Embracing Creativity as a Neurodivergent Business Owner with Molly McCauley
What if your brain’s unique wiring isn’t a flaw… but your secret advantage? That’s exactly what we explore in my conversation with Molly McCauley. Molly’s neurodivergent diagnosis became the lens through which she redesigned her business, team, and teaching. Growing up in a family of educators and artists, she used art and design to navigate a traditional education system that didn’t always support her learning needs. That same creativity eventually turned into a thriving photography and education business. Listen in as we discuss what it really looks like to build a successful business as a neurodivergent entrepreneur. Find It Quickly00:28 - Meet Molly McCauley00:58 - Molly's Journey into Photography05:28 - The Stigma of Creative Businesses06:41 - Molly's Talk at Creative Educator Conference07:32 - Understanding Neurodivergence in Business09:28 - Reflections on Teaching and Learning17:16 - Molly's Business Systems and Outsourcing25:14 - The Importance of Outsourcing27:02 - Finding the Right Virtual Assistant29:29 - Challenges in Early Business Years31:57 - Embracing Systems and Specialists36:39 - The Evolution of Make Pretty Workshops44:19 - The Value of Styled Shoots and WorkshopsMentioned in this EpisodeEpisode 25: Sarah Potts: BTS of Hiring My VACreative Educator ConferenceConnect with Mollymollymccauley.cominstagram.com/mollymccauley_photoinstagram.com/makeprettyworkshopmakeprettyworkshop.com/the-vault
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Behind the Scenes: My Mid-Year Offer Reset
It’s my birthday month, and I’m celebrating by simplifying my backend and shifting how I sell. In this solo episode, I’m walking you through why I removed my standalone email and workflow templates from the System Shop—and what I’m replacing them with.From retiring offers to introducing semi-custom workflow templates (built with a little help from my AI tools), I’m sharing the strategy behind these changes and how they better support my clients and my business. If you’ve ever wondered what to do with an offer that still sells but no longer aligns, this one’s for you.🎧 What You’ll Learn:Why I sunset my standalone templatesWhat the new semi-custom workflow experience includesHow Email Like You Mean It reshaped my offersWhat’s staying in the System Shop—and what’s on the chopping blockWhy this shift creates better results for both sides of the sale🔗 Links & Resources:→ Email Like You Mean It: coliejames.com/email→ Semi-Custom Workflow Templates: coliejames.com/automation→ Explore All Tools + Templates: coliejames.com/shop
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Ditching the Algorithm: Shifting the Priority from Social Media to Email Marketing with Andréa Jones
Do you find yourself dreading content creation and waiting for the algorithm to feature your posts? In this episode, I sat down with Andréa Jones, mindful marketing strategist extraordinaire, to talk about why email might need to become your primary marketing channel. No more chasing social media algorithms: we're building connection, conversions, and clarity in the inbox.Find it Quickly:00:56 - Shifting from Social Media to Email Marketing03:05 - The Challenges of Social Media06:53 - The Power of Email Marketing17:03 - Embracing AI in Marketing24:09 - The Writing Process: Talk First, Write Second24:35 - Using AI for Email Summarization24:55 - Storytelling in Emails25:37 - Stories and Email Writing27:21 - AI for Organization and Focus29:56 - Analyzing and Synthesizing Content with AI32:53 - Repurposing Content Across Platforms38:24 - Personalized Marketing Strategies40:40 - Big Inbox Energy TrainingConnect with Andréa:Website: onlinedrea.comInstagram: instagram.com/onlinedreaThreads: threads.net/@onlinedreaYouTube: youtube.com/@onlinedreaonlinedrea.com/bie
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Client Experience Essentials: The 5 Layers You Actually Need
Your client experience doesn’t start with a workflow or a fancy journey map. It starts with the words you choose and the tone you set.In this solo episode, I’m breaking down the 5 Client Experience Essentials — the layered framework I now use to help creatives build businesses that book faster, serve better, and feel easier to run. And while most people start with automation or journey mapping, I’m here to tell you why the real foundation of your experience is your client communication.If you’ve ever felt like your backend was “done” but your clients still seemed confused, clunky, or ghost-prone — this one’s for you.Find It Quickly:01:10 — The 5 Client Experience Essentials, defined02:10 — Why most creatives start with the wrong layer02:28 — House analogy: what communication, workflows, and delivery systems really are03:14 — Why poor communication breaks even great systems04:31 — Your voice is the experience: what builds trust04:53 — Where journey mapping fits (and why it’s not step 1)05:14 — What to fix first if your experience feels clunky05:37 — From systems strategist to experience architect06:06 — Inside Email Like You Mean It and how it helps🔗 Links Mentioned:📘 Email Like You Mean It – My self-paced course for writing strategic, on-brand client emails https://coliejames.com/email 🎧 Subscribe to Business-First CreativesApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/business-first-creatives/id1626652456Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5btYwigg8aN6UCzImRvEfb?si=3b4e1ce675734fba
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Creating AI Content that Sounds Like You with Kinsey Soderberg
What if I introduced you to the person who completely changed how I use AI in my business? I want you to meet Kenzie Soderberg, the AI strategist behind The Brand Blueprint. In this episode, we explore why AI isn’t just a flashy gimmick—it’s reshaping workflows, first drafts, and even offer strategy at lightning speed. With Kenzie's human-first approach, we deep dive into training AI like an intern, infusing voice and values into every prompt, and harnessing memory so you don’t repeat yourself.Find it Quickly:00:45 - Meet Kinsey Soderberg03:32 - The Rise of AI in Business08:51 - Training Your AI Assistant: Best Practices14:08 - The Power of Memory in AI Tools22:45 - Creating a Brand Blueprint with AI30:39 - Introduction to the Brand Persona Mini Course31:34 - The Importance of the Offer Suite33:10 - Simplifying Your Offer Suite with AI33:42 - Creating an Everything Page35:25 - Using AI to Plan and Strategize37:42 - AI Integration in Business Tools40:33 - Customizing AI for Your Business Needs48:50 - The Future of AI in BusinessMentioned in this Episode:DescriptHoneyBookConnect with Kinsey:Website: authenticaiforentrepreneurs.comAI Brand Blueprint: authenticaiforentrepreneurs.com/ai-brand-blueprintInstagram: instagram.com/authenticaiforentrepreneurs
Every creative deserves to turn their craft into a business that brings them joy and profit. Here you'll find a no-BS approach to what it takes to put the business first, prioritizing the systems and strategies that will actually move the needle and ensure your creative business is profitable rather than an expensive side-hustle. Your host is Colie James, a Disney-loving family photographer, and filmmaker turned Workflow and Automations Guru who helps creative service providers automate their sh*t, reclaim their time and get back to living!
Ireland