Are in-person retreats really worth the time, effort, and investment? (Spoiler: yes—when done right.)

If you’ve been wondering whether to host a retreat, workshop, or live event as a way to grow your brand and serve your clients in a deeper, more meaningful way—this episode is your permission slip to seriously consider it.

I’m walking you through why in-person experiences are making a major comeback—and what that means for online entrepreneurs like us.

From my own experience hosting immersive events (hello, Machu Picchu and Stonehenge!) to the latest data from hospitality giants like Hilton, I’m pulling back the curtain on how smart, well-planned retreats can skyrocket connection, conversion, and long-term revenue.

You’ll walk away from this episode with the tools and confidence to start mapping out your own profitable, high-touch retreat—without second-guessing every decision.

Whether you’re ready to book the venue or just daydreaming about adding an in-person offer, let’s talk about how to make it sustainable, scalable, and truly transformational.

On This Week’s Episode, We Discuss:

• Why in-person is booming: Face-to-face events are back—and outperforming virtual.
• The ROI of retreats: More revenue, deeper impact, stronger client loyalty.
• What to charge (and why): The $2K–$5K attendee range that still converts.
• Designing retreats that sell: How to create high-converting event experiences.
• The Hilton event model: “Prepare, Comfort, Engagement”—and how to apply it.
• Avoiding major mistakes: What to never do (think: bland venues, unclear outcomes).
• Upsells that feel good: How retreats naturally feed into your bigger offers.
• Creating true community: Why live events build raving fans and referrals.
• First retreat steps: From survey to beta—how to start smart.
• Jennie’s lessons learned: The behind-the-scenes of what worked (and didn’t).

====

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Streamline Your Biz with GoHighLevel:

Ready to simplify your software and save hundreds each month? I’ve personally switched to GoHighLevel (GHL) and it's been a game-changer—consolidating my funnels, CRM, email marketing, automations, scheduling, and more into one powerful platform.

Check out GoHighLevel here

(This is an affiliate link—I only recommend tools I absolutely love and use myself!)

====

Connect with me here

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• Join the Facebook community

Am I over-investing in software and tools I don’t really need?

Have you ever found yourself drowning in software subscriptions, chasing shiny new tools, or outsourcing yourself right into overwhelm—only to realize your profits aren't reflecting your effort?

If that hits a little too close to home, trust me—I’ve been there! (Hello, "Confusionsoft" days! 😉)

In this candid conversation, I’m joined by monetization and funnel expert Conny Twomey to unpack the sneaky trap we call "six-figure bloat." It’s that all-too-common tendency for growing entrepreneurs to overspend on tech, tools, and outsourcing in the name of scaling—usually at the expense of simplicity, clarity, and profit.

Together, Conny and I share our messy missteps, mindset traps, and how we finally learned to run our businesses lean, intentional, and truly profitable. Plus, we dive into exactly why we both love using Systeme.io as a lean and powerful alternative to bloated, complicated software.

Whether you're just cracking five figures or scaling toward seven, this conversation will help you streamline your business and reclaim your peace of mind (and your profits!).

On This Week’s Episode, We Discuss:

• Six-Figure Bloat (and How to Spot It): How overspending on software and outsourcing secretly sabotages profits.
• Keeping Your Business Lean (Even While Scaling): Why simplicity is the secret to sustainable growth and higher profits.
• Our Personal Tech Misadventures: Real-life lessons from costly mistakes (so you don’t have to make them).
• The Emotional Side of Spending: Identifying impulse buying, shiny-object syndrome, and business FOMO.
• Strategic Outsourcing—The $10, $100, and $1,000 Tasks: How to delegate wisely (and keep what matters).
• How to Audit Your Tech Stack (No Mercy!): A step-by-step method to cut excess, simplify operations, and boost profits.
• Choosing & Transitioning Tools Without Headaches: Smooth and strategic tips to upgrade your tech—minus the overwhelm.
• Mindset Shifts for Profitable Scaling: Conny’s wealth mindset advice for breaking income ceilings without bloat.
• Building Funnels & Monetizing Smartly: High-converting funnels, lean tech, and intentional monetization strategies.
• Running a Location-Independent Business: How Conny’s simplified systems let her work (and thrive!) from anywhere.

===

Tools Mentioned:

• Systeme.io (the simplified, all-in-one tool both Conny and I trust!)

===

Don't Forget to Follow and Review:

Loving the Acquire podcast?

Make sure to follow and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your reviews help me reach and help more entrepreneurs like you. Head over to Apple Podcasts, rate us with five stars, and share your favorite moment from today’s episode!

===

Connect with Conny:

Follow Conny on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/workwithconny/

Follow Conny on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/workwithconny/

Follow Conny...

Have you ever felt secretly burnt out in your own business, even when everything looks great on paper?

Maybe you've started feeling resentful towards clients. Maybe you're losing your excitement and can barely motivate yourself to show up at your desk. Maybe you're even wondering, "Why do I feel so isolated when everyone else seems to be thriving?"

Trust me, friend, I’ve been there.

In this very personal episode, I'm opening up about my long journey with depression, burnout, and feeling completely out of alignment in my business, and exactly how I reclaimed my joy, passion, and energy.

If you’ve ever wondered if it’s just you, if you’re doing entrepreneurship "wrong," or if there's a way out of feeling stuck and unhappy, I promise, this one’s for you.

Trigger warning: This episode discusses personal experiences with depression. Please take care of yourself, and skip this episode if it feels sensitive or triggering right now. I’ve got plenty of tactical marketing and sales episodes waiting for you when you’re ready. 💖

On This Week’s Episode, We Discuss:

• My Personal Mental Health Journey: How depression and burnout deeply impacted my business.
• Spotting Burnout & Resentment: Why losing joy and feeling resentful are key signals you can't ignore.
• The Entrepreneurial Paradox: Why business freedom can sometimes feel isolating and overwhelming.
• My Biggest Fear in Pivoting: Facing the reality of making big changes when others depend on you.
• Auditing My Business for Joy: Practical steps to redefine your offers and client work.
• Stepping into the Fractional CMO Role: How embracing strategic marketing reignited my passion.
• Setting Healthy Boundaries: Revamping my onboarding and schedule to protect my energy.
• Combating Isolation & Choosing Joy: Being selective with projects to avoid resentment.
• Giving Yourself Permission to Pivot: Recognizing when change is essential—without guilt.
• Mental Health as a Core Strategy: Why prioritizing self-care and mental wellness is non-negotiable.

====

Don't Forget to Follow and Review:

Loving the Acquire podcast?

Make sure to follow and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your reviews help me reach and help more entrepreneurs like you. Head over to Apple Podcasts, rate us with five stars, and share your favorite moment from today’s episode!

====

Streamline Your Biz with GoHighLevel:

Ready to simplify your software and save hundreds each month? I’ve personally switched to GoHighLevel (GHL) and it's been a game-changer—consolidating my funnels, CRM, email marketing, automations, scheduling, and more into one powerful platform.

Check out GoHighLevel here

(This is an affiliate link—I only recommend tools I absolutely love and use myself!)

====

Connect with me here

Want to grow your email list or launch your next product to a ready list of leads? Let’s talk

Join the Facebook community

Is your website actually converting—or just sitting there looking cute?

In this video, I’m joined by my longtime friend (and total website genius) Andrea Krones, co-owner and Creative Director of Inkling Design. Andrea’s not just about pretty pages—she’s all about purposeful design that guides people toward action, grows your email list, and helps your site actually support your business goals.

We’re unpacking the most common mistakes service providers make when it comes to websites—from cluttered layouts and vague CTAs to ignoring the customer journey entirely. And we’re giving you the practical tools to fix them.

This is the kind of episode where you’ll want to take notes—whether you’re planning a redesign, prepping for a launch, or just need a website that finally works as hard as you do.

On This Week’s Episode, We Discuss:

• The #1 Website Mistake (And It’s Not Bad Design): Why skipping strategy is what’s really hurting your conversions.
• Pretty vs. Powerful: What separates eye-catching websites from ones that generate leads and grow lists.
• The Anatomy of a Great Customer Journey: How to structure your pages so visitors know exactly where to go next.
• CTAs That Convert (Not Confuse): Why more isn’t better—and what to do instead.
• Lead Magnet Strategy 101: Where to place opt-ins, what to offer, and how to get people to say yes.
• Designing for Launches: Simple tweaks that make your next big promo actually pop on your homepage.
• Overdesign Alert: Why busy, collage-style pages are killing your UX and what to do about it.
• The SEO vs. UX Tug-of-War: How to optimize for both without sacrificing user experience.
• What to Track (And How to Start): Easy-to-implement tracking tips so you can measure what’s actually working.
• 2025 Web Trends to Watch: Human vs. AI content, and why storytelling is still your secret weapon.

===

Don't Forget to Follow and Review:

Loving the Acquire podcast?

Make sure to follow and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your reviews help me reach and help more entrepreneurs like you. Head over to Apple Podcasts, rate us with five stars, and share your favorite moment from today’s episode!

===

Connect with Andrea:

Follow Andrea on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inkling.design/

Follow Andrea on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreakrones/

Check out Andrea’s website: https://inklingdesign.ca

====

Streamline Your Biz with GoHighLevel:

Ready to simplify your software and save hundreds each month? I’ve personally switched to GoHighLevel (GHL) and it's been a game-changer—consolidating my funnels, CRM, email marketing, automations, scheduling, and more into one powerful platform.

Check out GoHighLevel here

(This is an affiliate link—I only recommend tools I absolutely love and use myself!)

====

Connect with me here

Want to grow your email list or launch your next product to a ready list...

Am I attracting the kind of clients who energize me—or exhaust me?

Maybe you’re overbooked but burnt out. Maybe your rates don’t match your results. Or maybe you’ve just outgrown the clients you used to be excited about.

In this episode, I’m diving into something I’ve been thinking a lot about: how our client rosters reflect the stage our business is in—and what it takes to shift into something that feels aligned, energized, and sustainable.

After 14 years in business, I’ve seen it all: scope creep, boundary-stomping, people-pleasing (hi, former yes-girl here 🙋‍♀️), and that moment when you realize… this isn’t the work you want to be doing anymore.

This episode is equal parts reflection and strategy—so if you’re in a season where your business is growing but your clients aren’t matching that growth, we’re gonna talk about how to shift that, without burning everything down.

On This Week’s Episode, We Discuss:

• Why Your Clients Feel “Off” Right Now: What it really means when clients ghost, exhaust, or outgrow your process.
• The Mirror Effect: How your client list reflects the current maturity level of your business.
• Boundaries, Burnout & People-Pleasing: Why good service doesn’t mean saying yes to everything.
• The Trap of the Scrappy Start: Why staying in hustle mode too long will stall your growth.
• Scope Creep & Undervaluing Your Time: Real stories and fixes you can use today.
• The Shift to CEO Energy: What changes when you start attracting aligned, high-calibre clients.
• Pricing for Transformation, Not Time: Moving from hourly rates to value-driven pricing.
• Practical Strategies for Attracting Better Clients: How to audit your offers and evolve your messaging.
• Raising Your Standards: How to qualify leads, screen for red flags, and finally stop client whack-a-mole.
• Permission to Evolve: Why it’s okay to outgrow clients—and how to make space for the ones who truly get you.

====

Don't Forget to Follow and Review:

Loving the Acquire podcast?

Make sure to follow and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your reviews help me reach and help more entrepreneurs like you. Head over to Apple Podcasts, rate us with five stars, and share your favorite moment from today’s episode!

====

Streamline Your Biz with GoHighLevel:

Ready to simplify your software and save hundreds each month? I’ve personally switched to GoHighLevel (GHL) and it's been a game-changer—consolidating my funnels, CRM, email marketing, automations, scheduling, and more into one powerful platform.

Check out GoHighLevel here

(This is an affiliate link—I only recommend tools I absolutely love and use myself!)

====

Connect with me here

Want to grow your email list or launch your next product to a ready list of leads? Let’s talk

Join the Facebook community

What’s the one financial blind spot keeping smart entrepreneurs stuck in “just-enough” mode?

Ever wonder what happens when a burnout social worker accidentally becomes a powerhouse investor, early retiree, and financial coach for women?

Let’s just say… it’s not what you’d expect—and it’s exactly what your business and bank account might need.

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Annie Cole, the founder of Money Essentials, who shares how she fast-tracked her retirement by 20 years (yes, 2-0!) and built a 7-figure portfolio—all while helping other women do the same.

We talk about what’s really keeping entrepreneurs stuck in feast-or-famine cycles (hint: it’s not your offer), and how Annie uses simple financial foundations and lead gen strategies to unlock consistent, scalable growth.

If you’ve been winging your finances or wondering why your leads aren’t translating into revenue, this one is loaded with tactical takeaways you can use today.

On This Week’s Episode, We Discuss:

• Annie’s Unplanned Pivot into Entrepreneurship: How burnout and a little bit of “what if” led to a booming business.
• The Biggest Financial Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make—and how to avoid them before they cost you your future.
• How to Set Financial Goals You’ll Actually Hit: Breaking down KPIs, P&Ls, and money targets you can work backwards from.
• Why Most Lead Gen Isn’t Working (and how to reverse-engineer it to hit your income goals).
• Scaling Your Business Intentionally: From solo service provider to CEO—what to shift and when.
• How One Simple Funnel Fix Changed Everything: Why a 1% boost in conversion can radically impact your profit.
• Using Long-Form Content to Build Trust (and Buy-In): Smart ways to leverage summits, webinars, and media to grow deeper relationships.
• Real Talk on Retirement and Financial Freedom: What early retirement actually takes—and how to start building that roadmap now.
• Cash Flow Meets Wealth Building: Juggling monthly income with long-term growth through real estate and investing.
• The Feedback Loop You Need: Annie’s insights on how testing and feedback lead to smarter offers and stronger sales.

===

Don't Forget to Follow and Review:

Loving the Acquire podcast?

Make sure to follow and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your reviews help me reach and help more entrepreneurs like you. Head over to Apple Podcasts, rate us with five stars, and share your favorite moment from today’s episode!

===

Connect with Annie:

Follow Annie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/build.wealth.with.annie/

Follow Annie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/money-essentials-for-women

Check out Annie’s website: https://www.money-essentials.com/

====

Streamline Your Biz with GoHighLevel:

Ready to simplify your software and save hundreds each month? I’ve personally switched to GoHighLevel (GHL) and it's been a game-changer—consolidating my funnels, CRM, email marketing, automations, scheduling, and more into one powerful platform.

Have you ever looked at your monthly software bill and thought, "Wait, how did this happen?!" (Guilty—I’ve totally been there.)

Or maybe you feel stuck using tools you're paying way too much for, but the idea of switching feels daunting?

And let’s be honest, do you even know what half of your subscriptions do anymore?

Friend, if you're nodding your head, you’re not alone—and you’re in the perfect place. In this episode, I'm getting real (and maybe a little embarrassed!) about my journey from software overload and subscription chaos to a streamlined, simplified tech stack.

I'm sharing exactly how I took my bloated $700+ monthly software budget down to a fraction of that—and how you can too—by embracing an all-in-one solution (shout-out to GoHighLevel!). We’re talking practical steps, actionable tips, and even a real-life case study of a client who did the same—saving thousands while boosting efficiency.

Let’s cut through the overwhelm together and finally ditch those unnecessary subscriptions so you can spend less time troubleshooting and more time growing your business.

On This Week’s Episode, We Discuss:

• The Real Cost of Software Overload: Why juggling multiple SaaS subscriptions isn’t just draining your wallet—it’s stealing your productivity and sanity.
• My Eye-Opening "Aha!" Moment: How I went from tech overwhelm to tech minimalism—and why I resisted it for way too long.
• Breaking Down the Numbers: The shocking statistic that small businesses spend an average of $10K/year on SaaS—and half of it goes unused.
• The Game-Changing Switch to GoHighLevel (GHL): The one platform that replaced multiple expensive tools, simplified my workflow, and saved me $5,000+ a year.
• Migration Without the Meltdown: Step-by-step tips for auditing your tools, creating backups, and transitioning smoothly (even if tech gives you hives!).
• Client Case Study: How Sarah, a business coach, drastically cut costs and increased efficiency by consolidating to one streamlined solution.
• Answering Your Biggest Fears: Will my email deliverability suffer? Is putting all my eggs in one basket risky? Can I actually get good support during a switch?
• Advanced Migration Tips & Tricks: From detailed spreadsheets to domain transfers, my secrets to making your tech switch as painless as possible.
• DIY vs Outsourcing Your Migration: Pros, cons, and what I recommend based on your tech comfort level and budget.
• Ready to Make the Leap? Practical next steps and insights to finally tackle your own tech overwhelm (you’ve totally got this!).

====

Don't Forget to Follow and Review:

Loving the Acquire podcast?

Make sure to follow and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your reviews help me reach and help more entrepreneurs like you. Head over to Apple Podcasts, rate us with five stars, and share your favorite moment from today’s episode!

====

Streamline Your Biz with GoHighLevel:

Ready to simplify your software and save hundreds each month? I’ve personally switched to GoHighLevel (GHL) and it's been a game-changer—consolidating my funnels, CRM, email marketing, automations, scheduling, and more into one powerful platform.

Check out GoHighLevel here

(This is an affiliate link—I only recommend tools I absolutely love and use myself!)

====

Connect with me

Ever look at someone’s brand and think, “Wow... how do I look like that without spending a fortune?”

On this week’s episode, we’re getting into the truth about branding—and no, it’s not just logos and hex codes.

I’m sitting down with the brilliant Fifa Tran, a Toronto-based designer and brand elevation expert who helps service providers and coaches build brands that don’t just look good—they convert, scale, and evolve as you grow.

Fifa’s journey from business school grad to sought-after branding strategist is full of pivots, grit, and DIY hustle. She’s completely self-taught and built her business from scratch—and now? She’s booked out with projects that help coaches turn their websites and visual brands into polished, profitable assets.

In this episode, we talk about what branding really means in 2025, how to start elevating your own brand (even if you’re still in DIY mode), and what it looks like to scale a service-based business without losing your mind—or your weekends.

Whether you’re on Squarespace, WordPress, or still figuring out your fonts, this is a must-listen for any entrepreneur who wants to level up how they show up online.

On This Week’s Episode, We Discuss:

• Fifa’s Nonlinear Path to Brand Strategy: From GeoCities to agency-quality branding—how Fifa turned her curiosity into a profitable business.
• The Truth About Branding (Hint: It’s Not Just Design): How messaging, audience clarity, and storytelling shape a truly magnetic brand.
• How to Elevate Your Brand Voice (Without a Full Rebrand): Simple shifts that make your brand feel more “you” and more premium.
• Scaling as a Service Provider: Fifa and I get real about VIP days, client red flags, and structuring offers to avoid burnout.
• The DIY Branding Tip You Need Now: Fifa shares the one thing that instantly helps you stand out—even if you’re not ready to hire help yet.
• What Makes a Brand “Look Like Money”: How to create trust and credibility from the very first click.
• What’s Working Now in Brand Strategy: From personal connection to micro-messaging—how to stay relevant in an AI-fueled world.
• Client Experience That Converts: Why a beautiful site means nothing if it doesn’t guide people to say “yes.”
• Investing in Mentorship for Long-Term Growth: How learning from others helped Fifa refine her process and raise her rates.
• A Candid Look at Entrepreneurship: From firing clients to setting boundaries—we talk about the messy middle of growing a brand-backed business.

===

Don't Forget to Follow and Review:

Loving the Acquire podcast?

Make sure to follow and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your reviews help me reach and help more entrepreneurs like you. Head over to Apple Podcasts, rate us with five stars, and share your favorite moment from today’s episode!

===

Connect with Fifa:

Follow Fifa on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/feimodern

Follow Fifa on Instagram: www.instagram.com/feimodern

Follow Fifa on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/fifatran

Check out Fifa’s website: https://www.feimodern.com/

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Connect...