The Business of Thinking Big Lianne Kim

The shift from working a full-time job with benefits and a stable income to launching your own consultancy can feel scary and even overwhelming — but with the right support and coaching, it can be easier than you think. 


In this episode of The Business of Thinking Big, I speak with Heather Hird, a brilliant business consultant with over 15 years of experience in sales, design, marketing, and business operations. As the owner of Alteration Consulting, Heather offers busy product entrepreneurs the coaching and support they need to grow and scale with less stress.


After spending a couple of years toying with the idea of becoming a consultant, Heather finally decided to take the leap in 2023. Since then, she’s grown a consultancy that allows her to share her expertise with the clients she absolutely loves to work with!


During this conversation, we talk about why she chooses to serve product-based businesses, how she set her first financial goals, and the biggest and boldest lessons she learned through becoming an A-Player. 


In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌
The strategic 90-day goal that helped Heather craft her offer and grow her consultancy (and her impressive results!)How she clarified her niche and messaging to build a business that feels comfortable and aligned The systems that she set up in her business to create more ease

Guest bio: Heather is the owner of Alteration Consulting where she guides emerging product brands to scale through diversifying sales channels, with a focus on retail and wholesale. With a holistic approach to streamlining operations and relationship management, Heather helps brands create a solid foundation on which to build consistent revenue.


Timestamps:‌ ‌
00:34  Meet Heather Hird
01:50  Taking the leap
03:08  Why product businesses?
06:04  Heather’s business objectives
08:45  Revenue goals & mindset
13:23  Setting goals
15:11  Investing in your biz = go time!
17:36  Heather’s bold 90-day goal
23:58  Heather’s action items
26:16  Managing your energy
28:13  Systems & operations
31:11  Setbacks
34:43  Heather’s results
37:37  Growth tips
41:37  Heather’s wins
44:41  What’s next & final takeaway


Links mentioned:‌ ‌
Heather Hird
https://alterationconsulting.com 
Instagram: @alterationconsulting 


A-Players Rapid Impact Business Coaching Experience
https://www.mamasandco.com/groupcoaching  


—
Learn with me: Mamapreneur Success Path - Free Audio Training
  
‌Connect with me:  
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liannekimcoach  
Instagram: @liannekimcoach
Join the Mamas & Co. community to get access to valuable resources and the support of likeminded mompreneurs and mentors: https://www.mamasandco.com 
Instagram: @mamasandco


Podcasting support:
https://theultimatecreative.com 
If you are a service business and you've struggled with valuing your services or owning your worth... you need this! This FREE Masterclass will help you break free from old money patterns and limiting beliefs so you can move forward with the mindset and strategy that will allow you to have the business and family life of your dreams. Sign up HERE!

It may sometimes feel as though your audience isn’t growing, you’re not getting the number (or quality) of leads that you desire, or you’re not hitting your revenue goals... no matter how much work you’re putting into your business. Especially as a solopreneur, you may reach a point where you feel as though your business has plateaued or stagnated.


The problem? We often hesitate to ask for help — even when our contacts would be more than willing to lend their support or expertise, connect us with talented service providers, send us referrals, or introduce us to their audiences!


By learning how and when to leverage the valuable relationships in your network, you can speed up your growth, connect with new customers, and build your business with more ease. All you need to do is learn how to ask. In this episode of The Business of Thinking Big, I explore the fine art of leveraging your network — including in-person contacts, mastermind cohorts, industry peers, and virtual communities!


In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌
How to nurture a healthy and mutually beneficial networking relationship 6 questions to start asking the people in your networkThe biggest benefits of joining a thriving community of your fellow entrepreneurs! 

Timestamps:‌ ‌
00:33  Intro
02:15  How can I help you?
04:49  Can I speak in front of your audience?
08:30  Can you share my stuff?
11:01  Can you introduce me?
13:06  Can I pick your brain?
15:50  Referral incentives
19:31  Ask & return
21:27  Recap


Links mentioned:‌ ‌
A-Players Rapid Impact Business Coaching Experience
https://www.mamasandco.com/groupcoaching  
—
Learn with me: Mamapreneur Success Path - Free Audio Training
  
‌Connect with me:  
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liannekimcoach  
Instagram: @liannekimcoach
Join the Mamas & Co. community to get access to valuable resources and the support of likeminded mompreneurs and mentors: https://www.mamasandco.com 
Instagram: @mamasandco
Podcasting support:
https://theultimatecreative.com 
https://copymagic.agency 
If you are a service business and you've struggled with valuing your services or owning your worth... you need this! This FREE Masterclass will help you break free from old money patterns and limiting beliefs so you can move forward with the mindset and strategy that will allow you to have the business and family life of your dreams. Sign up HERE!

How will I come up with fresh podcast topics? Will I be able to release episodes consistently? And will anyone even LISTEN to my show? 


These are some of the biggest worries that clients share with me when we talk about their podcasting dreams. I’ll be honest: I had some of the same doubts when I first launched this podcast (289 episodes ago!). Podcasts definitely take time, effort, and dedication, but speaking directly to your dream clients is an incredible way to grow your audience and business — even if your episodes are only 10-15 minutes long!


In this episode of The Business of Thinking Big, I sit down with Dr. Nicole Rankins, host of the wildly popular All About Pregnancy & Birth podcast, to dive into the nitty-gritty of growing a Top 50 show. We explore what it means to create great content, why we prefer podcasting over YouTube, and how Nicole has reached a whopping 2 MILLION downloads! 


In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌
How to build an easeful workflow that allows you to keep a consistent schedule (and even take a week off without skipping an episode!)How to create relevant, interesting, and digestible content with intentionHow to find and pitch the right cross-promotions to grow your audience and your thought leadership

Guest bio: Dr. Nicole is a Duke-University-trained, board-certified, practicing OB/GYN and mom of two who empowers first-time moms to have the beautiful birth experience they deserve. Over her 20-year career, she’s helped more than 1,000 babies into this world, and is a proud HBCU grad (Spelman College & North Carolina A&T State University). Her popular podcast, All About Pregnancy & Birth, is a top 50 parenting podcast.


Timestamps:‌ ‌
00:34  Meet Dr. Nicole Rankins
01:59  OB/GYN to podcaster
05:54  Podcaster to entrepreneur
07:31  Niche & goals
08:45  Podcasting or YouTube?
12:00  Creating great content
13:51  Being intentional
16:16  Staying consistent
19:25  Podcast support
20:16  Choosing your schedule
22:12  Interviews v. solo episodes
24:43  Million-download strategies
26:59  Being a guest
30:19  Having guests
37:50  Podcast disasters
42:28 Monetization
46:22  Final takeaway


Links mentioned:‌ ‌
Dr. Nicole Rankins
https://drnicolerankins.com 
https://www.facebook.com/drnicolerankins 
Instagram: @drnicolerankins 


A-Players Rapid Impact Business Coaching Experience
https://www.mamasandco.com/groupcoaching  
Podcasting support
https://theultimatecreative.com 
https://www.copymagic.agency/podcasts 
—
Learn with me: Mamapreneur Success Path - Free Audio Training
  
‌Connect with me:  
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liannekimcoach  
Instagram: @liannekimcoach
Join the Mamas & Co. community to get access to valuable resources and the
If you are a service business and you've struggled with valuing your services or owning your worth... you need this! This FREE Masterclass will help you break free from old money patterns and limiting beliefs so you can move forward with the mindset and strategy that will allow you to have the business and family life of your dreams. Sign up HERE!

Did you sometimes find yourself feeling apathetic toward your business… and wondering what happened to your drive? You’re definitely not alone. Even Beyoncé has days when she just wants to ignore her inbox and binge her favourite reality show! 


Motivation may be cyclical or seasonal — we may find ourselves more motivated at certain times of the day, week, month, or even year (and this can be especially true for mamapreneurs who have to juggle additional responsibilities around extracurriculars or summer vacations). When we’re feeling stretched to our max, we often struggle to get and stay motivated. And when this feeling lingers long enough, it will impact our business success in one way or another.


In this episode of The Business of Thinking Big, I dive into how you can regain your spark and get back on track when you start to lose your momentum — and why you should never beat yourself up for feeling unmotivated!


In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌
How our conditioning affects our reaction to being unmotivated (and why this can be unhealthy) How to recognize your patterns of motivation and your motivational drainsWhat can happen when you intentionally build recovery time into your business 

Timestamps:‌ ‌
00:32  Intro
02:00  What is motivation?
03:09  Our conditioning
05:11  Recognizing your pattern
07:17  Motivational drains & recovery time
09:49  Tapping into feminine energy
14:15  “What am I resisting (& why is it important)?” 
17:17  “How will I feel once it’s done?”
19:04  Motivation v. alignment
21:42  Move your body & eat the frog
24:22  Put yourself in interesting spaces
26:40  Reward the effort, not the result
29:01  It’s gotta feel joyful!
30:56  Be kind to yourself
33:43  Conclusion


Links mentioned:‌ ‌
The Business of Thinking Big #247: Mindset Mondays: Eat the Frog
https://www.liannekim.com/blog/247
Huberman Lab: How to Enhance Performance & Learning by Applying a Growth Mindset
https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/how-to-enhance-performance-and-learning-by-applying-a-growth-mindset


—
Learn with me: Mamapreneur Success Path - Free Audio Training
‌Connect with me:  
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liannekimcoach  
Instagram: @liannekimcoach
Join the Mamas & Co. community to get access to valuable resources and the support of likeminded mompreneurs and mentors: https://www.mamasandco.com 
Instagram: @mamasandco
Podcasting support:
https://theultimatecreative.com 
https://copymagic.agency 
If you are a service business and you've struggled with valuing your services or owning your worth... you need this! This FREE Masterclass will help you break free from old money patterns and limiting beliefs so you can move forward with the mindset and strategy that will allow you to have the business and family life of your dreams. Sign up HERE!

Sales is definitely an acquired skill… and an acquired taste. During the time that I’ve spent helping countless women grow and scale their businesses, I’ve met very few who genuinely love sales! The truth is that most women have negative feelings around sales and selling. Full disclosure: even though I’ve spent years honing my sales skills (and can now sell in my sleep), I absolutely HATED sales when I first started out.


There are a few reasons why women tend to hate selling, including lack of confidence or a fear of being seen as pushy or “sleazy.” But no matter the reason, selling is a VITAL part of growing a business. If you want to achieve financial success and hit your revenue goals, you need to embrace it and start improving your sales game! 


In this episode of The Business of Thinking Big, I dig into the 12 biggest and most common mistakes made by sales novices — and what to do instead.


Mistake #1: Trying to sell too much in your marketing
Mistake #2: Offer is not clear or compelling
Mistake #3: Talking too much
Mistake #4: Making it about you, not them
Mistake #5: Not presenting your best self
Mistake #6: Pitch is weak
Mistake #7: Getting emotional or defensive
Mistake #8: Running away from objections
Mistake #9: Sending them away to something else
Mistake #10: Not having the right sales systems in place
Mistake #11: Being too attached to getting the sale
Mistake #12: Giving up too easily!


In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌
Why confidence is the key ingredient when it comes to successfully selling anything How to grab your prospect’s attention right off the bat Why Zoom is your secret weapon when it comes to sales! 

Timestamps:‌ ‌
00:33  Intro
01:50  Too much too soon
04:20  Not clear/compelling
07:23  Talking too much
09:26  Making it about you
12:44  Not presenting your best self
15:38  Weak pitch
18:18  Getting emotional/defensive
21:40  Running from objections
24:37  Sending them away
27:04  Not having the right systems
30:23  Too attached to the sale
32:36  Giving up
36:59  Conclusion


Links mentioned:‌ ‌
The Business of Thinking Big #6: The Hero's Journey with Salome Schillack
The Business of Thinking Big #203: Boss Energy
The Business of Thinking Big #114: How to Close More Sales
A-Players Rapid Impact Business Coaching Experience
—
Learn with me: Mamapreneur Success Path - Free Audio Training
‌Connect with me:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liannekimcoach
Instagram: @liannekimcoach
Join the Mamas & Co. community to get access to valuable resources and the support of likeminded mompreneurs and mentors: https://www.mamasandco.com
Instagram: @mamasandco
Podcasting support:
https://theultimatecreative.com

If you are a service business and you've struggled with valuing your services or owning your worth... you need this! This FREE Masterclass will help you break free from old money patterns and limiting beliefs so you can move forward with the mindset and strategy that will allow you to have the business and family life of your dreams. Sign up HERE!

Many female entrepreneurs find themselves in constant hustle mode — doing too many things, wearing every hat, accepting work that doesn’t light us up, and serving too many people who we don't love. We left our 9-5s because we wanted more freedom and control… but we often wind up back on that same hamster wheel, feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. 


Our businesses shouldn’t just pay our bills. They should support us in the life we want to have!


In this episode of The Business of Thinking Big, I’m joined by Melanie Ziltenere, the founder and Chief Word Nerd of Tripod Copy, to explore what it means to operate in hustle mode — and how to move out of it! During this conversation, we discuss how to choose your niche and started saying NO to work that isn’t in alignment, and the wild transformations Mel experienced while building her own business! 


In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌
The a-ha! moment that led Mel to niche down, and how she worked through her insecurities and fear around letting go of bad-fit clientsHow to build confidence and momentum when serving from your zone of genius Why good copywriting requires forgetting most of what you learned in English class  

Guest bio: Mel Ziltener is the Chief Word Nerd at Tripod Copy and loves writing killer content to help purpose-driven entrepreneurs engage and connect with their audience. When she's not translating her clients' magic into words, she's likely deep in an epic dance battle with her young son.


Timestamps:‌ ‌
00:32  Meet Melanie Ziltener
01:40  Early days of Tripod Copy
04:42  Fear & niching down  
05:49  Choosing her niche
08:58  Creating the confidence to serve
11:33  “Have I made it?”
12:56  When to say no
15:27  Early stages of success
16:53  Power of relationships
18:29  Coaching & A-Players
21:45  Internal shifts & financial success
25:13  Types of success
29:39  What’s next?
30:43  Final tips & conclusion


Links mentioned:‌ ‌
Melanie Ziltener
https://www.tripodcopy.com 
Instagram: @mel.the.word.nerd 
MamaCon
https://www.mamasandco.com/mamacon 
A-Players Rapid Impact Business Coaching Experience
https://www.mamasandco.com/groupcoaching  
REMARKABLE: Stories From Mamapreneurs Who Have Created Success Despite the Odds
https://www.amazon.ca/REMARKABLE-Stories-mamapreneurs-created-success/dp/1989716989 
—
Learn with me: Mamapreneur Success Path - Free Audio Training
  
‌Connect with me:  
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liannekimcoach  
Instagram: @liannekimcoach
Join the Mamas & Co. community to get access to valuable resources and the support of likeminded mompreneurs and mentors: https://www.mamasandco.com 
Instagram: @mamasandco


Podcasting support:

If you are a service business and you've struggled with valuing your services or owning your worth... you need this! This FREE Masterclass will help you break free from old money patterns and limiting beliefs so you can move forward with the mindset and strategy that will allow you to have the business and family life of your dreams. Sign up HERE!