Behind the Design

106. Daily Life of an Artist, Romanticizing Your Life Through Creativity & Following Your Intuition with Nicole Goldfarb

In this episode of "Behind the Design Podcast", hosted by Olivia Austin, we get an inspiring glimpse into the colorful world of Nicole Goldfarb, the creative CEO of Nixie, and her journey into the business of joy-infusing design. Nicole Goldfarb is a color-loving creative whose eye-catching illustrations radiate a playful energy that is synonymous with joy. With a signature blend of lively hues, bold shapes and funky typography, her mission is to inspire a life full of fun by making the mos...

105. Stop Clients From Stalling Website Projects With These Tactics

In this episode, Olivia Austin shares expert insights on preventing website project stalls with effective communication, system implementation, and client guidance in brand and web design. Tune in for actionable strategies and tips on setting boundaries, maintaining project momentum, and ensuring profitable, timely delivery. 00:00 Encouraging audience engagement, seeking input on topics. 04:51 Integrating copywriting into the design process. 09:07 Copywriter involvement varies based on c...

104. Simplifying Your Creative Services, Staying in Your Creative Genius & Becoming a New Mom with Angela Mondloch, Saffron Avenue

Angela is the Founder and Creative Heart behind Saffron Avenue, a graphic design studio for ambitious brands and a template shop for entrepreneurs and artists. With a love of designing with intention and connection, I focus on infusing strategy, sophistication, and hand-crafted details into each brand, website, and product. Her mission has been to help creative business owners gain clarity and confidence with their brand and website, allowing them to effortlessly evolve with growth. Today we...

103. Create a Customized Growth Strategy for Your Best Quarter Yet

In this episode of Behind the Design, host Olivia Austin shares a step-by-step strategy for reflecting on the past quarter and creating a customized plan for the next quarter. Discover the #1 important, reflection exercise and identify the actionable steps to define your goals, refine your strategies, and achieve success in Quarter 2. Timestamps: 00:00 Entrepreneurs need strategic reflection to grow 03:38 Review, reflect, and refine for business growth 09:06 Reflect on achievements and s...

103. Q1 Review & Mapping Out a Q2 Game Plan for Maximum Results

In this episode of Behind the Design, host Olivia Austin shares a step-by-step strategy for reflecting on the past quarter and creating a customized plan for the next quarter. Discover the #1 important, reflection exercise and identify the actionable steps to define your goals, refine your strategies, and achieve success in Quarter 2. Timestamps: 00:00 Entrepreneurs need strategic reflection to grow 03:38 Review, reflect, and refine for business growth 09:06 Reflect on achievements and s...

102. Running Ads for Leads as a Beginner, Using AI in Your Agency & Stepping Up As a Leader with Kay Allen-Car

Kay is a marketing strategist with over 15 years of experience helping businesses take a data-driven approach to increasing revenue. She is a former VP of Marketing & Analytics and is now the founder of the KAC Marketing Agency where she helps 7-figure brands scale through ads and email marketing.

102. Lead Generating Ads for Beginners, Using AI in Your Agency & Stepping Up As a Leader with Kay Allen-Car

Join our guest, Kay from KAC Marketing, on the Behind the Design podcast as we dive into secrets on scaling agencies, leveraging AI for efficiency, and mastering email marketing and ad management strategies for small businesses. Plus, you'll hear expert advice on balancing work-life and harnessing the power of organic content and paid ads to grow your client base. Don't miss these valuable insights - perfect for agency owners and marketing professionals looking to thrive! Kay is a marketing...

101. Enhance Your Processes Using ClickUp

It's no secret I am obsessed with ClickUp, so in today's episode I'm sharing the reasons why I switched to ClickUp, an inside look of how we use it with clients and our internal processes and how I've been able to ditch all other platforms to streamline to just ONE. ClickUp revolutionized the workflow my agency, eliminating bottlenecks in client and team communication, allows us to get efficient client feedback, systemize client expectations, enhance team collaborations and optimize product....

101. Elevate Your Design Studio and Life Using ClickUp

It's no secret I am obsessed with ClickUp, so in today's episode I'm sharing the reasons why I switched to ClickUp, an inside look of how we use it with clients and our internal processes and how I've been able to ditch all other platforms to streamline to just ONE. ClickUp revolutionized the workflow my agency, eliminating bottlenecks in client and team communication, allows us to get efficient client feedback, systemize client expectations, enhance team collaborations and optimize product....

101. Elevate Your Process & Increase Profitability with ClickUp

It's no secret I am obsessed with ClickUp, so in today's episode I'm sharing the reasons why I switched to ClickUp, an inside look of how we use it with clients and our internal processes and how I've been able to ditch all other platforms to streamline to just ONE. ClickUp revolutionized the workflow my agency, eliminating bottlenecks in client and team communication, allows us to get efficient client feedback, systemize client expectations, enhance team collaborations and optimize product....

100. Understanding Intellectual Property and Protecting Your Business with Paige Hulse

On today's episode, we are taking it super logistical, legal I guess ha! Where Paige Hulse of Paige Hulse Law is answering all of your small business legal questions. Paige Hulse received her Juris Doctorate from The University of Tulsa and is the owner and lead attorney of Paige Hulse Law, the founder of The Creative Law Shop® (CLS), Co-Founder of the Special Forces Support Fund™ and the owner of Fairway Stables™. As an intellectual property attorney and passionate serial entrepreneur, Paig...

100. Understanding Intellectual Property and Protecting Your Business with IP Attorney, Paige Hulse

On today's episode, we are taking it super logistical, legal I guess ha! Where Paige Hulse of Paige Hulse Law is answering all of your small business legal questions. Paige Hulse received her Juris Doctorate from The University of Tulsa and is the owner and lead attorney of Paige Hulse Law, the founder of The Creative Law Shop® (CLS), Co-Founder of the Special Forces Support Fund™ and the owner of Fairway Stables™. As an intellectual property attorney and passionate serial entrepreneur, Paig...

99. Motherhood Unfiltered: Real Talk From My First Twelve Months

In this unfiltered and candid episode, Olivia delves into the nuances of her first year of motherhood. From navigating the unexpected realities of motherhood to redefining her identity, Olivia shares her personal journey with raw honesty. Discover her reflections on building a business around her new life as a mom and the importance of setting boundaries for both business and personal life. Gain insights on prioritizing self-care, embracing progress over perfection, and learning to live in h...

98. Following Your Intuition and Finding Balance with Inner Peace and Ambition with Anna Wojtowicz

I am sitting down today with Strategy addict and inner work convert, Anna Wojtowicz. Anna helps ambitious female entrepreneurs, learn how to approach scaling profits without losing their purpose & peace by integrating practical mindset and spirituality into strategy. The end result is finding balance between ambition and inner peace because she believes you shouldn't have to choose between the two. We chat all of the things in this episode from finding your intuition to mental health as an e...

97. If You Want to Make More Money in 2024, Do This

In this episode of Behind the Design Podcast, host Olivia Austin discusses strategies for increasing your profitability and making more money in 2024. Olivia delves into the importance of knowing your numbers and understanding the difference between revenue and profitability. Drawing from her own experience, she shares how she transformed her agency into a more profitable business by trimming expenses and building a lean team. She emphasizes the significance of the financial health check and...

96. How to Enhance Efficiency Without Losing Empathy In Business With Jessica Frigon

Today I sit down with Jessica Frigon, a seasoned expert with over 15 years of experience in Operations and Integration and owner of PROJECT LOVE. PROJECT LOVE offers an unparalleled, full-scale, and elite operational service. PROJECT LOVE is more than just an operations firm; it's a transformative experience for female entrepreneurs and lifestyle brands seeking to redefine the way they do business. She takes a holistic approach to operations, focusing not just on systems but also on the peop...

95. Defining What Matters: Who Are You Without Your Business?

While I usually provide trainings and workshops, in today's episode we're exploring into a different theme where I encourage you to think outside the box and do some inner work. The central question posed in this episode - 'Who are you without your business?' We are constantly being defined by our business, and while that's gotten us to where we are today, it's just as important to explore your identity beyond your entrepreneurial accomplishments. In today's episode, I'm challenging you to d...

94. How to take control of your own schedule and optimize your business and life

We delve into a crucial aspect of building a business that often gets overlooked – taking control of your schedule so you can build the business and life of your dreams. I share practical tips you can start implementing today, from designating specific days for calls to creating a batch schedule for tasks and planning your week on Sundays. The episode highlights the significance of having designated times for reading emails, setting phone boundaries, and even prioritizing sleep by keeping th...

93. How to Create a Luxury Client Experience + Increase Client Retention Leading to Higher Profitability in Your Business

In the early years of owning my own design studio I felt very unorganized – my workflows weren’t clear, projects would drag on, clients would take control and I would spend more time on marketing to attract more clients than focusing on the clients I had already landed. I quickly went from the excitement of launching my business to paralyzing overwhelm.  It wasn’t until I switched my focus to elevating my client experience and design process that I was able to nurture my current clients and...

92. Remove the Stress of Finances with LoriAnn Kuntz

Today I am joined by LoriAnn, who is the owner and CEO of Profit Priority, a boutique accounting and fractional CFO firm helping creatives go from unsure to unstoppable when thinking about their finances. With over 8 years of experience in accounting and small business finance, she has the insight and experience to help you up-level your business while removing the stress and burden of managing your finances. Whether you are just starting out or you have been in business for years, her missi...

91. What I'd Do If I Were Starting My Business From Scratch

In this reflective podcast episode, I share my experience after 6 years of entrepreneurship and what I would if I were starting my business from scratch. I go through a series of important steps including defining services, building a portfolio, choosing a marketing platform, establishing systems and processes, and the power of networking. The episode is packed with inspiring anecdotes, practical advice, and a strong emphasis on consistency, mindset, and action to help you build a business A...

90. Align Your Goals for Business + Life in 2024

90. How to Set Intentional Business AND Life Goals for 2024

The way you've been taught vision planning and goal setting is all wrong. Most people will look at their revenue goals for the year, write out some goals that sound like that will help and then hope you accomplish them all by the end of the year. Today, I'm teaching the exact framework I use and teach my mentees in how to set goals based on your big life vision and then break them down by quarter, month and year in a tangible way so you have a strategic roadmap on how, when and WHY you're hi...

89. Ditch the "all or nothing" mindset + actually live the life you're dreaming about

We dive deep into the topic of overcoming the "all or nothing" mindset that often holds us back from taking action in our business and life. We explore practical strategies and mindset shifts that can help you break free from the paralysis of perfectionism and start making progress towards your goals. Whether you're struggling to get started on a project, launch a new business, or make positive changes in your personal life, this episode will provide you with inspiration and actionable tips ...

88. Building + Pricing your design services for maximum profitability

Today we're diving deep into building and pricing your brand and website design services. Whether you're a seasoned designer looking to refine your approach or an emerging designer seeking to establish your online presence, this episode is packed with valuable insights that will elevate your design business as a whole. Pricing your design services can be a challenging and is the top question I get asked by you as a listener of the podcast, my coaching/intensive clients. I love it because if ...

87. Managing your energy, work-life harmony + "having it all" as a mom + entrepreneur with Laura Sinclair

Today's episode we have the conversation about the challenges and triumphs of balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship. Laura and I swap our personal experience and practical advice on managing energy, work-life harmony, and the power of personal branding in businesses. Both know that despite trials, it’s entirely possible to have the best of both worlds – motherhood and entrepreneurship – and it’s important to find your unique path without comparing it to anyone else's. This is a very cand...

86. Healing Self-Sabotage, Postpartum Anxiety, and the Journey to Reinventing Yourself

In this heartfelt podcast episode, I am opening up about my personal experience as a new mom and what the journey over the last 8 months has looked like for me. Emphasizing the importance of inner work, support, and healing modalities like inner child healing, I discuss my evolution as what it's like being a business owner and new mom overcoming postpartum anxiety and perfectionism to now seeking harmony between business and personal life. I want to open up the conversation on these topics a...

85. Manifesting a Business + Life in Alignment wWith Your Soul's Purpose With Gabrielle Laura

I hope you are ready for a life changing conversation with a friend, colleague and someone I go to for advice, Gabrielle Laura. Gabrielle is an intuitive channeler who has the gift of being able to channel your soul's purpose. She connects to your intuition, higher self, spirit team, and anyone present or crossed over who is impacting your soul's purpose. Gabrielle will help you kickstart your healing journey and be there to guide you through releasing the blocks that are preventing you from...

84. Vetting potential clients, Bad Client Red Flags and Breaking Up With Bad Clients

The phrase "ideal clients" is tossed around a lot in the business space, along with niching down, client red flags and other ways to identify and create boundaries around working with people you actually like. It's YOUR business and the projects you work on and the clients you work with should make you excited to sit at your desk every day, but unfortunately this is not always the case. Every so often you have those clients that are tough, rude and just plain hard to work with that have you ...

INCOME REPORT: July 2023

Income report for July 2023 - If you're not measuring what you're doing each month, it makes it difficult to make insightful decisions in the business, know what to change or know what to focus on the next month. Each month I go over my business revenue for Design and Coaching, expenses in the business, KPI's and some wins/loses in hopes to help you in your business. byoliviaaustin.com/shop

INCOME REPORT: Mar, Apr, May, Jun 2023

INCOME REPORT - If you're not measuring what you're doing each month, it makes it difficult to make insightful decisions in the business, know what to change or know what to focus on the next month. Each month I go over my business revenue for Design and Coaching, expenses in the business, KPI's and some wins/loses in hopes to help you in your business.

83. Maternity Leave Recap: 3 Mistakes I Made + What I'd Do Differently

I am finally settling in to a flow of working and being a new mom after taking 4 months of maternity leave. It took almost my whole pregnancy to set myself and my business up in order to take this extended time off so that my business kept running, I was able to keep my salary and had projects to come back to. While in general I feel like everything went really well, there are definitely things I would change if I were to do it again. So in today's episode I'm sharing mistakes I made from ta...

82. Get Paid On Time and Know Your Revenue for Months With This Simple Payment Structure

Are you chasing clients down to pay their invoices every month? Do you feel like your finances are all over the place and it's hard to predict your monthly revenue? Or do you just want a simpler way to get paid every single month without any hassle. Over the years of running my Current, I've tried multiple different payment methods. Split payments when project phases are completed, monthly installments whatever date the client started working with us, the list goes on! Some of those worked, ...

81. Increase Your Profit Margins + Revenue by Streamlining Your Systems with Ellie Rogers

I spent a majority of last year overhauling our entire internal processes. This was a huge project that I knew would change the way my business was run for a more streamlined client experience for our clients and team. Since implementing these new processes, profit margins have gone up, client projects get completed quicker and there is basically no overwhelm when it comes to big projects. To do this massive system setup, I worked with Ellie Rogers who is our guest today! After an internatio...

80. 15 Hour Work Weeks Mom Speed + Changing the Way We Work and Lead with Jill Wise

Not quite fitting into a single title, Jill Wise is a business and marketing problem solver. She pushes through the noise of the online world and the "rules" of what you're supposed to do, instead guiding her clients to show up authentically as they build, grow, and scale businesses that feel good to them. BUT, if you need a title for her, you can say she's a brand and marketing strategist, conversion copywriter and business coach. Jill has been a great friend and amazing client over the yea...

79. Navigating Slow Seasons in Business

Slow seasons in business are inevitable - every entrepreneur goes through them, but that doesn't make them any easier or have imposter syndrome creep in any less. Am I not good at my job? Is it me? Everyone else seems to be doing so well! Can you relate? This is the common spiral that bogs down your energy and has you making frantic, short-term mis-aligned decisions in your business. Since we know slow seasons will happen, in todays episode i'm sharing a unique perspective on how to navigate...

78. Changing the Narrative on Motherhood + Business + Using Motherhood as a Portal For Wealth

Today's episode might be one of my favorite conversations I've had in a while. As you know, this new theme of motherhood and business is an important topic I've been touching on throughout my pregnancy and now as a new mom. For me, becoming a mom was a big deal not just because I'd be taking care of a human, but because I was nervous about what it would mean for my identity as a creative and business owner. Today I sit down with Cassie Gudmundson, a wealth energetics + business coach, specif...

77. How I Went From Charging $5k to $15k in 2 Years

Looking back at how I went from charging $5k to $15k, it was not a quick journey or easy journey. I think there's a common misconception that deciding to increase your pricing it's straightforward and happens overnight - this is absolutely not true. In this episode, I'm getting vulnerable and sharing the evolution of pricing our main offer, why we increased it and the 3 key elements you need to consider when increasing your prices. byoliviaaustin.com/shop @byoliviaaustin

76. What's Holding You Back From Becoming Your Next-level Self

Since the beginning of this year I've really dived into self-development and steppi ng into the next version of myself.. Approaching this year, I knew it was/is going to be a big year for me. Turning 30 and having a baby just felt like a really big deal and after feeling a little stagnant for months, I was ready for change. I've been reading/listening to some of the best high-performers and what they all have in common is talking about how it's what you do DAILY that will help you reach your...

75. Real Talk: My Birth Story, Learning to Slow Down + What's Working/Not Working on Maternity Leave

A majority of my podcast episodes are business focused and trainings, but I wanted this episode to be different. The most meaningful conversations I have with you are ones when I share real bts and real lessons I’m learning in life. I’m in such a different season of life right now, one that is so precious and slow and hard and very very different than anything I’m used to.  In just 4 short weeks my life and perspective has changed a lot and  want to share my experience in hopes to inspire a...

74. Guaranteed Monthly Recurring Revenue with Brooke Molinari

Monthly Recurring Revenue is something that's talked about often in entrepreneurship  because of the security it brings in an otherwise unstable space. While courses and memberships are great ways to bring in that type of income, as a creative service-provider it might not feel like that's not the route you want to take your business. Monthly recurring revenue is often interchanged with ongoing or retainer work in the design world and today I'm sitting down with a client and friend, Brooke M...

INCOME REPORT: FEBRUARY 2023

Income report for February 2023 - If you're not measuring what you're doing each month, it makes it difficult to make insightful decisions in the business, know what to change or know what to focus on the next month. Each month I go over my business revenue for Design and Coaching, expenses in the business, KPI's and some wins/loses in hopes to help you in your business.

73. Planning for Maternity Leave as a Female Business Owner

When you've poured everything into building your business it's scary to think about what happens when you start a family. What does time off as a female business owner look like? Do I have to sacrifice business for motherhood? How will I make money? What if I lose everything I've built up to now? These are all questions we as female business owners have, and to be honest there is not a lot of information out there to have them answered. For me, I was terrified that everything I've built ove...

72. 3 Elements Most Designers Are Missing in Their Design Process

I mentioned I'd be talking a lot about the  brand and website design process this month because I get asked a lot about how I grew Current and whenever I really stop to think about it, I directly correlate hitting my revenue goals, growing my team and getting consistent clients to our design process. Over the years, I've spent so much time and investing into a design process that supports the business and life I strive to have. A streamlined and strategic design process allows you to stay i...

71. The Secret to Your First $100k Year, Quarter or Month

While I don't believe in quick fixes when it comes to business, I do believe there are key things that make or break a business. Most of the time, these things are overlooked because they seem small and don't feel like "revenue-generating" tasks, but not all of those tasks are about sales and marketing. When you break down your financial goals and what you need to do to increase profitability and the overall health of your business, it often comes down to one thing: your process. For me, t...

INCOME REPORT: January 2023

Income report for January 2023 - If you're not measuring what you're doing each month, it makes it difficult to make insightful decisions in the business, know what to change or know what to focus on the next month. Each month I go over my business revenue for Design and Coaching, expenses in the business, KPI's and some wins/loses in hopes to help you in your business. If you have specific questions on income reports, DM me on instagram @byoliviaaustin!

70. Bulldozing Your Path + Authentic Thought-Leadership with Oh Sierra

I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with the Creatives behind Oh Sierra, Xanthe and Frank Appleyard. Over the last few years I have been following their journey and obsessing over their beautiful designs, open-hearted communication and knack for marketing, so it was amazing to finally sit down with them and get the deets on what they've been up to. Xanthe and Frank Appleyard are the Founders of Oh Sierra, where they help leaders and brands harness the potent power of community through c...

69. 5 Ways to Recession Proof Your Creative Business in 2023

I wish I was one of those people who bulk recorded podcast episodes, but I'm just not. I have them all outlined already, but I usually record that week and honestly it's because I like to make sure it's relevant and something I actually care about that will help YOU in your business. This week I'm so glad I didn't record this episode early because something really unexpected happened that aligns so perfectly with the theme of this episode. Obv, the title of this episode is "How to Recession...

68. Bad Business Decisions I Made in 2022 and What You Can Learn From Them

In today's episode on Behind the Design Podcast I'm doing a different variation of reflections on 2022 and setting goals for the new year, by sharing challenges I had this year and how they negatively affected my business. While this might seem negative, we can learn a lot by evaluating poor decisions because it allows us to reflect how we overcame those challenges and how we can change things going forward. I'm getting super vulnerable and sharing 3 bad business decisions I made in 2022 an...

67. Perfectionism, Burn Out + Mental Health as an Entrepreneur with Monica Denais

Monica Denais is a Latinx Licensed Professional Counselor and Mindset Coach in Dallas, Texas.  Monica helps ambitious women and entrepreneurs overcome anxiety, perfectionism, and burnout so they can feel confident in both life and business. Monica has been featured in Women's Health Magazine, Verywell Mind, and Insider Magazine.  Monica is also the host of the Café with Monica podcast, where she brings amazing entrepreneurs to cover all things life, mental health, and entrepreneurship. http...