019. It's Time To Tell Your Story with Amber Zaricor
It’s the final episode of the first season of Small Business Big Heart, and I’m so excited we made it here! Thank you so much for listening and helping me honor these incredible stories.
Today’s episode was so much fun to record, and I’m excited for you to meet the woman that really made this entire podcast possible. Elizabeth Evans is a renowned producer here in Nashville, and she’s helped podcasters like Jordan Lee Dooley, Living with Landyn (and yours truly!) get their shows off the ground. When I say I couldn’t have started Small Business Big Heart without her, that is the understatement of the year! We connected on a heart level right away, and her encouragement (and skills) got me to take the leap toward this big scary dream.
Throughout this season, I’ve been asked more and more about my personal journey to entrepreneurship and I knew Elizabeth was the perfect person to interview me as I share my story. On today’s episode, I step into the hot seat and talk about how I went from full-time employee to full-time CEO in a (crazy!) year. I share how accidentally quitting my 9 to 5 during a staff meeting revealed my WHY and led me into a business I had in my heart all along. We talk about boundaries and why filling your cup is the antidote to burn out. I also walk you through three big secrets I learned about starting a new business successfully. I mean, we really covered it all in this episode!
Again, I just want to thank you for listening and being a part of this dream of mine. I couldn’t have done this without your support, and reading through your reviews and hearing feedback on our socials has meant so much along the way. This podcast was created for you, with your story in mind, with your heart as the focus. And I can’t wait to bring you Season Two!
To stay connected and be the first to know about that release, follow Small Business Big Heart on Instagram and sign up for our newsletter on CopperheartCreative.com! Thank you guys so much for joining me and thank you to all my guests for being so open with your stories. I’ll see you next season!
Meet Amber.
As an Enneagram 2w3, Amber believes in building deep relationships, living intentionally, and doing everything with her whole heart. “Heart” is an ongoing theme for Amber, and something she weaves into every interaction and life decision.
Listed amongst The Top 10 Designers in Tennessee, Amber’s heart comes through in the naming of her Nashville-based branding agency Copperheart Creative, where she leads a team of creative-preneurs in building brands through powerful storytelling. After years of agency experience, Amber discovered that her passion for serving clients and connecting people through design was expanding her purpose and inviting her towards something deeper.
She fully embraced this theme of connection by serving women through a weekly Wine Night she hosts in her home. That little step led to bigger leaps, as she experienced the impact of women supporting other women.
Noticing how the Wine Nights were transforming the hearts of women in her circle, Amber continued to pursue a life of encouragement, joy, and support by co-founding the Fill Your Cup Conference -- a one-day event for career-women to rest, connect, and rediscover their passion.
In her free time, you can find Amber journaling at local coffee shops or spreading hope through sidewalk chalk around her community, She also loves a good queso and margarita date with her husband, and strolling the aisles of Target!
“Designing with heart means way more than having a client as a transaction, and that’s where my whole why came from.”
The heart behind her business.
Amber’s goal with anything she touches is to reveal and showcase the heart of her client. Whether it’s helping small business owners find their brand voice, sharing client stories through this podcast, or helping entrepreneurs fill their cup and find community through conferences and wine nights — everything is rooted in HEART.
When Amber decided to step away from her full-time job and become her own branding agency, she launched Copperheart Creative with the intent of giving each client an intentional and heartfelt experience. She wanted them not only to have a voice, but a clear “why” that was clearly communicated.
Small Business Big Heart was birthed out of that same mindset. She knew she had so many clients with incredible stories and unique business journeys. There was so much wisdom to share, and Amber wanted the hearts that impacted her deeply to be shared with the world.
Each and every venture centers around the heart behind the brand or business owner, and that has been the driving force behind Amber’s life and special connections along the way!
Starting strong.
When asked about her personal keys to business success, Amber offers up a three-step approach. She admits that starting is the hardest part of any business venture or big idea. Having the courage to take the first step is what holds many of us back, but there are a few ways to make that jump a bit easier.
Firstly, know your WHY. Your why is your reason for starting this business in the first place. It’s the heart behind the brand and it will keep you strongest on the hard days. Next, know who you are. This is so key! Once you know your why, understanding who you are and what makes you unique will give you confidence and help you stand out amongst your competitors. Finally, know who you’re serving. Do your best to understand who you’re talking to and the specific problem you’re solving with your business.
Taking time to consider and cover these three things will help with taming that fear of starting. Be confident knowing what you do, why you do it, and who you serve!
You attract what you are.
When asked about the obstacles while building Copperheart Creative, Amber admits she’s not a numbers person and struggled upfront with the business savvy side of entrepreneurship. “I knew there was a big gap between being a freelancer vs. agency, but I wasn’t sure how to do that,” says Amber.
“I had limiting beliefs. But I got through it by asking for a lot of help. I reached out to professionals and paid them for their time. I realized that everything is figureoutable and you can Google anything! And that shift in asking for help, doing the work, and believing I could do it led me here!”
Best Advice to your younger self.
Amber’s advice for business owners: Boundary up! Amber has learned through much trial and error that her time is precious and her work hours need to be maximized. “My biggest thing is my working hours,” says Amber. “I don’t take any calls or meetings before 11am. I know my prime time and I use it to my advantage.”
She asks clients to communicate through email and saves texting or calls for personal relationships. She also schedules out her emails early so she’s not sending any late in the evening, ensuring clients don’t assume they can contact past business hours. Putting up boundaries early in the process will save you big headaches, miscommunications, and resentment in the future!
“I know my limits. If I don’t fill my cup and take care of my own boundaries, I can’t pour into others. It’s all in how you show up for yourself and protect yourself.”
Connect with Amber.
So how did I find the courage to start my business and this podcast? How did I learn to create boundaries and build a community that is so supportive? I am so grateful to have this platform to tell my story, and I hope it encourages you this week! Special shout-out and thank you to Elizabeth for being such a fantastic interviewer and capturing my heart! Press play to listen to the full interview and hear more about my personal journey to entrepreneurship and what’s coming for Small Business Big Heart!
Connect and check out the links mentioned in the episode below!
Meet Elizabeth.
Your story is meaningful. Elizabeth helps make it impactful. Podcast producer, economics fanatic, and founder of Elizabeth Evans Co — Elizabeth is on a mission to create a fleet of compelling storytellers. Her 360 boutique podcast studio helps creatives strategically build their show from conception to launch. Her uniquely created podcast methodology has helped world-renowned artists, best-selling authors, award-winning musicians, and impactful influencers to create transformative podcasts full of timeless, quality conversations that empower listeners into extraordinary action.
Connect with Elizabeth.
Connect with Elizabeth and check out more of her incredible work!
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