Imagine if 4-day work weeks didn’t only occur when a holiday weekend rolls around. Beyond more free time, do shorter work weeks also create financial gain?

Today’s case study explores that question with Erin Diehl, founder of B2B professional development company, Improve It and best-selling author of “I see You! A Leader’s Guide to Energize Your Team Through Radical Empathy.”

After a life altering concussion last year, Erin knew she needed to prioritize her physical and mental health, which prompted her to research the logistics of working only 4 days per week. In October 2023, her company piloted this new structure for all internal staff for 90 days, creating benchmarks to help them determine if this trial had been a success.

Now nearly a year later, they’re still going strong with 4 day work weeks and have hit their end of quarter revenue goals for three straight quarters, seeing as large as a 77% growth in a single quarter.

Here’s the process Erin and her team used to successfully implement this.

View the transcript for this episode at: https://otter.ai/u/z8Q-Ug-rJFly8kzcK5BKLxb-1Ag?utm_source=copy_url

Thank you to our sponsor!

• Try the #1 all-in-one E-commerce platform: Shopify! Sign up for a one dollar per month trial period at https://shopify.com/ellen

Connect with Erin:

• https://www.learntoimproveit.com/
• https://www.itserindiehl.com/
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/improveitco/
• IG: https://www.instagram.com/itserindiehl/
• improve it! Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/improve-it-podcast-professional-development-through/id1508450538
• I See You! book: https://www.amazon.com/See-You-Leaders-Guide-Energizing-Radical-Empathy/dp/B0CDJDP2S1/ref=monarch_sidesheet_title

Links mentioned in the episode:

• Erin's 4 day work week blog post: https://www.learntoimproveit.com/podcast-content/episode-240-how-has-the-four-day-work-week-reshaped-work-life-balance-and-productivity-for-our-team
• 'Shorter' Book: https://amzn.to/4groa1E
• 'Traction' Book: https://amzn.to/3R1x0aD
• Suneera Madhani’s episode: https://link.chtbl.com/qCQA_e3b

Iconic business leaders all have their own unique genius. Take this quick 10 question quiz to uncover your specific CEO style advantage: https://ellenyin.com/quiz

If you enjoyed today's episode, please:

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• Subscribe for new episodes every Monday.
• Join our C-Suite membership to get bonus episodes! Check out everything our members get at https://ellenyin.com/csuite

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This is a replay of episode 117, one of our team-picked top 10 case studies that we felt deserved an encore.

We’re dissecting the case study of how Kim used creative negotiation tactics to turn a “no, we can’t afford you” response into a client paying $15,000 more than what they initially offered.

If negotiating makes you sweat, Kim’s advice will give you a MBA in negotiation in under an hour. 

Keep listening to learn how you too, can get paid over your asking rate when you learn how to problem solve pricing objections WITH your clients.

View the transcript for this episode at: https://otter.ai/u/AIu7WVT-VPX6vrnORv5G7q4fNn8?utm_source=copy_url

Thank you to those who supported Ellen in the National Mrs. America Pageant!

• Yoga and Pilates with Ivory Howard: http://www.ivoryhoward.com
• Veronica Romney: veronicaromney.com
• Systems Saved Me: https://www.addtolisttool.com/collabs/
• Lightbeamers: www.lightbeamers.com/formula
• Dishing up Digital: https://www.ellenmackenzie.com/Dishing-up-Digital-School
• The Abundance Group: www.theabundance.group
• Linda Sidhu: lindasidhu.com
• PassionBreakthrough: https://www.PassionBreakthrough.com/GiftsForYou
• When Heaven Meets Hell podcast: https://linktr.ee/whenheavenmeetshell
• Launch with Lacey Cribb: https://laceycribb.com
• Nomad Copy Agency: https://www.nomadcopyagency.com/copy-on-demand
• Come Plum: https://comeplum.myflodesk.com/build-your-brand-bundle
• Better Belly Podcast: Better Belly Podcast (https://betterbellytherapies.com/apple)
• Studio Sequin: http://studiosequin.com/
• Victoria Davis: https://app.convertkit.com/creator_profile_v2
• Dirty Copy: https://www.instagram.com/dirty.copy/
• Celia Elisabeth Johnston-Hale: www.johnston-hale.com/en-us
• Simplify BS: www.simplifybs.com
• Business Babes Collective: https://www.businessbabescollective.com/podcast

Connect with Kim:

• kimkaupe.com
• Instagram: @kimkaupe

Iconic business leaders all have their own unique genius. Take this quick 10 question quiz to uncover your specific CEO style advantage: https://ellenyin.com/quiz

If you enjoyed today's episode, please:

• Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag me @missellenyin & @cubicletoceo so we can repost you.
• Leave a positive review or rating at www.ratethispodcast.com/cubicletoceo
• Subscribe for new episodes every Monday.
• Join our C-Suite membership to get bonus episodes! Check out everything our members get at https://ellenyin.com/csuite

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This bonus episode is the perfect resource if you're trying to figure out ways to overcome your ideal clients' objections to your offer. Jocelyn Montemarano - founder of Scale Your Resonance - walks us through the 5 main objections your buyers may have, and how to overcome them. Jocelyn doesn't believe in coercion as a sales method, so listen in to find out how you can approach your sales with a dedication to service and evidence at the heart of your strategy. Increase your conversions and finally turn lurkers into paying clients with these insights from Jocelyn!

Access the transcript of this episode HERE: https://otter.ai/u/8bEyL-0fzh_WRFhUVXBVdgcjCH4?utm_source=copy_url

Connect with Jocelyn:

• Get the Free Training: 3 Elements of High-Converting Case Studies That Overcome Every Objection and Turn More Right-Fit Lurkers in Your Audience Into Best-Fit Clients or Students https://scaleyourresonance.com/ellenyin
• Apply for the Case Study Sprint: https://scaleyourresonance.com/case-study-sprint 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scaleyourresonance/
• Scale Your Resonance Email Series: https://scaleyourresonance.com/email

Iconic business leaders all have their own unique genius. Take this quick 10 question quiz to uncover your specific CEO style advantage: https://ellenyin.com/quiz

If you enjoyed today's episode, please:

• Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag me @missellenyin & @cubicletoceo so we can repost you.
• Leave a positive review or rating at www.ratethispodcast.com/cubicletoceo
• Subscribe for new episodes every Monday.
• Join our C-Suite membership to get bonus episodes on our private podcast! Check out everything our members get at https://ellenyin.com/csuite

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feeling bored of doing the same launch over and over in your business, but not the ambition of starting and selling a new offer from scratch?

Today’s case study is a test of the perfect in between solution: selling a live cohort of an existing digital course with a low lift launch.

Candice Ward, food photographer and monetization coach for other food bloggers and content creators, decided to put a poll up on her IG story asking her followers if they would be interested in a 12 week, implementation-focused VIP coaching cohort of her signature course.

After receiving a positive response, she built out her new offer with minimal effort the very next day, selling only to those who had virtually raised their hand on her Instagram stories. By quietly launching only to this exclusive group through Instagram stories and DMs, Candice sold out of all spots, injecting $12K into her business in just 6 days!

We’ve got the full scoop on this quiet launch and how you can replicate something similar to refresh your digital courses (and revenue).

View the transcript for this episode at: https://otter.ai/u/iW3DYSUsrr6u1S2FGLQfCpF5YY4?utm_source=copy_url

Thank you to our sponsor!

• Uplevel your healthy habits with Soursop's Cell + Immunity gummies and shakes! Get 20% when you use code 'CEO20' at https://www.soursopnutrition.com/

Connect with Candice:

• 6 strategies to pitch with confidence: https://candiceward.mykajabi.com/pl/2147605776
• Get coached by Candice: https://candiceward.mykajabi.com/business-coaching 
• @theconfidentpitch
• @eatmorecakebycandice

Iconic business leaders all have their own unique genius. Take this quick 10 question quiz to uncover your specific CEO style advantage: https://ellenyin.com/quiz

If you enjoyed today's episode, please:

• Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag me @missellenyin & @cubicletoceo so we can repost you.
• Leave a positive review or rating at www.ratethispodcast.com/cubicletoceo
• Subscribe for new episodes every Monday.
• Join our C-Suite membership to get bonus episodes! Check out everything our members get at https://ellenyin.com/csuite

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When is the right time to exit your business?

For Suneera Madhani, it was after taking her fintech startup, Stax, from idea to unicorn - a moniker coined for the rare privately-held company that reaches a billion dollar valuation.

After selling to private equity and finding a new CEO to lead the company’s next stage of growth, Suneera knew she wanted to return back to the building phase of business.

Taking everything she knew about building a billion dollar business, Suneera’s set out to do it again, this time with Worth AI - a company creating the first ever credit score for businesses.

In today’s case study on lessons from building a billion dollar brand, Suneera shares the wisdom she took from her exit that she’s applying to this new venture, so you can borrow her hard-earned lessons & hindsight as well.

View the transcript for this episode at: https://otter.ai/u/2TQtOkZEtS02epBZPV61RS8MbY8?utm_source=copy_url

Thank you to our sponsors!

• Access Sandra Chau's cheat sheet to the 10 must have strategic photos and videos that grow, nurture and increase your sales and bookings at https://schoolofvisualbranding.com/10-must-have-visuals
• Uplevel your healthy habits with Soursop's Cell + Immunity gummies and shakes! Get 20% when you use code 'CEO20' at https://www.soursopnutrition.com/

Connect with Suneera:

• Get your business' credit score: https://worthscore.com 
• The CEO School podcast: https://theceoschool.com/the-podcast/
• Big Business Energy newsletter: https://theceoschool.co/email-list
• Instagram: @suneeramadhani

Iconic business leaders all have their own unique genius. Take this quick 10 question quiz to uncover your specific CEO style advantage: https://ellenyin.com/quiz

If you enjoyed today's episode, please:

• Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag me @missellenyin & @cubicletoceo so we can repost you.
• Leave a positive review or rating at www.ratethispodcast.com/cubicletoceo
• Subscribe for new episodes every Monday.
• Join our C-Suite membership to get bonus episodes! Check out everything our members get at https://ellenyin.com/csuite

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I always say, the best business ideas come from looking outside your own industry. Today’s case study affirms just that. In 3 short years, this CEO has 3Xed her revenue without increasing her marketing spend AT ALL. In fact, she’s spending a fraction of what her competitors’ are, with greater success.

The client acquisition engine that grew her business from $1 to $6 million? A robust, mostly automated referral network.

Vanessa Rissetto is the co-founder and CEO of Culina Health, a revolutionary clinical nutrition care company, giving best-in-class virtual nutrition care covered by insurance. Instead of selling their services directly to the patient, they’ve structured a referral system with doctors and physicians who send their patients directly to them.

This referral program has grown by 9x in the last 3 years, generating 85% of the company’s overall revenue. Here’s the kicker though: there are no financial incentives involved for the referral partners.

So what motivates the referral partners to keep sending new clients their way? Keep listening to find out.

View the transcript for this episode at: https://otter.ai/u/y9T7HJatL2JnUoAPmuukHXjDPPE?utm_source=copy_url

Thank you to our sponsors!

• Discover the neuroscience of Flow through an entire library of curated flow playlists! Get immediate access to all existing and future Flow playlists for FREE at: https://www.drjuliacolangelo.com/playlists/
• Try the #1 all-in-one E-commerce platform: Shopify! Sign up for a one dollar per month trial period at https://shopify.com/ellen

Connect with Vanessa:

• https://culinahealth.com/
• Vanessa's IG: https://www.instagram.com/vanessarissettord
• Culina's IG: https://www.instagram.com/culinahealth
• Vanessa's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessarissettoms/
• Culina Health's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/culinahealth
• Vanessa's Twitter: https://x.com/vmrissetto
• Culina's Twitter: https://x.com/culinahealth

Iconic business leaders all have their own unique genius. Take this quick 10 question quiz to uncover your specific CEO style advantage: https://ellenyin.com/quiz

If you enjoyed today's episode, please:

• Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag me @missellenyin & @cubicletoceo so we can repost you.
• Leave a positive review or rating at www.ratethispodcast.com/cubicletoceo
• Subscribe for new episodes every Monday.
• Join our C-Suite membership to get bonus episodes! Check out everything our members get at https://ellenyin.com/csuite

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is it ever a good idea to work for free? Many entrepreneurs wouldn’t consider it, especially after being in business for years, but this CEO makes a solid case for why selective pro bono work pays off - sometimes more than you would have even netted from charging for the original service.

Tracy Marlowe, founder of marketing agency Creative Noggin, has consistently taken on 1-2 pro bono projects a year. In today’s case study, Tracy details how she’s made MILLIONS of dollars in ROI over the years with this unconventional marketing strategy, either landing paid contracts with satisfied pro bono clients, or referrals from other businesses who were impressed with her work.

View the transcript for this episode at: https://otter.ai/u/BziZqzdteytTGuT3X37PW8nCgeo?utm_source=copy_url

Thank you to our sponsor!

• FOR A LIMITED TIME: Get 60% off your Babbel subscription at https://babbel.com/ellen

Connect with Tracy:

• Email her 👉 [email protected]
• https://www.creativenoggin.com/
• Instagram:
• @creative_noggin
• @tracymmarlowe
• Connect on LinkedIn:
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/creative-noggin
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-marlowe/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/creativenoggin
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/TheCreativeNoggins

Iconic business leaders all have their own unique genius. Take this quick 10 question quiz to uncover your specific CEO style advantage: https://ellenyin.com/quiz

If you enjoyed today's episode, please:

• Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag me @missellenyin & @cubicletoceo so we can repost you.
• Leave a positive review or rating at www.ratethispodcast.com/cubicletoceo
• Subscribe for new episodes every Monday.
• Join our C-Suite membership to get bonus episodes! Check out everything our members get at https://ellenyin.com/csuite

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This bonus episode on securing brag-worthy bylines pairs perfectly with Monday's case study on creating viral content for major publications using AI. Ericka Andersen - founder of Pitch and Publish Writing Co. - walks us through exactly how to pitch and get paid by media outlets to write content for them in your area of expertise or interest. Ericka makes six figures a year doing exactly this! Ericka gives us the insider scoop on how to pitch the right person, why it's important to have a strong thesis statement for your proposed article, and the reasons writing your own articles is better than being interviewed or featured in a story.

Access the transcript of this episode HERE: https://otter.ai/u/AdK0LzKYHDfSsT7aIi_Doo9NsdA?utm_source=copy_url

Connect with Ericka:

• http://pitchandpublish.co/
• http://bragworthybylines.com/ 
• Instagram.com/pitchandpublish 
• Tiktok.com/@pitchandpublish

Iconic business leaders all have their own unique genius. Take this quick 10 question quiz to uncover your specific CEO style advantage: https://ellenyin.com/quiz

If you enjoyed today's episode, please:

• Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag me @missellenyin & @cubicletoceo so we can repost you.
• Leave a positive review or rating at www.ratethispodcast.com/cubicletoceo
• Subscribe for new episodes every Monday.
• Join our C-Suite membership to get bonus episodes on our private podcast! Check out everything our members get at https://ellenyin.com/csuite

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just in time for the release of the new Deadpool & Wolverine movie, you’ll love the story of how our guest caught the attention of Entrepreneur Magazine with a Wolverine costume and has since built a 9 years-strong content partnership with their publication.

Ben Angel is an award-winning and bestselling author, entrepreneur, and influencer with over two decades of experience leveraging emerging technologies for competitive advantage, including AI.

In today’s case study, Ben gives us his behind the scenes process for how he leverages AI to create viral content that has garnered more than 5 million views, including one video that grew his email list by 10,000 subscribers.

Keep listening to borrow his exact framework for creating headlines designed to trend on whichever publication you create content for (whether you want to be a guest contributor like Ben, or on your own website) and his top tips for leveraging AI - without sounding like everyone else.

View the transcript for this episode at: https://otter.ai/u/wZsgs46BHPQUtS-n7Nt-c8G8D1g?utm_source=copy_url

Thank you to our sponsors!

• Want to uncover what you need to one-up your next campaign effortlessly? Download your FREE post-launch guide at https://isabellesarley.myflodesk.com/postlaunchguide
• Get 20% off your entire Soursop Nutrition order with code 'CEO'! Uplevel your health and wellness journey at https://soursopnutrition.com

Connect with Ben:

• https://www.thewolfofai.co/ 
• https://www.entrepreneur.com/author/ben-angel
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yourwaytothetop
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benangelauthor/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/benangel
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/benangel
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@benangelauthor

Iconic business leaders all have their own unique genius. Take this quick 10 question quiz to uncover your specific CEO style advantage: https://ellenyin.com/quiz

If you enjoyed today's episode, please:

• Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag me @missellenyin & @cubicletoceo so we can repost you.
• Leave a positive review or rating at www.ratethispodcast.com/cubicletoceo
• Subscribe for new episodes every Monday.
• Join our C-Suite membership to get bonus episodes! Check out everything our members get at https://ellenyin.com/csuite

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our Q2 2024 review is here! These quarterly review episodes contribute to our mission of creating financially transparent content - sharing what's working in our business, what we've learned, and what we're celebrating.

For more in-depth, behind the business case study episodes from within our business, check out the C-Suite: https://ellenyin.com/csuite

View the transcript for this episode at: https://otter.ai/u/OUJFnhtmBbrs2sbaBPXL6ZGQjOU?utm_source=copy_url

Thank you to our sponsors!

• Learn how to sell (and scale!) your course or program on autopilot, every single day with Nicki's free video training: https://circuitsalessystem.com/ceo
• Try the #1 all-in-one E-commerce platform: Shopify! Sign up for a one dollar per month trial period at https://shopify.com/ellen
• Get 20% off your entire Soursop Nutrition order with code 'CEO'! Uplevel your health and wellness journey at https://soursopnutrition.com

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Our previous Income Report episodes: https://ellenyin.com/incomereport
• Try 30 days of Flodesk (our favorite email marketing platform for unlimited subscribers & emails at one low, flat monthly rate): https://flodesk.com/c/ELLEN50
• Connect with @paige.hulse.law
• Business valuation teaser: https://link.chtbl.com/wVYzFuYy
• Connect with Worttth: https://worttth.com
• Mrs. Oregon America episode: https://link.chtbl.com/-mRkSgZr
• Selling out our business retreat teaser: https://link.chtbl.com/nwl_VGEE

Iconic business leaders all have their own unique genius. Take this quick 10 question quiz to uncover your specific CEO style advantage: https://ellenyin.com/quiz

If you enjoyed today's episode, please:

• Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag me @missellenyin & @cubicletoceo so we can repost you.
• Leave a positive review or rating at www.ratethispodcast.com/cubicletoceo
• Subscribe for new episodes every Monday.
• Join our C-Suite membership to get bonus episodes every month! Check out everything our members get at https://ellenyin.com/csuite

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s case study embraces experimentation on several fronts - new audience, new content platform, and new offer.

Seasoned online business owner and mentor to digital freelancers, Amy Posner, wanted to expand her audience beyond copywriters, so she got on LinkedIn, a platform she wasn’t active on previously, and tested a daily content strategy to build trust with a new audience of creative freelancers.

Within 6 months, Amy had attracted 708 LinkedIn followers and added 414 people to her email list - all organically. She then launched a new program to them, selling out the first round in just 2 weeks and generating over $45K in revenue - most impressive, all but one were first-time buyers in her ecosystem who had found her through LinkedIn.

This is the step by step LinkedIn content strategy that Amy plans to continue, and encourages you to borrow and test for yourself.

View the transcript for this episode at: https://otter.ai/u/qqKGX5Xgk1hNYBaL2LaaVRcqZu8?utm_source=copy_url

Thank you to our sponsor!

• FOR A LIMITED TIME: Get 60% off your Babbel subscription at https://babbel.com/ellen

Connect with Amy:

• Check out Amy's LinkedIn + Newsletter copy HERE: https://docs.google.com/document/d/162Yea9XBh1BXuTj_ZbfUY14wEyixvGf0o4Lu3TlCHvM/edit
• https://amyposner.com/ 
• Instagram: @amyrposner
• Linked In:https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyposnerbusinessgrowthmentor/ 
• Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/business-badassery-podcast/id1534359419 
• Breakthrough Clients: https://amyposner.com/breakthrough-clients/#bc-opt 
• Breakthrough Sales Calls: https://amyposner.com/breakthrough-sales-calls/ 
• Complete Breakthrough Freelancer: https://amyposner.com/complete-breakthrough-freelancer/

Iconic business leaders all have their own unique genius. Take this quick 10 question quiz to uncover your specific CEO style advantage: https://ellenyin.com/quiz

If you enjoyed today's episode, please:

• Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag me @missellenyin & @cubicletoceo so we can repost you.
• Leave a positive review or rating at www.ratethispodcast.com/cubicletoceo
• Subscribe for new episodes every Monday.
• Join our C-Suite membership to get bonus episodes! Check out everything our members get at https://ellenyin.com/csuite

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices