Confessions with Jess and Cindy

“And it was the first time, too, that I felt like, oh, man, I thought I was an entrepreneur. I thought this was in my bones. Why can't I figure it out? ” - Meredith NobleMeredith Noble knows what it’s like to start from the ground up. On today’s episode of the podcast, she shares the ups and downs of growing Learn Grant Writing, from having her office literally explode to tripling her revenue by making a few key changes. Her story is inspiring and her advice is spot on for anyone looking to take their consulting business to the next level.  Highlights:Navigate entrepreneurial challenges, gleaning wisdom from failures, and seeking mentorship for guidance.Don't be afraid to blow up your business model if it's not workingGrasp the concept of moving from budget-friendly to higher-end course models, accentuating your offer's value.Focus on your ideal customer and get your pricing right.Delve into dealing with challenges in entrepreneurship, extracting knowledge from failures, and finding guidance through mentors.Realize the importance of delegating tasks, hiring the right talents, and systemizing for an effective team collaboration.Discern the strategy of keeping a steady concentration while pursuing multifaceted interests to maintain progress.Find Us Online:  https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/Connect with Meredith Noble: Meredith Noble (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/meredith.noble/Learn Grant Writing (Website): https://www.learngrantwriting.org/Connect 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.

"I think, like everybody, there's always imposter syndrome, right? You know, this feeling of, am I really that good? Or am I as good as I pretend to be on TV?" - Amy EisensteinFor many nonprofit consultants, the temptation to diversify services is ever-present. This approach, although seemingly effective, can dilute one's specialty, leaving you wading through tasks that might not align with your core passion. If Amy Eisenstein's story sounds familiar, you know the challenge: offering myriad services but missing out on harnessing the true power of your expertise.Dive into Amy’s business evolution from Amy Eisenstein LLC to Capital Campaign Pro. Discover how she harnessed the power of niche specialization, and revolutionized her revenue stream by transitioning to a subscription model. If you're in the nonprofit consultancy realm, this episode is your guide to optimizing and refining your services. Listen to the full episode now and unearth the secrets to niche mastery in nonprofit consulting.Highlights:Building a successful nonprofit coaching or consulting business requires specializing in a niche and choosing clients that align with your expertise and interests.Creating a subscription model for services can help generate recurring revenue and provide ongoing support and guidance to clients.Onboarding new clients is crucial for their success, and it involves introducing them to the team, providing orientation to the program, and ensuring they have access to resources and support.Retention and engagement of clients can be achieved through regular check-ins, monitoring their participation, and offering personalized support and guidance.Growing an email list and utilizing email marketing strategies, such as providing valuable free resources and nurturing leads, can be an effective way to attract and convert ideal clients.Connect with Amy:Website: https://capitalcampaignpro.com/For Nonprofit Consultants: https://capitalcampaignpro.com/toolkit-for-consultants/Find Us Online:  https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/Connect 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.

In this episode of the Confessions podcast, we have Danielle Gines, the founder of DG Consulting. Danielle specializes in curriculum development and design, instructional design, English language learners, adult learners, nonprofit management, and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs).  Danielle discusses the challenges and fears she faced when choosing a niche for her business. She also explains the various services she offers, including curriculum development, curriculum revision, course mapping, audits, and learning management systems. Danielle provides insights into her pricing structure and how she receives payment for her services.Highlights:The importance of understanding adult learning and designing courses that focus on behavior change and real-life impact.Collaboration and networking with other consultants has been instrumental in growing her business and attracting clients.A suggestion for consultants is to prioritize the three P's: presentation, practice, and production, in order to develop interactive and impactful learning opportunities.An important reminder for consultants is to embrace their worries and imposter syndrome, as it often signifies a dedication to self-improvement and a learner-centric mindset.Find Us Online:  https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/Connect with Danielle Gines:Danielle Gines (Linkedin): https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-gines1DG Consultancy (Website): https://dgconsultancy.us/Email: danielle@dgconsultancy.usConnect 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.

"Let go of what's not working. Let go of the things that are keeping you and preventing you from saying yes and go all in with your heart and your brain and just do great things." - Cindy WagmanJoin Cindy, Jess, Rhea, and Brooke as they discuss the power and impact of their mastermind in this episode of the Confessions podcast. They share their experiences and insights from their biannual in-person meetings, highlighting the transformative nature of these gatherings. The group emphasizes the importance of trust, vulnerability, and mutual admiration in creating a supportive and empowering environment. They also discuss the value of investing in oneself and the power of collaboration and resource sharing. Tune in to learn how this mastermind group has helped them level up their businesses and achieve their goals.Highlights:Trust and vulnerability are crucial in a successful mastermind group, where open communication and honest feedback from peers are essential for growth.Investing in oneself and one's business is crucial, with the group members recognizing the need for time, resources, and money to elevate their businesses and achieve their goals.The mastermind's success was due to the group's mutual admiration and respect, creating a supportive and collaborative environment.The mastermind group members support each other by sharing resources and knowledge to help each other in their businesses.The mastermind group emphasized the value of camaraderie, celebration, and support in their business journey.Connect with Brooke:Newsletter: richiebabbage.com/leadershipforward321Podcast: Nonprofit Mastermind PodcastWebsite: https://brookerichiebabbage.com/Connect with Rhea Wong: Website: https://www.rheawong.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rheawong/Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nonprofit-lowdown/id1436858854Find Us Online:  https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/Connect 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.

“A majority of what secures you the proposal or the winning bid is your relationship to that organization.” - Cindy WagmanIn this eye-opening episode, we dive headfirst into the world of Request for Proposals (RFPs) within the nonprofit consulting industry. We’ll delve deeper into the pros and cons of RFPs for nonprofit consultants and share our personal experiences and offer some valuable advice for those who choose to pursue them. From building relationships to customizing proposals, we’ll reveal the secrets to standing out in a sea of RFPs (and when you should just ignore them). Join us as we explore the intriguing dynamics of RFPs and the unique challenges they present Highlights:RFPs and standardized responsesThe pros and cons of RFPsWhat to include on a proposalThe challenges and benefits of responding to RFPsThe power of personalizationFind Us Online:  https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/Connect 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.

“Follow your gut. If it's not so bad, but you're just like I'm not interested, double your prices and see what they say.” - Cindy WagmanIn today's episode, we are thrilled to introduce a brand-new format for the show. We will delve into the common struggle of choosing clients and openly share our own experiences of dealing with difficult clients. From setting boundaries to raising prices, we offer valuable insights on how to navigate the tricky world of client selection. Plus, we’ll reveal a clever strategy for attracting the right clients through case studies. Highlights:Pick clients that align with your values and work styleSetting boundaries and be selective about who you work withDon't undervalue your services out of fear or scarcity mindsetSeek support and advice from trusted peers or mentors to help you navigate client selection and pricing decisionsFind Us Online:  https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/Connect 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.

“I pride myself on being a disruptor. So like, how can we talk about things differently that aren't or haven't been talked about in the sector? That's not what I was comfortable with when I started my business 14 years ago. I was born in Georgia, raised in South Carolina, like conservative roots, pearl necklaces, right? Where it was like, oh, no, no, no, you just need to like, don't rock the boat. And I'm rocking the fucking boat, Like where's the boat? I want to rock it. And so really like stepping out and into myself over the last 14 years, like publicly speaking about what I believe in. - Jarrett RansomHighlights:Embrace Your Worth: Jarrett's journey started at $40/hour and now she has ascended to strategic planning rates that have doubled over time. This increase didn't lead to raised eyebrows among her clients either. Isn’t it heartening to see how respect for your skills goes hand-in-hand with the pricing it calls for?Become Your Best Investment: Jarrett recognized her growth potential and gave herself the gift of a high-ticket coach. Surrounding yourself with people who've reached where you aim to be, could be your game-changer. Be inspired to invest in yourself!Mindset Matters: Uplifting your business begins with uplifting your mindset. Jarrett emphasizes the necessity of freedom from scarcity thinking and adopting an abundance and prosperity mindset. Remember, your mindset towards money shapes your business.Systems for Success: How about 'working less and making more'? Jarrett simplifies her day-to-day workload by delegating tasks to her VA team, which frees her to focus on higher objectives. Building feasible systems and processes can be your key to this.Consistency Pays: Jarrett's committed endeavors in hosting a daily live show have borne fruits in building her reputation and online presence. The myth of overnight success is debunked here. Let's pledge to be persistent!The Art of Releasing: Want to reach newer heights? Learn to let go! Jarrett made a decisive move away from long-term interim work to concentrate on her fresh program for nonprofit consultants. Recognize when to say 'no'.Speak for Your Work: Jarrett makes it a point to advertise her availability for new projects on LinkedIn. An essential and direct reminder - people can only hire you when they are aware that you are open to work!Find Us Online:  https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/Connect with Jarrett Ransom:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jrransomThe Rayvan Group: therayvangroup.comNonprofit Nerd School: nonprofitnerdschool.comConnect 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.

Get ready for a power-packed panel discussion that will leave you inspired and motivated! In this episode of the Confessions Podcast, we've gathered three extraordinary nonprofit leaders who are here to share their wisdom and experiences of what it’s like for your clients. Join Jehan Seirafi, the visionary force behind Sunsar Maya, Sara Miller, the fearless advocate for organ donation through SODA National, and Cassy Horton, the superhero championing the cause for children of cancer patients with Pickles Group. Their unique experiences and practical wisdom will shed light on their expectations and preferences when it comes to working with consultants like you! Highlights:How do nonprofits identify suitable consultants?Understanding the approval process within nonprofits for hiring consultants.The role of professional development in nonprofit-consultant relationships.Highlighting what nonprofits value most about working with consultants.One crucial insight nonprofits wish all consultants knew about collaborating with their organizations.Find Us Online:  https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/Connect with Jehan Seirafi:LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/jehanseirafiConnect with Cassy Horton:LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/cassyhortonConnect with Sara Miller:LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/sara-miller-1398719aConnect 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.

Say goodbye to traditional pricing models and hello to value-based pricing. But what exactly does that mean? In this episode of the Confessions Podcast, we are joined by Regina Alhassan, founder of ResearchPRO, a prospect development coaching and consulting firm. With years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Regina has mastered the art of value-based pricing to help organizations not only meet but exceed their financial goals. Hear her thoughts on delivering value, prospect development, and maintaining authenticity in relationships.Highlights:The secrets behind working effectively with high-value, six-figure clients.Art of value-based pricingRegina’s journey on evolving her business model from small-scale projects to long-term retainers and a one-to-many model.How to prospect clients in the nonprofit sector and build authentic relationships.Developing and pricing premium programs and services Find Us Online:  https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/Connect with Regina Alhassan:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reginaalhassanThe ResearchPRO: https://theresearchpro.com/Connect 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.

Get yourself prepared for an awe-inspiring conversation in this episode of the Confessions Podcast as we sit down with the extraordinary LaTresse Snead, founder of Bonsai Leadership Group. She runs a boutique consulting firm that helps nonprofit organizations in the environmental sector with executive coaching, recruiting, and consulting services. LaTresse reveals how she added a personal brand to her business and how she prices her services based on the value she brings to her clients. She also shared how she built her dream team by finding coaches and experts to supplement her own skills and the undeniable significance of having a coach in your corner. So, grab your trusty pen and paper, because LaTresse is about to unleash a mind-blowing knowledge storm.Highlights:Overview of Bonsai's core services Finding right people to work with How to cultivate a strong referral network  Relationships  as fundamental business strength The importance of delegating tasksMentorship and coaching Business Memoir: When Black Women RiseFind Us Online:  https://www.confessionswithjessandcindy.com/Connect with LaTresse Snead:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/latressesneadWebsite: https://www.bonsaileadershipgroup.com/Book: https://www.latressesnead.com/about-bookConnect 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.