Are you building your side hustle — or just staying busy?There's a sneaky trap that catches almost every new entrepreneur, and chances are you've already fallen into it at least once. It's called perfectionism, and it's costing you more than time. That logo you've been tweaking for three hours, the website that has to be just right before you launch — none of that is actually building your business. Perfectionism is procrastination in disguise, and underneath it is the one thing none of us want to admit: fear of rejection. The good news? You don't have to be perfect to make progress. You just have to be willing to be bad at something long enough to get good at it. This episode is a mindset reset for every side-hustle dad who knows what they need to do — but keeps finding something else to do instead.HighlightsPerfectionism isn't about quality — it's a socially acceptable mask for procrastination and fear of failureBusywork (tweaking logos, color palettes, websites) feels productive but doesn't move the needleThe tasks you avoid — sales calls, follow-ups, networking — are the ones that actually grow your businessYour brain is wired to protect you from rejection, and it will spin wild stories to keep you "safe"Embracing imperfect reps is the only way to improve at the things that matterSetting a rejection goal reframes failure as progress and builds momentumSmall, consistent actions beat sporadic bursts of "perfect" effort every single timeNext up: a miniseries on marketing and sales — foundational frameworks for side-hustle dads who feel lost in that worldChapters0:19 – The Perfectionism Trap2:26 – Busywork vs. Real Progress3:37 – Fear of Rejection4:49 – How Your Brain Creates Safety Stories6:32 – Why the Risk Is Worth It7:53 – Embracing Imperfection9:43 – Five Seconds of Crazy Courage10:37 – Setting Rejection Goals11:52 – Consistency Wins13:11 – Weekly Challenge13:46 – What's Next: Marketing & Sales MiniseriesBe sure to subscribe and leave us a review!For more information about The Side-Hustle Dad, visit our website at https://thesidehustle.dadRemember, build the business, but be the dad!This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net.

What if the one word you've been avoiding is actually the key to keeping your business alive? Profit isn't a four-letter word — it's what gives you freedom, stability, and the ability to serve your clients at the highest level. In this episode, we break down exactly why profit is the purpose of business, how discounting quietly destroys your margins, and what you can do right now to start building a healthier, more profitable second act. Whether you're brand new or a few years in, this one will change how you think about money in your business.HIGHLIGHTS• Profit is not greedy — it's what keeps your business alive and allows you to serve others well• The true cost of running your business goes far beyond materials — and most owners don't account for all of it• Discounting trains customers to wait; raising prices positions your value• A 10% discount at a 35% margin requires a 40% increase in new sales to offset it• Adding value (not cutting prices) is the smarter path to winning and keeping clients• Upsell and downsell scripts help your team serve clients better — and increase revenue without pressure• Payment terms and cash flow management are critical, even early in your second act• Not all revenue is good revenue — grading your clients (A, B, C, D) helps you protect your energy and your profit• Fire your D clients — your best customers should not be subsidizing your worstCHAPTERS0:00 — Profit Is Not Dirty1:32 — The Purpose of Business2:36 — True Cost Breakdown3:48 — Discounting vs. Pricing4:44 — The Math Behind Discounts5:43 — Raise Prices Confidently6:52 — Value Add Ideas9:24 — Upsell and Downsell11:45 — Payment Terms & Cash Flow13:21 — Grade Your Clients14:27 — Love Profit: Closing ThoughtsRESOURCES MENTIONED• Second Act Readiness Quiz — A practical quiz that gives you customized feedback on your business's profitability and clarity.Want to get more help from Lee with your business? Visit her website: https://leegray.actioncoach.com/This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network. For more information, visit ictpod.net.

What does it take to build a life — and a career — that touches nearly every corner of one state? This week we sit down with Lori Rogge, one of a handful of female auctioneers in Kansas, to talk about growing up across the state, learning the chant, and how a 22,000-acre Flint Hills ranch ends up on the internet.HighlightsSydney's grandfather was such a loyal auction customer that the auction house retired his bidder number — and it's now engraved on his gravestoneLori's parents, Gene and Connie Francis, founded Gene Francis & Associates in 1984 and have since built a global auction reach — including clients from Belgium, the UK, and Chihuahua, MexicoLori attended Worldwide College of Auctioneering in Mason City, Iowa — and her very first auction as an auctioneer was a $10,000 paintingThe auction industry has moved dramatically online; Gavel Roads Online Auctions launched in 2016 and was perfectly positioned when COVID hit in 2020There are only three or four female auctioneers in Kansas outside of Kansas CityThe SNL skit featuring auctioneer-speak went viral — and Lori loved every second of itThe National Auctioneers Association is actually headquartered in Overland Park, KansasJordy Nelson (Green Bay Packers) grew up in Leonardville, and his family's Nelson Family Community Foundation is active in the communityHistoric Lake Scott State Park in western Kansas sits on the only known Native American pueblo in Kansas, dating to the 1600sFlint Hills Trail State Park is the eighth longest rail trail in the entire United StatesChapters0:00 – Grandpa Auction Hoard1:09 – Bomb Shelter Safe2:21 – Welcome / Intro to Lori3:35 – Meet Lori Rogge4:05 – Growing Up Kansas8:25 – Why Leonardville10:40 – Career Path Shift13:58 – Building Online Auctions16:58 – Learning the Chant27:40 – Chant Mechanics35:51 – Reading the Room36:10 – Auctions Going Online (Estate Sales & Collectibles)33:27 – Estate Plans & Loyal Clients36:04 – From Onsite to Online37:00 – Auctioneers in Small Towns40:40 – Why She Gives Back44:16 – Rural Riley County Community Foundation49:19 – Women Grow the Farm52:02 – Hosts Reflect on Auctions52:54 – State Park Guessing Game44:09 – Historic Lake Scott State Park1:00:25 – Final Wrap & Call to ActionResources MentionedGene Francis & Associates – Lori's family real estate and auction company, founded in 1984Gavel Roads Online Auctions – Online auction bidding platform launched by the Francis family in 2016Worldwide College of Auctioneering – Where Lori earned her auctioneer's license; locations in Mason City, Iowa and ColoradoKSU Foundation – Kansas State University Foundation, where Lori worked in gift and estate planning from 2005 to 2015Kansas 4-H Foundation – Lori has consulted for this organizationNelson Family Community Foundation – Founded by the family of Jordy Nelson (K-State and Green Bay Packers), based in LeonardvilleFlint Hills Discovery Center – Manhattan, KS museum with an exhibit on the auctioneer chantNational Auctioneers Association – Headquartered in Overland Park, KansasRails-to-Trails Conservancy – Organization that rail-banked and helped develop the Flint Hills Trail beginning in 1995Learn more about the podcast at askakansan.com!This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net

What if your birthday celebration wasn't really about your birthday at all? Jen Christian turned 40 with one of the most intentional, fun, and friendship-forward celebrations I've ever seen — and it started not with a party plan, but with a personal reckoning. After navigating a postpartum fog that hit during COVID, Jen found herself asking: Who am I now? What do I value? And who are my people for this next decade? The answers led her to create "40 Things for 40" — a curated list of experiences, meals, adventures, and connections she organized into a Google site and sent to the people she loves most. No pressure. No spotlight. Just an open invitation to show up and share life together. If you're approaching a milestone birthday — or honestly any season of life where you're ready to come back to yourself — this conversation is going to spark something in you.HIGHLIGHTSJen shares how coming out of postpartum and the COVID season prompted her to ask the big questions: who am I, what do I value, and who are my people?Why loneliness can sneak up on you even when you're surrounded by wonderful people — and what to do about itHow Jen's eclectic friend group actually inspired the format of her celebrationThe four "buckets" she used to organize her 40 things: places to dine, things she loves most, things to discover, and an evolution of JenWhy she chose a Google Site to host the list (hint: her husband's class reunion inspired it)How a Google Form made logistics effortless and her social calendar full for the next decadeWhy celebration isn't about the spotlight — it's about pausing, reflecting, and connectingJen's definition of celebration: "It's about pausing. It's about reflection. It's about accomplishment, and it's about connection and relationship."CHAPTERS0:00 – Welcome and Meet Jen1:04 – Why Turning 40 Matters3:10 – Reclaiming Identity After Motherhood6:47 – Pulling Back and Finding Your People9:57 – The 40 Things for 40 Idea12:07 – Building the List and Buckets17:03 – Sharing It Out and Timeline20:11 – Favorite Picks From the 4021:37 – Why Celebration Matters23:05 – Template Offer and Wrap UpRESOURCESJen's "40 Things for 40" TemplateSaltwell Farm Kitchen — between Topeka and Lawrence, Kansas (https://www.saltwellfarmkitchen.com)Google Sites — the free platform Jen used to build and share her celebration list (https://sites.google.com)Google Forms — used for RSVPs and tracking signups (https://forms.google.com)ChatGPT — Jen used this to help brainstorm ideas for her final bucket of five (https://chat.openai.com)Pinterest — also used for inspiration while building the list (https://www.pinterest.com)Want to learn more?The ThreadBe sure to follow me @audradinell on Instagram and LinkedInThis show is part of the ICT Podcast Network.Disclaimer: we may receive a small commission on any products purchased through the links used in this episode. I only recommend tools and resources I actually use and find valuable.

You're busy — but is your side hustle actually making you money? There's a big difference between being booked solid and being profitable. If you've been afraid to raise your rates, this episode gives you the exact framework to know when it's time, how to do it, and how to silence the inner voice that says you're not worth it.HighlightsWhy being "busy" is not the goal — profitability isHow to calculate your conversion rate with a dead-simple formulaThe 30–50% conversion rate sweet spot and what it means for your pricingWhy a high conversion rate (above 50%) is actually a warning sign you're underchargingThe math that shows how raising prices and working less can earn you the same incomeWhat to do when your conversion rate is too low — and why slashing prices is the wrong moveHow to define your Unique Selling Proposition (USP) to command higher ratesHow to ask clients who say "no" for feedback (without it being awkward)Using your "evidence folder" — testimonials and reviews — to overcome imposter syndromeWhy pricing is not permanent and iteration is part of the processChapters0:00 – Why Raise Prices1:31 – Measure Conversion Rate4:20 – Healthy Benchmarks5:20 – When Yes Is Too Easy9:08 – Test Higher Rates9:57 – Fix Low Conversions14:26 – Imposter Syndrome Proof16:50 – Final ChallengeBe sure to subscribe and leave us a review!For more information about The Side-Hustle Dad, visit our website at https://thesidehustle.dadRemember, build the business, but be the dad!This show is part of the ICT Podcast Network, for more information, visit ictpod.net.