Road To Seven

“When you’re not willing to let go, you’re not ready to scale. It’s as simple as that.”- Shelagh CumminsAre you currently on the journey to evolve from a solopreneur into the CEO of a sustainable and profitable business — or embarking on this journey in the near future? If you’re content with continuing to run a microbusiness as a solopreneur, that’s perfectly all right. For many people, solopreneurship fits their needs and the needs of their family. If evolving into a CEO is something that you want, then I fully support you in this journey… and would love to help you smooth the path to your biggest and boldest goals.In this episode, I reveal what it’s like behind the scenes of the transformational journey to CEO, from identifying your juicy business goals to letting go of the ownership of key responsibilities. While this journey requires grit and determination, the rewards can be incredible.Press play to discover the three signs that will let you know that it’s time to make the shift, and why you need to sho

“Your time and energy is finite, and we need to protect it with everything that we’ve got.”- Shelagh CumminsAre you experiencing the “cash conundrum”? The cash conundrum is what I call it when you know that you need to make a strategic hire in order to take your business to the next level… but you just don’t have oodles of money available to help you take that step.This is a common issue that affects many business owners at one point or another. So, how do you get over that hurdle and begin building out your perfect team?In this episode, I dive into the big decisions that you need to be ready to make when you reach the fateful intersection between solopreneur and CEO, why a virtual assistant may not be the best choice for your first hire, and why you need to price your offers as a company rather than as an entrepreneur.Listen now and ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌The 3 things that you will need in order to grow your business — and the mindset shift that will help you prioritize!The infrastructure issue that may be hold

“How much do we need to do in order to feel like we are enough? And why do so many of us feel like we’re not enough?”-Rachel SimmonsDo you struggle with feeling that you’re never enough? Do you worry that your achievements never quite meet the expectations of those around you?My guest Rachel Simmons is an expert when it comes to the pressures that women put on ourselves. She is the author of Enough As She Is: How to Help Girls Move Beyond Impossible Standards of Success to Live Healthy, Happy, and Fulfilling Lives, which teaches girls self-compassion as an alternative to self-criticism, how to navigate toxic elements of social media, and how to manage overthinking—important skills that hold as much value for adults as they do for young women!In this conversation, we explore the culture of effortless perfectionism that so many of us live in, the expectations that we feel compelled to live up to, and how to break free.In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode of the Road to Seven podcast,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌The invisible barriers th

“Women use their money for good. We play at the intersection of philanthropy and profit.”-Shelagh CumminsWhat would happen if female-owned businesses were financed at the same rate as those owned by men? While women make up the majority of all entrepreneurs, we are only granted 16% of business loans, accessing a total of just 4% of all lending capital. This despite the fact that investing in women entrepreneurs has been shown to have amazing benefits for not only their communities, but also for the investors that chose to believe in them!The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is Embrace Equity. This is a mission that I have been working toward in my own business through the creation of the Road to Seven Capital Access Program, which is rewriting the rules when it comes to capital access by providing microloans to women business owners.In celebration of International Women’s Day, this episode explores the incredible global impact that is created when we invest in women entrepreneurs!In‌ ‌this‌ ‌epi

“Sit with your bookkeeper or accountant, and look at what’s feasible for you to borrow, vs. where that investment is going to go.”- Shelagh CumminsIs your business loan-ready? Growing and scaling successfully requires that you make key investments into your business. Seeking a business loan can feel intimidating — but you may find that the process feels a lot more comfortable when you take some time to prepare!For example, creating a relationship with your potential lender or lending institution beforehand will not only help you feel more confident in asking, but will help the lender feel more comfortable with the idea of giving you a loan.In this episode, you will learn how to prepare your business for your loan application, from keeping your books in order to ensuring that your credit scores are kept separate. If getting a business loan is on your To Do List for this year, then grab a pen and a notebook, and press play!In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode of the Road to Seven podcast,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌What you should be

“Everything that I can do to build rapport is beneficial for me, so we don’t have a miscommunication.”- Emily ChungWhen you have a limited amount of time with a customer, you must be able to share information efficiently. My guest for this episode has a secret weapon that helps her do exactly that — and she’s happy to share!Emily Chung is a licenced Automotive Service Technician and the owner of AutoNiche, a family-friendly auto repair shop that offers a less intimidating auto repair experience, with non-judgmental and empowering service from reputable mechanics.(You may remember Emily from a past episode, where we talked about her experiences in the male-dominated automotive industry and the power of building a values-driven business!).In this episode, we dive into the amazing tool that Emily uses within her business to help her to communicate with her customers more effectively!You’ll discover:‌ ‌The benefits of building rapport — and the personality profile that helps build it quicklyHow the AutoNiche is a

“Your business is going to be 10x stronger when you surround yourself with amazing people.”- Shelagh CumminsYour customers. Your team members. Your suppliers. Your audience. Your network. As you grow and scale your business, you will always be surrounded by people whom you rely on and people who rely on you. Learning how to love on the people in your business and make them feel appreciated is an important and often underlooked part of becoming a successful business owner. People are one of the most valuable assets of your business and it’s important to know how to treat them well!This week’s episode of the Road to Seven is all about loving on your team members, loving on your community, and loving on the main ticket to your success — YOU!Tune in to learn how to hire team members based on what your company truly needs (rather than what you think you can afford), how to build an emotional connection with the people who are buying from you, and why you need to be patient when taking empowered action toward your

“For the majority of entrepreneurs, we aren’t running someone else’s playbook — we’re writing the playbook.”- Miranda LieversMiranda Lievers spends her time exploring the exciting possibilities relating to small business and technology. She is a co-founder & COO of Thinkific, an innovative all-in-one software platform that helps thought leaders create, market, and sell online courses and memberships with ease.In 2021, she and her team took Thinkific public, furthering the company's mission to make it simple for entrepreneurs and established businesses of any size to scale and generate revenue by teaching what they know.In this episode, Miranda shares the challenges that she faced and the insights that she discovered while building a successful tech business, including how Thinkific has changed since going public, how the business seeks valuable feedback from their customer base, and how they are preparing for the recession.You won’t want to miss it!Listen now to discover:‌ ‌How Miranda began gaining

“If we can see the impact and believe in women entrepreneurs… then I think we’re going to rewrite history in a way that’s very powerful.”- Shelagh CumminsAs you embark on your growth journey and work toward your biggest and boldest goals, being able to access the capital you need in order to invest in your business is crucial! From making a key hire to purchasing machinery to upleveling your advertising, your continued growth requires strategic investment — and getting that cash into your your hands can often feel almost impossible.While women make up 47% of all entrepreneurs, we only receive 16% of all business loans. Why is it still so challenging for women business owners to access capital? Women often own smaller businesses, which can face insurmountable hurdles when seeking loans from banks. When you go in to meet with a Loans Officer, there is a good chance that they are not looking at your business through a lens that allows them to truly see the value, the impact, and the profit that is possible.In th

“You’ve got to collect data. You’re not going to collect data in your head. You will only collect data by actually DOING.”- Salima ValjiDo you sometimes feel that you don’t really have a voice, or that you are unheard? Then you need to meet Salima Valji! Salima is a coach, thought leader, speaker, and advocate for women of colour in the workplace. As the founder and CEO of Unleash Forward, she helps her clients claim their executive presence and speak confidently at the leadership table.Salima has had an absolutely inspiring entrepreneurial journey, and I am so thrilled to share it in this episode!During this conversation, we explore how to stop negative emotions like shame or fear from holding you back, how to let your niche find you (rather than the other way around), and why women tend to mute their own voices in so many situations.You won’t want to miss it!In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode of the Road to Seven podcast,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌The path that Salima took to become a highly successful executive coachHow she r

“When you are selling and you are desperate for a client, your client can smell it.”- Shelagh CumminsBefore you spend a ton of money hiring another coach, subscribing to somebody else’s system, or implementing a whole new set of tactics in order to increase your sales, you need to listen to this episode!I dive into the real reasons why your ideal customers may not be buying your offer at the rate that you would like — and those reasons may not be what you expect.Listen now to learn how and why your own actions may be inadvertently keeping your sales low and preventing you from building strong relationships with your dream clients.This episode will encourage you to remove the rose-coloured glasses and take a real and unfiltered look at the way that you do business, so grab your pen and notebook and get ready for some honest food for thought. In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode of the Road to Seven podcast,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌Why selling from a position of desperation can wind up stacking your customer base with people who a

“Often, in the arts, you’re actually seen as a sell-out if you’re successful financially or commercially.”-Naomi ClementThe idea of the “starving artist” is romanticized in our culture. This image of the artist who sacrifices material success and lives on passion and creativity alone is a popular one, but you don’t need to embrace the starving artist story in order to be a successful artist! My guest, Naomi Clement, is an incredibly talented, sought-after, and bad-ass potter and creative entrepreneur who helps artists embrace their power as creators, so they can step into the career of their dreams. While she had always been drawn to the arts, Naomi resisted becoming a professional artist for a long time, because the starving artist myth led her to believe that she would have to be poor.  She worked in sales and marketing until she realized that her 9-to-5 office job was making her miserable and that pottery was her true passion. Now, Naomi is on a mission to challenge the way that society (and artists) value

“When we set a goal, it’s actually a subconscious way of choosing how we want to feel.”- Shelagh CumminsDreaming about your desired results is one thing. Actually following through and making them happen is another. That’s why so many people stumble or lose momentum when it comes to turning their wishes into reality — even for something as simple as a new year’s resolution! If you have some big, bold, juicy goals for your business that you’re determined to achieve this year, then this is an episode for you!There is one often overlooked element to goal-setting that can make it much easier to remain in empowered action and on track to achieving your goals: emotion. The goals that we set are subconsciously associated with a feeling that we want to have. We set revenue goals because we want to feel successful or secure. We set fitness goals because we want to feel attractive or strong. We set financial goals because we want to feel abundant or safe.Our desired results have an emotional component to them, and it’s

“You’ve got to be standing behind your product. You cannot cut corners.”- Shelagh CumminsAre you selling for today? Or are you selling for tomorrow? When we sell for today, we are focused on short-term goals and gratification — and we aren’t thinking about the long-term ramifications and impact for our businesses.Selling for today can take a few different forms. You could skimp out on quality in order to save some money. You could refuse a reasonable request for a refund or replacement. You could base your pricing on vanity metrics, rather than on real value. The result? You may get (and keep) the profit for a handful of sales… but you’ll miss out on the positive word-of-mouth and repeat business that would help you continue to build your revenue, client base, and reputation.If you want a long-lasting business that will scale with more ease and serve you for years to come, then you’ll definitely want to listen to this episode!In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode of the Road to Seven podcast,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌The differenc

“I was a doer of many things, and I loved doing all of them — and at the same time, my messaging was a little bit jumbled.”- Nadine MoffatAs an action-focused entrepreneur, you may not often create the space and the quiet you need to listen to your inner voice… but putting in that effort can lead to incredible benefits!My guest Nadine Moffat has been referred to as, and resonates with, the words mystic, lightworker, channel, intuit, healer, guide, Nordic Witch, and empath. She began her awakening journey 25 years ago and has learned the value of embracing stillness and listening to her inner wisdom. As an Intuitive Coach and Energy Healer, she guides others to move into a deeper awareness and connection within themselves.In this episode, Nadine and I explore the power of tapping into your deeper wisdom and clearing static from your inner antenna. Listen now to learn about her inspiring journey, how she put her own unique spin on coaching, and how the pandemic pushed her right out of her comfort zone (and why

“Food is such a personal and beautiful thing. The easier you can make a choice, the better.” -Jessica KwongRecognizing a gap in the market is one thing. Coming up with a solution is another. But taking your brilliant idea and moving it along the path from “idea” to “reality” is a step that few people actually take.My guest Jessica Kwong not only took that journey, but she is also willing to draw a map! Jessica is the founder and CEO of Jack & Friends, a company that sells plant-based jerky with an emphasis on quality and inclusivity. In this episode, I sit down with Jessica to talk about how she took her amazing idea from the test kitchen to the store shelf.In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode of the Road to Seven podcast,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌The biggest challenge that she faced while commercializing her prototypeHer incredible “all-inclusive” philosophy for her Jack & Friends products and what inspired itHow she found her first buyers — and how she is using analytics to shape her rebrand!About Guest: Jessica Kwong is

“By believing that you can make the perceived impossible possible, you’re opening up a whole new opportunity realm.”- Shelagh CumminsAre you looking for a little bit of insight into how to make your 2023 the best it can be (without having to choose a “word for the year” or journal about the past 12 months)? If so, then this episode is for you — I’m sharing three vital lessons that will help you find more success with less struggle.Here’s a sneak peek: when you take your business results as a personal failure, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment and frustration — and, eventually, you’ll probably wind up shutting down your business! This year, I want you to take a step back and disconnect your sense of self-value from your business outcomes. Sure, your marketing may need a little tweaking, but that doesn’t reflect who you are as a person.Want to hear more? Listen now to learn why you need to show yourself more grace during launches, why some popular ideas around goal-setting may not hit the mark, and

“Let’s just try it and see if it works — and if people are into it, then we’ll keep doing more of THAT.”- Chris GrahamThroughout his career, Chris Graham worked at one the world’s top banking law firms and one of Canada’s top Indigenous rights law firms — before leaving the legal profession to launch his own business as a speaking coach. Since then, he has taught over 8,000 people how to create better connections with their teams and clients through his TellPeople brand. As a matter of fact, he helped me get onto the TEDx stage!Tune in to hear about how Chris handles the challenges and lows of entrepreneurship, the biggest question he asks potential clients during discovery calls, and why he is the “most retired” person I’ve had on the podcast!In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode of the Road to Seven podcast,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌Why the most important thing you can do on stage is to detach from the outcome of your performace The importance of knowing your lane and your most powerful opportunities for creating impact  Why you

“When you figure out how you want to feel and begin to reverse-engineer that, that’s where the magic happens.”-Heather ChauvinYou will not want to miss today’s powerful interview! My guest Heather Chauvin started her career as a social worker, but pivoted sharply in 2013 when she received a stage 4 cancer diagnosis and experienced a significant mindset shift. Now, Heather is a celebrated leadership coach who helps women thrive in all areas in their lives, on their own terms, hosts the Emotionally Uncomfortable podcast, where she helps her listeners conquer their fear, create the lives they want, and become the women they were born to be, and is the author of Dying To Be A Good Mother: How I Dropped the Guilt and Took Control of My Life & Parenting.In this episode, she shares some truly valuable lessons regarding embracing discomfort, cultivating vulnerability, and better understanding our emotional selves.In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode of the Road to Seven podcast,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌How reconnecting with the femi

“What’s really important to us is that whatever leaves our hands with our name on it is top of the line.”-Trisha PituraGet ready to be inspired! In this episode of the Road to Seven, I sit down with Trisha Pitura and Mélanie Bernard, the founders of the online boutique and manufacturing company MINI TIPI. Through the MINI TIPI brand, Trisha and Mélanie design, make, and sell products featuring gorgeous, authentic Indigenous designs — and use their profits and platform to support artists and their community.In this thoughtful conversation, we explore the importance of story to the pieces sold through their brand, the impact that they hope to create for their families, team, and their wider community, and the biggest challenges they’ve faced along the way.In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode of the Road to Seven podcast,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌How Trisha’s hobby of sewing baby wash cloths evolved into a successful clothing and accessories brandThe process of turning a design idea into a finished product — and how they work with t