Make it Happen with Mariah Scrivens: Grow Your Small Business and Your Confidence (Mariah Scrivens)

In this episode of Make it Happen with Mariah Scrivens, we're diving into a common struggle many small business owners face: the hesitation to call yourself an entrepreneur. Join us as we explore why this fear exists and how it impacts your business growth.

Key Takeaways:

• Market Research: Learn why gathering client insights through surveys can refine your business strategies and improve your copy.
• Title Dilemma: Discover why 60% of respondents in a recent survey prefer the term "small business owner" over "entrepreneur" and what this means for your business mindset.
• Imposter Syndrome: Understand how fear and imposter syndrome might be holding you back from fully embracing titles like entrepreneur or CEO.
• Hobby vs. Business: Identify the signs that your small business might be treated as a hobby and how this mindset can hinder your growth.
• Practical Steps: Get actionable tips on how to start treating your business with the respect it deserves, including how to confidently own your title, whether it's entrepreneur, CEO, or small business owner.

Time Stamps:

• 00:00 - Introduction: The importance of market research
• 00:25 - Sending out surveys for client insights
• 01:09 - The hesitation to call oneself an entrepreneur
• 02:47 - The weight of the CEO title
• 03:58 - The impact of treating your business as a hobby
• 05:59 - Investing in your business vs. treating it as a hobby
• 07:15 - Steps to start treating your business seriously
• 09:13 - Overcoming imposter syndrome and claiming your titles
• 10:37 - Practical actions to own your business title
• 11:44 - Encouragement to share and celebrate your business

Keywords: Entrepreneur, Small Business Owner, CEO, Imposter Syndrome, Market Research, Business Growth, Business Mindset, Hobby vs. Business, Business Investment, Entrepreneurial Spirit

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✿ Connect with Mariah on IG @mariahmakesithappen

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✿ Access 60+ Lessons instantly inside MBA

Welcome to Make it Happen with Mariah, the podcast for women entrepreneurs looking to transform their small businesses into thriving, full-time ventures. Join your host, Mariah, as she shares proven strategies to grow your small business and your confidence.

With Make it Happen with Mariah, you'll gain actionable advice and practical steps to build a sustainable business that you love - and your clients love too. 

Each episode is packed with step-by-step business growth strategies, real-life success stories, and a dose of humour to keep you motivated. You'll learn everything from how to optimize your Instagram content to how to launch your offers, and set up sales strategies that feel easy and effective.

Tune in to Make it Happen with Mariah and start transforming your business and your life. Subscribe now and make sure to leave a review! 

Don't forget to like, subscribe and leave 5 stars! New episodes drop every Monday.

✿ Connect with Mariah on IG @mariahmakesithappen

✿ Join your buds in GROW for Community & Coaching

✿ Access 60+ Lessons instantly inside MBA

Are you struggling to define your ideal customer avatar? In this episode, we dive deep into understanding who your dream client truly is and how to tailor your marketing strategies to attract them. If you're ready to stop guessing and start crafting content that resonates with the right audience, this episode is for you!

✿ What You'll Learn:

• What an ideal customer avatar (ICA) is and why it’s crucial for your business.
• How to overcome the fear of niching down without excluding potential clients.
• Strategies to identify your ICA by analyzing your favorite customers.
• How to use platforms like Threads for low-stakes market research.
• The importance of specificity in your marketing copy and storytelling.

✿ Ideal For:

• Entrepreneurs looking to refine their marketing approach.
• Small business owners wanting to connect with their target audience.
• Anyone struggling with defining their customer avatar.

✿ Key Quotes:

• "It’s not about excluding people; it’s about making sure your ideal customer feels seen, heard, and included."
• "Your ideal customer might be very similar to yourself or who you were a few years ago."

✿ Timestamps:

• 00:00 - Introduction to the Ideal Customer Avatar (ICA)
• 01:30 - The importance of specificity in marketing
• 03:06 - Identifying your ICA through your favorite customers
• 04:20 - Using Threads for market research
• 06:19 - Personal branding and connecting with your ICA
• 08:07 - Relatability and mundane stories for engagement
• 11:33 - Niching down vs. defining your ICA

✿ Ready to define your ICA and transform your business? Tune in now and start attracting clients that light you up!

Ideal customer avatar, target audience, niche marketing, small business strategy, personal branding, customer engagement, content marketing, market research, Threads app, entrepreneur tips.

Don't forget to like, subscribe and leave 5 stars! New episodes drop every Monday.

✿ Connect with Mariah on IG @mariahmakesithappen

✿ Join your buds in GROW for Community & Coaching

✿ Access 60+ Lessons instantly inside MBA

In this episode, Mariah dives into the top three things that may be holding you back in your business. Drawing on her journey since 2018 and insights from coaching over 200 entrepreneurs, Mariah identifies common themes that often prevent business owners from reaching their full potential. Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, these insights are crucial for overcoming obstacles and achieving growth.

Overcoming Fear (00:00 - 06:15):

• Fear is a natural response but can be a major barrier in your business. It shows up in different forms, such as fear of rejection, fear of spending money, or fear of promoting yourself.
• Overcoming fear involves showing up for yourself and pushing through discomfort. Mariah discusses how fear often manifests as imposter syndrome and offers strategies to overcome it.

Finding Clarity in What You Want (06:16 - 12:30):

• Lack of clarity and doing things because you think you should can stall your progress. Mariah stresses the importance of being honest with yourself and focusing on what truly excites you.
• Scaling a business that you’re not passionate about leads to burnout and lack of motivation. Aligning your goals with what you genuinely enjoy is key to long-term success.

Balancing Resourcefulness and Investment (12:31 - 18:45):

• Being too scrappy or frugal can limit your growth. Mariah discusses the importance of investing in your business, whether it’s in tools, coaching, or outsourcing.
• Making decisions based on fear rather than goals can hold you back. Mariah emphasizes the value of surrounding yourself with a supportive community to help overcome these challenges.

Action Steps:

• Challenge: Post a talking story on your social media every day this week. Embrace the discomfort and watch how it becomes easier over time.
• Promotion Tip: Order merch with your logo, share your business page on your personal social media, and talk confidently about your business whenever possible.

Keywords:

Fear in business, overcoming fear, business clarity, investment in business, resourcefulness, business growth, entrepreneurial mindset, Merize Business Academy.

Don't forget to like, subscribe and leave 5 stars! New episodes drop every Monday.

✿ Connect with Mariah on IG @mariahmakesithappen

✿ Join your buds in GROW for Community & Coaching

✿ Access 60+ Lessons instantly inside MBA

In this episode, Mariah dives deep into the common challenges entrepreneurs face with sales and shares valuable insights gained from coaching over 200 entrepreneurs. If you’ve ever felt uncomfortable or even gross about selling, you’re not alone. This episode explores why selling feels awkward, how to overcome these feelings, and how to transform your mindset about sales.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The Universal Struggle with Sales (00:00)
• Understanding why selling feels gross for many entrepreneurs.
• The emotional challenges associated with sales conversations.
• From Passion to Sales (02:08)
• How loving your business isn’t enough for consistent sales.
• The difference between being passionate about your business and the necessity of effective selling.
• The Sales and Marketing Distinction (05:41)
• Clarifying the difference between marketing and selling.
• Why creating content alone isn’t enough to drive sales.
• Changing Your Sales Mindset (07:27)
• Embracing the fact that your business needs to operate like a business.
• The importance of being upfront and consistent with your sales messaging.
• Educating Through Sales (09:05)
• Viewing sales as an educational process rather than a manipulative one.
• How to ethically present your offers to potential customers.
• The Power of Repetition and Information (11:04)
• The need for repeated messaging and providing ample information to potential buyers.
• Strategies for giving people enough opportunities to make a buying decision.
• Engaging in Genuine Sales Conversations (12:15)
• How to have genuine and supportive sales conversations.
• Asking the right questions to help prospects determine if your offer is a good fit.
• Overcoming Sales Discomfort (14:58)
• Personal insights on overcoming the discomfort of selling.
• How to develop a positive relationship with sales and enjoy the process.
• Resources and Support (16:08)
• Introduction to Mariah’s Business Academy and its sales module.
• How the academy can help with sales strategies and messaging.

Actionable Takeaways:

1. Shift Your Mindset: Embrace sales as an essential part of your business, not just a necessary evil. View it as an opportunity to educate and help potential customers.
2. Separate Sales from Marketing: Understand that marketing creates awareness and interest, but selling involves direct conversations and follow-ups.
3. Practice and Repetition: Regularly engage in sales conversations and practice your messaging to become more comfortable and effective.
4. Provide Ample Information: Ensure your potential customers have all the information they need to make an informed decision.
5. Join a Community: Consider joining Mariah’s Business Academy or other supportive communities to refine your sales skills and gain valuable feedback.

Don't forget to like, subscribe and leave 5 stars! New episodes drop every Monday.

✿ Connect with Mariah on IG @mariahmakesithappen

✿ Join your buds in GROW for Community & Coaching

✿ Access 60+ Lessons instantly inside MBA

Dive deep into the transformative journey of a former teacher who turned burnout into a thriving six-figure business. Discover how she leveraged her teaching experience, passion for graphic design, and a leap of faith to create a successful online business. Whether you're a teacher considering a career change or an entrepreneur looking for inspiration, this episode is packed with valuable insights and actionable tips.

What You’ll Learn:

- The Power of Pivoting: How Mariah transitioned from teaching to entrepreneurship and why it’s important to follow what feels right.

- Scaling with Strategy: The steps Mariah took to expand her digital products, create a membership site, and scale her business to six figures.

- Balancing Life & Business: How Mariah navigated personal changes, including moving to a new city and becoming a mother, while growing her business.

- Overcoming Burnout: The critical moment when Mariah decided to take a leave of absence and focus on her passion projects—and how that decision changed everything.

- Embracing the Entrepreneurial Mindset: Why it’s essential to experiment, take risks, and embrace the title of entrepreneur.

Key Moments:

- [00:00-02:00] - Mariah’s early career and initial thoughts on teaching vs. marketing.

- [06:00-16:00] - Discovering a love for creating digital resources and selling them online.

- [16:00-30:00] - The burnout that led to a life-changing decision to move and focus on her business.

- [30:00-46:00] - Scaling the business and incorporating coaching.

- [46:00-58:00] - The rapid growth of her coaching business and the lessons learned along the way.

- [1:22:00-1:30:00] - Advice on taking bold steps in your entrepreneurial journey.

Actionable Takeaways:

- Follow Your Passion: Don’t be afraid to pivot and explore new avenues that align with your interests and skills.

- Scale Smart: Start with one product, expand your offerings, and consider adding a membership or coaching component to your business.

- Prioritize Mental Health: Recognize when burnout is affecting you and take steps to focus on what truly matters.

- Bold Moves: Don’t shy away from taking risks—sometimes the biggest rewards come from the boldest decisions.

What did you think of Mariah’s journey? Have a similar story? We’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment or review and let us know how this episode resonated with you.

Don't forget to like, subscribe and leave 5 stars! New episodes drop every Monday.

✿ Connect with Mariah on IG @mariahmakesithappen

✿ Join your buds in GROW for Community & Coaching

✿ Access 60+ Lessons instantly inside MBA