Maintaining Morale: Showing Appreciation For Your Employees (with Aubrey Montgomery)

From Dreaming to Doing: The Nonprofit Founder Journey with Amy Thurston

This week on The Blueprint we’re approaching our Entrepreneur Journey series from a slightly different angle. Sit down with Megan and Hope Inspire Love founder Amy Thurston to dive into all the different pieces that come together to build a successful non-profit organization. From opening your first office space to building your support network, there’s nuggets of wisdom for everybody in this episode. Learn more about Hope Inspire Love at hopeinspirelove.org [http://hopeinspirelove.org] Learn more about K Marketing Co. at kmarketingco.com [http://kmarketingco.com] Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 0:48 Meet Amy Thurston & Hope Inspire Love 2:30 What Inspired You to Start a Non-Profit? 5:28 The Origins of Hope Inspire Love 11:04 Did You Always See Yourself as an Entrepreneur? 16:32 Transitioning to Full-Time Work 19:17 The Difference of a Physical Office Space 22:22 What Was Your Biggest Fear in the Beginning? 26:40 Did You Ever Think About Quitting? What Kept You Going? 33:27 Founders Need to Set Boundaries Early On 37:04 What is One Thing From Your Journey You Wouldn’t Change for the World? 44:00 Advice for Future Non-Profit Founders 49:34 Conclusion

From Dreaming to Doing: The Entrepreneur's Journey with Ryan Glick

In this continuation of our “From Dreaming to Doing” series, Megan is sitting down with Ryan Glick, Owner of 513 Media, to talk about his experience starting and growing his business and how new entrepreneurs can set themselves up for success. If you’re feeling weighed down by imposter syndrome or feel like your attention is split in too many directions, Megan and Ryan are ready to share their advice for overcoming imposter syndrome and identifying the thing most worth your time. Learn more about 513 Media at 513-media.com [http://513-media.com] Learn more about K Marketing Co. at kmarketingco.com [http://kmarketingco.com] Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 0:57 Meet Ryan Glick 3:51 What Made You Realize You Wanted to Start a Business? 9:05 Did You Always See Yourself as an Entrepreneur? 10:47 Why is Imposter Syndrome So Common in New Entrepreneurs? 14:38 Was There a Moment You Realized “I’m A Real Business Owner”? 16:40 Looking Back Today, Are You Glad You Started Your Own Business? 18:05 What is Something You Know Now You Wish You’d Known Earlier? 22:30 Was There Ever a Moment You Considered Quitting? What Kept You Going? 24:27 What Do You Think New Entrepreneurs Worry About That Doesn’t Matter as Much as They Think it Does? 32:58 Advice for Potential New Entrepreneurs 37:04 Conclusion

From Dreaming to Doing: The Entrepreneur's Journey with Sarah Bedsaul

Every business owner had to start somewhere, and that’s what this new series is all about! In each “From Dreaming to Doing” episode, Megan will be joined by a local entrepreneur to talk about their experience growing their business, the challenges they faced and how they overcame them. In this series debut, Megan is joined by Sarah Bedsaul, Owner and CEO of Zephyr Strategic Services in York, PA. Sit down with Megan and Sarah as they dive into leaving corporate America, squashing imposter syndrome, with a healthy dose of HR wisdom as well. If you’re looking for advice, experience, “been there, done that” moments, or just need to know that you’re not alone in your experience: this is the podcast for you! Learn more about Zephyr Strategic Services at zephyrstrategicservices.com [http://zephyrstrategicservices.com] Learn more about K Marketing Co. at kmarketingco.com [http://kmarketingco.com] 0:00 Introduction to the Entrepreneur’s Journey Series 1:05 Meet Sarah Bedsaul 1:52 What is Fractional HR? 5:25 Building Structure For Employees 9:06 Hazards of AI Usage in Business 11:33 What Made You Decide to Start Your Business? 15:50 The Struggles of Starting Out as an Entrepreneur 17:15 Understanding The Employee Experience 19:17 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome 20:37 Bearing the Weight of Generating Revenue for Payroll 22:01 Did You Always See Yourself as an Entrepreneur? 23:14 What Was Your Biggest Fear Starting Your Business? (And Was It True?) 27:51 Different Generations in the Workplace 32:24 Embracing Societal Change 33:45 Sarah’s Soup Theory for Belonging 36:30 Supplementing Your Weaknesses as an Entrepreneur 42:26 Have You Ever Considered Quitting? What Kept You Going? 44:55 Focusing Your Energy in the Right Places 46:18 Overcoming Burnout as an Entrepreneur 47:28 What Do New Entrepreneurs Not Prioritize That They Really Should? 49:20 Understanding Your Place In Your Industry & Embracing “Competitors” 50:46 Evolving and Changing Your Business Over Time 52:22 How Has Being a Business Owner Changed You Personally? 57:42 What is One Thing About Your Journey You Wouldn’t Change For The World? 58:41 Advice For New Business Owners 1:02:16 Conclusion

Maintaining Morale: Showing Appreciation For Your Employees (with Aubrey Montgomery)

Morale can make or break an office environment. When your employees are happy, productivity is high and motivation is strong. But when your employees are unhappy, it can cause projects to lag and satisfaction to drop. In this week’s episode of The Blueprint, Megan is joined by Aubrey Montgomery to dive into how she keeps morale high in her office. Listen in to learn strategies to show appreciation for your employees from expressing gratitude to selecting meaningful gifts. If your office is in need of a morale boost, this episode is a great place to start! Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 0:38 Meet Aubrey Montgomery 2:04 What Does Morale Really Mean in Business? 2:54 What Actually Happens When Morale is Low? 5:11 How Do You Harness High Morale? 9:17 How Does Leadership Affect Morale? 12:07 How Can Leaders Model The Energy They Want in the Office? 18:12 Are Big Gestures Or Small Actions More Significant? 20:59 Employee Appreciation on a Budget 24:19 What Made You Feel Appreciated as an Employee? 26:05 How Do You Build Appreciation Into Your Office Culture? 27:43 Simple Ways to Show Appreciation For Your Employees Today 28:49 Conclusion

Beyond Transactions: Building a Business Rooted in Relationships (with Chuck Honabach)

What really keeps customers coming back to a business? It’s not just great service… It’s great relationships. This week on The Blueprint: Powered by K Marketing Co, Megan sits down with returning guest and local entrepreneur Chuck Honabach to talk about the heart of any successful business: genuine customer relationships. Through his experience in working in a variety of industries, Chuck has learned that the strongest businesses are built on more than transactions, they’re built on trust, care, and connection. He shares real stories and practical ideas for staying connected with your clients in meaningful ways. From simple gestures like commenting on social media to unexpected acts like sending get-well cards or celebrating major life moments, he explains how small, thoughtful touches can leave a lasting impact. Whether you're a new entrepreneur or a seasoned business owner, you’ll walk away with fresh inspiration for strengthening the relationships that truly drive your business forward. To learn more about Chuck Honabach, visit chuckhonabachteam.com [http://chuckhonabachteam.com] To learn more about K Marketing Co. visit kmarketingco.com [http://kmarketingco.com] Timestamps: 0:00 Introduction 0:40 Meet Chuck Honabach 1:18 What Does it Really Mean to Go Beyond Transactions? 3:05 Going Above and Beyond For Your Clients 5:06 When Did You Realize The Importance of Relationships in Business 7:50 Building Relationships Over Time 9:30 Difference A Client and Your Professional Network 12:06 Doing The Unexpected 13:35 Building Trust Early in a Relationship 16:37 Relationships Turning Into Unexpected Opportunities 21:15 Building Relationships as a New Entrepreneur 23:55 Networking as a Parent 25:55 Homework: Go Meet Someone New 29:05 Making Yourself Approachable in Conversation 30:30 Staying Connected After Introductions 33:34 Don’t Be Intimidated by Failure 34:05 Conclusion