Ep 127: 5 Lessons from 12 Years in Business

I’m excited to share a conversation with an amazing teacher of mine, the one and only Selena Soo.Selena is a wonderfully kind and generous person who wants to lift up others by teaching us how to better show up and forge real, rich relationships with each other. In this episode, we talk about the insights from her new book Rich Relationships: Create a Million-Dollar Network for Your Business.Selena Soo is a 7-figure business mentor, who helps experts and authors reach millions with their message. Through dozens of multi-6 figure and 7-figure launches, Selena has generated over $13 million in revenue in her first 10 years of business. She has also built more than 400 affiliate and referral partnerships.An expert in publicity, Selena has helped thousands of entrepreneurs land media, in places that include O, The Oprah Magazine, Forbes, Business Insider, and The Drew Barrymore Show.A former New Yorker, Selena is living her dream life in sunny Puerto Rico.Tune into this episode to hear:Why building real, intentional connections is more important than being at every networking eventHow investing time, creativity, and resources into relationships reaps big returnsThree key phases to seeking and developing a rich relationshipSimple ways to intentionally give and add value to your relationshipsSelena’s six circles of connection framework that will help you manage relationshipsLearn more about Selena Soo:WebsiteInstagram: @selena_sooConnect on LinkedInRich Relationships: Create a Million-Dollar Network for Your BusinessResources:Get the first four chapters of Rich Relationships plus bonus scripts!No BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com

When the economy is in turmoil, a lot of business owners get really scared. This is understandable! When we don’t know what’s going to happen, fear is totally normal. And it doesn’t help that we live in a 24/7 news and social media cycle that is most likely feeding you a lot of scary news, information, and opinions.You might be afraid that your clients are going to disappear, that your business will shrink, and that you’ll find yourself in a really dangerous place financially.So today, I want to talk about those fears, how I would think about it, and what you can do to shield yourself for whatever turmoil might come along with a more depressed economy.Tune into this episode to hear:Why pulling back and shrinking down your business is not the answerTwo student success stories on using unexpected downtime to catapult their businesses forwardWhy the right clients are always going to be willing to invest for high-value servicesWhat you need to focus on right now to make sure your business weathers the stormResources:No BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com

What if the only thing standing between you and the business you actually want is you?In this firecracker of an episode, I sit down with leadership coach and mindset magician Gary Montalvo, who serves up truth bombs about personal responsibility, entrepreneurial avoidance, and why waiting for Oprah (or referrals) is not a strategy.This episode is a loving kick in the pants for every creative, coach, or small biz owner who's stuck in "busy" but not making real moves. Gary’s blend of heart, humor, and no-BS wisdom will leave you thinking way differently about your business and yourself.About Gary Montalvo:For almost two decades, Gary Montalvo has been a powerhouse behind business strategies and leadership programs for numerous entrepreneurs, startups and corporations. Most recently he worked with LimeLife by Alcone as the Chief Growth Officer, where he worked on the sales and recruitment strategies for the company globally.He has delivered hundreds of speeches, workshops, and trainings to audiences internationally and is also the host of The Ownership Game Podcast. He brings a contagious authentic energy to his audiences that’s not just feel good, but practical and implementable. Tune into this episode to hear:Why ownership is the real secret to momentumHow to stop pretending you're “confused” and start making movesThe sneaky ways entrepreneurs avoid what really mattersWhy your monkey brain is sabotaging you—and what to do about itHow to follow up, show up, and sell without being creepyLearn more about Gary Montalvo:WebsiteInstagram: @garymontalvoYouTube: @GaryMontalvoCoachingThe Ownership Game PodcastResources:No BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com

Tell me if this sounds like you.Your business is going okay. You’re making enough money. But you want to level up. You want to invest in yourself and your business to get there.But you just need a little more money before you can justify the investment. Or maybe your business isn’t going so well. You’re struggling to find and close clients. You know you need to invest in learning the skills it takes to turn your business into a success.But you need to land one more client before you can think about spending the money to learn those skills.You see the contradiction, right?These are two of the most common excuses I hear from business owners about why they can’t invest in themselves and their businesses.Today I want to break down why so many of us hold onto the idea that we need to make the money first in order to invest in ourselves.Tune into this episode to hear:Why waiting until you have “enough” money to invest in your business is keeping you stuck in survival modeWhy the fastest path to making more money is investing in your ability to make moneyHow investing real money in learning new skills makes you take action differentlyWhy putting off investing in your business costs you money in the long runResources:No BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com

“I can’t go out and talk about my business until I figure out what my niche is.”I hear this all the time. And don’t get me wrong, I love a niche and I think you should have one.But the thing is, obsessing over your niche too early in your business can actually hold you back instead of helping you. If you think you have to be absolutely clear on your niche or your audience before you can put your name out there and look for business, you might be making a huge mistake that will set you back.Niching only works when you do it the right way. Today, I’m going to explain why that is and how to do it successfully.Tune into this episode to hear:Why picking a niche can totally backfire if you’re missing this one thingHow working with different types of clients helps you find your niche What you need to do to validate if a niche is the one for youMentioned:E. 145: Emily Wilkins on How Niching Down and Owning That Niche Allowed Her Business to ThriveResources:No BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com

You’re in the branding, design, website, or marketing business, so obviously you want a killer website and branding for yourself. How else are you going to demonstrate that you know what you’re doing and attract the right clients?This is true.But if you’re waiting until your website or your branding is perfect before you make any other investment in your business, you are waiting too long.A beautiful, finished website is not a necessity for getting out there and starting to build your business and make money. Same goes for updating your website if you’re struggling with referrals and closing sales.Today, I’m going to tell you why and what you need to focus on instead.Tune into this episode to hear:Why a website is not a sales strategyThe key elements of your business that need your energy long before your websiteWhy your brand and website will actually resonate only after you’re successfully sellingResources:No BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com

KyAlea Monma came into No BS Agencies Mastery firing on all cylinders and she has had incredible results with the actions she’s taken. She’s been a consistent example of how it is to show up for yourself, your business, and our community. It’s been truly inspiring to witness her journey and I’m excited for you to hear her story.KyAlea Monma is a visionary strategist and brand architect, and the founder of HOKU Design Group. With over 20 years of branding expertise, a master’s in media design, and a background leading global teams, she helps founders build bold, magnetic brands rooted in their Brand DNA. Through her Master Brand framework, KyAlea empowers service-based businesses to scale with clarity, influence, and unstoppable momentum—turning ambition into action and action into legacy.Tune into this episode to hear:Why and how KyAlea rebuilt her businessThe problem with niching too soon.How being part of the No BS community helped KyAlea define her strengths and own her unique approachHow she found her unique voice in a crowded industryThe changes KyAlea made to put more breathing room in her scheduleLearn more about KyAlea Monma:HOKU Design GroupConnect on LinkedInResources:No BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com

I have a sneaking suspicion that we’ve got a fair number of perfectionists in our No BS community. Perfectionism can be an incredible asset. But we, perfectionists, can also get stuck repeating the “right” way of doing something, even when it’s inefficient or overly complicated.In this episode, I break down how you can simplify your business and free up space in your life.Tune into this episode to hear:Why complexity doesn’t equal value (and how it can actually hurt your business)The emotional shift of simplifying your offers (hint: it feels so good)How clients love simplicity—and why it helps you stand outResources:No BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com

In 2014, our business collapsed.Credit cards maxed out. $40,000 in debt. No idea how we were going to get out of that hole.Flash forward twelve months and Steve and I had generated $500,000 in sales by changing to the No BS Agencies Model. It was a huge milestone for us after we’d struggled so much.You might have heard me tell that story before. It shows how quickly committing to the right strategy can turn your business around.What I don’t often share is that we never, ever chased $500K again. In this episode, I share what happened, why we changed our goals, and why it’s actually a more common experience than you’d think.Tune into this episode to hear:The new challenge that comes when you go from not enough money or clients to raking in salesWhy you have to remember your priorities and how you want to live your life when you’re saying yes or no to workHow aiming lower–while still covering your needs–and giving yourself time and space helps your businessResources:No BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com

I’m excited to catch up with one of my favorite students from the early days of No BS Agencies Mastery.  Jason Knight shares his story and how he's used the No BS model to completely transform how he runs his business so that he can live a life of freedom and ease with his family.Jason Knight amplifies authority. He is a communication expert, branding guru and the owner of AskJasonKnight, an agency helping knowledge experts and speakers make an impact with their ideas by uncomplicating their business from the inside out, all within 30 days.   Tune into this episode to hear:Why running his business under the traditional model was running Jason into the groundThe aha moment that led Jason to making better connections with his audienceHow Jason found the sweet spot for his pricing that leaves everyone happyThe key mindset shifts that have dramatically changed Jason’s business and his lifeLearn more about Jason Knight:AskJasonKnightConnect on LinkedInResources:No BS Agencies MasteryThe Price to Freedom Calculator™No BS LaunchpadNo BS Agency Owners Free Facebook GroupStart reading the first chapter of my bookPiasilva.com