In this episode…

This one is honest, layered, and a behind-the-scenes look at what it actually takes to build and evolve a business, specifically a social media agency and coaching business.

I sit down with Sam Schmidt to talk about her journey from being a geography teacher in the U.S. Virgin Islands to building a business in social media, coaching, and community.

We unpack what it looks like to grow something really successful in real time.

The identity shifts that come with it.

And the moments where you realize you’re not the same person who started.

We get into the realities of building a business while you’re still figuring it out.

Pricing your work.

Attracting clients.

And learning how to navigate growth without a perfect roadmap.

We also talk about community.

Why she created her membership, The Loop.

What makes a space actually feel alive.

And the challenge of maintaining connection and engagement as things grow.

This is a conversation about evolution, personal branding, and building something that reflects who you are… not just what you think it should look like.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re growing faster than your business can keep up with… or your business is asking you to become someone new… this one’s for you.

We talk about:

• Sam’s journey from teacher to social media manager to coach
• The evolution of identity as your business grows
• Pricing your services and learning your value over time
• Client acquisition and building momentum
• What social media management actually involves
• Building and maintaining a team
• Why she created her membership, The Loop
• What makes a community feel active and engaged
• The role of personal branding in attracting the right people
• Letting your business reflect your personality and lived experience

Get in Sam's world here!

Ways to plug in

⚡️ Gemini starts April 30th! — a six-month mastermind for multi-passionate creatives ready for their next level of expansion.

💡 1:1 Coaching — Private coaching for clarity, direction, and aligned action in your business: [link]

🛝 Recess for Creatives — your playground for community and connection, with two calls a month and an incredible group of creatives who get it: [link]

☎️ Follow me on Instagram @dianadaviscreative for behind-the-scenes, inspiration, and creative biz thoughts

Launching a podcast is easy. Saying you’re going to show up every week and actually doing it? Not so much.

This year I told myself I’d be consistent. I’d treat this like the real thing. I’d build momentum instead of flirting with it.

And then… I didn’t.

Entrepreneurship has a funny way of exposing the gap between who you say you’re becoming and who you actually are when no one’s watching. It doesn’t just test your strategy. It tests your discipline. Your ego. Your identity.

In this episode, I’m not pretending I nailed it.

We’re talking about missing goals without spiraling. About ambition without self-abandonment. About what happens when you break six figures and realize the external milestone didn’t magically fix your internal world.

I’m also sharing why I built Gemini, a six-month mastermind for multi-passionate creatives. Real conversation, real accountability, and real proximity to other people building brave things.

Because here’s what I know now:

You don’t grow into your next level by consuming more information.

You grow into it by becoming someone who can hold it.

And that process? It will ask you to shed identities.

The “I’ll start when I’m ready” version of you.

The “I should have this figured out by now” version of you.

The one who wants success without being seen.

This episode is about the gap between intention and action.

About money. Pressure. Relationships. Identity shifts.

And why building a business is really about building the capacity to be the person your vision requires.

If you’ve ever missed your own standard and wondered what that says about you… this one’s for you.

Ways to plug in

⚡️ Join the Gemini Mastermind waitlist.

💡 1:1 Coaching — Private coaching to get clarity, strategy, and aligned action in your creative business. Apply here

🛝 Recess for Creatives — The community playground where collaboration and connection fuel your business. Two live calls a month and an amazing crew of creatives. Join here

☎️ Follow me on Instagram @dianadaviscreative for behind-the-scenes and creative biz inspo.

So many of you have had questions about running retreats, so this is a special episode with a friend that I believe is such an expert when it comes to retreats and building a community. My friend Amber Hagberg is a retreat coach and a master at selling out retreats without having to constantly stress or burn out on marketing and promoting them. For this episode, we're going to chat about what's really important when hosting a retreat, how to create retreats that make a big impact so you can sell those spots out every time, and how both organic marketing and paid ads have played a part in selling out Amber's retreats and how to know what option is right for you. This episode is so full of goodness, so if you host or want to host a retreat, tune in to this one!

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Check out the show notes for this episode: dianadaviscreative.com/post/s2-e23-amber-hagberg

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Connect with Amber on Instagram @AmberHagberg

Check out The Amplified Impact Podcast

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More Ways to Plug In:

• Want to make your offers sell like candy? Join SUITE for a 2 day product suite workshop that will bring in your dreamiest clients and give them exactly what they're craving!
• DM me the word "COACH" to snag one of the 1:1 coaching spots with me this summer!
• Connect and collaborate with like-minded entrepreneurs who understand your creative path in the Recess for Creatives community!

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Connect with Diana:

• Check out the Website
• Follow along on Instagram

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Enjoyed this episode?

Pollen is a podcast for Creative Entrepreneurs—just like you! If you enjoyed this episode of Pollen Podcast, subscribe and help us spread the word by sharing it! Your dream life is there for you to take — and you can help others find lives they can love too.

• Leave a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning in to this podcast, we'd appreciate it if you wrote us a review. You can also share it to help other creative entrepreneurs and freelancers.
• Have any questions or want to leave a suggestion? Come say hi on the 'gram, @dianadaviscreative! You can also subscribe to my newsletter for travel updates, learn about special projects, and get tips and tricks for the creative entrepreneur life!

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Thanks for listening! Stay tuned to my website for more episode updates and other exciting programs and resources!