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Katie: Welcome back to the BusinessMakers Overtime Show, heard here online at theBusinessmakers.com. Esther and I are recording a very exciting live show at the Block 7 Wine Company here in Houston, Texas, and with us we have a most distinguished of guests. (Laughter)
Sarah: Oh yeah. (Laughter)
Katie: Oh yes, yes, yes. We have Sarah Gish, the owner of Gish Creative.
Sarah: Yes.
Katie: Welcome.
Sarah: Yes, well it's exciting to be here. I love it.
Esther: Great to have you.
Katie: Yes, yes.
Esther: The drinks are great, the crowd is awesome, and it's fun.
Katie: I completely agree on all those points. (Laughter) So Sarah, we are so excited to have you here because I feel like you are one of the most multitalented, multidiscipline guests that we've ever had on the show, and I'm totally not exaggerating. (Laughter)
Sarah: You're so sweet. Thank you. (Laughter) It's all a sham. I'm in PR, don't you get it?
Katie: Nice.
Esther: She's a spin-master.
Katie: You spin very well. So tell us about you and tell us about Gish Creative.
Sarah: Oh gosh, where do you begin? Well, Gish Creative is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, so I'm very proud of that.
Katie: Wow!
Esther: Congratulations!
Sarah: I started the business, it's a PR marketing company which is evolving and morphing on a daily basis because of my own kind of ADD-ness and really just passion about life and different things. But I worked at Landmark Theatres which is the River Oaks and Greenway Movie Theatres, projecting film, selling popcorn, counting bags, and doing the PR for them which is my favorite part of the job. And I actually brought my older son to work with me for a year and had a great time doing that, but could not bring my second son to work. It just wouldn't work out and it was too complicated, so I decided, "Well, I'm gonna start my own PR firm," and gave myself a little goodbye-hello party, courtesy of Landmark Theatre. (Laughter) Passed out business cards and started my business. And you know, what was really exciting about that is I did do some research. I mean I met with PR people before I started my business. I found a mentor which I thought was really important. I have one person who's still my mentor, who was kind of where I wanted to be and behaved the way I would wanna behave. You know, she did things like call press people and thank them, which nobody ever does.
Katie: Wow!
Sarah: Which she'll be getting a call from me tomorrow. (Laughter) But I went out and just did it. You know, that was the big thing for me was just to do it, not really knowing what I getting into, not having a dime in my pocket to fund the business, and just you know, starting it. So I started 10 years ago. My first client was a small non-profit arts organization. My current clients are small non-profit arts organizations, so nothing's changed. No, but it's been great fun for 10 years. I mean I really can't believe it's been 10 years, it's incredible. My love is non-profits, so that's the background that I came from before working at Landmark Theatres. So sort of stuck with that, that's my expertise. And then gosh, started doing family cultural activities and family things. When I had this aforementioned son who's now 14 -
Esther: Mmm.
Katie: Oh my goodness. (Laughter)
Sarah: Started looking for summer camps for him. So that morphed from - my business became also creating a summer book, which is a guide to summer day camps.
Katie: Awesome.
Sarah: And again, it was one of those things that just you know, was born out of a need, a necessity. People were interested in it. I always come up with these ideas that I think sound great in my home office, but who knows what they're gonna do out there in the world.
Katie: But the thing is, like you come up with the ideas just like everyone else does, but you do them. Like that's amazing. (Laughter)
Sarah: I do them, I do do them, and that's the crazy part. You know, and I feel like half the time I'm holding my nose and jumping into deep water you know, with maybe sharks at the bottom, I don't know.
Esther: Let me ask you a question. Given that you do do so many things, what does it really take to follow through? What advise can you give to somebody who has some great ideas and isn't necessarily sure how to see them through from start to finish?
Sarah: Well I think - that's a great question. Determination for one thing. Just being determined that you're gonna get this project done. Getting people on board to help you, I mean that's huge. And just being very focused. I mean you just have to take action, that's all I can say. Action, action, and more action. And having a plan, doing the research, that really helps. And you know, not to sound super-new-agey, but visualizing. You know, what outcome do you want? I mean do you want a Theatre standing, then what's it gonna take to get it there? And just to keep moving forward and not losing hope. It's -
Esther: What about the fear, the fear of failure? How do you feel about that? (Laughter)
Sarah: You know, I've never had fear, are you kidding me? (Laughter)
Esther: How do you avoid the fear of failure in business?
Sarah: I'm really nervous right now. (Laughter) Fear you know - that's another great question. I mean fear is a huge thing that stops people in their tracks and you know, I'm afraid of most things, really. I mean you know, you wake up and you're like, "Oh my God, I have this business. What am I doing, what am I thinking, why am I doing this? If I create this project am I gonna spend all this money?" Action, the same thing. I would say the same thing to fear, just action.
Esther: Just do it.
Katie: Just do it.
Sarah: Just do it and talk your fears out. I mean the thing that I found for me is that when I get afraid, I have an idea, and then I'm afraid about carrying out. I talk to people and people say, "That's a great idea." Most recently I have morphed my business - you know I morphed it into this children activity summer camp researcher. I call myself an infopreneur, which is a hard word to say quickly.
Katie: Infopreneur nice. (Laughter)
Sarah: Infoprenuer, yes. And I'm also a culturista. Actually that's another new word.
Katie: Whoa, whoa!
Sarah: See I'm in marketing so have to have these little labels.
Katie: The serbish dictionary, that's awesome.
Sarah: That serbish - but if you Google culturista it actually means body builder in Spanish, so soni culturista. (Laughter) Which is just weird to me. Why does it mean that?
Esther: That's great.
Sarah: Yeah, so anyway, but the infopreneur part is really you know, just following my passion, and that's another thing. If you are passionate about what you're doing, you're not going to be afraid because you're so passionate, and then you tend to attract people that are passionate after you. And the art is a new thing. I've also decided now I'm an artist and that's another thing. When you're creating yourself, you're creating your business, you just say, "I am XYZ. I am you know, a PR person. I am" - and I find, nothing against the men around here, but women have a harder time saying, "I am the mogul. I am president," or whatever. You know, "I am on top of the world." We have a harder time because we feel like that we need to know everything about that business before we can say that we are everything about that career.
Esther: Ah, that's a good point.
Katie: So you need to have achieved certain levels and then, "Oh yes, you are a marketer."
Sarah: Yeah, 'cause we do all the work. Men don't do any work, we all know that. (Laughter)
Esther: (Laughter) Ho, oh, oh.
Sarah: Just kidding! (Laughter) Just kidding, just kidding, I take that back.
Katie: Thus Russ almost falls under the table. (Laughter)
Sarah: Yeah, really, whoops!
John: Boo!
Sarah: Ah, sorry, boo, boo, boo. And our producer is sitting over there doing all the work.
Esther: Awe.
Katie: (Laughter)
Esther: Doing all the work, I'm so sorry John. But no, seriously, I think that women, it's a self esteem thing you know, and you just have to say, "I am an artist," and that's what I did. I just woke up one day and said, "I am an artist," and boom, I'm an artist you know, just like that. But you gotta take one step at a time. You've gotta move forward slowly.
Esther: I think one of the things that people on this show have said over and over again, one of the kind of resounding themes is that when they started their business, what they thought they knew, they really didn't know. They really didn't know everything, they had no clue. They realized they were gonna eat, sleep, drink, breath this business, yet they were gonna need a lot of help. So I think your message is very similar to the message that we've gotten from other guests on the show, so it's interesting to hear.
Katie: So I mean, how do you find the balance given all of these different disciplines that you have thrown yourself into. How do you do it? How do you switch on and off?
Sarah: I have tried to make a rule of taking one hour a day for myself and the business has to shut off at night. I'm constantly thinking about ideas, I'm constantly thinking about my work. Marketing, I love Marketing. I live, eat, and breath marketing and you have to turn it off. You have to turn it off, find an hour a day to do something for yourself. And I do find that the more you're a happy person, the more you treat your clients as friends. The more you are kind to your employees. The more your business grows, I mean financially.
Katie: Do you have any advice for being a one-woman powerhouse with your business where you do legitimately care and love and take care of your clients. How do you handle negativity, the miscommunication?
Sarah: Gosh, you know, I really can't think of an experience in the last 10 years. I know that seems strange and I'm sure I'll think of something on the way home.
Katie: No, that's excellent.
Sarah: Dealing with negativity -
Esther: Lucky you.
Sarah: I know.
Katie: Seriously?
Sarah: Well, seriously I really - I mean and seriously I'm probably blanking. I have dealt with it when I worked at other jobs and dealing with negativity you know, honestly in my opinion, the customer's not always right. You know, and don't tell anybody that.
Katie: Nobody -
Esther: Oh I completely agree. But the problem is it doesn't matter.
Sarah: Right, it's doesn't matter.
Esther: It doesn't matter. You should never tell a customer - I mean, you telling a customer that they're not right will get you absolutely no where. So really, it's okay to know that in your heart.
Sarah: Right, you know that, that's the key.
Esther: But the customer's not right. But never say it out loud to the customer.
Sarah: Right, exactly. But I have had to be very honest or I guess educating my clients about what it takes you know. An hour of my time sometimes means that I have 20 years in the business you know. So I've got this amazing database, that's worth you know, 10 hours -
Katie: Those relationships, absolutely.
Sarah: - or you know, whatever, it has a value to it. It's not just me, sitting down and working for an hour if that's what an hour is, if that makes sense.
Katie: Okay, okay.
Esther: Yes, that's where we gets paid big bucks - etlemen.
Sarah: Right, exactly.
Esther: They get big bucks for their contacts, believe me.
Katie: Yeah, absolutely.
Sarah: Right, right. Oh yes I know, I know.
Esther: Yep, it's true.
Sarah: So that's what it is. That's what - the PR business is all about your contacts and doing those lunches and doing the you know - sending the Christmas cards, bringing the fudge by, like I did this Christmas -
Katie: Nice. (Laughter)
Sarah: - which is great so it was fun. If I'd known that I should bring some fudge over here, I would have. But I will next time.
Esther: Hey, we like fudge.
Katie: (Laughter)
Sarah: Next Christmas.
Katie: There's next time, that's okay. (Laughter) So Sarah, you've given us so many amazing anecdotes and definitely pearls of wisdom as well. Is there anything you'd like to leave our listeners and entrepreneurs with from your 10 years in amazing business?
Sarah: Well, just do it you know. Life is short. You don't know if you're gonna get hit by a mack truck tomorrow -
Katie: Oh goodness.
Sarah: - so start your business today. And the other thing is, if you don't start your business, if you have an idea, somebody else - there's this collective unconscious. Somebody else may have that idea out there so get on it girl and boy. Get on it! Do your business, your idea.
Esther: Great advice.
Katie: (Laughter) That is wonderful advice. Well thank you so much for being here.
Sarah: Thank you. It was fun. Thanks.
Esther: It was a lot of fun having you on the show.
Katie: It is. So if you would like to learn even more about Sarah, check out www.GishCreative.com, and you can also see what she's up to on a moment-to-moment basis on Twitter.com/SarahGish.
Esther: That's right, that's right.
Sarah: Updates all the time. (Laughter)
Katie: Thank you.
Sarah: Thanks.
Katie: And now it's time for another business survival tip with Carl Kleimann of Odyssey One Source, and ironically enough, Carl is actually here with us, whooo! (Laughter)
Esther: Dah-da- da- dah- da- dah!
Carl: (Laughter) What a coincidence.
Katie: I know it.
Esther: We're so happy to have you here.
Katie: Yes.
Carl: Well it's good to be here.
Katie: Yes, thank you!
Esther: Just unbelievable!
Katie: Thank you so much. So, Esther and I really enjoy hearing the survival tips every week on the show. But why don't you tell us a little bit about what is a business survival tip for our listeners?
Carl: Well the intent of the business survival tip is to give useful information that's relevant, timely, and given out in small doses. Let's face it, nobody started a business to deal with employees or compliance issues. That's a byproduct of owning and running a business and so I recognize that business owners, entrepreneurial types, don't wanna textbook. They need information in very small and in concise components because we all have a business to run, so that's what they're really intended to do. Something that's actionable and usable today. We'll cover another topic tomorrow or next week. But there intended to be relevant.
Katie: So it's like a small business HR study guide. So instead of reading the whole textbook, we get to listen to you. (Laughter)
Carl: CliffsNotes actually.
Katie: CliffsNotes, that's perfect. (Laughter)
Esther: So let's check out the business survival tip for this week.
The posting requirements are in two categories; federal and state. Among the required federal postings, employees are to be informed of their rights under the Fair Labor Standards Act, OSHA, Equal Employment Opportunity Act, Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, Employee Polygraph Protection Act, and Family & Medical Leave Act. At the state level, postings typically address payday law, unemployment compensation, workers' compensation, and child labor law. This varies by state.
So you ask, what am I required to post? The easiest answer that I can give you is to visit www.laborlawposter.com. There, you can determine which posters that you need and order them on-line. For less than $40, you can put this concern behind you. The federal poster is even available in electronic format for free.
As employment regulations go, these are simple and very inexpensive to comply with. Don't let $40 and 10 minutes of your time jeopardize your defense against future employment claims.
I am Carl Kleimann and this has been another Business Survival Tip by Odyssey One Source, ranked as the number one Professional Employer Organization three years running by the Black Book of Outsourcing. For more information on this and other issues affecting employers, please visit www.odysseyonesource.com.
Katie: You're listening to the BusinessMakers Overtime Show, heard here and online at the BusinessMakers.com. I'm Katie Laird -
Esther: And I'm Esther Steinfeld.
Katie: And we'll see you in Segment 3.