Messy in the Middle

In this episode of "Messy in the Middle," I'm chatting with Alexandria Theodor, a therapist and business coach for therapists. We dive into Alexandria's journey from working at an agency to starting her own private practice and eventually becoming a business coach for other therapists looking to do the same. Join us as we discuss the challenges of private practice, ethical marketing in therapy, and the trend of therapists expanding into coaching. Alexandria shares insights on marketing strategies for private practices, the importance of ethical transparency, and the value of diversifying services. The episode also touches on Alexandria's experience hosting a professional bundle and the importance of patience in marketing.  

Listen in as I hang out with the bad boy of copywriting herself – Sarah Jane Burt. Sarah shares her unconventional entry into copywriting, her experiences in corporate roles, and her transition to entrepreneurship after being wrongfully terminated. She discusses the ups and downs of scaling her business, from expanding her team to returning to solo work due to financial and client retention challenges. Sarah also talks about her template shop, the success of her content calendar lead magnet, and her thoughts on passive income and audience building. The episode delves into the realities of marketing, the importance of genuine expertise, and the satisfaction found in creative work.  

In this episode of "Messy in the Middle," I'm joined by with Monica Burlington, a realtor and burnout coach who has overcome her own struggles with overachievement. Monica discusses her journey from seeking attention through overachieving in a chaotic household to reaching the peak of her real estate career and experiencing burnout. She reflects on the impact of her mother's death and her father's alcoholism on her drive for success. Monica also talks about the challenges of setting boundaries in the demanding real estate industry and how the COVID-19 pandemic allowed her to reset and focus on working with sellers to better manage her time. The episode explores the themes of personal growth, the importance of mental health, and the continuous process of establishing healthy boundaries.  

Today I'm joined by Morgan Spect, founder of Spect & Co Design. Morgan shares her transition from a corporate job to entrepreneurship, highlighting the instability of traditional jobs and her desire for self-reliance. She discusses her cautious approach to hiring and leadership, learning from past experiences. Morgan introduces her Six Figure Brand Society membership, a blend of design support and educational resources for entrepreneurs. She invites listeners to connect with her on Instagram and LinkedIn and offers a free brand audit and training to help build a six-figure brand.

Let's hang out and catch up with Lauren from Brand Good Time! Since her last appearance, Lauren has transitioned from using contractors to hiring a full team, including a client strategy manager, content manager, and web developer. They delve into the challenges of the hiring process, the competitive job market, and the importance of internships and experience. Lauren also shares her agency's shift towards working with funded clients for greater impact and the nuances of marketing versus sales. The conversation highlights the complexities of client relationships, the importance of market research, and setting boundaries with clients to ensure active participation in their marketing efforts. Lauren emphasizes that her agency aims to make marketing enjoyable while managing the heavy logistics behind the scenes.  

Join me as I chat with Alison Meyer from Indigo Communications about the intricacies of applying for and winning awards. Alison imparts her knowledge on the strategic importance of awards for personal branding and business growth. She demystifies the process, explaining that self-nomination is common and discussing how to discern credible awards from less reputable ones. They explore the significance of aligning award pursuits with business goals and the benefits of networking through award circles. Alison also touches on the tactical aspects of award applications, such as addressing specific criteria and showcasing measurable achievements. The conversation offers listeners a deep dive into leveraging awards as part of a comprehensive PR and marketing strategy.  

Today I'm joined by Jessica Dornieden, a tech implementer and business consultant. Tune in to hear about Jess' unconventional path from childcare work to establishing her own online business. She discusses the initial challenges, such as pricing strategies and managing client expectations, while also touching on her personal experiences with ADHD and its effects on her work habits. Jess emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries, valuing one's time, and being flexible in business. Additionally, she offers insights into hiring practices and promotes her services, including a free course on Notion and a paid service for quick business solutions. The episode explores the complexities of entrepreneurship and the significance of supporting team growth.

Join me this week as I chat with Jenny Jones, a business operations consultant and in-house COO. Jenny talks about her major career pivot from corporate finance to entrepreneurship and many challenges, emotions, and celebrations that came up along the way.  Listen in to learn why maintaining up-to-date systems and processes key for all business owners (especially when managing a growing team) and get insight on the signs that indicate your business is ready for operational back-up. You’ll also hear stories about learning from difficult client relationships and the value of trusting one's instincts when vetting potential clients. There’s a lesson here for everyone. You can connect with Jenny here.  

I wrote a blog post! And then everyone told me it was too long... ...so I turned it into a podcast episode! If you want to read along you can check out the full post (and references) here.  Want to chat about it? So do I! Send me a DM on IG @haleyejohnson

In this week's episode, Haley and Dr. Noor chat about the health insurance options available for freelancers. Learn the differences between public and private healthcare marketplaces and the qualifying events that allow for enrollment outside of the open enrollment period.  Health insurance is a complex and personal decision, but it isn't something you should have to navigate alone. Learning from (and working with!) Dr. Noor can help to simplify the process and provide tailored solutions for your individual circumstances.  Check out Dr. Noor's guide to open enrollment or book a call to get started today! Dr. Noor's Guide to Open Enrollment: FREE VIDEO TRAINING Book a Call: drnoorhealth.com/contact  Find Noor on IG @drnoorhealth

We're back with Season 4 of Messy in the Middle! Today we're joined by Brittany Hoopes, a hypnotherapist and former contestant on CBS "Big Brother".  In this episode we dive into Brittany's experience with hypnosis, her decision to leave the corporate world to start her own business, and of course, Haley gets side tracked to talk about her favorite show – Big Brother.  Tune in as Brittany shares her insights on belief and focus in achieving success, dealing with negativity, and maintaining a positive mindset when things get tough. Explore the power of hypnosis, mindset, and personal growth in the season 4 premier! Find Brittany: brittanyhoopes.com

Episode Summary: Can you believe we've already made it to the season 3 finale of Messy In The Middle?? I saved one of my favorite topics for our last chat of the season: thought leadership & Thought Leaders Collective! TLC is currently undergoing a major revamp, so you'll be among the first to hear about its amazing improvements (and to get in on the action yourself). In this episode, we cover: What IS thought leadership? What thought leadership means to you as a business owner How you can build credibility and establish yourself as a thought leader in you industry in the new and improved Thought Leaders Collective Thank you so much for joining me-until season 4! Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/ Check out my website haleyejohnson.com  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/   Resources mentioned in this episode: Join the waitlist for TLC (or join us, if you're listening after July): https://thepropegy.com/tlc/   Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Angela for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music.    Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ

Episode Summary: Hey hey! Welcome back to another episode of Messy In The Middle! On this week's episode, I'm chatting with content marketing and launch strategist (and soon-to-be published author), Amanda Warfield! Amanda's approach to consistent, strategic marketing that doesn't take up all of your time has gone on to help hundreds of women batch create their content and make space for being strategic with what they're creating. In this episode, we cover: Amanda's entrepreneurial journey Creating high quality content while still doing less Amanda's process in writing her book The 3 phases of the business journey What IS a funnel? Thank you so much for joining me!   Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/ Check out my website haleyejohnson.com  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/   Resources mentioned in this episode: Pre-order Amanda's book: https://amandawarfield.com/book/ Follow Amanda on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrsamandawarfield/   Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Angela for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music.  Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ

Episode Summary: Remember that solo episode from a few weeks ago all about how to stay consistent with marketing when you're feeling busy? Well, if you missed the second half of that episode because you were like "wtf, this doesn't sound like Haley?," I'm back with an explanation! Little did you know, it was all part of a case study my team and I were conducting all about Chat GPT! I've even got my content manager, Angela, on the episode to back me up! In this episode, we cover: What the chat GPT case study was all about The parameters and results of the case study If we really think chat GPT is coming for our jobs...   Thank you so much for joining me!   Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/ Check out my website haleyejohnson.com  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/   Resources mentioned in this episode: Check out the case study: https://www.haleyejohnson.com/3-11/ Blog: Why You Still Need A Copywriter In The Age of Chat GPT- https://lavenderturtle.com/?p=9708&preview=1&_ppp=e4bcbe5444   Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Angela for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music.  Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ

Episode Summary: Welcome back to another episode! This week, I had the opportunity to chat with Kitty McLeod! Kitty is a self-described blerb. She facilitates organizational culture change management as the President of the Inclusion Plus Institute, guided by data to coach organizations to maximize inclusive and creative collaboration.   In 2021, she founded Illumine Wellness (@illumine.wellness) to support others as they integrate safety and joy in their bodies through body awareness, play, and sound healing.   Kitty is also a choreographer and dance/yoga instructor (200 Hr YTT). Her style is influenced by movement forms from Hip Hop to Circus Arts, as well as her training as a Dance major at Ursinus College and her current study in Dance Movement Therapy at Rider University. In this episode, we cover: Owning your creative side and healing through movement Balancing openness and navigating business stereotypes at the same time How to embed themes of DEI into your mission Thank you so much for joining me! Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/ Check out my website haleyejohnson.com  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/   Resources mentioned in this episode: Check out the Inclusion+ Institute: https://inclusionplusinstitute.com Check out Kitty on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/illumine.wellness/   Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Angela for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music.  Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ

Episode Summary: Surprise! I've got a bonus episode of the podcast for you this week! I had the chance to chat with my amazing friend and people ops/hr queen, Kira La Forgia! In this episode, we cover: Different leadership styles (and how to find out yours with her new quiz) The upcoming launch of her new course, People On Purpose Tackling difficult conversations as a leader in business Thank you so much for joining me!   Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/ Check out my website haleyejohnson.com  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/   Resources mentioned in this episode: Follow Kira on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theparadigmm/  Discover Your People Leader Archetype Quiz:  https://propegy--paradigmconsulting.thrivecart.com/people-on-purpose/6466d37efb476/ Sign up for the "tackling Tough Conversations" Webinar:  https://propegy--paradigmconsulting.thrivecart.com/people-on-purpose/6466d37efb476/ Join the waitlist for People On Purpose: https://the-paradigm.com/people-on-purpose?affiliate=propegy    Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Angela for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music.  Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ

Episode Summary: Welcome back! I'm back again with some more hot takes, because you know I love them. This one is all about business coaching. My take: You do not need a business coach to start a business! In this episode, we cover: What you can do instead or who you can hire instead of turning to a business coach How to work through the beginning stages of your business Finding a coach vs finding an expert  Thank you so much for joining me!   Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/ Check out my website haleyejohnson.com  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/ Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Angela for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music.  Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ

Episode Summary: Welcome back to Messy In The Middle! This week, I'm chatting with Sarah Zero, the founder of Wellstruck, a community for empathy-driven entrepreneurs who crave a nourishing home base with friends that challenge and champion each other. Beginning with intimate roundtable discussions in 2013, Sarah has inspired real, vulnerable conversation and collaborative problem-solving to combat loneliness and imposter syndrome. Sarah curates and facilitates, mastermind groups, events, and a podcast that has grown to 100+ roundtables with 500+ business owners throughout the U.S. mid-Atlantic. She has survived ovarian cancer, spoken on conference panels and podcasts, and perfected the art of moderation that inspires connection, curiosity, courage, and confidence. Sarah lives with her partner and pup in Delaware, where you’ll often find her taking a pottery class, exploring the neighborhood creek, or treating herself to Little Goat on Main Street. In this episode, we cover: How Sarah encourages her members to show up for the "hell yes" and ditch the rest Leading with empathy in business and its amazing impact The importance of finding and building community  Thank you so much for joining me! Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/ Check out my website haleyejohnson.com  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/ Resources mentioned in this episode: Check out Wellstruck: wellstruck.com/membership Wellstruck Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wellstruck Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Angela for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music.  Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ

Episode Summary: This episode was super interesting to record- I'm dishing out some tips on how to stay consistent with your marketing efforts when you are super busy. With summer right around the corner, I think you'll find these tips really valuable! In this episode, we cover: 5 ways to stay consistent with marketing when you are busy There maaay be a little more in there, but you'll just have to give the whole episode a listen so you're in on the action Thank you so much for joining me! Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/ Check out my website haleyejohnson.com  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/ Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Angela for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music.  Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ

Episode Summary: I won't work with clients unless they have a messaging guide. Hot take, I know. But it's true! This episode is all about messaging guides and why they are so important to have for your business. In this episode, we cover: What a messaging guide actually IS What I include in a messaging guide A step-by-step breakdown of each part of a messaging guide Thank you so much for joining me! Let's connect! Send me a DM on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/haleyejohnson/ Check out my website haleyejohnson.com  Check out how we can work together https://thepropegy.com/work-with-us-2/ Resources mentioned in this episode: Messaging Guide Template: https://www.haleyejohnson.com/guide/ Shout out to my dog for not barking, my editor Angela for doing her thing, and my friend Devin for letting me use his music.  Devin https://open.spotify.com/artist/4unfvnlHngJg79KK262US3?si=3N2wVmrVRYy807iWB-30OQ