Wife, mom and CEO Steph Fowler built a business from a handbag sketch - without any background as a designer! In this episode, Steph shares how she came up with the concept for Austin|Fowler, how the brand got it’s start, what the messy middle looked like for her as a working mom of four with a business on the side, and how she made the slow shift from 9-5 to full-time in her start up.

Discussed in this episode:

1. How Stephanie came up with the idea for a manufactured product, despite no background in product development or manufacturing
2. How Stephanie built a booming business before leaving her 9-5
3. How Steph decided it was time to take the leap to leave her 9-5 and go full time with her business
4. Why controlling the growth is really important to Steph, and how it impacts her ability to prioritize work-life balance
5. Why debt-free growth has been a priority for Austin|Fowler
6. What the future looks like for her company and her family

Resources:

More from Stephanie Fowler:

Steph is a wife, mom of 4, former corporate executive and CEO of Austin | Fowler. She founded Austin | Fowler in 2015 with her husband, Vince, when she was frustrated with the lack of bags in the market that kept her organized with her busy family life on the go but was also chic enough to carry into the office. She was passionate that a bag that was able to keep you organized on the go and also chic, could help transform you into a more confident person.

Since then, Austin | Fowler bags are carried by thousands of women around the world who have seen the transformative effect of a chic and organized bag. More importantly the Austin | Fowler brand has an incredibly loyal community of customers who regularly build their A|F collection and are incredible ambassadors in telling their friends, family, and strangers who compliment their bag!

We would love to have you become connected with us!

www.AustinFowler.com

@austinandfowler on Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / TikTok

More from Ann and Cortney

Be sure to sign up for our newsletter to get episode updates and exclusive tips and tricks that we share on our other channels! Get added on our website: livingyourbalancedlife.com

Get in touch with our team for sponsorship inquiries or guest host submissions: hello@livingyourbalancedlife.com

Connect with us:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingyourbalancedlife/

Ann’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annknuttila/

Cortney’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cortneygalster/

Adventure, community and do-good projects come together at IVY Adventures. Co-owner Sarah Line joins us to chat about how her company helps companies and individuals become changemakers in the global community while creating incredible memories through travel adventures designed to make a difference.

Discussed in this episode:

1. How IVY helps individuals and corporations travel more and create change in the global community
2. How these travel opportunities impact corporate culture
3. How travel can create personal change
4. The experiences that drove Sarah to bridge the gap to build a company that is focused on creating life purpose for others
5. How she joined IVY when it was an existing business, what the process looked like, and how she transitioned out of the corporate world to find success as an entrepreneur
6. What success looks like for Sarah, and why she believes it’s a fluid, evolving aspect of business
7. How to focus on the things that give you energy, and delegate the rest

Resources:

More from Sarah Line

Change-maker enthusiast Sarah Line started IVY Adventures after leading world wide humanitarian trips, and observing people facing fear, gaining insight, and watching incredible relationships form in a way that created functional teams from highly diverse backgrounds. Recognizing travel as a powerful tool, Sarah left the corporate Employee Benefits insurance industry to go full time with IVY. It has doubled year after year in growth, even as COVID ravaged the worlds of travel and gathering. Sarah brings a unique perspective, built from living such an unconventional life and working through the challenges and frustrations that come with being a changer. Sarah's core beliefs are: the messy middle is where magic happens, embrace every situation and refuse to let go until you have learned something from it, and using science & fun to get sh*t done.

And here are a few upcoming IVY humanitarian & leadership development trips that are open to anyone:

More from Ann and Cortney

Be sure to sign up for our newsletter to get episode updates and exclusive tips and tricks that we share on our other channels! Get added on our website: livingyourbalancedlife.com

Get in touch with our team for sponsorship inquiries or guest host submissions: hello@livingyourbalancedlife.com

Connect with us:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingyourbalancedlife/

Ann’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annknuttila/

Cortney’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cortneygalster/

Daniel Felt, CEO of Kura Homes, shares his journey to entrepreneurship - from his parent creating a business on accident to his first foray into passive income, to founding Kura Homes with two passive income streams as his safety net. We discuss mindset and attitude, along with being intentional about who you surround yourself with as a business owner, along with you multiple income streams can help you create more financial security as an entrepreneur. Finally, we chat about how you can streamline operations within your business and delegate better to build a stronger business model and create more work-life balance.

Discussed in this episode:

1. How Daniel changed his path from elementary education to entrepreneurship
2. How he found his footing with passive income streams, and how those streams enabled him to start his active business
3. Why mindset and attitude - and the people you surround yourself with impact your trajectory
4. How an accountability partner - paid or unpaid - can help you stay on track to your vision and goals
5. Why multiple income streams are important as an entrepreneur - and how to set yourself up for success
6. Why Daniel chose the recurring home maintenance business model and how this has helped him to build a more balanced life
7. The passive income stream that Daniel would start today if he were doing it all over again
8. How you can streamline operations and delegate well, so that you can accomplish everything you set out to do
9. The impact of consistency on your future trajectory

Resources:

More from Daniel:

Daniel Felt is the Founder and CEO of Kura Home. Since starting in 2016, Kura Home has grown from Daniels garage to four different states and 32 employees. Focusing on high quality work at a fair price, Kura Home services over 600 homes on a quarterly basis completing their routine maintenance needs. In his free time, Daniel enjoys being a husband, father, camping, hiking, marathons, ultra marathons, and Ironman triathlons. He is also a private pilot and certified home inspector.

www.kurahome.com

https://www.facebook.com/kuramaintenance

https://www.instagram.com/kurahome

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3rKDatE51PpSaNbhuPVjTQ

More from Ann and Cortney

Be sure to sign up for our newsletter to get episode updates and exclusive tips and tricks that we share on our other channels! Get added on our website: livingyourbalancedlife.com

Get in touch with our team for sponsorship inquiries or guest host submissions: hello@livingyourbalancedlife.com

Connect with us:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingyourbalancedlife/

Ann’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annknuttila/

Cortney’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cortneygalster/

Katie Heruth is the owner of Minnesota Parent Publications, a digital-first magazine that she purchased as an existing business in 2021. After spending most of her career in early education, Katie’s direction took a 180-degree turn during the pandemic when things slowed down for her family, when she also realized she wanted to pursue a new passion. In this episode, Katie shares how she made the shift from employee to entrepreneur, how she decided to buy an existing business and what the process looked like. She also shares how the business has evolved since she purchased it, how she is balancing business growth with life, and how to take your time building a business to make it what you want it to be.

Discussed in this episode:

1. How Katie decided to buy an existing business and what the process looked like
2. Tactical advice for understanding what your target market wants to see from you and how to implement it
3. Why analytics are important and how to use them
4. How client surveys can help you target what’s important in your business (and which survey systems to use)
5. How the business has grown differently than she expected - and that’s ok!
6. How the experience plays into your relationship with customers, and how to do this well
7. The balance between running a business and putting family first

Resources:

More from Katie:

Building a business takes time even if it was already established! Listen to your customers. You may go into something thinking this is how it's going to go. You need to be flexible and recognize what is working well and what your customers are gravitating towards and pivot towards those important customers!

You can find all our content here: https://www.minnesotaparent.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MNParentMag

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/minnesotaparent/

My LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieheruth/

More from Ann and Cortney

Be sure to sign up for our newsletter to get episode updates and exclusive tips and tricks that we share on our other channels! Get added on our website: livingyourbalancedlife.com

Get in touch with our team for sponsorship inquiries or guest host submissions: hello@livingyourbalancedlife.com

Connect with us:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingyourbalancedlife/

Ann’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annknuttila/

Cortney’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cortneygalster/

Discussed in this episode:

1. How Anahita developed a business plan that she was passionate about after spending many years in the Corporate world
2. How motherhood changed her perspective on business
3. How not knowing the future can be scary, but letting your business evolve can bring great things
4. How perspective in the form of community can help us improve our businesses, our time management, how we relate to people and how we create balance
5. How Anahita uses volunteering opportunities to impact change in the community through her business
6. How purpose can drive you forward and fuel your fire in all areas of your life
7. How to get out of your bubble and build a real community around you.

Resources:

More from Anahita Champion:

Anahita is a first generation Iranian-Immigrant who is passionate about inclusive storytelling.

As a Wifey & Mommy, she prides herself on focusing her personal & professional projects around her three-core values: Community, Diversity, and Joy.

Anahita spends her work time as a Media Personality, Brand Story Strategist, youth advocate & spends a portion of her time on philanthropic outreach & mental health advocacy.

Through her multifaceted projects, Anahita is dedicated to providing uplifting & inclusive experiences as she hopes to touch the lives of those near and far.

Media work: www.itsanahita.com & @anahitachampion on all social media platforms

MomSquad: www.twincitiesmomsquad.com & @tcmomsquad on all social media platforms

More from Ann and Cortney

Be sure to sign up for our newsletter to get episode updates and exclusive tips and tricks that we share on our other channels! Get added on our website: livingyourbalancedlife.com

Get in touch with our team for sponsorship inquiries or guest host submissions: hello@livingyourbalancedlife.com

Connect with us:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingyourbalancedlife/

Ann’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annknuttila/

Cortney’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cortneygalster/

Discussed in this episode:

1. How to start scaling back for summer and where to look for pockets of fun time
2. How to structure your day/limited childcare if you have it
3. Opportunities to get focused work time in your day
4. Why early morning or late night work sessions can help balance your day
5. Activities and strategies to keep kids busy all summer long
6. “Homework,” chores, reading time and more - how to incorporate this into your day

Resources:

More from Ann and Cortney

Be sure to sign up for our newsletter to get episode updates and exclusive tips and tricks that we share on our other channels! Get added on our website: livingyourbalancedlife.com

Get in touch with our team for sponsorship inquiries or guest host submissions: hello@livingyourbalancedlife.com

Connect with us:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingyourbalancedlife/

Ann’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annknuttila/

Cortney’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cortneygalster/

Discussed in this episode:

1. Kristin’s journey of growing up in a financially insecure household and how that led to a career in finance
2. How to create a strong money mindset that sets you up for success
3. What to plan for before taking the leap out of your 9-5
4. Understanding your income needs, setting goals, and creating a plan before you take the leap
5. How to pay yourself as an entrepreneur so that you aren’t feeling the pinch if you’re not where you want to be right now
6. How to consider retirement planning, benefits, taxes and more as an entrepreneur
7. Why a CPA can be a great investment for both planning and money management

Resources:

More from Kristin:

Connect with Kristin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinbrandliprinton/

Kristin’s website: https://www.moxiewealthmanagement.com/our-story/kristin-brandli-printon/

More from Ann and Cortney

Be sure to sign up for our newsletter to get episode updates and exclusive tips and tricks that we share on our other channels! Get added on our website: livingyourbalancedlife.com

Get in touch with our team for sponsorship inquiries or guest host submissions: hello@livingyourbalancedlife.com

Connect with us:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingyourbalancedlife/

Ann’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annknuttila/

Cortney’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cortneygalster/