The Ramble Refinery with Heather Sager

Real talk – how do you navigate pregnancy (or any big life change) while running a business? Especially one where you travel and speak? If you’re self-employed planning maternity leave, or if you're simply looking for strategies to strike a healthier work-life balance, this episode will enlighten, inspire and spark new ideas for you. I sat down with one of my long-term clients, successful speaker and trainer,  who ALSO  is pregnant with TWINS.  Between us we have (or are brewing) 8 kiddos and we’re sharing a candid convo on challenges and realities of juggling motherhood, pregnancy, speaking, digital courses  and all things entrepreneurship.Even if you’re not pregnant, these insights are for anyone craving a good life beyond their business. Episode Quick Guide:0:00 Self-Employed Pregnancy and Maternity Leave3:58 Navigating Business and Pregnancy14:18 Transition to Short-Term Projects and Simplify Business Operations20:32 Travel and Work Independently24:58 The Challenges of Performing and Recovering35:31 Balancing Work and Rest in Self-Employment42:06 Simplifying Business and Avoiding Time-Wasting Activities48:31 Shift to Digital Courses58:29 Balancing Personal and Professional Brand1:04:08 Using Your Voice for Marketing SuccessEPISODE  SHOW NOTES👇https://heathersager.com/episode217Send us a textSupport the show🔗 Grab the latest FREE resources: https://heathersager.com/start 🔗 Browse all episode shownotes: https://heathersager.com/blog 📣 The Signature Talk Accelerator starts September 8 → click here to get on the waitlist. Nail your message, hone your story and create a magnetic talk that grows your business from any stage. 👋 CONNECT WITH HEATHER:Work with Heather: https://www.heathersager.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theheathersager/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HeatherSagerIf you’re loving this episode, please take a moment to rate & review the show. This helps me get this message to more people so they too can ditch the hustle 24/7 life.

Ever wonder how Taylor Swift built her diehard fan base? It's not the glitzy costume changes or famous boyfriends. Taylor's audience can't get enough of her songs because album after album, her lyrics make them feel like they know her. She puts into words the same experiences they're going through too. As business owners, you can forge those same genuine connections that turn you into an audience favorite. The secret sauce? Everyday, relatable stories. When you share these real snippets of your life, storytelling becomes your ultimate differentiator.The good news? You don't need to be a pop star to make it work for you. Tune into this  episode to unlock the secrets of relatable storytelling that will set you apart from others in your niche.EPISODE  SHOW NOTES👇https://heathersager.com/episode216Send us a textSupport the show🔗 Grab the latest FREE resources: https://heathersager.com/start 🔗 Browse all episode shownotes: https://heathersager.com/blog 📣 The Signature Talk Accelerator starts September 8 → click here to get on the waitlist. Nail your message, hone your story and create a magnetic talk that grows your business from any stage. 👋 CONNECT WITH HEATHER:Work with Heather: https://www.heathersager.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theheathersager/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HeatherSagerIf you’re loving this episode, please take a moment to rate & review the show. This helps me get this message to more people so they too can ditch the hustle 24/7 life.

In the busy world of entrepreneurship, it’s often challenging to say yes to when opportunities knock. When you’re swamped with work, getting in front of new audiences can take a back seat. It’s all too easy to fall into ‘when/then’ syndrome, promising yourself that you’ll make time later.But visibility helps consistently keep leads and clients coming in the door of your business-so your economic engine can keep chugging along. And the key to keeping it going? Your signature talk. It’s the tool every business owner needs so you’re empowered to confidently say yes, without needing to reinvent the wheel every time you take the stage. Tune into this episode to find out how to use a signature talk to keep you in the spotlight, build your brand, and cement your status as the go-to expert in your niche, even in your busiest of times. EPISODE  SHOW NOTES👇https://heathersager.com/episode215Send us a textSupport the show🔗 Grab the latest FREE resources: https://heathersager.com/start 🔗 Browse all episode shownotes: https://heathersager.com/blog 📣 The Signature Talk Accelerator starts September 8 → click here to get on the waitlist. Nail your message, hone your story and create a magnetic talk that grows your business from any stage. 👋 CONNECT WITH HEATHER:Work with Heather: https://www.heathersager.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theheathersager/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HeatherSagerIf you’re loving this episode, please take a moment to rate & review the show. This helps me get this message to more people so they too can ditch the hustle 24/7 life.

Be honest: Do you have a graveyard of talks you’ve delivered 1, 2 or 3 times? Do you feel like you’re creating a new talk for almost every speaking opportunity?If you’re picturing your Canva dashboard packed with slide decks, right about now, you’re in good company.Many of my Signature Talk Accelerator students come into the program with a bunch of talks, before honing in on a signature talk topic that’s versatile enough to be used over and over again. Nicole Hatherly, a Global Brand Strategist & Professional Speaker, was one of these students. As an already good speaker, she struggled with the idea of how to clearly articulate her expertise into one talk. But inside the Signature Talk Accelerator she found her ‘margarita message’<---tune in to learn my spicy take on honing in your talk focus.In this episode you’ll hear why Nicole no longer believes a signature talk is a one-trick pony, and how in 6 months she’s gone from a rough draft to delivering it 19 times and counting for three very different types of audiences! EPISODE  SHOW NOTES👇https://heathersager.com/episode214Send us a textSupport the show🔗 Grab the latest FREE resources: https://heathersager.com/start 🔗 Browse all episode shownotes: https://heathersager.com/blog 📣 The Signature Talk Accelerator starts September 8 → click here to get on the waitlist. Nail your message, hone your story and create a magnetic talk that grows your business from any stage. 👋 CONNECT WITH HEATHER:Work with Heather: https://www.heathersager.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theheathersager/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HeatherSagerIf you’re loving this episode, please take a moment to rate & review the show. This helps me get this message to more people so they too can ditch the hustle 24/7 life.

Is your message catnip to your audience? Clarity in your message comes from taking action over and over. The more you speak, the more you learn about what creates those “aha” moments where your message clicks with your audience.  Yet, so many business owners try to think their way through why their messaging isn’t landing. They’re caught in the perfection trap leading them to believe they don’t belong on stage until everything is figured out. The truth is they’d get a lot further faster by testing it in front of an audience. That’s exactly what Merritt Onsa, a dream coach, who helps Christian women step into their purpose, experienced. Fast forward to today, and Merritt just had FOUR speaking opportunities offered to her! Merritt dropped gems in this conversation that will hit home for any business owner wanting to improve their messaging, tune in to hear our conversation.EPISODE  SHOW NOTES👇https://heathersager.com/episode213Send us a textSupport the show🔗 Grab the latest FREE resources: https://heathersager.com/start 🔗 Browse all episode shownotes: https://heathersager.com/blog 📣 The Signature Talk Accelerator starts September 8 → click here to get on the waitlist. Nail your message, hone your story and create a magnetic talk that grows your business from any stage. 👋 CONNECT WITH HEATHER:Work with Heather: https://www.heathersager.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theheathersager/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HeatherSagerIf you’re loving this episode, please take a moment to rate & review the show. This helps me get this message to more people so they too can ditch the hustle 24/7 life.

Imposter syndrome can strike anyone, leading to battles with self-doubt and an inner voice who notices every fumble so it hisses unhelpful things like, “you don’t know what you’re doing” or “you’re an idiot.”After 20+years as a speaker, I know first-hand that voice never quite goes away. But, I’ve also learned there are plenty of ways to shush it. And that’s what Sydnea Lewis, a Signature Talk Accelerator alumni, joined me to discuss. Sydnea is an experienced brand and marketing strategist and college professor, yet a year ago she found herself sharing her ideas and avoiding social interactions with peers and on social media.Yep, imposter syndrome had Sydnea in its grips, but her experience in the Signature Talk Accelerator gave her practical tactics to embrace the fear of speaking and move forward despite it.Fair warning: As always, you’re in for a real discussion. None of us has it all together. We’re all works in progress, but the insights you’ll take away from our conversation will propel you forward on your journey to becoming a more confident speaker.In this episode, Sydnea and I discuss:The imposter syndrome struggle experts faceOne mindset shift which hugely dials down your nervesThe messy middle of getting your first talk doneA strategy to keep your talk focused even when you go off on a tangentTo script or not to scriptWhy critiques are a crucial part of improvement, even though they feel scaryThe joy of the speaking snowball effectHow getting comfortable with discomfort leads to growth in your personal lifeEPISODE  SHOW NOTES👇https://heathersager.com/episode212Send us a textSupport the show🔗 Grab the latest FREE resources: https://heathersager.com/start 🔗 Browse all episode shownotes: https://heathersager.com/blog 📣 The Signature Talk Accelerator starts September 8 → click here to get on the waitlist. Nail your message, hone your story and create a magnetic talk that grows your business from any stage. 👋 CONNECT WITH HEATHER:Work with Heather: https://www.heathersager.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theheathersager/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HeatherSagerIf you’re loving this episode, please take a moment to rate & review the show. This helps me get this message to more people so they too can ditch the hustle 24/7 life.

Dream of making an impact with your message?Whether you’re a seasoned speaker or have a message in your heart you know the world needs to hear, your voice is the most powerful tool in your toolbox to reach the people you want to serve. By sharing your ideas and experiences it’s possible to profoundly impact your audience's lives. In fact, I’ll step up onto my soapbox and say if you have the ability to help others it’s your duty to do just that. Often people with a desire to help people feel conflicted about muddying their mission by trying to make money, but to effectively be a catalyst for change, you’ll need to confidently sell your ideas without guilt. And having a passion for helping others doesn’t need to equal pennilessness, friends. If you want to keep sharing your gifts with the world, you’ll need to make money too. In this episode, you’ll hear…Why honoring your audience is the cornerstone of driving real changeOne shift that elevates how you serve others with your messageThe relationship between money and missionHow competence leads to confidence on stageThe real deal on feeling weird about your callingA tough love pep talk on speaking with purposeWhat it means to sell your ideasEPISODE  SHOW NOTES👇https://heathersager.com/episode211Send us a textSupport the show🔗 Grab the latest FREE resources: https://heathersager.com/start 🔗 Browse all episode shownotes: https://heathersager.com/blog 📣 The Signature Talk Accelerator starts September 8 → click here to get on the waitlist. Nail your message, hone your story and create a magnetic talk that grows your business from any stage. 👋 CONNECT WITH HEATHER:Work with Heather: https://www.heathersager.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theheathersager/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HeatherSagerIf you’re loving this episode, please take a moment to rate & review the show. This helps me get this message to more people so they too can ditch the hustle 24/7 life.

Are you an 11th hour presentation prepper? Pride yourself on your knack for ‘speaking off the cuff’ on stage? Consider yourself charismatic? While these qualities can help you navigate all kinds of scenarios, if you've developed a habit of preparing your talk at the last minute, then there’s a good chance your message is getting muddy.Consequently, making it difficult for your audience to decide if they want more from you, because you’re forcing them to weed through stories, details, and ideas that aren’t necessarily relevant to them. But what if you decided to strategically plan how to land the plane on your next talk, so your audience felt deeply seen and heard and you felt confident you’re on the right track to hit your goals?Well, I know what would happen, and my instinct is you do too. Your next talk would have a more tangible ROI than praise, claps, or kudos. Tune in and hear:Why winging it on stage is an ego play, not a strategic moveWhat your audience wants from you every single timeWhy being prepared isn’t the same as being boring or scriptedThe reputation and revenue riskWhether you might be a ‘Winging it Wanda’ How to start preparing for the wins you want from the stageEPISODE  SHOW NOTES👇https://heathersager.com/episode210Send us a textSupport the show🔗 Grab the latest FREE resources: https://heathersager.com/start 🔗 Browse all episode shownotes: https://heathersager.com/blog 📣 The Signature Talk Accelerator starts September 8 → click here to get on the waitlist. Nail your message, hone your story and create a magnetic talk that grows your business from any stage. 👋 CONNECT WITH HEATHER:Work with Heather: https://www.heathersager.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theheathersager/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HeatherSagerIf you’re loving this episode, please take a moment to rate & review the show. This helps me get this message to more people so they too can ditch the hustle 24/7 life.

Every opportunity to speak on someone else’s stage is a privilege because they’re trusting you with their audience..But where is the line between it being a great opportunity to grow your business and selling yourself short?Yes, free speaking can be a powerful tool in your marketing strategy…however without a purposeful plan in place you can end up adding another to-do item to your task list without any real payoff for all your hard work. A worthwhile trade-off for speaking on stage for free can and should be something that’s aligned with your bigger business goals. Before you commit to your next unpaid talk, let’s dissect the nuances of free speaking—understanding the real costs it requires, how to filter opportunities that come your way, and if you have to say no, how you can decline gracefully without slamming shut doors to future collaborations.This episode is a gold mine of insights to help you navigate and make smart decisions for leveraging free speaking gigs as the massive marketing opportunity they can be for your business. In this episode, you’ll discover:What essentially is free speaking and the intangible cost it requires Understanding the Law of Reciprocity—the balance between what you’re giving vs what you’re gettingThe Pros and Cons of speaking for free— is it right move for you to market and grow your businessClarifying questions to help you filter if an opportunity is going to be worth your timeHow to gracefully say no to opportunities that aren’t great fit for you (without feeling like a total jerk)Plus some examples and tactics to use free speaking opportunities to grow your business and monetize your time off stageEPISODE  SHOW NOTES👇https://heathersager.com/episode209/Send us a textSupport the show🔗 Grab the latest FREE resources: https://heathersager.com/start 🔗 Browse all episode shownotes: https://heathersager.com/blog 📣 The Signature Talk Accelerator starts September 8 → click here to get on the waitlist. Nail your message, hone your story and create a magnetic talk that grows your business from any stage. 👋 CONNECT WITH HEATHER:Work with Heather: https://www.heathersager.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theheathersager/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HeatherSagerIf you’re loving this episode, please take a moment to rate & review the show. This helps me get this message to more people so they too can ditch the hustle 24/7 life.

Have you ever beat yourself up when things don’t play out like you planned? Oftentimes, we become so obsessed with our expectations, we feel disappointed or give up when things don’t go perfectly. Even though we logically know that life rarely goes as planned.In today’s episode I’m sharing with you the behind the scenes of my life and business on how “plans” have evolved in little AND big ways over the last 6 months.  Fom selling our home in a difficult market, the surprising twist of merging two brands only to untangle them 6 months later, to the super specific tech decision I had to make this month (plus answering the big question about my surprise third pregnancy: was it planned?!)Change isn’t easy and sometimes it’s downright scary! But when you learn to pivot and adapt with purpose, you’ll become even stronger.Tune in for an episode packed with real-life experiences, actionable strategies and tips that will help you navigate life's unexpected twists (and of course I weave this into how to embrace unexpected challenges when speaking live). Ignite your hustle with a fresh perspective on the importance of flexibility in business and life! In this episode, you’ll learn:What happens when you tend to get tied to an exact plan or become obsessed with your process How can you be more flexible and embrace change not only in your business but also when it comes to speaking (hello tech snafus or unexpected disturbances)Reflection questions to help you cut the clutter and simplify things in your businessWhy your ability to make swift decision is more important than what you decidePlus exciting updates for what’s next with Team Heather SagerEnjoyed this episode? You also might love: Ep #187 - Hot Take: I Failed, Publicly and Here’s What I LearnedEp #161 - I launched a new businessEp #55 - How to handle tech surprises when virtually speakingEp #44 - Make Fear Your Homeboy with Judi HollerEPISODE  SHOW NOTES👇https://heathersager.com/episode208/Send us a textSupport the show🔗 Grab the latest FREE resources: https://heathersager.com/start 🔗 Browse all episode shownotes: https://heathersager.com/blog 📣 The Signature Talk Accelerator starts September 8 → click here to get on the waitlist. Nail your message, hone your story and create a magnetic talk that grows your business from any stage. 👋 CONNECT WITH HEATHER:Work with Heather: https://www.heathersager.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theheathersager/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/HeatherSagerIf you’re loving this episode, please take a moment to rate & review the show. This helps me get this message to more people so they too can ditch the hustle 24/7 life.