Finally Start That Business with 6-Figure Entrepreneur Abby Bradetich

Hello my friends!! Super excited to announce that this is the SEASON FINALE of season 1🥹🥹🥹 I can't thank you all enough, this has been such a blessing to start this. Season 2 will start at the end of September, and will be new & improved. Stay tuned!

Today we have an inspiring guest who's going to share her journey of overcoming self-doubt and achieving her dream life. Join us as we dive into the remarkable story of Abby Bradetich, Founder, and Creative Director of IlluminEssence Creations, LLC, a thriving company specializing in branding, copywriting, web design, and social media. Abby's journey is a testament to what can be achieved when you break free from self-limiting beliefs.

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Transcript

0:08

Hello, my friends, and welcome back to another episode of the Get Out of Your Own Way podcast. I'm your host, Sam DeSalvo, and I have some big news for you guys. This is the season finale. So, season one has been an absolute blessing. I have gotten to chat with So many cool people throughout these past 20 weeks. I have got to talk to people that I look up to. I've got to talk to people that are new and in all different industries. I have absolutely loved doing this podcast and I'm very excited to come back in two weeks for season two. I'm gonna be taking the next two weeks to kind of reinvent where I wanna head with this podcast. what I want to be focused on for season two. If there's an area that you would like to see me travel down or some topics that you would specifically like me to cover, reach out to me on Instagram, that's Sam DeSalvo and we can chat about what it is that you guys would like to see for season two. So thank you guys just so much for season one. I have, like I said, this has been just so amazing and I'm thankful for each one of you that tunes in every week. For the season finale today, it's a guest episode and I get to talk with Abby Bradetich and she is the owner of Illuminescence Creations. And she kind of does something similar to what we do at East Coast Creative Media. So she specializes in branding, copywriting, web design, and social media. So it was super fun to talk to somebody in my own industry and kind of chit chat of the hurdles in this industry. But along with that, if you have ever thought of starting your own business, but not really sure where to begin, there is so much practical advice in this podcast today of how You can start your own business and how you can kind of get out of your own way to do that. So I hope you guys enjoyed today's episode and let's just jump right on into it. Hello, Abby, thank you so much for coming on the get out of your own way podcast. I'm so excited to talk to you today I feel like we have so much in common. So I feel like this conversation is just gonna flow so naturally I'm very excited to get to chit chat with you today But before we get started just to give the audience a little bit background of who you are Can you just kind of tell us your story of how you got into doing what you do? I guess it all started when I was like in high school and college. I worked on the yearbook in both schools. I was editor in chief at both places, which in college it's a job, which is really nice because you actually make some money while you're working, too. And that's kind of where I learned like graphic design, project management, that kind of stuff. And after college towards the end of college, really, I started doing some freelance work, graphic design, like posters, event marketing, that sort of stuff, because. I did get my degree in modern dance, so a lot of dance posters. My dad owns a non profit foundation for music, so I did some stuff for him. And I just kind of started doing other projects because I knew dance wouldn't pay the bills, but I had a feeling graphic design might help. So after college, I did an internship at a magazine for designing and social media. So that's where I got that start in social media management and learned a lot. And then I moved to Seattle to pursue dance. And at the same time I worked in a yoga studio. I did graphic design, social media, website stuff, all of that kind of stuff for them. So then that kind of just started my freelance career in design and marketing. Cause for the business I was, I would work for, I would do the work and then I would get freelance projects in the side for like yoga teachers or other people. I'd meet dance a lot of times. And I carried that all the way till 2021 is when I started my business. So we're coming up on the two year mark in December which is awesome. And I finally took that leap that year after cause with COVID obviously I was laid off. I stopped dancing and it was like a really. You know, tough time for everybody. And for me, it was like a time to kind of reassess and see what I was doing. And the only work I continued through that time was the freelance work I had picked up. So I had like a couple of clients in North Carolina where I was at the time. And that was the only work I was doing then. I didn't have anything else going on. And so for a little while, I, I needed to apply for real jobs because that's what the world tells you to do. And I was like, I'm not dancing. Now's a good time to do it. I always knew I wasn't meant for an office job. I'm just not a nine to five person. There's just no way that's happening for me. But. That I, like, did that for a little while because I thought that's what I needed and I still was doing freelance work on the side and so eventually I was just like, let's just dive in, take the leap and just go for it and it's been, it's been amazing so far. Awesome. Congratulations on coming up on your two years. That's awesome. I'd love to hear that. If you don't mind me asking, how old are you? I am 30. I'm about to be 31 in October. Oh, happy early birthday. So you did, so you danced till like your mid twenties. I danced until 2020. so almost, I guess a little past mid twenties, maybe 28, whatever that was, something like that. because, so, after college I did that professionally. That's awesome. in Seattle I did freelance dance, and then when I was in North Carolina, because I was there for the past five years, I just moved to Denver in April. But when I was there I was dancing with a company. That's really cool. I feel like COVID for everybody was kind of a time to like reassess. I think a lot of people took it as that. And I like how you said that you continue to do the work that was still profitable even during COVID because if it was profitable even during COVID, like that's going to be a career that's going to be sustainable in the long run. And did you see it like that? for sure. I just like always had this feeling that that was the work I needed to be doing on this side, like even for dance, cause like I knew dance wasn't going to make me money, not really, you know? And so like, Even in college and high school, like I knew that those skills were important for me to have and for me to continue to develop because I knew it would, it would serve me in the long haul. I actually, I always kind of thought I would work on a, on a magazine, but like, I'm glad I don't because their hours are crazy and those people work way too hard. But like that always, I always kind of like led in that direction, like wanting to work. That's why I got an internship at a magazine because it just like felt like that was maybe where I wanted to be. And I'm glad I did, because I got so much knowledge and skills from that in addition to all the freelance work I'd already done. But for the most part, like, I am self taught or from experience and that, like, it's been, a journey, but it's, it's been super fun for me. all the all the different avenues that you took, which I think this happens to a lot of people, they always end up like coming together in the long run. So it's like all the different avenues you took really played together to be where you are today. And even all the connections you've met over the time of moving across the country to different places. I'm sure that that still has helped you too. So it's redirection. exactly. For sure. For sure. So. It sounds like that you kind of always did freelance and like you said, you always knew this is like where you should end up, but I just want to ask what were some of the things that held you back from really going all into your company, like basically when, even though you knew that this is where you should be? I guess it was, it was definitely like the self doubt and the, like, I, am I good enough to do this? Like, can I do it on my own? I think that was a big thing because For me, community is so important, and I'm so, like, used to having people around me doing stuff with me. I have a twin sister, so I grew up with someone always there, you know, and, like, I, we're still, you know, we're really, we're best friends, and, like, we spend a lot of time together when we can. And so I've always, like, kind of been used to being around people, and in the dance world, you're always with people, you're collaborating with people, you're working with people, and so that, like, jump from being in a community to being on my own was really hard for me, and that definitely is where, like, the limiting beliefs came in, and the, like, self doubt, and, like, am I good enough, and That sort of stuff definitely, like, came up a lot of times, and I just, like, like, I always knew deep down that that's, like, what I needed to do, and that was the right choice for me, and that I wasn't meant for a typical job, but I was afraid to go for it and so it just took time, like, it just, I think it took getting that many rejections from jobs that I was super qualified for to realize that, like, okay, I Like, if these people can't see my worth, then, like, I should. And obviously, like, I have a wonderful boyfriend who supports me and really pushed me to do that. His, his support for sure is, like, essential for me being able to do any of this, and my family too has been super, super supportive. And just like mentors I've, I've met along the way and that sort of stuff, like people helping me to see that, like, I can do this has really, that, that definitely helped me be like, okay, let's just try it. Let's see what happens. Like, you know, it's okay if it doesn't work out, but like. I could at least try. no I think that's a great mentality because at the end of the day the quote unquote real jobs will always be there. So like say if you sank your own ship like that's what I think because we're in very similar industries and we do the same exact thing basically. So it's like why not go for it especially at a young age that we're at now and then you know worse comes to worse like. I guess a corporate job is there as a safety net, but might as well put all your eggs here for right now. So that's how I feel. Sure. And I think having the dance experience too, of like freelance and like constantly putting myself out there and like either getting rejected or doing well, like made that like kind of built up my resiliency. So I felt like I was Able to, it feels like kind of a similar aspect to that, especially like, when you're trying to get new clients and things like that. You're it's just like a constant, like. up and down a little bit sometimes. So I felt like I was, I feel like that kind of prepared me for this, this line of work, like knowing that I can just do my best and that's, that's all that I need to do. You just have to reframe it essentially. And I feel like that work helped me prepare me basically to be a business owner, because it's a similar kind of thing. And like, I've read a statistic kind of recently, I can't remember what it was, like what the number was, but it is like the most successful business owners do have like a background in some kind of athletic sport or competition because they're used to constantly going, pushing further and like. Getting uncomfortable and being okay with like failing and still getting up and continuing to do it because that's kind of what Athletics or dance for me like teaches you so I do feel like grateful I feel like that that background like set me up for success as a business owner. Yeah for sure That's actually a really good like point I never even thought of it that way because in sports like you are you always have to Someone has to lose, somebody has to win in the sport, right? And in dance and stuff, like you're saying that you always had to face the rejection of no's. And I know some salespeople will say like, oh, every no is just closer to another yes. And that is such a good point that you can't like take it personally, you can't like take it out on yourself. It's just like, okay, like what do I gotta do to like either get better or I'm just not going after the right people. Because you could be the right package at the wrong doorstep. yeah, for sure. And that totally relates to business too. But that's definitely dance for sure is the same because it's just like, okay, what can I learn from this? You know, and not taking it personally, which is a skill you have to develop. Like I, you know, that's what college was. That's what after college, you know, like the first couple of years of professionally dancing, like it really is like learning to not take it personally and seeing it as more of like, like you said, either, either you're in the wrong space or you need, like, what can you do to get better? And regardless of the result, you're still showing up and being consistent. Like that's number one for me is consistency. So true. That's so good. And I bet now looking back at all the jobs that you applied to and got rejected to now it's almost a blessing. So it's like you never know when you face rejection and actually the door closed might just be leading you to the right one that's supposed to be open. Oh, for sure. Yeah. And I'm so glad those doors closed because I have so much more time and financial freedom and stuff doing this. And it's just, yeah, this is a blessing for sure. I love that for you. And I know you said one of the things you were scared of was being like on your own and kind of not having that community base. So do you find that like your support system right now is your community base or how do you find the balance between what you were fearful of versus the life you're living now? Yeah, good question. I feel like definitely the support of like my close one, like my boyfriend and my twin sister and my mom was like essential at the beginning as I was navigating a whole new world and definitely I had some of my first like freelance clients in Durham in North Carolina, they kind of turned into mentors for me too, as I was transitioning from just doing freelance work for them. Into business work. So that like helped support me too. So having that kind of support system definitely helps aid me in, in getting to where I am, because I could learn from people who have done it before, or I have people that are going to love me no matter what made a big difference. And then outside of that, like I, as I've definitely, since I've moved, I've prioritized. Finding a new like business network like going to networking events and finding people who are in similar spaces as me because I find that it's just so different than like normally whenever I've moved dance has been like my community that's been like my family wherever I go like I would that's how I meet people and so when we moved this time I was like I'm not going to do that I'm just going to look for business like connections because that was that's where I feel like I'm at in my life now and like that's What I really felt like I was missing before, because I definitely felt more lonely in Durham, even though I had a bunch of friends and like, I'd been there a long time, like, whenever I was working on my business, I felt more lonely than I do here, even though I don't really go anywhere. I stay in my house a lot and like, I, but like, finding business connections here and going to networking events and like, having people I can go to happy hour with and co working and stuff like that has made a huge difference in like, finding that community and building that community for myself. Yeah, I think people underestimate how lonely entrepreneurship can be, especially if you're kind of entering into a new space or like a untraveled territory. And not that our industries are that because I mean, there's a lot of people in our space, but as far as like the people in your life or like the older people may not understand the world of social media. I think that's a big one that I face is. People in my life, like the older people, they're like, you work in social media, like, what's that even mean? They can't wrap their heads around it. So it can feel very isolating or that, I guess some of the self doubts that like will creep into my head is like, is what I'm even doing like legit. But it's like when you surround yourself around the right people, like you and I can relate to each other because we're both in this space and we can see how profitable it can be. So, I definitely understand that. Sure. Yeah. Networking events are huge. Networking events are huge. Just like connecting with people like this on like a podcast or listening to other podcasts, I know I find a lot of like hope in that is just the, I think a lot of the entrepreneurship podcasts I listen to, they kind of have a similar story that it's very lonely and it can feel very isolating, but, It's always worth it. So and I resonate with you. Like I've never really had a corporate job. I started, I did an internship a corporate job, but I always had my business on the side. Like I just always had to have my own thing. And then I was like, yeah, I think I want to leave the corporate internship. World and like go do my own business. I, I like sent an email to them just saying like, thank you for this opportunity, but I gotta go try this. Like, maybe I'll come back one day if it's not.'cause they loved me and they were like, can you stay? And I was like, I, if I don't try this, I'll always wonder like, what if, and it sounds like you kind of were in the same category. And I feel like that's kind of what pushed me to do it.'cause it was also kind of like, you know, like, what else? What do I have to lose? Like at this point, like I was still, like, I was already unemployed so it wasn't like, You know, like I had freelance work, but other than that, it was kind of like, what do I, like, I have nothing to lose. Like, why not just go for it? But yeah, definitely the loneliness is for sure, for sure. A thing. And like, especially coming from like, even if you're at a corporate job, like you have people around you and you're working with other people. And I feel like that is the part I miss the most is like getting to collaborate with people. Especially coming from a dance background, that is like one of the main things you do. And so yeah, finding ways to do that has definitely been a big priority for me, for me this year, like doing more podcasts and Instagram lives and just getting to talk to people and go out to networking events and things like that, just to kind of get out there and talk to people who can relate for sure helps too. So in your business, is it just you right now? No, I actually I have a junior social media manager that I hired this year, which was a journey. I tried hiring two other people that weren't the right fit first. So I started my hiring journey in February. And then the third person is amazing. She's awesome. She's crushing it so far. But she just started with me in the beginning of July, so it's only been two months with her, but she's, she's absolutely crushing it. So I'm really excited. And I'm, but that in itself is a, is a learning experience. But yeah, so like the goal for my business is creating a collaborative agency so that I can work with other people. And so that is like the first step on that journey. Yeah, so when you say collaborative agency for people that might not know, like, the social media marketing world, can you explain what that is? Yeah, for sure. So for me, it's like, I want to have a person in each role, because I do a bunch of different things. So I do brand design, I do copywriting for all of my websites, and I do website design, and then also social media management. Usually I work with clients through all of them, or they stay on for social media management, or they come back, that sort of thing. And so I want to have a person in each role that we can work collaboratively on a client's project together so that there is that like creative energy working, but like, I'll be leading it versus having to be in the weeds doing it. So that's kind of like an agency sounds so like corporate to me, like, I don't even really like the term agency, but like, that is, that is what I'm going for is like a team of people that can work together to bring my client's dreams to life. So yeah, that's where we're headed. And this is the first step. My next step is hiring an admin person. That's definitely on the docket very soon, because there's just some small stuff I don't want to be doing anymore. Yeah, like a virtual assistant. Yeah, yeah, kind of just to be doing, yeah, like onboarding contracts, things like that, that I just, you don't think they take up a lot of your time until you, like, do it all the time and then you're like, this is actually taking up several hours of my week, I could probably give this to someone else. Yeah, I mean, that's so smart of you that you're, like, off boarding that stuff so you're not slowing down yourself and your own creative juices to do that. Yeah, yeah, cause right now, cause I just feel still, like, time is what I have the least of. You know, it's just always, it's a constant battle to get that time back. And so, hiring the social media manager was the first step. And now that I have someone, like, super good in that role. I can work on actually, like, focusing more on the things that I want to focus on and getting rid of some of the tasks that I don't want to. So smart. I want to talk about your journey now a little bit of how you kind of went from freelance work to a full blown, like now you're hiring people. So for people that are just starting off doing like free freelance work, even if it's not in the social media world, it kind of, I want to give them a background of how you went from freelance side work and now scaling your company. Okay, yeah I mean freelance work was more just like, it was just like fun on the side of whatever job I was doing, but it was always like in line with things I wanted to be working on, which was either graphic design or social media and I, I just never, I never took it that seriously at first, like I just was always kind of like, oh, these are fun little projects, like a little extra cash here and there and then, yeah, definitely the longer I did it, the more I was like, okay, like. I can actually make something of this and do this with people. Long term. And so that was initially how I got my first few, like, clients that I still have now that I consider like official clients, whereas the other people, I don't really consider them clients. They were just like, you know, yeah, projects side. Yeah. And and so that is definitely how I started working with them. And I, I feel like the main shift is that as a freelancer, you say yes a lot. And you're like, Oh yeah, sure. I can help you with that. Or I can do this. And I did that a lot. I said yes to all kinds of things. So I'm like, sure, if you need help, I'll do it. And then like once I started my business and definitely this year. I've realized how much more specific I want to get with my time and how essential that is for me to actually be able to scale my business, because if I am doing all the different things, then I'm not specializing in something and I can, like, I can do them all, but that doesn't mean I have to. Yeah. So becoming a business owner helped me be more like. Okay, I have choice and who I work with and what I get to do and that is like really empowering, but also it's like hard to make that switch from freelance to business owner because. You are so used to saying yes. And you're just like, yeah, like money, please. Like clients, like I want to work with you. And now it's definitely more like I get to be choosy, which is really nice, but it's, it's still like, like I have to learn better still, you know, how to say no or how to, how to not do the things that don't light me up anymore, which is awesome. Like, I'm so excited. I'm at the point in my business where. I really get to like, be like, okay, I, I genuinely don't enjoy this as much. So let me find someone that can do it. Or I'm just not going to do it anymore. And my client can find somebody else, you know, and like, I help them find people too, if they need it. But yeah, it's like, it's freeing for sure to be able to be choosy about what you do. Yeah, I think that is a big roadblock of entrepreneurs. I mean, I even find myself falling into it's like you want to say yes to everybody and everything because you want money. But sometimes when you do say yes, you're putting yourself in a position where you're not letting yourself grow because you're bogging yourself down with all the time that it takes to do those https: otter. ai Taking 10 steps back every single time. So actually by saying by saying no is a lot more powerful than you think it is Yeah, yeah for sure and like specific like no to the projects but also no to like clients to like being choosy about who you work with that has like Gotten more and more for me because like I have worked with some people that I'm kind of like, yeah, I wish I, I really wish I hadn't worked with you. Like that wasn't fun. You know? And like, and that part is empowering too, because you really like, it's one thing to like have an ideal client and try to speak to them and connect with them and it's another to actually work good to work with them consistently. So that's nice too. But again, it's hard, it's hard to say no, but getting to do it is, is definitely powerful. Yeah. So have you found it beneficial to niche down? Yeah, I find that it has, I didn't like, I didn't niche down obviously at all. At the beginning, I was just kind of like, whoever wants to work with me. And now it's much more specific in terms of, for me, I still, it sounds broad because I say I work with like bold female founders, but for me, it also goes into like the values that they have. That's like my main thing is like, Inclusivity and diversity are like number one for me. Those are really big values and for myself and for my business. And so finding people that connect with that and like want to build community, those types of people that want to give back also to the world. And like those, those are the type of people that I enjoy working with the most that have like a mission I can align with. Oh, that's really neat. So do you work with a lot of service providers or people that sell products? Pretty much all service providers I I think that's something that I could get better at is kind of like niching down and really figuring out like I like your like mission statement how they align with you and I think if you do niche down you can also streamline your work better too because Like for social media managed for the people that aren't social media managers, you have to like, look up all this stuff. So you're doing the market research and learning what's happening in their industry. So it ends up being like research projects, especially if you're working with a bunch of different industries. So from insurance to real estate, to bookkeeping, to whatever you have to go into all those industries and figure out what's happening to be able to make content for them. So, like I said, you, your brain just has so much stuff in it of what's happening in all these industries. Whereas if you. Specialized in one, you could just focus on learning everything about one instead of a little about a lot of industries. Right, right. Yeah, I totally agree. I'm like, yeah, niching down is something I work with a lot of my clients on definitely at the beginning. Especially like for my larger brand and website projects, because usually when people are starting that process, they haven't quite thought about who their ideal client is, or they're just like service providers. And like, that's great, but I do, that is something I work through with my clients and that's, that's why I like to have it where you can kind of do it both ways. You can have it where you're like specific to a certain industry. For me, I know that that would get boring. So I tip I that's partially why I don't want to do it that way because I'm like. If I am like, Oh, I'm only working with realtors. Like I would get tired of that, you know? And so I like having the variety, but I, that's why I also like encourage people to think about like, what are the values, what type of person do you want to work with? Because that's a way to niche down to it doesn't have to be industry to specific. And you can also even be specific about like what platform you work on. So like for website design, like my niching down is that I do it only on show it. And that's like. A specific platform and so that kind of helps. Also, you can do it in a variety of ways. So it doesn't have to be so cut and dry that people think about when they think niching down. They think it's like, oh, you have to choose like a specific type of. And that's not necessarily true. Like you can do it in a variety of ways that align with you and how you work. Yeah, that's a really good point. Was there ever a time in your business that you, when you were scaling to six figures, did you ever have a point that you were just like stuck and you could not like figure out how to move past it for a little bit? A little bit. I feel like definitely the beginning of this year, I was having trouble kind of figuring out what's prioritized. Like, that's one of the things as a business owner. It's like, you, there's a million things you could be doing at any given moment. And it's like, what do you prioritize to actually. Like move your business forward. And last year, last summer, I had invested in like a group program for business like development. And that really helped me kind of just like get started, but I felt like, because I had so much freelance work and I'd been doing it for so long, like I was one of the more experienced people in the room, so I was helping other people more than I was getting help. And so this year I was like, after, especially for the first few months where I was. Not like I was doing fine, but it was more just kind of like, yeah, I was like, I want to get to this certain point. Like, how am I going to get there? And so I did invest in a one on one business coach and that made a massive difference for me because she's helped me prioritize. Like that was the number one thing I was like, I need to. Figure like, what do I need to be doing? Like, what's the right move? Cause there's just so many things. And I have, I feel like my time is so limited that I can spend on my business because I'm doing so much client work. And so it was just kind of like, what, I don't know what to do. Like, it's just too much. And so hiring her made a really huge difference. For me in terms of of getting clearer on the path forward and knowing how to even set myself up for that for the future and and investing in my business has definitely been the number one thing that's made a big difference for me. Yeah, that's really good. I feel like you always hear that, oh, invest in a coach, but sometimes you can't tell when it's like a scam or if they're just trying to sell you on getting a coach or if it's like, no, you should actually get a coach. And you're here to say, actually get a coach. I am. And I will say like, obviously don't take it lightly. Like I followed her for over a year before I invested in her. Like I knew that she knew what she was talking about. She knew what she was doing. She had the results. She also like, you could see the growth in her own business. And that is important to me. And like, I just like connected with her energy too. Like I knew pretty much right away that I wanted to work with her. I just didn't know how. And after investing in that initial coaching program, like I really enjoyed the group aspect of it, but I knew that this year that that's not what I needed because she had a group coaching program that was available and I was like, nah, let's do this one on one. It's like it is. I mean, it's a big investment. So it's scary, but like. At that time, I had just brought on a new client for social media management. So I was like, this covers that cost. Like let's just go in, you know? So it felt like, not like no risk, but it did feel like a safe decision to invest in that because I knew that I had that added income that could cover the cost of her coaching program program. And yeah, it's, we're almost done working together and it's easily been the best investment for sure that I've made. I love that. So when you were finding a mentor, some of the things that mattered to you was she had proven success and she, she had the results that you were looking for as well. And then was she in a similar industry as you or no? No, well, she works with service providers. I think she had been a brand designer before she became a coach. So she liked it. She understood service providers. That was important to me. I will say like. There are a lot of coaches that coach coaches and it's very clear, you know, whereas there are coaches that do both or there are coaches that are specific to service providers. And that was an essential like choice for me because I didn't cause what you do as a coach is completely different from what you do as a service provider. Not only from the way you promote yourself, but also how you use your time as a coach, way different than what service providers do because they're not sitting down for hours doing client work the way we are. And so having someone that understood that. And has helped other people in my industry was also important for me when choosing a coach because she's worked with brand and web designers and social media managers and things like that. I could see what she had done for other people and she just had like a magnetic energy that like also really like draws people to her and she she moved to Bali at the end of last year and it's like since she did that and she like went all in on herself like she's gone off like crazy and so like I was like this is the right time. So like, be a part of that energy, because that's what I want for my business, too. Yeah, I'll definitely have to get her name from you. Yeah, it's, it's Sarah Buckland, coaching. She has been awesome for me to work with and help me with, with prioritizing. And I mean, she helps me, she's helped me with a lot of things too, you know, mindset too, which like as a business owner, working on my mindset is like number one. And it's something I didn't expect from this journey, but it's like. The longer I become a business owner, the more I know how essential that is to being successful in business. Absolutely. I definitely agree with that a hundred percent and learning the psychology to, I mean, marketing is a lot of psychology, psychology, like sales and all that is understanding what are people's pain points to be able to sell on them. So I think that's. It's interesting in itself, but even like you're saying, being a business owner, improving, and I think that's why like personal development always goes hand in hand with business owners. Like those two avenues always come back together. So I always find that so interesting. Same. Yeah. Cause it's definitely not something you think of whenever you start a business. You're like, Yeah. I agree. It's like the last thing you're going to be like, Oh yeah, let me work on my mindset. And, but all of the successful people will tell you that that's actually the first thing you should do, because if you don't think you can do it, then you're not going to do it, you know? Wow. That's good. And I also want to just say that that's something that I realized this year was about prioritizing my time and doing the things that actually move the needle, not just. Doing all the things. Cause I really like how you said that there's a lot of things that you can be doing as a business owner, but it doesn't mean that you should be doing them all. You should be doing them all by yourself. Like you're starting to outsource. I have outsourced as well. And that kind of takes those off our plate to do the things that actually as the business owner of the company moves the needle forward. And I'm just curious to know what are some of those things for you. And then I can share some of what they are for me. For moving the needle forward, yeah definitely like a priority for me this year was like, getting my systems more optimized so that I was doing less of that. And that could be kind of automated for me. And then definitely, like, prioritizing my time. With an email newsletter, I send every week and obviously my own social media content, not saving that for the very end, you know, like. I try to prioritize that earlier in the week or in the day so that I'm not waiting until the very end to post my own content because that's not going to help me you know, in the long run, obviously. And so, but a lot of it for sure has been like figuring out how to best use my time and what, and like forward planning also, like I was doing. Less of that like I obviously like I tracked my income and stuff. I did outsource the bookkeeper this year. Love her She's amazing and I have a CPA and stuff that's new for me this year, too And so those have helped but I still like I've always kind of tracked like my income obviously But like forward planning being like, okay, what can I sell? What should I sell this this month and planning that out so that I can effectively? Do that myself because I do, it's like, it's always the stuff you do for all of your clients, but you never do it for yourself. For sure. Yeah, I would say for like our company, it's definitely social media moves the needle. Like you said, we're a social media company, so us posting on social media is very important. Connecting with people like in person and just like getting in front of them. So like we did a workshop this year in person and that has led to either conversions or leads. So that has been great. And then like streamlining our onboarding process. So, like you said, not getting caught up of doing all the paperwork and putting those systems in place. So, if someone, like, reaches out online, they already get a email sent to them. Like, I don't have to go in and send those emails and things like that. I think those have been big. There's still a lot of things that I'm working on to do better, but we always will be. For anybody who is listening and they're aspiring to start their own business, what advice would you give them based on your experience? I would say to just do it. You know, like let go of the worries and the fears and like imperfect action is, is one of my like main things. Doesn't have to be perfect because I am a perfectionist. So that's that's hard for me. But it's a really important lesson to learn is like, it's better to do than to think about it. Like, just just go for it because you never know what can happen and it's worth it. You'll learn something from it, even if it doesn't end up the way you thought. But it's definitely like, just committing all in and being consistent. Those, that's like the number one thing for me is consistency. Consistency in showing up, consistency in my mindset, consistency in like my well, my health and wellness routine, like staying consistent with the things that take care of myself before I then give to clients, because that's also really important. It's like you can't constantly give from an empty cup, so you have to make sure that you're taking care of yourself and working on your mindset in order to then actually be consistent showing up as your best self. Yeah. Yeah. I, I would say those things are definitely important. Like you said, filling up your cup first is huge. And then as far as like the mind shift mindset shifts. So if someone was like starting a business, but they're kind of coming from the corporate world, I know you said like community was a big one for you of switching over. Is there any others that kind of come to your mind that you would want to give advice to somebody that is kind of making the jump from a different career path into this? Into the career path that they're looking on doing on their own. See, I mean, if you're if you're switching from, yeah, like a regular job to freelance, it can be scary. I, like, I find that, like, planning out your, like, seeing your income in advance helps. So, like, if you have clients on payment plans, that's partially why I do payment plans. Because I want my, I want my website projects and branding packages and stuff to be accessible to people. But also because then you can plan out far in advance to see what's coming in, even if you don't have monthly retainer clients, which I do also have. So that kind of helps. But yeah, I feel like like seeing that in advance can at least help chill out the worries a little bit because you at least know what's coming in. And then yeah, definitely, obviously working on your mindset is number one. But just Taking action and just going for and trusting yourself is really important. That's like a big thing for me too. I've, I've learned to reframe imposter syndrome or self doubt as a good thing because it means that I'm outside my comfort zone, which is the only place to grow. And it's only way to scale my business is to be uncomfortable. And so being, getting used to being uncomfortable and like, and then yeah, reframing those. Negative like thoughts or doubts as like, okay, actually, this means I'm doing the right thing. And that that is a big, a big shift to make because. Your life is only in your control and the more you can do to make it what you want it, the better. So I always just say, just go for it. Yeah, that's so true. And I, I heard this thing yesterday. I was like, if you don't feel like you are like something could go wrong at any minute, like you're not doing business, right. And I don't know if that's the best advice for someone that's going into business. Or like their first steps, because that can sound so daunting, but it's like you, you are going to face a lot of imposter syndrome and a lot of unsettling feelings that you're like, am I doing this right? But it's like you said, tapping into those, like, if you're not feeling that way, that means you're in your comfort zone too much and anything that's new is going to be uncomfortable. So trying to channel that energy into a positive way. But I can see how that, I mean, I, I feel this that way all the time. Like I get those anxious feelings. I'm like, something could crash at any moment and it's all could go down, but it's like, It's not gonna happen, guys. No, it's not gonna happen. Exactly. And it's like, I just feel like... If other people can do it, I know I can do it. So I just trust myself and yeah, it's just reframing that uncomfortable feeling because honestly, being a business owner is basically just being uncomfortable all the time when you're doing business stuff. Like when I was doing client work, I feel great. And I think that's why I. I'll be, I spend a lot more time in doing client work, even though I know I need to spend more time on my business stuff. Like I still, like, I'm always like kind of moving back over to the client work cause I'm like, that's where I'm comfortable, but like basically being a business owner is just being uncomfortable and like being okay with that. And there's so much freedom in it though. And so that's like one of the, the best things I think about it is the freedom for sure, and like just enjoying the journey. Yeah, I love that you said if anybody else can do it, I can do it too because that's always been my mentality with literally anything in life. I'm like, we're all created as humans and like, in a sense, no one's like higher than the other. Like everyone has the same capabilities. It's just if you want to put the work into it. So, I really, I really like that. I have 1 last question for you before we end today and I ask all my guests this question. It's what is your number 1 tip for getting out of your own way? Getting out of your own way, I guess it would. Be taking imperfect action because that is number 1 for me and I'm reframing like your mindset. So for me, that's like, if I have negative thoughts come up or like negative self talk, I'm like, let me take a step back and actually, like, look at it from an outside perspective, like, getting out of your own head is really important because. Things are probably going better than you think they are because when you're in your own head, like, it's really easy to get stuck in those cycles of doubt or negative self talk or worries because everything kind of relies on you. And so finding ways to either reframe your thoughts or get an outside perspective, or like, that's why journaling is so important for me. Like, just kind of finding the ways to reframe your mindset so that you can trust yourself. While you're being uncomfortable. Yeah. You kind of just explained the get out of your own way podcast in a nutshell. Getting out of your own head and do the things that you know that you should be doing. Yeah. Yeah. So where can everybody find you and connect with you? Yeah, they can find me, but I'm mostly on Instagram. I'm on other platforms too, but Instagram is my favorite at Illuminescence Creations. And that's, yeah, you can find all kinds of good stuff on there. Well, thank you so much for this conversation to Abby. I think it's going to bless a lot of people and a lot of people that are thinking about going into business will find this super helpful of just the different roadblocks that you've faced and different. Ways that you have overcome your challenges and also you had a unique journey from the beginning And how you use that and channeled it into what you're doing today So again, I thank you for coming on the podcast and I wish you so much success in this upcoming year And I hope you are able to reach all the goals you have for this year yeah, thank you for having me. This is really fun. I really appreciate it Thank you everybody for listening today. I hope you enjoyed today's podcast. You guys can always connect with me on social media at Sam DeSalvo, S A M D E S A L V O. This is actually our season finale, so this is episode 20, and we're going to take two weeks off, and then I'll be back for season two. So thank you guys for listening for, Season one and I hope you enjoyed today's season finale. I forgot to even intro that to Abby today. Awesome. But I will see you guys new and improved for season two. I will talk to everybody next time.