Send us a text As entrepreneurs we are programmed to think we need to say "yes" to everything, but often, it's the opposite. We need to start saying "no" or strategically quit things that are no longer supporting the vision. My guest today is Alli Ball, founder of Food Biz Wiz and creator of Retail Ready. We have a powerful conversation about why winners quit all the time and how to know what to quit with integrity and excitement for what's next. Follow Alli on IG at @itsalliball or htt...

Have you ever thought about your "natural" work style - you know when you are in flow and feeling super productive? Often times, we fight against the "shoulds" of how we are supposed to be as a boss or entrepreneur. And then if you want to hire a team - whoa - this adds so much complexity to your business and it's so tempting to hire for ease (no conflict) instead of hiring for strengths that offset your weaknesses. In this episode, Sue Frech shares how entrepreneurs can use Kolbe to st...

If you are feeling stuck after you launch your business - maybe around $40 - $60K - it's very likely a fear of success that is holding you back, not a fear of failure. Sneaky thoughts like "I'm not good with money" or "no one could ever sell as good as me" or "I'm the only one who can make my product" or "I'm not good at managing people" are likely keeping your business small so that you can avoid the things that often come with success. On today's podcast I share with you some fears that cam...

It's so good to say "yes" to a lot of things when you start your business, but what are you still doing in your food business that you need to STOP doing or change how you are doing it? On this podcast episode I share a very recent experience in my own business where I made the tough calls as a CEO and business owner to change something when the numbers didn't make sense. If you aren't sure what you need to stop doing, follow the frustration, resentment or bitterness and give yourself permiss...

Stop what you are doing foodpreneur - listen to this short episode and then DO this customer journey exercise for your sales channels. You will be amazed at the things that you find that can make all the difference in customers finding you, purchasing from you, and building a long-lasting relationship with your brand. Fixing things NOW in the customer experience will make all the difference for your holiday sales online or in person. Want my eyes on your website or other sales channels ...

Are you feeling some fear (or heightened anxiety, worry or overwhelm) - being an entrepreneur is not easy stuff, but I share with you my experience of coming back to the US and what tools I used to work through my fears. I also share with you an amazing practice to implement this fall to become who you want to be to succeed at the next level of your business. What three new standards will you set for yourself to become the entrepreneur you want to become?! Brand new training just dropped 🧨 an...

Emails. You know they work, but you also hate traditional email marketing and so you put it off and dread sending them. My guest today is the one, the only, Jane Hamill who has a completely different spin on how to do emails that doesn't suck for you or your customers. Imagine actually enjoying sending off quick emails to your followers (who want to hear from you btw), AND creating more money in your business as you deliver value to your customers year round. Jane is joining the Holiday...

Last November Susie was a guest on the podcast sharing her decision to close the main part of her meal delivery business. It was a challenging time that had a huge roller coaster of emotions from grief, failure, awe and gratitude. Susie and I continued our 1:1 coaching sessions as she moved through the reinvention process. She has been working on a new part of her business and as we set a launch date, I challenged her to create a solo podcast episode sharing her journey to restart and h...

Living in Southern France for the summer I turned 50 days was just a crazy dream five years ago. Last week, I boarded a plane to make it happen. Me, living among the Lavender, and you launching, growing or scaling a delicious business are not so different. On the podcast, I share with you the exact process I used to create my 'impossible' desire into reality and it is the same one you need to build your dream food business. I share my story and give you the roadmap for becoming the kind of pe...

It takes a lot of courage to create a business that is in alignment with your authentic self; it's so easy to get distracted by the "shoulds" and what everyone else is doing. Courtney Thompson, founder of Blooming Kitchen Co, is doing just this (after a few detours) and her business is starting to bloom. You will laugh, you will cry (at least I did) and you will feel empowered to say YES to an aligned business and NO to everything that isn't that. Stop the endless research and overwhelm! Know...

When things get tough, most entrepreneurs make decisions from fear and scarcity—but what if there was a better way? In this episode, I explore why your internal guidance system (aka intuition) is actually your secret weapon for navigating uncertainty, finding creative solutions, and making aligned business decisions that feel good in your body. You'll learn the science behind why fear-based decisions hurt your business, discover practical ways to tap into your inner wisdom, and experien...

You've perfected your home recipe, but that doesn't mean it will hold up to time, temperature, transportation and larger-scale production. Depending on your product, you may need help from a food scientist to help with longevity, flavor, color, texture and to make sure it is food safe for your customers. This is called commercialization and Mike Gabel, director of The Food Innovation Center at CSU Spur, and I chat about when and why you might want a food scientist on speed dial. Fuel is...

Do you consider yourself a good negotiator? The truth is most of us aren't - our emotions get in the way or we end up compromising to end up with a bad deal we resent. Whether you're struggling with supplier costs, co-packer terms, or retail placement, these powerful tactics I share with you from the book Never Split The Difference by Chris Voss will help you secure better deals while building stronger partnerships. You'll learn three of my favorite (and life changing) strategies from the boo...

It doesn't matter how much money you have, your age, your current job, or your experience, a beautiful business is possible for you if you are willing to keep taking action and get outside of your comfort zone. This is exactly what Patty & Caroline, co-founders of Well Bean, makers of bean-focused bars and desserts (and they are delicious!) are doing. I've been so impressed working with them over the years as they keep making progress and taking calculated risks to advance their bus...

When was the last time you shared something real about yourself to your current or potential customers? I know it’s not what you want to hear - you just want to make a great product and have everyone fall in love with it, tell everyone they know and buy it repeatedly - but that's simply not enough to get traction as a small brand. On today's podcast I share the secret to small business success - that being vulnerable is one of the fastest ways to create new and raving fans. Pe...

Market research can make a huge difference in your product offering and launch strategy, but bad data can be worse than no data at all according to my guest, Lara Fordis. In this episode, Lara returns to discuss how market research has evolved in the CPG industry over the past four years, particularly with the emergence of AI tools that have made research both more accessible and potentially misleading. Lara shares insights on how entrepreneurs can properly validate their product ...

Do you dream of quitting your job and running your business full time? Sure, you can do the "quit and figure it out" approach that leads many founders to burnout or failure OR I'll share what has worked best for my clients and Fuel members to start a business while working full time and then to transition out of the your 9-5. Whether you're just starting your food business journey or already juggling a side hustle with your day job, this episode provides the roadmap to intentionally bu...

If you've ever laid awake worrying about getting someone sick from your product or if you are doing things correctly to not be sued, this episode is for you. I sat down with my go-to food safety expert Scott Roi, and he makes this “unsexy” topic feel doable and even empowering. We break down what you actually need to be food safety compliant at different stages of business and you might be surprised at what you do, or don't need. Whether you're at farmers markets, selling national...

I'm pulling back the curtain on the three biggest mistakes that cause early-stage food entrepreneurs to struggle and often fail. Drawing from my experience over 7+ years helping hundreds of food businesses launch and scale, I give you an honest look at why so many passionate food makers hit roadblocks despite having amazingly delicious products. You'll discover why listening to everyone's conflicting opinions leads to confusion rather than clarity, how spreading yourself too thin across multi...

Someone has probably told you to "just run ads" or "get on TikTok Shop" if you have an ecommerce business, and they're not wrong, but... There is a time and place for each of these strategies depending on the size and stage of your business. When done at the wrong stage it is a waste of time and money - two things busy entrepreneurs don't have a lot of. My guest on today's podcast is Ari Gordon of Like and Likes, an agency that manages CPG digital strategies to boost sales online. I lo...