In this episode, we're flipping the script on self-critique and diving into the power of visualization for entrepreneurial success. Join me and guest, Paul Schmidt, as we chat about letting go of self-doubt and embracing the mindset of visualizing success instead of critiquing ourselves. Paul shares practical tips and insights on how to harness the magic of visualization to propel your entrepreneurial journey forward. We also talk about entrepreneurship failures and how to use these tough experiences as learning lessons while not beating ourselves up about what happened. You'll be inspired by this conversation and ready to tackle your goals! 

Takeaways: Discover the tool of visualization and how it can help your path to success  Stop beating yourself up about failures and instead use it for personal and business growth  Ensuring you have accountability will help you apply these lessons and see the results 

Resources Mentioned:  Website: https://vopro.pro Podcast: https://vopro.pro/podcast YouTube: https://youtube.com/@vo-pro Work with Paul: https://vofreedommasterplan.com Amanda's Interview on the VO Pro Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw7uh8JmTX8 ConvertKit: https://partners.convertkit.com/c8dlwcu14lkj   Amanda's Free Resources: https://www.amandamckinney.com/free What's Your Productivity Personality (Free Quiz): https://www.amandamckinney.com/quiz All podcast episodes: https://pod.link/1473751874 Amanda's Website: https://www.amandamckinney.com/ Amanda's Coaching Options: https://www.amandamckinney.com/coaching Amanda's Book: https://www.amandamckinney.com/book

If the idea of selling feels gross or scary to you, this conversation was recorded for you. As soon as you step into entrepreneurship, most people run into the discomfort when selling something they've created. But in order to have a successful business, you have to sell your products or services and that's why I brought on this guest today. Gwen Tinsley is a sales coach that helps you uncover the value of your offerings so you can sell with confidence. 

Takeaways:  Reframe selling as highlighting an outcome to attract the right clients. Most sales are related to: saving time and money, increasing sales and revenue, and reducing risk. Feature vs benefit analysis helps businesses highlight the value of their offerings. Surround yourself with supportive communities and coaches to overcome imposter syndrome.

Resources Mentioned:  Website - https://www.gritandtenacityconsulting.com/ Free Sales Audit: https://gritandtenacity.myflodesk.com/hkwgfnar21 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gritandtenacityconsulting/ Amanda's Free Resources: https://www.amandamckinney.com/free What's Your Productivity Personality (Free Quiz): https://www.amandamckinney.com/quiz All podcast episodes: https://pod.link/1473751874 Amanda's Website: https://www.amandamckinney.com/ Amanda's Coaching Options: https://www.amandamckinney.com/coaching Amanda's Book: https://www.amandamckinney.com/book Smart Brevity (book recommendation) - https://bookshop.org/a/81920/9781523516971  Do Hard Better (Kara Lawson Video) -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDzfZOfNki4

Have you ever felt ashamed of wanting to make more money? If so, this episode is for you! My guest, Laura Sinclair, captured my attention quickly when I saw this on her website: "be unashamed to desire more money". I invited her onto the show ASAP so we could dig a little deeper into this topic in hopes that you walk away feeling more confident in your aspirations because in order to make a bigger impact, you'll need to push through this discomfort.

Takeaways: Take risks and have the confidence to figure things out along the way. Be unashamed about the desire to make money and price services based on their worth. Address and overcome shame and negative beliefs surrounding money. Practice open communication in navigating money dynamics within relationships.

Resources Mentioned:  Website: https://www.laura-sinclair.com/opt-in-dac07540-db10-4901-bc59-859324fa2eb9 Podcast: This Mother Means Business: https://thismothermeansbusiness.buzzsprout.com/ Instagram: Business and Marketing Mentor - @itslaurasinclair Instagram: Podcast - @thismothermeansbusiness  Instagram: Social Media Agency - @theljsocialagency  TIKTOK: @itslaurasinclair FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ljsocial  Amanda's Free Resources: https://www.amandamckinney.com/free What's Your Productivity Personality (Free Quiz): https://www.amandamckinney.com/quiz All podcast episodes: https://pod.link/1473751874 Amanda's Website: https://www.amandamckinney.com/ Amanda's Coaching Options: https://www.amandamckinney.com/coaching Amanda's Book: https://www.amandamckinney.com/book

Today we're talking about productivity and how you can be more effective with this in your life and business. There's a big difference between being busy and being productive so I'm sharing my definition of both and how you can be productive and achieve your goals. I share my personal struggle with this as I'm a person who enjoys being busy and how I've taken action to mitigate this. I also share the 3 productivity personality types: the busy bee, the adaptable achiever, and the focused finisher. I outline them all and you can find out which one you are by taking my free quiz at amandamckinney.com/quiz. It only takes a few minutes and by doing this you're able to play to your strengths and be more productive. 

Takeaways Busy = constant action while Productive = intentional action  There are three productivity personality types: the busy bee, the adaptable achiever, and the focused finisher.  Understanding your productivity personality type can help you play to your strengths and find what works for you.  Being productive requires slowing down and being intentional, even if it feels uncomfortable.

Resources Mentioned:  Amanda's Free Resources: https://www.amandamckinney.com/free What's Your Productivity Personality (Free Quiz): https://www.amandamckinney.com/quiz All podcast episodes: https://pod.link/1473751874 Amanda's Website: https://www.amandamckinney.com/ Amanda's Coaching Options: https://www.amandamckinney.com/coaching Amanda's Book: https://www.amandamckinney.com/book

If you're looking to grow your business, one place to focus on is your customer experience. It's likely that you're thinking of creating a new offering but instead you could amplify your experience and gain more clients. My guest today, Ernesto Mandowsky, shares how his experience in the restaurant industry has influenced his approach to customer experience and he has 5 specific tips for you. Throughout the conversation he shares these specific ideas with you that you can implement today and why they matter. You'll walk away inspired to upgrade your customer experience, impact more lives and create scalable systems all along the way. 

Takeaways: Entrepreneurship is a journey of self-development and personal growth. Creating a connection with customers and understanding their needs is crucial for a great customer experience. Small gestures, such as welcome gifts, can make a big impact on the customer experience. Implementing effective systems and processes is key to scaling your business and ensuring smooth operations.

Resources Mentioned:  Ernesto's Website: www.startingwithsystems.com Ernesto's Free Call: www.freesystemscall.com  Ernesto's Instagram: instagram.com/ernesto_cpd  Amanda's Free Resources: https://www.amandamckinney.com/free What's Your Productivity Personality (Free Quiz): https://www.amandamckinney.com/quiz All podcast episodes: https://pod.link/1473751874 Amanda's Website: https://www.amandamckinney.com/ Amanda's Coaching Options: https://www.amandamckinney.com/coaching Amanda's Book: https://www.amandamckinney.com/book

Curious what the secret sauce is to making progress towards any goal? It's sometimes a tough pill to swallow but the key is...accountability.  In this episode I share the true meaning of accountability because it's not just about checking things off a to-do list. Accountability is about taking ownership of your actions (or lack of them) so you can learn from all experiences and it leads to continual progress. I share how you can implement a few simple things each week to help you hold yourself accountable and make progress towards your goal. 

Takeaways: Accountability is the secret sauce to making progress towards any goal but that doesn't just mean crossing things off a to-do list  True accountability is taking ownership of one's actions or lack thereof is crucial for accountability. Setting realistic goals and identifying intentional actions can lead to continual progress. Committing to accountability and being kind to yourself are key to building confidence and trust in yourself. 

Resources Mentioned:  Amanda's Free Resources: https://www.amandamckinney.com/free What's Your Productivity Personality (Free Quiz): https://www.amandamckinney.com/quiz All podcast episodes: https://pod.link/1473751874 Amanda's Website: https://www.amandamckinney.com/ Amanda's Coaching Options: https://www.amandamckinney.com/coaching Amanda's Book: https://www.amandamckinney.com/book

Does entrepreneurship feel lonely to you? If so, you're not alone in this feeling and we're talking about it this week on the podcast. Charelle Griffith shares her journey into entrepreneurship and the challenges of loneliness in the business world. From hesitating to start her business all the way to being featured on BBC, Charelle shares the details about how she's navigated loneliness as well as visibility as an entrepreneur as well. We get into all the feelings and ups and downs along the way. Charelle also shares the many approaches she tried to combat the loneliness and how you can try different things to see what works for you. It's not a one-size-fits-all solution but this conversation will give you actionable tips to support you. 

Takeaways: Navigating Loneliness as an Entrepreneur Strategies to Combat Loneliness Overcoming the Fear of Failure The Impact of Personal Development on Business Success

Resources Mentioned:  Website: https://www.charellegriffith.com    Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charellegriffith   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charellegriffith Amanda's Free Resources: https://www.amandamckinney.com/free What's Your Productivity Personality (Free Quiz): https://www.amandamckinney.com/quiz All podcast episodes: https://pod.link/1473751874 Amanda's Website: https://www.amandamckinney.com/ Amanda's Coaching Options: https://www.amandamckinney.com/coaching Amanda's Book: https://www.amandamckinney.com/book

Entrepreneurship is hard, yet rewarding but we need to talk about the hard stuff so you know you're not alone. In this conversation, Ruthie Sterrett and I talk about the hard things we've encountered that we didn't know was coming our way as an entrepreneur. From revenue changes to emotions, we share it all and we do it while we are both experiencing hard things. Instead of waiting until we were on the other side of it, we share while we're in the messy middle so you know you're not alone. In the end the reality is that things in life and in entrepreneurship don't get easier, but you get better at handling the hard things that come your way. You've got this and we hope this conversation is something you come back to anytime you need it. 

Takeaways: Entrepreneurship often involves taking action and embracing uncertainty, even without having all the answers. Making hard decisions, such as cutting expenses or ending coaching relationships, is necessary for the long-term success of the business. Balancing business and personal life requires effective time management and the ability to compartmentalize different aspects of life. Finding work-life integration is more effective than striving for work-life balance. Social media comparison can negatively impact mental health, so it's important to remember that everyone has their own struggles. Taking time to feel and reflect on emotions is an important part of personal growth and learning.

Resources Mentioned:  Ruthie's Website - https://www.theconsistencycorner.com/decide Ruthie's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theconsistencycorner  Amanda's Free Resources: https://www.amandamckinney.com/free What's Your Productivity Personality (Free Quiz): https://www.amandamckinney.com/quiz All podcast episodes: https://pod.link/1473751874 Amanda's Website: https://www.amandamckinney.com/ Amanda's Coaching Options: https://www.amandamckinney.com/coaching Amanda's Book: https://www.amandamckinney.com/book

In this episode, Josh Haynam, co-founder of Interact, a quiz software company, shares openly about the rewards and challenges of entrepreneurship. Josh was on the podcast in 2020 and we talk about all that's changed at Interact including how they've built a team (with no investment), continued to focus on not just results for customers but also a culture of the team as it's grown and how "egolessness" was at the heart of it all. We talk about the iterative process of evolving a business, intrinsic motivation and the significance of cherishing the early days of business. Plus we talk about the new product interact has: InteractAI which allows you to create a quiz in under 2 minutes! 

Takeaways Focus and continuous improvement are key to success in entrepreneurship. Leaders should foster an egoless culture and guide their teams towards their goals. Iterative processes are essential for implementing new technologies and improving products. Intrinsic motivation and valuing internal growth are crucial for long-term success. Cherishing the early days of iteration and being adaptable are important for building a strong foundation. How you can build a quiz to grow your email list (and business) in under 2 minutes! 

Resources Mentioned:  Create your free quiz: https://www.amandamckinney.com/interact  Interact Website: https://tryinteract.com/ai  Josh Haynam Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jhaynam/  Interact Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tryinteract/ Amanda's Free Resources: https://www.amandamckinney.com/free All podcast episodes: https://pod.link/1473751874 Amanda's Website: https://www.amandamckinney.com/ Amanda's Coaching Options: https://www.amandamckinney.com/coaching Amanda's Book: https://www.amandamckinney.com/book

In this episode, I share how the use of quizzes can help you grow your email list and business. We talk about why quizzes are more interactive, how they help you learn more about your audience and how they can help you grow your business. I share the 3 types of quizzes and then share a step-by-step process of creating a quiz in just 2 minutes using InteractAI. 

You can find all the details about this process and create your quiz in 2 minutes for free at amandamckinney.com/interact. 

Takeaways Using quizzes can help grow your email list and attract new audiences. Quizzes provide valuable insights into your audience and their needs. There are different types of quizzes, including personality type quizzes, assessments, and scored quizzes. Creating a quiz using Interact AI is a quick and easy process. Quizzes can help nurture relationships with your audience and ultimately grow your business.

Resources Mentioned:  Create your quiz for free: amandamckinney.com/interact Amanda's Free Resources: https://www.amandamckinney.com/free All podcast episodes: https://pod.link/1473751874 Amanda's Website: https://www.amandamckinney.com/ Amanda's Coaching Options: https://www.amandamckinney.com/coaching Amanda's Book: https://www.amandamckinney.com/book

In this episode, Matt Gerlach shares his journey of stumbling into entrepreneurship and working with entrepreneurs in the baby product industry. He discusses the challenges and lessons he learned along the way, including the importance of self-care and setting boundaries. Matt emphasizes the need to trust the process and surrender to the unknown. He also highlights the significance of focusing on results and prioritizing actions that lead to success. Matt encourages entrepreneurs to avoid the trap of busyness and instead focus on what truly matters. Overall, his story serves as an inspiration for those navigating the ups and downs of entrepreneurship.

Takeaways Stumbling into entrepreneurship can lead to unexpected opportunities and personal growth. Starting a business during challenging economic times requires resilience and adaptability. Believing in your worth and setting boundaries are essential for success in entrepreneurship. Focusing on results and prioritizing actions that lead to success is more effective than being busy with non-essential tasks.

Resources Mentioned: Website: mattgerlach.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-gerlach/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iammattgerlach  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iammattgerlach/  Amanda's Free Resources: https://www.amandamckinney.com/free All podcast episodes: https://pod.link/1473751874 Amanda's Website: https://www.amandamckinney.com/ Amanda's Coaching Options: https://www.amandamckinney.com/coaching Amanda's Book: https://www.amandamckinney.com/book