Send us a text

Welcome back to the Creative Minds, Smart Money podcast! I’m your host, Samantha Eck, and today, we’re diving into one of the most crucial yet often dreaded parts of running a business: invoicing. Whether you're a freelancer, small business owner, or creative entrepreneur, getting paid should be the smoothest part of your business.

In this episode, we’ll cover the key strategies to simplify your invoicing process, prevent late payments, and make sure you’re paid on time—every time. I’ll also introduce some of the best invoicing tools, like QuickBooks, HoneyBook, and Dubsado, that can take the stress out of chasing payments and help you stay organized.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• The importance of setting clear payment terms from the start.
• How to customize your invoices for a professional, branded look.
• Why automation is your best friend when it comes to chasing payments.
• Tools for invoicing, from accounting software like QuickBooks and FreshBooks to payment processors like Stripe and PayPal.
• CRM systems like HoneyBook and Dubsado that streamline your entire client process, from contract to payment.

Whether you’re just starting out or refining your business processes, this episode will help you create a seamless invoicing system that keeps your cash flow steady and your stress level low.

Resources Mentioned:

• QuickBooks: Website
• Xero: Website
• FreshBooks: Website
• Stripe: Website
• PayPal: Website
• Square: Website
• HoneyBook: Website
• Dubsado: Website

Connect with Samantha:

🔥 Website: Firestorm Finance
🔥 Instagram: @firestormfinance
🔥 Threads: @firestormfinance
🔥 Pinterest: Firestorm Finance
🔥 Newsletter: Join Here

Have a suggestion for something or someone you'd like to see on this podcast? Fill out this form here.

Send us a text

Welcome back to Creative Minds Smart Money! In today’s episode, we’re diving into the power of leadership and why blending creativity with strong management is the secret sauce for building a successful business. I’m thrilled to have Tomasha Suber, founder of T28 Consulting and a leadership coach, as our guest.

Together, we explore her journey from the corporate grind to coaching business leaders on how to lead with authenticity and inspire creativity within their teams. We unpack the essentials for cultivating your own leadership style, balancing creative innovation with operational efficiency, and why emotional intelligence is the key to running a high-performing, motivated team.

Whether you're managing a small creative team or running the show solo, this episode is packed with actionable advice on how to lead with purpose, empower your team, and foster creativity without sacrificing productivity.

Connect with Samantha:

🔥 Website: Firestorm Finance
🔥 Instagram: @firestormfinance
🔥 Threads: @firestormfinance
🔥 Pinterest: Firestorm Finance
🔥 Newsletter: Sign up here

Connect with Tomasha:
🔥 Website: Tomasha Suber
🔥Instagram: @tomashasuber
🔥Threads: @tomashasuber
🔥LinkedIn: Tomasha Suber

Have a suggestion for something or someone you'd like to see on this podcast? Fill out this form here.

Send us a text

Welcome back to the Creative Minds Smart Money Podcast! I’m your host, Samantha Eck, and today’s episode is all about taking your creative business to the next level with smarter, more efficient operations. I’m joined by systems and operations consultant Lauren Glynn, who shares her insights on streamlining business processes to cut the chaos and boost your bottom line.

Lauren breaks down the importance of defining your core values, setting actionable goals, and utilizing tools like AI to help you work smarter, not harder. We dive into her transition from corporate agile coaching to helping creative entrepreneurs fine-tune their workflows for greater productivity and increased revenue.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the day-to-day grind or just want to optimize your business for growth, this episode is packed with actionable tips to help you run a well-oiled machine while keeping your creative spark alive. Tune in to learn how to take control of your operations, eliminate inefficiencies, and set your business up for long-term success!

Connect with Samantha:

Website: https://www.firestormfinance.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firestormfinance/

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@firestormfinance?hl=en

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/firestormfinance/

Newsletter: https://firestorm-finance.ck.page/8194316ed3

Connect with Lauren:

Website: https://laurenglynn.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4ZDmg2afyZODtkmnPBNu6g

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurengconsulting/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenglynn/

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@laurengconsulting

Freebie: https://laurenglynn.com/streamline

00:00 Introduction to the Creative Minds Smart Money Podcast

00:29 Meet Our Special Guest: Lauren Glynn

01:06 Lauren's Journey to Becoming a Systems and Operations Consultant

02:38 Defining Core Values and Vision

07:15 Creating and Prioritizing Goals

12:30 Strategies for Productivity and Task Management

15:06 The Importance of Task Audits and Delegation

16:57 Combining Vision, Goals, and Tasks into an Action Plan

27:12 Final Thoughts and Farewell

Have a suggestion for something or someone you'd like to see on this podcast? Fill out this form here.