Episodes
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Before you even think about WHAT to invest in, or how much, or when….there’s a more important question that you have to answer: Who are you as a financial individual?
We flesh out this heavy consideration at this podcast episode with someone who has a crazy story of going from credit card debt to millionaire in a year….and all the lessons she learned from the past few years neck deep in investing and helping other people achieve success in investing.
Her name is Melissa Lindsay Freedman.
Melissa is an Investment and Financial Wellness Coach dedicated to teaching clients how to grow and protect their wealth.
Through her 1:1 coaching and soon-to-launch programs, Melissa creates personalized wealth blueprints, leverages her extensive network (including ex-IRS agents, tax attorneys, advisors, financial educators, and venture capitalists), and empowers clients to achieve the financial freedom they desire.
Her written and video content has been featured on outlets such as Livestrong.com, MindBodyGreen, TheDailyMeal.com, TheLip.Tv, and Roku.
Highlights:
Top 3 mistakes that people make when they don’t know who they are as a financial individual How personality differences affect someone’s financial decisionsBest questions to ask yourself before you start investing Reflections on risk tolerance Widely held beliefs in investing that need a second lookIf you're interested in working with Melissa, DM her the word "FREEDOM" on Instagram @melissalindsayfreedman.
(Disclaimer: Everything we share on the podcast is NOT financial advice. Moreover, this episode is not an official endorsement for any service or product endorsed or mentioned on the podcast.)
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Yes, I had a lot of successes. But I also had a lot of failures in my life.
Sit with me, get your cup of tea, and walk with me through my business and personal failures, and my best lessons in getting over them.
Highlights:
Learn how to instill confidence in yourself One unique way to fundraise for your company What I think is the best business assetHow to manage energetic fairness when asking for favors The perfect mindset about failure, so you can keep going, despite everythingI also posted this on Youtube if you want to check out the visual aid. This was a talk I delivered at the 250-person conference at DC Mexico this year.
Got something to share about this episode? Message me on Instagram at @karlastefan
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Missing episodes?
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This guy started his own bakery during his senior year in college. Threw a party in New York with over 2,000 people. Became a consultant at Deloitte. Moved to Miami, now helping business owners build million dollar machines. Of course I had to talk to him.
In this podcast episode, Ernesto Mandowsky, Founder of MDM, a training firm that transforms businesses into Million Dollar Machines, shares his message about networking that’s not sleazy. Networking that is intentional. Networking that helps you grow.
Episode highlights:
ONE THING that you can do to make sure that you get supported in your goalLesser known tips about networking in person and online Advice on how to create memorable networking eventsOutside of work, Ernesto enjoys reading, baking challah bread, working out, and spending time with his wife in Miami, FL.
Follow Ernesto on Linkedin here.
Check out Million Dollar Machine here.
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When we spend money at a service, a product, or an establishment, we have a baseline expectation on how we are treated as a customer.
However, we have certain experiences with companies that just blew us away. Swept us off our feet. Made us give 10 stars on a 5-star scale. And this is better than whirlwind romance, it’s lifetime customer loyalty brewing.
In this podcast episode, I hung out with Alex Booth, CEO and Founder of Huckleberry Consulting, a Customer Success Consulting firm, to discuss our favorite stories of exceptional customer experiences.
Check out a few well-loved brands that you know about, and check out new ones that are ready to delight you.
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Alex Booth is the Founder of Huckleberry Consulting, a customer success consulting firm that helps fast-growth online businesses grow through better retention, loyalty, improved CS metrics, and customer-focused affiliate programs.
He also co-owns GetCSM.com, a high level Customer Success/ Client Success Recruitment firm that serves clients all over the world. GetCSM gives you access to talented CSMs for as low as $17/ an hour, fully managed and certified.
Check out Alex’s best work on his Linkedin.
Or visit his website and CLAIM a free consult for how to make more money with your clients through improved customer success.
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Raise your hand if you feel like you’ve been around some “scammy” business coaches. You see red flags all over their social media profile, you have seen them gaslight some of their clients, and like an occasional shooting star, you see some of their posts don’t make sense. (Surprise! They are lying.)
Though there are a TON of wonderful, qualified, good-intention business coaches around, it’s sad to see some very talented grifters join the space. In this podcast episode, I sit with Filipi Sardi, an online entrepreneur from Croatia who has worked with both good and bad coaches, and proceeds to serve this industry by supporting coaches who actually care about the people they serve.You’ve seen it all… but we’re still here to break it down for ya. Check out some highlights:
Dangerous coaching advice.. Like “fake it til you make it”, and “you only need to be one step ahead”Outright lying, photoshopped screenshots and wild oversimplifications just to show off a different lifestyle (Bonus: remember all the coaches who say they CAN retire now or are retiring soon? After 5 years they’re still on the same grift!)Repackaging and selling the same old videos over and over, covering up with shiny marketing Wrongfully taking credit over past results of clients, using privilege for achieving “wins”Predatory upselling and cross selling, bulletproof refund policies, advertising “access” to a coach but only get their VAs, overselling containers, and coaches dropping their enthusiasm after you’ve purchasedOh, this is one juicy episode. And if you know a coach or someone who is thinking about hiring a business coach, definitely share this episode with them. They will thank you later.
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Fili Sardi runs CoachinFlow.com, a global consultancy where he empowers coaches and online entrepreneurs to uplevel their business by delivering exceptional client experience, which, in turn, improves their client lifetime customer value.Check out his work at CoachInFlow.com or follow him on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sardifilip/
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April Dawn, as a consultant that focuses on multi six figure launches, has a ton of super busy days. To most people, this would mean high stress, high pressure, long hours in front of the computer, and maybe sleep and fitness coming in last.
Not for April. She has wonderfully weaved fun, wellness, and healthy habits into her busy days.
Learn how she does it…
How to not overdo “play” and get back to your goals How not to let a bad month get in your headWays to “treat yourself” when a great month comes alongBest tools for project management (according to this launch queen!)Tips to balance fun and work even during busy timesPress play and enjoy this episode to the fullest! And as a bonus gift, if you have an upcoming launch, get her 40-page playbook on her best practices based on several six figures launches.
Download it for FREE here and follow April on Instagram.
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What is it really like to shift careers? When you’re “older”? After a decade of commitment to one career? Maybe eight years of college education? And a lifetime of parents and society’s expectations?
In this podcast episode, I sit with Chemical Engineer turned full time content marketer and entrepreneur, Farrah Garcia. After spending years working in a petrochemical plant, she made the bold decision to shift from chemical engineering to content marketing.
She shares about influences around her, the easiest and most difficult part of shifting careers, surprising considerations she had to take into place, and her best advice for people who may find themselves at these crossroads.
Today she uses her science-driven mind, and love for engaging storytelling to help Founders, entrepreneurs, and B2B brands craft impactful, authentic content that drives brand strength and profit. Her focus areas include corporate copywriting, LinkedIn, and Twitter content.
Follow Farah’s adventures here.
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As a business girlie, beauty girlie, fitness girlie, fashion girlie….I’ve made a lot of bad money decisions that continue to haunt me. I mean, I’ve processed most of them in therapy and I’ve gotten wiser over the years, but sometimes, it annoys me thinking about them!
Years and years of being in the social media eye did not help, too. In this episode, I’ve distilled some of the most common bad money decisions that ladies make, regrettable purchases I made when I started to make more money, purchases that somehow made it to my life even though I had no intention of enjoying it, all the weird mental gymnastics this took, and how you can get over it, too.
You got this, girl! If you love this episode, you may also like: How I Paid Off My Debt Fast
Disclaimer: I am aware that certain systemic injustices can put a lot of ladies in a bad financial situation, so when I say “broke” in this podcast, it means “money tight when they should not be”.
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As a former competitive poker player and pretty much a very “F it, let’s do it!” kind of person sometimes, I needed to know how to properly calculate risk. Over the years, I’ve had wins and made mistakes, and I reflected on this topic so I can share my best advice for you.
So grab a warm drink (or a spritzy cold one) and enjoy this episode about how to lessen risks in life and business. Then let me know what you think of it! :) Find me on Instagram at @karlastefan.
Also check out - How to Solve Problems episode here.
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Just in the past year, I’ve traveled to seven countries. Add maybe four more for layovers.
I recently got hit with a surprise trip back to the Philippines, where I had to travel over 30 hours to stay there for a few weeks. And get this – it was super easy.
I don’t get jetlagged (yep, never in my life) and I learned a few things along the way so that I can keep my diet and business in order even when I’m taking these crazy trips.
Definitely did not come easy – I’ve had missed flights, missed calls, missed business, and I used to just accept that my health won’t be the priority because I’m traveling.
This is not the case anymore. Dive in as I share my best tips for no-jetlag travel, and my best advice for getting your health and business in order even when you’re traveling.
P.S. Well I won’t lie, having a fully outsourced team helps A LOT! So if you need help for that, you know where to find me. ;)
Peep my travels here: @karlastefan (Instagram)
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Have you ever thought about starting a speaking career or hitting up stages to grow your business? You’re in for a treat!
Veteran educator, emcee, and standup comedian Adam Palmeter sits with me today to talk about how to prep for public speaking, how to grow a “creative” career without going broke, surprising ways to build up your confidence, key benefits for entrepreneurs as they nurture their speaking career, and easy ways to get over stagefright.
I’ve been in the public speaking circuit since I was in high school, and I learned so many new things in this conversation. If you are ever curious about this, prep your fave beverage, put on your Airpods while at the gym, and listen in.
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Adam is a multi-media artist who has done hundreds of mural, writing, children’s book, and public speaking projects. He has also a thriving career as a teacher and coach, and has performed comedy in 22 countries. Check out Adam’s work and adventures at AdamPalmeter.com.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adampalmeter/
Website: https://www.adampalmeter.com/
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It’s pretty straightforward: we had a great conversation about 10 Uncanny Ways to Find Great Hires.
Last week I sat with the Founder of BarbellJobs.com, hiring expert and business broker Sebastian Gast. We talked about some of our best hires, our “creative” ways in finding them, secret green flags to look out for, and we also dispelled some myths and discussed nuances about hiring.
(Side note: listen to why I specifically love hiring friends and family, and how I still uphold merit over nepotism.)
Follow Sebastian on Linkedin.
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Sebastian is the current owner of BarbellJobs.com, an online job board for the fitness industry. He acquired the site in 2023, following his previous experience as a brick and mortar fitness studio owner. Despite growing the location to #1 in Colorado and Top 20 in the country, hiring talent was consistently one of his (and the fitness industry's) biggest challenges. He is really passionate about small business and is still a licensed business broker. While he has also worked in corporate roles, he is energized by learning from other entrepreneurs and non-conventional career paths. He is Colombian, a triple citizen, and lives with his wife, two kids, and a dog in Colorado.
If you liked this episode share it with an entrepreneur friend and tag us! It will really make our day. You rock! :)
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This is a special encore podcast episode sponsored by Social Media Pro, home to the world’s best social media certification courses.
In this episode we talked about weaving humor in your marketing. We discussed…
How to be funny but still be on the “safe side” of things 3 surprising moneymaking benefits to making someone laughWhat really brings engagement in your posts (not HUMOR per se…)Why humor is the “cheapest” way to build a connection Can humor be learned or not?I really enjoyed this episode so if you like it, I’d appreciate sharing it with your friends, too. :)
Check out Social Media Pro’s suite of certifications if you want to get better at the top social media trends! Buy it for you or your team, and get the best info from the best sources.
Follow me on Instagram and check out my stories for some funny stuff daily ;)
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In business, we always make that mistake of mismanaging money. Whether it’s a misguided purchase or just poor projection, a lot of us struggle to really “get this right”. If you are one of us, then this podcast is for you.
Eric is a digital marketing strategist who supports two families in Peru and USA, and is open about sharing his tips on frugality and money management on social media. His recent post about budgeting a $1500 a month budget in Texas got mixed reactions from people, and it led me to find him and pick his brain on the topic of frugality.
(Now, while that budget seems like a lot in some countries, in the USA many will consider this on the lower end.)
In this episode, we discuss…
His story on spending time in a developed and in a developing country, how different it was, and his theory on why immigrants have a higher likelihood of success in the US Do you need to be broke to be frugal? Or do you need to be frugal so you don’t become broke?Some stupid money decisions we’ve made in the past (yes I shared some of mine, too!) Why some people refuse to be frugal, and why there is a negative viewpoint on thisTools and resources that help with budgeting and staying frugalFollow Eric and his musings here: https://www.facebook.com/ericridenour333
And let me know what you think of this episode! Drop a comment, reply, a rating or send me a DM on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karlastefan/
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As of today, my podcast is two years old.
It’s one of the things that has immensely ROI’d many, many times over, because I sought the help of experts before starting, and I also learned from my mistakes along the way.
I’ve had a lot of opportunities directly from the podcast… from hot leads, to profitable affiliate partnerships,Some highlights…
Top 5 best benefits of a well-done podcast 4 Points of clarity you need to build before you start your podcast Keep it simple: a few things you really need to start a good podcast Top tips for maximum exposure during your launch and what you should optimize for 4 Ways to make the most out of your podcast, on a revenue generation standpoint The ONE BEST TIP for people to guarantee podcast longevityFor those who want to start their own podcast, make their current podcast better, or someone who is keen to fully take advantage of the benefits of a podcast, this is a GREAT EPISODE to listen to.
P.S. Take advantage of Proximity’s all-in podcast production offer for just $595 a month for the first 20 clients. DM me on Instagram @karlastefan to grab your spot!
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What if your personal life and socialization can be as organized and as efficient as your business life?
This can now stop being just a fantasy as we sit with Kieran for today’s episode about systematizing one’s personal life.
Kieran Browning is an efficiency consultant who has been spending the last 4 years helping entrepreneurs, especially mompreneurs, streamline their systems and processes to free up 20+ hours a week of their time
Listen in as we talk about…
The book that inspired it all (you might know this if you’re a location independent entrepreneur just like me!) What his non negotiables are in terms of planning his social life/ personal listWhat is a burnout score and how do you deal with it?If you’re burnt out, the quality of your decisions are bad (deep dive)Three qualities of a good system for your personal life (very important)If you’re a business owner, a busy mompreneur, and or know one that would need Keiran’s amazing operations and systems genius, connect with him on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kieranbrowning/ or his Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kieranbrowning1/
If you loved this episode, pls drop us a comment and a rating! We’d appreciate it. :) - Karla
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If you grew up in a poor family, one thing that you might not know is that you may have been operating on a scarcity mindset.
Join me and Andy as we talk about our childhood and all the times our parents emphasized how important it was to save money, how money is scarce, and how we need to work hard and be cheap all the time.
As we grew older and became entrepreneurs, we started to look at money differently.
Andy shares…
His first business and how entrepreneurship and creating value “clicked” in this head How he found a mentor and his 3 TIP on how to be a powerful protege, basically how to attract good mentors as well His ONE ACTIVITY, ONE THING that made him change his scarcity mindset His huge mistake as he was starting to make money, something he wished he’s done earlier His main advice to people who are looking to grow their money and not make stupid mistakesHow his business helps other small and medium business owners organize their sales and customer relationships (stop leaving money on the table!)Andy Audate is a renowned small business marketing expert and the founder of Progreda. With a proven track record, he specializes in assisting small businesses in effectively marketing their high-ticket services through webinars that have attracted over 9,500 entrepreneurs.
Andy's SaaS has achieved a seven-figure run rate, and his guidance has empowered thousands of small businesses to create marketing campaigns that have collectively generated $20+ million in revenue.
Progreda helps organize and speed up sales for small and medium business. It’s an all-in-one email marketing, funnel, call follow ups, and CRM platform. Try Progreda for 14 DAYS FREE using this link:
Follow Andy’s inspiring business adventures here.
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There were many times in my life when I needed to put my game face on because I gotta pay a huge amount of debt.
My biggest, most challenging story with debt happened when I lost my dad at 22.
He spent two months in the ICU, and his meds were costing us at least $800 a day.
My mom worked hard day and night to care for him, I went out and made as much money as I could, and we borrowed from so many people.
Unfortunately, after all of that work, my dad passed away.
We experienced a loss much bigger than money.
Losing my dad was one of the most painful moments of my life. So painful it even dwarfed the fact that I owed over $60,000 USD (3 million pesos) when I was barely making $1,000 a month that time.
So I got to work right away, did my best to support my family, became a breadwinner at 22, and paid off that debt like my life depended on it.
And my, I learned a lot. Every debt that came after that was child’s game. And, along the way, I learned lessons on how to manage debt, investment, and revenue generation.
Join me as I shared my best mindset shifts, practical lessons, and strategies to get over a huge debt.
One day you might need it. :)
If you liked this episode, please drop a 5 star review and share with a person you care for.
I also have the video version up on my Youtube channel. -
What do corporate people really think of remote work? And how different is it from us, entrepreneurs?
I was always curious about this, so I thoughtfully threatened— I mean, convinced!-- my husband, the ultimate retired corporate guy to tell me about his experience.
The remote work culture blew up during the pandemic big time, and in this episode, we talked about the emotional journey that went with it, the changes we noticed from our colleagues, best practices both from corporate and smaller businesses, and most of all, what we did to cope with the challenges of the pandemic. (Well hopefully there’s not a next one.)
Bonus: If you’re a business owner, listen til the end to peep our top 3 tips to make the most out of a happier, more productive workplace with remote work.
And oh, get to know my husband, Alex. :)
Alex Booth's journey is nothing short of inspirational. Hailing from Northern Idaho, his love for the outdoors and relentless ambition drove him from snowboarding to golf and onto the business world.
Starting in Seattle at YP, he aimed high, nearly hitting an ambitious earnings goal that dwarfed his family's modest income. His quest for growth led him through tech giants like Microsoft Bing Ads to Amazon, where he excelled in customer success.
The pandemic turned his path to Mexico, where love and new beginnings awaited. Alex founded Huckleberry Consulting, leveraging his expertise to foster customer-centric growth. Tune in for a story of determination, love, and entrepreneurship.
Follow him on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-booth-huckleberry/
Claim a FREE Customer Success Audit too: email him/ his assistant directly at [email protected] and mention this podcast episode $1k VALUE. Limited to the first 20 people only.
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As an outsourcing professional, one of the things that I always get asked about is delegation!
Many people struggle with it, and oftentimes it is what's in the way before they get to their dream revenue, their goals, their ideal life.
Whether you are thinking of how to start properly delegating, or wanting to get better in it as a boss, this podcast is for you.
Follow me on Instagram for more happy outsourcing adventures!
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