The Digital Glue Podcast

“Success is no accident. It’s hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, love of what you are doing.” ~ Pele Welcome to Episode 100: Celebrating 100 Digital Untangling Episodes We’ve been talking a lot over the past through years through the hub of our virtual home, The Digital Glue podcast … And today, we’ve reached a major milestone -- its our 100th “untangling” episode today! This is a significant achievement for any podcast, and it's a testament to the hard work and dedication of the show's not only Team VU as the host, but all of you -- our wonderful listeners – for all of the support and engagement. The Digital Glue podcast became our newest virtual home a few years ago as we wanted to place sole focus on all things digital, from the latest technology trends to the impact of digital on our daily lives. Our show has covered a wide range of topics over the past 100 episodes, including productivity and organization, creativity, working from home, team and network building, building relationships with your clients (and a better one with yourself), social media and AI, and oh so much more. One of the things that sets our podcast apart from other tech and entrepreneur podcasts is the show's emphasis on storytelling. We believe we have much to share and to toot our horns for a mere moment … a talent for taking complex concepts and breaking them down in a way that is easy to understand and engaging -- all the while keeping our virtual finger on the pulse of the latest trends and developments in the digital world. Whether it's a new social media platform, a cutting-edge application, a real-life story, or sharing some ways to help make your business life better, The Digital Glue podcast always wants to be at the forefront of the conversation. As we’ve now reached our 100th episode, we felt it was worth reflecting on the impact our show has had on our listeners. For many, we’ve been a source of inspiration and a way to stay informed about the latest advancements in the virtual land in which we work and live – and make dreams come true. Are you ready? Pop in your awesome earbuds and let's dive in!

“Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.” Welcome to Episode 99: Becoming A Thought Leader ... Leadership is the ability to inspire people to reach a common destination. It is the wisdom to see the challenges and obstacles that are placed in the way and know that you can get around them. You may not know how or when, but you honestly believe deep down in your heart of hearts that you know you can get there. I think being a leader means that you are going to have to do things that MOST people do not want to do. You are going to have to stand up and say things that most people are afraid to say. And you are going to have to believe things that most people do not want to believe. And for the long term you are going to have to find the courage to stick to what you believe in -- and follow it through to completion. You are going to have to put yourself in front of your friends and your foes and competitors and tell them "I believe this is what we should be doing, and this is where we should be going". They might ridicule you and put you down. They might tell you that what you want to do cannot be done. But they’re wrong. Here's what we will be untangling in this episode ... What does it mean to be a thought leader?Why aren’t everyday entrepreneurs celebrating their wins?5 tips to assist you on your thought leadership journeyThought leadership brain inducing wordsTypical thought leadership behavioursActionable steps to move towards this goalEnd thoughts and long-lasting tips to not forget Are you ready? Pop in your awesome earbuds and let's dive in!

“Tell your brands real story, not it’s highlight reel.” Welcome to Episode 98: The Power Of A Compelling Brand Story ... Every business and everyone behind it has a story. When done well, business storytelling gives a compelling reason for your audience to buy from you. But an exceptionally powerful brand storytelling experience can inspire trust between you and your audience -- and that’s the main end goal we’re wanting you to go for. Why? Because brand trust can be the vital difference between someone choosing you or your competitors instead. After many years of working with different business right across the globe, we noticed that this is where most struggle … finding a true authentic way to connect with people. And we truly believe that storytelling is the answer that bridges that gap. Here's what we will be untangling in this episode ... The 3 Ss of brand storytellingInteresting statistics on brand trustHow to build brand trust and set expectationsTop steps on creating follow through4 key traits to drive away stale content Are you ready? Pop in your awesome earbuds and let's dive in!

“Marketing is telling the world that you are a Rockstar, content marketing is showing the world that you are one.” ~ Robert Rose, Author Welcome to Episode 97: Plug n' Play Content Strategies ... As we all know, we are living in the age of information. Yet despite this advantage we’re all still starved for more knowledge. Your audience know what to do when they see your content (if it’s done right!) but in the very same breath, they don’t know what they need to know all because they’re just plainly overwhelmed with all the scrolling content in their feeds. So, give your audience what they want – and deserve -- by focusing on one BIG IDEA at a time that solves their pain points. Because when you do, it won’t be the idea they will be attributing their success to, it will be YOU! Here's what we will be untangling in this episode ... Common goals through plug n’ playThe “Buy-In Conversation” checklistOur favourite “plug n’ play” content strategiesCreating with the 80-10-10 rule Are you ready? Pop in your awesome earbuds and let's dive in!

“A bad website is like a grumpy salesperson.” Welcome to Episode 96: 7 Ugly Truths A Pretty Website Can't Hide Websites can have many functions and are typically designed around a particular topic or purpose. Website design is also a collaborative effort with the main goal being a finished product that will effectively communicate a specific message and create productive interactions with the intended target audience. Think of things this way … your website is the center of your digital eco-system, like a brick-and-mortar location, the experience matters once a customer enters, just as much as the perception they have of you before they walk through the door. To have a better understanding of all the parts and puzzles pieces that go along with having one -- and one that’s done right here's what we will be untangling in this episode ... 6 key concepts and elements you should consider6 signs your website needs workThe first 5 things folks see when they first land on your siteBad websites = bad businessVU’s ultimate website launch checklist Are you ready? Pop in your awesome earbuds and let's dive in!

“People are hurried. The average person worth cultivating has too much to read … They are not going to read your business talk unless you make it worth their while and let the headline show it.” ~ Claude Hopkins Welcome to Episode 95: Capturing Pain Points With A Great Headline! Let’s be honest for a moment here … We all want to be seen and heard. It is gratifying, empowering, and makes us feel valued. We want others to get who we are and to hear our ideas and valid arguments, even if they don’t agree with us -- though, of course, we’d like that as well. What we may not realize is that the best way to get our point across is often counter-intuitive, to be successful we must try less and listen more. By doing this, your point (or idea) will become more vivid in the recipient’s mind. Short, simple and sweet. Here's what we will be untangling in this episode ... Creative ways to get your point acrossFollow the 3C’s (clear, concise, consistent)Capturing attention with subject linesTailoring your message to your audience6 key characteristics every great headline should havePointers on capturing pain points in headlines Are you ready? Pop in your awesome earbuds and let's dive in!

Give value. Give value. Give value. Then ask for business.” ~ Gary Vaynerchuk Welcome to Episode 94: The Psychology of Pricing ... I don’t know about you, but I truly feel that there’s something magical about January ... It’s not only the start of a new year, but it also feels like a great time to turn to the next chapter in business. We personally aren’t ones to make resolutions, but we do strongly believe in keeping on top of our goals. So, this month, we encourage you to revisit YOUR goals, adjust if necessary, and put your plans in motion! Psssst … it’s also a great time to splurge a bit on yourself and buy a new planner and some fun stickers that inspire you to keep on track. Digital planners or calendars are great, too, but there’s just something about writing things in a visually appealing planner. And speaking of planning and revisiting goals, we wanted to start with a different kind of topic in the realms of your price point and the psychology behind it all as there’s truly no better time than now to re-evaluate you worth. Here's what we will be untangling in this episode ... The psychology behind the numbersLeaving imposter syndrome behind youLeading with decision-based principlesEvaluating your current prices and putting things into playOur “untangling” checklist for upping your prices Are you ready? Pop in your awesome earbuds and let's dive in!

“We see our clients as invited guests to the party, and we are the hosts. It’s our job every day to make every important aspect of their experience a little bit better.” ~ Jeff Bezos Welcome to Episode 93: The Ultimate Customer Experience ... We’re baaaack …. with ONE MORE “untangling” episode for the year. And while we had much to ponder on this year in the realm of topics, we wanted to end 2022 off with something WE ALL deal with every. single. day. Our CLIENTS! Whether in your day job or working in your own business, have you ever run into a slump of working with the “wrong” people? Clients who don’t understand your personality? Value your traits or expertise? Take you for granted? Expect you to be available on all devices at every hour of the day? And just plain ‘ol drain you emotionally? These pain points can be a real downer. And sometimes make one wonder … why even bother? (*le sigh!) I could sit here all day and share all Virtually Untangled’s client “horror stories” with you from over the years -- and many more from my time in the land of 9-5 -- but then this would turn into an award-winning novel. (HaHa!). So instead, I am going to take the hard-earned lessons from those stories and share some details alongside a list of the greatest tips you will ever need to know in order to help you create the ultimate customer experience for your clients – which will in then turn make your life much easier too. Here's what we will be untangling in this episode ... How to treat your clients like partnersHow to empower your team to deliver ideallySetting clear roles and responsibilitiesSetting clear boundaries (with examples)Why mindset matters – to everyoneHow to exceed THEIR expectations, not your ownConsidering their complaints as gifts Are you ready? Pop in your awesome earbuds and let's dive in!

“That’s’ been one of my mantras – focus and simplicity. Simple can be harder than complex; you have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple.” ~ Steve Jobs Welcome to Episode 92: The Science Of Simplicity ... Have you ever wondered why Steve Jobs always wore the same black turtleneck or why the founder of Southwest Airlines, Herb Kelleher, eats the same cheese and crackers every single morning? The reason these successful entrepreneurs simplify could be due to the same reason a cloud of smoke swirls and dissipates in the air or why the universe is expanding … Running a business comes with many stressors; from finding clients, to generating leads and making sales, or even managing a team (virtual or in-house). And it can sometimes feel like that list just goes on … and on … and on! But there are always ways to make your business less stressful. And you’re in luck because today I have some pointers for you! Yes! You heard right … pointers on the science of simplicity! Here's what we will be untangling in this episode ... The day in the life of an entrepreneurExploring and re-exploring your “WHY”The power of creating simple automationsVU’s TOP LIST of simplicity tricks Are you ready? Pop in your awesome earbuds and let's dive in!

“Social media is not just an activity; it is an investment of valuable time and resources/ Surround yourself with people who not just support you and stay with you, but inform your thinking about ways to WOW your online presence.” ~ Sean Gardner Welcome to Episode 91: 10 Social Media Etiquette Rules You Need To Stop Breaking Social media is long past for just socializing anymore. It has become an extremely important and powerful business tool. And with all tool usage, there comes some rules. As an entrepreneur, it's incredibly important to make sure you follow proper etiquette while online. This can easily save you from unfortunate social backlashes that could damage your online reputation --> for life. With pre-teens up to senior citizens being online, it is hard to shield yourself from a careless Tweet or Facebook post gone wrong. And we want to help you achieve social greatness and not get nipped in the butt with a rotten post. Here's what we will be untangling in this episode ... Key benefits to using social media for businessKey benefits for your brand on social mediaThe “bones” à 10 etiquette rules to stop breaking Are you ready? Pop in your awesome earbuds and let's dive in!

“Most people use excuses to cover up mistakes, but it takes less time to do our best to do something right the first time.” ~ Robert Cheeke Welcome to Episode 90: 10 Deadly Startup Mistakes to Avoid ... We all know that being an entrepreneur is exciting yet sometimes scary and a heck of a lot of hard work! In my experience, it’s a bit like a washing machine -- rinse n’ repeat -- the longer you’ve been in business. Now, don’t go thinking that by me saying “rinse n’ repeat” that what I do is entirely boring me to death as that’s not at all what I mean … It’s about finding what works for you, creating a solid yet actionable plan, staying organized, and all fitting nicely into some sort of a solid routine. Now, I’ve been “rinsing n’ repeating” for quite some time. That got me to thinking that I would take today’s Digital Glue “untangling” episode to boil down some of the biggest lessons and deadliest of mistakes, I have learned about building and growing a business, no matter what your niche is. Here's what we will be untangling in this episode ... Top 10 deadly start-up mistakes to avoid (and how)How to create some work-life balance (it’s real!)Image and manners; business etiquette Are you ready? Pop in your awesome earbuds and let's dive in!

“Burnout is what happens when you try to avoid being human for too long.” ~ Michael Gungor Welcome to Episode 89: 10 Tips For Dealing With Creative Burnout ... The creative industry is a highly competitive one. And as an artistic soul, you put so much time and energy, and heart into your creations. (Whatever they may be.) And these even more pressure to get it done, and done right, when your livelihood depends on it – and clients too! No creative individual wants this to happen to them, and yet, burnout happens to almost everyone at one point or another in their life. So, what does it mean when you wake up one day and realize you don’t have the gumption to do this anymore? How does it make you feel knowing the projects you used to deem as fun and challenging, now feel utterly pointless and drab? How do you stop feeling mentally exhausted? Overwhelmed? Underwhelmed? Languished? That being said, here's what we will be untangling in this episode ... Symptoms to watch out forUnderstanding the “why” behind your feelingsLearning to release the shame behind the roadblockHacking perfectionismAvoiding languish by re-evaluating your routine … and oh so much more! Are you ready? Pop in your awesome earbuds and let's dive in!

“The advice I’d give to somebody that’s silently struggling is, you don’t have to live that way. You don’t have to struggle in silence. You can be un-silent. You can live well with a mental health condition, as long as you open up to somebody about it, because it’s really important you share your experience with people so that you can get the help that you need.” ~ Demi Lovato Welcome to Episode 88: How Creatives Manage Mental Health ... Sadly, the nature of the artistic industry -- with its economic precarity, critiques, and “winner takes all” reward structure -- can contribute to a heck of a lot of anxiety, depression, isolation, and stress. But thanks to the dismantling of discomfort around discussing mental health issues, it’s becoming less taboo to talk about these troubles we as creatives have been experiencing. (Alongside everyone else.) I feel that the link between mental health and creativity is ever so poorly understood. So, today I wanted to keep things short and light with 12 tips to inspire you in your own pursuit of creativity, calm, and clarity. Are you ready? Pop in your awesome earbuds and let's dive in!

“You don’t have to be positive all the time. It’s perfectly okay to feel sad, angry, annoyed, frustrated, scared and anxious. Having feelings doesn’t make you a negative person. It makes you human.” ~ Lori Deschene Welcome to Episode 87: It's A New Era For Mental Health! Mental health is important. In reality, it has always been important but with the state of the world today, it's even more important now more than ever! The world has been in shambles for a couple years (and counting) now. There is endless amount of heightened pain and suffering and it sadly doesn't look as though that's' going to change any time soon. ... the never-ending pandemic ... new strains of scary virus' popping up ... bad governments, politics, and conspiracies ... the war between Ukraine and Russia ... truth and reconciliation with the Indigenous peoples ... the floods across the USA and Afghanistan ... droughts across multiple areas of the world ... riots and rallies and endless bouts of racism … rising grocery and gas prices due to a recession. All this pain and suffering is not something empaths like myself are able to take lightly. Even though it's not all personally happening to us, we feel #AllTheFeels as though it is. We're highly attuned to everything around us at quite a deep emotional level. And that makes it very hard to function at a "normal" level. So, we need to take action on an entirely different level in order to not let the world take us down. Here's what we will be untangling in this episode ... What to do to protect your mental healthWhat’s been going on over here on our endMental health facts and statistics (recent)How to keep your entrepreneurial spirit aliveTo Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA) Are you ready? Pop in your awesome earbuds and let's dive in!

“Failure isn’t fatal, but failure to change might be.” ~ John Wooden Welcome to Episode 86: Failure Is Not An Option ...! Failure is an inescapable part of life and business and a critically important part of any successful life. It’s about accepting said “failures” and making room for improvement. Failure is not an option. Defeats and failures happen often in the land of entrepreneurship. More often than I care to admit. However, we should do our best to not let them get us down but regard them as milestones instead. We can choose to wallow and let said moment define us -- perhaps even forever. Or we can choose to look at it as room for improvement and a temporary setback as we continue our journey. In short, we gotta refuse to lose. Here's what we will be untangling in this episode ... A poem about failure not being an optionWhen did we subscribe to failure as a bad thing?Three (3) means to overcome failureRe-cap: deconstructing failureHow to manage failure (aka. room for improvement) Are you ready? Pop in your awesome earbuds and let's dive in!

“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” ~ Benjamin Franklin Welcome to Episode 85: How To Go From Zero To Hero In No Time ... Life sure comes a long way in the blink of an eye. Especially in business. Before we know it, that to-do list has gotten away from us and all of those “fun” projects we set out to do are now collecting virtual dust … either in a project management platform somewhere or within the spider webs of our minds. For me, it’s trying to keep up with #AllTheThings because I dream big, and those big dreams usually come in bundles -- my creativity gets the better of me sometimes. LOL! If you’re anything like me, you sometimes feel like you are letting yourself down when you can’t accomplish everything you want. You have taken on more than you can handle because you’re ambition if life is SO HUGE that you just can’t contain it. So, whether you’re a creative individual, an entrepreneur, a DIY’er, or a go-getter, let me tell you … all you set out to do in life is possible. No matter what you are feeling right now. My main goal for todays near year-end “untangling” episode is to reach out to folks -- just like you! -- who dream of change. For folks who want to go from “zero” to HERO in their business life. And also, to those who are more often than not, too terrified to step out of their comfort zone. Here's what we will be untangling in this episode ... The difference between ‘want to’ and ‘have to’The power triplets: planning, productivity, and time managementThe soul sisters: goal digging and determinationThe key ingredients: passion and forever being curiousThe conquer twins: breaks and grace Are you ready? Pop in your awesome earbuds and let's dive in!

“Pain plus reflection equals progress.” Welcome to Episode 84: Dealing With Self-Doubt As An Entrepreneur People say that entrepreneurs are crazy. And well, maybe they’re a tad right! However, we are the ones who change the world AND get to live our dream doing it ... purpose, change, freedom, and maybe even a little fame. And due to those factors, it seems that more and more people want to become an entrepreneur. And with all that lifestyle greatness that comes along with the title, why not? However, it's not all sunshine and rainbows! I’m not going to sugar coat things … Being an entrepreneur is hard! Practically. Emotionally. Psychologically. Physically. And it’s not for everyone -- and that’s okay. But you must keep your entrepreneurial flame alive and do whatever it takes to keep that flame from burning out. Entrepreneurship isn’t as “sexy” as it sounds. And we need to learn to accept the fact that there are loads of things we can’t control -- no matter how badly we want to. And one of the not-so-sexy things about entrepreneurship is when self-doubt comes a knockin’ on our virtual doorstep …! Here's what we will be untangling in this episode ... Why self-doubt is a natural human emotionHow you can conquer this inner demonThe hard truth on rising levelsMy open-hearted letter to you (resiliency) Are you ready? Pop in your awesome earbuds and let's dive in!

“I believe anything is possible. I see opportunity when others see impossibility. I take risks. I am focused. I hustle. I know that nothing is unrealistic. I feel overwhelmingly loved. I embrace my childlike wonder and curiosity. I take flying leaps into the unknown. I contribute something bigger than myself. I create. I learn. I grow. I do. I believe it’s never too late to start living a dream. I AM AN ENTREPRENEUR.” Welcome to Episode 83: 7 Productivity Strategies Backed By Science ... I know I’ve been dropping loads of content the past few weeks on hustling and productivity, but it’s with good reason. During the last business quarter of the year, it’s not uncommon for productivity to take a nosedive. The holiday season is creeping in quickly, you just got off summer vacation and are already thinking about all the year end holidays, with a fresh new year is right around the corner. You may even be dwelling on all the goals you set out for yourself this year that have yet to be accomplished and you’re starting to feel stressed, panicky, overwhelmed, maybe even a big of languish, and your productivity keeps nosediving as you’re not quite sure where to place yourself and when in order to do #AllTheThings so your left feeling accomplished going into another new year … That being said, I’m here today to help save you from yourself with 7 (yes 7!) productivity strategies – backed by science – so you can end this year off right – and save your sanity while doing it. Here's what we will be untangling in this episode ... Project managementThe art of list makingThe siren calls of emailTime and technology (re: inbox detox)How to learn the art of “untangling”Renewing your faith … in yourself Are you ready? Pop in your awesome earbuds and let's dive in!

“If you do the same thing every day at the same time for the same length of time, you’ll save yourself from many a sink. Routine is a condition of survival.” ~ Flannery O’Connor Welcome to Episode 82: Freakishly Effective Ways To Be More Productive! Last week we talked about how we fear we’re forever stuck living in a world filled with major stressors and never-ending to-do lists -- which can be maddening some days and truly difficult to find time to just do, well, #AllTheThings while also trying to keep our sanity to also fine mindfulness time to do absolutely nothing. I also dropped a quick mention on how getting things done also tends to feel a like a drug. We live in a fast-paced world that’s filled with beeps and boops, reminding us that we need to keep doing and being, thus the “addiction” to the joyful feeling of striking those to-do’s right off our list. Alongside a huge sigh of relief to have one less thing to worry about. Today I want to stick to this topic, and next week too with “Productivity Strategies Back Up By Science” before we switch gears into the last couple months of the year. However, today I want to take a crazy FUN twist with freakishly effective ways to boost and be more productive. Here's what we will be untangling in this episode ... 10 “freakish” tips to be more productivity“Tough love” traits to live byThe journey of entrepreneurship Are you ready? Pop in your awesome earbuds and let's dive in!

“When one has much to put into them, a day has a hundred pockets.” ~ Friedrich Nietzsche Welcome to Episode 81:Doing Nothing Is Not The Secret To Productivity In a world filled with major stressors and never-ending to-do lists, it can be truly difficult to find time to just do, well, absolutely nothing. While it’s all fine and dandy to take a “time out” once in awhile to do nothing -- as it’s one of the best things you can do for yourself. The flipside of this in the business world can be treacherous to your goals and end game. Sometimes we need to push past the ache and urge of nothingness to make real headway. To some, myself included, getting things done is a like a drug. We’re addicted to the feeling of striking those to-do’s right off our list. Being productive gives me a rush of exhilaration. It energizes me, inspires me, motivates me, keeps #AllTheThings in perspective -- and in order -- and helps me reach my goals -- and those of my tangled clients. So, while living in the realm of nothingness once and awhile is good, it’s not a good habit to create, nor is it the secret to success. Here's what we will be untangling in this episode ... The low-down on time managementHow to boost productivity to enjoy guilt-free relax timeHow to stop feeling “the need” to keep growing your to-do listHow to FOCUS on priorities and growth (and why)Chris Bailey’s “A Life of Productivity” (introduction) Are you ready? Pop in your awesome earbuds and let's dive in!