Ep 157
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Melissa Kellogg Lueck: [00:00:00] Welcome. I am marketing expert and business coach Melissa Kellogg Leuck, and this is the Doing Business like a woman podcast, where we are exploring and teaching you how women are reinventing the way business is done and money is made to help you create greater impact and financial freedom, one business at a time.
Okay. Yeah. Here we are. Woo. On location. Yeah. Silver Paw Studio. It's Silver Paw Studio. Yeah. It's so exciting. Thank you so much for having me. I really am glad. That you agreed to be on the podcast as a guest, and it's so long overdue. Aw. And thanks for coming out to the studio.
This is fun. I love it out here. as I was driving, I was thinking, oh, it's so nice I get to come out to the country and just Yes. We have the beautiful vista of the mountains and it's just such a beautiful place to come. Yeah. [00:01:00] And, before we get too far into this, yes. I need to introduce my guest.
Thank you. So ladies, I get to introduce you today to my client and friend, Monique Eckes, CEO of Silver Paws Studio. And Monique works with families, entrepreneurs, and organizations to create custom photos and videos with a focus on making the process fun and collaborative. Her background is in the veterinary industry.
And years photographing people and pets shaped a people first approach that helps clients feel comfortable and seen. In addition to client work, Monique speaks at local and national conferences and supports animal related causes through her creative work. So welcome, Monique. Thank you, Melissa.
This is fun. I know I never even thought of being a guest on your show, so I'm very honored. So you're usually the one that is [00:02:00] hosting the podcast and so forth. So you're usually the one on this side of the, this side of the interview. Yeah. So what is it like being on that side of the interview?
It's nice. The pressure's off. The pressure's off, you get to just enjoy it. Yeah. It's great to just be a podcast guest sometimes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Very good. This'll be fun. Yeah, it will be. It will be until you start yours. Are you gonna start one? Oh, very soon, yes. Very soon. I'm so excited.
Yeah. Yeah. Cool. did I miss anything in the introduction first of all? No, I don't think so. Okay. So tell us a little bit about your history, how you got into this business. You came out of the veterinary industry. And now you're a photographer, like that's a jump.
Tell us how that came together. Oh yeah. I'm not gonna go all the way back to my story of how I stole my sister's camera. That's for a different thing. We're fine. That's a whole different Oprah. Yes. But fast forward. I just always have a camera in my hand. So when I managed a veterinary practice, I would bring the camera in.
So we would [00:03:00] have pictures for the lobby and for, up on the wall and in our scrapbook. And I just always had my camera with me. And then when I moved to Colorado, I did what was easy for me, which was working at the veterinary hospital, but I missed the photography. I had done senior portraits and families for people I knew 'cause I had a lot of kids in the northwest. And then when photography finally pulled me back, I just took all my pet clients with me that I knew, 'cause the only people I knew in Colorado. Where people with pets in the pet industry, and I was the only one around that had experienced photographing people. So a lot of times pet photographers don't do anything with people.
And then I've been doing that, and then I started a YouTube channel to help other pet photographers at the shelters. And I learned all this amazing stuff about videography. And thought, oh my goodness, I need to offer this to the community too. And. So everything snowballed together and it's hard for me to separate them all now.
I just, I love doing all of them. Yeah. As my [00:04:00] coach, you know that you've heard that. Like how do I let people know that I do the photography and videography and I just, I get a thrill out of all of it and mostly getting to know everybody. Yeah. Yeah. That's so cool. So how long ago did you start Silver Paw Studio?
13 years, probably 14. Wow. Shortly after I moved here. Yeah. Yeah. Nice. Yeah. I love it. Yay. So good. I know. It's fun. So I know this about you and now on this end of being like a podcast studio client I know this from this experience and I've known the, from the experience of working with you in photography.
And just all the other ways we've worked together. Yeah, you definitely are a person that makes people feel comfortable and seen and I was thinking about, there's such an interesting correlation 'cause Monique serves small businesses here in northern Colorado who feel invisible. Yeah. And also [00:05:00] people and pets, could feel invisible or intimidated by coming into a studio, being photographed going on video, that sort of thing. So I think there's such an interesting correlation between that feeling of invisibility and yet wanting to be seen and making your clients, including animals and children, comfortable to be seen.
So tell me a little bit about that. Like how have you created that environment in your business? There's so many facets to that. Yeah. It's probably comes from my background of being incredibly shy. So shy. But then when you start a business, you have to put yourself out there.
Yeah. And then when I was working at the shelters, I was volunteered every week at the shelter and then live streaming came out. so a lot of it comes back to my why, and I did it for the dogs even though I was scared to be in front of it, it correlates to everything, like how many times have you heard women say that they're never in the pictures with their kids?
And then suddenly their kids need a picture of them altogether [00:06:00] and they don't have it. Yeah. And so those, the moms are invisible or the parents are invisible, or people think, oh, it's just my dog. Can I take a picture of my dog? Like all these insecurities people have that I've had too.
Yeah. So I just, I really want people to feel like they belong. And no matter who we're photographing, whether it's you, your kid, your dog, or your whole staff it just stems from my need. And so I could really see that in people. And when you become a business person, suddenly there's one day you're like, oh, I need to be more visible.
That's tangibly exactly what I do. So it works out. Yeah. So what I'm hearing you say is you have that empathy. Like you can understand what they might be feeling. Yeah. Or thinking about getting in front of the camera and in front of the lights and Yeah. but like what are some of the things that you do maybe to help people feel comfortable. Oh, okay. So actually when we're on set, [00:07:00] so do you want me to come from the business side, Melissa, or more the pets and people in photography or touch on all of it? Yeah, touch on all of it. Okay. Because I think it's so interesting that you work with animals. Yeah. Because animals are very I feel like they are very in tune and very intuitive.
And so they're no BS creatures where, you know. You can't say a nice thing and make them feel something like they intuit. What's actually happening. That's true. And so they're not gonna be comfortable enough to be photographed in as brilliant a ways as you have photographed animals, if it really isn't.
It's something, there's something deeper. Yeah. To you. I have a sign on the door at the studio this says, welcome to the best day ever. So I want everyone to just have a good time. And actually I guess that spans all of my services. Yeah. So when people bring in their dogs. What do dogs like? They like different treats.
They like toys, they like loves. They like to be around their people. Maybe [00:08:00] jump on furniture they're not used to getting on. They can do all of that here. And no judgment. So people aren't required to have blue ribbon dogs or like straight A. Straight A students. If it's kids that I'm photographing, I just want them to be themselves and have fun with it. Whatever that means. And then when they're here, I try to match their energy. And so if a kid is feeling really shy, I'm gonna calm down. Or maybe if the dog's extra hyper, I'm gonna calm down to show them what they need. And with my business clients, I try to mirror what I want them to do.
So if. Since I'm visual, I assume everyone is. And I will sit in a chair and go, okay, so it's gonna be like this. And then, and something like, oh, okay. And then they'll sit down or we'll start rolling the camera before I tell them, and we'll just have a chit chat and go, okay, now just go ahead and start.
I'm ready. And we can restart any time. I give people a lot of grace. If we're doing a video project, we could just do the line over. It's not a big deal in that sense. You don't have to get it right first try. So I give people a [00:09:00] lot of grace and a lot of understanding and I try to like visibly be calm too.
I actually had a client say once to me like, are you okay? 'cause I was, this was very early in my career 'cause I was stressed out. Yeah. We were photographing his giant three generation family in his very nice home and I'm trying to get my light just right and get to the right spot and he's are you okay?
I'm like that's coming out in my body, isn't it? So I've been very careful to emulate the feeling that I want my clients to feel. Yeah. I love that. Yeah. So that's real, that's intuitive on your part. And so you have that empathy and that acceptance of whatever condition people and animals come to you in.
And I know, especially in the in the world of photographing shelter pets. Yeah. Because God only knows what they've been through. And yeah. So say a little bit about that work that you do. Yeah. Because it's been hundreds and hundreds, maybe thousands of dogs and cats and other animals that [00:10:00] shelters have, and I try to be.
Quick in, when I take the picture, I'm not moving fast, but once I get the image, I get the image. So they have as little time in front of the camera as Pawssible if they're feeling very anxious about that. Yeah. Which, they often are. At the shelter. So that helps and doing the same thing I do here at the studio as much as I can, here's treats and loves and I always have helpers.
I think it's integral to have a helper at the shelters. And just watching their threshold, so when they're done. Like little kids like Yeah. They're done. They're done. Yeah. Sometimes when I'm done. So I'm keeping an eye on that with those shelter animals.
And a lot of it's just experience too with them. And every once in a while, I bring a dog trainer with me. Yeah. I love that. Yeah. Yeah so yeah, that acceptance and then just making a comfortable atmosphere. And also what I hear you saying, which I think is good for me and for my audience, my [00:11:00] listeners, is dropping that need to be perfect and that perfectionism.
Yes. Yes. And like for stuff that I do, pre-production is so much. So I have a client who she's like, it's so easy to work with you. I just come in, sit down, say the stuff I said, it's because all the work we did ahead of time. So I try to prepare people as much as I can. When I go to the shelter, we have everything ready to go before the dog ever walks in.
When you came into the studio today, everything was ready to go. We turn on the mics, and the camera and the lights, and we're ready to go. So pre-production is so much of it and then just enjoy the experience. Yeah. Yeah, it does not have to be perfect. At all. Yeah. And I think you have such great leadership too, in terms of you're setting the tone.
So when someone comes into your studio, if you're setting the tone of ease. Yes. Like an easy feel, enjoyable, feel best day ever. Then people and animals will key off of that and be [00:12:00] willing to, have that experience.
Yeah, for sure. Like I always joke, the best compliment I ever get at a family photo session is the dad or the guy will say that wasn't so bad. I'm like, yes, high five. I did it. Or when people like bring their kids in, they're like, wow, this is the first time the kids really enjoyed being photographed.
Or when someone comes in for business portrait, it's oh, we're done already. That was so great. That was so fun and so natural. Yeah. Yeah. That's awesome. I think that really takes a lot of work or a lot of intention, I should say. To really create that. Yeah. And I'm in my zone. Yes, I'm in that flow.
That's the one time in my life I feel like I can knock everything else out of my mind, and I'm only there for that person, business, family, whatever it is I'm doing. That's when I'm in the flow and it's 110%. Yeah. Your zone of genius. Yeah. Yeah. And then that flow. Yeah. It's really cool. I love that.
That's so cool. Thanks. Very cool. 13 years you've been in [00:13:00] business here in Colorado? Here in Colorado, yeah. So I had a few years in Washington state. Wow. Part-time before I moved. 'cause I was still at the veterinary hospital too and doing some other things. So yeah, so by the time I moved here, there was only one of the kids left in high school.
So it seemed so easy and she was self-sufficient, like she wanted to do her own thing. So I started my photography business, but gave the vet hospital a lot of time. They're like, they're still my client, so I love that. Yeah. It's been at least 13 years just here in Colorado full time. So how long have you been an entrepreneur then, would you say?
Oh okay. When I was 11, I harvested worms to sell fishermen at the side of the road. Oh my gosh. I don't know who bought those 'cause I lived in the city, Where did you find worms in the city? We had a big yard. Okay. And there was this method and then we had the Chinese food boxes that we bought and put little dirt in there and you put the little, and then Sunday morning early you sit out there.
Worms for fishermen. [00:14:00] Where were they fishing? I dunno. Oh my gosh, I love this. Yeah, so that was like 10 or 11. Aw. Yeah. So I've always wanted to, and then went down the road of, working for other people. 'cause that's what responsible people do, grown up. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I've had a lot of interesting jobs in the meantime.
Yeah. Very cool. But 13 years is a long time Yeah. Of having your own business and being a business you've already beaten the odds, I would say, many times over. In terms of not, folding. Yeah. So what do you think? What would you attribute your success to and your sustainability like?
What are some things that you've learned along the way? Oh, there's a few things. First of all, tenacity. Halfway through there, or not even halfway, I went through a really traumatic divorce and I had to do like a two month break. What do I wanna do now? What do I wanna do now? And I did the lists, if I did this and then [00:15:00] this and the pros and cons and just everything was like, no photography, duh, you're still gonna do that.
So that was tenacity and that's. Just what I wanted to do. Yeah. And then what I've learned in the last few years, especially once I moved into this bigger studio space and it felt like a lot more pressure. Okay, now I got a for realsies. For realsies to business and like we say, an eWomen, put my CEO hat on.
Yeah. And so a lot of that, not just 'cause I'm sitting with you, but is coaching. And you're an instrumental coach in there. I've had some other coaches and it can't be understated. because there are those hard days. Yeah. Really. And I can tell a story about that. We'll probably get to a little bit later in the podcast, but it's really been knowing other people are out there.
Not everyone has this polished facade all the time. Just like they say on social media, like that's the sizzle reel. That's the highlight reel, which I know I create those for a living. But there's like the real person back there struggling too, and hence surrounding yourself with either a one-to-one coach or a group of people.
It's just so validating and [00:16:00] uplifting. That's what keeps me going. Because we wouldn't let you quit. Yeah. Yup. We would hunt you down. Oh, okay. I promise I will stay. that's such a great point. Like it really is the community that keeps you going sometimes. Yeah. What else have you learned?
Oh gosh. There's probably a whole lot. I'm that person who probably doesn't look back on my wins as much as I should, and I hear that all the time from coaches, look at your wins, what have you already accomplished? And I just tend to move on to the next thing. So when you ask me questions like that I have to look back what other things besides just community is, yeah, probably looking at the why's. Why am I doing this? Yeah. Why is it good for the community? Is there a need for this? Yes. So knowing that I'm not just making money, which is important, don't get me wrong. Yeah. But also affecting these other people's lives. Yeah. They're not gonna be as visible [00:17:00] if someone like me is not helping them.
So I think that really helps too. Yeah, I think that's something that I've learned from you. Oh. And something that has really stuck with me you said something early on, and I can't quote you correctly.
But it was around being visible and standing in front of the camera and you talked about, I think maybe it was around that story around the shelter pets and really having to get over yourself because your why was stronger. Yeah. And you can probably say it better, but when your why is stronger than your resistance, you can overcome it.
Absolutely. Yeah. When I give that story of the shelter pets, it's. It was a brand new thing, the live streaming. And I had just dabbled in it and I thought, man, if this could help the dogs, if this could just help the dogs, I'll figure out the rest. I don't care how weird I look on camera if I know where the stop button is.
Like most people didn't even know like how to turn the camera on and off at that point. Yeah. I just, [00:18:00] if it could help a dog find a home I'm in. Oh. Just like the photos I was taking I'm not gonna adopt all those. I am the bridge between, it's those kind of things this'll make a difference to someone else, so it's worth me being just a little uncomfortable.
Yeah. Yeah. And I think that's really powerful. Yeah. The way that you talk about that, because it really does it knowing, your backstory and how much how shy you were as a young person. Yeah. And really to see you now is just amazing. You have to share with the audience about your story, about getting on the big stage.
Oh, the, I'm not allowed to say this word, but TED style talk, the are you talking about that one? Yeah. Yeah. And I talked about this on a, like a five minute talk at eWomen like a year or so ago, I had this opportunity, me and nine other people in pet fields and animal fields were invited to speak at an event.
This whole evening event. And we were coached on how [00:19:00] to have stage presence and where to walk and where to stand, and how much to move and memorize our entire talk and it needed to be something that was inspiring to a broader group of people and Oh, that most of us sitting in the green room were like, we didn't know we were in for this.
But here we are. Yeah. So we persevered through it and I'm backstage like trying not to drink gallons of water 'cause I feel like I can't talk, yeah. But afterwards I thought. Wow. I did it and nobody was mad at me. Like I could stand out. I didn't have to be that fly on the wall, which I say the shadow of a fly on the wall.
As I was as a kid. I could go out there, tell something to the world that I thought was important, that maybe they could find important after my eight minute talk. And everyone smiled. Yeah. And clapped, and they're like, you did it. Yay. And that was so empowering and really helped me get over that.
Like a hurdle from whatever reason as a kid being super [00:20:00] shy. Yeah. Yeah. Just really a pivotal moment. Yeah. For sure. so you were on a big stage at a conference in front of I've been at conferences too, so this was an event specifically for that. Okay. But I've also taught at conferences.
Yeah. And a lot of 'em have been photography related. Maybe I'm teaching them how to do live streaming or any kinds of anything else. And those are fun because it's teaching. So I always wanted to be a teacher. And as a little kid, I remember in first grade like, Ugh, this is so boring.
I could do better than her. And that wasn't in my personality Really. Yeah. But I just went, ugh, yawn. As a first grader and I remember teaching my sister and brother, my little sister and brother, put a little board up and would teach 'em math. So when I get into a teaching situation, I just really like that.
Yeah. I just come alive and there's the play with off of other people, the question and answer, and that just feels fairly natural, whether it's here at the studio or on a stage and people have to get a microphone back and forth that just. That feels a [00:21:00] lot more comfortable too, than here's my stance on the world.
Hopefully you like it. Yeah. So the inspirational talks are harder for me Yeah. Than the information and the teaching. Yeah. I think it's maybe because the focus and the ideas are all yours. Yeah. Maybe. And how much I love collaborating. Yeah. That's so the teaching side pulls me. Yeah. Yeah.
That's cool. You've come such a long way just since I've known you in the past few years. so Monique and I know each other just for the audience. We know each other through eWomen network. we were both in the same chapter here in Northern Colorado. And then I became the managing director and she stepped around even then, of course.
And and has become a client both a private client and then a client in the 90 day marketing accelerator. But I remember early on, some discussion when you were thinking of, considering getting [00:22:00] the studio, this is a large studio. And a big chunk of money to rent the studio.
And you were pretty intimidated and look how much you've grown. Now it's just I can't imagine you not here. Oh, yes. I, this is my favorite studio I've had. It's the biggest I just, I always had that dream of having a place that the community can come together. Yeah. That I could create, but also other people can come in and create.
So yeah, it was worth it. But I did have that conversation with you Hey, I'm taking this on. It's gonna be a huge step, a huge identity shift. Honestly, and then I was like. Okay. If I'm gonna do this, I'm gonna go all in. And then I hired you. Yeah. As a one-to-one coach. Okay, let's make sure we get the marketing role and the cash flow ringing.
Yeah. Yeah. So how do you feel you've grown since? How has your identity changed and grown since moving in here, one of the things about when I moved in here is that I don't have a home office. And so everything I do, unless I take my [00:23:00] laptop home, sometimes I do, but everything I do is here. So one of the things I've worked with you and other teams is when I get here okay, now I'm at work.
I'm gonna do my routine, and this is all I do here. So that has really helped step into that. Okay. Serious business owner shoes. And so that has shifted a lot and that was very intentional. Because I remember working with you and someone else and just I've got to get to this identity shift.
Yeah. That is vital. And then put the processes and systems in place to support that. Which is still a work in progress. Of course transparency. But oh gosh, I feel so much closer to that now than I did. Yeah. I, my smaller spaces were so restrictive and I felt so disjointed having a home office and then a little studio and every week, every day, I'm here all day.
Wow. Yeah. Very cool. Yeah. Yeah. You've come a long way. It's been impressive. Yeah. Yeah. And I've been able to experiment with different services and offerings. Yeah. [00:24:00] Event types. And so yeah, that's opened up doors and I love it. Yeah. Yeah. So what has that been like? the experimentation of, even over the last 13 years of all the different things that you've experimented with and, 'cause I think entrepreneurship is a big experiment, like we're always learning, experimenting, seeing what works, what doesn't work. Talk about that a little bit in your journey. I love experimenting, honestly. Good. So I'm creative just in the job description. Oh my gosh. I'm just, I'm, obviously, I'm a creative person in this field, but just overall, I'll be like, oh, I have this idea.
My, problem, I don't know, is that I implement it really quickly. Oh, I have this idea, let's implement right now. So I'm not actually afraid to change and shift. There are some things that it's harder to let go of. So one of the things that I did when I moved in here is I scaled almost to nothing in my YouTube channels where I was teaching.
Because I just, I didn't have the time or resources anymore, and that was [00:25:00] a weird shift because oh, but I'm a teacher. That identity seemed to fade a little bit. So I've had so a chance to work through that. Now I forget the question about experimentation experiment.
Yeah. But the thing is, for me, I probably experiment a little much. And so about five or six months ago, I decided that I wanted a new mantra that was go deeper and stayed longer. And part of that stemmed from a coaching we had. And we were talking about, I said, I have this idea for a offer.
And we were in our call and you're like doing the research and yeah, this is great and this is great and this is great. And I thought to myself, I don't want this to be a flash in the pan. I think this is really gonna benefit a lot of people. So I'm not gonna jump to a new thing. I'm not gonna talk about this for a month at the studio and then jump to a new thing in the next month and jump to a new thing.
Too disjointed. But I went in and it evolved and that I still love talking about that. Yeah. The, this, the testimonial videos. Yeah. And so I've [00:26:00] had to pull back on some of the changes in creativity 'cause it was too much spaghetti on the wall. Yeah. But I very open, if I hire a coach, I'm gonna do everything I can to do at least like 70%.
Just 'cause everything else in, in life, right? Yeah. Yeah. I'm not trying to do 30, but I wanna go in, I don't wanna just like courses. Sometimes you get 'em, me, stick 'em in a drawer, a hard drive and you need to look at 'em. That's not how I approach some of these. Bigger coaching. Opportunities. Yeah. Yeah. And speaking of that, you're now one of the students in the 90 day marketing accelerator. Yeah. And it's been so great having you in there because I don't know your energy first of all, but you're just brings so much to that community and so much depth of experience and perspective.
So I really appreciate you being in there. What is the, what has the experience been like for you to be in the 90 Day Marketing Accelerator, which for those that aren't familiar with it, is a group coaching program and it's [00:27:00] 90 days long and we're really accelerating not only marketing activity and action, but also really laying a strong foundation of a simple marketing plan and executing on that and then evaluating and changing, improving as you go. One of the things that I liked about it that I didn't think I would, I wasn't sure so I've done one-to-one. Yeah. So it's just you and me we're doing, we're head down in my business. But what I found was I was missing community a little bit when I only pick one-to-one coaches in any area of my life.
'cause I have a couple different coaches and I thought, you know what? I need to be in a community of people. 'cause we could pull from each other. And what's been interesting though, is it's worked just like your one-to-one. So we all get a chance to say something. We get the Melissa knowledge.
Like one of the, your famous quotes that I absolutely love is all marketing works. So when everyone's in there they have different marketing ideas cool, that works. How you can implement it, [00:28:00] or what do you see that happening? Like very asking us questions, but in this small group setting.
And I think it's really awesome to be able to hear other people's, and then they can give insight too. Yet we still have the foundation from you with our extra pieces too, like Excel spreadsheets or whatever it is. Yeah. So I feel like it's a way to get that group coaching feel and that community feel with other businesses when maybe I'm not, or concurrently have a one-to-one coach as well.
Yeah, I think it's been really neat 'cause we're all on, you're all on the same. Journey as entrepreneurs and marketing tends to be a challenge for most women entrepreneurs. And so it's nice to be in that cohort together where everyone is, figuring it out and hashing it out.
And. Yeah. Working on it together. And I went in with an intention to work on one project. So I thought, you know what? I wanna work on my next offer for my pet and family photography. And that is what I have [00:29:00] worked on. In that, for the most part. Sometimes something else will come up and we have coaching opportunities.
Which feels luxurious because we'll get this one-to-one with you, even though we're in this group. Okay, that was cool. I don't wanna take advantage of you, but we're in here. Yeah. It just, it's so luxurious 'cause I've done the one-to-one with you and the, the price i'm like. How'd that just happen? This is so great. The amount you can get done in five minutes is incredible. Just incredible. But I decided to take this opportunity to work on one project, and it's kept me accountable. It's kept me in action. Because I'll be like, okay, this is weekly calls.
We have a call. What have, let me see what I've done this week for this project. Oh my, not as much as I thought. Or I'm right on track or whatever it is. And I know that when we check in, we're all gonna say, what are our wins? What do we need help with? Where's our gaps? And things like that.
So that has really been a nice accountability for me in that project. Nice. Yeah, I love that. So what [00:30:00] have been a couple of your wins or a win that sticks out? I kept it going so I, I did the backend even when it was frustrating. So sometimes when I do these, there's so many little moving parts in the CRM program that it can just be like, I don't wanna do this today. But I had a date of when I wanted to launch it and when people are gonna sign up. And so that's been good. People haven't signed up for that yet. 'cause it doesn't actually start for a couple more weeks, but all the pieces are in place. So that feels really good. Instead of scrambling the week before. And I'm more cognizant of, okay, I need to gather this for marketing. Let's take some maybe time lapse of the setup. So we get a little behind the scenes. So I'm thinking through that ahead of time, of what content I'm gonna need later, what questions people might ask.
Those are some good wins for me. I love that. Yeah. Very cool. Yeah. You've made a lot of progress. It's been fun to watch. So I'm just looking through my questions because you answered some of these already. Oh. Has there been a [00:31:00] moment as part of the 90 day marketing accelerator that hearing someone else's challenge and or a win has shifted something for you?
I think it gets me back into that frame of mind of Pawssibilities, especially if I hear someone else's wins. Oh, go girl. Or whoever's in the group, good for you. Hey, that inspires me to also keep going even though it's tough. So I do really like that. Then when I hear that someone tried something and it worked oh, we can put ourselves out there.
It'll work, Melissa says all marketing works. So seeing other people's wins and their progress and just the different way they come about things and how you always have your simple marketing plan, right? You're like keeping us. Right in, in ease with that. Like you can make it easier even if we've made it really complicated, that's me. I make it really robust and then I have to pare it back to be more simple. Yeah. Which is fine. That's just part of [00:32:00] my process, but yeah. Does that answer? Yeah. I can't remember what you said. No. Just I get so excited about it. I know when there, if there was a moment when hearing someone else's.
Shifted. Oh, I can't think of a specific moment actually off the top of my head. Yeah. Yeah. But you did answer. Yeah. how it inspires you. Or yeah, hearing other people's. Wins. Yeah. One person on the most recent call was talking about giving herself some new system to keep her motivated and the physical way that she decided to do that was so fun and whimsical. Yeah. I'm like, oh, that is cool. That is cool. Yeah. So that was a cool moment too. Ooh, how can I incorporate something like that? Yeah. In a different way. I love that. I love that. So what is it like from your experience when you come to the group and maybe you've had a tough week.
And you're not feeling like anything is working or you're not feeling in win or celebration energy and I, I start most of the sessions with, let's talk about wins or [00:33:00] celebrations, and everyone else is celebrating and you're like, I don't have anything to celebrate. Aw. What is, like how do you, how, what is that experience like or how do you deal with that?
First of all, the people in the group, and most people that hang around you are, they are very supportive and it's nonjudgmental. And so they're compassionate. Everyone I feel like can wrap around and go, oh, if it was a hard time, tell us about that. Or if we're just feeling eh, meh, you'll dig deeper.
And you'll see maybe there is a win in here somewhere and we haven't found it yet. Or you haven't recognized it as a win. 'cause maybe I've slid right past it. So I do feel like in that kind of environment when you're, because it's just so different to be with other business people. Yeah. I can maybe talk to.
Like my sister about it, but she doesn't own a business, doesn't quite get the nuances. So when you're in that group of other business people who really wanna see everyone succeed and wanna lift everyone and hold [00:34:00] everyone, it feels very safe. Yeah. And uplifting. And after the call I'm like, okay, I got this.
Yeah. Yeah. And I think we've created an environment where you don't have to always come and be Pawsitive Polly like. We all are pretty real about. Yes. This stuff is hard for sure. Yeah. Yeah. And I love that's, I'm like, you immediately set up the environment for that though, so we immediately know it could be call number two and someone's having a hard day and they're feel safe enough to say something.
Yeah. Or brave enough, however you wanna put that. Yeah. Yeah. And I think that's so interesting that you use the word safety or safe. Because I think in your work and what you do as a photographer, videographer, and that is probably part, I would say, that's part of the value of working with you is that you are able, whether it's intentional or not, to create safety for people.
Yeah. And animals. Yes. Yeah. Especially animals. It's super [00:35:00] important. Because safety is belonging also. We only wanna feel like we belong. Oh, I love that. That's a really, a neat shift. Yeah. Yeah. That's cool. Very neat. So who do you think, in your experience, who do you think is, would benefit most from being part of the 90 day marketing accelerator?
Oh. I think it's someone maybe like me who's looking for a small group setting. That everyone is seen and everyone talks like you can't hide in the back in this kind of thing. It's not like there's hundreds of people in there and you can be like, eh, maybe not today, and then duck out. No. You're gonna be seen, you're gonna share, you're gonna grow. But if you wanna do that with other people, and this is on Zoom. So you could be anywhere. Yeah. And it doesn't really interrupt your day. So I think people that are looking for that marketing obviously that want to do, like for me, I'm working on a specific project.
Maybe if I'm working with you one-to-one on everything. This is a great place to work on that specific project. Or honestly, if you've always wanted to work with [00:36:00] Melissa, you always wanted a taste of what it's like to work with Melissa. This is a perfect chance to get in there and get some real stuff done in these three months. It's a good amount of time to get movement on whatever you wanna do. Yeah. For sure. So what would you tell someone that may be on the fence about joining. Oh, absolutely do it. you're going to make progress. There is no if, ands, or buts about that unless something, catastrophic happens in your life or whatever or you're out of town for half of it you will make progress.
No matter what it is that you're trying to work on. And that's hard to say about some programs. Oh, maybe I'll come out feeling better. Or, there's other reasons to go in programs, but this is really something that moves you ahead in whatever you're working on. And with the other people in there.
And you, and it's a little bit of networking too. Because we make sure that if someone is offering a class, that we tell everybody about that. Yeah. So if there's some networking aspect in there too, and [00:37:00] support in the real world I'd say just do it. and it's like what a third of the investment of one-to-one coaching.
So if budget is a concern this is a great way to get in there. Yeah. And again, get stuff done. Yeah. Really move the needle. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I love that. I love that Watching all of you support one another in your Yeah. Endeavors and share things out to other people.
And I like that. Yeah. It's been really great. And I can just envision your different 90 days with slightly different people maybe. So even if you did this several times over you're never done with marketing. Yeah. Never done with networking and supporting other people like Yeah.
Yeah. Very cool. Thank you so much. Thank for coming on the show and inviting me to do it in your studio. Yes, you're welcome. This has been really fun. Oh, yes. It feels very luxurious. Okay. And I am following up on my promise best day. We're fun, we're [00:38:00] relaxed. Yes. We just pushed a button and started talking.
Yeah. And I do have to say it's been a really easy experience. I've heard you talk about. It's easy, but it really is easy to just walk in and everything is set up. I don't have to bring any, I, I sent Monique a text and I said, what do I need to bring? What do I need to do? And she asked me a question about do I want chairs or a table?
And that was it. Yeah. Yeah. And that's how easy it is. Yeah. I talk to people all the time that are telling me they wanna start a podcast. And, I think one, the, one of the biggest things that keeps people from starting a podcast is, what am I gonna do about all the equipment? I don't have a studio.
You know what's gonna sound like and whatever. And for me, I just ignored all of that. 'cause I was like, I'm gonna, yeah. Get it started. I'm that, let's just get it started person. Yeah. And then we can, perfect it as we go. But having a studio like this, it makes it super simple because you've already thought about all the equipment.[00:39:00]
Yeah. and I love all that. I can peek out on that. Yeah. That's your thing. But. If someone just comes in and sits down, they can just stay in their zone, in their flow. Yeah. And they don't have to worry about all the gadgety things everywhere. It's not worth taking up brain space for you.
Yeah, totally. Let's just get in and share all of what you have to share. Yeah. Yeah. I can say this is much more fun than me doing it on my own. Oh gosh. Yay. Alright, thank you so much. Okay. Thank you. And I so appreciate you. Ah, I appreciate you. Everybody follow Melissa a plug she didn't ask me to make, she's the best.
Hire her for all the things. Oh, and also tell us what you're up to and how we can keep in touch with you. Oh, I have so many things going on. So obviously this podcast space is rentable with or without equipment, whatever you wanna do, audio or video. I have what's called core marketing sessions this spring, where a group of people come in and get fun, not stiff headshots, and [00:40:00] not a full branding session.
It's that gap between, so I'm doing that for businesses to have a small group come in and get all the pointing and all the things you need in Canva. That you keep using the same photo for? Yeah. No more stock photography necessary. Yeah. No stock, no ai. This is you and us having fun. I have, that I have for pets and people smoke and mirrors this's coming out this spring.
Yeah. Which is very colorful and bright and fun and it's only up for the month because it's a lot of setup, but it's all analog. It's all for realsy stuff. Yeah. And then I'll be starting to talk about podcasting. Yeah. So as we move later into the year, I'll talk a lot more. I'm starting my own podcast.
That I'll probably have you as a guest on Oh, I would love to probably for sure. Actually, what did I, what was I thinking? You sure be on my podcast? Yes. So that's what I've got going on right now. Cool. We'll make sure and put links to Okay. Your social media. Yeah. And your website, everything in the show notes.
Yeah. You all can follow [00:41:00] Monique. I highly suggest following her on Instagram 'cause she does great reels. And her business is so fun to watch because, yeah, not many of us get to work with pets in our everyday life and all fun. Yes. A lot of behind the scenes that you do. Lots of behind the scenes.
We've got some behind the scenes of this interview. Yeah. Yeah. And I'm everywhere at Silver Paws Studio. Yes. Yeah. Cool. All right, thank you so much, much. Thank you. Have a good one. You too. Bye.
Hey, thank you for joining us for this amazing conversation. I hope that it was impactful for you. If you're interested in joining us in the 90 Day Marketing Accelerator, we will be opening up a new cohort. And so if you want to make marketing simpler for you, do it in a group setting with fellow women entrepreneurs and have fun doing it.
I want you to join us. You can get all the information on my website, melissa m kellogg.com, or the [00:42:00] link is in the show notes and I'll see you there.
