Art of the App Michelle Cherian

Finding balance as an entrepreneur isn’t always easy. It can be difficult for us as business owners to find productivity tools and schedules that actually work for our personalities. Paper is not going to be for everyone and a productivity app won’t be for everyone. It’s about finding out what works best for you. 
In episode 28 of Art of the App Podcast, Jessica Bledsoe and I discuss the importance of not being “busy” and pushing but instead letting things come easily to us. We also dig into how we reconcile wanting to make an impact and do our best work in the world but not wanting to be constantly busy. 
Jessica Bledsoe is a serial entrepreneur, dog mom, part-time van lifer, and the co-founder of pav*r, a time management app that integrates with your Google Calendar. Jessica is passionate about helping business owners and busy people reclaim their time so they can live more and work less.
Some of the things Jessica Bledsoe and I discuss: 
Transitioning from a local service business model to creating a global tech productivity tool.Jessica’s journey as she found a productivity schedule that worked best for her.How to decide what you say “yes” or “no” to a potential opportunity and the distinction between saying “no” or “not right now”.We all have something that we think is out of reach that isn't actually out of reach. It's about just being intentional about what we want and saying "no" to the things that don't align with those goals and intentions.Using market research and customer feedback to improve the product.The easiest productivity change that a busy person can make.Be sure to tune in to all the episodes to receive inspiration from founders and investors shaping the future.
Thank you for listening!
If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!
Learn more about Art of the App and Michelle Cherian at https://artoftheapp.buzzsprout.com/ 
CONNECT WITH MICHELLE CHERIAN:
Linkedin
Instagram
Facebook
Free Gift: Guide for Creating a Product People Adore
Work with Michelle Cherian 
CONNECT WITH JESSICA BLEDSOE:
Website 
Linkedin

With the increasingly visible mental health crisis that is impacting our world, it’s important that people find support no matter where they live. Creating a mental health toolkit and finding a community that understands what you’re struggling with can be especially beneficial. In episode 27 of Art of the App Podcast, Tamar Blue and I discuss the importance of mental health support. We also dig into how there are benefits to having a support group along with professional help. 
Tamar Blue is the founder and CEO of MentalHappy, an online mental health platform on a mission to make mental health care accessible, affordable and stigma-free for everyone. After selling her first company—an online staffing platform— in 2013, Tamar decided to pursue her passion in the mental health technology space. Today, MentalHappy helps people around the world overcome challenging life events and improve their daily lives through positive, peer support, including free, low cost and anonymous support groups, as well as self-help toolkits. Having suffered from panic attacks most of her life, Tamar personally understands the difficulty people face in finding the emotional support they need to lead happier, healthier lives. Tamar was recently recognized as a "Forbes Next 1000" honoree and just closed her first seed round of $1.1Million dollars for MentalHappy.
Some of the things Tamar Blue and I discuss: 
Some strategies that worked for Tamar before she started MentalHappy which has included gratitude, meditation, and communicating with others who are experiencing the same thing.How positive language can create resilience. Sometimes the language used around mental health can hold us back from managing it in a functional way.The thought process behind the market research, and monetization framework that went into creating MentalHappy.The evolution and pivots that have happened as MentalHappy moved from a startup to a company. Some of the marketing strategies used to grow the community of professional leaders and supported members.The direction MentalHappy is headed in the coming months and years.Thank you for listening! Be sure to tune in to all the episodes to receive inspiration from founders and investors shaping the future.
If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!
Learn more about Art of the App and Michelle Cherian at https://artoftheapp.buzzsprout.com/ 
CONNECT WITH MICHELLE CHERIAN:
Linkedin
Instagram
Facebook
Free Gift: Guide for Creating a Product People Adore
Work with Michelle Cherian 
CONNECT WITH TAMAR BLUE:
MentalHappy
Linkedin
Instagram

With 90% of the United States not getting an adequate daily intake of vitamins and minerals, it’s no surprise that the lack of micronutrients is causing issues like fatigue, stress, mood imbalance, and even chronic illness. It’s hard to get the nutrients you need everyday from your food alone. When you layer on genetics that adds another complication. 
In episode 26 of Art of the App Podcast, Rachel Soper Sanders and I discuss the importance of micronutrients and its role in a person’s overall health. We also dig into the four key pillars of how people stay healthy: nutrition, sleep, movement, and mental health. All these pillars play into each other and they all matter for each other.
Rachel Soper Sanders, CEO and co-founder of Rootine, spent her career in high-stress roles that required her to maximize the time she had — first as an investment banker and now as a startup founder and first-time mom. For her, that means doing everything she can to stay healthy and ensuring she is performing at her best both mentally and physically throughout the day. Early on in her career she was suffering from burnout, fatigue, stress, and brain fog which hampered her ability to give her best everyday. As she had done in the past when looking to solve health concerns, she turned to nutrition and fitness as a way to get more from her day when sleep wasn’t always an option - constantly iterating on products, exercises, and ways to fuel her body to add performance gains throughout the day. Through this, she learned that what she puts into her body everyday matters when it comes to her work, fitness gains, and the type of parent and partner she is able to be. She also learned that investing in self-care matters; the more you invest in taking care of yourself the better output you will have and investing early and often could help tremendously in the long term.
Some of the things Rachel Soper Sanders and I discuss: 
Behind the scenes of building a business in the medical field and creating partnerships.The aspects of a person’s daily life that play into our health and wellbeing and the way that Rootine is working to help the whole person.The importance of understanding your personal data and using a solution that’s built for it because a one-size-fits-all solution doesn’t work for the majority of people.When we should start addressing our nutrients and how it changes as we grow or age.Health optimization is not just for the standard biohacker of the world. The more you know about your body, the better choices you can make.
Be sure to tune in to all the episodes to receive inspiration from founders and investors shaping the future. And don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!
Learn more about Art of the App and Michelle Cherian at https://artoftheapp.buzzsprout.com/ 
CONNECT WITH MICHELLE CHERIAN:
Linkedin
Instagram
Facebook
Free Gift: Guide for Creating a Product People Adore
Work with Michelle Cherian 
CONNECT WITH RACHEL SANDERS:
Rootine
Linkedin
Instagram
Twitter
RESOURCES:
The Tell-Tale Brain by V.S. Ramachandran

After many years in the industry, Tatiana Figueiredo has learned a lot of lessons, one of which is that you cannot replace the power and presence of a loyal and engaged community. She’s worked with community founders in a variety of industries to build profitable businesses that reflect them as people.
In episode 25 of Art of the App Podcast, Tatiana Figueiredo and I discuss how to build sustainable communities. We also dig into how you can build a thriving community based on your own core values. 
Tatiana Figaredo is a community strategist and coach for community founders who are facing product, community, or growth challenges. The work she does now is the culmination of her experience in marketing and sales for small businesses, managing technology teams and projects and building and running her own businesses in tech, e-commerce and events.
Some of the things Tatiana and I discuss: 
The three levels of community interaction; between the individual and the whole community, the individual in small groups and the 1:1 interaction among individuals.The differences between building a free and paid community, where people tend to be more committed because they’ve invested.How having a bit of friction that asks a commitment of the individual, even in free groups, helps the community member to be more engaged and participate.The importance of building a community that reflects your values and personality.  The biggest mistakes community leaders are making in their community dynamics.Be sure to tune in to all the episodes to receive inspiration from founders and investors shaping the future.
Thank you for listening!
If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!
Learn more about Art of the App and Michelle Cherian at https://artoftheapp.buzzsprout.com/ 
CONNECT WITH MICHELLE CHERIAN:
Linkedin
Instagram
Facebook
Free Gift: Guide for Creating a Product People Adore
Work with Michelle Cherian 


CONNECT WITH Tatiana Figueiredo:
Website 
Linkedin
Instagram


RESOURCES:
Building Brand Communities Book

Sometimes we are afraid to publicly tell our personal stories because we think the conversation should happen only with close friends. Other times, we feel like we have a purpose and a passion, but not a “good” story to tell. In today’s episode we are changing the narrative - literally - to talk about the dangers of not sharing your story and how to be brave so you can make a bigger impact. 
In episode 24 of Art of the App Podcast, Brielle Cotterman and I discuss the importance of sharing your whole story. We also dig into how you can feel confident sharing your story even when you don’t think it might be worth sharing. 
Brielle Cotterman is a TEDx Speaker, Contributor at Entrepreneur, Activist Against Domestic Violence, Publicity Expert, and Celebrity-Maker. She has spent the last decade helping clients to craft and scale Dream careers to 7 figures and beyond by leveraging their personal stories and passions in order to create speaking tours, author award-winning books, procure media placements, and inspire the millions of people that need to hear their story. She is a survivor of attempted murder and domestic violence and an advocate for a world where intimate partner abuse is not tolerated and survivors are met with empathy. 
Some of the things Brielle and I discuss: 
The real danger in not sharing your story because even the difficult experiences are not uncommon. By sharing those, we allow others to feel less alone. Ways our culture has been impacted by the concept of only sharing what is shiny or pretty.The importance of sharing your story to grow your personal brand; because if you aren’t adding to the conversation, it is being developed without you.How to share your story even if you don’t think you have one worth sharing. You don't have to have a story that's filled with drama, trauma, or heartbreak in order to be influential and make a positive impact. Your impact doesn’t have to be for everyone. What’s important right now is not so much about being polished to perfection but instead creating connection by shining a light on who you are as a person.The three most important stories that you can have prepared when sharing about yourself: your breakthrough story, your business zone of genius, and your passion.Be sure to tune in to all the episodes to receive inspiration from founders and investors shaping the future. Thank you for listening!
If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!
Learn more about Art of the App and Michelle Cherian at https://artoftheapp.buzzsprout.com/ 
CONNECT WITH MICHELLE CHERIAN:
Linkedin
Instagram
Facebook
Free Gift: Guide for Creating a Product People Adore
Work with Michelle Cherian 


CONNECT WITH Brielle Cotterman:
Website
Instagram

There is a huge benefit to creating a purpose-led strategy for your business breathing it into every aspect of the company. In episode 23 of Art of the App Podcast, Kathy Varol and I discuss the importance of building purpose into your business model.. 
Kathy is an expert at driving profit with purpose. Kathy created the Global Purpose (corporate social responsibility) strategy for Adidas, a 22 billion dollar global company. Now Kathy helps her clients use purpose to stand out in a competitive environment, attract the best talent, gain consumer loyalty, and fully harness the innovative brainpower of their employees. She shares her deep knowledge and “how-to” with clients, so they can skip the hard lessons and go straight to strategies that work.        
Kathy has 20 years of experience across brand marketing, strategy and impact, working at established brands like Adidas, MillerCoors and Microsoft.        
Kathy is a sought-after speaker, Purpose Strategy Expert, and CSR & ESG consultant who has spoken and facilitated workshops around the globe.   
Some of the things Kathy and I discuss: 
The value of a purpose-driven business, and why it’s important to keep that purpose in mind through every part of your business.How hiring with your purpose in mind can make for better, more aligned employees.Why Kathy doesn’t like the term CSR (corporate social responsibility)Common mistakes people make when they first start creating and implementing their purpose-driven brand.Be sure to tune in to all the episodes to receive inspiration from founders and investors shaping the future.
Thank you for listening!
If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!
Learn more about Art of the App and Michelle Cherian at https://artoftheapp.buzzsprout.com/ 
CONNECT WITH MICHELLE CHERIAN:
Linkedin
Instagram
Facebook
Free Gift: Guide for Creating a Product People Adore
Work with Michelle Cherian 


CONNECT WITH KATHY VAROL:
Website
LinkedIn
Instagram
Podcast