In this exciting episode of "Business Misfits," Melody hosts the trailblazing entrepreneur Sarah Van Der Meer. Together, they explore the relentless pursuit of innovation, emphasizing reinvestment in resources like top-tier programmers for a killer software rewrite. Sarah shares a candid experience about dealing with competitors imitating her platform and the emotional toll of staying ahead in the tech race. From the art of focusing on unique features rather than engaging in price wars to fostering strong customer relationships, Sarah's insights offer practical wisdom for every entrepreneur. Don't miss the fascinating "misfit minute" segment, where Sarah's relaxed, introverted side shines through. Tune in to get inspired on managing competition, overcoming discouragement, and learning from failures—essential themes for business growth and personal development.

Sarah van der Meer is the founder of Holiday Home Concepts, a pioneering design and measurement software for the lighting industry. With over a decade of experience, she developed a solution that simplifies the most challenging aspects of holiday light estimation into one user-friendly platform. Sarah is passionate about helping business owners reclaim their time, boost their sales, and scale their businesses to new heights.

Melody Edwards is a lifelong entrepreneur with a sparkly brain and a passion for building purpose-driven businesses. Over the past 25 years, she has successfully started, acquired, operated, and sold a variety of unconventional businesses, ultimately leading her to co-found HomeServiceVA.com with her first assistant, Din. Together, they built the company they wished had existed when they first started working together—a virtual assistant matchmaking agency that helps entrepreneurs streamline their operations with effective systems and talented virtual collaborators.

Being diagnosed with ADHD as a young adult changed her life. With newfound insight and understanding, Melody set out to master her brain's unique wiring, creating systems that allowed her to thrive in the "sparkliest" parts of her brain while delegating tasks that drained her. One of the most transformative decisions she made was hiring an Executive Assistant, which expedited her impact by allowing her to focus on the big projects and ideas that energize her.

Through her podcast, The Business Misfits, Melody shares insights from her decades-long business journey and interviews fellow unconventional entrepreneurs to empower others to embrace their inner "Bizfit" and build businesses on their own terms. Her mission is to help purpose-driven business owners craft their path with creativity, intuition, and heart.

Outside of business, Melody is a creative human who loves ALL THE THINGS… friends, AI, singing, bike rides, camping, crafting, ice cream, and building things. She lives in Western Massachusetts with her husband Matt, their children Sophia and Max, and their dog Shaun.

You can find all her things on www.melodythings.com

All the music you heard on the show today was written and recorded by Melody Edwards.

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