Road To Seven

“Makeup does not define you. It's merely a tool of empowerment.”-Missy MacKintoshMakeup has always been the centre of my guest Missy MacKintosh’s life, and from working a Mary Kay franchise with her mom to opening two storefronts with another on the way, it’s easy to see why. Missy, like many entrepreneurs, zig zagged her way through to entrepreneurship. Beginning as a makeup artist, working her way up through top brand Makeup Forever, and then suddenly finding herself working in the travel industry, when she realized that there must be something more for her life. That’s where MisMacK, Missy’s beauty brand came in.Throughout the pandemic, Missy started and evolved her clean beauty business from her basement to two storefronts on the west coast of Canada, and is preparing to open a third location in the fall, and if you need a dose of high energy motivation for your product business, this is an episode you don’t want to miss!In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ Why makeup is an important part of crea

“If I have resistance to this business growing as it wanted to, I was stifling the growth opportunities, not only for my own business, but because of all of these really beautiful relationships we have with our farmers and food producers.”-Sheena RussellIf you are building a product-based business, this is an episode you don’t want to miss. I’m interviewing Sheena Russell, the founder of Made with Local, a company on a mission to create delicious, nourishing snacks that connect people with the planet and those who  grow our food.Sheena and I discuss how important it is to develop strategic local partnerships, and when to exit partnerships when they no longer serve your business. Sheena also takes us through what it’s like to start out at farmer’s markets, and scale into over 3000 grocery stores across North America – no small feat!We also discuss the process of scaling and raising capital, and what that means for the growth of Made Local. So if you’re ready for some actionable steps to grow your product busin

“If you haven't hired people who are going to be key decision makers and have full autonomy over some functioning within your company, then you are never going to be able to let go of the reins and have this company be bigger than you.”- Shelagh CumminsDo you feel like you’re stuck on a hamster wheel in your business? Are you giving yourself dozens of reasons why you’re not ready to make crucial hiring decisions, and finding that it backfires on you more often than not? Then this is an episode for you.I hear entrepreneurs tell me every day that they’re burnt out, or they’re afraid that they won’t have the time freedom they truly want in their business because they’re taking on too many clients, but they won’t take courageous action and make a strategic hire, or make that phone call, or launch that program, that would alleviate all of these fears.But the reality is, with the right help in the right places, your business can generate more revenue and time freedom for you at the same time – you just have to

“It’s so very important to create the culture of your one team. And everyone adds value. Doesn't matter what they do for you, they add value.”-Nicole Bourque-BouchierFor 25 years, my guest Nicole Bourque-Bouchier has led her company to excellence through strong community and indigenous values. Starting her role at the company she co-owns with her husband David, Nicole never thought it would flourish as rapidly as it did - and she quickly developed her position from part-time helper to office manager, to CEO.Nicole’s passion for community stems from her indigenous background, inspiring the company motto “Better Together.” Through employee recognition and appreciation events, she has built the company to over 1200 employees, by focusing on what everyone can accomplish together, as one.Nicole is also a philanthropist, and has even established a family foundation with her husband and five children, in order to give back to her community in a meaningful way. So if you’re looking for inspiration and someone to

“You are an authentic person who brings tremendous style, strength, and skill to your business.”- Shelagh CumminsWhat if I told you that more than 50% of businesses are generating revenue below the poverty line? Would you be surprised to learn that the reason behind this comes down to what I call The Seven Deadly Sins of entrepreneurship? I see women making these seven mistakes every single day, so I want to share with you what they are and how you can overcome them, so that your business will go beyond surviving, to thriving. But make no mistake, each of these “deadly sins” requires that you take clear focused action in order to avoid committing them.My goal is to support women entrepreneurs just like you, with financing, coaching, and training so that they can find the money and time freedom as they're building a fulfilling business on the road to, and beyond, seven figures, and in this episode I offer actionable steps that you can take to do that.In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode of the Road to Seven podcast,‌ ‌you

“If you're afraid of the “no” because you're counting on that money, they're going to be saying no anyway. Let's figure out another way to get your money in the door.”- Shelagh CumminsWhat would you be capable of, if you weren’t afraid of the word “no”? In today’s episode, I’m sharing real stories from my coaching clients about what happened when we removed the story behind what it means to hear “no” from potential clients. Spoiler alert: great things happened.I’m diving into the real reasons you’re afraid to hear the word “no” from potential clients, and I’m giving you actionable steps that you can take today, to move past that fear.Listen in to learn why it might actually be a good thing when you get the “no” – and what my clients were capable of when they were handed the freedom of the two letter answer they were so afraid of. In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode of the Road to Seven podcast,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌Common fears that entrepreneurs have about hearing the word “no” and how to move past them

“Creating an identity for yourself outside of work or outside of home is often the work that needs to be done before we can actually create the businesses that we want.”-Dr. Nothando WohlgeschaffenWhen it comes to balancing career and home, most women bump up against challenges in prioritizing what’s most important to them. Dr. Nothando Wohlgeschaffen is helping high performing women in the medical field to navigate these challenges, and at the same time is a practicing family physician serving underrepresented communities–all while preparing to become a new mother.To say that she is an incredible inspiration is an understatement,  and I think you’ll find that our conversation is full of actionable tools that will help you assess what is most important in your life, and where you want to prioritize your time.In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌Balancing the expectations of entrepreneurship, career, motherhood and self through intentionalityHow to make choices to prioritize what is important to you, so tha

“When you hire up, you're able to put all of the different pieces into place so that your hires can get the results for your business. That's leadership.”- Shelagh CumminsDoes this sound familiar? “I don't have the time to go and find someone to help me,” or, “I don't have the money to be able to pay someone to help me.” Before you hit your solopreneur limit, you need to understand what it means to shift from being a doer, to being a leader. But here’s the thing – the right hire will actually save you more time, AND make you more money. All you have to do is give up a little bit of control.Easier said than done, right? Today I’m sharing with you all of the mindset shifts that I have worked through with my coaching clients to go from holding onto all of the control in your business, to hiring and trusting the right people to do what they do best, so that you have the time and space in your business to do what you do best – get results for your clients.In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode of the Road to Seve

“I had been planning for it and fantasizing about it, and that was the moment where I was in this immersive environment where it was easy to make these decisions.”-Liat HorovitzLiat Horovitz is a Results Coach and host of The Results Club Podcast. She began her career journey working for a large tech company, but after having children and time to reflect over maternity leaves, she realized that it was time to make her next big move, and start her own business.Passionate about anything related to personal development, Liat began her entrepreneurial journey as a coach just before the pandemic, in October of 2019. During long periods of isolation, she realized how powerful community is, which led her to developing a series of retreats for her clients that focus on personal growth.In this conversation, we talk about the process of shifting identity from corporate to entrepreneur, what we did to move through the low moments of our businesses, and our surprisingly common career paths!In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll d

“As your business grows, so do you. You evolve. You become a different person. You have different strengths that you didn’t know that you had.”- Shelagh CumminsHave you ever felt irritated or put off by an aspect of your business? Do you find yourself feeling frustrated or overwhelmed while working through your to-do list? When things aren’t feeling quite right, that’s a powerful clue that something in your business is out of alignment. While you may have put time and effort into intentionally building a business that is aligned with your styles and strengths, that ideal fit won’t be permanent. As both you and your business grow and evolve, you’ll find that your needs and goals will change — and that your business will have to shift in order to meet them!How do you keep your business aligned with both your strengths and your styles, so that you can consistently show up as the best version of you?In this episode of the Road to Seven, I share the 4 most important aspects of your business that should be kept in

“The reason why I was ‘multi-passionate’ and trying all these different things… was an avoidance coping mechanism that was as a result of recognizing that I have ADHD.”- Cher JonesCher Jones is a speaker, a coach, and the founder of social media training company Socially Active. She’s also a brilliant woman who has achieved great success while living with ADHD.While ADHD has long been regarded as something that primarily affects males, there’s been a growing recognition of the different ways that it affects women and girls — leading to more diagnoses and more understanding.In this conversation, we talk about the catalyst that helped Cher to niche down and choose her best-fit lane, the challenging intersection of entrepreneurship and neurodivergence, and why it’s never too late to reinvent, refocus, and recharge your business.You won’t want to miss this fascinating discussion!In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode of the Road to Seven podcast,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌How ADHD has shaped Cher’s entrepreneurial journey — and how she

“You attack every day with a vim and a vigor and determination and a passion… and sometimes, it’s hard to do it alone.”- Shelagh CumminsDo you feel alone in running your business? Have you ever wanted to have a supportive community ready to champion you as you work toward your biggest, boldest dreams? The truth is that having a supportive community can be an absolute GAME-CHANGER when it comes to your business growth. Having the right people around you can be a tipping point to achieving your goals. On the other hand, having the wrong people around you can keep you playing small, and hold you back from from taking the strategic risks that can lead to real growth.So, how do you find the right type of community — one that understands exactly what you’re experiencing, will cheer you on as you hit your milestones, and provides the valuable feedback you need to strengthen and uplevel your strategic decision-making? And what exactly will you gain from joining one?Let’s talk about it!In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode of the Road

“To have your partner that has the exact same goals and vision as you do makes it a little easier.”-  Bernie LawAngie Tran and Bernie Law are on a mission to eliminate the one billion plastic detergent jugs that are polluting our planet, each and every year! Their revolutionary Kind Laundry detergent strips have been awarded the Best Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergent Award from Better Homes & Gardens — and their vision for a more sustainable future is one that I can wholeheartedly get behind!Angie and Bernie founded Kind Laundry two and a half years ago after a shared epiphany during laundry day at their home. The concept? A detergent that was fully sustainable, from the soap to the packaging. Although they launched in the middle of the pandemic, their e-commerce background helped them to quickly gain some raving fans.During this episode of the Road to Seven, Angie and Bernie share the key insights and strategies that helped them successfully launch and build their brand. Listen now, and then join us in crea

“There’s such guilt associated with NOT doing.”- Shelagh CumminsIn 2022, a study conducted by Mental Health Research Canada found that over one-third of Canadians are experiencing burnout. In our busy, hectic, challenging world, burnout can mean the difference between surviving and thriving… especially for entrepreneurs. As an entrepreneur, chances are you’re constantly wearing multiple hats and juggling multiple tasks… even if you’ve already begun to build out your team. This level of stress, over time, can have powerful physical and psychological consequences.If you’re standing at the edge of burnout — or fully struggling with burnout right now — then you won’t want to miss this episode of the Road to Seven. I talk about all things burnout: what it really means, why it happens, and how you can get yourself out of it and back on your path to success!In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode of the Road to Seven podcast,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌The problems with working too frequently outside of your zone of genius  The areas of your

“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