The Holy Grail Metrics That Determine the TRUE Sustainability of Your Business

When you are a coach or DFY service provider working with smaller groups of people, it can be  really tempting to move towards passive revenue generation opportunities.

For the love, DON’T.

The main problem with this advice?

It’s being doled out by people who are motivated to sell you straight up LIES.

Today we’re taking on three of the biggest offenders we’re hearing, and debunking them all the way down to their deceptive origins – and then offering you a bit of sound advice instead. 

Quick overview of what we cover:

• The main reason why passive products will NEVER solve your ‘time for dollars’ problem
• Why a very specific segment of the market is no longer buying courses
• Why ‘if you build it, they will come’ is – at best – terribly untrue 
• What you need to demonstrate for 6-12 months before even considering passive revenue products
• The ONLY thing that solves a revenue ceiling problem 
• Why passive revenue is never…actually…passive (womp womp)
• The absolute hardest thing to sell right now (and what to do if you’re in the midst of launching this)
• The biggest way the market has shifted between 2021 and now (and how to use your own data to predict your success with weathering this change)
• The relevance of your audience size (and the best ways to build, borrow, buy, or bedazzle your own)
• What you yearly earnings need to be to even consider passive revenue models
• The first thing to work on, starting NOW, if you know you absolutely want to add passive revenue generation…eventually

RESOURCES: 

• Click here to apply for a Growth Strategy Call
• Click here to apply for a Soulpreneur revenue-based scholarship
• Learn about Adriane's Partnership Model 1:1 Consulting

LET’S CONNECT: 

• Connect with Adriane on LinkedIn @adrianegalea
• Follow Adriane on Instagram @adrianegalea
• Visit the website: soulpreneur.co

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Loved this episode? If you leave a review or share it with your friends on social, my team will send you a copy of one of our favorite business resources! Take a screenshot and email it over to us at support@soulpreneur.co or DM it to @thescalinglounge!

Today’s episode concludes a fascinating and FUN series of conversations with the women of  Terzakis and Associates by bringing this mother/daughter duo together to speak candidly about what has made their micro-small business consulting firm work…and what hasn’t.

They beautifully describe the intentional work it took to cultivate a productive symbiosis between Susan’s strategist mind (always finding a way to land and drawing excitement in figuring it out as she went) and Jessica’s empirical nature reminding her to “Hang on, there may be a better way than just ‘being okay at the end of the day.'"

Much to our benefit, they offer their journey towards forming the ultimate Visionary/Integrator partnership here as a hand held out to inspire those of us seeking to find that special business someone, too. 

Friends, this is one not to be missed!

Quick overview of what we cover:

• How Susan – with her impressive business background, experience, and foresight – actively encourages Jessica’s “lasso” for her ideas
• How Jessica – with her impressive fact-finding/operational talent – actively protects Susan’s space to dream big
• How they were able to transform their early working environment (chaotic whiplash, lighting off Jessica’s fact-finder radar like crazy and causing Susan immense overwhelm) into the extraordinary dynamic they have now
• Their unique approach to counteract the periods of inertia that all businesses experience
• Why they believe it’s healthy to ‘Thelma and Louise some stuff’ to alleviate boredom (not to flirt with risk, but to seek opportunity and deepen their experiences as businesswomen)
• Why “How can I be my subcontractor’s best client?” is the smartest POV to get the most out of your relationship with contractors – for you both
• What led to this mic drop moment: “Those are thieves in the night sent by ego - don’t let it take more from you than what it already has.”

RESOURCES: 

• Listen to Part 1 of this series HERE, and part 2 HERE
• Click here to apply for a Growth Strategy Call
• Click here to apply for a Soulpreneur revenue-based scholarship

LET’S CONNECT: 

• Connect with Adriane on LinkedIn @adrianegalea
• Follow Adriane on Instagram @adrianegalea
• Visit the website: soulpreneur.co

CONNECT WITH SUSAN + JESSICA: 

• Connect with Terzakis & Associates on Facebook  
• Visit their website: terzakisandassociates.com/
• Download the eBook: 7 Things to Stop Doing So You Can Grow Your Business

ABOUT TERZAKIS & ASSOCIATES:
Susan and Jessica Terzakis are Women Owned Small Businesses (WOSB) champions and the mother-daughter duo at the heart of Terzakis & Associates, a micro-small business advising firm. 
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Loved this episode? If you leave a review or share it with your friends on social, my team will send you a copy of one of our favorite business resources! Take a screenshot and email it over to us at support@soulpreneur.co or DM it to @thescalinglounge!

Jessica Terzakis – the ‘Integrator’ half of the dynamic mother+daughter duo that run Terzakis and Associates – jumps into the conversation today about how she was able to shed her W2 mentality as a master-educated high-school teacher and fully embrace her new COO identity in all things entrepreneurship.

Jessica details her beginnings as task-master extraordinaire to where she is now, performing as a bonafide business strategist responsible for creating new revenue opportunities and growing their brand.

If you’ve ever wondered exactly how your business could be transformed by bringing on a COO or business partner (or maybe you’re just curious as to what it’s really like to work with your mother) – then this is the episode for you! 

Quick overview of what we cover:

• Why “You can do whatever you want with your time!” was initially too much freedom for Jessica’s W2 trained employee-brain (and how long it took her to shed that mindset)
• The meaning behind why she started calling her mom ‘Susan’ 
• The lightbulb moment Jessica had when her mom casually remarked, “You sure ask a lot of questions”
• How Jessica was able to put her love of learning design to use to help explore new revenue opportunities
• How they use the Kolbe-A assessment and the Unique Brilliance Quadrant to help mentor both their team and their business clients
• Why learning how to present your ideas and opportunities to your COO is just as important as the idea itself to get it off the ground
• Which kinds of mother/daughter business duos work in Jessica’s opinion (and which don’t!)
• How long it took her to find bottlenecks in the business and create the plans that broke through them 
• Why sustainability in business can’t come at the cost of your sanity and happiness

RESOURCES: 

• Click here to apply for a Growth Strategy Call
• Click here to apply for a Soulpreneur revenue-based scholarship

LET’S CONNECT: 

• Connect with Adriane on LinkedIn @adrianegalea
• Follow Adriane on Instagram @adrianegalea
• Visit the website: soulpreneur.co

CONNECT WITH JESSICA: 

• Connect with Terzakis & Associates on Facebook  
• Visit Jessica’s website: terzakisandassociates.com/
• Download the eBook: 7 Things to Stop Doing So You Can Grow Your Business

ABOUT JESSICA:
Jessica Terzakis is the master of creating new revenue streams for entrepreneurs like you. For the past 7 years, Jessica has dedicated herself to supporting clients in crafting lucrative courses, programs, trainings, and communities that break free from the limitations of one-on-one client work. As a former teacher, Jessica brings her exceptional teaching and presentation skills to the table, having been featured on premier podcasts and graced countless in-person and virtual stages, all while leading her own transformative virtual training program, where she shows entrepreneurs just like you how to infuse their businesses with multiple revenue streams.

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Loved this episode? If you leave a review or share it with your friends on social, my team will send you a copy of one of our favorite business resources! Take a screenshot and email it over to us at support@soulprene

Susan Terzakis, CEO and founder of Terzakis and Associates, spends her days advocating for woman- and family-owned small businesses as an advisory specialist.

Essentially, she is a micro-small business champion, and someone you’ll have the pleasure of learning from, simply by listening to her think through her ideas.

When I tell you this episode – part 1, speaking to the “visionary” half of a dynamic mother/daughter duo –  is chock full of business lesson after business lesson after business lesson...

Well, be forewarned to keep your listening ears ON and your backtrack thumb at the ready!

There is just so much wisdom in what she has to say and how she says it. 

Quick overview of what we cover:

• Why Susan believes (so passionately!) that having a healthy small business community means... you have a healthy community (i.e. - one cannot survive without the other)
• The turning point when she decided she was done representing others and really wanted her own voice to be heard
• Why she describes the first couple years in business as the time when she effectively created “A really nice job, one where I only got paid when I worked” – and how she evolved into the CEO she is today
• Why she feels that small business is an essential pathway for women to achieve financial independence and agency
• How she was able to break her daughter’s “W2 habits,” and what happened for her to say, “I knew in that moment, I had a full partner…” **chills**
• Her strategy to counteract the “costly and dangerous” groupthink behavior she sees so often in family-owned businesses
• Why emotional intelligence is so important to have when successfully running a family business, including knowing deeply, “I am not my business.”

RESOURCES: 

• Click here to apply for a Growth Strategy Call
• Click here to apply for a Soulpreneur revenue-based scholarship

LET’S CONNECT: 

• Connect with Adriane on LinkedIn @adrianegalea
• Follow Adriane on Instagram @adrianegalea
• Visit the website: soulpreneur.co

CONNECT WITH SUSAN: 

• Connect with Terzakis & Associates on Facebook  
• Visit Susan's website: terzakisandassociates.com/
• Download the eBook: 7 Things to Stop Doing So You Can Grow Your Business

ABOUT SUSAN:
Susan Terzakis has experienced an exceptionally successful career in public service and private organizational development, strategy, and senior leadership over the last +27 years. In 2014, Susan founded Terzakis & Associates, a small business advising firm, which is an advocate for micro-small businesses, she is a Women Owned Small Businesses (WOSB) champion, Veteran and family owned small business advisory specialist. 

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Loved this episode? If you leave a review or share it with your friends on social, my team will send you a copy of one of our favorite business resources! Take a screenshot and email it over to us at support@soulpreneur.co or DM it to @thescalinglounge!

Making 5 figures each month as a service provider can feel extremely unattainable – but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done. In fact, there are many ways to bring in $20k (or more!) each month.

The trick is being able to leverage your time as a solopreneur…

This episode lays out three clear paths towards making consistent 5-figure months – getting you that much closer to doing more of the work that brings you joy…and helping you to avoid the time-sucking pitfalls that can trap you along the way. 

Quick overview of what we cover:

• Why it’s a rookie mistake to build out your product suite 
• Why it’s an even rookie-er mistake to chase passive income before you’re established
• Why going ‘mini-agency’ in lieu of ‘full agency’ is a lucrative and logical shortcut 
• What usually happens when you go really narrow/niche on what you’re selling
• How to conceptualize a ‘VIP day’ (and why it’s a super straightforward way to bring in cash)
• How to position yourself towards a much more sophisticated buyer (and how to know when you’re advanced enough in your craft + messaging to deliver on this)
• How to be a total total rockstar and capitalize productivity rates by combining all three of these paths 

RESOURCES: 

• Click here to apply for a Growth Strategy Call
• Click here to apply for a Soulpreneur revenue-based scholarship
• Learn about Adriane's Partnership Model 1:1 Consulting

LET’S CONNECT: 

• Connect with Adriane on LinkedIn @adrianegalea
• Follow Adriane on Instagram @adrianegalea
• Visit the website: soulpreneur.co

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Loved this episode? If you leave a review or share it with your friends on social, my team will send you a copy of one of our favorite business resources! Take a screenshot and email it over to us at support@soulpreneur.co or DM it to @thescalinglounge!

Since starting this podcast, we have received hundreds of pitches. Out of those hundreds, we have only said yes to ONE pitch – because the rest have... fallen flat.

In this episode, Adriane isn't holding back with the four primary reasons most pitches don't land – and at least one of these things you're probably doing because you think it's helping your pitch.

If you're looking  to land guest podcast spots, this is the episode that will help you with what to do... and what not to do.

Quick overview of what we cover:

• How to apply what we're talking about to ANY medium you might be looking to pitch – stages, digital or print media, etc
• The type of energy you definitely DON'T want to lead with (but probably are)
• What almost every pitch fails to do that's very likely leading you to an automatic no
• The most basic effort you need to make before pitching 
• The 4 B's of generating visibility and leads – and which one guesting on podcasts fits into
• How you can spin the exact same content, but differently for each show to strengthen your pitch tenfold 
• Why it's never about you when you pitch – it is always about them
• Why it's important to understand that most producers (of podcasts, events, etc) are getting more pitches than they can say yes to

RESOURCES: 

• Click here to apply for a Growth Strategy Call
• Click here to apply for a Soulpreneur revenue-based scholarship

LET’S CONNECT: 

• Connect with Adriane on LinkedIn @adrianegalea
• Follow Adriane on Instagram @adrianegalea
• Visit the website: soulpreneur.co

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Loved this episode? If you leave a review or share it with your friends on social, my team will send you a copy of one of our favorite business resources! Take a screenshot and email it over to us at support@soulpreneur.co or DM it to @thescalinglounge!

Frequency. Resonance. Alignment. Manifestation. Visualization. Quantum Leaps?!

Okay, so these terms might not be what jump out at you as the kind of things that millionaires value, but rest assured, they are very much discussed in 7-figure circles.

Today’s episode brings together two very special occasions – Adriane’s Birthday AND the 100th episode of this podcast! 🎉

Milestones are a great time to shake things up – and Part 2 gets all into the messy, woo-laden methodology needed to retrain your brain into believing that ‘being a millionaire’ is already yours.

Quick overview of what we cover:

• A crash course in quantum physics, chemistry, and astrophysics 
• Why ‘woo’ is really just ‘mindset,’ and vice versa
• Why you’re seeing the term “quantum leap” show up everywhere in business now (and what it actually means)
• What the things you notice about what others have (that you don’t) tell you and how to channel this observation into positive action
• Why no successful, balanced person will ever judge you for wanting more – and why they’ll only encourage you to do THIS
• Practical steps you can take to create alignment between what you want and who you are
• The actual time is takes to realistically break behavior patterns and retrain your brain

PS - Adriane wants one thing for her bday, and it’s for YOU to leave a 5⭐️ review and share this episode…but only if you loved it as much as we loved making it for you!

✨ LISTEN TO PART ONE OF THE SERIES HERE ✨

RESOURCES: 

• Click here to apply for a Growth Strategy Call
• Click here to apply for a Soulpreneur revenue-based scholarship

LET’S CONNECT: 

• Connect with Adriane on LinkedIn @adrianegalea
• Follow Adriane on Instagram @adrianegalea
• Visit the website: soulpreneur.co

Mindset work and manifestation practices (like, actual scientifically-credible manifestation practices) are powerful tools when you have “become a millionaire” on your life’s vision board. 

Here’s where things can get a little messy, though. And that’s because…

Doing hard work isn’t always going to get you the thing you want – especially if that thing includes ‘break 7-figures’ – and even more so if attempted under the guise of “fake it until you make it.” 

Which is, unfortunately, a lot of what manifesting + mindset work gets (incorrectly) boiled down to.

As we lead up to the BIG 100th episode, join Adriane for her signature take on manifestation and “millionaire mindset” work - it’s unlike any you’ve ever heard. Included are some very practical steps you can start taking action on today, plus a few outside-the-box thoughts to chew on along the way.

Quick overview of what we cover:

• If you want to change your reality, you need to start with your brain
• How to ‘find the story in your data’ to achieve the thing you desire
• What changes for you when you go from being interested in something… to being committed to it
• Doing the hard work doesn’t get you the thing you want – doing the right thing does (and coaches / courses / mentors / biz investments are best used to help figure out those ‘right things’)
• If you’ve been plateaued, it’s not because the decisions you’re making have been wrong – you’ve just not been ready to make them
• If you can’t seem to figure (*gestures wildly*) all this out, it’s most likely not an intelligence problem…it’s a self-image problem
• How to get back on track if your gut instincts about success have been overshadowed by a compulsion to show up and look a certain way 

✨ LISTEN TO PART TWO OF THE SERIES HERE ✨

RESOURCES: 

• Click here to apply for a Growth Strategy Call
• Click here to apply for a Soulpreneur revenue-based scholarship

LET’S CONNECT: 

• Connect with Adriane on LinkedIn @adrianegalea
• Follow Adriane on Instagram @adrianegalea
• Visit the website: soulpreneur.co

“Thanks for coming to my TED talk,” says every hopeful public speaker ever…

But have you ever wondered what goes into appearing on an actual TED stage?

The loss of both of his parents at a young age attached a sense of urgency to how Steve Corney views – and values – leaving a legacy behind for those that love us. 

The way in which he combined this very personal experience with his professional expertise as a digital learning expert – one who truly understands the power that audio + video recordings hold –  is a powerful and transformative lesson for anyone looking to leverage their impact and expand their brand into public speaking.

In part 2 of our ‘Building Your Business with Speaking’ series, Steve  details exactly how he prepared for, executed, and ultimately landed a coveted spot in an upcoming TEDx event!

Plus – stay tuned to the end of today’s episode to find out how to get your hands on the public speaking assets that Steve and Adriane are cooking up!

Quick overview of what we cover:

• Forget about your greenroom requests – nailing a TEDx spot is more about following the rules and guidelines set forth by the event and way less about who you think you are (in other words, “Don’t make it easy for them to say ‘no’ to you!)
• How to prioritize these important elements of the audition: keeping to time, linking your story/topic to the event's theme, avoiding a trauma dump on the audience, holding the crowd’s attention
• How to use clues from the application to choose a universally applicable topic
• Why commercializing any aspect of your talk is a huge red flag (remember, TEDx is about Big Ideas not Big Money)
• Steve’s incredulity that 50% of those auditioning with him committed this major faux pas
• The most important aspects of nailing public speaking when you’ve gotten very reliant on video editing
• The importance of branding as a public speaker – plus, the checklist we recommend for the minimum needed to step up to the public speaker plate... and be taken seriously 

CHECK OUT STEVE + ADRIANE'S PROJECT: 

• Click here to join the FREE Speaker Growth Networking Facebook community
• Click here to get our guide on Pitching, Auditioning for, and Landing a TEDx Talk
• Follow us on Instagram: @speakergrowthhub

RESOURCES: 

• Click here to apply for a Growth Strategy Call
• Click here to apply for a Soulpreneur revenue-based scholarship

LET’S CONNECT: 

• Connect with Adriane on LinkedIn @adrianegalea
• Follow Adriane on Instagram @adrianegalea
• Visit the website: soulpreneur.co

CONNECT W/ STEVE: 

• Follow Steve on Instagram: @steve_corney
• Connect with Steve on LinkedIn: @thisisstevecorney 

Speaking and communication (and possessing the presentation skills to do both effectively), make up both the original and final frontiers of brand growth.

In part 1 of a two-part series, Adriane + Steve reunite to discuss how they pulled the rug out from under their up-until-recent collab plans, in lieu of some unexpected, yet compelling detours: a series of live events that Adriane is planning, and Steve's upcoming TEDx talk!

This episode covers how each approach public speaking and the essential ingredients needed to make an audience go from, "Cool story, bruh," to "Damnnnnn...tell me more!"

Quick overview of what we cover:

• A pulse check on the course-creation and coaching industry as it stands now, and how potential clients can be uniquely accessed via public speaking
• How Steve has blended his learning design and facilitator backgrounds into a deep understanding of using his speaker voice 
• Why effective and impactful public speaking goes WAY beyond 'intro...body...conclusion' frameworks
• The venues where it's better to feed off the audience and 'wing it' vs. the places where that strategy will run you straight into the ground
• How to best utilize speaking coaches, voice exercises...and Dr. Suess to sharpen your presentation skills
• The one thing to be super clear on for everything else to fall into place
• The important distinctions between keynotes, "lunch-and-learns," and TEDx talks
• How the mundane makes us human -- and why that's sometimes a more powerful reminder than life-changing anecdotes
• How to sense your audience's 'enough point' (aka, the critical precipice where a lot of stories (and storytellers) go wrong)
• Why great presenters speak from the scars and not from the wounds
• Can't wait for part 2?? DM "TEDx" to @adrianegalea on IG for an exclusive sneak peek!

CHECK OUT STEVE + ADRIANE'S PROJECT: 

• Click here to join the FREE Speaker Growth Networking Facebook community
• Click here to get our guide on Pitching, Auditioning for, and Landing a TEDx Talk
• Follow us on Instagram: @speakergrowthhub

RESOURCES: 

• Click here to apply for a Growth Strategy Call
• Click here to apply for a Soulpreneur revenue-based scholarship

LET’S CONNECT: 

• Connect with Adriane on LinkedIn @adrianegalea
• Follow Adriane on Instagram @adrianegalea
• Visit the website: soulpreneur.co

CONNECT W/ STEVE: 

• Follow Steve on Instagram: @steve_corney
• Concect with Steve on LinkedIn: @thisisstevecorney 

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Loved this episode? If you leave a review or share it with your friends on social, my team will send you a copy of one of our favorite business resources! Take a screenshot and email it over to us at support@soulpreneur.co or DM it to @thescalinglounge!