Weekly-ish notes on navigating big change

Month: May 2016

You’re invited to love your business: the #monthofbizlove challenge

How do you feel about your business? Do you LOVE it? Do you love all parts of it? Or are you feeling exhausted, grumpy, and stuck doing stuff you don't wanna do in your handmade business? It's time we turned all this around. It's time you looooooved your business. Big heart-eyes-emoji love. If you want to fall in love with your handmade business and explore the foundations of a biz you adore (whether your biz is brand new, or you've been doing it for a decade!), join me on the #MonthofBizLove! This free #monthofbizlove challenge includes: Daily Instagram Challenges to get you loving your business Daily video lessons exploring the Daily Challenge in depth! (Broadcast live on Periscope and uploaded to YouTube) A 30 day workbook to walk you through each challenge! Sign up at TaraSwiger.com/podcast108

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

How do you feel about your business?

Do you LOVE it?
Do you love all parts of it?

Or are you feeling exhausted, grumpy, and stuck doing stuff you don't wanna do in your handmade business?

It's time we turned all this around. It's time you looooooved your business. Big heart-eyes-emoji love.

If you want to fall in love with your handmade business and explore the foundations of a biz you adore (whether your biz is brand new, or you've been doing it for a decade!), join me in the #MonthofBizLove!


 

This free #monthofbizlove challenge includes:

  • Daily Instagram Challenges to get you loving your business
  • Daily video lessons exploring the Daily Challenge in depth! (broadcast live on Periscope and uploaded to YouTube)
  • A 30 day workbook to walk you through each challenge!

To join in:

  1. Get your free workbook by signing up here.
  2. Follow me on Instagram to get the daily challenge (you may want to hit “subscribe to updates”, so you don't miss a challenge)
  3. Watch the daily videos (follow me on Periscope or subscribe to my YouTube channel)

 

 

How to listen

  • You can subscribe to it on iTunes (If you do, leave a review!)
  • You can listen to it using the player above or download it.
  • Subscribe or listen via Stitcher (or subscribe in whatever you use for podcasts – just search “Explore Your Enthusiasm” and it should pop up!).

Find all the podcast episodes here.

3 Lessons from The Introvert Entrepreneur (and giveaway!)

An introvert gets their energy from being alone, while an extrovert gets energy by being with other people. Many of my listeners are introverts (me too!), so I love to find resources for thriving in business as an introvert. I recently found a great book. In this episode, we'll discuss the three big lessons I took from The Introvert Entrepreneur, by Beth Beulow. And I'm giving away a copy. Enter to win!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

An introvert gets their energy from being alone, while an extrovert gets energy by being with other people. Many of my listeners are introverts (me too!), so I love to find resources for thriving in business as an introvert.  I recently found a great book. In this episode, we'll discuss the three big lessons I took from The Introvert Entrepreneur, by Beth Beulow. And I'm giving away a copy. (Scroll down to enter!) 

Resources mentioned

Enter the book giveaway here!

 

How to listen

  • You can subscribe to it on iTunes (If you do, leave a review!)
  • You can listen to it using the player above or download it.
  • Subscribe or listen via Stitcher (or subscribe in whatever you use for podcasts – just search “Explore Your Enthusiasm” and it should pop up!).

Find all the podcast episodes here.

 

 

Interview with video podcaster, designer and retreat organizer, C.C. Almon

I am totally delighted to be talking to Starship Captain, video podcaster, designer and co-organizer of the Geeky Puffin Knitpalooza, C.C. Almon. We had a geeky, enthusiastic conversation (I'm more than a little excited that C.C. invited me to teach in the UK!). We discuss: What a knitting video podcast is. (Here's CC's) How her online community helped her deal with chronic illness What made the difference in her business and led to her biggest month ever. Her book, Coffee with C. C. What The Starship has contributed to her business The upcoming retreat in England (where I'll be teaching!) and the corresponding knitalong (which I am SO excited about!). Register for the retreat by June 1, so you can join us in the knitalong! Listen in at TaraSwiger.com/podcast106/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

I am totally delighted to be talking to Starship Captain, video podcaster, designer and co-organizer of the Geeky Puffin Knitpalooza, C.C. Almon. We had a geeky, enthusiastic conversation (I'm more than a little excited that C.C. invited me to teach in the UK!).

We discuss:

Register for the retreat by June 1, so you can join us in the knitalong!

 

How to listen

  • You can subscribe to it on iTunes (If you do, leave a review!)
  • You can listen to it using the player above or download it.
  • Subscribe or listen via Stitcher (or subscribe in whatever you use for podcasts – just search “Explore Your Enthusiasm” and it should pop up!).

Find all the podcast episodes here.

How to set (realistic) marketing expectations

If you spend all the time and energy to properly launch your next product: What can you expect to happen? How can you set realistic and yet inspiring sales goals? Today we're going to cover how exactly to set your expectations for any of your marketing activities. Listen in at TaraSwiger.com/podcast105

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

If you spend all the time and energy to properly launch your next product: What can you expect to happen? How can you set realistic and yet inspiring sales goals?

Today we're going to cover how exactly to set your expectations for any of your marketing activities.

Links mentioned:

 

How to listen

  • You can listen to it using the player above or download it.
  • You can subscribe to it on iTunes (If you do, leave a review!)
  • Subscribe or listen via Stitcher (or subscribe in whatever you use for podcasts – just search “Explore Your Enthusiasm” and it should pop up!).

Find all the podcast episodes here.

Get a FREE worksheet to help you improve your marketing when you sign up below!

What I’m Reading: May 2016

I follow my enthusiasm by reading…a lot. And once a month, I share (some of) the books I read last month and the books I intend to read this month. You can join the informal book club by sharing your own list in the comments and find all the posts here.

What I'm reading this month: business books, memoirs, novels. Find out more at TaraSwiger.com

What I read

  • The Introvert Entrepreneur, by Beth Buelow. I SO enjoyed this book! It is so inline with the many “For Introverts” podcast episodes I've made, and the author gave voice to why I do a lot of my business practices and systems. I loved it so much, I'm going to give away a copy next week! Be sure you're signed up here to get the chance to win it!
  • Wake up Happy, by Michael Strahan. It's so weird that I read two books kinda related to sports this month. This one was happy, upbeat, and encouraging. I didn't know anything about Michael and I like him quite a lot after reading it. If you need a pick-me-up, read it!
  • Lock in, by John Scalzi. Oh man. This novel was SO good. If you like sci-fi set in an almost real-world, read it. I have loved every Scalzi book I've ever read. I'll be reading more!
  • Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable, by Tim Grover. I have mixed feelings about this book, written by a superstar basketball trainer (he worked with Michael Jordan!). I want my teenage brothers to read it, for its message of “work harder than anyone else, in order to be great”… but making excuses for why “great” men cheat on their families is pretty disgusting. Related: He only talks about great men. Not once does he mention women, or how they can be relentless and great. Ugh.
  • Drawing Blood, by Molly Crabapple. I had no idea who the author was, or how the book even landed on my “to read” list, but it came in at the library so I got it. And it was very engaging. Fascinating to read about a world that's unfolded parallel to my own (we're close in age) but so totally different (being raised in rural Ohio, going to school in East TN then living in Appalachia is nothing like NYC!)

What I’m reading

What I read last May.
And in May 2014.

What are you reading?

I could use some recommendations! What are you reading and loving right now?