Too Legitimate to Quit: Growth Strategies with a Pop Culture Spin

We all know mindset is a critical tool for entrepreneurs - but is your mindset working harmoniously with your marketing, and vice versa? In the struggle to break through the noise and reach potential buyers, how do we ensure our audience feels individually seen, safe, and supported - even in campaigns as impersonal as our SEO? This week, Annie P. is joined by her brother-in-exuberance, SEO expert,...

What the heck does it actually mean to be a "natural leader?" And, if you're an un-natural leader, are you just out of luck? For being an isolated endeavor, solopreneurship sure demands a lot of people-wrangling. What skills do you actually need to motivate your clients and team members? And how can you stay motivated when your people get on your last nerve? This week, Annie P. is joined by the br...

So - what do we do about the "just not your people" people? The bad fits? The awkward encounters? And - on the flipside - how can we ask for and receive support without feeling clingy, desperate, or amateur? It's time for a dose of entrepreneurial reality - but don't fret. We talk about a kids show at the end. This week, Annie P. is joined by the fabulous, endlessly talented Damion Taylor. Fresh o...

Is joy fluffy or essential? A soft skill or a beacon? And on the flipside, is burnout a badge of honor? How can we keep the love alive in our small businesses, in spite of recessions, upheaval, bad news, and bitchy people? Unsure if/how happiness and success will ever coexist in your business? This episode is for you! This week, Dr. Erin M. Baker, Ph. D., is here to clear up some glaring misconcep...

Mandy Moore, The Osbournes, Ashton Kutcher, The Millionaire Matchmaker - behind each media sensation, there was a helluva media/brand strategist - Vinnie Potestivo! As a network talent executive at MTV Networks from 1998 to 2007 (AHH!), he pioneered the way talent and artists claimed control of their narrative by making them hosts, stars, and even producers of their own hit series. Nowadays, Vinni...

Are you fully harnessing the power of live events in your business? Whether in-person, hybrid, or online-only, events are unparalleled when it comes to building community, sharing thought leadership, and proving your value - but they are also all too easy to royally screw up. Which events are right for your business? What processes and team members do you need to have in place to provide a truly i...

Are you focused enough on focus itself? Are you diluting your message, power, or passion by being too broad or ambitious? And, do you have to be loud and flashy in order for your purpose to come across crystal clearly? This week, Annie P. is joined by Dr. Michael Gerharz, an expert in combining clarity and communication into lasting impact. How? By looking from the prospects' perspective, finding...

How much of your workday gets gobbled up by non-money-making activities? How can you set expectations and goals for yourself that are both ambitious and compassionate? And, how can gamification help you take off "the busy badge?" This week, self-professed workaholic Annie P. is joined by the brilliant and eloquent Melissa Guller. A former Project Manager, current course-creation and client success...

Do you ever feel like the Internet is leaving you behind? There are so many new trends, new platforms, new tools, new terms... you name it. Although Blockchain has been a beloved topic of conversation in tech circles for almost a decade, it seems like only yesterday everyone you know started peddling NFTs. What the heck even IS an NFT anyhow? This week, Annie receives a crash course in Web3 from D...

So - they're paying attention, now what? How do you turn dopamine-bumping likes into dollar-earning leads? What's the next step for followers who have been hanging out in your DMs and comment threads for weeks or even years? This week, Annie P. is joined by social media maven Hannah Acosta of Ugly Mug Marketing. Harnessing ads, email, and a special offer or two, Hannah takes listeners through sett...

Have you bought into your own hype? And - in practice - is that a good thing or a bad thing? Will your success inadvertently harm the folks who have had your back since the beginning? How can we move from 1-to-1 to 1-to-Many without anyone feeling abandoned? This week's episode is what happens when two ex-theatre kids who have found their way (and paychecks) in Communications get to nerd out about...

Does tracking your business growth (or losses) have to be so anxiety-inducing? On the flipside, does analyzing your data have to be so dang dry and boring? HECK NO. Although it's hard to focus on profits, profits, profits all the time, it's essential if you ever want to fully leave the "hobby" phase of business building. Thankfully, Annie is joined this week by Heather Zeitzwolfe, who is not only...

Are you treating yourself like your most prized asset? Do you find it hard to rest, or even slow down? And what's the truth of "hustle culture;" do we really need to push harder to get further? If the cost of your entrepreneurial lifestyle is beginning to outweigh the payoff, this episode is for you. This week, Annie P. is joined by the soothing, brilliant mind of Greg Wieting, a healer who specia...

How well do you know your numbers? For many, many small business owners, the answer is "not nearly enough." When you wear 17 different hats on any given day, it's easy enough to ignore the books and bank accounts and wait until closer to Tax Day. But, we can't fix or grow what we don't know. This week, Annie P. is joined by Danielle Hayden, "reformed corporate CFO," author, and CEO of Kickstart Ac...

On your path to connection and service, what metrics really matter? Should you aim to go viral, or allow yourself to move slowly and deliberately? And what's more important in podcasting and content creation - quality or consistency? This week, Annie P. is joined by the fabulous Jason Cercone, a brand strategist and podcasting expert. After years in the business, Jason knows a thing or two about h...

Holy heck! It's the very first special episode of TLTQ - and it's a glorious nerdfest. Annie P. Ruggles recently brought her brand of entrepreneurial enthusiasm to the show floor at FAN EXPO Chicago and sat down with 14 phenomenal makers to discuss life at the intersection of art, business, pop culture, and sales. How did they find their own style in a sea of similarity? How has their own fandom i...

Is your definition of success truly your own or has it been cobbled together from other peoples' mandates and expectations? Are you more likely to succeed if you show up fully and frantically every day or if you slow down and act deliberately? And how can you bounce back after major life changes, both voluntary and unexpected? This week, Annie P. is joined by the brave and bold Jessica Butts. Jess...

When you define selling, is your answer more synonymous with greed, manipulation, and regret or to love, empathy, and enthusiasm? You've been sold to horribly and unethically countless times - but have you ever had a sales hero? How can you serve your clients beautifully and step into abundance simultaneously? This week, Annie P. Ruggles (founder of The Non-Sleazy Sales Academy) teams up with the...

Do we expand our skills by learning or by doing? How do you identify what falls inside our expertise and where we have growth options? And - what if we're experts in something that we just don't love anymore? Entrepreneurship is a constant dance of learning and unlearning - all while declaring ourselves worthy of attention and trust. How can we show up ethically and enthusiastically? This week, An...

In order to take ourselves seriously as business owners, do we need to be so dang serious? What are the key differences between savvy self-promotion and sleazy self-serving advertising? Is putting yourself out there emotionally safe? What the heck are the rules? This week, Annie P. is joined by Graphic Design superstar and sassy marketing truth-teller, Deanna Seymour. Deanna is a master of helping...

Is LinkedIn just a resume site for job-seekers? Heck no! In fact, your competitors are likely making a whole bunch of money over there! How? By leveraging its business-focus and ever-expanding list of competitive free features! LinkedIn is a thriving social ecosystem and it's hungry for your best and boldest content. How can we rise above the sleaze, SPAM, and stuffiness and really connect? This w...

Is there anything more vulnerable (some would say terrifying) than asking for feedback, waiting for the responses, and then actually absorbing them? Why do small criticisms tend to outweigh earnest praise? And - what the heck should we be asking anyway? This week, Annie P. is joined by one of the most recognized voices in small business podcasting, Nick Loper! Nick is a side hustle expert - with o...

How are you navigating the weird, wild world of digital marketing? Where does your true essence end and your online persona begin? And - is an ethical reckoning coming for coaches, consultants, and other service providers? This week, Annie P. is joined by comedian, whistleblower, and branding all-star, Rachael Kay Albers. Rachael is known for her keen observations, no-nonsense voice, and resilienc...

If you're here, you listen to podcasts (thanks!) but have you explored the highly strategic, life-affirming, and bond-galvanizing art of podcast guesting? In 2021, Annie P. was on dozens and dozens of podcasts and it dramatically changed her audience size, talking points, and overall marketing in tiny and huge ways. Now, all-star podcast connector, host, and agency owner Angie Trueblood is here to...

Do you equate success with stress? Do you believe you'll find your "Tipping Point" faster if you live on the edge of burnout? Or, would you simply love more time to freaking relax? This episode is for you. This week, Annie P. sits down with acclaimed podcaster, strategist, and speaker Kris Ward. Kris believes your business should feed your lifestyle, not eat your life. She has a boatload of great...