Whitney the braveWhitney Hartmann has a niche in the beauty industry; natural brow restoration. But before specialisation, Whitney had a dream that she thought would bring her happiness, money and maybe even fame. But it wasn’t until she nearly ‘made it’ that she realised what she thought she wanted wasn’t the right fit. “I wanted to be this successful makeup artist. I wanted to do editorial runway. I had that image, that's what I want. Once I was actually doing all the things that I thought I wanted to do, I didn't feel content and I couldn't figure out why.” Whitney Hartmann  What we chat about  Pursuing a childhood dream (and then deciding to let it go) Working in a big, fast-paced city Going against your industry norms and completing overseas study  Sticking to business decisions, even if means turning down Amy Shark Our bodies health limits (even in our twenties)  “When you're living in the city, you're very much caught up in the rat race and you're climbing the ladder no matter what industry you're in because that's the energy in a big city. If you don't take those opportunities, someone else's waiting in the wings to take those. So if you really want to be successful down there, you've got to be open and available to all of the things that you want.” Whitney Hartmann.  More from Whitney Hartmann Instagram  Facebook  More from Host Sophia WebsiteInstagramLinkedIn Help like-minded people find usIf you love what you’re hearing on i made a thing podcast, please subscribe and take a moment to leave a rating on Apple Podcasts.Connect with the IMAT communityHave you bucked trends in your industry? How did it turn out? Let us know on the IMAT Instagram feed.  Speak soon,Sophia Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

I Made a Thing

2: Whitney the brave

Kerrie Carucci finds her magicIn our first interview of Season 2, I speak with Kerrie Carucci. A Brisbane based stylist, who shares her journey from working in engineering to crafting her own business as an editorial and campaign stylist, content creator and speaker.  “I started to investigate and come back to what my core values were. What my hobbies were and what I would really even enjoy. Because I'd gotten so far into my career that I'd lost myself in trying to fit into this box.” Kerrie Carucci. What we chat about Growing up in Far North Queensland Working in male-dominated workplaces A practical and strategic mindset can be successful in a creative industry  The importance of taking time to figure out what brings you satisfaction, excitement and gets the creative juices flowing Recognising your transferable skills  Taking a chance on yourself  “I'm a believer that we have a feeling and it's something little. And little reminders will keep coming up in life, and if you follow that feeling, then that's where the true magic happens.”  Kerrie Carucci. More from Kerrie Carucci Website Instagram  TikTok: kerrie_carucci More from Host SophiaWebsiteInstagramLinkedIn Help like-minded people find us If you love what you’re hearing on i made a thing podcast, please take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment over on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.  Get links to resources and the full show notes at   www.imadeathingpodcast.com  Connect with the IMAT community Have you or are you planning to make a big shift in your career? Let us know on our Instagram feed.   Speak soon, Sophia 

1: Kerrie Carucci finds her magic

What we learnt in 2019Do you set aside time to reflect on the year passed?Do you believe in the seasons of business? Is it ever OK to quit? And when should you listen to your ego?“I stopped focusing on what I looked like, my sales, my following. Instead, I showed up and stayed true to what I had planned. And that's how I removed all the ego and stress around my launch.”- Rachel KurzypTOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE: The importance of reflecting on the year ahead and year passed When you should listen to your ego and when you should ignore it The eight seasons of business and how to know what season you’re in Why looking after your physical + mental health should be a priority When should you park a project and how do you talk about your decision How to quieten your inner critic + self doubt Using your values to help you say yes or no to opportunities Get links to resources and the full show notes at   www.imadeathingpodcast.com“We are trying to build something that is sustainable for the long term. So if we flog ourselves and try and win the popularity contest, what are we really achieving?” - Sophia ColquhounQuick questions for youHave you ever stopped a project or given up on an idea halfway through? Have you ever suffered from “business” exhaustion? Let us know on our Instagram feed. Help like-minded people find usIf you love what you’re hearing on i made a thing pod, please take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment over on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Thanks so much!Speak soon, Rachel + Sophia 

10: Reflection

Client managementIs the client always right?Should you go above and beyond to keep your clients happy? Is it ever OK to fire a client? “You need to treat yourself like a business not just someone with a laptop. Once you switch your mindset, you will be more confident and the decisions will be easier.”- Rachel KurzypTopics discussed in this episode: What is Client Management? What skills are key and when does mindset matter? The processes you should put in place to make the work go smoothly.  Who are nightmare clients and how do we decide if they are worth the hassle? Should you ever fire a client? And how to handle this delicate situation.  How to create a dream and nightmare client persona.  Our client stories and our practical tips for successful client management.  “So many of us, particularly when we first starting out, we might not have a lot experience leading, or being the boss, or being a manger...so we default to the employee / employer style relationship. So there’s an unequal distribution of power and the client becomes like a tyrant. But you need an equal level of power so you can contribute your best work.”- Sophia ColquhounHelp like-minded people find usIf you love what you’re hearing on i made a thing pod, please take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment. Thanks so much!Get links to resources and the full show notes at   www.imadeathingpodcast.comFollow us on Instagram  @imadeathingpodcast Speak soon, Rachel + Sophia 

09: Client Management

AgeismWhat impact does age have for small business owners and women in business? Can you use your age as an advantage?Should you keep your age a secret?“I think you need to be prepared to leave situations and let go of clients who don't respect your age, your processes and your way of doing things.” - Rachel KurzypTopics discussed in this episode: What is the difference between age, experience and wisdom? How relevant is age? Do you need to have 10 years of experience before you are entitled to start a business? What about a family? Living overseas? How do you deal when someone asks, “how old are you?” Should you make yourself seem older? Or broadcast your age on your business platforms? Can you use your age to your advantage? “I did have some concerns about people looking at that photo and saying ‘oh a young female she can’t know anything so I won’t work with her’ but that hasn’t been my experience because my ideal client isn't a d!ck. ” - Sophia ColquhounHelp like-minded people find usIf you love what you’re hearing on i made a thing pod, please take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment. Thanks so much!Get links to resources and the full show notes at   www.imadeathingpodcast.comFollow us on Instagram  @imadeathingpodcast Speak soon, Rachel + Sophia 

08: Ageism

HOW DO WE MAKE DECISIONS?Is decision making harder for women in small business?How does decision making impact your success? “Being willing to say no, I can't actually help you with that decision is really important. Sometimes it's really hard to do because we want to help people with everything. We want to know it all and make them happy and solve all their problems. And we can't, we have to push back, whether that's an advice or skill thing or simply because they need to develop that skill and work on it.”- Sophia ColquhounTopics discussed in this episode: What is decision making?  What weird beliefs impact our decision making? How does decision-making fatigue affect you? Is structured decision making or gut feelings key to decision making?  Should we use logic or emotion to make decisions? What is the impact of poor decision making? Is it holding us back?  Practical tips for better decision making.  “You could give me any crazy decision in the world and I'll do my own research,  use my gut feels and I would make decisions and stand there with confidence. But then I realized that I didn't actually have to do all of these things alone”- Rachel KurzypHelp like-minded people find usIf you love what you’re hearing on i made a thing pod, please take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment. Thanks so much!Get links to resources and the full show notes at   www.imadeathingpodcast.comFollow us on Instagram  @imadeathingpodcast Speak soon, Rachel + Sophia 

07: Decision making

Season 1, Episode 6: ExpertsWHO IS AN EXPERT?How do you choose an expert?How do you avoid wasting your time, money and energy on the wrong expert?“We're all going around telling ourselves that we're not good enough. No wonder we're struggling to get ahead in business as women”- Rachel KurzypTOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE: What is an expert? Can you call yourself an expert? And when can you call yourself an expert? How do you choose the right expert for you? What work do you need to do before you hire an expert? How do you pick a scam (guaranteed $30k months we're looking at you) What's the difference between a mentor and an expert? How do you choose a mentor? “You need to understand what you need help with so you can hire the right person. It's your responsibility to do basic research before hiring an expert”- Sophia ColquhounHelp like-minded people find usIf you love what you’re hearing on i made a thing pod, please take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment. Thanks so much!Get links to resources and the full show notes at   www.imadeathingpodcast.comFollow us on Instagram  @imadeathingpodcast Speak soon, Rachel + Sophia 

06: Experts

Season 1, Episode 5: PressureDO YOU NEED TO DO ALL THE THINGS TO BE SUCCESSFUL?Do women experience added pressure?How can you stop yourself from falling into the comparison trap?TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE: How can you stop yourself from falling into the comparison trap? And when is comparison useful? Do you need to do all the things to be successful?  How do you overcome your perfectionist tendencies and limiting mindsets? What's the difference between overwhelm and a normal level of busy? Do women experience added pressure? If so, where? Does trying to do all the things + look good and sound good guarantee success? What things can we do to address and overcome feelings of pressure and overwhelm? Help like-minded people find usIf you love what you’re hearing on i made a thing pod, please take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment. Thanks so much!Check us out  and get the full show notes at   www.imadeathingpodcast.comInstagram  @imadeathingpodcast Speak soon, Rachel + Sophia 

05: Pressure

DO YOU HAVE TO BE POPULAR TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN BUSINESS? How can you use your influence for good? Do you need to be liked to be respected?TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE: What is the difference between popularity and power? Why is power seen as bad? While popularity isn't? Do you have to be popular to be successful in business? What do you need first? Popularity or power? Should you only work with people who are well known? How do you build power in your business? What makes a good leader? How do you build your likeability?  Help like-minded people find usIf you love what you’re hearing on i made a thing pod, please take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment. Thanks so much!Check us out  and get the full show notes at   www.imadeathingpodcast.comInstagram  @imadeathingpodcast Speak soon, Rachel + Sophia 

04: Popular vs Powerful

Is charging what you’re worth a valuable measure? Are there formulas and systems you should be following? Why is everyone so damn secretive of their pricing? Topics discussed in this episode: - Why do people say “charge what you’re worth?” And what does that even mean? - Hourly vs project pricing. What are the options? - How do you price creativity and great ideas? - Discounting - When is it OK? How do you do it? - How to package your services? - Should you keep prices low and get more clients OR charge more and work with less people? - What’s the deal with chasing invoices and creating payment plans? Help like-minded people find us If you love what you’re hearing on i made a thing pod, please take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment. Thanks so much! Check us out www.imadeathingpodcast.com

03: Pricing & Payment

What does being professional look like for a small business? Is professionalism more than the way you dress and talk? How can you be professional but still show up in a way that feels right for you? Topics discussed in this episode: - How do we define professionalism? Is it different when you’re running a business? - How the idea of professionalism has developed over time - You don’t have to ‘look the part,’ you have to be the part - Why putting aside time to improve your expertise, skills and knowledge is important - Practical ways you can look, act and be professional - Why women are judged on their appearance and how this is not OK Help like-minded people find us If you love what you’re hearing on i made a thing pod, please take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment. Thanks so much! Check us out www.imadeathingpodcast.com

02: Professionalism

Do you need passion to be successful in business? How do you find your purpose? Is this whole passion and purpose talk all just a fad? Topics discussed in this episode: - How do you define your purpose? Does passion play a role? And what's the difference - Why are we seeing a rise in “passion and purpose” driven businesses? Is this a fad? - What is passion burnout? How can passion burnout occur? - What should you do when you don’t know your purpose? - Is it OK to build a business or have a career that isn’t based on your passion and purpose? - What are ways to determine your purpose? How do you use your purpose as a framework for your business? Help like-minded people find us If you love what you’re hearing on i made a thing pod, please take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment. Thanks so much! Check us out www.imadeathingpodcast.com

01: Passion vs Purpose

Join Sophia Colquhoun and Rachel Kurzyp as they talk about that time they started a business and didn’t know what to do next. Topics discussed in this intro minisode: - How we met and our biz love story (Rachel gets a little emotional :P) - How we fell face first into our business - Why we started the i made a thing podcast - Who we are and what we do outside of the pod BONUS: Hilarious bloopers just in case you thought we were total professionals ALL. THE. TIME. Help like-minded people find us If you love what you’re hearing on i made a thing pod, please take just a few seconds to leave a rating and / or comment. Thanks so much! Check us out www.imadeathingpodcast.com

About Us - Minisode

A podcast for business owners who don't believe in cheat sheets I Made a Thing is a collaboration between business besties Rachel Kurzyp and Sophia Colquhoun. We discuss topics that impact small business owners and creatives in a fresh, honest, practical and evidence-based way. Each pod will unpack your assumptions, push you to look introspectively, supply you with practical advice and leave you feeling like you’ve got this. You went into business to do things differently. That’s why we’re here to help you carve your business path (cheat sheets not included).