In 2019, I read Atomic Habits by James Clear, which completely changed my life.

It forced me to have a hard look at my life and business goals and evaluate just how I was getting there with my daily actions. The next year in business I doubled my growth, the following year we grew another 20%, and the harmony that I experienced between my personal and professional life changed completely.

I credit so much of this with prioritizing what I was doing behind the scenes, the unexpected daily habits that gave me the space and advantage to make me a better business owner.

Today on the Authentic Brand Builders podcast (and blog) we’re diving into those unexpected habits that have made me a better business owner. I’m a firm believer that how we spend our time directly affects how we run our businesses, and we’ll uncover that today.

Inside today’s episode of the Authentic Brand Builders podcast, we’ll dive into:

• The habit that transformed my productivity, and has allowed me to get more done in less time - it’s been one of my secrets to working smarter, not harder.

• What I implemented into my habit stack when I got burned out on personal development and how my business changed as a result.

• My “Not-To-Do-List” and how I use it as a business owner.

As we wrap up another year and get ready to step into the new year, I’ve been reflecting on what I would do if I were to start my business from scratch today.

Having been an entrepreneur for nine years, I’ve seen the ups, downs, and dramatic changes in the industry. There are things that have completely shifted and things that honestly have remained the same.

Here are five approaches that I believe would accelerate your business growth and set you up for long-term success.

Inside today’s episode of the Authentic Brand Builders podcast, we’ll dive into:

• Why PR should be your top priority and how building a network of collaborators can accelerate your brand growth.

• The secret to focusing on sales from day one and how long-form content like podcasts and YouTube can drive sustainable success.

• The essential mindset changes you need to take confident action and make your business thrive.

Every year, I share my marketing predictions for the year ahead.

I’ve been doing this since 2018, and this year I'm thrilled to share a bit of a twist.

I sat down with my friend Jodie Brown, to kick off a new series where you can essentially be a “fly on the wall,” listening in as Jodie and I take a deep dive into the world of marketing today. And, today’s episode is centered around predictions we’re making for 2025.

Join us in this new series, on the Authentic Brand Builders Podcast, called Marketing Mayhem. In today’s episode, we’ll talk about:

• The 5 marketing predictions we see being a top priority in 2025.

• The singular trend we see picking up even more momentum in 2025 - if you’re not already doing this NOW is the time.

• The truth about niching down in the online space today.

For the full content, and all the insider tips, listen to Episode 130 now.

As we gear up for a new year, it's time to start thinking about 2025. While I don’t feel completely ready for a new year, I can’t help but recognize that my brain is already thinking ahead.

So, I asked myself, “If we were to sit down for coffee, and you were ready to scale your business in the new year to the 6-figure mark, what would I want you to know?

If you are ready to scale your businesses to the six-figure mark, there is an overwhelming amount of information available online, but not all of it is super strategic.

Today, I want to share five strategic actions that are essential for your growth without making you feel like you're drowning in planning details.

Inside today’s episode of the Authentic Brand Builders podcast, we’ll dive into:

• A quick improvement you can make to your website that will result in qualified leads finding you on Google.

• Why video marketing is a must and how to embrace it as your most authentic self.

• How consumer minds have changed over the years and how you can make a single adjustment to ensure you’re not overlooked by your ideal customers.

In this episode of The Authentic Brand Builders Podcast, I sit down with Kwadwo, a skilled Meta ads expert, to explore what it truly takes to create successful, authentic Facebook and Instagram ad campaigns.

Together, we take a deep dive into strategies to approach Facebook and Instagram ads with patience and authenticity, even in today’s landscape where people are more skeptical than ever about advertising.

We talk about everything from optimizing ad funnels and the timing of your first ad to creating scalable campaigns that build real trust with your audience.

Inside today’s episode of the Authentic Brand Builders podcast, we’ll dive into:

• How ads amplify your brand and when to get started with ad campaigns after your organic strategy has been proven.
  
  

• The importance of testing your ads, from ad copy to visuals, testing each element can help keep costs down while improving performance and targeting.
  
  

• How to focus on genuine, trust-building ads that don’t just sell but also engage and educate your audience during a time when audiences are more cautious.

In the online business and branding world, visibility is crucial.

It’s not just about putting yourself out there online; it's about truly showing up as your authentic self, something I’ve found over the years can be incredibly difficult.

As someone who has been creating and publicly sharing content over the past eight years, I still struggle with a fear of visibility, and today, I want to talk about a personal journey I’ve taken recently concerning visibility and how I navigate my relationship with social media as an entrepreneur and brand strategist.

I’m also giving you the three journal prompts that helped me uncover this fear and start taking action to move forward.

Inside today’s episode of the Authentic Brand Builders podcast, we’ll dive into:

• My recent discovery around visibility and specifically what was holding me back from social media.

• The importance of asking yourself the hard questions to create an authentic and aligned brand online.

• Three journal prompts to get you started in discovering what is holding you back from getting your brand seen.

Get your free Brand Roadmap at brandmerry.com/brandroadmap

Perfectionism is a topic close to my heart and, as a recovering perfectionist myself, I know it's something many of you are navigating too. This two-part episode is inspired by a conversation with my dear friend Martina Fink—a specialist in self-care and helping perfectionists embrace change.

Perfectionism can be a tricky hurdle for many entrepreneurs. I've been open about my battles with it, a struggle familiar to many of my clients. Martina emphasizes the importance of shifting focus from external validation to living from the inside out. This means detaching from others' expectations and instead doing what truly brings you joy and fulfillment.

Martina and I first connected at a mastermind event in 2017 and have since become the best of friends. I’m thrilled to share insights from our chat, focusing on showing up in the online space as a perfectionist, trusting oneself, and taking bold steps as entrepreneurs and women.

Inside this two-episode special of the Authentic Brand Builders podcast, we’ll dive into:

• How to build a brand when you struggle with comparisonitis and the perfectionism trap on social media.

• One of the most powerful journal prompts from Martina, to help you discover your true passions.

• How to take action or make big changes when you’re worried about looking silly or failing publicly.

• The process of trusting yourself as a business owner and perfectionist.

In this episode of the Authentic Brand Builders Podcast, I'm chatting with Martina Fink on all things perfectionism and running a business. Together, we explore strategies to build a brand as a perfectionist.

You'll uncover how to navigate external expectations, trust your intuition, and balance masculine and feminine energies to enhance personal well-being and business performance. With insights from Martina's journey from Apple store manager to certified health coach, we talk all things self-trust, emotional health, creative inspiration, and practical journaling prompts to help identify true desires and brand identity.