Start, Grow, or Pivot: Business Planning & Strategies For Women Entrepreneurs
By Katelyn Gray
Start, Grow, or Pivot is the podcast where heart-centered women entrepreneurs design and grow service-based businesses using tips and strategies that are truly unique. If you're a visionary in your industry, you’re in the right place.
The show is hosted by Katelyn Gray, a Certified Mindset Coach and Business Consultant. Leveraging 10+ years of experience in business lending and underwriting, Katelyn shares her insights and resources to guide and support women entrepreneurs on their journey of biz ownership.
Start, Grow, or Pivot: Business Planning & Strategies For Women EntrepreneursAug 30, 2021
Ep. 23: What It Takes to Be a Boundary Queen
I’ll be the first to say setting and holding healthy boundaries with my clients has been crucial for my well-being as an entrepreneur, and I think this holds true for any small business owner.
Without boundaries, it’s easy to become overwhelmed and overworked, leading to burnout and—worst of all—resentment. That’s the last feeling I want to have toward my clients, and I’m willing to bet you feel similarly.
Here are some practical ways to set and hold healthy boundaries with clients. These are things that have worked in my business AND that have worked for my clients in their businesses too.
SHOW NOTES
https://katiegrayofficial.com/business-boundaries/
EXPLORE THE SHOW
https://katiegrayofficial.com/show/
FOLLOW ALONG
Come say hello on TikTok or Instagram. I’m @katiegrayofficial.
WORK WITH ME
Learn more and book a call at katiegrayofficial.com.
Ep. 22: 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Starting Your Business
As a full-time business consultant and former commercial loan officer, I’ve seen businesses at every stage, from scrappy start-ups to companies going on 50+ years.
What I’ve noticed is that it’s much easier to thrive in business if you set yourself up for success from the start. The saying, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure comes to mind. It’s not that we can’t right the ship if you get off course, but wouldn’t you rather design a business you don’t need to fix a year from now?
Listen in for 5 mistakes to avoid when starting your business—and what to do instead.
SHOW NOTES
https://katiegrayofficial.com/mistakes-to-avoid/
EXPLORE THE SHOW
https://katiegrayofficial.com/show/
FOLLOW ALONG
Come say hello on TikTok or Instagram. I’m @katiegrayofficial.
WORK WITH ME
Learn more and book a call at katiegrayofficial.com/coaching.
ENROLL IN THE BRAND VALUES COURSE
Ep. 21: The Importance of Finding Your Niche + How to Do It
Some people will argue that you don’t need a niche. These are usually the same people who say things like, “You are the niche.” (Which, ironically, still means you have a niche, albeit one that centers on you and your personality instead of a topic.)
As usual, there’s some nuance here. I don’t advocate for ignoring a niche altogether and just “winging it” because this tends to slow business growth and create confusion. But I also don’t suggest you confine yourself to a really narrow niche that will bore you to tears six months from now. Having to talk about the same concepts and ideas day in and day out isn’t sustainable for most entrepreneurs.
Here's how to find your niche.
SHOW NOTES
https://katiegrayofficial.com/how-to-find-your-niche/
EXPLORE THE SHOW
https://katiegrayofficial.com/show/
FOLLOW ALONG
Come say hello on TikTok or Instagram. I’m @katiegrayofficial.
WORK WITH ME
Learn more and book a call at katiegrayofficial.com.
MAKE THINGS EASIER: ENROLL IN THE BRAND VALUES MINI COURSE (FREE)
Ep. 20: Are Blogs Still Relevant?
Ask 100 people whether blogs are still relevant, and you’ll get 100 different answers ranging from “no way!” to “absolutely!”
But you’re probably here because you’re asking yourself whether you should start a blog to promote your business. And that answer depends entirely on whether the potential benefits of blogging are worth the time and energy it takes to run an effective and consistent blog.
Blogs are not a quick fix, get-rich-quick scheme, or guarantee. But they’re hugely beneficial for business owners who a) want them and b) know how to leverage them to boost visibility and attract potential clients.
Gratefully,
Katelyn
SHOW NOTES
https://katiegrayofficial.com/are-blogs-still-relevant/
EXPLORE THE SHOW
https://katiegrayofficial.com/show/
FOLLOW ALONG
Come say hello on TikTok or Instagram. I’m @katiegrayofficial.
WORK WITH ME
Learn more and book a call at katiegrayofficial.com.
GET MY HELP STARTING YOUR BLOG
Book your session at https://katiegrayofficial.com/start-your-blog/.
Here’s what you’ll get:
- 90-minute zoom call with me
- Customized report showing all the decisions we made during our session, along with your action plan and session notes
- Your first 4 blog posts personally edited by me
- 30 days of ongoing support as you work through the action items (just in case you get stuck on anything)
Ep. 19: The Easiest Way To Access Your Intuition
No matter what problem you're trying to solve or decision you're trying to make, stream-of-consciousness writing will help you tap into your intuition faster.
No writing skills necessary!
If you're a visionary, a dreamer, or an innovator, I invite you to try stream-of-consciousness writing as an alternative to meditation. I encourage you to use this technique to dig into your intuition and make space for it to show you the path forward.
xo
Katelyn
Learn more about my work and get the transcript of this episode HERE.
Follow me on IG: @katiegrayofficial
Work with me: https://katiegrayofficial.com/coaching/
Ep. 18: Blogging For Small Business
As a blogger-turned-coach, I know how beneficial it can be to add a blog to your website.
But it’s jungle of information out there. Instead of getting overwhelmed or giving up entirely, I’ll share what you need to know (and ONLY what you need to know) to add a results-oriented blog to your existing website.
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Let’s stay in touch!
>> Follow me on IG @katiegrayofficial
>> Learn more about my work and book your free consultation at www.katiegrayofficial.com/coaching
>> Find show notes, ask questions, and leave comments about this episode at www.katiegrayofficial.com/show
Ep. 17: 5 Must-Listen Podcasts For Women
I used to think people who preferred listening to audiobooks over reading regular old paper books were weird. I mean, isn't that kind of like listening to AM radio?
But then I had kids, and somewhere amid the late-night feedings and filibuster-length bedtime routines, I realized I had a lot of wasted time on my hands. It was difficult to get much done with a baby literally attached to my body. And even once said baby was lying quietly in his crib, I didn't have any light to read by.
Enter: podcasts! Here are 5 shows you don't wanna miss.
SHOW NOTES + TRANSCRIPT
FOLLOW ME ON IG
BONUS: Q+A with Katie
Listen in as I answer two of the most common questions I get asked:
#1 - What exactly do I do? What does it look like to work with me? What do clients get?
#2 - What happens on a consultation call?
To book your free consultation, head to www.katiegrayofficial.com/coaching and click the green and white button.
Follow me on IG @katiegrayofficial
Ep 16: 3 Ways Ditching Diet Culture Upleveled My Biz
How you do one thing is how you do everything.
And that means that when you change one thing, you can create change in other areas of your life, too.
This is how shifting my relationship with food elevated my business (almost) effortlessly.
Cheers,
Katie
P.S. If you loved this episode, make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss a beat. To learn more about my work or see how you can join my signature coaching program, come say hi at www.katiegrayofficial.com. Or, follow me on Instagram @katiegrayofficial.
Ep 15: How to Decide if Network Marketing Right for You
Network marketing as an industry gets a bad rap. Who, in this Year Of Our Lord 2021, has not gotten that random message from a long-lost high school friend hawking a "miracle" product designed to make you thinner, prettier, or healthier? You haven't talked to her in seriously 19 years and now here she is, rolling into your DMs to sell you a solution to a problem you didn't even know you had.
But here's the thing: for every saccharine, passive-aggressive network marketer I've had the unfortunate opportunity to endure, I know at least one passionate, heart-centered woman who is promoting products she believes in and making a good living doing it.
So if some women are scraping by and annoying everyone within a 10-mile radius and other women are generating meaningful income and creating real relationships based on love and trust, then is all this negativity toward the industry really warranted? And if you do decide to sign on with one of these companies, what do you need to look out for? How can you avoid becoming another cautionary tale?
Listen in for my perspective on when you should—and shouldn't—jump into network marketing.
SHOWNOTES: www.katiegrayofficial.com/podcast
FOLLOW ME: @katiegrayofficial
JOIN THE COMMUNITY: Start | Grow | Pivot on Facebook
Ep 14: Time to Raise Your Prices? Ask These 3 Questions First.
Pricing in service-based businesses (think salons, spas, and the like) is wild. Unlike a brick-and-mortar shop or online store, there’s no MSRP to lean on when you’re setting your rates. There are no rules to follow, no guidelines that are guaranteed to work, nothing.
This lack of direction leads service-based entrepreneurs to rely on competitors to set their prices. But who do you think those competitors relied upon to help decide their prices? You guessed it: their competitors!
Over time, a pricing setpoint (or range of setpoints) emerges. And while I’m not suggesting you raise your rates to the point that they’re WAY outside the bounds of reality, I do encourage you to ask yourself three questions:
#1 – What story does my price tell?
#2 – What value(s) does my price express?
#3 – What filter does my price provide?
Let’s dive into each of these and see whether the rates you charge tell the right story, express the value you want them to, and filter for your best clients.
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SHOWNOTES + FREE DOWNLOAD: www.katiegrayofficial.com/14
INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/katiegrayofficial
BOOK A FREE CONSULTATION WITH KATIE: https://calendly.com/katiegrayofficial/discovery
Ep 13. Your Body + Your Business: Empowerment for Busy Women Entrepreneurs
If you've ever noticed negative thoughts about your body affect the way you show up in your business, you aren't alone!
Listen in as I chat with fellow coach Alisha Carlson about body image, marketing, dieting, mindset, self-compassion and SO. MUCH. MORE.
Alisha is a Non-Diet Lifestyle Coach and founder of The Strong[HER] Way. She works with women using her non diet approach to food, fitness, and life transformation to help her clients create a healthy and balanced lifestyle without dieting, deprivation, or restriction. She teaches women how to radically love themselves, their bodies, and their lives.
Web: https://alishacarlson.com/
IG: https://instagram.com/alishacarlson_
FB: https://www.facebook.com/thealishacarlson
Podcast: https://thestrongherway.buzzsprout.com
P.S. Are you part of the Start|Grow|Pivot community on Facebook? Join us at www.facebook.com/groups/startgrowpivot!
Ep 12: 5 Secrets to Better Sleep
Full show notes: https://bit.ly/3wt8O5N
See you there!
Ep 11: Let Go of All or Nothing Thinking
Binary thinking makes us miserable because it only deals in extremes. For example, if you tend to view things in a black-and-white way, you might think you’re either a success or a failure, depending on how you define those. Chances are, you’ll only need to make one mistake to label yourself a failure.
If you’re trying to eat healthier but you slip up and eat a cupcake, you’ll think you’ve failed. If you’re in a job interview and everything went well except for one question, you’ll consider that flub as evidence that the whole meeting was a waste.
When you’re stuck in all-or-nothing thought patterns, you’re either at 100% or 0% – there is no in-between. It’s time to break the pattern.
SHOW NOTES + MORE:
https://bit.ly/3sFlAMd
WORK WITH ME:
https://www.katiegrayofficial.com
FOLLOW ME:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katiegrayofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katiegrayofficial
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/katiegrayofficial
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/womenwithkids
JOIN THE COMMUNITY:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/wellandkind
SPONSORS:
https://www.houreyecare.com
Ep 10: Who Do You Think You Are?? Break Through Limiting Beliefs
There are just some moments that stick with you. Events that etch themselves into your brain and mark a shift in the way you view yourself, other people, or even the world. Their effects can be felt months, years, or even decades later, influencing your thoughts, feelings, and habits.
This is the story of one such moment in my life. I'm sharing it with you because this experience is one that many of us have had. The details may differ, but I have a hunch you'll be able to relate.
SHOW NOTES + TRANSCRIPT:
https://womenwithkids.com/2021/03/29/limiting-beliefs/
WORK WITH ME:
https://www.katiegrayofficial.wordpress.com
FOLLOW ME:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katiegrayofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katiegrayofficial
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/katiegrayofficial
JOIN THE COMMUNITY:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/wellandkind
SPONSORS:
https://www.houreyecare.com
Ep 09: Thoughts on Motivation from a Grad-School Dropout
Until I discovered life coaching and thought work, my life was a series of choices based on misunderstood motivation. If you've ever gone after a goal for the wrong reasons—or if you're currently working toward something and you sense that your heart isn't in it—this episode is for you!
WORK WITH ME:
https://www.katiegrayofficial.com
FOLLOW ME:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katiegrayofficial
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/katiegrayofficial
JOIN THE COMMUNITY:
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Ep 08: Mind Your Marriage - An Interview with Ryan Kluttz
Join me for a heartfelt and candid conversation with marriage coach and founder of Married & Manifesting, Ryan Kluttz. Ryan shares practical ways we can keep our marriages strong and avoid some of the common pitfalls that lead to relationship breakdown.
WHERE TO FIND RYAN:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marriedandmanifesting
https://www.marriedandmanifesting.com
WORK WITH ME:
https://www.katiegrayofficial.wordpress.com
FOLLOW ME:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katiegrayofficial
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katiegrayofficial
JOIN THE COMMUNITY:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/wellandkind
Ep 07: Three Steps to Optimizing Your Day
Tune in for the 3-step process I use to optimize my (and my client's!) schedules. Stop doing the things that drag you down so you have more time for what lights you up!
WORK WITH ME:
https://www.katiegrayofficial.wordpress.com
FOLLOW ME:
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Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/katiegrayofficial
JOIN THE COMMUNITY:
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Ep 06: Time Mapping 101 - How to Get the Most Out of Your Day
Time mapping is a critical step in the pursuit of lasting joy. Without understanding where our time goes, we run the very real risk of spending our lives chasing happiness without ever making much progress towards it.
Listen in as I explain the EXACT process I take my clients through on their time mapping journey. Grab your own free time mapping template here: https://bit.ly/3ucqgul.
THE GOODS:
"Off the Clock: Feel Less Busy While Getting More Done" by Laura Vanderkam.
WORK WITH ME:
https://www.katiegrayofficial.com
FOLLOW ME:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katiegrayofficial
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/katiegrayofficial
JOIN THE COMMUNITY:
Ep 05: Do You REALLY Know What Makes You Happy?
It seems ridiculous that we wouldn't automatically know what will bring us joy, right???
Actually, it turns out that we can't rely on common sense or even our own intuition to forecast what will bring us happiness in the future.
Join me for this episode as I dive into the science behind this phenomenon and how you can avoid making this common mistake.
FOLLOW:
www.instagram.com/katiegrayofficial
VISIT MY WEBSITE:
Ep 04: 7 Easy Ways to Shrink Your Carbon Footprint
The thing about science is that it’s true whether you believe it or not. Like, I could peer over the rocks of the Grand Canyon and proclaim that gravity is fake news, but if I lose my balance and fall into the wide-open mouth of that North Rim, I’m gonna die.
Climate change is real, even if some people don’t want to admit it. And we all have it within our power to make a difference by reducing our family’s carbon footprint. When we talk about becoming more “eco-friendly” or “going green,” what we’re talking about is shrinking our carbon footprint.
Your carbon footprint, according to The Nature Conservancy, is “the total amount of greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide and methane) that are generated by [your] actions.” Everything you do either directly or indirectly that creates waste or pollutes the environment contributes to your carbon footprint. It’s virtually impossible to bring your footprint to zero, but that shouldn’t stop you from taking steps to make your impact on the environment smaller.
The Work We Already Do“After registering unusually high temperatures across the globe, May 2020 tied with 2016 as the world’s warmest May on record,” according to scientists at NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information. “The heat wasn’t just limited to May. The three-month season (March through May) and the year to date (January through May) ranked second-warmest in the 141-year global record.”
Most of us know we need to make changes, and many of us have already begun making over our routines to be more eco friendly. Maybe you’ve ditched bottled water in favor of a reusable tumbler, or you bring reusable bags to the store instead of putting your groceries into plastic ones. Better yet, you might have said “sayonara” to plastic straws – I mean, why not when there are so many fun reusable straws you can use?
And I bet you recycle if it’s available in your area. That one’s a no-brainer!
The great thing about all these swaps is that they’re pretty painless. It’s not much of a burden to carry some shopping bags with you, is it? But many of us get stuck when we try to go a step further beyond those popular changes. So here are 7 more ideas to reduce your carbon footprint without losing your mind. They’re easy, inexpensive, and you’ll feel good knowing you’re doing your part to save the planet.
Listen in for 7 SUPER EASY ways to up your eco-friendly game.
Follow:
@katiegrayofficial (https://www.intagram.com/katiegrayofficial)
Show Notes & More:
Ep 03: The Simple And Easy Way to Declutter Your Whole House
Decluttering is a big job. When you’ve got years – or even decades – of accumulated stuff, sifting through your belongings can feel nearly impossible. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed at the thought of making sense of all your things. But you can declutter your house in one super-simple step without buying a fancy organization system or blocking out a whole weekend. All you need is a minute or two each day. You’ll be surprised at how much progress you can make with minimal effort.
Follow Me (@katiegrayofficial):
IG: https://www.instagram.com/katiegrayofficial
FB: https://www.facebook.com/katiegrayofficial
Ep 02: Reframing Jealousy
When you scroll through social media, do you ever get jealous? OF COURSE YOU DO.
We all do. It's human nature.
But it doesn't have to be some big bad thing. Listen in as I unpack the layers of comparison and show you how to reframe your thoughts so that you can move THROUGH jealous feelings instead of ignoring them or wallowing in them.
Follow:
Instagram: @katiegrayofficial
Ep 01: The Myth of the Morning Routine - Tips for Creating Habits that Stick
Do you want a better morning routine? Do you need one?
Today, we dive into those elaborate morning routines that are ALL THE RAGE right now. Early alarms. Cold showers. Meditation. Journaling. Hot water with lemon.
If you've been wondering how to set up a morning routine that succeeds, or curious whether routines like these right for you and your lifestyle, you're 100% in the right place!
After this episode, you'll feel empowered to choose the morning routine that works *for you*.
Follow:
Katie Gray, @katiegrayofficial
The Goods: