Episode 1: Data & Dreams: The Nouveau Podcast
Welcome everyone to The Nouveau Podcast. Your backstage pass to the vibrant world of small business entrepreneurship. Sharing over a decade and a half of hard-won lessons learned while building my own successful businesses along the way and bubbly insights for fellow entrepreneurs.
Hey everyone, and welcome to the very first episode of the Nouveau Podcast! I'm so excited to be here with you today. As I shared in my introduction, I've been an entrepreneur for over a decade. My journey began in 2010 when I founded Sweet Baton Rouge®.
Now, fast forward to 2023. I was feeling this itch to embark on a new business adventure, something different from my existing company. I've always been fascinated by data, absolutely obsessed with analyzing the numbers that tell the story of a business. I love diving deep into my Shopify dashboard, pulling reports in Google Analytics, and really understanding what's working and what's not.
This passion led me to this idea: helping other small businesses unlock the power of their own data. I started experimenting with this concept by creating fun presentations on how to unpack those numbers, identify key strengths and weaknesses, and then develop actionable strategies based on the insights.
It all started with a personal project. In 2022, I decided to make some significant changes to Sweet Baton Rouge®. It wasn't easy, and these were some of the toughest decisions I've ever had to make. To guide these changes, I created my own internal marketing audit. This process was incredibly insightful, and it really helped me understand what was missing from my marketing story.
Seeing the positive impact of this audit on my own business, I realized I wanted to share this knowledge with other small business owners. I wanted to help them achieve the same level of clarity and success.
However, I quickly encountered a challenge. Every business platform is different, and every business has unique goals and complexities. I started to feel overwhelmed, unsure of how to effectively tailor my approach to each individual situation.
Truthfully, I shelved this idea for most of 2024. I believe in doing things right, going all-in with a clear vision. And at that time, I just didn't feel completely ready to launch
Off and on, I kept circling back to the question: "Where do I go from here with Nouveau?" The vision remained the same: to create something that could truly support other small business owners.
But then, something shifted. Through the encouragement of friends and family, I realized that the best way to achieve this vision might not be through traditional consulting, as I had initially thought it would. Instead, I could share my knowledge and experiences through storytelling, helping others on their entrepreneurial journeys.
And that's how The Nouveau Podcast was born.
"Nouveau" in French means "new" or "up-to-date," and while it took me a year or so to get here, I'm incredibly excited to finally be sharing this journey with all of you."
So, now that you know the story of how The Nouveau Podcast came to be, let's dive in and talk about what you can expect to learn each week.
Here's a glimpse into what we'll be covering:
Website Must-Haves: We'll explore the essential elements of a high-converting website that will attract and engage your ideal customers.
The Power of Email Marketing: Discover why email marketing is crucial for building relationships and driving sales. I'll share actionable strategies to implement in your own business.
Lessons Learned Along the Way: I'll share candidly about the challenges and triumphs I've faced as an entrepreneur, offering valuable insights and hard-won wisdom.
Preparing for Time Off: Learn how to effectively plan for vacations and breaks while still maintaining your business operations.
Navigating Slow Seasons: Discover strategies to stay productive and keep momentum going during those quieter periods.
Breaking Free from the Social Media Hamster Wheel: We'll explore how to leverage social media effectively without getting sucked into the endless scroll.
Scaling Your Business: Learn practical tips and strategies for growing your business sustainably and profitably.
The Importance of Social Habits: We'll discuss how cultivating healthy habits in your personal life can significantly impact your entrepreneurial success.
Humanizing Your Brand: Discover how to connect with your audience on a deeper level by showcasing your personality and values.
And much, much more!
Before we sign off for this first episode of the year, we wanted to share a few of the things we absolutely adore here at The Nouveau Podcast: the celebratory pop of bubbly champagne, the idyllic charm of the French countryside, the endless inspiration found within the pages of a good book, the comforting warmth of a perfectly crafted vanilla lattes, the power of community and supporting one another, the lifelong journey of learning and self-improvement, and the incredible satisfaction of working together to build something truly amazing.
We'll be releasing 8-10 episodes each quarter, breaking down these topics in a practical and actionable way. We'll explore how you can easily implement these strategies into your daily operations and see real results in your business
We can't wait to continue this journey with you. Until next time, cheers to a successful and fulfilling year!