When I started my business, I knew that my daughter, Olivia, would be involved somehow. I had always included her in “big girl” things (age appropriately, of course!). She was my little sidekick, so I ended up naming the company after her. Over the years, I have been surprised by how much of the business she has been interested in. She has learned so much from being involved, and I am here to encourage you to involve your kids in your business, too.

We all have different dreams and aspirations. Sometimes we are lucky enough to find someone with the same drive and passion we have to achieve those goals. Sometimes they are the complete opposite of us and our dreams but we share the same GRIT it takes to not just balance the pursuit of goal chasing, but see-saw through it. Throw in some guts and red lipstick and you have the perfect combination to not only have a successful business but a thriving marriage - one that Audrey Hepburn and John Wayne would be proud to star in!

We’re gonna start this one out with a mega truth bomb: no one (literally, no one) cares about the price of what you offer. Yet so many of us let this stage of launching our latest products, services or courses hold us up. We learned very early on that the actual number behind what we offered (whether it was photography session, canvases, logo designs, or branding) was the lowest thing on the list of concerns for our buyer. So we put our focus elsewhere.

The topic of pricing comes up a lot in our community (on Facebook and via email) and it’s a hot topic for the creative industry as a whole. We are tied so personally to our offers that it’s difficult to take our emotions out of the pricing. So we fumble with the numbers until we find something that feels comfortable and safe. Sound familiar?

Hate is a strong word. But sometimes, a job is THAT bad. If it is, you’ve got no business “sticking-it-out.”

Before starting my business, I was stuck in a toxic work environment. I didn’t leave because I didn’t think I could. I became someone I didn't recognize - stressed all the time, negative, and just plain unhappy.