If there’s one thing every entrepreneur is guaranteed to go through it’s a pivot. Whether that’s a pivot into a new niche, a pivot away from an offering, or a pivot of your whole-ass business, pivoting is a big part of building a business. In today’s episode of Unfiltered, we’re dishing on all of the pivots we’ve made, the fears we’ve faced around changing up the stuff we’ve come to be known for, when the desire to shake sh*t up is something you should listen to and when it’s something to ignore, and so much more. It’s juicy. And hopefully, helpful. And as always, totally unfiltered. Highlights: 4:16—11:33: All the title changes our IG bios have undergone11:43—15:21: The importance of being cringey15:21—27:15: The “taboo” feeling of pivoting and the way we’ve reframed it27:23—30:52: Why listening to your desire to pivot is important (and when it can be harmful)32:07—41:34 The #1 thing that makes it possible to pivot without having to leave everything behind Brand Strategy Resources: Brand Foundation Self-Discovery by State of SageClarity Era: Unlocked, A Free Training by PDA Studio We’d love to connect with you! You can join our broadcast channel and connect with us on Instagram: Han @hannahreed.co, Fran @thepassionscollective, and Alethea @copywithspice. And if you have thoughts, feedback, questions, etc. that you want to share with us, pop over to the bottom of this page on Alethea’s website!

All aboard the struggle bus because in today’s episode of Unfiltered we’re sharing all the things we’re currently struggling with. Not the lessons we’ve learned. Or how we’ve made it to the other side. But just the fears we’re facing in real-time and the challenges we’re working with. It’s hella vulnerable, hopefully relatable, and definitely a reminder that things are messier behind the scenes than they might appear to the world. (Anti) Highlights: 6:00—19:44 - The battles of balancing social media (marketing on it, unplugging from it, you name it)19:44—26:20 - Creating a flexible schedule vs. the reality of actually having a flexible schedule 26:20—33:51 - Questioning what success even looks like to us and all the ways that has changed33:51—40:00 - Scarcity mindset. Period. 40:00—44:46 - A real-time revelation about “bad” investments44:46—End - The BS behind believing in a “secret formula”  Don't forget to connect with us on Instagram! Find Han @hannahreed.co, Fran @thepassionscollective, and Alethea @copywithspice. And if you have thoughts, feedback, questions, etc. that you want to share with us, pop over to the bottom of this page on Alethea’s website!

If you’re someone who sells using the internet, you’re gonna love today’s episode of Unfiltered becauseeee we’re diving into all of our honest thoughts about the online space AND where we think it’s headed. (Shout out to @groovysocial for this gem of a question.) From the things we’ve already seen changing since we started our businesses to the shifts we’re predicting for the future of marketing in the online space, we’re spilling all of our unfiltered thoughts. Highlights: 1:38—9:21 - How people are approaching investing in a totally new way9:21—21:00 - The marketing tactics that seem to have stopped working 21:00—33:14 - New ways successful brands are putting themselves out there33:14—49:32 - The kind of content people are shiftiting away from and towards49:32—51:00 - The emphasis we’ve noticed that biz owners are putting on sustainablity51:00—58:11 - Why brand strategy (and client experience) are more important than ever before Resources/People Mentioned: 10x is Easier Than 2x Max (@bymaximuehue) Nicole (@groovysocial) Marketing/Sales Psych Books: Building a Storybrand Hooked Obsessed Don't forget to connect with us on Instagram! Find Han @hannahreed.co, Fran @thepassionscollective, and Alethea @copywithspice. And if you have thoughts, feedback, questions, etc. that you want to share with us, pop over to the bottom of this page on Alethea’s website!

Chances are, if you’re a biz owner, you’ve heard a thing or two about client experience. But… what the heck even is it? AND, how do you deliver a good experience to your clients? Buckle up buttercup because on today’s episode of Unfiltered, we’re diving into a juicy conversation about everything we’ve learned about client experience (mostly from Fran, whose literal job title is client experience architect). From the misconceptions we had when we were just getting started to the big mistakes we’ve made to the fun ways we’ve sprinkled in our own personal touches, this episode is dishing on everything there is to know about client experience. Highlights: 3:03—16:59 - Defining what client experience even is and the thing you’ll want to know before creating yours 16:59—26:33 - Common misconceptions and ways our perspectives on client experience have shifted since starting our businesses 26:33—30:28 - When’s the right time to prioritize client experience (and what’s actually worth investing in when you’re just getting started)  30:28—35:15 - The importance of outlining your processes (and what that even means) 35:15—51:41 - How and why to have good-ass communication with clients and the fun personal touches you can add to make communication your own 51:41—54:48 - The pros and cons to templatized emails 54:48—1:03:07 - Looks vs. experience and whether or not to focus on branded touch points  1:03:07—1:14:00 - How automations have changed our lives, saved our sanity, and made us millionaires (Jk… mostly) Don't forget to connect with us on Instagram! Find Han @hannahreed.co, Fran @thepassionscollective, and Alethea @copywithspice. And if you have thoughts, feedback, questions, etc. that you want to share with us, pop over to the bottom of this page on Alethea’s website!

It’s easy to connect our self-worth to our business when everything is going well: successful launches, booking out, high-cash months… But what happens when you hit a dip? Will a failed launch, slow season, or low-cash month be a reflection of your worth? If you aren’t doing the work to detach your identity from your business, you’re bound to hit an identity crisis or two. In this episode, we’re chatting about all the different ways our businesses have triggered our personal insecurities and struggles, from receiving client feedback to losing retainer clients. But we’re also dishing out the various ways we’ve learned to detach ourselves from the outcomes in our businesses! Highlights: 2:20–5:18 - Why detaching your self-worth from your business during the highs will help you handle the lows better 5:19–18:12 - Signs your identity might be tied to your business 18:13–24:43 - The connection between boundaries and self-worth 24:24–36:41 - How your attachment style might be showing up in your biz 36:42–51:59 - The differences we’ve seen between rawdogging the day and starting it off grounded using morning routines 52:00–57:53 - The importance of setting realistic expectations and how to handle it when things don’t go the way you want them to 57:54–end - It all starts within YOU and if you don’t believe it for yourself, no one will (get outta here, external validation) Mentioned resources: Calee’s 5-5-5 Method 101 Essays that Will Change the Way You Think Don't forget to connect with us on Instagram! Find Han @hannahreed.co, Fran @thepassionscollective, and Alethea @copywithspice. And if you have thoughts, feedback, questions, etc. that you want to share with us, pop over to the bottom of this page on Alethea’s website!

You’ve probably heard the phrase “cult brand,” h*ck, you might have even been taught by a business coach how to BUILD one… But what does building a cult brand even mean? And is it actually something we should be striving for as business owners? In today’s episode of Unfiltered, we’re diving into a ridiculously real convo about “cult”brands, aspects we’ve noticed that make our guts a little queasy, and whether or not building a cult-following is a dangerous power dynamic or a good goal to aim for. Highlights: 01:58—12:26 - What the h*ck are cult brands and the different types we’ve noticed popping up12:26—19:13 - How cult brands are dang good at disguising what they are 19:13—25:40 - The difference between building a cult following and a community 25:40—30:05 - The ways narcissism impacts entrepreneurship30:05—38:45 - The difference between branding and cult branding (and the core similarity they share)50:16—52:35 - The danger of buzzwords Special shout out to Megan Phillips who has a super cool tagline of “you can sit with us” Like this episode? Check out episode 02. where we talk about mean girl marketing or episode 10. where we chat about how talking sh*t might be affecting your biz. Don't forget to connect with us on Instagram! Find Han @hannahreed.co, Fran @thepassionscollective, and Alethea @copywithspice. And if you have thoughts, feedback, questions, etc. that you want to share with us, pop over to the bottom of this page on Alethea’s website!

Every entrepreneur knows it, fights it, and at times, gets their ass kicked by it. And the “it” we’re talking about… imposter syndrome. Which usually is insecurity getting the best of us, but what about when it’s not? What’s the line between imposter syndrome and actually NOT being “qualified” to teach about something? In today’s episode, we’re spilling all our thoughts on imposter syndrome and where not being “qualified” goes from an untrue thought you should tell off to an indication that you actually aren’t ready to charge for a certain subject. We’re having a ridiculously unfiltered convo about BS trends, admitting our own insecurities when we were just getting started, and calling out some things we’ve seen in the online space that we think are mega uncool. Highlights: 01:53—05:13 - Why imposter syndrome is so ridiculously common when you’re just starting out05:13—11:18 - The difference between free content and paid content and how expertise impacts pricing 11:18—19:50 - What “being qualified” even means to us19:50—27:50 - How the amount of time you’ve spent learning a subject plays a role in whether or not you’re an “expert”27:50—30:24 - Why it’s so damn important to rely on other experts for support and how marketing yourself as someone who knows it all might actually hurt your biz33:24—38:31 - What it means to be an “expert” and why it’s important to start before you’re ready39:49—50:48 - What you should consider BEFORE creating an offer (whether it’s paid or free50:48—01:02:53 - A few important conclusions about this whole complicated conversation on imposter syndrome Don't forget to connect with us on Instagram! Find Han @hannahreed.co, Fran @thepassionscollective, and Alethea @copywithspice. And if you have thoughts, feedback, questions, etc. that you want to share with us, pop over to the bottom of this page on Alethea’s website!

Should you work for free when you’re just getting started? What the hell can you do when your biz inspiration dries up? How the heck do you navigate a slow season that has you questioning if the money is gone for good? We got you. Because in today’s episode of Unfiltered, we’re answering questions about being a brand new Pinterest manager, whether or not you should work for free when you start your biz, and how the hell to handle slow seasons and seasons of being wildly uninspired. We’re getting personal, sharing some tough struggles we’ve had, and as always, are keeping the conversation totally unfiltered. Highlights: 01:26—07:24 - How to set your pricing when you’re just getting started (and how to avoid EVER working for free)07:29—14:21 - The #1 thing to prioritize when you get caught in a slow season16:31—27:48 - Tips for preventing future slow seasons (and what to do while you’re in one)27:48—36:56 - Why admitting “defeat” can be ridiculously helpful36:58—41:43 - What RAS is (reticular activating season) and how to use it to your advantage rather than letting it scare the hell out of you42:19—48:26 - The #1 things we do when we’re feeling uninspired in our businesses (cuz it happens to everyone!) 48:28—57:15 - Our favorite tricks for finding inspiration again  Resources and episodes mentioned: Q&A Part 1: How to Structure Your Schedule to Get Stuff DoneA post on why you don’t want to position yourself as someone who simply takes stuff off other people’s platesEpisode 110 of There She Rose: Go from anxiety to EASE with your moneyEpisode 159 of Manifestation Babe: Is the Law of Attraction Working AGAINST You in Your Business?Episode 164 of Manifestation Babe: The EXPERIMENT that BLEW UP my business, bank account & life in a single year Don't forget to connect with us on Instagram! Find Han @hannahreed.co, Fran @thepassionscollective, and Alethea @copywithspice. And if you have thoughts, feedback, questions, etc. that you want to share with us, pop over to the bottom of this page on Alethea’s website!

As a biz owner, it’s easy as heck to spend a bunch of time with your eyes glued to the screen without actually getting anything done. In today’s episode of Unfiltered, we’re answering a question about how we structure our days/weeks to avoid that problem exactly. From the tools we use to stay focused to the things we avoid that are serious time sucks, we’re getting into the nitty-gritty details of how we get sh*t done! Highlights: The one method we ALL use to stay on takeOur favorite focus tools and resourcesWhy “theming” your workdays is a gamechanger (and how we do it)Best practices for time-blocking A few resources mentioned: The To-Done List from Sarah KleistMusic that helps you focus (try it for free!)The Pomodoro Timer Don't forget to connect with us on Instagram! Find Han @hannahreed.co, Fran @thepassionscollective, and Alethea @copywithspice.

As 2023 comes to a close, we wanted to take some time to reflect on all this year has brought us: the good and the not-so-good. In this epsiode, we're sharing our wins, whoopsies and biggest lessons from 2023 to pull back the curtain and give you a truly Unfiltered recap of what this year has looked like!  Highlights: 01:29—44:40 - Our biggest whoopsies of 202344:40—01:06:39 - Our biggest wins of 202301:06:39—01:09:55 - Our (rapid fire) top 3-5 lessons of 2023 Special shoutout to Olivia (@darkskycopy), Alethea's first mentee who we are all obsessed with. Thank you for all of your support this year! We can't wait to continue bringing you episodes of Unfiltered in 2024.  Don't forget to connect with us on Instagram! Find Han @hannahreed.co, Fran @thepassionscollective, and Alethea @copywithspice.

From sliding into your DMs with ridiculous questions to not showing up on discovery calls, there are a lot of red flags to look for before sealing the deal with a potential client. In today’s episode, we’re dishing on ALLLLLL the red flags we pay attention to and the ones we’ve ignored that have come back to bite us in the butt. And hopefully, not only will you NOT make the same mistakes we have, but also—if you’ve already made these same mistakes—you’ll realize you’re definitely not the only one (because what business owner hasn’t said yes to a red flag client at some point?). Highlights: 0:43—3:34 - The two types of red flags and why you should never ignore them3:34—6:53 - Ways we check in with ourselves to see if anything is feeling icky before saying “yes” to a client6:53—58:41 - Red flags 1-23 If you have any thoughts, feedback, or agreements/disagreements pop on over to Alethea’s podcast page on her website (there’s a form at the very bottom!) Don't forget to connect with us on Instagram! Find Han @hannahreed.co, Fran @thepassionscollective, and Alethea @copywithspice.

The biggest difference between being an entrepreneur and being an employee? All the freaking mindset and personal development work you HAVE to do on yourself. Because to run a biz, you need to know how to battle your insecurities, anxieties, and limiting beliefs. In today’s episode of Unfiltered, we’re diving into a juicy conversation about the mindset issues we’ve had to overcome (and are still working through), how personal issues show up in business, the science that explains why pushing past our comfort zone goes against our survival instincts, and the tools and resources we rely on to help us stay on top of all the mindset stuff. Highlights: 6:07—11:44 - What “personal development” actually means to each of us11:45—16:39 - How learning to FEEL our feelings (and not just notice them) and dive into our fears has changed everything20:34—31:41 - A few of the ways that what you’re struggling with personally will show up in your biz (and may even be part of why you started your business in the first place)31:41—35:32 - How building a business actually goes against our survival instincts39:34—47:31 - Intuition vs. anxiety and how to tell the difference 47:30—52:38 - What the heck limiting beliefs are and how they can even impact the work you do for clients57:38—01:05:02 - The top things that have had the biggest impact on each of our mindset and personal development journeys  Paid and Free Resources: You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero (an awesome book on money mindset!)Manifestation Babe PodcastManifestation Babe AcademyHypnotherapy with Addison Bowen (she has free and paid resources!)Alma - Therapist Directory (US) Find a Therapist Directory (US)Han’s favorite mediation app: Headspace (get a free 30 day guest pass) If you have any thoughts, feedback, or agreements/disagreements pop on over to Alethea’s podcast page on her website (there’s a form at the very bottom!) Don't forget to connect with us on Instagram! Find Han @hannahreed.co, Fran @thepassionscollective, and Alethea @copywithspice.

When it comes to publicly talking about mistakes in your industry or mistakes other people have made, where is the line between helping your people and giving the ick? In this week’s episode of Unfiltered, we’re discussing this fine line, sharing our own perspectives and mistakes, and taking a closer look about the intentions behind talking shit. Is it always bad? Can it be helpful? Should people be burned to the ground for one mistake? Let’s chat about it! Highlights:  02:13—06:05 - Our different definitions of talking shit07:19—22:00 - Talking shit vs educating your audience & the impact of your intention22:13—27:17 - Responding to copycats and leaving room to make mistakes45:00—54:16 - Is there a right and a wrong? Should we still share "hot takes"?   Like this episode? Check out episode 02. where we talk even more about mean girl marketing! Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts , and Amazon Music.  If you have any thoughts, feedback, or agreements/disagreements pop on over to Alethea’s podcast page on her website (there’s a feedback form at the very bottom!). Don't forget to connect with us on Instagram! Find Han (@hannahreed.co), Fran (@thepassionscollective), and Alethea (@copywithspice).

As a biz owner, you’re gonna have to learn how to set clear AF boundaries with clients and enforce consequences when clients don’t do what they’re supposed to do. But… those things take practice and can feel intimidating to do, especially if you’re someone who worries about coming across as “mean.” In today’s episode of Unfiltered, we’re spilling all of our thoughts on boundaries. What they are, how they’re different than contractual agreements, how to communicate clear expectations to clients, the types of boundaries we’ve set in our businesses (like not tagging clients we’re in the process of working with), and more. As always, it’s one spicy conversation that’s completely unfiltered. Enjoy! Episode highlights: 06:51 - What boundaries even are and how they’re totally different from contractual agreements13:17—16:47 - Why it’s best to avoid working with anyone who asks for you to make an exception to your process/contract18:25—23:18 - The importance of communication with clients—from communicating potential consequences to communicating personal boundaries24:23—34:54 - The #1 thing to remember when clients violate a contract35:12—42:25 - Why we don’t post about the clients we work with (until a project is finished42:33—54:31 - Boundaries we have and communicate to our clients about tagging them in stories and sending them gifts55:14—01:06:07 - Boundaries we have around work/life balance01:06:10—01:08:34 - A reminder that boundaries and self-care are never an excuse for providing a bad client experience or dropping the ball on client work   If you have any thoughts, feedback, or agreements/disagreements pop on over to Alethea’s podcast page on her website (there’s a feedback form at the very bottom!). Don't forget to connect with us on Instagram! Find Han (@hannahreed.co), Fran (@thepassionscollective), and Alethea (@copywithspice).

There’s something we’ve been noticing in the online space a whole lot lately… And that thing? Copycats. In today’s episode of Unfiltered, we’re diving into a hella nuanced conversation about copycats and digging into the line between inspiration and imitation, how copying someone else’s successful strategy is doing you a ginormous disservice, AND the different ways to confront a copycat. 02:19 - 11:28: The different experiences each of us have had with copycats and why copycats happen when you’re an industry leader11:28 - 15:51: Where we draw the line between inspiration and imitation (and why it’s damn important that you’re actually educated on the ideas you’re sharing) 26:00 - 36:18: Why copying someone else is an amateur move and keeps you from building the business you want36:18 - 38:21: How brand strategy can help you avoid becoming a copycat38:21 - 45:06: How copying other people leads to distrust from your audience and burnout for you 45:06 - 51:37: The rules we have to avoid copying anyone else51:37 - 01:00:33: When (and how) to confront a copycat and when it’s better to just let it go   Don't forget to connect with us on Instagram! Find Han (@hannahreed.co), Fran (@thepassionscollective), and Alethea (@copywithspice).

“Delegate what doesn’t light you up.” Great advice or total BS? In today’s episode of Unfiltered, we’re diving into a spicy topic that’s all about whether or not you should outsource the things that don’t light you up, when outsourcing actually causes more harm than good, and why it’s important to sometimes grit your teeth and learn to do something yourself. Buckle up buttercup, because today’s convo is a doozy. Highlights: 01:32 - 17:38: What to consider before hiring someone to help with copywriting, Pinterest marketing, or client experience and systems support21:00 - 31:53: Why “delegate what doesn’t light you up” is a little too simplistic and the other factors you should consider before outsourcing a task you don’t love 31:54: An important reminder that just because you CAN do something yourself, doesn’t mean you should 41:13: The difference between proactive investing and reactive investing/outsourcing46:22: Why it’s totally okay to make the wrong investments and the importance of taking messy-ass action   Don't forget to connect with us on Instagram! Find Han (@hannahreed.co), Fran (@thepassionscollective), and Alethea (@copywithspice).

We all know that entrepreneurship can be a lonely road sometimes, but it doesn’t have to be like that forever! In this episode of Unfiltered, we’re chatting about how our friendship was formed and the impact that it’s had on ourselves and our businesses. If you haven’t found your “people” in the online space yet, don’t worry — we talk about that too and how long it took us to find friends we truly connected with. Highlights/Timestamps: 01:24 - How we met and became friends05:36 - Showing up as your true self and embracing the discomfort10:30 - It’s okay if you haven’t found your people yet!13:00 - Cultivating authentic relationships15:45 - The importance of having business friendships21:00 - Boundaries & mutual respect31:12 - How we support each other’s ideas36:10 - The beauty of not doing it all by yourself44:50 - Collaborations / affiliations rooted in integrity Don't forget to connect with us on Instagram! Find Han (@hannahreed.co), Fran (@thepassionscollective), and Alethea (@copywithspice).

You know that saying… hindsight’s 20/20? Well, we couldn’t agree more. In this episode of Unfiltered, we’re spilling about the BS we’ve bought into, the lessons we’ve learned, and the biggest revelations we’ve had since starting our own businesses. From the surprising truths about mindset vs. strategy to learning the importance of separating our identities from the successes and failures in our business, we’re dishing on (almost) all the advice we would go back and give our pre-business selves. Buckle up for a conversation so juicy that we had to split it into two episodes. Highlights/Timestamps: 00:53 Business boundaries and advice for making sure you’re building a business for YOU and making CEO decisions from a place of alignment10:48 - A common myth about entrepreneurship22:24 - Educational content that cheapens you vs. establishes you as an expert34:11 - The truth about self-promotion Don't forget to connect with us on Instagram! Find Han (@hannahreed.co), Fran (@thepassionscollective), and Alethea (@copywithspice).

You know that saying… hindsight’s 20/20? Well, we couldn’t agree more. In this episode of Unfiltered, we’re spilling about the BS we’ve bought into, the lessons we’ve learned, and the biggest revelations we’ve had since starting our own businesses. From the surprising truths about mindset vs. strategy to learning the importance of separating our identities from the successes and failures in our business, we’re dishing on (almost) all the advice we would go back and give our pre-business selves. Buckle up for a conversation so juicy that we had to split it into two episodes. Highlights/Timestamps: 01:38 - The powerful impact of mindset17:19 - A type of relationship you want to avoid developing with your biz (and why it’s important to separate your identity from your biz)27:21 - The importance of blocking out the noise and following your own path Don't forget to connect with us on Instagram! Find Han (@hannahreed.co), Fran (@thepassionscollective), and Alethea (@copywithspice).

As a business owner, you’re going to encounter a million and one opportunities to invest in your biz. Sometimes those investments are the best h*cking decision you’ve ever made and sometimes… they’re the worst. In this episode, we’re spilling on everything we’ve learned about biz investments over the past few years having each poured thousands of dollars into everything from coaching to brand design. From the questions we ask ourselves BEFORE investing (so we don’t end up regretting them) to the investments we’re so glad we spent the money on, we’re having a real as hell conversation about spending money on yourself and your biz. Highlights 01:35 - A mindset that can screw you over when making a biz investment07:00 - Things to consider before you hit the buy now (or enroll now) button10:35 - When feeling scared is good vs. a sign you shouldn’t invest12:50 - The 12 investments we’re so freaking glad we made Investments Mentioned *contains affiliate links* Han’s: Brand Strategy w/ Juno Creative Studio (1:1 Brand Strategy)Brand Design w/ Juno Creative StudioCopywriting w/ Copy with SpiceSystems & Client Experience w/ The Passions CollectiveDubsado Form Templates from The Passions Collective (use “HANNAHREED” to save $50!) Alethea’s Brand & Web Design w/ Sarah KleistBrand Strategy w/ Juno Creative Studio (BYBI)Systems & Client Experience w/ The Passions CollectiveDubsado Form Templates from The Passions Collective (use “SPICY” to save $50!)Copywriting Mentorship with Sara from BTL CopyManifestation Babe Academy w/ Kathrin Zenkina Fran’s Brand Strategy w/ Juno Creative Studio (BYBI)Brand Design w/ Juno Creative StudioSite Series Website Copy Course from BTL CopyCopywriting w/ Morph Copy HouseEmbodying the Leader Within w/ Addison BowenBusiness Finance Strategy Session w/ Kirsti from Dory Dimes Don't forget to connect with us on Instagram! Find Han (@hannahreed.co), Fran (@thepassionscollective), and Alethea (@copywithspice).