Office Talk With Annette Stepanian

I met Kristy Rice of Momental Designs at Be Sage Conference in 2017 I found her to be a force of creativity and energy. I’ve been so impressed with how she’s really transformed her creativity into a successful business. Kristy has a unique business because she took her own unique art skills and turned it into a scalable business with multiple revenue streams. She takes us behind the scenes of her business, sharing what her team looks like and how she created her own Silver Platter Moment. If you’re a creative who has reached her limit of time you can spend creating and developing, this episode is for you. If you’re in the wedding industry, we also talk about the changing climate and how you can stay relevant and top-of-mind. Listen in to our conversation now!   Disclaimer: This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information p

Launching a group program is a great way to move from a 1-to-1 business model to 1-to-many. In fact, online courses have become a $300 billion industry. It’s huge, and I’m seeing more and more business owners creating courses and other group programs--and just killing it. If making this shift or leap is one of your goals, I encourage you to make it happen. But before you start signing people up for your mastermind, group coaching or course, you have to make sure your ducks are in a row. You have contracts for your 1-to-1 work; it’s just as important (if not more so) to have a contract for your group program. In this episode, I’m sharing the three things you must include in your program’s terms of service and what to consider for each one. Because the terms of service you have on your website just aren’t enough to protect you should something not go as planned with your course. Listen in now, and if you need terms of service for your course or online program, head to my shop to get yours.   Disclaimer: This co

If you’re like most business owners, you’re looking for ways to grow in the new year. I don’t blame you! It takes planning and thoughtfulness if you want to grow in the right ways. In this episode, I asked 10 business owners this question: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give someone looking to elevate their businesses in the new year? As a result, I got 10 different answers-- all of which I think are pure gold. Take a listen and pull out the ideas that work for you and your business. And then head over to Instagram and let me know which ideas you loved. Be sure to tag the entrepreneurs whose advice most resonated with you!   Disclaimer: This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Anne

Systems are a hot topic this time of year, as people look at their goals and wonder how in the heck they’re ever going to meet them. In this episode, I welcomed Chelsea Foster to the podcast to tell you that it is, in fact, possible. But first, you need to pull yourself out of the day-in, day-out mundane to figure out how to streamline, automate and delegate in your business. Chelsea dives into how to audit what you’re doing now to help you finish off the year on a high note (so you’re feeling less stressed and more mission-driven next year). This episode really piggybacks on last week’s pep talk episode in sharing how to make sure you have the systems in place to meet those goals you have. Listen in to my conversation with Chelsea, then share your biggest takeaway with me on Instagram.   To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk   Disclaimer: This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does

It’s the most wonderful time of the year...Back to school time! But it’s also a busy time because I think we have our heads in 2019 already. We start thinking about what’s coming up next year and how the heck we’re going to meet our year-end goals to finish off this year right. If you’re trying to negotiate your goals because you don’t want to do the work or you feel like your goals aren’t reachable, I want you to shift your mindset. There are three big (but simple) things I do to help reach my goals--little tweaks on some of the popular methods. In this episode, I’m breaking down how I set myself up for success during this busy season of the year. And I’m even sharing a rather unusual makeup that I have to my business’s board of directors. Some big names may or may not have a big role in my success, unbeknownst to them! Listento this episode, then hop over to Instagram and share with me what strategies work for you!   Disclaimer: This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should

Keeping your finger on the pulse of what’s happening in your industry is so important if you want to serve your audience well. Personally, because I work with a lot of wedding and events industry professionals, I’m always trying to keep up with what’s going on so I can better understand and serve my clients. In this episode,  I’m diving into this year's Wedding Wire report which provides a snapshot of the current state of the wedding industry.  I’m highlighting some really interesting statistics and what they might mean to you and your business if you’re also an events industry professional. The more you know about trends and challenges in your industry, the better you will understand and serve your clients. If you’re a wedding planner or serve a role for couples getting married, take a listen and think about how the numbers I’m talking about can help you to run your business better. Then head to my Facebook page and let me me know your biggest takeaway from the episode so we can chat about it! To learn more

Who doesn’t want more profit in their business? (I see you over there raising your hand).   We’ve all heard the saying, “You have to spend money to make money.” No matter what industry you’re in, it’s pretty darn true. You need to be willing to invest in your business if you want your business to grow.   It’s not always easy, or comfortable. But luckily it doesn’t always have to be expensive. In fact, there are a lot of investments you can make for your business that don’t cost any money at all.   In this episode, I’m talking about three of the best investments you can make in your business if you want to grow, attract new audiences to you and be more profitable. Nothing super complicated, but still oh--so important! Listen up, and then let me know what investment you’re ready to make next!   To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk   Disclaimer: This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It

What isn’t working in your wedding planning business? Sometimes you’re too close and emotionally attached to it to know exactly where you should make changes. But something might just feel “off” to you. One thing that trips up most newer business owners, no matter the industry, is that they treat their business like a passion project or hobby. If you got into business because you have a passion for the process or your clients, you may be overlooking some of the common mistakes you’re making. Don’t learn the hard lessons the hard way. I don’t want you to have unhappy clients or legal issues on your plate. Insead, take a listen to this episode and course-correct now. As a side note: These mistakes aren’t exclusive to wedding planners; I’ve seen them made in all different industries. So just because you’re not a wedding planner or in the wedding industry, don’t discount this episode. You could very well be making these mistakes in your own business too!   To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettes

Where did the summer go? (Where did the year go!?) If you’ve been pushing, pushing, pushing to meet those year-end goals, you might be feeling burned out right now. Things start to get messy when you’re constantly in hustle mode and that’s not good for you, your business, your clients or your life. If you know me at all, you know how important tidiness is to me--both in my business and at home. I did an episode (ep.72) about spring cleaning your business, but the idea has stuck with me. I’ve been feeling a little spread too thin recently, as my business has grown, and I really started feeling like something needed to change. I think it’s important to be more intentional about what you’re doing in your business, day to day. Even if you’re not feeling burned out, it might be time to recharge. I recently did just that and it’s made a huge difference in my productivity and my business. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE How growing a business is a lot like growing a giant pumpkin (really!) How to ask yourself the

If you’ve ever thought of turning your passion into your full-time job, then you’re going to love this episode with Maghon Taylor!   Maghon is the “she” behind All She Wrote Notes - the business she’s built around teaching her hand-lettering skills to other aspiring artists. As you’ll hear, Maghon launched her business on her iPhone one night after work! Since then she’s grown her business to include fun products, as well as in-person (and soon to-be online) hand-lettering classes. If you’ve ever wanted to take your skills and your personality and turn them into a business that you love, then you’ll want to catch this episode! To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk

Have you ever wanted to get paid to be creative? In this episode of the Office Talk podcast, I’m chatting with Bonnie Christine Forkner - an artist, a fabric designer and a teacher who has made a living creating her art and she’s sharing her story of how she got there with you! You’ll hear Bonnie’s evolution about how she went from working in her mom’s fabric shop to making an amazing living licensing her products, teaching her secrets, and building a beautiful community of other designers who are interested in surface pattern design. To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk  

In this episode, I’m shaking things up a bit and have not just one, but two guests! Leah Weinberg, the founder of Color Pop Events is an event and wedding planner based in New York City and Debbie Orwat is a former planner and venue owner, and currently runs Planner’s Lounge - an online resource for wedding and event planners. I asked them on to show to take a walk down memory lane with me about how they each got started and what obstacles they faced in doing so. As you’ll hear, both ladies have a wealth of knowledge to share. Even if wedding and event planning isn’t your niche, don’t dismiss this episode. You just might find a little nugget here that you can apply to your own business and industry! To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk  

In this episode I’m talking to one of my favorite people that I have come across since starting my business, Alisha Johns of Lish Creative. If you’ve ever checked out my website or the cover art for this podcast, most of those pictures have been taken by Alisha. Lish Creative is a content agency for vibrant beauty and lifestyle brands, and since founding the company, Alisha has worked with some amazing brands including Benefit Cosmetics, Delta, Dunkin’ Donuts, and many more If you’re a photographer and looking for advice on getting your business to the next level, or if you’re a business owner wanting to develop a vibrant and consistent brand identity, then you’ll enjoy this episode.   To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk  

In this real girl-to-girl conversation, I’m speaking with Jill Stanton, one-half of the Screw The 9 to 5 community - which helps new and existing entrepreneurs solve problems related to life and business through actionable insights and simple “how to’s.” Jill is sharing what it’s taken them to get their business to where it is today and how she sees the online marketing space shifting. She reveals what it’s been like being a new mother and how it has affected their life and business. I think you’re really going to appreciate how honest and forthcoming Jill is in this episode. So, grab yourself a coffee, sit back, and enjoy this episode. To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk

You may have been hearing the term “GDPR” a lot over the past few months and wondering what exactly is this talk all about? In this episode, my goal is to break down GDPR - to give you some basic background context to what this law is all about, why it’s important to understand, and what it means for your small business. To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk   Disclaimer: This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presenta

In this episode, I’m joined by Lindsay Lucas of Lean on Me Consultants for a bit of a niche topic, but it’s a trend I’m seeing in the events industry - starting and operating a venue business. Lindsay consults with folks to help build strong foundation for their venue businesses and teaches them how to run their businesses efficiently, profitably and most importantly, sustainably. She’s sharing some of that insight with us in this episode. Even if opening an event venue is not a part of your future business plans, still give this episode a listen - there are helpful tips and valuable nuggets to benefit you! To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk  

In this week’s episode, I’m talking about two of my favorite things: spring cleaning and your business. As we approach the spring season, that usually brings on an urge to do some spring cleaning around the house. But we can take that same approach and spring clean our business too! I’m sharing the three questions that you can ask yourself to free up space in your life and business in order to invite the magic to happen. To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk   Disclaimer: This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law var

Do you have the next blockbuster idea? Are you itching to get your products in front of the likes of Mr. Wonderful and Mark Cuban on Shark Tank? Well, I can’t tell you how to get on the show, but I can tell you that if you have a product, invention, method, or something that you think is a pretty unique idea and you pitch it to the sharks - they almost always ask if the contestant has applied for a patent.  The topic of patents can be super confusing so in this episode I’m chatting all about it with patent attorney, Karima Gulick.  After listening you’ll have a much clearer idea about what patents are, who needs to be considering them, what the patent filing process looks like and much more.   To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk

In this week’s episode, we’re shaking things up a little bit! It’s a new flavor of episodes that I’m bringing you and it’s with my friend and fellow podcast host, Kinsey Roberts. If you don’t know Kinsey, she’s the wonderfully charming host of She Creates Business, A Podcast for Wedding Pros. Over the last few years, we’ve developed a friendship and the last time we chatted we realized that we needed to share our conversations with you. We suspect that so many of you can relate to some of the struggles and revelations that both she and I have experienced during our time as business owners.  About once a month you can expect to hear these talks, which we’re calling Chit Chat with Annette and Kinsey. It’s totally casual and super chill – just two girlfriends chatting about business, life and everything in between. To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk  

If you’ve been listening to the podcast over the last few weeks, you’ll have noticed that I’ve been answering the most common questions I get from professionals in a number of different industries. In this week’s episode, I’m sharing your FAQs from photographers. Regardless of what industry you’re in, don’t skip over these episodes. They all include legal nuggets that you might find helpful with your business.    To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk  Disclaimer: This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from