Follow Katie Sarah and her small business at with.love.from.katie to learn more about her care for her horse Tex. Today we chat with Katie about the care of horses, variety of riding styles, and how much love can come from spending time with horses. She lets us in on a secret that horses are truly just big dogs and how spending time with horses like Tex is like a therapy each time she sees him. 

Simply Talking Business

Life with a Horse with Katie Sarah

Please welcome our first guest Lacey Orlando and her family the Orlando Family Farm. Her family is looking to get into farming. Lacey has a story you can relate to. She's at a starting point that is encouraging her family to get ready for the next chapter of life as they transition out of active military life and move to Michigan. Lacey shares all the work she has done so far, her dreams, and we encourage her to take the next step in making her farm the real deal! Join us in listening to Lacey Orlando and her family farm. Follow their family at Orlando Family Farm on all the social media platforms.

Military Family Transitions to Farm Life with Lacey Orlando

Want to hear our first cow adventure and why we chose to raise Scottish Highlands?  Hopefully you will learn a few tips when loading your first cow to your pasture. Tell us your favorite cattle breed on social, Tik Tok, Instagram, Facebook

Getting Your First Cow

When you're ready to make the move and people ask you WHY? share your vision but keep it sacred because not everyone will agree or share your enthusiasm, but don't let it discourage you. Today, we talk about setting up your vision for your farm and how that determines how you will layout your farm. We knew we wanted cattle and a hay field therefore, we started with fencing that would accommodate those goals. Tell us your goals, what fencing you have, and what animals you want to add to your farm on social. Simply Country Ranch on Tik Tok, Facebook, or Instagram.

Setting up your Farm

Welcome to the first episode of Simply Country. My name is Lauren and my family started a farm. I did not like the idea of moving to the country. Although, my husband, Ben, kept talking about it and we finally decided to go look at a few properties nearby. Being on a little piece of land, I started to entertain the idea of what it would be like if we did move, and that got me really excited. We are here to share our journey, the knowledge we have acquired, and want to learn from you about all things country! Thank you for being here. I would love to hear from you on social, facebook, instagram, or tiktok with your ideas for this show and potential guests you'd like to learn more from. 

What if You Moved to the Country?

Hey 2020, we see you! When you have fresh year ahead of you, take the moment to think of where you want to go! In today's episode we are using a basic website to print off the 2020 year calendar. Don't forget to grab all your flair pens to mark up your calendar too. I am using a backward design to think of the big moments for my year. I have chosen the times of the year that are going to be my focus. Using a calendar, planning ahead, and writing down where you want to go is going to help you succeed for your year.  Try it with me. If you have any suggestions or other tips that have been successful for you, share it within our private facebook group, Simply Talking Business. 

4. Plan Backwards For Your Year Ahead

Today we have my husband, Ben Denny, on the podcast to discuss the different business opportunities he has created and why it’s okay to create something that doesn’t always work out. Ben has created a custom furniture company, cabinet shop, construction companies, apparel brand, and more over 15 years. Not all companies have been successful and he has closed quite a few down over the years. Today he discusses that just because he chose to close a company doesn't mean it deems him or the company as a failure. We discuss the importance of using the lessons from each company to fuel the knowledge of your current path.Ben is walking through his rule of thumb of a profit margin that he has seen be successful for him and where your revenue can go. Bottom line lesson from the episode, work hard, put your head down, put it all in, you will be successful.

3. Stick it out or close it down?

This is getting into business and why leaning into your path helps you find your passion.I went to school to become an elementary school teacher. Often times educators must create their own lessons and curriculum to support the criteria for the school year. There is this amazing online commerce called Teachers Pay Teachers, it is resources created by teachers who sell their work digitally. I found myself spending my money on products that would help my students. These could be math games, novel studies, classroom decor, anything and everything.I began to think, these are educators just like me who are creating tools that help teachers all over the world reach their students, save the time of teachers, and even put a little change in their own pockets, why couldn’t I do this too?Grabbing a computer, watching plenty of youtube videos, researching the rules and requirements of Teachers Pay Teachers, I jumped onto PowerPoint and began creating!I posted my first product and my revenue for that item was $0.15 and let me tell you, I celebrated. I celebrated like it was $1500. My passion for creating and building had just begun. I loved that I was helping to create experiences for students, give the time back to teachers by creating something I was going to use in my classroom and they would most likely need too.I knew that I loved listening to other educators explain what they needed and driven by what the students needed to succeed. That platform is such a powerful way to create when you want, how you want, and continue to make revenue since they are digital downloads. If we go back to experiences, it is what also drove me to create Simply Stained, another place driven by creating for my students.We have all grown up with the same cat posters with a cheesy quote on the classroom walls that you stare at until the recess bell rings. The thought of my students sitting in class with that same feeling drove me to pick up my husband’s power tools and get to work. Now I build decor for classroom teachers, businesses, and homes that allow them to feel motivated, relaxed, and empowered each day because of what they see around them. Again, I grabbed my computer, watched youtube videos, went to many paint stores, and joined a platform called Etsy to start selling my handmade products online.Nowadays, I feel like I am completely in my element. Creating. Creating for others. Creating to build something bigger than me.I am such a firm believer that whatever your walk of life is, you are meant to be on that path because it will lead you to where you were meant to be. So, I want you to take a moment to think about the spot of your life now, or where you know you’ll be headed. So think about the different steps that put you there or you will be using to go to where you want to. If you are an established business or hobby, I think it is just as important to reflect on why you are here, and commend yourself on the steps it took for you to get to where you are now. Could it be that you too are a teacher and know the unique items that are crucial for the classroom? Are you married to a spouse that has a few pieces of scrap wood laying around the garage? Do you love to read and have a knack for telling stories? The things around you help you, shape you, and tell the story of where you are headed next so lean into them.I am leaning into mine, I am learning that it is okay to change and evolve as your walk of life does too. My passion for creation and learning new things is creating a new path and I am taking it, I hope you see the new paths or affirm the ones you are on now. Best wishes all, and until next time, meet us in the Simply Talking Business Podcast Facebook Group to talk about your path. 

2. Leaning Into Your Path to Find Your Passion

I know that this is going to be a space for you because it is a space for people who are passionate about learning and excelling at their trades. Most owners I know didn’t go to school to own their own business and that’s why I am so thrilled to bring you a space in this podcasting world where business owners can learn from one another.We are going to bring the skills and tools used in business so that we can build, create, and connect with others. That means we are going to talk with other owners who are building a brand online or in person. They are everyday people who are figuring it out! They are people who you can relate to because they have been in your same shoes. So whether this is a side business, a hobby you’re looking to build, or your main money maker I hope you’ll join me and the other business owners we are going to chat with each week. I didn’t go to school to become a business owner. so asking, watching, and talking to others is the way I am learning. I was constantly searching on the internet, and tirelessly trying tips and tricks I learned along the way. You see, I knew where I wanted to go, I just took many many twirly turns along the way in order to figure things out and I was not always successful. One thing that made a difference was the wonderful humans on the internet. I reached out to individuals who I saw were doing it so much better than I was and I asked! You see, after researching on end, I knew that there was others  out there who did the research and knew the best tricks of the trade and guess what?! People are nice! Most of the time owners were more than happy to answer questionsIt was pretty humorous to find that they were trying to find out things as well and they would say, Let me know if you have figured out a better way and share it with me! The thing of bubble wrap. That’s the thing that gets most physical product sellers, it doesn’t matter how many times i have searched I have just found that bubble wrap is pricey.  now while we can’t change the price of bubble wrap.. theres a lot in our business that we can change such as using education to further our knowledge and grow within our field. I knew there was a space for small business owners who want to grow improve and just plain have questions but don’t have a space to talk and learn all the business things. This is where I am the Simply Talking Business Podcast is going to help all of us. During your drive, cooking of dinner, getting ready for the day, you can nuzzle your own education into your days. So Each week we are going to bring you tips and tools you can use to empower your business to scale, find a simpler solution, and learn from owners their best tools of the trade. Thank you for allowing me to be a piece of information in your ear that is going to give you back your time and keep you going down your path of awesome. This is a space for you to join the business rabbit hole as we dive into all the areas that you may have questions. Thanks for being here and making a difference everyday. Keep the collaboration going and join the Private Simply Talking Business Facebook group I want to know the topics you’d like to see covered. Best wishes everyone.

1. Let's Start Talking

A space where business owners can learn from one another the tips and tools used to market, make, and create their business. My name is Lauren Denny and Each week we are bringing you conversations with owners that will help you save time and learn the tips you need to keep making a difference in your field. Whether you are just starting out or been in business a while, this is a space that is going to help all of us. Let’s get talking!

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Simply Talking Business

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