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. 

Today’s episode is SO IMPORTANT! And I’m so excited to share it with you.

Because my friend, keeping going is EVERYTHING. Keeping going – or, being consistent – is what really does separate the folks who meet their goals from everyone else.

Which is good news! Because it means you don’t have to be special. You just have to show up every day, consistently.

So! Today is part 2 of a 3-part series here on the podcast. Part 1 was about getting started. Part 2 is about keeping going – that’s today’s episode. And the final episode coming out soon is Part 3 - How to finish.

If you want to start with Part 1 – How to Get Started, go check out episode 217 of Making Good. Then come back here afterward.

When I heard Ali had a book coming out I was immediately sold. I purchased a book, got on the waitlist, and, (with Charelle’s agreement of course), we decided to cover his book on the podcast. So this is that episode! We finally got our hands and eyeballs on our copies of Feel Good Productivity, and I had so much fun dissecting this book with Charelle.

As Cherelle would say, Feel Good Productivity is very “bitty.” In other words, it is jam-packed with lots of bits of extremely valuable info, way more than we could ever cover in one episode. His recommendations, ideas, and experiments you can try are evidence-based and science-backed, which I very much appreciate. Ali also asks a lot of valuable questions in the book, which are themselves very worth keeping in your back pocket.

I think this book is well worth a read, but here we’re going to talk about some of our key takeaways. I think Charelle and I did a good job of pulling out highlights that will hopefully inspire you in your day-to-day, but again I would absolutely recommend giving the whole book a read, it is fantastic.

Today’s show is a bit different from the topics I usually cover, though the topic has come up in small ways as long as I’ve been making this podcast.

We’re talking about how to pick yourself up when life gets in the way, with my guest Michelle Simons.

The truth is that not every day is going to be awesome. Some days may find you in a pretty low place. Maybe some health issues came up, maybe a friend or family member is going through a rough time, maybe some other tough life stuff is going on, or maybe you’re just experiencing what we all do from time to time- burnout. Despite our circumstances, so much of the time, things still need to get done.

If any of this resonates, my guest today knows exactly how you feel. In fact, picking yourself up and moving forward after challenging life events is something she’s given a lot of thought. Michelle Simons is a a brand strategist and copywriter for small businesses and entrepreneurs. She loves helping business owners pinpoint their brand’s beyond-profit purpose, talk about it in their message, and live it out.

Though Michelle is an amazing copywriter and is so good at what she does, we actually had her on the show to talk about a very different topic: how to run a business when life gets in the way. Michelle has chronic illness, and as a result has done a lot of mindset work and strategizing around how to keep her business moving during and after an event. You can’t plan for everything life throws at you, and I was so inspired by everything Michelle shared about toxic positivity, “comparisonitis,” and ways to be gentle with yourself.

I’ve got a very short & sweet episode for you, today, and it’s 2 things! An invitation and a gift.

As a small business owner, one of the things that I’ve had the most fun with is when I get to work with other small business owners… This is something i’ve done through my stationery business, Good Sheila, my retail shop, Station 7, and even this podcast.

Turns out that working with other small business owners can be a form of marketing – something called Partnership Marketing! Partnership marketing is when two businesses create a campaign or promotion that benefits both parties. It can take all kinds of forms, everything from a giveaway to a joint product or offer and everything in between.

Well, I was so excited to have today’s guest on the show because she is a partnership marketing expert. Erika Rodriguez works with mission-driven companies, social impact organizations, and ecopreneurs to create impactful content strategies and partnerships. Through her small business, Nadi Marketing, Erika helps grow conscious businesses through intentional marketing and the power of partnerships so that their visions for positive change continue to be sustainable.

I loved Erika’s straightforward and actionable tips for anyone new to partnership marketing. She was so full of creative ideas and examples, and I’m so grateful for how generous she was with her knowledge. I cannot wait for you to hear our conversation.

Sometimes, the simplest things are also the hardest to do.

Exhibit A: Showing up consistently for something… even if it’s something you really care about.
Exhibit B: Putting ourselves out there.
And Exhibit C, which is what we’re talking all about in today’s episode, and is probably the simplest of all:

STARTING.

Taking the first step. Writing the first paragraph. Your first 5 minutes on the treadmill.

Starting.

Starting is simple, deceptively difficult, and yet… SO CRITICAL. Anything you want to do in life requires taking the first step.

Any result you want can only come from getting started.

So. Today’s episode is tackling this very pain point that I suspeeeeect a lot of you can relate to. I know I certainly can! And that is: GETTING STARTED.

My guest today is Denisa Parker, and while our areas of focus are different, there is a lot of overlap in the types of clients we work with. Denisa is the founder of Kind and Ivy, a brand and packaging design studio. She works with conscientious small business owners to help them unapologetically stand out in their market and create memorable experiences for their customers, so they can ultimately make a bigger positive impact in the world. Denisa has worked with fashion, beauty, wellness, and handmade brands to help them make a big impact with their audience- all while making a minimal impact on the planet.