Christy Wright's Business Boutique

Your brand is made up of look, tone and feel. We covered the look and tone in episode 31, so in this episode, we'll talk about the tone, so that your brand-and, as a result, your business-feels like you. Plus I'll teach you how to show your customers that you care through your policies, messaging and brand experience. My guest this week is branding expert, psychologist and author Joseph Michelli. Joseph has written several books, including The Starbucks Experience, and has helped companies like Zappos, Mercedes Benz and Starbucks develop their brands. He'll give you practical ways to give your customers an above-and-beyond experience and reveal two big mistakes to avoid when presenting your brand. And I'll give you simple, quick tips to make the most of the upcoming holiday season! Plus, I'll answer your business questions from Business Boutique events. 1:02  The Feel and Experience of Your Branding 21:00 Interview with Joseph Michelli 46:59 Preparing Your Life for Christmas 51:47 #ASKCHRISTYWRIGHT 59:13 Home

Branding is so much more than colors, fonts and pretty pictures-it's about creating an identity. When you make a purchase, whether you realize it or not, you're choosing that brand over another because you feel it represents you. So you may recall in Episode 2 of the podcast, we talked about the look, tone and feel of your brand. But in this episode, I want to take a deeper dive on the look and tone, so that when you're audience interacts with your business, they know it's for them! One of my absolute favorites-best-selling author and CEO of Storybrand-Donald Miller, is back! He'll unpack his Storybrand concept for us, and y'all, this is a powerful way to grow your customers and your profits. If you're dreaming up your brand right now or your existing brand isn't connecting, you need to hear this interview. Plus, I'll answer your business questions from Business Boutique events! 1:03  The Look and Tone of Your Branding 18:37 Interview with Donald Miller 50:09 Preparing Your Business for Christmas  53:04 #ASKC

Most small businesses make mistakes when hiring, but who you hire is one of the most important decisions you'll make in your business! So in this episode, I'll share the hiring mistakes I've made in the past, and teach you my 7 Rules of Hiring! My guest this week is one of my favorite speakers and authors, Patrick Lencioni! He has written 11 incredible books-many of which are about building strong teams and hiring. Y'all, this is one of my favorite interviews to date! Patrick is a wealth of information and practical advice, and he'll help you avoid the pitfalls of hiring the wrong people. He'll also share the best-kept hiring secrets that some of your favorite companies, like Southwest Airlines, actually use! And our success story this week is Katie Finklea. Katie owns Loving Well Living Well, which she was inspired to start after attending a Business Boutique event. She saw a gap between adoption and foster care advocacy and education, and was passionate about providing a solution to that problem. God is tru

In this episode, I'll give you four ways to make more money without adding on to your workload.  One way to do that is by creating passive income, which is exactly what my guest this week, Pat Flynn, will teach us about. Pat is a best-selling author and owns several wildly successful online businesses. He's speaking at my Business Boutique event in November, and today he'll tell us about how he wound up creating his first digital product years ago, and where it's taken him. And the success story this week is Heather Salopek. Heather owns Legacy Pecans, which sells delicious pecans and pecan products for retail and corporate gifts. The "Why" behind her business is remarkable, and I love how she got creative and took her family business to the next level. Plus, I'll answer your business questions from Business Boutique events! 1:10 Creating Passive Income 7:50 Interview with Pat Flynn 44:56 BB Success Story with Heather Salopek 57:38 #ASKCHRISTYWRIGHT 64:08 Homework  Find out how much money your business can ma

If you don't know your value, you'll settle. You'll undercharge, get pushed around, and dream small. That's why knowing your worth is so important, not just in business, but in life! In this episode, I'll give you three steps to determining the value of your product or service. My guest this week is Nicole Walters. Nicole created The Monetized Life and is one of our expert speakers at Business Boutique. She's taught me so much about selling and about knowing my worth! She'll give us some real talk about why women tend to undervalue ourselves. She'll also her share her best tips for selling, and I promise they're super easy-regardless of your personality style. Plus, I'll answer your business questions from Business Boutique events! 1:04 Knowing Your Worth 13:00 Interview with Nicole Walters 40:08 Fall Encouragement 43:00 #ASKCHRISTYWRIGHT 50:32 Homework  Find out how much money your business can make with my free Profit Potential tool here! - To save $10 on any Business Boutique Nashville ticket, use the code

Regardless of the type of product you sell or the industry you're in, you're going to have competitors. Competition can make us feel fear, intimidation, and maybe even jealousy. So in this episode, I'll cover the "Dos and Don'ts" about interacting with and learning from your competition. My guest this week is Amber Hurdle, brand strategist, leadership consultant and host of the Bombshell Business Podcast. Amber will challenge us to take the emotions we feel surrounding competition and channel it into something positive. Our success story features the business, Snappy Stitch, created by Janet Wall and her daughter E.V. Bennett. Snappy Stitch provides cute, comfortable clothing for children undergoing medical treatments. Their business idea came out of their personal experience in hospitals. Plus, I'll answer your business questions from Business Boutique events! 1:10 Learning From Your Competition 18:16 Interview with Amber Hurdle 45:42 BB Success Story with Janet Wall and E.V. Bennett 55:25 #ASKCHRISTYWRIGHT

You may be thinking that you don't need to write, but the truth is: if you're a small business owner, you'll need to do at least some writing, whether you've been trained or not. You need to write well to reach your target customer, so in the episode, I'll give you four tools to put in your Writing Toolbox! My guest this week is the editor in chief of Woman's Day magazine, Susan Spencer. Susan has been working in magazine publishing for over 30 years and she'll share what's she's learned along her journey-including three things every successful writer does. Our success story is Anna Doyle, owner of Threefold Boutique. Her day job is working at a law firm, but she's seeing so much success in her own business that she hopes to replace her full-time income soon. She'll walk us through the moment she decided to just go for it, and how she now balances a busy side business with working full time. Plus, I'll answer your business questions from Business Boutique events! 1:08 How To Improve Your Writing Skills 16:30

Your ideas are only as strong as you're able to communicate them. The skills you need as a professional public speaker are the same skills you need to communicate any ideas, and we are all in the business of communicating ideas! So in this episode, I'll teach you my approach to public speaking and how to become great communicator. My guest this week is a speaker and podcast host-the hilarious and inspiring Ken Davis. He'll talk about how to communicate effectively, compassionately, and in a way that will cause your audience to take action. Our success story is Jenny Melrose, founder of the lifestyle blog, The Melrose Family. The income she made from her blog ended up surpassing her full-time income as a teacher! Today, she's taken what she learned from blogging and sharing her secrets and strategies with other entrepreneurs-and making almost six figures! Plus, I'll answer your top business questions! 1:08 The Basics of Being a Great Communicator 18:13 Interview with Ken Davis 39:06 BB Success Story with Jenny

When it comes to making money doing what you love, there are pitfalls that can really get you into trouble! So in this episode, I'll talk about four money pitfalls you should avoid. My guest this week is #1 New York Times best-selling author, and one of my best friends, Rachel Cruze. We'll have some girl talk about how we balance work and family, and different ways we set financial goals and save money. Our success story this week features Carol Low, the owner of Creative Windows by Carol. She was resourceful and started her business in the backroom of a fabric store, and now, nearly 25 years later she's a successful business owner and employs her family! She'll share some mistakes she's made over the years and how she came back from them. And I'll answer your top business questions! 1:07 Money Pitfalls to Avoid in Your Business 11:22 Interview with Rachel Cruze 40:43 BB Success Story with Carol Low 47:26 #ASKCHRISTYWRIGHT 56:09 Homework - Sign up for the Business Boutique Academy and get $10 off your first m

Here's something that won't come as a surprise to anyone: men and women are different. That means we approach business differently, too! We have unique strengths and also unique challenges. So in this episode, I'll unpack tips on how you can pursue your passions and be successful. Plus, my guest this week is financial journalist, author and speaker Jean Chatzky. She'll walk us through her journey to finding success, from self-proclaimed high school math geek to magazine writer to unexpectedly starting her own company. She'll weigh in on our unique challenges as women in business. Our success story this week features April Perry, a mom who wanted to generate income while staying home with her kids. She found her business idea in a surprising way, and she'll share that with us. And I'll answer your top business questions! 1:08 Women and Business 18:47 Interview with Jean Chatzky 44:41 BB Success Story with April Perry 56:52 #ASKCHRISTYWRIGHT 66:25 Homework - Sign up for the Business Boutique Academy and get $10

Stories have a way of getting into our heads and our hearts in a way that nothing else can. So in this episode, I'll tell you the three things you need to tell effective stories that will help your business. Plus, my guest this week is world-famous photographer Jeremy Cowart. He'll tell us about how he's now booked countless speaking gigs because of the way he incorporated story into a presentation one time. And I'll answer your top business questions! 1:07 How to Use Storytelling in Your Business 15:15 Interview with Jeremy Cowart 39:09 BB Success Story with Karen Stewart 44:07 #ASKCHRISTYWRIGHT 52:37 Homework - Sign up for the Business Boutique Academy and get $10 off your first month or $30 off your first year by using the code BBACADEMY at BusinessBoutique.com/Academy. This offer is good through through June 30, 2017. Sign up today! - To save $10 on any Business Boutique Nashville ticket, use the code BBWRIGHT. Buy my new book, Business Boutique: A Woman's Guide for Making Money Doing What She Loves, and

Let's talk about success, friends! In this episode, I'll give you three steps you need to take to win in business. If you do these three things, you'll feel the pride that comes with knowing where you're going and how to get there. Plus, I'm so excited to announce that Business Boutique is launching something brand new that can change everything for your business: The Business Boutique Academy. My guest this week, Brian Williams from Ramsey Solutions, will explain in detail what the Academy can do for you. 1:05 How to Win in Your Business 17:09 Interview with Brian Williams 41:02 Homework - Sign up for the Business Boutique Academy and get $10 off your first month or $30 off your first year  by using the code BBACADEMY at BusinessBoutique.com/Academy. This offer is good through through June 30, 2017. Sign up today! - Buy my new book, Business Boutique: A Woman's Guide for Making Money Doing What She Loves, and receive a FREE Marketing Basics You Can't Afford to Miss video, a $40 value for only $19.99. Visit B

In this episode, I'll talk about a piece of marketing that is often overlooked: content. The truth is that every business is in the content business, so I'll give you ideas that will help you create trusted, credible content that your followers and customers will actually care about! My guest this week is Beth Ann Schwamberger. She started the Brilliant Business Moms brand and podcast! She'll talk about the steps she took to start it up and turn it into a sustainable business. I'll also talk to Shannon Basso, who created an inspirational magazine called "BECOMING." She curates and edits all of the content in the publication. She'll tell us about how she took her online magazine to print, and how she overcame Imposter Syndrome throughout the process. And I'll answer your business questions! 1:10 How to Create Engaging Content for Your Business 14:17 Interview with Beth Ann Schwamberger 31:34 BB Success Story with Shannon Basso 43:43 #ASKCHRISTYWRIGHT 53:21 Homework - Buy my new book, Business Boutique: A Woman

In this episode, I'll pull out my old journals to see how different my dreams have grown over the years. The truth is that I'm living out dreams right now that never even occurred to me back then. I wasn't imagining, hoping, or praying big enough! And friends, regardless of your industry, dream, or business, I bet the same is true for you. I hope this podcast will be an encouragement to you to be faithful in your small beginnings so that you'll be prepared when the big things come along. My guest this week is Jessica Principe, the owner of All Girl Shave Club. Her business is a subscription shaving service that provides high quality razors and specialty shaving and body products. She'll talk about how she found her idea, and how she incorporates products from other women-owned businesses! And I'll answer questions from Business Boutique event attendees! 1:23 Dream Bigger for Your Business 9:53 Interview with Jessica Principie 43:20 #ASKCHRISTYWRIGHT 52:42 Homework - Buy my new book, Business Boutique: A Woman

There are some great qualities and traits I see so many women have, but for one reason or another, they dismiss them. But to succeed in business, all you have to do is take the qualities you're already using in other areas of your life and apply them to your business! So in this episode, I've got real life examples and practical ways to do that. My guest this week is Robin Shliakhau, the owner of Simplify and Pursue. She'll tell us about how her passion for decluttering her own house led to a booming business-complete with consultation services, speaking engagements, and a blog-she now loves. Robin actually grew her Facebook likes from 600 to 9,000 in just one year! She'll share her social media strategy with us, too. And I'll answer questions from Irvine, California Business Boutique event attendees! 1:10 Five Qualities You Need to Win in Business 19:47 Interview with Robin Shliakhau 40:03 #ASKCHRISTYWRIGHT 49:45 Homework - Pre-order my new book, Business Boutique: A Woman's Guide for Making Money Doing What

In the last episode, we talked about recognizing the unique gifts that God has given us. And we don't do anyone any favors by downplaying or dismissing those gifts! So in this episode, I'll address the excuses we use to not step into them, and the damage we do by failing to use them. My guest this week is my friend Amanda Wilcox Patterson, who is a worship leader in Nashville. She'll share her thoughts on embracing our unique gifts, and how to use them in worshipping God. Plus, we'll hear from Kelly Buchtien, owner of The Simply Organized Teacher. Kelly attended one of our Business Boutique events, and for her and her dream, it was a turning point. She'll talk about how she's using her gift of organization to build her business, one customer at a time. And I'll answer your business questions! 1:10 Excuses Stopping You From Using Your Gifts 22:17 Interview with Amanda Wilcox Patterson 45:40 BB Success Story with Kelly Buchtien 50:48 #ASKCHRISTYWRIGHT 55:50 Homework - Pre-order my new book, Business Boutique: A

You have been created with unique and special gifts specifically for you. But sometimes it's hard to recognize those gifts. That's why I want to spend this podcast episode teaching you how to recognize your unique gifts! So I'll talk about the difference between gifts, passions and strengths, and how to identify the unlikely things that may actually be gifts in your life. My friend and Business Boutique event host Annie F. Downs will share how she realized her unique gifts of entertaining, speaking, and writing-and how she uses them today. Plus, we'll hear from Karmen Smith, owner of Pray Big-a company that makes prayer journals. Karmen's business came out of a very trying time for her, and she'll share her inspiring story of how her gifts intersected with her desire to help people in their walk with God. And I'll answer your biggest business questions! 1:14 Recognizing Your Gifts 19:10 Interview with Annie F. Downs 48:42 BB Success Story with Karmen Smith 56:25 #ASKCHRISTYWRIGHT 60:54 Homework - Pre-order my

Earning a profit in business isn't optional, even if your business is a nonprofit! This episode is for all of you dreaming of starting or already running a nonprofit! We'll talk about fundraising, grant writing, identifying your target market, and more.   My friend Stacy Coleman our guest for this episode. Stacy is the founder of Three Strands, a nonprofit based in Atlanta that serves BirthMoms, who choose life and put their babies up for adoption, with excellence. Her incredible personal story and how she unexpectedly came to create Three Strands will inspire you and make you cry!     We'll also hear from Misty Newsome, the founder of Heshima Ministries a non-profit business that helps women in Uganda. I'll also answer your questions about business. 1:22 Starting and Running a Non-Profit Business 16:21 Interview with Stacy Coleman 40:46 BB Success Story with Misty Newsome 48:28 #ASKCHRISTYWRIGHT 51:59 Homework - Pre-order my new book, Business Boutique: A Woman's Guide for Making Money Doing What She Loves,

Core values are like your compass, and they influence your decisions whether you realize it or not. In this episode, I want to make you aware of what those values are so that you can make decisions in your business that are best for you. I'll share examples of my core values with you and help you identify your own. My friend, nine-time Grammy Award winner, Hillary Scott is my guest for this episode. She'll talk about her core values and how they've kept her grounded throughout her many successes and even her failures. Plus, I'll talk to a woman who has truly build her business around her passions and values: Annie Moss. Annie owns a jewelry company called The Vintage Sparrow in Nashville, TN. Her business started as a way to raise money for a mission trip and grew so big that she was able to leave her day job to do her business full-time! 1:17 How Your Personal Values Inform Your Business 13:35 Interview with Hillary Scott 32:31 BB Success Story with Annie Moss  41:10 #ASKCHRISTYWRIGHT 44:42 Homework -  Pre-o

The key to real life change is setting goals. In this episode, I'll talk about how to set strong goals that you can actually achieve. I'll tell you the three attributes that all of your goals should have, and give you my top tips to keep yourself motivated so that you'll look back one day and be proud of yourself. My guest this week is my good friend, Kelly Hancock. She founded the money-saving blog, FaithfulProvisions.com. Kelly's friends kept pestering her to start a blog to share her thrifty tricks and coupons, so she reluctantly began writing in 2008. She was able to grow an audience and an income generated by the blog! Kelly will share with us how she did it, and why she ultimately decided to walk away from it. Plus, I'll answer business questions that you've submitted! 2:39 Deep Dive on Goals 24:30 Interview with Kelly Hancock 49:00 #ASKCHRISTYWRIGHT 55:04 Homework - Sign up for my 9-week Digital Mentoring course for Dreamers and receive your own DISC Assessment Test for free with the code BBWRIGHT. To