Confessions with Jess and Cindy

In this episode, we dive into a thought-provoking discussion on marketing strategies and the undeniable impact of authenticity in the industry. We unpack the confessions from the ICON conference, addressing the blurred line between self-promotion and genuine expertise, and share our experiences on making strategic business investments. Whether you're navigating the world of nonprofit coaching and consulting or aiming to expand your business, this episode will empower you to carve your path to success.Key Highlights:The Power of Authenticity In the episode, we delved into the debate about the relationship between marketing and the quality of your work. One thing that stood out is the power of authenticity. Authenticity is key in making a lasting impression. As nonprofit consultants, your reputation is your number one marketing tool, and nothing beats the authenticity and credibility that comes with doing impeccable work.Finding Your Marketing Style We understand that not everyone's marketing journey will look the same. Whether you prefer a low-key approach or want to go all out, finding what works for you and your business is crucial. Understanding the platforms where you can showcase your work authentically is also important. Knowing the value of professional branding and marketing, and making investments strategically can help elevate your presence in the industry.Long-term Play: Building Community At Confessions, we've always believed in the long-term strategy of community building. With the podcast being a powerful tool for marketing, we've seen the impact of community support and organic growth. Taking opportunities to showcase your work at events, conferences, or through networking can be a game-changer for your brand awareness and growth in the industry.Making an Impact We've learned that making strategic investments in marketing can be a game-changer. It's about making a lasting impression and standing out. Your marketing efforts are an investment in your business and the impact you want to make in the nonprofit world.To our fellow nonprofit coaching and consulting friends - remember, the journey to successful marketing isn’t made overnight. It’s about finding what works for you and your business. We're here to share our knowledge and create collective empowerment.Find Us Online:  https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.comConnect with Cindy:Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.comConnect with Jess: Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“I gave a very clear example about being in pain, and when you’re in that level of pain, you are willing to literally do whatever it takes.” - JessIn this episode of Confessions podcast, we're diving deep into the world of recurring revenue. We share our experiences and insights on the benefits of offering monthly options, the shift from one-off projects to long-term contracts, and the importance of marketing and positioning these offerings. Plus, we discuss the value of addressing pain points and saving time for our nonprofit clients.Tune in as we spill the beans on how we're navigating the world of recurring revenue and creating sustainable income in our businesses. It's a candid conversation that's sure to offer some valuable takeaways for fellow nonprofit coaches and consultants.Key Highlights:Why Recurring Revenue Matters Your business is like a marathon, not a sprint. If you only rely on one-time transactions, you're constantly chasing new clients, which can be exhausting. Recurring revenue brings stability, allowing you to plan and budget with more confidence. It's a win-win for you and your clients. For many nonprofits, predictable monthly expenses are a game-changer, making it easier for them to budget and manage cash flow.Navigating Pricing and Contracts Pricing can be a tricky beast. Both Jess and Cindy share insights on how to package services and offerings in a way that makes sense for recurring revenue. It's not just about setting a monthly price, but also understanding the value of your services and the needs of your clients. Jess gives an amazing example of how to create annual programs and simplify the approval process for your clients. Clever Marketing Strategies Understanding your audience and their pain points is key. Jess and Cindy discuss the importance of marketing strategies tailored to the value you provide. Jess offers a fresh take by focusing on time-saving benefits, a perspective less explored in the industry. This approach aims to resonate with nonprofits feeling the impact of time constraints. Cindy shares her experiences with marketing recurring revenue options to consulting and nonprofit audiences, offering valuable tips for consultants to position their offerings effectively.Playing Chess, Not Checkers As Jess mentions, playing chess, not checkers, in business is about working smarter, not harder. It's about being strategic and forward-thinking. Cindy chimes in, highlighting the need to create long-term contracts, especially when offering indefinite services, giving a direct boost to recurring revenue and long-term relationships.Keep in mind, recurring revenue can help stabilize your business and provide consistent income. By understanding your audience, pricing your offerings appropriately and effectively marketing the benefits, you can create a successful recurring revenue model for your nonprofit coaching or consulting business.Find Us Online:  https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.comConnect with Cindy:Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.comConnect with Jess: Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me Hosted on Acast. See

Today, we’re diving into a topic that’s especially timely as we head into the holiday season: gift giving. Whether you’re looking to show appreciation to clients, strengthen relationships, or simply spread some joy, the art of thoughtful and purposeful gift giving is something that can truly make a difference in our work as coaches and consultants.Key Highlights:The Importance of Thoughtful Gifting As nonprofit consultants, we understand the significance of making meaningful connections. That's why we believe that thoughtful gifting can play an essential role in expressing gratitude and strengthening relationships with clients, partners, and staff.Gifting Strategies for Client Relationships When it comes to showing appreciation to clients, we've found that personalized and useful gifts can go a long way. Whether it's a hand-picked book, a personalized mug, or even a lunch treat on Giving Tuesday, the key is to consider the recipient's interests and preferences. We've also explored the idea of supporting indigenous artists and businesses by gifting items such as artist-designed adult coloring books and indigenous-made products, aligning our gestures with our values.Authenticity Over Branding During our conversation, we emphasized how the focus of gifting should be on the recipient rather than on branding or marketing opportunities. While branding has its place, it's crucial to ensure that the gifts we give reflect our values and what we stand for, resonating with the recipients on a personal level.Remember, it’s the thought and effort put into the gift that truly counts. Whether it’s a small token or a grand gesture, the intention behind the gift is what matters most. By showing genuine care and consideration, these heartfelt gestures can strengthen relationships and leave a lasting impression.Find Us Online:  https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.comConnect with Cindy:Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.comConnect with Jess: Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Working for myself is a form of rest because I get to choose my clients and I don't have what I experienced in the workplace when I was working in the nonprofit sector, which is racial battle fatigue" - Dr. Asia LyonsThis week's episode of Confessions featured the amazing Dr. Asia Lyons, who shared her journey to building a thriving consulting business serving youth organizations. Dr. Asia's story is a reminder that we should never stop pushing boundaries or embracing new possibilities in our work. The only limits are the ones we place on ourselves!Key HIghlights:Niche down. Dr. Asia knew from the start that she wanted to support youth-serving orgs, and she built her entire business around serving that niche. Her advice? Get extremely clear on who you help and how. Niching down allows you to become an expert in your field and better serve your clients.Cold Outreach Strategy. Dr. Asia didn't wait around for new clients to come to her—she went out and found them. Even though cold outreach can be scary, Dr. Asia has developed a system that works for her. Her advice? Start small, learn as you go, and try new strategies. You'll get better and more comfortable over time.Entrepreneurship as Empowerment. Dr. Asia intentionally set up their own business to have control over their clients and avoid experiencing racial battle fatigue and racism-related stress that they previously encountered in the workplace. This choice to work for themselves gives them freedom to choose their projects and avoid oppressive environments.Breaking the burnout cycle. Dr. Asia recognizes that as business owners we need to make rest a priority. She makes sure to step away from work and recharge through self-care, community, and family. Being part of a mastermind and women's retreat allows her to connect with like-minded people who truly understand this work.The path of a nonprofit consultant isn't always easy, but Dr. Asia proves that with hard work, clarity, and self-care, you can build a thriving business that serves organizations doing important work. Her story is a reminder that we should never stop pushing boundaries in our work. The only limits are the ones we place on ourselves!Find Us Online:  https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.comConnect with Dr. Asia Lyons:Lyons Educational Consulting: https://www.lyonseducationalconsulting.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asia-lyons The Exit Interview: https://www.exitinterviewpodcast.com Connect with Cindy:Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.comThe Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.comConnect with Jess: Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"I think as business owners, or maybe just me personally, I like to go really fast. So slowing down to speed up is so painstakingly hard for me, but I know it's also necessary." - Stephanie SkryzowskiAs consultants and business owners, one of the biggest challenges we face is scaling our business in a sustainable way. A key part of scaling is building a team to support your growth. In this week's episode of The Confessions Podcast, we spoke with Stephanie Skryzowski, founder of 100 Degrees Consulting, about how she built her team to over 16 people. By delegating work to her team, Stephanie is able to step into her role as CEO and focus on strategy, culture, and business development. Building a team is challenging, but also rewarding. To hear more about how Stephanie scaled her business through building a team, listen to the full episode. You'll come away with actionable insights to start putting into practice in your own firm.Key Highlights: Prioritize your people. Stephanie believes that when her team can disconnect, they do higher quality work. So she offers generous PTO, limits work to 40 hours/week, and invests in her team’s wellbeing. This mindset has enabled 100 Degrees to scale in a healthy way.Don’t be afraid to change course. Stephanie made the bold choice to sell part of her business in order to refocus her efforts. While scary, it allowed her team to align around their purpose and opened up new opportunities for growth.Follow your vision. Stephanie built the business of her dreams by staying true to her purpose of empowering nonprofits to create change. Don’t cling to convention—you have the power to forge your own path.Be willing to let go of what is not working and make strategic decisions that will benefit the long-term success of your business.Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/Connect with Stephanie Skryzowski:100 Degrees Consulting: https://100degreesconsulting.com/Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/stephanieskryzowskiTwitter: https://twitter.com/Steph100DegreesConnect with Cindy:Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/ The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/Connect with Jess: Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest Christina Edwards, an entrepreneur with a successful nonprofit consulting firm, shares her unapologetic approach to selling and scaling. Key topics include selling unapologetically, finding your sweet spot, building your email list, and the role of email marketing. The chapter descriptions touch on generating revenue through online courses and coaching, rapid-fire questions with Christina, the importance of list size and quality subscribers, and the role of email marketing for nonprofit consultants.

“Every investment I've made in my business has been a learning experience, even if it didn't bring the desired results. I see these investments as opportunities for growth and improvement.” - Cindy WagmanIn this episode, we're diving into how our investments in our businesses have evolved over the years—and the life-changing lessons we've learned along the way. Early on, we were hungry for any and all business advice we could get. We took all the courses, joined all the programs, and tried to model what the "experts" were teaching. But here's the truth: most of that just didn't align with our nonprofit audience or values. We learned that there are no shortcuts to finding what works for your unique business. These days, we invest in the things that really move the needle:Bringing on support so we can work less and earn more. We've hired contractors, built out our teams, and worked with coaches who get our sector.  Referrals from our network. Finding service providers recommended by people we know and trust.  Invest in the relationships and communities that truly understand you. These are the investments that pay off the most.Rest. This year, we both took extended breaks to renew our creativity. Coming back with fresh eyes is the best investment you can make.  The bottom line? Don't be afraid to invest in yourself and your business. But make sure those investments align with where you are now and where you want to go. Find your people, focus on what lights you up, and don't be afraid to challenge the status quo.Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.comConnect with Cindy:Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.comConnect with Jess: Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“How we present is directly tied to how present we are. We can never be our most passionate, communicative, vulnerable, inspiring selves if we are in our own heads and doubting ourselves the whole time” - Lucia CesaroniIn this episode of the Confessions podcast, we chatted with Lucia Cesaroni, an opera singer, entrepreneur and self-styled evangelist for bringing business and the arts closer together. Lucia shared her journey of pivoting from a successful opera career to launching her own consulting firm focused on empowering corporate executives through performance skills training. Some of the biggest takeaways:Develop a growth mindset. Look for opportunities to apply your skills in new ways and don’t be afraid to push into uncharted territory. You never know what might stick!Focus on the “how,” not just the “what.” Lucia teaches performance skills to equip her clients with the tools they need to communicate with confidence and charisma. We spend so much time preparing the content of our work, but we often neglect how we show up to deliver it.Practice self-compassion. Even the most skilled performers don’t always execute perfectly. Learn from your experiences and then move on without judgment. Your worth isn’t defined by any single interaction or event.Find what fuels you. For Lucia, empowering others through her performance skills training lights her up. Look for work that ignites your passion, so you can show up fully for your clients and community.We hope Lucia’s story inspires you to embrace new possibilities in your own work. Keep pushing boundaries, follow your passions, and don’t be afraid to forge new paths. Abundance awaits! Let’s go get it.Find Us Online: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/Connect with Lucia Cesaroni:Cesaroni Consulting: https://www.cesaroniconsulting.com/Lucia Cesaroni (Website): http://luciacesaroni.com/Linkedin: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/lucia-cesaroni-b4821051Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luciasee/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/LuciaCesaroniConnect with Cindy:Cindy Wagman Coaching: https://cindywagman.com/ The Good Partnership: https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/Connect with Jess: Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week’s Confessions podcast, we had an inspiring conversation with Rowena Veylan, founder of The New School of Fundraising. Rowena shared her journey to launching a nonprofit consulting business in the midst of COVID-19 and her vision for empowering community leaders through accessible education.Some of the biggest takeaways:Embrace possibility and abundance, even when times seem uncertain. Rowena started her business during the pandemic after seeing a gap she could fill. Focus on relationships, not transactions.Build a business model focused on impact, not profits alone. Rowena partners with funders to make her programs nearly barrier-free for nonprofits. Her “uncommon education for community crusaders” motto says it all.Forge your own path. Rowena didn’t wait for permission or the “right” circumstances. She sent hundreds of emails to get her first clients and learned perseverance pays off. Her story inspires us to create the life and business we want.Find Us Online:  https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/Connect with Rowena VeylanThe New School of Fundraising: https://nsof.ca/Mediate BC: https://www.mediatebc.com/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rowena-veylanConfessions with Jess and Cindy Podcast with Nneka Allen: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/episodes/nneka-allenConnect with Cindy:Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/ The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/Connect with Jess: Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/Audio: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ftXTkuYPuYn5qAtCEEskb5IdjfYi8NF8/view?usp=drive_link Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"As much as I know the market has embraced AgentsC, I also believe that there are some organizations, because of the makeup of AgentsC and because of the activism of its founder and CEO, kind of make a choice not to work with or partner or invite us to support their work. But I also just celebrate those who have partnered with us and come to us and sought our help and expertise. And that's where I put the lens." - Olumide AkerewusiMide Akerewusi, founder of AgentsC, joined us for an inspiring conversation about courage, activism, and building a business with purpose. Mide shared his journey of stepping into his power as a vocal leader for equity and justice, despite facing discrimination and barriers as a Black business owner. Some of the biggest takeaways:Pursue your purpose. Mide started AgentsC to follow his calling for transformative change, even without a clear plan or safety net. Saying "yes" to your purpose will open up opportunities you can't yet imagine. Find your co-conspirators. Mide found strength in numbers by joining forces with others pushing for change. Seek out allies with a shared vision of justice and abundance. Together, you have the power to accomplish more than you ever could alone.Speak your truth. Mide acknowledged the costs of being a vocal activist, but said staying silent in the face of oppression is even more dangerous. Share your experiences to liberate yourself and educate others. Your voice matters.Keep learning and growing. Mide confessed that running a business is difficult, especially without role models or a template to follow. Approach each day with a willingness to experiment, make mistakes, and find the "right thing to do." Growth and progress, not perfection, should be the goal.At the end of the day, we all have a role to play in creating a just world where everyone can thrive. Mide's story is a reminder that when we embrace our purpose, use our voices, and support each other, we become an unstoppable force for positive change. The time for courage is now. How will you answer the call?Find Us Online:  https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/Connect with Olumide AkerewusiAgentsC : https://www.agentsc.ca/Giving Black: https://www.givingblack.ca/Giving Black Podcast: https://www.givingblack.ca/the-giving-black-podcastMore information about AFP GTC and the experiences of Black Fundraisers: https://www.change.org/p/remove-afp-greater-toronto-chapter-s-10-star-status Confessions with Jess and Cindy Podcast with Nneka Allen: https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/episodes/nneka-allenConnect with Cindy:Cindy Wagman Coaching https://cindywagman.com/ The Good Partnership https://www.thegoodpartnership.com/Connect with Jess: Out In the Boons: https://www.outintheboons.me/ Host