1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,534 Imagine packing up your life and moving to a new city every few years with 2 00:00:04,539 --> 00:00:09,620 your family and potentially having to reinvent yourself every time. 3 00:00:10,229 --> 00:00:11,670 Sounds daunting, right? 4 00:00:12,489 --> 00:00:12,790 I know. 5 00:00:12,839 --> 00:00:20,369 Now, imagine building a thriving business out of your passion for crafting, only 6 00:00:20,369 --> 00:00:25,289 to pivot completely into an entirely new field of digital marketing. 7 00:00:26,269 --> 00:00:27,139 Can you imagine that? 8 00:00:27,209 --> 00:00:31,309 Because that is exactly what today's guest, Bonnie Conrad, did. 9 00:00:31,784 --> 00:00:37,264 In this episode, you'll hear how Bonnie, a military spouse, went from creating 10 00:00:38,014 --> 00:00:42,654 farmhouse tables in the middle of the Mojave desert to becoming a sought 11 00:00:42,725 --> 00:00:44,934 after digital marketing strategist. 12 00:00:45,564 --> 00:00:51,514 She's here to share her secrets on balancing a thriving business while 13 00:00:51,514 --> 00:00:57,415 constantly moving, understanding the importance of flexibility and how to 14 00:00:57,415 --> 00:01:00,044 turn every challenge into an opportunity. 15 00:01:00,045 --> 00:01:03,605 If it sounds inspiring, you are absolutely right, it is. 16 00:01:03,625 --> 00:01:08,285 Because Bonnie's story was definitely one that I loved 17 00:01:08,285 --> 00:01:09,805 hearing about and you will too. 18 00:01:10,255 --> 00:01:15,635 Stay tuned as we uncover Bonnie's incredible journey and our actionable 19 00:01:15,635 --> 00:01:19,925 tips for anyone looking to pivot their career, get a fresh start, 20 00:01:19,965 --> 00:01:21,925 or even start your own business. 21 00:01:22,835 --> 00:01:23,405 You ready? 22 00:01:23,820 --> 00:01:24,710 Let's dive in. 23 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:29,160 Hello friend, I'm Kendra and you've tuned into the Invisible to Invincible 24 00:01:29,170 --> 00:01:34,440 podcast where passionately driven business owners share their journeys 25 00:01:34,450 --> 00:01:37,140 from hidden gems to industry leaders. 26 00:01:37,610 --> 00:01:42,830 Together, we'll uncover the secrets, mental shifts, and visibility in 27 00:01:42,830 --> 00:01:48,640 marketing strategies that turn these hidden gems into undeniable forces. 28 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:51,730 So hit that subscribe button and let's dive in. 29 00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:52,530 Bonnie, welcome. 30 00:01:52,530 --> 00:01:53,910 Thank you so much for being here. 31 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:55,430 Thank you so much for having me as a guest. 32 00:01:55,430 --> 00:01:56,170 I'm super excited. 33 00:01:56,680 --> 00:01:57,300 Absolutely. 34 00:01:57,310 --> 00:02:01,380 I was just so excited because there's a lot of things about your background 35 00:02:01,390 --> 00:02:05,280 and what you're doing now that I think really resonate with a lot of 36 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:07,540 people, specifically military spouses. 37 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:11,810 So can you talk a little bit about your business and what you do today? 38 00:02:11,830 --> 00:02:14,280 And then we'll back up and talk about how you got there. 39 00:02:14,660 --> 00:02:15,550 Yeah, absolutely. 40 00:02:15,550 --> 00:02:19,770 So currently I am a social media and digital marketing strategist 41 00:02:19,770 --> 00:02:25,400 with Innately, and I help our clients grow with digital marketing. 42 00:02:25,690 --> 00:02:29,390 And that can be anything from email marketing, social media, 43 00:02:29,430 --> 00:02:31,460 their website, any of those. 44 00:02:31,665 --> 00:02:33,475 facets within digital marketing. 45 00:02:33,545 --> 00:02:35,595 That is what we do for our clients. 46 00:02:36,595 --> 00:02:40,425 it's always so impressive because there's so many people that do digital 47 00:02:40,455 --> 00:02:44,625 marketing, but they don't always look at the pieces of how they all work together. 48 00:02:45,425 --> 00:02:48,415 they only look at it in a silo of like, Oh, I only do SEO or I only do 49 00:02:48,435 --> 00:02:50,355 PPC or paid search or what have you. 50 00:02:50,945 --> 00:02:53,565 So as a business owner, being able to look at the bigger picture and 51 00:02:53,565 --> 00:02:55,355 help others I think is really key. 52 00:02:55,725 --> 00:02:59,065 Can you talk a little bit about your background and how you got there? 53 00:02:59,420 --> 00:03:00,110 Absolutely. 54 00:03:00,110 --> 00:03:02,110 I am a military spouse, like you mentioned. 55 00:03:02,150 --> 00:03:05,810 I have been following my husband around for 14 years now and 56 00:03:05,810 --> 00:03:07,310 it's been a super fun journey. 57 00:03:07,580 --> 00:03:11,140 I originally started when, my husband and I met, I was in the medical 58 00:03:11,140 --> 00:03:14,090 field and thought, this is what I'm going to do for the rest of my life. 59 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:15,710 I'm going to work as a medical assistant. 60 00:03:15,890 --> 00:03:18,770 every time we move, I'm going to get a new job at a clinic or a doctor's office. 61 00:03:19,365 --> 00:03:22,635 by our third move, I got sick of being the new person. 62 00:03:23,005 --> 00:03:29,885 And I finally, our previous studio station in California, I found my 63 00:03:29,895 --> 00:03:32,215 passion of building and crafting. 64 00:03:32,265 --> 00:03:37,035 I actually started a really great, successful business in our house I 65 00:03:37,045 --> 00:03:42,015 would build furniture like big farmhouse kitchen tables and entryway tables 66 00:03:42,045 --> 00:03:44,025 and five foot signs I would paint. 67 00:03:44,455 --> 00:03:48,115 it became the joke that I was the Hobby Lobby of the desert because where 68 00:03:48,115 --> 00:03:52,655 we were located, there was nothing around us I realized how hard it is 69 00:03:52,715 --> 00:03:57,945 as a small business solopreneur to figure out your marketing on top of. 70 00:03:58,280 --> 00:03:59,360 Building your business. 71 00:03:59,580 --> 00:04:02,830 it became a solo passion of mine. 72 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:07,510 when we moved this recent time, I started as a virtual assistant and thought 73 00:04:07,565 --> 00:04:10,920 I could do this as my own business, marketing really became a passion of mine. 74 00:04:11,310 --> 00:04:16,360 I, was awarded a full ride scholarship to finish my bachelor's degree at 75 00:04:16,360 --> 00:04:17,800 Southern New Hampshire University. 76 00:04:17,940 --> 00:04:19,840 So I'm almost finished with that. 77 00:04:20,100 --> 00:04:24,150 I want to move on and get my master's, my number one goal is to help my fellow 78 00:04:24,150 --> 00:04:28,910 military spouses teach them how to market their small businesses in a way that 79 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:30,950 resonates with their target audience. 80 00:04:30,970 --> 00:04:32,920 Also what a target audience is. 81 00:04:33,870 --> 00:04:37,420 If you're not familiar with marketing, you have no idea that that should be a thing. 82 00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:41,930 In a way that fits in with your schedule and your family, because we're so busy 83 00:04:42,230 --> 00:04:45,920 and usually we're the ones that are 99 percent of everything at the house. 84 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:49,220 having a business, but also maintaining the household and making 85 00:04:49,220 --> 00:04:50,760 sure that everything's kosher here. 86 00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:54,640 So our service members can focus on what they need to do. 87 00:04:54,970 --> 00:04:57,470 it just came to me like a really big passion of mine. 88 00:04:57,470 --> 00:04:59,780 And so I started with that. 89 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:05,100 And then, James, who I actually kind of merged with, with Innately, we 90 00:05:05,100 --> 00:05:07,150 decided, Hey, let's grow this together. 91 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:12,250 He has 40 plus years of marketing experience and I have the passion and 92 00:05:12,250 --> 00:05:14,250 energy to do all these fun things. 93 00:05:14,540 --> 00:05:19,150 I feel like I've learned more from him than I have in college. 94 00:05:19,370 --> 00:05:24,830 I joke it's a paid internship because I'm working, but I'm also helping our clients. 95 00:05:24,840 --> 00:05:29,680 So it's been a fun transition And so I absolutely love it and I cannot wait 96 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:31,540 to help more people along the way. 97 00:05:32,530 --> 00:05:33,000 I love that. 98 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:36,120 And your energy and passion just comes through when it comes to the topic. 99 00:05:36,350 --> 00:05:39,430 I was saying earlier to a business owner that I always feel bad for them 100 00:05:39,430 --> 00:05:43,700 because exactly what you said, like a lot of people start their business 101 00:05:43,700 --> 00:05:45,340 now because they love what they do. 102 00:05:45,470 --> 00:05:47,480 And then all of a sudden they find themselves deep in 103 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:51,430 conversations, trying to figure out what SEO is or how to apply it. 104 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:54,080 And all they want to do is do what they love. 105 00:05:54,350 --> 00:05:58,090 my goal was to figure out how to do that in a way that's easy for someone 106 00:05:58,090 --> 00:06:01,180 who was like, I don't know what digital marketing is, but I know I need to do it. 107 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:06,350 And this is how I can do it in an easy way that can still work for my business. 108 00:06:07,100 --> 00:06:12,250 For people who might not be familiar with what it means to be a military spouse, 109 00:06:12,280 --> 00:06:13,460 can you talk a little bit about that? 110 00:06:13,510 --> 00:06:15,150 Because I think it's a really unique. 111 00:06:16,150 --> 00:06:17,450 Position to be in. 112 00:06:17,710 --> 00:06:18,660 Yeah, absolutely. 113 00:06:18,660 --> 00:06:21,010 So I didn't know what I was getting into. 114 00:06:21,260 --> 00:06:22,860 my husband and I actually met. 115 00:06:23,410 --> 00:06:26,770 Yeah, we met, 15 days later we were engaged. 116 00:06:26,770 --> 00:06:29,550 So we did the whole like, what you don't do in the military. 117 00:06:29,860 --> 00:06:33,380 And then, like a month and a half later we got married and I, 118 00:06:33,750 --> 00:06:35,400 moved from Michigan to Georgia. 119 00:06:35,450 --> 00:06:39,700 Six months later with our first duty station and I remember pulling into 120 00:06:39,750 --> 00:06:43,800 Fort Stewart in Georgia and we got to the hotel and I sat on the bed and I 121 00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:47,660 just started bawling my eyes out and I'm like, had a pity party of like, I'm 122 00:06:47,660 --> 00:06:51,110 not going to have any friends and I'm not going to know anybody my husband 123 00:06:51,110 --> 00:06:54,430 still laughs about it now because I'm the friendliest person that you'll meet. 124 00:06:54,460 --> 00:06:55,730 Oh, you talk to me. 125 00:06:55,740 --> 00:06:56,390 You're my friend now. 126 00:06:56,590 --> 00:07:00,950 we joke about that as military spouses that we speed date our friends because 127 00:07:00,950 --> 00:07:02,230 we're like, you're my neighbor. 128 00:07:02,260 --> 00:07:05,790 I also need you to be my emergency contact for my child. 129 00:07:06,130 --> 00:07:08,970 we've got to fill out these papers and we just got here and I know no one. 130 00:07:09,310 --> 00:07:11,000 it's an interesting lifestyle. 131 00:07:11,050 --> 00:07:14,930 we get to meet so many people and learn about different, cultures and 132 00:07:14,930 --> 00:07:17,610 ways of life as we move all over. 133 00:07:17,910 --> 00:07:20,980 it's a huge advantage to be a military spouse because we get 134 00:07:20,980 --> 00:07:22,450 so many cool opportunities. 135 00:07:22,985 --> 00:07:26,555 But on the, career side of things, it can be really hard. 136 00:07:27,265 --> 00:07:31,925 that, really resonates with me because I saw this need to fill my 137 00:07:31,925 --> 00:07:37,095 bucket, but also to, bring in a little bit extra, like, shopping money, 138 00:07:37,435 --> 00:07:39,335 but extra income into the house. 139 00:07:39,355 --> 00:07:44,115 And it's so hard when you move so often to keep a career alive. 140 00:07:44,385 --> 00:07:48,355 I have friends that have their doctorate and their lawyers and their nurses and 141 00:07:48,635 --> 00:07:53,615 they have all these high performing degrees that they can't do anything 142 00:07:53,615 --> 00:07:58,245 with because of licensing the military has gotten really great with helping 143 00:07:58,245 --> 00:08:02,595 military spouses with their licensing and all of that, but it's still a struggle. 144 00:08:02,655 --> 00:08:07,015 And so my biggest passion, right now is. 145 00:08:07,235 --> 00:08:11,235 having the conversation with other military spouses or stay at home 146 00:08:11,235 --> 00:08:14,745 parents It's those parents that have stayed home for 15 years 147 00:08:14,745 --> 00:08:16,535 with their kids who used to work. 148 00:08:16,805 --> 00:08:19,895 And now we're like, I want to go back into the workforce, but I 149 00:08:20,255 --> 00:08:22,175 don't have any job experience. 150 00:08:22,205 --> 00:08:25,455 I always want to shake them and say you do, you just have to look 151 00:08:25,455 --> 00:08:29,275 at the things that you are good at and passionate about and turn those 152 00:08:29,305 --> 00:08:31,025 into something that you can do. 153 00:08:31,475 --> 00:08:34,635 so it kind of has became like a little pet project of mine of 154 00:08:34,685 --> 00:08:37,225 Pulling that out of people being like, what do you really want to do? 155 00:08:37,265 --> 00:08:41,525 And how can you do that from home or in a way that fits with your family? 156 00:08:42,525 --> 00:08:43,055 Absolutely. 157 00:08:43,055 --> 00:08:45,415 I saw this a lot when I was teaching. 158 00:08:45,425 --> 00:08:49,515 I taught undergrad and graduate marketing classes at a local university 159 00:08:49,515 --> 00:08:53,475 most of the students were military, either active duty or veterans. 160 00:08:54,095 --> 00:08:58,025 sometimes spouses would come in, but I even saw it with, military people 161 00:08:58,025 --> 00:08:59,395 who were getting out after five years. 162 00:09:00,285 --> 00:09:02,755 After 10 years and they were in the military and then trying 163 00:09:02,755 --> 00:09:03,475 to figure out what to do. 164 00:09:03,475 --> 00:09:06,225 a lot of times they were starting their own business because that's why 165 00:09:06,225 --> 00:09:07,665 they were trying to get their degree. 166 00:09:08,485 --> 00:09:11,905 and it was looking at, there's so many good ideas, but they were really, 167 00:09:11,905 --> 00:09:13,295 really good, like with anything, right? 168 00:09:13,295 --> 00:09:15,195 Like you're really, really good with this. 169 00:09:15,715 --> 00:09:19,825 And then when you try and pivot, there's a lot of mindset challenges 170 00:09:20,625 --> 00:09:24,905 and knowledge, because it can be so overwhelming how much there is to learn. 171 00:09:25,220 --> 00:09:28,620 Yeah, I feel like you have to think about growth being messy. 172 00:09:28,910 --> 00:09:31,440 It can't be perfect and you just have to try it. 173 00:09:32,140 --> 00:09:35,680 I said this yesterday to someone, just because you make a decision on something 174 00:09:35,680 --> 00:09:36,980 doesn't mean it has to be permanent. 175 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:39,150 I thought I would be in the medical field forever. 176 00:09:39,150 --> 00:09:40,600 I thought I was going to go to nursing school. 177 00:09:40,630 --> 00:09:43,580 I thought I was just going to follow up with nurse practitioner school or PA. 178 00:09:44,530 --> 00:09:46,940 I realized I hated working in the medical field. 179 00:09:47,700 --> 00:09:52,360 doing such a huge pivot is scary, but also, freeing. 180 00:09:52,400 --> 00:09:58,080 I remember the last, Office I worked in, I walked out cause I was so unhappy and I 181 00:09:58,080 --> 00:10:01,200 called my husband and I was like, I just quit my job and he was like, thank God. 182 00:10:01,490 --> 00:10:04,410 that's a big mindset thing just because you make the decision 183 00:10:04,420 --> 00:10:05,730 does not mean it's permanent. 184 00:10:05,740 --> 00:10:07,740 You can always change your mind. 185 00:10:08,740 --> 00:10:13,630 It's funny how much ego and worry about what other people will think 186 00:10:13,640 --> 00:10:15,710 can get wrapped up in that decision 187 00:10:15,830 --> 00:10:16,200 Yeah. 188 00:10:16,630 --> 00:10:21,130 I ask questions about risk taking and how you felt about starting your own business. 189 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:28,830 what was the mindset and the decision you made to start your first business, 190 00:10:28,850 --> 00:10:30,710 which sounds really impressive and fun. 191 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:36,140 And then shift into the virtual assistant and now your current role. 192 00:10:36,690 --> 00:10:38,800 it became, out of opportunity. 193 00:10:38,900 --> 00:10:41,360 I wanted a farmhouse kitchen table for our house. 194 00:10:41,670 --> 00:10:45,820 I went to all the different furniture stores and I was like, this is crazy 195 00:10:45,820 --> 00:10:47,810 expensive I could build this myself. 196 00:10:47,820 --> 00:10:50,320 So I built a kitchen table and it was beautiful. 197 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:51,680 I built the benches for it. 198 00:10:51,940 --> 00:10:55,990 I had someone come in my house and she was like, where did you get this? 199 00:10:56,480 --> 00:10:57,890 and I was like, oh, I built it. 200 00:10:58,110 --> 00:11:00,840 And then she's like, how much would you charge to build this for me? 201 00:11:00,840 --> 00:11:02,080 And I was like, I don't know. 202 00:11:02,110 --> 00:11:03,090 I've never done that. 203 00:11:03,190 --> 00:11:05,900 And it went out of control. 204 00:11:06,200 --> 00:11:07,810 I started building. 205 00:11:07,880 --> 00:11:08,840 I would build things. 206 00:11:08,860 --> 00:11:10,670 list them and they would be gone within an hour. 207 00:11:10,990 --> 00:11:13,500 I told, new neighbors, I was like, I'm really sorry. 208 00:11:13,830 --> 00:11:16,980 I get lots of traffic during the day because I have people 209 00:11:16,980 --> 00:11:18,080 just picking up orders. 210 00:11:18,370 --> 00:11:21,950 I was very conscious of not turning the table saw on at 10 o'clock at night. 211 00:11:21,960 --> 00:11:26,590 Cause we're very close to each other, but it was kind of like out of 212 00:11:26,590 --> 00:11:28,440 opportunity of like, I love doing this. 213 00:11:28,470 --> 00:11:30,830 And the community loves it too. 214 00:11:30,830 --> 00:11:31,790 So I just did it. 215 00:11:32,100 --> 00:11:35,570 when the army decided to move us from California to Texas. 216 00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:42,350 I knew I wanted to do something that I could move with me, but also, that 217 00:11:42,350 --> 00:11:46,270 was flexible enough to where if my husband has to go somewhere or I 218 00:11:46,270 --> 00:11:49,490 want to go travel, I can literally just take my laptop with me and go. 219 00:11:50,020 --> 00:11:53,190 And so I loved the virtual side of things. 220 00:11:53,230 --> 00:11:59,550 And I tried working for a company as a virtual assistant I am very 221 00:11:59,570 --> 00:12:01,120 quick to be like, let's do this. 222 00:12:01,370 --> 00:12:02,890 I was like, I could run my own business. 223 00:12:02,890 --> 00:12:03,720 It can't be that hard. 224 00:12:03,770 --> 00:12:05,300 And I loved it. 225 00:12:05,620 --> 00:12:09,820 I think the military has given me the opportunity of having that 226 00:12:09,820 --> 00:12:11,510 mindset of I'm just going to try it. 227 00:12:11,510 --> 00:12:12,200 See what happens. 228 00:12:12,470 --> 00:12:14,290 I also have a super supportive husband. 229 00:12:14,340 --> 00:12:15,680 he's like, yeah, you should do that. 230 00:12:15,700 --> 00:12:17,050 Let's just, let's figure this out. 231 00:12:17,170 --> 00:12:19,630 So I feel like that is a big part of it too. 232 00:12:20,630 --> 00:12:25,730 It's always interesting hearing all the different Mindsets 233 00:12:25,730 --> 00:12:27,230 and shifts that can happen. 234 00:12:27,300 --> 00:12:28,650 and that's part of why I love this podcast. 235 00:12:28,650 --> 00:12:32,510 So I get to meet so many people that have interesting insights and interesting, 236 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:35,440 just like the ability to take action. 237 00:12:35,470 --> 00:12:39,780 Because there's so many people and I've been in those stages myself, right? 238 00:12:39,780 --> 00:12:44,060 Where you're like, I think about it and then I get stuck in analysis paralysis 239 00:12:44,470 --> 00:12:48,750 I had parents who were business owners and they really struggled. 240 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:54,110 sometimes there's a danger in knowing what the negative side can look like. 241 00:12:54,170 --> 00:12:57,260 I've also seen a lot of military spouses struggle because they 242 00:12:57,260 --> 00:13:00,770 don't have that adaptability and flexibility and they, not fully 243 00:13:00,770 --> 00:13:02,100 realized what they were getting into. 244 00:13:02,780 --> 00:13:05,210 And then when they got into it really struggled because they didn't know 245 00:13:05,260 --> 00:13:09,140 what they didn't know, and didn't know how to respond to it in a way that 246 00:13:09,140 --> 00:13:11,400 you have, which is really admirable. 247 00:13:11,835 --> 00:13:16,615 Yeah, and my goal is to like, I love sharing my story because I want to 248 00:13:16,625 --> 00:13:20,545 inspire other people who have said like, Oh, maybe I should do this. 249 00:13:20,585 --> 00:13:21,585 And I'm like, do it. 250 00:13:21,885 --> 00:13:23,215 What's the worst that could happen? 251 00:13:23,245 --> 00:13:25,135 It doesn't work out, then try something else. 252 00:13:25,695 --> 00:13:28,015 But you have to easily pivot. 253 00:13:28,125 --> 00:13:33,275 I'm working on a book about this for, I want to like, I need to finish it. 254 00:13:33,325 --> 00:13:36,585 As a military spouse, it's not just follow your spouse around, take care 255 00:13:36,585 --> 00:13:38,005 of the kids, take care of the house. 256 00:13:38,305 --> 00:13:43,135 It's like you can do anything, reinvent yourself every time you move. 257 00:13:43,185 --> 00:13:46,465 I've joked that last time we moved, I was going to sell used cars you just never 258 00:13:46,465 --> 00:13:50,375 know what you want to do or how great it's going to work out until they try it. 259 00:13:51,285 --> 00:13:55,795 What a freeing ability to be whoever you want to be when you move, right? 260 00:13:55,795 --> 00:13:58,465 Like a lot of people, I like a fresh start and being able to be 261 00:13:58,465 --> 00:13:59,945 like, okay, this is who I was. 262 00:13:59,945 --> 00:14:01,145 Now this is who I'm going to be. 263 00:14:01,755 --> 00:14:05,445 for people that might not be moving and getting those fresh starts, do you have 264 00:14:05,445 --> 00:14:10,405 any advice for someone who might want to figure out how to create one, even though 265 00:14:10,405 --> 00:14:14,755 they're staying put, they might be stuck where they're at or love where they're at. 266 00:14:14,765 --> 00:14:18,135 They are tired of, doing the same thing over and over again. 267 00:14:18,345 --> 00:14:22,395 I always say, look at your skills that you've acquired along the way. 268 00:14:22,405 --> 00:14:25,085 Look at the different things that you know you can do. 269 00:14:25,965 --> 00:14:27,735 Also look at the stuff that you hate doing. 270 00:14:27,945 --> 00:14:30,825 Like me personally, I don't like accounting. 271 00:14:31,015 --> 00:14:32,225 It's just not my thing. 272 00:14:32,225 --> 00:14:34,915 And I know that I will never want to do that. 273 00:14:35,450 --> 00:14:38,890 So looking at the things that you really like to do and the things you 274 00:14:38,940 --> 00:14:42,910 don't like to do, and then looking at what skills that you've acquired 275 00:14:42,910 --> 00:14:47,240 along the way, like, do you know how to do all the Microsoft stuff? 276 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:48,790 soft skills are huge. 277 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:50,810 if you have worked in, Retail. 278 00:14:50,810 --> 00:14:52,270 You have great customer service. 279 00:14:52,300 --> 00:14:53,860 That's a huge thing. 280 00:14:54,130 --> 00:14:57,260 If you're just a nice person too, that goes a long way. 281 00:14:57,480 --> 00:15:00,580 you can't teach anybody to be nice and you can't teach them to be responsible. 282 00:15:00,780 --> 00:15:05,100 I feel like that's two great things that you have to push forward and 283 00:15:05,170 --> 00:15:09,440 put those number one, because you can teach anybody how to use a program. 284 00:15:09,810 --> 00:15:11,670 You cannot teach them to be nice. 285 00:15:12,090 --> 00:15:15,580 so looking at all those things and kind of looking within you 286 00:15:15,580 --> 00:15:16,620 what are you passionate about? 287 00:15:16,630 --> 00:15:19,880 Do you really love to cook and want to share that? 288 00:15:20,150 --> 00:15:24,400 i've seen so many People that are like I love to bake and I want to share it 289 00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:28,760 with the community they start Baking for everyone and it could go either way. 290 00:15:28,810 --> 00:15:31,830 But just figuring those out for yourself and really taking that 291 00:15:31,830 --> 00:15:33,570 deep dive, I think is huge. 292 00:15:34,570 --> 00:15:38,150 And along your point, you actually represent that when you said, I 293 00:15:38,150 --> 00:15:41,470 want to be able to be flexible and travel and do things with my family. 294 00:15:41,490 --> 00:15:43,590 And you can't do that if you're trying to lug a table saw. 295 00:15:44,120 --> 00:15:47,187 I love woodworking and I still do it sometimes. 296 00:15:47,217 --> 00:15:50,227 I'll pull out the saws in the driveway and apologize to my neighbors. 297 00:15:50,227 --> 00:15:51,787 There's just sawdust everywhere. 298 00:15:52,247 --> 00:15:56,177 but that's not portable for me I needed something that was portable that I could 299 00:15:56,187 --> 00:15:59,947 still do if I want to jump on a plane and go to San Diego for the weekend. 300 00:16:00,467 --> 00:16:02,127 I want to be able to still take that with me. 301 00:16:02,127 --> 00:16:05,047 And so this was what I wanted to do. 302 00:16:05,287 --> 00:16:06,487 And it's not for everybody. 303 00:16:06,957 --> 00:16:07,747 But it's an option. 304 00:16:07,747 --> 00:16:12,937 it comes down to what are your values and our values change, like your values 305 00:16:12,947 --> 00:16:16,117 when you're living in the middle of mojave might be different than when 306 00:16:16,117 --> 00:16:20,147 you're living in texas or Kentucky or California being able to shift and hold 307 00:16:20,167 --> 00:16:24,557 true to those values, because if you had moved and tried to keep doing what you're 308 00:16:24,557 --> 00:16:28,587 doing, because you knew you were good at, you would have felt stuck and probably 309 00:16:28,587 --> 00:16:30,727 started to resent it at a certain point. 310 00:16:31,147 --> 00:16:35,767 Yeah, I feel like that was a big part of not doing woodworking 311 00:16:35,767 --> 00:16:40,787 anymore it started out as a project and became a career for five years. 312 00:16:41,147 --> 00:16:44,217 when we moved, I was, highly requested. 313 00:16:44,217 --> 00:16:47,227 I do really custom work I still do it now for presents. 314 00:16:47,537 --> 00:16:51,857 I would take handwritten recipes from like family recipes. 315 00:16:51,897 --> 00:16:55,537 I actually just did one for my, cousin for her wedding. 316 00:16:55,957 --> 00:16:59,737 It took her grandmother's handwritten recipe and put it on a cutting board. 317 00:16:59,737 --> 00:17:02,347 those are such a cool gift. 318 00:17:02,347 --> 00:17:03,547 And they're timeless. 319 00:17:03,847 --> 00:17:07,557 I was highly requested for those, but it kind of became a Like resenting, 320 00:17:07,557 --> 00:17:09,007 like, I don't want to do this right now. 321 00:17:09,327 --> 00:17:12,727 so I knew that wasn't what I wanted to do when we moved to Texas. 322 00:17:13,727 --> 00:17:17,387 And the fact that you were able to quickly identify that you could start 323 00:17:17,387 --> 00:17:22,597 your own business and help others is really important and impactful. 324 00:17:23,427 --> 00:17:25,227 starting a business, sounds scary. 325 00:17:25,607 --> 00:17:26,657 you just gotta be messy with it. 326 00:17:26,687 --> 00:17:27,377 You'll figure it out. 327 00:17:27,417 --> 00:17:29,457 Like my thing was, I'll figure it out along the way. 328 00:17:29,557 --> 00:17:30,617 I'll make my mistakes. 329 00:17:30,637 --> 00:17:32,087 learn from it and then move on. 330 00:17:32,427 --> 00:17:34,297 But you can't dwell on the mistakes. 331 00:17:34,297 --> 00:17:38,217 I think that's a huge piece of advice yes, you make your mistake, figure 332 00:17:38,217 --> 00:17:39,837 out what went wrong and then move on. 333 00:17:40,262 --> 00:17:40,872 don't do it again. 334 00:17:41,872 --> 00:17:42,732 Learn from it. 335 00:17:43,212 --> 00:17:46,492 It's easy for people to forget that starting your own business and doing 336 00:17:46,562 --> 00:17:48,562 anything we do is not a straight line. 337 00:17:48,612 --> 00:17:51,492 it's not always going to be that cool chart, increased revenue 338 00:17:51,492 --> 00:17:54,872 that everyone wants to see or increased happiness or success. 339 00:17:54,872 --> 00:17:56,622 We all define success differently. 340 00:17:57,082 --> 00:17:59,832 We all define what our goals are differently. 341 00:18:00,187 --> 00:18:04,417 and it's never a clear path It's always messy. 342 00:18:04,757 --> 00:18:09,837 I've had messy interactions the past two years and I 343 00:18:09,837 --> 00:18:11,037 learned from them and moved on. 344 00:18:11,657 --> 00:18:12,137 Yeah. 345 00:18:12,467 --> 00:18:16,577 So what is it when you're able to work with clients, in digital marketing 346 00:18:16,577 --> 00:18:23,687 capacity, what is it that you love the most with working with them? 347 00:18:23,737 --> 00:18:25,487 I can easily answer this. 348 00:18:25,527 --> 00:18:30,307 I love being able to take the idea they have and connect that, in the 349 00:18:30,317 --> 00:18:34,517 digital world most small businesses or even bigger businesses, can't 350 00:18:34,517 --> 00:18:39,847 afford to hire huge chief marketing officers or anything like that. 351 00:18:39,847 --> 00:18:44,027 So I love being able to connect that and then have the clients 352 00:18:44,037 --> 00:18:47,457 see that and be excited with them when it all starts working. 353 00:18:48,457 --> 00:18:48,757 Yeah. 354 00:18:48,807 --> 00:18:52,517 It's funny you say that because I've worked with clients in the past where 355 00:18:53,027 --> 00:18:56,277 Put the strategy together, get them started, train their team And there's 356 00:18:56,277 --> 00:18:58,327 just no energy or excitement about it. 357 00:18:58,327 --> 00:18:59,027 They're like, cool. 358 00:18:59,027 --> 00:19:00,137 Now we can check this box 359 00:19:00,167 --> 00:19:05,067 And I have found that that energy exchange of like, I spent so much 360 00:19:05,067 --> 00:19:09,617 time on this and I got you the perfect solution to start out with, and it'll 361 00:19:09,627 --> 00:19:10,947 evolve as your business evolves. 362 00:19:10,947 --> 00:19:12,227 But like, aren't you excited about it? 363 00:19:12,227 --> 00:19:12,897 Let's do this. 364 00:19:13,897 --> 00:19:16,827 And when they're not, I'm like, we're getting smarter about 365 00:19:16,877 --> 00:19:18,497 who I bring on as clients. 366 00:19:18,507 --> 00:19:21,177 That excitement and that energy can go a long way and it goes a 367 00:19:21,177 --> 00:19:22,927 long way towards their success. 368 00:19:23,017 --> 00:19:25,597 I have friends that have small businesses within the community 369 00:19:25,617 --> 00:19:27,537 and I tell them you can say no. 370 00:19:28,287 --> 00:19:32,507 If you feel like this client isn't for you, then you say it in a 371 00:19:32,537 --> 00:19:36,547 professional way, but you can say no, you don't have to do everything. 372 00:19:36,547 --> 00:19:40,267 it's hard as a small business owner to say no, because you're like, I 373 00:19:40,267 --> 00:19:42,557 don't know when the next client's going to come through the door, or 374 00:19:42,557 --> 00:19:45,467 I don't know when the next person's going to reach out to me for an order. 375 00:19:45,967 --> 00:19:49,757 But if you don't say no, You're going to burn out faster and you're going to start 376 00:19:49,757 --> 00:19:51,937 resenting your business or what you do. 377 00:19:52,937 --> 00:19:56,567 not only am I working for this client I don't love I'm doing things that take 378 00:19:56,567 --> 00:19:58,397 more out of me than give back to me. 379 00:19:58,917 --> 00:20:00,207 Setting those boundaries is huge. 380 00:20:00,767 --> 00:20:01,947 Absolutely. 381 00:20:01,997 --> 00:20:05,537 Are you working primarily with military spouses? 382 00:20:05,537 --> 00:20:08,597 Are you working with, like, what kind of businesses do you work with? 383 00:20:08,977 --> 00:20:12,467 we have a huge facet of different businesses that we work with. 384 00:20:12,517 --> 00:20:17,547 we offer services that are 49 a month for a business to have a 385 00:20:17,547 --> 00:20:23,367 professionally designed website, that is actually going to work for them we 386 00:20:23,367 --> 00:20:24,877 take care of the backend of things. 387 00:20:24,877 --> 00:20:26,747 We maintain it, we secure it. 388 00:20:26,747 --> 00:20:28,347 If plugins are not working. 389 00:20:28,572 --> 00:20:31,512 We will fix it, we answer the phone. 390 00:20:31,832 --> 00:20:36,652 So I think that's huge when it comes to a website company if you need 391 00:20:36,652 --> 00:20:38,682 help, we are there to help you. 392 00:20:38,732 --> 00:20:43,752 seven figure companies that have very large websites that are very intensive. 393 00:20:43,802 --> 00:20:48,252 It's a range of different clients and I love being able to just help 394 00:20:48,252 --> 00:20:49,582 whoever comes through the door. 395 00:20:50,582 --> 00:20:53,292 I've had clients come to me in the past and they're like, we got this website. 396 00:20:53,292 --> 00:20:58,602 It was built by this company and, pick a country and they're not doing it right. 397 00:20:58,632 --> 00:21:01,472 then you're trying to get ahold of somebody to figure it out. 398 00:21:01,502 --> 00:21:04,832 And then they're trying to hold the website hostage. 399 00:21:05,832 --> 00:21:07,632 we actually answer the phone. 400 00:21:07,632 --> 00:21:11,362 We have amazing content specialists that know what they're doing. 401 00:21:11,612 --> 00:21:12,662 and are friendly. 402 00:21:13,082 --> 00:21:15,362 they are really great at what they do. 403 00:21:15,392 --> 00:21:20,252 And we love being able to help everyone that we can and help 404 00:21:20,252 --> 00:21:23,622 them get a professionally designed website within their budget. 405 00:21:23,632 --> 00:21:27,852 Cause sometimes you can't afford a huge, Budget, but that's why we offer 406 00:21:27,852 --> 00:21:33,842 the stuff for the smaller businesses what is your role in the organization? 407 00:21:34,332 --> 00:21:38,102 So I help with the digital marketing, social media strategies. 408 00:21:38,362 --> 00:21:43,212 and when it comes to sharing their message on their social media and 409 00:21:43,252 --> 00:21:47,832 building that strategy and kind of helping communicate the fact that, 410 00:21:48,192 --> 00:21:49,572 Social media is not your business. 411 00:21:49,592 --> 00:21:53,442 It's just a tool and figuring out how you use it. 412 00:21:53,832 --> 00:21:59,262 I love the reference of like Target has a cash register to help me spend 413 00:21:59,262 --> 00:22:04,542 all of my money Social media is just a tool just like the register at target. 414 00:22:04,972 --> 00:22:10,482 Getting that through and fixing the misconception is, 50 percent of what I do. 415 00:22:11,472 --> 00:22:15,652 Because that can be a hard thing of also taking off that overwhelm of 416 00:22:15,672 --> 00:22:20,762 like, I have to be on social media, I have to post every day, and making 417 00:22:20,762 --> 00:22:24,652 them realize You need to do what aligns with your goals, not what 418 00:22:25,172 --> 00:22:26,962 the influencer is telling you to do. 419 00:22:27,802 --> 00:22:31,372 I think that I personally love the sigh of relief when you're like, 420 00:22:31,372 --> 00:22:33,172 you don't have to be everywhere. 421 00:22:33,452 --> 00:22:34,922 Don't try to boil the ocean. 422 00:22:35,722 --> 00:22:36,532 Pick one. 423 00:22:37,182 --> 00:22:38,712 Let's focus on that. 424 00:22:38,822 --> 00:22:41,402 where your audience is, is where you need to be. 425 00:22:41,462 --> 00:22:45,972 if your audience is over 40 or over 60, they're not on TikTok. 426 00:22:46,202 --> 00:22:49,242 you don't have to be there, even though everyone's like, you gotta be there. 427 00:22:49,652 --> 00:22:50,962 They're probably not there. 428 00:22:51,232 --> 00:22:54,682 So finding your audience and being present where they are is big. 429 00:22:55,272 --> 00:23:00,872 it's been so fun to watch the evolution of social media, and it's really challenging 430 00:23:00,872 --> 00:23:04,922 to see how it's going and how people are using it and what's happening next. 431 00:23:04,922 --> 00:23:07,412 you can see exactly who's using AI for their content. 432 00:23:07,842 --> 00:23:11,662 I love using it, but don't copy and paste straight out of AI. 433 00:23:11,662 --> 00:23:15,302 you have to edit and then edit and then edit the crap out of it. 434 00:23:15,792 --> 00:23:21,062 use it as a brainstorming, not as the final, And I've managed 435 00:23:21,062 --> 00:23:22,342 to develop some pretty amazing. 436 00:23:22,692 --> 00:23:25,072 prompts, which will get it close. 437 00:23:25,272 --> 00:23:30,082 But even with all of my testing of prompts and trying to figure out what's going 438 00:23:30,082 --> 00:23:33,392 to work best, you still have to edit. 439 00:23:33,772 --> 00:23:40,872 we got really deep in a rabbit hole one day building a custom GPT on chat GPT 440 00:23:40,872 --> 00:23:44,542 that will only pull content from our blog. 441 00:23:45,002 --> 00:23:49,052 it will prompt specific questions for our content specialists 442 00:23:49,082 --> 00:23:50,252 like, what are the keywords? 443 00:23:50,252 --> 00:23:51,142 What are the topic? 444 00:23:51,452 --> 00:23:52,642 What's the goal of this? 445 00:23:52,652 --> 00:23:54,242 Like, is it going to the blog? 446 00:23:54,242 --> 00:23:55,522 Is it to download a freebie? 447 00:23:55,622 --> 00:23:56,422 What's the goal? 448 00:23:56,422 --> 00:24:01,182 And then it creates a great caption but you still have to read review and edit it. 449 00:24:01,592 --> 00:24:05,352 I love being able to use it for specific things, but like you 450 00:24:05,352 --> 00:24:06,732 said, it's the brainstorming. 451 00:24:06,732 --> 00:24:10,182 It's the outlining and even that you need to edit. 452 00:24:10,312 --> 00:24:14,802 And then it's like, okay, what can you do and how can I help others 453 00:24:14,822 --> 00:24:16,692 use it more effectively as well? 454 00:24:16,692 --> 00:24:18,362 it does save a lot of time. 455 00:24:18,783 --> 00:24:19,543 Absolutely. 456 00:24:19,843 --> 00:24:23,273 sometimes my brain is fried and I'm like, I need another word for struggling. 457 00:24:23,683 --> 00:24:24,143 Please help me. 458 00:24:25,143 --> 00:24:28,623 I need to double check to make sure I didn't miss anything in this process. 459 00:24:28,793 --> 00:24:29,823 it's been amazing. 460 00:24:30,553 --> 00:24:30,973 Bonnie. 461 00:24:31,973 --> 00:24:33,133 It's been such a pleasure. 462 00:24:33,133 --> 00:24:35,393 I love that our conversation's been kind of all over. 463 00:24:35,403 --> 00:24:41,593 Cause I think that it's very indicative of how more and more entrepreneurs are. 464 00:24:42,168 --> 00:24:43,318 Creating their businesses, right? 465 00:24:43,318 --> 00:24:47,238 Like creating on your passions, creating on what you're good at, focusing on 466 00:24:47,238 --> 00:24:50,368 what you want to be doing and looking at how to set those boundaries. 467 00:24:51,168 --> 00:24:53,468 You've given a ton of great advice. 468 00:24:54,428 --> 00:24:57,128 Do you have any last words? 469 00:24:57,948 --> 00:24:58,498 I do. 470 00:24:58,658 --> 00:25:02,148 when you're starting out with your business, involve your family. 471 00:25:02,198 --> 00:25:06,588 If you have family at home, involve them, talk to them about. 472 00:25:06,883 --> 00:25:08,253 Like this is my idea. 473 00:25:08,293 --> 00:25:09,613 This is what I want to do. 474 00:25:09,893 --> 00:25:11,373 maybe they want to be involved. 475 00:25:12,063 --> 00:25:16,043 when I was building, my husband was my sanding specialist. 476 00:25:16,043 --> 00:25:18,163 He would come out and he would sand stuff for me. 477 00:25:18,513 --> 00:25:20,913 He knows how to build and he knows how to do all that, but he would 478 00:25:20,913 --> 00:25:24,583 come out and do sanding and my boys would come out and they'd help out. 479 00:25:24,893 --> 00:25:29,393 Make it a family affair because then they're more supportive and 480 00:25:29,393 --> 00:25:32,753 they're going to be more excited for you share your goals with them. 481 00:25:32,753 --> 00:25:37,373 If you are like, I have a goal of building 10 tables this month. 482 00:25:38,183 --> 00:25:40,353 They're going to hold you to it, especially when they're younger. 483 00:25:41,353 --> 00:25:43,463 If I grow up being like, mom, did you do that today? 484 00:25:43,483 --> 00:25:45,163 It says on the fridge, you're going to do that. 485 00:25:45,603 --> 00:25:48,663 setting your goals, but like sharing them with your family because they're 486 00:25:48,663 --> 00:25:49,593 going to hold you accountable. 487 00:25:49,923 --> 00:25:51,593 And if you don't have that, your friends. 488 00:25:51,593 --> 00:25:54,613 Share your goals with your friends and be like, I need you to hold me 489 00:25:54,613 --> 00:25:59,713 accountable because sometimes my ADHD lets my ideas just fly out the window. 490 00:25:59,783 --> 00:26:00,873 Yes, exactly. 491 00:26:01,873 --> 00:26:08,113 It's such a strong, powerful example that you're setting for your kids. 492 00:26:09,113 --> 00:26:13,533 That's huge they see that you're going after your goals and it helps them kind 493 00:26:13,533 --> 00:26:15,903 of open their eyes to like, what can I do? 494 00:26:16,628 --> 00:26:17,008 Yeah. 495 00:26:17,178 --> 00:26:17,848 No, it's funny. 496 00:26:17,848 --> 00:26:23,168 I was talking earlier that my parents had a lawn and garden business for 26 years. 497 00:26:23,168 --> 00:26:26,818 They kept it open for that long, but it was constantly a struggle. 498 00:26:26,828 --> 00:26:28,688 A lot of times it felt very resentful. 499 00:26:28,688 --> 00:26:31,598 It was, seven days a week, all hours of the night 500 00:26:31,658 --> 00:26:34,988 And day, I've had my business since 2016. 501 00:26:34,988 --> 00:26:38,188 to this day, they still say, I can't believe you have your own business. 502 00:26:38,768 --> 00:26:41,558 it's the opposite of what I want to hear sometimes. 503 00:26:41,608 --> 00:26:44,498 Me trying to explain to my mom what I do. 504 00:26:44,878 --> 00:26:46,308 I was like, Oh, I do digital marketing. 505 00:26:46,308 --> 00:26:47,808 She's like, I don't know what that means. 506 00:26:48,098 --> 00:26:51,758 I had an aha moment when we were in Michigan a couple of weeks ago. 507 00:26:51,968 --> 00:26:53,708 I saw her scrolling on her phone. 508 00:26:54,048 --> 00:26:56,178 And then I saw her stop on a video. 509 00:26:56,218 --> 00:26:58,598 And I was like, mom, that is what I do. 510 00:26:58,668 --> 00:27:03,538 I figure out why you stopped on that video and do the analytics on it. 511 00:27:03,538 --> 00:27:06,828 I help my clients figure out Why their audience stops on a 512 00:27:06,828 --> 00:27:08,868 video and then replicate that. 513 00:27:08,878 --> 00:27:10,388 She's like, Oh, okay. 514 00:27:10,388 --> 00:27:11,138 I get that. 515 00:27:11,688 --> 00:27:14,138 Cause still digital wasn't even on her radar. 516 00:27:14,138 --> 00:27:15,398 It was like, do you see that billboard? 517 00:27:15,418 --> 00:27:17,858 I put that there, that TV ad, I put that there. 518 00:27:18,478 --> 00:27:28,963 If you use the internet invoicing your clients, And now she's better, it's 519 00:27:28,963 --> 00:27:31,663 so funny trying to explain some of this stuff to people, because you're 520 00:27:31,663 --> 00:27:35,033 like, we're just starting small, she's like, that's a perfect explanation. 521 00:27:35,033 --> 00:27:36,163 And then my husband's like, wow. 522 00:27:36,458 --> 00:27:37,958 That's a really good explanation of that. 523 00:27:37,968 --> 00:27:40,538 I was like, it came to me when I was just sitting here. 524 00:27:40,578 --> 00:27:42,268 That's amazing, Bonnie. 525 00:27:42,278 --> 00:27:43,328 It's been a pleasure. 526 00:27:43,328 --> 00:27:45,088 Thank you so much for joining us. 527 00:27:45,118 --> 00:27:50,878 I'll put all of the links so people can find you in the show notes, but just in 528 00:27:50,878 --> 00:27:54,748 case, if anyone's tuned in and they don't have the show notes in front of them, can 529 00:27:54,748 --> 00:27:55,748 you tell them where they can find you? 530 00:27:56,068 --> 00:27:57,448 they can find me on LinkedIn. 531 00:27:57,448 --> 00:28:01,053 Just search Bonnie Conrad and my smiling face will be there 532 00:28:01,083 --> 00:28:02,313 or you can go to innately. 533 00:28:02,503 --> 00:28:05,063 com and we will be there to help you out. 534 00:28:05,973 --> 00:28:11,783 And those of you tuning in, I can't wait to hear back from you about this episode. 535 00:28:12,193 --> 00:28:18,283 And remember, we are all about helping you manage your career and 536 00:28:18,283 --> 00:28:21,003 business and not the other way around. 537 00:28:21,173 --> 00:28:21,813 Till next time. 538 00:28:21,983 --> 00:28:22,443 Thanks.