Francisco.arizmendi@freshbooks.com (FreshBooks)

Shows

B2B Community Builder Show (formerly Chief Executive Connector)Ep 189 | How He Built a Multi-City Community From Scratch w/ Francisco ArizmendiBy now, you probably understand that some sort of combination of live events and content can build a powerful community, and you know who you want to help, but how do you plan it, execute it, and grow it from scratch?That's exactly what Francisco Arizmendi did for Freshbooks, and it completely changed his career.As he starts a new role to build ANOTHER great community for Superside, he's here to share how he hit his first home run and how he's going to do it again!He shared:- how...2022-09-051h 10

I Make a LivingLaunching an Amazing Service with Alli Webb (Season Finale)Alli Webb was always interested in beauty, starting from her roots as a curly-haired kid growing up in South Florida. She says that going to beauty school was “one of the best decisions I ever made,” and Drybar, her ultra-popular chain of hairstyling studios, definitely proves her point. While she says she spent her childhood as a people-pleaser—”a wallflower, if I’m honest”—she’s grown into herself as a business owner and service expert.Alli spent her 20s in New York City, doing PR and styling hair until she met her ex-husband and pivoted to the stay-at-home...2021-08-2328 min

I Make a LivingKeeping Your Cool In Business: Natasha Case, CoolhausIf your memories of ice cream are mostly from childhood, Natasha Case would like a word. Her company, Coolhaus, is bringing sweet icy desserts into the millennial mindset: she launched at Coachella back in 2009, and Coolhaus’s 2021 lineup includes mouth-watering flavours like cereal milk, cannoli, and churros, all delivered in cute illustrated packaging. Before she even got started, Natasha wanted to “change the game” when it came to ice cream and who it was for. Freya, Natasha’s wife and co-founder, is a woman of colour, and they were both tapping their identities as queer wome...2021-08-1628 min

I Make a LivingStarting a Business as a Teenager With Ben TowersChances are that your entrepreneurial idols were born after the turn of the millennium, but Ben Towers is here to change that. He’s been working since before his twelfth birthday, getting his start on web design projects for friends and family before launching into the stratosphere: we’re talking British Royal Family, angel investment, and consultancies with companies like GSK and IHG. In 2015, he was named to The Time’s Superteens list, and since then, he’s only gotten more polished in his business practices. He’s 22, and he’s been in business for half his life. Ben has a p...2021-08-0923 min

I Make a LivingHow To Tell Your Story While Making a Living with Erin BagwellTrigger Warning: this episode discusses postpartum depression and briefly mentions suicidal thoughts. When Erin Bagwell decided to turn to Kickstarter to get her movie off the ground, she didn’t expect to raise over $100K in 30 days, but that’s exactly what happened. Erin’s movie, Dream, Girl, is about the real-life experiences of ten New York City-based female entrepreneurs, and it turns out audiences were hungry for this type of story. Erin watched as women who were longtime experts in their field would have to prove themselves to boardrooms full of men in order to secure funding...2021-08-0327 min

I Make a LivingGrowth and Giving Back with Josh TempleMost contractors get their big break with a high-profile job or a great referral. For Josh Temple, his breakthrough moment was going national on Mazda’s first-ever “Zoom-Zoom” commercial. Josh was a contractor by day, but when a receptionist at his first construction company told him he should try out sketch comedy, he fell in love with improv. His path then became a bit wilder than your average home renovator. “If you get a national commercial, you’re at least buying a car,” he laughs. Josh did double-duty as a construction company project manager and an actor in San Francisco be...2021-07-2629 min

I Make a LivingNerdisode #7- Beating Imposter Syndrome with Emily ThompsonMake Rejection Fun- Turn the icky feelings into a game and change your mindset about the negative approach to them.Get Comfortable with Yourself - Define what confidence means to you, identify your personal values and live them daily!Check Your Vibes- What relationships are you surrounding yourself with, what decisions are you making about work, life and the space that surrounds you. All of these elements directly impact your mood and your confidence when dealing with negative feelings.Raise Your Frequency- Snap out of your negative cycles by doing something creative!Identify Your 'Little Wins'- Do not overlook your s...2021-07-2305 min

I Make a LivingBridging the Burnout Gap with Emily ThompsonEmily Thompson’s experience starting the Being Boss podcast in 2015 is a strong argument for why you should always plan for success. She and her “business bestie” Kathleen Shannon started the podcast as a way of taking the conversations they were having about their businesses and being entrepreneurs into the public realm—and if they happened to promote their respective branding agency and web design shop in the meantime, well then, hey: that’s a bonus! But a few months in and they were already getting ads. A little while later, they casually launched getaway events like the Being B...2021-07-1932 min

I Make a LivingTech Evolution with Sanjay ParekhIf your business ideas have ever been more of an airball than a total slam dunk, take heart: you are not alone. Sanjay Parekh is known for being ahead of the game as an entrepreneur, but even he’s had off-days. Take Pizza Impulse, his idea for pizza delivery that relied on random demand, random supply, and push messaging. His sales total on that project was a whopping two pizza pies. “There have been stinkers like that over time, but with the stinkers, you learn a lot,” he laughs. Of course, you don’t know Sanjay because he’s a fa...2021-07-1223 min

I Make a LivingA Fearless Future with Rebecca MinkoffFor Jewish girls, the bat mitzvah is a pivotal moment of becoming a young adult and joining the adult community. For Rebecca Minkoff, who had been designing and sewing clothes since she was eight years old, the celebration was also a chance to showcase her fashion skills—and her “newly budding rack.” Pulling inspiration from the 1700s (think Bridgerton), Rebecca designed a square-necked, Empire-waist number that checked her boxes (and her parents made sure it stayed PG-13). For Rebecca, this was a foundational step in the lifelong process of becoming a fashion mogul. Now, in 2021, Rebecca Minkoff has flagship stores...2021-07-0525 min

I Make a LivingScaling a Digital Marketing Agency with Paddy MooganMost people go to Las Vegas hoping to shrug off the demands of work, but for Paddy Moogan, a trip with mates turned into a life-changing business opportunity. On a trip to Sin City, his friend approached him with a proposal: why not take Paddy’s expertise in digital marketing and launch their own agency, a shop where they could call the shots on everything from work culture to clients. “It felt like a good idea at the time to talk about starting a business together,” he says, and after taking thirty minutes to come up with a plan, they d...2021-06-2819 min

I Make a LivingDo Good, Make Money: Podcasting with JJ RambergIf you’ve ever started your exercise time by standing there for 20 minutes choosing a podcast, know that you are not alone. You are in the company of JJ Ramberg, who launched GoodPods to help curb that endless search for great podcasts by tapping into what your friends and favourite influencers are already listening to. “It’s like Goodreads for podcasts,” she explains, channelling the energy of the popular book recommendation site. Before launching GoodPods, JJ—who was already a podcaster herself, with Been There, Built That—talked to more than 700 people about their experiences with podcasts. Those folks r...2021-06-2122 min

I Make a LivingNerdisode #6- Pitching Your Business Like a Boss With Lisa Song SuttonEveryone’s story matters! Lisa wants to know everything about the people pitching to her, from their business background to how many pets they have. And if you’re not the one running the day-to-day business, make sure to bring that person into your pitch strategy: she wants to meet them too. Where do you want to end up? From passing on the business to your kids to selling in five years, make sure every co-founder is working towards the same long-term goals. Stability is attractive. If your work history doesn’t show a lot of commitment to a role, co...2021-06-1704 min

I Make a LivingBuilding a Diverse Portfolio with Lisa Song SuttonLisa Song Sutton describes herself as a “serial entrepreneur,” and her portfolio is proof. From Sin City Cupcakes—a boozy bakery she co-founded in 2012—to Ship Las Vegas, her mailbox and shipping stores across the city, Lisa’s portfolio is a truly diverse set of business assets. Add in her real estate sales team, not to mention a women’s swimwear and accessories e-commerce store, and we are wowed. Her goal is to build up lifestyle businesses to eventually graduate from running the day-to-day and take on new projects. “I’m big on legacy building,” she says.You may know Lisa...2021-06-1424 min

I Make a LivingNerdisode #5- Growing Your Social Media Audience with Nai the 'LABeautyologist'On this week’s Nerdisode, Nayamka Roberts Smith, aka Nai, the labeautyologist, gives us her tried-and-true methods for building an authentic and engaged social media audience.Choose a social media avenue that plays to your strengths, and make sure you enjoy it. Want to blow up on Twitter? “You have to like tweeting! You have to talk a lot.”When the creative juices are flowing, do a brain dump; stash your great ideas for a day when you’re not in the mood to create.Repurpose your content to help your audience absorb it in different ways!'Mine' other da...2021-06-1003 min

I Make a LivingGrowing a Business on Social Media with Nai, aka LABeautyologistNai Roberts-Smith might be the mega-popular skincare expert labeautyologist these days, but like many entrepreneurs, she started in a dorm room. She was an amateur nail technician, complete with a wall of polish colours, and she would do nails for less than the price of lunch. “I had a group of friends who all did beauty services,” she says a barber, a few pals who did hair, and a league of friends acting as low-key brand ambassadors across campus. When she left college, she joined a salon as a nail tech but has aspirations of becoming an esthe...2021-06-0725 min

I Make a LivingNerdisode #4- Keep Your Clients On Budget with David TuteraEarlier this week, mega-event planner and reality TV host David Tutera talked to us about his path to success; in our Nerdisode, he gives us the nitty-gritty on keeping his clients and team happy. Which questions do you need to ask to get your client’s real budget? David uses his knowledge about wedding dress designers and DJs to strategically (and diplomatically) figure out how much his clients are willing to spend.Keep your clients in the loop on expenditures! Going over budget isn’t a surprise for David’s clients.Compartmentalize your projects. A messy desk can lead to...2021-06-0304 min

I Make a LivingBuilding a Resilient Business with David TuteraWe know that certain industries thrived during COVID—home renovations and online shopping, anyone?—but there’s no denying that some sectors took a major hit. We got a call from Eve, an event planner wondering how she can move forward post-pandemic. Well, we brought in the capital-E expert to answer Eve’s question. David Tutera is best known as an event planner for the stars and reality TV show host. His full business is much more diverse, including industry training events, a partnership with Macy’s, a bridal boutique, and more. David’s work focuses on “the art of cele...2021-05-3129 min

I Make a LivingStanding Out in a Crowded Field: Podcasting with Erica Mandy, The NewsWorthyIf you think television journalism is glamorous, Erica Mandy is here to set you straight. She started as a “one-woman band” in a small TV news market, where reporting on location often meant that she was the photographer, camera operator, writer, editor...all while also being the on-air journalist. “That weeds out the people who are in it just to be on TV,” she laughs, comparing her small-town news experience to “grad school” for TV journalists. Over the next seven years, she worked in successively larger markets, finally landing at CBS News in Los Angeles. She was there for three years...2021-05-2429 min

I Make a LivingNerdisode #3- How to Find Inspiration with Morgan Harper NicholsMine your own life for inspiration! We bet you have at least a few photos on your phone that can prompt you to dig deeper into your own experiences. What’s in your notes? Check your written records on WordCounter to reveal which ideas you keep coming back to. (Morgan checks her phone’s notes app monthly!) Write your to-do list by hand. It’s an authentic record of what you’re thinking about, and sharing that with your community helps folks recognize themselves in you (and your four loads of laundry). Listen to yourself! Literally, that is: Morgan u...2021-05-2007 min

I Make a LivingCreativity as a Way of Life with Morgan Harper NicholsMorgan Harper Nichols might be the rarest bird in the entrepreneurial aviary: she was actually looking for a nine-to-five job when she started as an internet sensation. After a half-decade on the contemporary Christian music scene, she was tired of hustling. “It’s a hard industry to be in,” she says. She was looking for something more stable, but, she laughs, with an English degree, “there aren’t a ton of Indeed posts out there.”In 2016, she put her frustration into words, shared her personal poem on Pinterest, and then forgot about it. But in a few short weeks...2021-05-1735 min

I Make a LivingNerdisode #2- Carl SmithIn this week’s episode, we talked to Carl Smith from Bureau of Digital. In our I Make a Living Nerdisode, he gives us his top tips for building organic and authentic communities.Building community isn’t something you check off a list: it requires a commitment and a purpose to keep it going.Communities evolve to reflect their members’ needs: what you start with might not be what you end up with.When you’re scaling an intimate group into thousands of members, insist on a strong code of conduct.Don’t be scared of your communities taking off...2021-05-1305 min

I Make a LivingPutting The Band Back Together- Carl SmithWhen Carl Smith’s eleven-year-old daughter started getting into classic rock like Joan Jett, she asked her dad how he wanted to be remembered. Carl had run his own digital agency nGen Works for twelve years, but his daughter’s questions about legacy made him realize his true passion was boosting other leaders into the stratosphere. “If you’re a leader, you probably didn’t go to school for that,” he says and gave himself the goal of figuring out how to help people in leadership roles unlock their potential. The first Bureau of Digital event was a couple of d...2021-05-1027 min

I Make a LivingNerdisode #1- Bryan ClaytonBryan Clayton, CEO and Founder of GreenPal and small-business mentor, gives his five best ideas for entrepreneurs and small-business owners:Bake in your marketing strategies from the earliest days of your business and plan on getting your solution out to your customers. Spend time experimenting with marketing techniques, from organic SEO to social media channels, and figure out what works best for you. Be honest: are people willing to pay for what you’re doing? Are they coming back for more? Be impressive to potential mentors: show them your hustle and how far you’ve come!2021-05-0606 min

I Make a LivingTreat Your Business Like a Video Game- Bryan ClaytonIn 1998, Bryan Clayton was one more 18 year old with a lawnmower, keeping his neighbour’s outdoor spaces nice and tidy. His marketing strategy wasn’t much more than a photocopied flyer. But over the next 15 years, his landscaping business—by then called Peach Tree—took on major corporate clients and grew to employ over 150 people and bring in more than $10M annually. But going big meant that they were leaving behind the little guys. Peach Tree was past the point of taking on $30 homeowner jobs, but frequent calls from potential clients proved the demand still existed. Taking inspirati...2021-05-0332 min

I Make a LivingFunding Success with Crystal Evuleocha (Season Finale)For anyone who’s ever Googled a symptom, this episode goes out to you. Crystal Evuleocha, founder and CEO of Kiira, is a kindred spirit, but her self-diagnoses landed her in surgery after she didn’t know when to get help. Her experience led her to develop an app that connects college-age women with doctors they can trust. In a year where telemedicine took another leap forward, Kiira and Crystal were on the cutting edge. In this week’s episode, we talk to Crystal about her experiences as a woman of color in the funding world—Kiira has count...2020-12-2127 min

I Make a LivingScaling Up a Business with Danny KerrGet free BTA resources here: https://trybta.com/imalWe know you’re awesome—what entrepreneur isn’t?—but do you know how to transform your awesome skills into a viable business? Danny Kerr is the co-founder of Breakthrough Academy, where he teaches tradespeople to scale up their business. They offer lessons on financial management, setting goals, recruiting and managing staff—all the beautiful administrative work you don’t see during a construction project. A former “lost university child,” Danny got started as a College Pro franchisee, where he learned the basics of small business ownership, and the...2020-12-1430 min

I Make a LivingCreating a YouTube Sensation with Julie NolkeGuest- Julie Nolke“There’s no one path to success, and that’s what's really exciting.” If you’ve ever watched a YouTube video from a dedicated content creator and wondered exactly how they got there, you’re not alone. Julie Nolke is one such creator—a theatre school graduate who hustled at her day job and originally used her YouTube channel as a workshop space. She’s committed six years to her channel, doing everything from the acting and writing to the editing and ad selection. Her journey to viral stardom includes a variety of partnerships, plenty of divers...2020-12-0732 min

I Make a LivingGood Space, Good Vibes with Inessa Freya“Is your space feeding you? Or is it getting in the way?” These are the kinds of questions Inessa Freya asks her clients. As both a psychotherapist and a feng shui expert, Inessa taps into her knowledge of how our spaces affect our mood and vice versa. In a year when we’re all spending more time than ever in our house, creating nourishing and fulfilling work-from-home environments are an investment in business success and good mental health. We talk to Inessa about the surprising ways our values influence our clutter, why home-edit shows are so huge, and how...2020-11-3028 min

I Make a LivingFreelancers Unite!- Rafael EspinalRafael Espinal knows freelancing. His parents both moonlighted—as a photographer and a baker—and as part of the New York City Council, he helped pass the “Freelance Isn’t Free Act,” which allows NYC-based freelancers to tap into city support in resolving delinquent client payments. He’s also the youngest person to be elected to the New York State Assembly, and a former teacher. Now, as Executive Director of the Freelancers Union, he spends his days helping freelancers get organized, big picture-style. “I knew that at some point in my life, I wanted to be part of an organizati...2020-11-2327 min

I Make a LivingGet Stressed Less with Ruth ElnekaveJoin #IMakeALiving alum Elaine Pofeldt for our next webinar “Building A High-Revenue One-Person Business In Challenging Times” on November 19! Elaine and her four expert guests will walk us through fail-proofing your business and scaling revenue. The first 100 attendees will receive a free copy of Elaine’s book “The Million-Dollar, One-Person Business.” Sign up today!Ruth Elnekave knows what stress is. After all, she’s got five different degrees and diplomas, ranging from an MBA to her chef’s papers. Her business Joya combines her far-ranging professional experience (including business and marketing) with her life-long passions (cooking and holistic nutri...2020-11-1627 min

I Make a LivingBehind The Scenes with Bryan BaeumlerFreshBooks is proud to be a Baeumler Approved partner. Check out their website to learn more about joining the program or finding your next contractor through them!Bryan doesn't believe he's put in an honest day's work unless he gets his hands dirty! A natural-born teacher, the Gemini-award winning host has been educating and entertaining viewers across Canada and the US for over seven years on the hit shows House of Bryan, Disaster DIY, and Leave it to Bryan.Learning valuable tricks of the trade from his father, a meticulous aircraft engineer, Bryan spent his c...2020-11-0933 min

I Make a LivingAccounting Secrets and Strategic Planning- Twyla VerhelstWhen times get tough (like, say, most of 2020), it can be easy to dismiss an accountant or a bookkeeper as a business frill. Let Twyla Verhelst change your mind. She’s the Head of FreshBooks’s Accountant Channel, and while she’s got a numbers background, her greatest strength is bridging the gap between small business owners and the accounting professionals who work with them. She’s a former start-up founder and one of Practice Ignition’s 2018 Top 50 Women in Accounting, and she’s “an entrepreneur at heart.” Only half of all small businesses use accounting professionals, but they’re now m...2020-11-0225 min

I Make a LivingFearless Networking and Tips on Working Better Together - Stefanie and Kalani HubbardJoin us on October 27th for 'From Firm to Fintech: A Candid Conversation with Twyla Verhelst, FreshBooks & Will Lopez, Gusto' a webinar brought to you by FreshBooks! click HERE to Register!“We’re better together, and we go further together.” This is Kalani Hubbard talking about one of the perks of working with his wife Stefanie at their video production company Galaxy Visuals. Together, Kalani and Stefanie have worked on projects ranging from commercials to training videos; their most recent win was developing View and Chew, their own series with Amazon Prime.On this week's episod...2020-10-2628 min

I Make a LivingSEO Insights, Business Wisdom and Bolognese!- Rand Fishkin“Your job is to make good decisions. Hopefully great decisions!” Rand Fishkin is one of the best SEO resources currently working: from his early days at Moz to the market research and audience intelligence firm SparkToro, to his popular Whiteboard Friday series, Fishkin knows how to max out marketing. These days, he's putting his considerable energy into helping small businesses thrive, and helping founders avoid the endless IPO chase.Fishkin started as a college dropout who went into business with his mom. From these unconventional roots, he's grown into an SEO expert who has kept on top of t...2020-10-1940 min

I Make a LivingChasing Creativity with Farah Sosa and Fred VillanuevaWe’re celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with Farah Sosa and Fred Villanueva, a pair of artists and entrepreneurs who combine their creative passions with a social mission and culturally-driven values. As Sosa, a concert photographer in the midst of a COVID pivot, explains: “I like humans from all over the planet.” Sosa's recent project, portraits of music venues that have been shuttered during COVID, explores the vital energy of live performance spaces.Villaneuva takes a complementary approach to Ash Studio in Dallas, where his work has gradually shifted from corporate gigs to community-based projects. “I look at being an...2020-10-1232 min

I Make a LivingPassion and Success with Mimi G.Mimi G doesn't have a typical success story, but you'd never know it from her four million social media followers or her million-dollar businesses (she has two of them!). Mimi is a former teen runaway and homeless single mom who turned her childhood interest in sewing into a thriving website, consulting business, and online learning hub. With Mimi G Style and Sew It! Academy, Mimi supports sewists of all levels in following their own design dreams.In this week's episode, Mimi tells us about how an unshakeable sadness helped her realize her days in film and TV...2020-10-0532 min

I Make a LivingWorking Together Against Racism- Antionette D. Carroll“At the root of our work is education, civic engagement, youth leadership, and wrapping it up with a bow of creative problem-solving.” This is how Antionette D. Carroll explains her work on the Creative Reaction Lab, a nonprofit that trains Black and Latinx youth to redesign their own communities for better health and racial equity. We sit down with her to talk about Black Lives Matter, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and white supremacy, and how it all relates to entrepreneurship in 2020.Carroll gives us the background on what white supremacy actually is (and why you don...2020-09-2838 min

I Make a LivingPlanning for Growth- Nicole GibbonsNicole Gibbons wants to change how we make our homes beautiful. “My aspiration was to be the next Martha Stewart,” she says, and she's on her way. The former PR rep has leveraged years of networking, blogging, media experience, and PR savvy to launch Clare, a direct-to-consumer business selling interior paint.In this week's episode, Gibbons gives us behind-the-scenes access to how she landed an on-air hosting gig soon after leaving her day job (hint: it involves a lot of networking!), and how she used that opportunity to get VC funding and launch Clare as a brand. We a...2020-09-2135 min

I Make a LivingAuthentic Entrepreneurship-Jack PhanWelcome back to season three of I Make A Living! We're so excited to bring you another round of inspiring entrepreneurs and kick-butt creatives to help you figure out your path in this new normal. We're starting off with Jack Phan: investor, founder, advisor, and unexpected K-Pop influencer.Phan got his start in medical school, but a detour into telemarketing (that was supposed just for beer money) ended launching a whole new way of marketing home improvements. Phan now mentors entrepreneurs to "find the why" behind what they're working towards. "Look for new ways of doing old...2020-09-1437 min

I Make a LivingSeason 3- TrailerIn season 3, we are moving past survival mode and onto the future; a better and stronger business on the other side of a global pandemic. Each week you can listen to some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs guide you through the small business solutions of today.2020-09-0803 min

I Make a LivingPride- Mina Gerges (Bonus Episode)From this episode, here are 3 ACTIONS to make your business more inclusive of sexual orientation and gender identity. If we’re looking to make lasting change, we need to continue the conversation around workplace intersectionality all the time - not just in reaction to current events.Encourage use of pronouns - not just for queer employees but for everyoneRevise company policies - act in accordance with the law and your values on everything from workplace dress codes to hiring and firing practices Rethink how you categorize your customers. Should you be making gender binary products or would your cus...2020-06-2924 min

I Make a LivingBLM- Eric Williams (Bonus Episode)Guest- Eric Williams The Silver Room 2020-06-1025 min

I Make a LivingTerry O'Reilly-Master Class (Season Finale)Some of us want to be Lay's Chips—national! popular! instant recognition!—but Terry O'Reilly thinks we could learn a few things from Utz, Baltimore's hometown favorite chip brand that outperforms Lay's by a huge margin. In other words: small can be excellent. Terry O'Reilly is the host of the marketing podcast Under the Influence, and has 30 years of experience directing marketing for brands big and small.In this week's episode, O'Reilly reminds us to put on our marketing hats at least once a week (hey, if it worked for Steve Jobs...) and experiment with boldness. “Does your i...2020-05-2535 min

I Make a LivingFinancial Tips and Aid Programs During COVID-19While today's bonus episode focuses on the government programs set in the U.S., we believe that the experiences and tips shared by our financial expert guests are relatable to everyone, regardless of where you are located. Thank you to our guests Phylecia an Oona and the 3 entrepreneurs who shared their experiences with us. Find them all below. GUESTS-Phylecia Jones - https://www.keepupwithmrsjones.comOona Rokyta, CEO and Co-Founder, Lance - https://www.justlance.co/covid19ENTREPRENEURSJulia Kline, Host of Solving Me Too Podcast - https://solvingmetoo.comMeegan Czop, Owner of Gr...2020-05-2130 min

I Make a LivingCreating a Unique Business- Sonja Rasula“Artists starving? There’s absolutely no reason for that.” Sonja Rasula is the founder of Unique Markets, a Los Angeles-based pop-up market showcase for artisans and makers. In this week's episode, she talks to us about her hands-on approach to training small business owners in the art of selling their art, why she launched Unique Markets during a recession, and why hitting the pause button now can help businesses recover down the road.Rasula, who got her start in retail and later launched websites like NatGeo and FoodTV, understands the path between creating beautiful products and actually sellin...2020-05-1830 min

I Make a LivingCarving Your Own Path- Allis MarkhamAllis Markham describes herself as “An artist with a really strong stomach.” She's the founder of Prey Taxidermy, a Los Angeles studio that serves clients ranging from luxury brands like Gucci to natural history museums all over America. We chat about her transition from Director of Social Media Strategy for the Walt Disney Company to running her own shop that's for the birds...and foxes...and armadillos.Markham walked away from a six-figure job "explaining social media to boardrooms full of old white men” to follow her passion: creating beautiful taxidermy. Volunteering at the Natural History Museum of Los...2020-05-1130 min

I Make a LivingWearing Many Hats- Steve Barnes"Always have a hustle that’s paying the bills," says Steve Barnes, who knows plenty about hustle. Barnes, who got his start as a radio host and actor, combined his love of travel with a passion for content production to launch Barnes Creative Studios. Now, he travels the world shooting promo videos and VR for brands and destinations that make us want to book that vacation time.In this week's episode, he talks to us about getting ahead of the pack with technology (and how working with camera drones ten years ago has led to an interest in...2020-05-0432 min

I Make a LivingThe Science Behind Productivity- Dr. Sahar YousefFeeling a little...unmotivated? You’re not alone. With most of us working from home, we've lost some of our best productivity tools, and we might not even know it. In this week's minisode, Dr. Sahar Yousef of UC Berkeley chats with us about why setting clear cognitive boundaries between "work" and "everything else" makes a difference when all our days feel kind of the same.She shares insights on how we can recreate and reinvent go-mode triggers for the home: setting up rituals that prime our brains to focus, using calendars to hype ourselves up subconsciously, an...2020-04-3028 min

I Make a LivingPat Flynn- MasterclassIn our special Masterclass episodes, we collect questions from real-life entrepreneurs at our live #IMakeALiving shows around the world, and ask our favourite experts to weigh in. From social media to scaling, from advertising to work-life balance, we get insights and guidance from folks who have been there.When Pat Flynn was laid off from his architecture job in 2008, he wasn't sure what to do next. On a hunch, he developed a test-prep course for architects in training; over the next year, his course brought him over $200,000 in revenue. Flynn had seen the power of passive income...2020-04-2746 min

I Make a LivingWorking From Home During a Pandemic- Lisa CanningNotes: How does a mother of eight balance a thriving design career with a family the size of a baseball team? Well, for starters, she doesn't sweat the mess. Lisa Canning is an author, coach, and design expert, and this week, she joins us to talk about how entrepreneurs can get family life and work goals to align, even during a pandemic. She counsels us to let go of perfectionism, schedule deep-focus time, and to delegate household chores to the kids. Most importantly, she says this unique time can give us a chance to figure out what really matters—fo...2020-04-2325 min

I Make a LivingThe Art of the Side Hustle- Rich JonesDo you find your brain buzzing when you look at your to-do list? Rich Jones knows that feeling. As host of the personal finance podcast Paychecks and Balances, creator of the podcast consulting business Showstarter, and as internal communications manager at Google, Jones has a lot on his plate. On this week's episode, we do a deep-dive on the tools he uses to make sure that everything gets done.Jones suggests doing a bit soul-searching to figure out what's important to your business, and which tools might help—they might not be the ones everyone else is us...2020-04-2027 min

I Make a LivingSelf Care During a Pandemic- John Kim When you're trying to manage stress levels, tapping into simple strategies can make a big difference. In this week's minisode, John Kim of The Angry Therapist talks to us about why we're feeling worried, and what we can do about it. He touches on why getting some exercise can help structure your day, why a flow state can be the best kind of distraction, and how we can use this time to connect with audiences online. It's self-care for the shelter-in-place entrepreneur.Resources:Stages of Grief- https://psychcentral.com/lib/the-5-stages-of-loss-and-grief/Guest:2020-04-1518 min

I Make a Living$1M- 1 Person Business Secrets- Elaine PofeldtCan you get your business to one million dollars in revenue without any employees? Not only is it possible, but Elaine Pofeldt has written the blueprint. As the author of The Million-Dollar, One-Person Business, Pofeldt tapped into years of experience writing about business, and running her own successful business, to give a guide to scaling up.Pofeldt started as a staff writer, and launched her writing business in 2007 in order to balance the needs of her growing family against her bottom line. She spent the first two years of her independent business learning the ropes: being open...2020-04-1334 min

I Make a LivingFrom Vision to $250M Business- Ankur NagpalEveryone knows something: whether it’s mortgage expertise or breastfeeding advice, we all have pockets of knowledge that make us everyday experts. Imagine being able to reach an online audience with that info, and charging them to learn it. Ankur Nagpal has this vision, so he created Teachable to help people earn money from what they can share with others. Nagpal, whose background includes both real-life teaching and tech development, was a Forbes’s 2019 30 Under 30 Education honoree. This week, we talk to him about how to keep a relatively sane work-life balance (no all-nighters is a personal rule...2020-04-0633 min

I Make a LivingTransformative Storytelling- Michael KassOn this week's episode, we chat with Michael Kass, the founder of Story and Spirit. Kass has tapped into his deeply varied background—think theatre, financial management, breath work and vision quests—and now uses the power of storytelling to help people and businesses transform.The importance of storytelling as a business tool has been highlighted by Harvard Business Review and Google as a key skill for success. It goes past the “why” of the business and into the “who,” as in how who you are drives what you do. We chat about why, while telling those stories migh...2020-03-3039 min

I Make a LivingTransitioning to a Virtual Workspace- Jeni Wren StottrupGritty Birds Podcasting has been developing podcasts since 2014. Owned by producer and artist Jeni Wren Stottrup, Gritty Birds started as a music podcast interviewing label runners, lawyers, magazine owners, booking agents and more in the PNW community sponsored by Vortex Music Magazine. Wren had been deeply active as a singer, journalist, festival producer and in media sponsorship, with a desire to explore how create a successful career in music and audio production.Guest- Jeni Wren StottrupJoin Jeni for a free workshop- http://grittybirds.com/freefridays/ 2020-03-2621 min

I Make a LivingThe Business of Podcasting- Jeanine Wright and Fatima ZaidiNOTE: In light of the Covid-19 outbreak and the current landscape for entrepreneurs, and small business owners, we are working hard to bring you more resources and conversations to get you through these difficult times. Stay tuned for some special episodes in the coming days and weeks. Stay strong, you are not alone! Follow our community at facebook.com/groups/imakealivingWe know you like podcasts, but have you ever thought about starting one? On this week's episode, we talk to two women with ample experience in the field. Jeanine Wright is the COO of Simplecast, which h...2020-03-2349 min

I Make a LivingEmpowering Female Leaders- Lisa Carmen WangLisa Carmen Wang has spent a lot of time falling and even more time getting back up. As a rhythmic gymnast, she took home Pan-Am Games gold and was the US National Champion for three years running. In 2015, she founded SheWorx, a platform devoted to launching and scaling female-headed businesses. In this week's episode, she talks to us about her newest project, The GLOW.“How do you get your foot in the door when you aren’t born in a rich family and you aren’t born into these Silicon Valley circles?” she asks. SheWorx provides part of the a...2020-03-1630 min

I Make a LivingCultural Heritage and Diversity in Business- The Lopez FamilyJames Beard award-winning restaurant, Guelaguetza in Los Angeles’s Koreatown, puts Oaxacan cuisine and culture at the forefront of today’s dynamic culinary scene.Bricia Lopez - Bricia Lopez is an entrepreneur, cultural ambassador, and a key figure in Los Angeles’ gastronomic scene. The New Yorker called Bricia the “Queen of Mezcal.” This year she opened Vegas’s first ever mezcal bar – ‘Mama Rabbit” inside The Park MGM. Launched the Super Mamas Podcast with Paulina, that has become a lifestyle media company, complete with annual events, and corporate partnerships with major brands. Bricia Lopez was appointed by the Mayor of Los A...2020-03-0943 min

I Make a LivingMonetizing Your Skills- Carmelia RaySomething we've heard a lot from the female entrepreneurs at our I Make A Living live events, is that so many of you have trouble with sales. Even though we know what we have to offer we sometimes feel uncomfortable asking for what we’re worth.Carmelia Ray is an internationally acclaimed matchmaker for high achieving men and the quality women they’re searching for. She’s also a renowned TV personality from Mom Vs. Matchmaker, The Real Housewives Of Toronto, and A User’s Guide to Cheating Death (Fall 2018).A frequent media contributor, Carmelia’s advice a...2020-03-0233 min

I Make a LivingJewel Burks Solomon- Black History Month- MasterclassJewel Burks Solomon is an Atlanta-based entrepreneur who was recently named Head of Google for Startups in the US. Jewel is no stranger to startups and entrepreneurship; she launched Partpic, a visual recognition technology company in her mid-twenties, and had it sold to Amazon in 2016. She was also named on Forbe’s 30 under 30 list. Jewel is also managing partner at Collab Capital, an investment fund designed to connect black founders to the financial and social capital they need to build profitable businesses.Jewel’s dream is transforming so many realities for new innovators in entrepreneurship, and we can’...2020-02-2441 min

I Make a LivingA Passion Turned into a Business- Tony Muia - A Slice of BrooklynSince 2005, A Slice of Brooklyn Bus Tours has been showing people around Brooklyn.The company was started by Tony Muia, a proud native Brooklynite who always loved showing people around his beloved hometown.Tony slowly starting doing informal tours for those same folks when they came to visit NYC, driving them around in his car. Soon, their friends and families would visit NYC and ask Tony to do tours for them so he did them as a side hobby while still working his regular job.In 2004 Tony decided to switch careers after watching NY...2020-02-1739 min

I Make a LivingCreative Collaborations- Ted and Angie from PoketoThis month, we're celebrating Valentine's Day by speaking to couples who inspire us by building strong partnerships - partners in life, partners in business, and partners in their community.We sat down with Angie Myung and Ted Vadakan, a husband-and-wife team who have artfully mastered the feat of finding their tribe through their brand Poketo.The name Poketo (pronounced "poh-keh-toe") stems from the mispronunciation of "pocket" by Angie's grandmother. It tied in perfectly with the first product ever created under Poketo: a series of artist wallets that fit right in your pocket—and Ted and An...2020-02-1035 min

I Make a LivingHealthy Harmony: The Goulds"I steal my kid's vitamins" isn't something that would normally lead to an a-ha moment, but the Goulds aren't your usual entrepreneurs. A couple for ten years, the Goulds are practiced business leaders who are part of the vanguard of the wellness industry: Gordon Gould crunches the numbers, and Courtney Nichol Gould focuses on the human side. Together, they're the power couple behind SmartyPants, the vitamin gummy brand launched in 2011 that now includes products for children, adults, and even pets.The Goulds practice holistic wellness in their work and their home life: we talk to them about...2020-02-0345 min

I Make a LivingPeter Shankman- MasterclassIn our special Masterclass episodes, we collect questions from real-life entrepreneurs at our live #imakealiving shows around the world, and ask our favourite experts to weigh in. From social media to scaling, from advertising to work-life balance, we get insights and guidance from folks in the know.In our first Masterclass episode of the season, we are delighted to talk with Peter Shankman. He has been a vocal advocate for neurodiversity in the workplace, he is the founder of the journalism tool HARO, and is a successful writer, speaker, podcast host, and entrepreneur.In our...2020-01-2736 min

I Make a LivingThe Art of the Pivot: Tina EssmakerA pivot can be a powerful thing. Tina Essmaker started as a social worker with a side project, a Kickstarted magazine she founded with her husband. But when her marriage ended, she had to re-evaluate: stay with the magazine, or start something new? She decided to tap into her skills as a social worker and her connection to the creative community to re-launch as a creative coach. In this week's episode, Damona talks with Essmaker about how she transitioned from publishing into a self-created role where she helps creative workers identify and stick with their goals.Essmaker...2020-01-2039 min

I Make a LivingPitch Your Business - Brant PinvidicWelcome to Season 2 of the I Make a Living Podcast. We are excited to kick off 2020 with a brand new season and incredible conversations with some of the most influential and successful entrepreneurs in North America and the world.As a television producer, Brant Pinvidic has pitched a lot. Like, a lot. In his 15 years in the entertainment industry, Pinvidic has had the chance to get his pitching practice down to a science. In his new book, The 3-Minute Rule, he lays out the basics of what makes a great pitch, and where folks fail. His challenge...2020-01-1334 min

I Make a LivingSeason 2 TrailerSeason 2 of the I Make a Living Podcast launches on Monday, January 13th. Follow us as we continue to explore what it takes to be a business owner in today's world. Our host, Damona Hoffman, will take you on her journey as she sits down with some of North America's most interesting and successful entrepreneurs.2020-01-0603 min

I Make a LivingSuccess and Unique Businesses- Season FinaleThe idea of success has many faces and iterations, most of us relate success to financial freedom or fame, but when you are an entrepreneur, success can mean much more than that. Who knew that waiting in line for hours on end could turn into full fledge operation, that someone could find joy in dressing up as Batman just to bring joy to tourists or that selling finger-painting art on Facebook for $50 could turn into a million dollar business or that anyone would pay for literally garbage picked up from the streets? The entrepreneurs that we talk...2019-07-1542 min

I Make a LivingFailure- Sam Rosen- Michelle HortonThe statistics aren’t too friendly when it comes to the longevity of small businesses. Nearly 50% fail at the five year mark. But, how does knowing this statistic help you? Most people can talk about failure ethereally—hardships builds character, you can’t succeed without failing, you know, those kinds of phrases. But, when it comes to us, you, specifically failing, you don’t want to and often times we do everything in our power to avoid thinking about the possibility of it. But, accepting that failure, on some level, happens, that can actually be one of the best things y...2019-07-0131 min

I Make a LivingHow To Start a Start-Up- Seth RadmanComing up with problems without immediately trying to fix them is a lot harder than you’d think. Our minds really are trained to find solutions. But, throughout this episode we focus the most on the beginning two steps— Defining the problem Confirming that it actually is a viable problem. The biggest take away from this whole conversation is to start at the beginning, with the problem—and spend a lot of time there. The last thing you want to do is create a solution that no one wants or is willing to buy into. We also discov...2019-06-1740 min

I Make a LivingBranding and Social Media- Beverley ChengEpisode Guests Beverley Cheng- Born To Sweat Zoey Masters- Instagram Jeremy Bailey- LinkedIn Center Stage Christopher Jones- SeeJonesWork “To be featured on Center Stage, send us a voice message!” Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are those of the guests and production team and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of '2ndSite.INC dba FreshBooks, its employees or affiliates.' 2019-06-0325 min

I Make a LivingGrowing Your Business- Kristen PumphreyEvery business starts somewhere before it's a well-oiled machine. Sometimes it's at your kitchen counter in-between your part-time jobs. The whole concept of growing your business means it was small at some point. This season, we've seen that it takes a lot to start a business from the ground up. Not everyone is cut out to be an entrepreneur. It takes a lot of diligence and hard work to get any business off the ground. It's not for the faint of heart. There are a lot of ups, downs, failures, and successes. Sometimes, it's so important to...2019-05-2028 min

I Make a LivingDeveloping Your BusinessFor a while now, we have been planning an episode on diversifying your business. We wanted to document the story of an individual who had just started their business and what it looked like to establish diversification in the initial steps of development. But, the story we ended up capturing was much more specific; someone who was forced to diversify due to external issues out of their control. So, we briefly discuss the general idea of diversification and offer a few tips on starting your business but the meat of this episode is really on: pivoting. Having an idea...2019-05-0640 min

I Make a LivingWork-Life BalanceProductivity is important as an entrepreneur but so is the balance between your personal life and your work life. If you’re not careful you can easily burn yourself out, harm personal relationships, and actually become less productive because you’re not giving yourself the space to rejuvenate—which is often times why people are most productive. It’s a balance. The Western world is in a bit of an epidemic these days. Some of the leading organizations in today’s world give their employees unlimited PAID time off. Which sounds absolutely crazy…but, according to the research done by Sage Busi...2019-04-2233 min

I Make a LivingTaxes! Episode 05“It’s all about the money....and taxes.” Today’s episode is about one of the most dreaded yet necessary pains every entrepreneur has to endure...tax season. No matter how big or small your business is, taxes are always going to be somewhat complicated, confusing and could create a lot of troubles if not dealt with appropriately. We are here to help! Our featured guest, Paco de Leon is a self-proclaimed ‘money nerd,’ she founded “The Hell Yeah Group” to help small creative entrepreneurs better manage their finances. Paco shares valuable a...2019-04-0834 min

I Make a LivingBeing a Female Entrepreneur PT. 2 Episode 04 "Being a Female Entrepreneur PT. 2" Welcome to the second episode of our 2-part series in honor of “Women’s History Month.” On this episode, we explore the role of equity in the female entrepreneurial world. We hear from 2 female business owners who share their experiences and journies to success. Equality. This is the conversation we’re having during women’s history month. However, to give this topic justice, we need also to consider what part equity plays. Equity is the varying levels of support need to obtain true equality for people from different...2019-03-2543 min

I Make a LivingBeing a Female Entrepreneur PT. 1 Episode 03- "Being a Female Entrepreneur PT1" Welcome to a special 2-part series in honour of Women's History Month. We take a look at the entrepreneurship world from a female perspective. Being a woman in the small business world isn’t easy. Even if you don’t self-identify as a woman, because of recent media movements, you can probably gather that it’s not exactly a walk in the park for females. There’s been a shift, on a large scale, in society recently. The #metoo and #timesup movements have brought some incr...2019-03-1127 min

I Make a LivingHow I Work- Productivity and WorkspaceThe average entrepreneur works over 60 hours a week. That’s 20 plus hours more than the traditional 9-5er. Are you using your time wisely? Explore how other self-employed folks choose to approach their productivity. Hal Elrod, best-selling author of the Miracle Morning book shares with us why morning routines can boost your productivity throughout the day. Hal is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to morning routines and jumpstarting your day in the best way possible. If you want to read one of his books and/or find out more about Hal go to: https://halelrod.com/". W...2019-02-2525 min

I Make a LivingA New World of Work Episode 01- Present and Future of Entrepreneurship Why are people turning to self-employment in the current economy? Alex, a freelancer who thought jumping ship and starting her journey would be a lot simpler than it turned out to be. A whole new set of challenges arise once someone decides to venture into entrepreneurship and a lot of times, those challenges are not-so-common knowledge. We talk to some FreshBooks folks who share some interesting numbers and data on the present and future of entrepreneurship. All these experiences, insights and pain...2019-02-1117 min