The subtitle of this book I think perfectly explains what the book is all about: “Making and marketing work that lasts”. There are the one-hit-wonders of the world. And then there  are the books, art, music, and businesses that stand the test of time. How do the so-called perennial seller keep reaching people and earning money decades or even centuries later? That’s what this book is all about. Creating something that really matters to people and will live on.

I actually hadn’t heard of this book until it was recommended to us recently, and I’m so glad we gave it a read. As always, Charelle and I picked up on different parts of the book, but over all we both took a lot away from it. I would say this book is most geared toward creatives who are passionate about what they do and really want to build something that lasts, vs. folks who are mainly looking to support a certain lifestyle with their business. No matter where you stand, there is so much food for thought in this episode, and I’m really excited for you to give it a listen. I had truly so much fun digging through this book and highlighted so many things!

I was so excited to have today’s guest on the show. There is so much to say about him that I honestly wasn’t sure how to fit it all into an intro, so here are the highlights.

Calan Breckon helps business owners get clear on their SEO (search engine optimization) strategy for their websites and businesses. He helps develop a content strategy growth plan, keyword planning, email list building, podcast development, and more to boost searchability on Google and search engines and drive more traffic to websites, products, or services.

He also does amazing work uplifting and highlighting the voices of the gay community via his podcast, The Business Gay, a weekly show all about business, marketing, and entrepreneurship. I was so excited to discover this podcast because queer voices are drastically underrepresented in business and marketing, and I love to see a platform curated for the community Calan and I are a part of.

My dears! I have such a treat for you today. One that I am *literally* giddy with anticipation, smiling as I record this to share with you.

This episode comes out on June 4th – and it’s our first episode of PRIDE MONTH! As you probably know, I am a proud member of the queer community and to celebrate Pride, I’ve got a bit of a bonanza on the podcast today.

And that is, of course, with CONTENT! Content is kind of my love language. And so today, I’ve decided to share something with you that until now has only been available to members of Making Good Happen. As you know – in Making Good Happen, we have a private podcast where there’s a new podcast released every single weekday.

SO. Today, I’ve taken not 1, not 2, 3 or 4, BUT FIVE episodes that came out somewhere in the last few weeks, and I’m sharing them here with you today. And you’re gonna want to listen to all of them, because I’m spilling the beans about some big changes in my life and business in a pretty big way in one of these episodes.

We’re covering a few of my favorite topics, everything from content packaging to email to burning it down to aimlessness. It’s gonna be good.

At the beginning of my conversation with today’s guest, I said something like, “This is one of those conversations that is 100% outside of my comfort zone.” I was truly not expecting that my zone of comfort would expand in a whole new way by the end of today’s episode thanks to my guest, Meenadchi.

Meenadchi is a somatic healing practitioner, with a focus on clearing ancestral money trauma for first-time entrepreneurs. The modality she uses for this work is family constellation therapy. In trying to explain family constellation therapy, Meenadchi realized it would be easier to demonstrate how it works by doing a short session during the interview. This was completely unexpected and un planned, but I’m so glad we took the time because there is no substitute for experiencing a session first hand. 

This is maybe the most intimate and personal conversation I’ve ever aired on this show, and I was a little on the fence about how much of it I would share. In the end it felt right to just put the whole thing out there, because I think sharing the experience as well as the insights I gained from it could be super beneficial to listeners of this show. There were some long pauses as I stopped to think about a question or prompt Meenadchi gave me, so those are shortened for your benefit, but otherwise it’s all in there.

Eek!

I’m just gonna come out and say it: Today’s episode is A TREAT. My guest today and I have been mutually following each other for a while and HOLY MOLY am I glad that we finally got to connect. She is as fun to talk to as she is knowledgeable about business and branding.

AND FUN FACT! I’m guest hosting over on her podcast, the exact day that this episode came out! So head over to the Brand Your Passion podcast (in the show notes) to listen to that one.

Hollie Arnett is a graphic designer turned brand strategist. Her mission is to help creatives build their brands, grow their audiences, and share their work with the world so that they can see their vision come true.

Hollie and I are kindred spirits in a few ways, but the most obvious was right smack on her website’s bio. She says, “more creativity, colour, and joy in the world? Yes please.” For those of you who have been around for a while, you know I relate to this on so many different levels. And in fact, Hollie’s relatability is one of the things I like so much about her. She explains branding in an accessible way without the annoying jargon and buzzwords. She is also passionate about what she does, and throughout our conversation offered a goldmine of actionable tips and takeaways.

Whatever stage your branding is in, I know you will find some nugget of wisdom to take away from this interview and keep in your back pocket. Or better yet, put into play right away!

To be honest, I avoided reading this book for quite a while. This is just my opinion, but the title is boring and misleading, and the cover art is pretty bad. I know, “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover” and all that, but it’s actually really bad in my opinion. What finally got me to cave was multiple guests on this podcast kept recommending it to me, people I really respect and enjoyed talking to. So Charelle and I decided to crack it open!

Now, while I don’t agree with everything in E-Myth, it turned out there were more valuable takeaways than I think either Charelle or I were expecting, which was such a lovely surprise. As per usual, Charelle and I flagged at different sections and had some really different takeaways. I cannot wait for you to listen to our conversation and see what you think.

I’m not usually a big new years resolution gal, but this year I did set the goal of spending more quality time with people in my small business community, not only online but in person. But lets face it, getting the ball rolling can feel a little awkward. That’s why I was so excited to chat with today’s guest, Danielle Bayard Jackson.

A certified friendship coach, Danielle teaches women how to make and maintain better friendships through research-based methodology. Since studying the ins and outs of female friendships, her teachings include how to solve common female friendship conflicts, creating connections with depth and closeness, and the impact of friendship on our physical, mental, and emotional health.

Books are a huge part of my life… and my business.

You might have noticed a hint of that from the fact that Making Good has a book club! In addition to the every Tuesday episodes that come out here on the podcast, on the fifteenth of every month we also have a Making Good Book Club episode, where we discuss a book we think can make an impact on your business, share our key takeaways, and then let you know what book we’re covering NEXT MONTH.

I’ve read a lot of books in the last couple of years. Not all of them changed things for me. But the ones that did? BOY am I glad I got to read them.

Stephen King said, “Books are a uniquely portable magic.”

And I want to share some of that magic with you.

Here’s the deal in today’s episode. We’re going to talk about 10 books that have changed my life and business… and might just do the same for you.

I am so, so thankful to today’s guest for completely letting me go off the rails and run wild with our conversation. Something you may not know about many interview-style podcasts is as hosts, we try to prep our guests with a list of questions they can expect during the interview. For whatever reason, I threw many of the pre-determined questions for this episode right out the window, and Julie Sellers was totally game. Often times, following your intuition and excitement yields the best results, and my conversation with Julie was no exception! 

Julie is the CEO of a small business advisory firm called Ellevated Outcomes, where she and her team teach and develop customized business strategy for creative entrepreneurs. They offer two paths to clarity & confidence for creative entrepreneurs who have found success in their unique skills, passion, and intuition, and who now seek a sustainable business and a balanced life.

Julie was so genuine and thoughtful in her responses to my questions, (and follow up questions). If she could shout one message from the rooftops, I think it would be this: “CEO” isn’t a big scary commitment, it’s a mindset that can help you reach your goals, however you define them! I cannot wait for you to give our fascinating conversation a listen.

This is not a business or self-help book.

It is a personal and social history intertwined with a healthy critique of white supremacy and capitalism and the way it influences how we work and the way we value ourselves and our time. Tricia writes from her experience as a black woman and descendant of enslaved people. There was so much in this book that just made me pause and re-read and underline and reflect.

Mindset is certainly a big topic that I tackle fairly often, both on this podcast and in my membership, and Rest is Resistance has given me so much food for thought about how I approach mental health and well-being in my work. I loved talking with Charelle about this book, and as always, seeing what different pieces of wisdom we each picked up on. This was a truly great conversation, and I cannot wait for you to hear it.

I am so excited to bring you this episode with a RARE repeat guest! Megan Dowd is a Certified Equity-Centered Coach who specializes in branding. You may remember Megan from the very early days of this podcast, where we chatted about how storytelling can help build strong connections in your business. That is a great episode and if you’re curious about checking it out, it is linked in the shownotes. 

Megan has since joined forces with graphic designer Nicole Yang and Copy, Content and Marketing specialist Latasha Doyle to form Rendezvous Creative, a full service design, branding and coaching agency offering a signature service that combines their talents and expertise. Noticing the predictable bottlenecks that arise as a result of having to communicate across studios and agencies, Megan, Nicole and Latasha have created a completely in-house solution where they can collaborate with each other, and their client.

My conversation with Megan was wide ranging and full of so many things to learn, from the joys of working with a team, to trusting your gut when it comes to your branding strategy. Megan is so much fun to talk to, and I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did.

Okay. I’m about to say something that is going to sound like an exaggeration. But I promise you, it’s not.

Here it is:

Starting a podcast has changed my life.

As a result of the simple decision to start a podcast, so much has come into my life. I have new friends! A new community. A new body of work that I’m so proud of. New skills, new confidence, and yes new revenue streams.

So, over 220 episodes into Making Good, I thought it was HIGH TIME that I do a deep dive into podcasting.

I was really excited to have today’s guest on the show because she offers a totally unique perspective to branding.

Talyn Rahman-Figueroa is a former British diplomat consultant turned brand expert. Her expertise lies in a distinctive realm: empowering solopreneurs to transform themselves into Brand Ambassadors within their respective industries.

Talyn’s background as a UK diplomatic consultant forms the foundation of her approach. Her mission is clear: just as she turned citizens into diplomats, she now turns solo entrepreneurs into Brand Ambassadors. Talyn firmly believes that every solopreneur has the potential to become an industry icon.

It was so fascinating to hear how Talyn incorporates her background in consulting diplomats when working with clients.

Here’s something I think just about everyone dreads when it comes to marketing their businesses:

CRICKETS.

You know. The sound of creating content, sending an email, posting a Reel, sharing anything really to market your business and then… nothing.

No responses. No comments. No likes. No sales. Nothing.

UGH. I know. No fun.

The experience I just described is the exact opposite of ENGAGEMENT, which is the topic of today’s episode.

Today’s episode is a super practical, hands-on episode. We’re going to talk about what engagement is, why it matters, and (what I know you’re all waiting for) how to INCREASE and IMPROVE your engagement. I’m going to give you some real concrete strategies, and my hope is that you will go put these strategies into play!

As soon as the pitch for Doreen Vanderhart landed in my inbox, I knew I had to have her on the show. She is passionate about bringing ease back to marketing, and trading burnout for gentle, yet strategic marketing plans. I loved geeking out with someone who is on the same page as me in so many ways.

Doreen Vanderhart is the founder of Knap Creative, a social media marketing and website design agency located near Lethbridge, Alberta. She started Knap Creative because she believes there is an easier and less stressful way to get your goodness into the hands of your people. Doreen and her team offer inspiration and marketing services and are here to support you in living an intentional, relaxed, meaningful life.

Does that not sound like the best? If Doreen had one message for my audience it would be this; Take the pressure off and trust yourself! In our conversation, we chatted about how to do just that, and so much more. Doreen is such a fun, energetic person to talk to, I know you’ll enjoy listening to our conversation as much as I enjoyed having it.

Most of us can probably relate to the experience of working really hard on something and then just…. Not finishing. Burning out at mile 25 of the metaphorical marathon.

That’s because creating things in the world is HARD, perhaps most of all when it comes to the point where we say. This is done! This is good enough! I’m proud of this and ready to move on.

But here’s the thing – finishing is where the magic happens. It’s where all your hard work pays off. It’s where you get to say, "I did it."

So, how do we cross that finish line? How do we push past the procrastination, the perfectionism, and the plethora of distractions to finally check that box that says, "Done"?

That’s exactly what we’re diving into today. I’m sharing strategies, experiences, and maybe a little bit of tough love, all designed to get you moving, keep you going, and ultimately, help you finish strong.

As you may have heard me talk about before, I am a big productivity nerd. I love learning and chatting about new strategies and ideas for getting the most out of the day, whatever that means to you. But I know that’s not the case for everyone, and in fact, can be fuel for self-criticism. I’ve been there too. My guest today knows exactly how loaded the word “Productivity” can be, and I am so excited to share her thoughts on a new way to think about being productive.

My guest is Amber De La Garza The Productivity Specialist! Amber has more than a decade of experience helping small business owners maximize profits, reduce stress, and make time for what matters most by improving their time management and elevating their productivity. Amber is a sought-after coach, trainer, speaker, writer, host of the Productivity Straight Talk Podcast and creator of Leverage Lab®. Amber shares her message on her weekly podcast and as Straight Talks both virtually and in-person across the country for audiences that range from small business owners and associations to multinational corporations.

As you’ll hear in this conversation, Amber’s approach to harnessing productivity is right up my alley. Setting realistic goals? Check. Being gentle with yourself? Check. Prioritizing tasks? Check! I’m so excited for you to hear my full chat with Amber.