changed me and my business forever.    While I pride myself on always telling it like it is, I’ve never before shared in such a tell-all way as I am in this episode.   On this episode I’m sharing: Why I was called to host a retreat for female business owners; Partnering, planning, and launching the retreat; What attendees were looking for and the deep, unexpected lessons they came away with;  What it meant for me to be pushed over the edge of my comfort zone; and 10 tips for anyone considering hosting a retreat.     Visit Pattern of Purpose for show notes and links to resources and tools men

They say the average millionaire has seven streams of income. That means multiple businesses, multiple brands. Today Latoya Dixon Smith joins me to share how she decided to split her business ideas into three brands and the secrets to keeping each one distinct.   Latoya Dixon Smith is a mechanical engineer turned wedding and couples photographer based in Greenville, SC. She helps photographers find more freedom within their business by helping them create workflows and processes that allow them to better serve their clients and do more of what they love.   On this episode, Latoya and I discuss: Transitioning from side hustler to full time photographer; Building your own community when one doesn’t exist; Using your non-traditional path in your business’ origin story; Why you should be using systems to save you time; Getting support from your family as an entrepreneur; and Niching down.   Visit Pattern of Purpose for show notes and links to resources mentioned on this episode.

A lot of people have tried to convince me to change my job title. From “that doesn’t cover everything you do” to “business coach is more recognized,” I’ve heard it all. Tune in to see why I stood my ground and what’s behind this amorphous title.    Most people I’ve worked with didn’t really know HOW we were going to do the work. They just knew I could help them get to where they wanted to go. I came in somewhere between them saying, “I know what I want to say but I can’t say it” and “my brand doesn’t reflect my value.”    This episode is dedicated to explaining what I do as a brand strategist, how I’ve structured my offers to serve my clients best, and getting comfortable with having a business that doesn’t look like everyone else’s.    On this solocast I talk about: How I’m navigating a season of change; What I’m investing in for my business to grow; Struggles and doubts with pricing; How a brand strategist can help business owners; Why most people don’t realize they have a brand messaging problem; and How

Making your first hire is an exciting and terrifying opportunity. For those of us who are control freaks, it feels risky to trust someone else to carry out our personal vision. But take it from me: you’ll never be able to grow if you’re spreading yourself too thin.   On this episode, I had my own first hire, Kristiina Craven, join us. Kristiina is a marketing and visibility strategist who helps small business owners get visible by determining the best channels to leverage and reach their target market. Based in Denver, Colorado, where she lives with her husband, two kids, and two dogs, she works as a virtual professional with clients around the world.    On this show we’re discussing: What a VA is; Where to find talent and how to convey your highest needs; Giving effective direction, communication, and feedback; The importance of documenting systems; Niching down; and Gaining more visibility for your business.   Visit Pattern of Purpose for show notes and links to resources mentioned on this episode.

Does your website copy sound like you? Feel like you? If not, Jacq Fisch is here to help you drop all the awkward feelings you have about writing about yourself, so you can better connect with your audience and sound like the expert you are.   Jacq Fisch is a copywriter, strategist, and writing coach for business owners who want to sound human while they change the world. She helps them ditch the jargon so they can relate to and connect with their perfect clients using engaging online copy that sells.    On today’s show, Jacq and I have a blast talking about: Her extended journey to full-time entrepreneurship, What it means to ditch fussy writing, How to successfully write your own copy, Getting comfortable with B- work, and Her Write Like a MoFo Community,   Jacq also was generous enough to provide all listeners with a free copy of her Website Copy Pat Down Guide.   Visit Pattern of Purpose for show notes and links to resources mentioned on this episode.

Few small businesses make it to the 10-year mark. To do so requires shifting your business model, growing as a leader, investing in yourself and your business, and learning to say ‘no.’    On the show today is Rebecca Teaff, owner and founder of Redstart Creative, a Baltimore-based creative communications agency serving those who are driving positive change in the world.   Since 2009, Redstart has been supporting brands for women-owned small businesses and non-profits in the educational, environmental and family support space.    On this episode with Rebecca, we’re chatting about: Developing brand values, Growing a team, Stepping away from executing the work so you can lead the work, Taking time away from your business, Lessons learned from ten years in business, and  The value of setting a word of the year.   Visit Pattern of Purpose for show notes and links to resources mentioned on this episode.

Are you running a business or a hobby that pays for itself? While we’ve all heard that we should "follow your passion," this advice alone isn’t enough to sustain a healthy and profitable business.   As an admitted workaholic, I’ve been trying to create more space lately for myself outside of work. Though it’s been a difficult transition from my 9-5 to being 100% self-employed, I’ve been challenged to think about my client engagements and deliverables differently than before. And while I love the work that I do, I’ve realized passion is an incomplete picture of what makes a successful business.   In this episode I’m talking about: What can happen when you place financial burden on your creativity, The unintended consequences of the digital nomad culture, How burnout is related to loving what you do, Why you might need a passion project, and Specific ways to shift your mindset around profits and setting healthy boundaries with your clients.   Visit Pattern of Purpose for show notes and links to resources ment

You can start a business from anywhere, selling almost anything. And while these opportunities are no longer reserved for the 1%, being an entrepreneur tends to put a burden on our creative process, making us feel like we have to monetize everything we do.    I invited my friend, Tasha L. Harrison, to the show to talk about how she defines creativity. Tasha is a romance and erotica author, freelance editor, and a creative entrepreneur dedicated to helping new and aspiring word makers become authors. With these titles, I assumed she has the key to unlocking creativity. And while she’s got some great tips, I learned that none of us are immune to the struggles that go along with putting our work out into the world.   In this episode we discuss: What it means to be creative; The need for enjoyment above productivity; Why you should be asking for feedback; How to test your ideas; Getting past the overwhelm of getting started; and Showing up and showing support to others.   And if you’re into Game of Thrones, yea