This week we were privileged to be joined by the fabulous entrepreneur-extraordinaire Jessica Gough, a.k.a The Sugar Duchess, founder and owner of Tease Industries Pty Ltd., a company dedicated to providing empowerment platforms for creative artists in the realm of Cabaret and Burlesqueof all kinds. Trained at the WA Academy for Performing Arts (WAAPA) and previously a video journalist for the ABC, Jess took a leap of faith in 2018 to pursue her passion for Burlesque and the performing arts. Kate and Jess met back in 2019, one year after Jess had purchased the Perth International Burlesque Festival. Six years later, Jess shares what it’s been like running a Burlesque and Cabaret performance company, while juggling a full time career. We love hearing real stories from business owners who have relentlessly pursued their passion and never give up. Kate and Jess discuss the original origins and definition of Burlesque as a celebration of bodies, identities, and diversity. Jess talks through the challenges faced by her community during the COVID-19 pandemic and the resilience of the Burlesque community, and emerging to continue building a highly successful business. She also shares her experience of balancing her passion for the Burlesque art form with a full-time job and the importance of diversifying her business.

Key Takeaways

• Like many business owners, Jess has the ability to be highly creative, but she balances it with a focused and disciplined business mind, which she says has been the key to her success.
• "Growth isn't linear"; Jess discusses the ups and downs of growing a business.
• The Burlesque art firn is a celebration of bodies, identities, and differences, with origins in Europe in parody and storytelling.
• Tease Industries creates platforms for artists to explore and showcase their craft and fosters inclusivity in the Burlesque community and beyond.
• The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the Burlesque industry, but the community supported each other and found ways to adapt.
• Jessica successfully balances her passion for Burlesque with a full-time job, emphasising the importance of stable income while building a business.
• Diversification is crucial for business sustainability and growth, allowing for multiple revenue streams and opportunities.
• Failure is a learning opportunity and should be embraced.
• Surrounding yourself with a supportive community is essential for success.
• The merging of science and spirituality can lead to personal growth and abundance.
• And lots more!

Connect with the Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business

Website: https://katedejong.com/

Instagram: katedejong.inspiredbusiness

Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The Business Implementor

Website: https://thebusinessimplementor.com/

Instagram: sammorris.businesscoach

Email: sam@thebusinessimplementor.com

In this episode, Kate and Sam get into detail about the specific characteristics of an 'Irresistible Offer'. A single irresistible offer can significantly increase your sales and revenue by increasing the conversion of your prospects into paying customers. An irresistible offer is a strategic structuring of your products and/or services where the value-to-cost ratio is value-heavy, making it an easy “yes” for those who need it. It feels like a ‘no-brainer’ and your prospect feels compelled to buy now.
However, there is an art to creating an irresistible offer and at least eight specific characteristics that Kate and Sam talk through in this episode, using Kate's upcoming offer called The Profit Accelerator as a case study.

Key Highlights:

• - What exactly is an irresistbile offer?
• - The 8 specific characteristics of a compelling offer.
• - How offers are different to service descriptions.
• - How irresistible offers fit into your overall marketing strategy.
• - How you can use offers to boost your revenue and sales quickly.

And so much more!


Connect with the Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business

Website: https://katedejong.com/

Instagram: katedejong.inspiredbusiness

Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The Business Implementor

Website: https://thebusinessimplementor.com/

Instagram: sammorris.businesscoach

Email: sam@thebusinessimplementor.com

In this conversation, Kate and Sam discuss the importance of strong branding and graphic design, sharing some of the good, the bad and the ugly they’ve seen in nearly a decade of coaching business owners to grow their businesses. They emphasise the need for professional input and guidance in creating a strong visual identity. They highlight the significance of colour theory, font selection, white space and ‘kerning’ in graphic design. They also stress the importance of consistency and clarity in branding, as well as the use of templates and brand style guides when getting started. The conversation concludes with tips on readability and the effective use of brand colours.

Takeaways:

• Graphic design plays a crucial role in branding and marketing.
• Professional input and guidance are essential in creating a strong visual identity.
• Colour theory and font selection are important considerations in graphic design.
• White space is critical for readability and visual impact.
• Consistency and clarity are key in establishing a strong brand.
• Using templates and brand style guides can help maintain consistency.
• Readability should be prioritised, especially in digital formats.
• Effective use of brand colours can enhance brand recognition.

Connect with the Hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business

Website: https://katedejong.com/

Instagram: katedejong.inspiredbusiness

Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The Business Implementor

Website: https://thebusinessimplementor.com/

Instagram: sammorris.businesscoach

Email: sam@thebusinessimplementor.com

In this episode, we discuss the importance of SEO (search engine optimisation) as an essential building block of your overall business growth strategy. SEO encompasses all the things you do on and off your website to drive visitors to your website (your online shop front). We emphasise the need to get the foundational building blocks and messaging right before diving into SEO, so that your visitors have a better chance at converting once they arrive on your website. We talk about the role of keywords, backlinks, and site loading speed (among others) as essential pieces of an overall SEO strategy. While we advise that you outsource the technical aspects of SEO to specialists, as always it’s important to educate yourself first so you can make sound decisions.

We highly recommend the free SEO training provided by Anthony Raspa and his team at Dezign Digital to learn more: Everything you need to know about SEO - Dezign Digital


Takeaways:

• Get the foundational parts of your business right before diving into SEO.
• Focus on all three pillars of SEO: local SEO, organic SEO, and technical SEO.
• Outsource the technical aspects of SEO and use AI tools to assist with meta descriptions and alt tags.
• Prioritise providing valuable content for readers over prioritising SEO.
• Use a multi-pronged approach to marketing that includes SEO, social media marketing, branding, and messaging.

More info here:

https://dezigndigital.com.au/everything-you-need-to-know-about-seo/

Connect with the hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business

Website: https://katedejong.com/

Instagram: katedejong.inspiredbusiness

Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The Business Implementor

Website: https://thebusinessimplementor.com/

Instagram: sammorris.businesscoach

Email: sam@thebusinessimplementor.com

This episode comes to you live from the Inspired Business Retreat in Bali! Kate and Sam unite with Angie Giltner, powerhouse Master Coach and motivational speaker for another episode with Angie (our first episode with Angie is still our most downloaded show to this day - have a listen if you haven’t heard it yet!). Together they reflect on Angie's journey over the past year, coming back from a bad business decision that rocked her to her core. They discuss the importance of forgiveness of oneself and others, getting back to what works to get yourself back on track, and the value of doing deep personal work to find new alignment and re-energised focus. The conversation touches on the power of mindset, the importance of simplicity in business, and the need to align one's thoughts and emotions with their desired outcomes. In this conversation, Kate, Angie, and Sam discuss Angie's journey of overcoming challenges and finding her true identity as an entrepreneur. They explore the importance of mindset, finding a good coach, and aligning with one's “core desired feelings” (a concept developed by Danielle LaPorte). They also touch on the significance of gratitude, the inspiring qualities of Balinese culture, and the power of knowing your numbers. The conversation concludes with a reminder to seek help when needed and to stay true to yourself, always.

Takeaways:

• Forgiving yourself for a bad business decision is crucial for moving forward and reclaiming your power.
• Getting back to what works and investing in yourself are key to overcoming challenges and getting back to achieving success.
• Mindset plays a significant role in business success, and it's important to align thoughts and emotions with desired outcomes.
• Simplicity is essential and overcomplicating things can hinder growth and progress. Having a coach or mentor is essential for all entrepreneurs, regardless of the type of business they have.
• Aligning with your core desired feelings and true identity is crucial for success and fulfillment.
• Expressing gratitude and practicing cultural traditions can bring joy and happiness.
• Numbers can hold personal significance and serve as signs or confirmations.
• Seek help and stay true to yourself to overcome challenges and achieve the success you deserve.

Tune in now to learn more.


Connect with the hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business

Website: https://katedejong.com/

Instagram: katedejong.inspiredbusiness

Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The Business Implementor

Website: https://thebusinessimplementor.com/

Instagram: sammorris.businesscoach

Email: sam@thebusinessimplementor.com

In this episode, Kate and Sam discuss fundamentals of marketing, including the importance of lead magnets, landing pages and online nurture sequences in building trust and converting prospects into customers. They emphasise the need to start with the end in mind, aligning free offers with paid offers. They also explore the power of ‘experiential’ lead magnets, such as video series and live events that immerse customers in the brand and build trust quickly.

The conversation concludes with a discussion on the rule of three in marketing and the power of simplicity in sales funnels.

Takeaways

• Start with the end in mind and align your lead magnet with your ultimate offer.
• Experiential lead magnets, such as video series and live events, can build trust quickly.
• Offering value for free can showcase expertise and increase the likelihood of conversion.
• Building trust and credibility is essential in the buyer's journey.
• Focus on solving the prospect's problem rather than personal connection.
• Shorten the sales funnel by being present and interacting with prospects. Experiential lead magnets, such as live events or interactive webinars, can be highly effective in building trust with potential clients.
• Lead magnets should provide valuable and specific information that can't be found elsewhere, rather than generic content.
• Landing pages should be simple and easy to navigate, with a clear value proposition and a prominent form for visitors to fill in.
• The rule of three is a powerful psychological principle in marketing, and simplicity is key in creating effective sales funnels.

Connect with the hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business

Website: https://katedejong.com/

Instagram: katedejong.inspiredbusiness

Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The Business Implementor

Website: https://thebusinessimplementor.com/

Instagram: sammorris.businesscoach

Email: sam@thebusinessimplementor.com

Summary:

In this episode, we were joined by Ortal Green, an expert in creative and innovative thinking. With a background in IT startups in Israel, Ortal spent many years working in the high-tech industry where she realised that the ability to succeed in business comes down to our ability to think creatively and innovatively. This set Ortal on a path to eventually become a mindset shifter and founder of Success by Design. Ortal explains how, sadly, our education system does not develop our skills for creative thinking. In a large study, 98% of all children aged 5 were considered ‘creative thinkers’. By the time we become teenagers this drops to less than half, and by the time we become adults, it drops to less than 5%.

Ortal Green shares four proven ways to expand your thinking creatively and innovatively, which inevitably leads to increased business revenue. If you’ve hit a revenue ceiling in your business and you’re looking for ways to break through to new levels of growth and success, don’t miss this episode!

Takeaways

• Creative and innovative thinking are essential for success in business.
• The education system often stifles creativity, but it is a skill that can be developed.
• Exercises like repurposing objects and merging unrelated ideas can help develop creative thinking skills.
• Shifting from a victim mindset to a transformer mindset is crucial when facing obstacles.
• Improving processes can drive innovation and improve the customer experience. Merging with other businesses can create a stronger and more competitive entity.
• Repurposing ideas or technologies from other industries can lead to innovation and growth.
• Breaking the status quo and challenging traditional norms can open up new opportunities.
• Creative thinking, self-belief, and having a clear vision are essential for success in business.

Connect with the hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business

Website: https://katedejong.com/

Instagram: katedejong.inspiredbusiness

Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The Business Implementor

Website: https://thebusinessimplementor.com/

Instagram: sammorris.businesscoach

Email: sam@thebusinessimplementor.com

In this episode, Kate and Sam open up and share some of the things going on behind the scenes that have made life and business challenging in recent months. Building a business is not always an easy journey, especially when life throws curveballs into the mix!

Sam shares her recent stressful experiences with some personal medical challenges. She discusses the emotional and mental toll these experiences can have, even while you have to keep showing up for your clients and your business. Kate and Sam talk about the importance of sharing and supporting one another when going through these experiences. They also emphasise the need for regular health screenings and taking care of oneself while running a business.

The conversation highlights the role of mindset and the power of positive thinking in navigating difficult situations. The conversation explores the themes of faith, learning lessons, being present, vulnerability, all the way through to content marketing, and the power of social media.

Sam and Kate discuss the importance of learning the lessons that life presents and how the universe will keep throwing challenges until those lessons are learned. They also talk about the significance of being present in the moment and trusting that you are exactly where you need to be. The conversation delves into the vulnerability of sharing personal experiences on social media and the balance between authenticity and oversharing. They also touch on the importance of organic and paid marketing strategies and the role of social media in business growth.

Takeaways

• Health issues and personal challenges can have a significant emotional and mental toll.
• Sharing and supporting one another is important in navigating difficult situations.
• Regular health screenings are crucial for early detection and prevention.
• Taking care of oneself is essential while running a business.
• Mindset and positive thinking play a significant role in overcoming challenges. Life presents lessons that we need to learn, and the universe will keep throwing challenges until those lessons are learned.
• Being present in the moment and trusting that you are exactly where you need to be is essential for personal growth.
• There is a balance between authenticity and oversharing on social media, and it's important to be mindful of what and when to share.
• Organic and paid marketing strategies should be used in parallel to maximise the effectiveness of social media advertising.
• Quality content is more important than quantity when it comes to content marketing.

Connect with the hosts:

Kate De Jong, PhD | Inspired Business

Website: https://katedejong.com/

Instagram: katedejong.inspiredbusiness

Email: kate@katedejong.com

Sam Morris | The Business Implementor

Website: https://thebusinessimplementor.com/

Instagram: sammorris.businesscoach

Email: sam@thebusinessimplementor.com