384 Sara Graham: Fresh Presse

Women Innovating Networking Growing Scaling – that’s WINGS … I’m Melinda Wittstock, my mission is to help women soar to success in business and in life – without tradeoff or apology, stepping into the light to have a transformational impact on the world. So on this mentoringMinisode of Wings of Inspired Business we talk about confidence, and what it takes to “ask for the business” without apology – and price your true value into your services or product. We also talk how to value your time, and when to ask for help – plus how to create rituals in your day that keep you focused and productive.

Here with us today to provide her insights and inspiration is

Sara Graham

Sara is a brand development & communications consultant who created The Espresso Program to get new business ideas off the ground for her female founder clients in just 12 weeks.

Sara Graham is here in just a moment…

And now to the inspiring Sara Graham

Sara says she’s thrived on deadlines for years as a content producer for boutique businesses as well as Fortune 500 companies. Before she took the leap into entrepreneurship, Sara was editor-in-chief and brand manager at Youth Culture Group and she also produced customized advertorials for major brands such as Rimmel, L’Oreal and Wal-Mart, and original content for Toronto Eaton Centre’s monthly e-magazine, as well as contributing to many print and online publications such as Flight Centre’s magazine, Laineygossip.com, The Zoe Report and Huffington Post.

Melinda Wittstock: Sara, welcome to Wings.

Sara Graham: Thank you so much Melinda. This is such an honor. I really appreciate the invitation and I’m excited to speak to you and your listeners.

Melinda Wittstock: Well, absolutely. On these mentoring Minisodes, everybody knows I love inspiration and I want to know what’s inspiring you right now?

Sara Graham:Well, I think my clients I have to say. I’m really lucky. I’m working with amazing women, entrepreneurs from a naturopathic doctor to a master [inaudible 00:00:49]. Success coaches I work with quite a bit. Also, just onboarded a swimsuit designer. These women are all very passionate, very focused, and I love helping people at the core of their, even the swimsuit designer, she’s really focused on making women feel amazing about their bodies and plus sizes and [inaudible 00:01:09] swimsuits. Those sort of things I would never think of. Always inspired by them and also just connections. All my clients have come from really great connections, and I think through my life I’ve been able to really fall into things. Whenever I get enough time, I think about all these seemingly random connections that I’ve made and have really shaped my career. That’s kind of what’s inspiring me right now.

Melinda Wittstock: That’s awesome. There are always challenges along the way for any entrepreneur, right? The sort of challenges that your clients are going through, but also for you. I mean, what are some of the challenges in your business right now?

Sara Graham:In my own business I would say really that consistence can come. It’s tough when you’re sort of a one woman show because you’ve got the climber, but you’ve also got to stay on top of the marketing that needs to be done. At the same time so I find that it’s probably a challenge.

Melinda Wittstock: That’s a tough one because when you’re out selling, you get a lot of demand. You’d like your pipeline as full and then you have all these clients you’ve got to serve and then the pipeline can get neglected.

Sara Graham: Right.

Melinda Wittstock: One of the things that I always say is like hire as fast as fast as fast as you can? Is it just you because that’s a tough road? You need help.

Sara Graham: Yeah, I do. I have people that do the Instagram social media training. I have someone that does my SEO for my clients. I don’t do everything within the business, so I do have a bit of support. Once I have a client on board, then the other people in the mix go to work as well.

Melinda Wittstock: Right, yeah, yeah. So, so important and along the way, you’ve had this long career as copywriter and a brand person and editorial marketing experience, all these things, no doubt you’ve learned a lot along the way there about … to help your clients. What are your top three go to pieces of advice for women in business based on your own expertise and your own experience.

Sara Graham: Well, I think it’s a lot about confidence and not being afraid to ask for the business, for the introductions and to show up online and offline because I think pipelines and funnels, all these things are great, but really for me at least, really great clients come from personal connection, establishing trust before anyone is going to invest in what I’m offering. It’s the same for their businesses as well. I train them in all of that, how [inaudible 00:04:27], marketing works and sort of a … it’s always a revelation to them because they just have no idea about these pieces that have to come together for them to run a successful online business. Top three pieces of advice, that would be one, don’t be afraid to be asking for help for the introductions and then number two is really learning to manage your time effectively. This is a really big thing with clients. Keeping them on task, on schedule. [inaudible 00:05:09] is always hard. In general for entrepreneurs, learning to manage time effectively, trying different methods to reduce distraction, super important whether that’s setting three to five tasks for the day.

Setting a timer and taking breaks and then not moving on until the first task is done is a method that works quite well for me and whatever doesn’t get done out of those three to five tasks that you set at the beginning of the day, then just put them into the next day.

Sara Graham: Okay. And the third thing I wanted to share with entrepreneurs is really creating rituals. As a runner and yoga teacher I really can confidently say that making sure exercise, yoga, meditation are incorporated into your day has really been a game changer. I think which in general, we’re so stressed. People don’t realize that these are tools that help you to move your body and help your mind to stop racing. I think if people figure out what works for them whether it’s meditation or journaling or turning off that phone in the evening and disconnecting. You can really be surprised how five or 10 extra productivity once you get into these good habits. People often say I don’t have time to exercise. I don’t have time to meditate. Well, you have time to feel like crap as Gabrielle [Berstein 00:07:42] used to say. I think it’s very true.

Melinda Wittstock: Yeah, for women it’s a big challenge to just really admit that we need to take time for ourselves. It’s absolutely vital. Sarah, how can people find you and work with you?

Sara Graham: Okay, so I have a website Freshpresse.co, F-R-E-S-H-P-R-E-S-S-E.CO and I’m also on Instagram at Fresh Presse so those are the best ways to connect.

Melinda Wittstock: Awesome. Well thank you so much for putting on your wings and flying with us.

Sara Graham: Thank you Melinda.

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Listen to learn the secrets, strategies, practical tips and epiphanies of women entrepreneurs who’ve “been there, built that” so you too can manifest the confidence, capital and connections to soar to success!
Instantly get Melinda’s Wings Success Formula
Review on iTunes and win the chance for a VIP Day with Melinda