Episodes

  • Episode 7 - I Am...

    Episode 7 - I Am...
    Aug 21 2023

    I Am... How do you fill in the blank?

    Today I am talking about stepping into a new identity and the barriers that hold us back.

    Check out my websites:

         NancyJacksonAuthor.com

         NancyJacksonTraining.com

    Click HERE to get your FREE eBook How To Go From Hobby To Business For Next To Nothing 

    Follow me here:

       Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NancyJacksonAuthor

       Twitter: https://twitter.com/NAJackson

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

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

       LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancyajackson/

       YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NancyJackson

       TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nancyajackson?lang=en

     

     

     
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    12 mins
  • Episode 6 - Pushing Through The Fear

    Episode 6 - Pushing Through The Fear
    Aug 10 2023
    Check out my websites:      NancyJacksonAuthor.com      NancyJacksonTraining.com Click HERE to get your FREE eBook How To Go From Hobby To Business For Next To Nothing Follow me here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NancyJacksonAuthor Twitter: https://twitter.com/NAJackson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/najackson/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/nancyannjackson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancyajackson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NancyJackson TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nancyajackson?lang=en You may claim you are not afraid, but let me challenge you to dig a little deeper. Stay tuned. Fear is a multifaceted thing. We understand terror when in a life-threatening situation. We also understand the butterflies of stage fright. How about all our little phobias such as the fear of heights, water, and speaking before an audience? But, let’s talk about one today that is rarely, if ever, mentioned. Fear disguising itself as wisdom. Wisdom says don’t start your own business now, look at the economy. When the wise thing is to actually start that business and grow it so you are not at the mercy of layoffs because of the economy. Wisdom says you don’t have the time or the money to start a business. When the wise thing is to learn how to start and grow a business on a budget in your spare time. Wisdom says don’t step out and buy new equipment for your business. When the truly wise thing to do is invest in new equipment so that you can grow and better service your customers. I’ve seen so many people excuse their fear as wisdom. They are afraid to take a chance and explain it away as a wise act. The wise take risks in order to grow. The wise learn how to do what they want rather than never starting. The wise decide they will follow their dream in spite of the fear. And what is this fear crouching as wisdom? It is the fear of failure. Once a lady that I coached was crippled by fear in her business and didn’t even realize it. All of her business practices were guided by a deep sense of fear of failure. As we talked, I saw her father had pounded this into her and she was growing up. It sounded right to her after many years in that household. We love our parents and respect them, therefore we believe in them. Besides that constant philosophy being drilled into her, she suffered an unspeakable family tragedy. It was the perfect storm for fear to engulf her for years to come. Through our sessions, she realized that what she had thought was wisdom was actually fear and would bring her business down faster than a risky financial move. We are both faith filled Christians, and I encouraged her in biblical business practices. We continued to meet with her, asking me an abundance of questions. When you see one thought process was wrong, you been to bring all thoughts under scrutiny. We met for several weeks and I loved seeing her break free from the fear. In our last meeting, I was so glad to see the light in her eyes and the excitement on her face. She had just made some large purchases to further her business. She had taken every bit of advice I had given her and implemented it. Her business was growing and flourishing and even though she still had butterflies before hitting that purchase button, she was able to move forward courageously. Before you once again brush off any thought that you harbor any undiscovered fears, let’s just take a breath. If you are so confident that you don’t, what is the harm in the exploration if there is nothing to find? Take a moment to answer these questions. Not in the comments, but on your own to yourself. Question #1 - Have you been waiting for the ‘right’ time to step out to follow a dream you’ve had for a long time? And you are still waiting? There will never be a perfect time. Just like having a baby, there will never be a perfect time, but when it happens, the time is perfect. This may be a fear of not being able to control the outcome. You may feel that if you can ‘wait’ until all conditions are seemingly perfect, then you will succeed. But, my guess is this may just be an excuse that you are simply afraid of stepping out. Question #2 - What is your greatest avoidance when it comes to business? Are you afraid of running out of money? Are you afraid that you won’t have customers? Are you afraid that you will look like a fool? Are you afraid of what people will say? You say none of these, yet you don’t step out and start the business that you’ve always wanted to. None of those questions above are failure. Most super financially successful entrepreneurs have run out of money more than once. They just start all over. If you have confidence in your product and believe that it has a beneficial use, or if your skill or talent is valued by others. You will have customers. The key is finding them with the right marketing. Who’s opinion matters to you? Who are you concerned you will look like a fool to? We can’t afford ...
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    10 mins
  • Episode 5 - Top 5 Mistakes I Made As A New Entrepreneur

    Episode 5 - Top 5 Mistakes I Made As A New Entrepreneur
    Aug 8 2023
    Check out my websites:      NancyJacksonAuthor.com      NancyJacksonTraining.com Click HERE to get your FREE eBook How To Go From Hobby To Business For Next To Nothing Follow me here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NancyJacksonAuthor      Twitter: https://twitter.com/NAJackson      Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/najackson/      Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/nancyannjackson      LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancyajackson/      YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NancyJackson      TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nancyajackson?lang=en   In this episode, I will discuss the top 5 mistakes I made as an early entrepreneur. #1 - Lack of Confidence in What I Was Doing It has been decades since I began my first tiny business. It was way before the internet and the ease of access to do things yourself. I opened a small craft and flower shop in the small town where I lived. I didn’t have fresh flowers, only silk, which was a very big deal at that time. I spent my time doing the craft items and floral arrangements I made. I kept my bookkeeping up to date in a large ledger book, though. But, with marketing back then, you were limited primarily to local newspapers, radio advertising, and word of mouth. I tried newspaper advertising. My business was in a very small town that had no newspaper, so I tried the larger town about 45 miles away, and another about 30 miles away. The ads were display ads and were very expensive for someone with a small business like mine. I tried one or two and stopped. Because I knew nothing about marketing, I quit. I was convinced that they weren’t working and would not work. I never even tried radio advertising. It was much more expensive, and I cringed at the thought of spending more money on something that would not work. Most of my business came by word of mouth. The small storefront in that small town got noticed, and I had many curious people walk in. I was good at flower arranging and had done a couple of weddings for family and had pictures. I began to get quite a few weddings, and that was the majority of my business. Even though I knew I was good at floral arranging and knew how to do fresh flowers, I never ventured out to get the necessary permits and coolers for fresh flowers. It was a financially challenging time in our family, so I was trying to do everything on a budget. However, I believe that I just flat out lacked the confidence to spend that much money on the equipment. I think somewhere inside of me I just lacked the confidence that I would succeed and go the distance. And I didn’t. The oil boom busted, and our small town nearly dried up and blew away. And I gave up too. I was pouring all my money back into my expensive ‘hobby’ and not earning an income which our family needed. So I closed the doors right before Valentine’s day. People wanted to know where I was because they wanted to buy flowers from me. I didn’t understand the ebb and flow of business. I closed in January and would have flourished in February. I lacked confidence in what I was doing. I didn’t know enough and not knowing crippled me. #2 - Working as a Sole Proprietorship If you are a Sole Proprietorship, you are only one step above a hobby. You can deduct your supplies and some expenses, but the IRS gives you just a few years to show a profit or they deem you a hobby and you can no longer claim the deductions. In my opinion, being a sole proprietor is a sure sign of a lack of confidence. Give it a try for a few years and if it doesn’t work out, then quit. One foot in and one foot out. There is something to be said about the commitment of forming an LLC. Back when I had the flower shop, it was much more complicated. You had to have an attorney form it for you. Now you can easily do it yourself. The best, in my opinion, entity to form is an LLC. You can have the maximum tax benefits, especially if you request to file as an S corp. This lets your business work as a ‘pass through’ entity, funneling money to you. You are not taxed twice, once as a business and then as an owner. I am not a CPA, so I recommend you talk with your CPA about those benefits. But you can create an LLC by yourself and also file the 2553 form yourself. I did not have this luxury several decades ago. Honestly, I probably wouldn’t have done it anyway if I could have. That first business was honestly a glorified hobby. I knew nothing about running a business and it showed. Through the years, I had many more businesses, but never did an LLC until 2008 when I formed Dreams Do Come True, LLC for my real estate business as an agent. It was one of the smartest business things I’ve ever done. And yes, I had some nerves knowing there was a commitment to what I was doing. But, I have also learned that now an LLC is as easy to dissolve as it is to create. The fear of commitment doesn’t need to be there any longer. #3 - Not Persisting When Things Got Tough When you ...
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    15 mins
  • Episode 4 - Morning or Night?

    Episode 4 - Morning or Night?
    Aug 3 2023
    Check out my websites:      NancyJacksonAuthor.com      NancyJacksonTraining.com Click HERE to get your FREE eBook How To Go From Hobby To Business For Next To Nothing  Follow me here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NancyJacksonAuthor Twitter: https://twitter.com/NAJackson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/najackson/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/nancyannjackson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancyajackson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NancyJackson TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nancyajackson?lang=en   Episode 4 - Morning or Night?   Are you a morning or night person? There is a clear divide here? Where do you fit in?   If I am left to my own devices with no boundaries on when I need to go to bed or get up, my sleep clock will eventually slip its way back to being nocturnal.   I’ve always been that way. I can remember when I was young struggling to go to sleep at night. I would lay in bed and think, dream, and wonder about things.   I couldn’t make myself go to sleep for nothing. Then come morning getting up was horrible for me.   My sweet Daddy would come in and quietly and gently wake me up. I would acknowledge him and drift back off by the time he was out my door. He would actually do this three or four times and then I would get up.   But I would go straight to the kitchen where he was sitting having his morning coffee and crawl up on his lap. I would lay my head on his shoulder and try to avoid waking fully.   It wasn’t until my mother would hustle in with a flurry and get stern that I would get up.   This happened every single day.   I have often been told that we should all get up bright and early and get our day started as early as possible in order to be successful.   I have to tell you, I’ve tried. I worked in corporate America for most of my life and getting up early and getting ready for work was mandatory, so I did it.   But, it was still hard to go to sleep at night.   When I began to work for a company where I officed at home and was on the phone heavily, I would often lay in bed in the morning and only get up when I heard my office phone ring in the next room.   I would rush in there, answer the phone and start my day. I worked far more than 40 hours at that job because I loved it, but also because I could work flexible hours.   So, even though I often didn’t get up until 8 or 9 in the morning, I routinely worked until 8 in the evening.   I also traveled extensively with that job so my hours added up. I was paid well, and loved the company and work that I did.   What I learned during that time was that left to my own devices, I could work harder and longer at something I loved, and was far more productive.   After several rounds of layoffs from that company during a downturn, I worked another business to business sales position on commission only.   I learned to push hard to earn my commission, but I once again found that I worked many evenings doing paperwork, research, and other office tasks.   Fast forward several years later I was in a situation where I took a very good job, but it was a job where I had to go into the office every single day. I was hired as the manager of the company for that city. It was a new branch and there was a lot to do and I needed to be hands on.   But, it had been years since I had punched a clock.   I liked the job - sort of. I liked the people I worked with - sort of. I was very productive and exceeded expectations - but I was not happy.   My next career was being a Realtor. That is a self employed position where if you do not make sales you do not get paid. I needed to get paid so I worked hard.   You are at the demand of your clients, when and where they need to see houses and sign contracts. But, much of my work was late into the evenings at home. Being a Realtor gave me flexibility and because I had learned the structure of working from home over a decade earlier I did well on my own. That previous company required a set production level, but still allowed me to work at home. There was structure and flexibility.   Through the years, I’ve started several business. I set real estate up as an LLC and ran it as a business.   I also became a Certified Argentium Silver Jeweler and sold the jewelry I made. I made that a business and ran it as a business for years.   When I became an author I knew instinctively that it was best to run it as a business too.   How could I juggle so many businesses on my own? Because running your own business gives you flexibility.   My natural night owl tendencies didn’t hold me back from working in the evenings or late if I so chose.   It has been decades since I have had a job where I punched a clock. I don’t want to ever have to do that again.   I love the flexibility of being an entrepreneur and being able to work when and how I want to, with a few exceptions.   So, when I ask you the question, are you a morning or night person, the answer...
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    6 mins
  • Episode 3 - Words I Hate

    Episode 3 - Words I Hate
    Aug 1 2023
    Check out my websites:      NancyJacksonAuthor.com      NancyJacksonTraining.com   Click HERE to get your FREE eBook How To Go From Hobby To Business For Next To Nothing   Follow me here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NancyJacksonAuthor Twitter: https://twitter.com/NAJackson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/najackson/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/nancyannjackson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancyajackson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NancyJackson TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nancyajackson?lang=en   Words I hate. This may surprise you! Stayed tuned to find out what they are!   If you have spent five minutes on social media you have seen a flurry of ads. Many promise you the sun, the moon, and the stars.   They are so good at getting you to believe that what they have to sell to you will change your life, solve your problem, or revolutionize your life. So, you almost click (or do click) that button.   If you have ever done that, as I admittedly have once or twice, most of the time you are left realizing, there is no shortcut to get to where you want to be.   There are words that are so overused I’ve come to nearly recoil in nausea when I hear them.   Anything referring to a shortcut to success such as ‘from zero to six figures’, which is usually promised in a stunningly short timeline.   Or miraculous weightless outcomes. Lose 30 pounds in a week. Yes, I know that is an exaggeration, but you have all see those outlandish claims and know what I am talking about.   And yet, we are so tempted by those claims that we might even give it a try.   I do believe that there are efficient ways to do things. I myself have taken online workshops and classes from credible coaches and teachers that did give me efficient and credible ways to do business better.   And yes, those ways did lead to shortcuts and better time management. They often did lead to knowledge of how to do marketing or business management better.   But, none of that valuable information was an overnight success in and of itself. There are no get rich quick schemes and so often we are bombarded with promises that what is being sold is just that.   We can do business better. We can and should learn from others how to do business better. But, don’t be tempted by ‘too good to be true’ shortcuts.   Knowledge in and of itself does not get you to where you need or want to be. You have to take the knowledge and apply the knowledge consistently and diligently and then success will come.   Now the the word I’ve grown to hate - HACK. Sounds like a horrible cough, doesn’t it?   It carries with it the promise of a secret path to untold success or wealth or way of operating that defies the norm.   I’ve grown to hate the word because I believe it delivers only disappointment to those who hope for a quick result. I’ve seen their discouragement.   Experience that kind of promise and discouragement enough times and people begin to believe that they can’t succeed and so they give up.   There are some very good coaches and teachers out there. I’ve taken classes from them. But how do you know if the ad you are seeing is truly beneficial or just more whitewashed promises?   Number one is, ‘if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is’.   A good teacher will give you the information, but they will also encourage you on how to apply it and they will never promise overnight success.   A good teacher will come along side you and help you to stay focused, diligent, and persistent in applying the knowledge they have given you.   You can succeed and you do need the knowledge you don’t have. Successful people never feel they know everything they need to know.   Successful people are always learning more and more and applying it to their lives and their businesses.   I’ve taken many online courses. I love learning knew things. Whether it was in jewelry making, watercolor painting, or in business, if I have chosen a good teacher then I have always walked away with more knowledge and instruction that I could apply and make my life better.   In some classes, I did gain some knowledge, but there was no coach available to answer questions or further clarify the material. It is frustrating.   You do get the knowledge, or most of it, but when you hit a snag where you are struggling, you need someone who can give you just the right nudge to get you over the hump.   A good coach or teacher loves the student. They love seeing the student grow and change as they learn and apply what they’ve learned.   An unethical scammer is out to line their own pockets. So, be selective when choosing online programs.   I am not the only good coach or teacher out there. Please know that I am not saying that I am the only one. I’ve learned so much from very good credible online coaches and teachers.   What I want you to take away from this is not to be afraid to take an online course. In fact I ...
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    6 mins
  • Episode 2 - Are You A Dabbler

    Episode 2 - Are You A Dabbler
    Jul 25 2023
    Check out my websites:      NancyJacksonAuthor.com      NancyJacksonTraining.com    Click HERE to get your FREE eBook How To Go From Hobby To Business For Next To Nothing Follow me here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NancyJacksonAuthor Twitter: https://twitter.com/NAJackson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/najackson/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/nancyannjackson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancyajackson/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NancyJackson TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nancyajackson?lang=en   Episode 2 -Are You A Dabbler? Are you a dabbler? Don’t know what I mean? Well stay tuned and let’s find out. Webster’s defines dabbler as one not deeply engaged in or concerned with something. We have all dabbled from time to time. We dabble at hobbies and sports. We try first one thing and then another. If something peaks our interest then we might engage on a deeper level. With hobbies and sports I think that is a great thing! I think we should all dabble in those areas to try and spread our wings. It helps us learn and grow. But in the area of business it isn’t such a good thing. If you have a hobby or a skill you may have had the occasional person come and buy your creation or hire your skillset for a job they need done. You pocketed the money. It felt good to get that affirmation that your hobby or skill was valid. But then you went back to your normal life. From time to time you’ve thought about turning that hobby or skill into a business, but you felt that leap was too great a cavern to cross. You had so many concerns and doubts that you just resorted to dabbling. Selling a bit here or there. Putting the proceeds in your pocket for more supplies. That is the worst kind of dabbler. Someone who loves their hobby or unique skill set and yet won’t take the chance to make it their career. Maybe they have always worked for an employer and the thought of doing it on their own is overwhelming. I understand. I truly do. I’ve been there. I’m not recommending that anyone immediately quit their day job. But sometimes if you have dabbled for a long time, that day job has become a crutch. What if that thing you love so much could be the thing you do every single day? What if you woke up everyday excited to fill the day working at what you love? For that to happen at some point you have to stop dabbling. You can start your new business while still working for someone else. You can form your business entity and get the foundation established. And then begin to build on the foundation. If you believe you need a pile of money to form and create a business, let me tell you that you don’t. That is why I wrote the free book How To Go From Hobby To Business For Next To Nothing. Yes, it is free. And it is my gift to you. In the book I walk you through each step and how to do it yourself. On a budget. When you have gone through all the steps in the book, you will then have a legitimate business. But don’t let that frighten you dabblers out there! You can grow it at your own pace. There is no pressure to devote all your time and energy to it. Set some goals on paper that YOU want to achieve. Break those goals down into shorter goals and soon you will see the growth you hoped for. Dabblers go two steps forward and one and a half steps back forever. And I believe it is because of concern over the unknown that is holding them back. If you work your way through the book and you have your company formed, you can undo it at anytime. In a year or in ten years. It is your company and you are in control of it. So, what do you have to lose? The link to my free book is in the notes section. Yes, it really is free. It is also short and to the point and easy to follow. This is the exact blueprint I follow anytime I create a new business. Have more questions or need more help, just let me know.
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    10 mins
  • Episode 1 - Maiden Voyage

    Episode 1 - Maiden Voyage
    Jul 25 2023

    Check out my websites:

         NancyJacksonAuthor.com

         NancyJacksonTraining.com 

    Click HERE to get your FREE eBook How To Go From Hobby To Business For Next To Nothing 

    Follow me here:

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NancyJacksonAuthor

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/NAJackson

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

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

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancyajackson/

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NancyJackson

    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nancyajackson?lang=en

     

    Episode 1 -Maiden Voyage

    I’m a serial entrepreneur & an author of both fiction and non-fiction books

    I’ve coached women for years on how to start, market, and grow in business.

    I’ve also been asked about publishing. I’m always happy to share because it is my passion to see others succeed, flourish and grow.

    I do one-on-one coaching, I’ve created online courses, membership groups, and I’ve also helped others with my many articles.

    This podcast, which is also on YouTube is  another way I have of giving out valuable info to encourage and help others succeed.

    If you have any specific questions that I can help you with, please comment below.

    Also, if you have any suggestions for topics you would like me to cover in future podcasts, just let me know.

    I look forward to this new adventure with you!
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    4 mins