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PODCAST

The Speak Easy Podcast

Jen Estill and Karen Stefl — creative studio entrepreneurs, brand and video experts, boss ladies, moms

Hi. Jen Estill and Karen Stefl here. In The Speak Easy Podcast, we share years of expertise in marketing, branding, video production, strategy—not to mention management, employee development, mentoring, sales, creativity, maintaining life balance, managing money, and.. you get the idea. It takes a lot to keep a couple of creative studios thriving. We developed this podcast after years of "how do you..." boss lady conversations. It was clear that if we were both in such similar places with regard

business

All Episodes

00:29:39

54: Changing Careers And Running The Show–Featuring...

The Speak Easy Podcast ·

2019/08/27

To get something right, sometimes you have to flip your perspective on the topic altogether. This episode we welcome a new guest: Lis Weston, a versatile businesswoman, and executive director who brings a business-centric brain to education at Early Child Care Center in Lansing, Michigan. Lis knows a thing or two about the value of an outsider's perspective. Over the course of her career, Lis translated skills from one field to the next. After starting out in the nonprofit education sector, she

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00:19:08

53: How To Stop Dreading Employee Reviews

The Speak Easy Podcast ·

2019/08/13

In many organizations, employee reviews have become formulaic. The employee sits down with their supervisor once a week, once a month or once a quarter. They go over a written evaluation, talk about what could be improved and move on. But for entrepreneurs and small business owners, this corporate formula doesn't always fit. For business owners who talk to their team every day while working through projects, the formal review might not be necessary. Still, we've seen that we all perform better

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00:16:08

52: Brown Suits And Watered-Down Whiskey: Why We...

The Speak Easy Podcast ·

2019/07/30

It's no surprise that most people don't want to be average. Yet, average is so easy to fall back into; it's simple, effortless, affordable, comfortable. It's the first idea that comes to mind in a brainstorm, which we're often tempted to accept as the answer and move on. But average suits nobody. Settling for average is like watering down whiskey. You've compromised on both sides, but what you're left with is a concoction that is neither thirst-quenching nor boozy. It's just, meh. The same is

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00:21:39

51: What To Do When You're Burnt Out, Exhausted And...

The Speak Easy Podcast ·

2019/07/16

Raise your hand if you've told yourself, "I'll just get past this busy season and then it will be calmer." Is it ever calmer? Not really. The truth is, another busy season is always on its way. Entrepreneurs have an early bird mindset. We're constantly chasing new opportunities, even when we already have enough on our plates. It's easy to think our career success is solely based on how often we work, how quickly we respond and how many hours we put in. Unluckily for us, that leads straight to one

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00:20:40

50: Random (And Surprisingly Relevant) Thoughts From...

The Speak Easy Podcast ·

2019/07/02

n any industry, leaders need to be able to think on their feet. We improvise new solutions, brainstorm outside the box and go out on a limb almost daily. This episode, we're testing our improv skills with a random word generator; we find four obscure words (a noun, a verb and two adjectives) and discuss whatever comes to mind. Turns out, most everything can relate back to our careers and goals. From how consistent examination improves our processes to how leaders always need to be on their guard,

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00:21:09

49: Relevance And The Mid-Career-ness Of It All

The Speak Easy Podcast ·

2019/06/18

When you hit that mid-career mark, it can feel as though you've seen it all. You've got a solid grasp of who you are: your leadership style, your values, your purpose. You've learned how your team gets into a groove, and what it takes for you all to produce your best work. Why mess with a good thing? To stay relevant, that's why. Having a solid sense of who you are and where your skills lie is great. Still, in order to best serve your clients, you've got to keep up with new innovations in your

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00:16:58

48: Recognizing Our Faults (Almost To A Fault)

The Speak Easy Podcast ·

2019/06/04

It's the quintessential interview question: What's your biggest weakness? While the savvy interviewee might try to spin the topic in their favor, there's no denying that we all have personal and professional faults. From lack of patience to not wanting to ask for help, we can admit that we (and most entrepreneurs) come up short in certain areas. So why does it feel downright unnatural for us to admit our shortcomings? In the creative industry, we're constantly striving to amplify our key

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00:21:27

47: The Fine Line Between Critique And Criticism

The Speak Easy Podcast ·

2019/05/21

We know, we know; at the end of the day, critique and criticism are beneficial. They help drive us forward. Push us out of our comfort zones. Make us the best versions of ourselves. Then why are critique and criticism sometimes difficult to give and receive? Turns out, there's a world of difference between criticism and critique. And in a world where criticism comes a dime a dozen (especially in the comments section online), a quality, constructive critique is rare. At the same time, we all have

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00:39:35

46: Entrepreneurial Hindsight is 20/20–Featuring...

The Speak Easy Podcast ·

2019/05/07

As we look back on our careers, it becomes clear that there's no way to forecast every change that will come our way. Industries shift, trends come and go and we can't pretend to know it all. How can we identify our blind spots and fill the gaps of what we don't know? This episode's guest, Kelly Rossman-McKinney, is an experienced communicator with more than a few notches in her belt. From former co-founder and retired CEO of a PR firm to current communications director for Michigan Attorney

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00:17:17

45: Change Is Always In Season

The Speak Easy Podcast ·

2019/04/23

It's been said many times before, but we'll say it again: Change is inevitable. Personally, professionally and regardless of the season, change chugs along whether we think we're ready or not. Truth is, even if we might not know it at the time, we're usually more prepared than we think. For entrepreneurs, business is like a Michigan season. Everything can change in the blink of an eye, with snow one day and shorts and T-shirt weather the next. We'd like to say that we always love change, but let's

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00:17:37

44: Defining Success And Getting Our Priorities Straight

The Speak Easy Podcast ·

2019/04/09

Defining success is difficult. It's like trying to analyze how far we've come by comparing miles to kilometers or tiny, baby footsteps–everyone's measuring stick is different, which is why we simply can't compare our successes to others. As tempting as it may be. For us, definitions of success vary day-to-day. Some days we're thinking big picture and looking at the long-term, and other days we just want to make it through the meeting or task at hand. A one-size-fits-all definition of success isn't

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00:18:39

43: Hitting Reset After Hitting The Brink

The Speak Easy Podcast ·

2019/03/26

For entrepreneurs, the candle is usually burning at both ends. We're leading our businesses by day, leading our families (and often still our businesses, thanks to technology) by night and on the weekend. It's this constant engagement, mentally and physically, that excites us. And it's also this constant engagement that taxes us the most. Don't get us wrong–as entrepreneurs, we seek this sense of ongoing adventure. No two days are the same, and our high-risk tolerance put us in a position that’s

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00:19:44

42: Making And Breaking The Rules

The Speak Easy Podcast ·

2019/03/12

Sure, some (okay, a lot) of rules are necessary. Like rules backed by data, or rules that keep us from dying. As much as our punk-rock alter egos would like to disagree, we need rules to keep it all together and create a safe environment. The tricky part is determining which rules are solid, and which are kind of BS. One thing most entrepreneurs have in common is the tendency to sidestep rules. Traditional corporate rules don't complement every mind; when the rulebook has been made up by someone

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00:19:35

41: Show Up, Follow Through And Don't Be A Dick

The Speak Easy Podcast ·

2019/02/26

Yes, it would be nice to claim that we don't care what other people think about us and go about our lives rebellious and free. But let's get real: As business owners and professionals, we simply cannot ignore the importance of a solid reputation. Our reputations are the lifeblood of our businesses; they drive leads, satisfy current clients, set the tone, help us produce great work and put bread on the table. Still, how can we tell whether our true values align with our current reputation

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00:13:35

40: Is 'Fake It Till You Make It' Bullsh*t?

The Speak Easy Podcast ·

2019/02/12

Sure, faking it can get you to the point of making it. (Whatever "making it" implies.) But once you've wowed that boss, hiring manager or team with your quick-thinking wit (read: bullshit), what's next? You suddenly get a sinking feeling in your soul when it hits you: you actually have to deliver on your promises. Don't get us wrong, faking it isn't always a bad thing. For those just starting out in their careers hoping to build a foundation or try something new, saying "yes" a few too many

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00:16:46

39: Why ‘Entrepreneurial Rigor’ Isn’t An Oxymoron

The Speak Easy Podcast ·

2019/01/29

We normally see rigor associated with scientists or academics, but what does it look like for entrepreneurs in the creative industry? We may not like to admit it, but nothing sets the foundation for success like entrepreneurial rigor. We can have infinite creative ideas floating around in our heads–still, at the end of the day, we need rigor to get the job done. Whether through heavy critique, detailed explanations or well-established processes, self-discipline is necessary for making our good ideas

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00:29:41

38: Plans, Endgames And Questions We Didn't Know...

The Speak Easy Podcast ·

2019/01/15

"Planning ahead" means different things to different people. Whether you're a small business owner or an estate planner, it's all about identifying your endgame. Sometimes you just need a kick in the pants to sit down and identify what that endgame is, exactly. This episode's guest, Gabrielle Lawrence, is an attorney specializing in business, probate and estate planning (all while writing restaurant reviews, serving on a board and parenting a son who just turned one). Her mantra: We're never done

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00:18:14

37: Creative Muscles Need Training, Too

The Speak Easy Podcast ·

2019/01/04

For some reason unbeknownst to us, there seems to be a common misconception that creativity is a natural-born talent. That creatives just wake up in the morning and flawlessly complete seamless, innovative projects without breaking a sweat. We're here to break it to you: creativity requires a lot of hard work. You can't run a 5k with just ten minutes of training, and you can't execute a record-breaking creative idea on the first try. But, with diligence and practice, you can grow your

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00:15:22

36: Resilience

The Speak Easy Podcast ·

2018/12/18

We like to think successful entrepreneurs, in general, are significantly more resilient than the average person. Nothing is guaranteed in our work, and there's no safety net. The ability to bounce back from failure or critique is a necessity in order to keep things running and lead our teams forward. But, turns out, resilience is more complex than you might think. It's not just about getting back up when you fall; it's about knowing you can get back up if (and when) you take this metaphorical fall

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00:19:59

35: Maintaining Virtual Relationships

The Speak Easy Podcast ·

2018/12/04

We'll be honest—if we had it our way, every new relationship would start with a meaningful face-to-face chat. But in today's business environment, one needs to master virtual relationships in order to adequately scale an organization. While there's a slew of impressive technology designed solely to connect teams across the country (and the globe), remote work is easier said than done. Virtual relationships bring a number of challenges: communication gets muddled, silos build up between teams, and

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236 results

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