MASTERING MONEY WITH HEART: A CONVERSATION WITH KALA MCBRIDE
PROSPHER BUSINESS COACHING HELLO, ME! EMBRACING SELF-EMPOWERMENT WITH JIHADA GARRETT
03 05 10 11 15
WHY GOAL SETTING IS YOUR SHORTCUT TO SUCCESS
Dear Friends,
From the Editor
This month’s theme, Winning at a Higher Level, is all about stepping into your power with purpose, authenticity, and unwavering confidence. As influential, high-achieving women, you deserve strategies and inspiration to thrive in every area of life. Inside, you’ll find an interview with a life coach offering transformative insights, heartfelt advice from a CPA who leads with integrity, and a feature on setting goals that align with your values and desires. It’s time to elevate your approach, embrace your unique path, and create meaningful success. Together, let’s make this season one of unstoppable growth and achievement.
Darice Rene
Editor-in-Chief
DARICE RENE
3
hello@daricerene com
www powercollectiverealty com
www.daricerene.com
9800 Crosspoint Blvd. Indianapolis, IN 46256
Living at the intersection of women and wealth, Darice Rene is the Principal Broker at POWER Collective Commercial Realty Group and Power Collective Consulting
Her passion lies in guiding ambitious female investors in launching or expanding their portfolios, acquiring commercial properties, or scaling their companies
Mastering Money with Heart: A Conversation with Kala McBride
BY DARICE RENE
Kala McBride, owner of McBride CPAs LLC, is a licensed CPA, entrepreneur, and secondgeneration business owner passionate about empowering women to build wealth and freedom As a mom of two little girls, Kala understands the balancing act of life and business In this insightful interview, she dives into how women business owners often cheat themselves financially, strategies to tackle cash flow challenges, and practical tips for managing money with confidence Kala’s mission is clear: to help women unlock their financial potential because, as she says, the world is a better place when women have more money
ys. What’s your top advice for women leaders when it comes to managing finances during rapid growth?
I think simplicity is key here. Businesses that scale quickly have a profitable and simple offer, and they don’t deviate to accommodate requests outside of that. A simple scalable offer has simple pricing that is easier to manage and forecast. And it’s so much less complicated to sell one coaching package or a handful of products than to offer everything and the kitchen sink. Additional products require additional costs, take more time to manage and delegate and inevitably leave the business owner as the bottleneck. Also, when we have limited product offerings, finances are simpler and it’s so much easier to cut through the noise and see what is selling and what isn’t and adjust accordingly. Less is more when it comes to scaling.
2. As a CPA, you see a lot of financial pitfalls companies can fall into. What’s one common mistake you see among women business owners and executives, and how can they avoid it?
Pricing and profitability are the biggest hurdles for businesses of any size You have to start with a profitable offer whether that’s a service, consulting or a physical product We, as entrepreneurs, make pricing so overcomplicated and let it say so much about our self worth Pricing is just math You need to know what it costs to deliver your product For physical products that is every material plus time (yes, even yours) to create the product For services, it’s the cost of labor to fulfill the service (yours or a staff member's) Once we know those numbers, I would aim to mark the product up by AT LEAST 50% to ensure you have a healthy profit margin to then pay your additional expenses like rent, software, etc Most businesses that we work with can’t answer “what is your cost” for their offer and it’s the most important part of scaling You cannot scale an unprofitable offer
3. Let’s talk about tax planning. For women balancing business growth and personal finances, what should be their priority as they approach tax season?
This is going to be a boring answer that everyone hates but having up to date and accurate financial statements is the key to a smooth tax season. No matter the size of your business, you shouldn’t be waiting until tax time to do your bookkeeping. If you aren’t able to estimate your income, you cannot make reasonable estimated tax payments and tax planning will be entirely unhelpful. We need accurate data on our business’s health for a whole host of reasons and taxes are one of them. Basic bookkeeping is the number one piece of advice I can give any entrepreneur when it comes to lowering their tax bill. If you are regularly recording all your expenses, you are ensuring you will get an accurate return. Your business should fund your life and your goals and having a pulse on what you are actually making will allow you to make those distributions from the business to your wallet so much easier.
4. Cash flow can be a big challenge, especially in early stages. What tips would you give for managing cash flow effectively, even in unpredictable times?
Cash flow is the most misunderstood part of entrepreneurship but arguably the most important. In the beginning, it’s absolutely normal to either receive funding from a lender or to invest in the company yourself. But once the business is established you shouldn’t need additional funding unless you are expanding operations, purchasing equipment to streamline operations, etc. If the business requires an injection of cash or for you to cover expenses personally, it’s a sign that expenses are too high, profit is too low, owner’s distributions are too large or clients are taking too long to pay. I encourage my clients to regularly pay themselves from their businesses but there should be a surplus of cash in the business to cover unexpected expenses, dips in revenue,
etc. If your business is always strapped for cash, there’s a reason, and it’s not that you shouldn’t be a business owner or aren’t cut out for entrepreneurship. Cash flow is a math problem and it’s a solvable one. We just have to figure out what’s causing the issue and take action
5. Many women entrepreneurs want to ensure their businesses are prepared for the future. What financial moves or strategies should they be thinking about today to secure their long-term success?
Just like we do personally, your business needs an emergency fund, especially if you have employees I recommend setting aside 3 months of payroll costs, rent and other essential services as an emergency fund for your business Life happens and we need to be prepared for the unexpected A healthy business should be prepared and that requires a cash reserve Aside from that, I also encourage clients to look at insurance products to ensure they are protected that’s liability insurance, errors & omissions (E&0) and disability insurance for the owner
6. What are some red flags in financial statements or records that women executives should be looking out for to keep their businesses in good health?
I would be on the lookout for two things- is the core product or service profitable and is money flowing into the business aside from customer payments I see a lot of businesses that don’t have profitable offers and they take on debt to cover the difference The debt can be traditional financing like bank loans but more often I see credit lines, credit cards and owners injecting their own funds to keep the business afloat Any of those are red flags that the business is either not selling a profitable offer or has too many unnecessary expenses
7. What’s one piece of financial advice you wish more women business owners knew, and how has this impacted the way you run your own business, McBride CPAs?
You aren’t charging enough. I think there are so many systemic reasons why this is true, but we, as women, do not charge enough for our time and products. I hear a lot of “if I charge that, no one will buy” or “I can’t justify the price”. I think it mostly comes down to women being taught from a young age to “be nice” and accommodate others, and in business, it shows up the most in our pricing choices. This has been the biggest obstacle in my own business, and it’s created a lot of stress as I’ve scaled my firm. You cannot grow and scale a business that is unprofitable, and the only way to fix it is to increase your prices to reflect the profit you want to see. We leave so much money on the table trying to be liked or not appear greedy. My male clients generally don’t have this problem but nearly every single woman I have worked with has some version of this.
You can’t charge your worth. You are priceless BUT you can absolutely charge enough to make a profit and that starts with understanding what your costs in business are and how much you want to make on top of it. And then confidently stating the price and shutting up. Let your client or potential lead react to the price without your input. I guarantee most of the time, they happily agree.
Connect with Kala online at https://mcbridecpas.com/
“We leave so much money on the table trying to be liked or not appear greedy. My male clients generally don’t have this problem but nearly every single woman I have worked with has some version of this.”
MONEY LOVES SPEED AND CLARITY
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Hello, Me! Embracing SelfEmpowerment with Jihada Garrett
BY DARICE RENE
Meet Jihada Garrett, Founder and CEO of Hello, Me! Coaching and Consulting, a powerhouse in life and leadership coaching Jihada specializes in helping individuals reconnect with their most authentic selves, empowering them to shed limiting expectations and embrace life on their own terms In this inspiring interview, she shares insights on self-empowerment, unlocking your potential, and staying motivated to create a life of ease and abundance Whether you’re seeking clarity or striving for greatness, Jihada’s wisdom will encourage you to step boldly into your power and design a life that feels truly your own
1. Jihada, life as a business owner or executive can be hectic. What’s your top advice for women trying to balance professional success with personal well-being?
Be clear about what exactly it is that you are trying to balance and why Sometimes we take on more than we need to in order to fulfill someone else's expectations, to keep from disappointing someone, or to prove ourselves worthy of a thing It's important that you check in with yourself regularly to assess what's right for you in the particular season Align your actions to what you value and you'll find more ease Also leverage your resources There is no prize for being the one who does it all Allow other people to pour into you and receive the same satisfaction you get from pouring into others You deserve help too
2. You work with women to help them reach their full potential. What’s a common mindset challenge you see, and how can women overcome it to achieve their goals?
People often don't see themselves worthy of the things they desire so they mask their doubts and insecurities in busyness and overwhelm and over index on their capacity to show up in their work or in service to others, providing the perfect excuse for not taking action on the things that matter most to them. When we give ourselves permission to pause and reflect upon what we actually want, we put in the work to disrupt the narrative that tells us that we aren't good
enough, that we aren't ready, that what we want just isn't in the cards for us, then we have the opportunity to raise our self-worth and then our frequency to actually create our desired reality. Nobody holds on to anything in life that they don't see themselves worthy of having or being. It's the reason that when we get close to our goals, we often begin to self-sabotage. But there is another way.
3. As a coach, you talk a lot about selfempowerment. For women leaders, what does true self-empowerment look like, and why is it so important in today’s world?
Self empowerment is about taking responsibility for one's self and actively making choices that align with your truest desires, knowing that you are able to bring those desires into fruition. It requires you to stop playing victim in your own
life and align your focus with where you are going and not where you've been. It requires you to trade in your requirement for perfection for a value of excellence. It both requires and allows you to be vulnerable and stop tasking yourself with having all the answers and instead see life as a continuous journey of discovery and self improvement. It allows you to make decisions rooted in faith not fear. It also requires an understanding of where your help comes from, your divine source and a belief that things are working together for your highest good. I believe every single existing problem is rooted in someone's insecurities so if we each take responsibility for doing our own work to remove our insecurities, the world simply gets better just like that
4. Many women feel pressure to be ‘perfect’ in both their business and personal lives. How do you help clients navigate these expectations and find a sense of peace?
We have to first identify whose expectations they are trying to meet Oftentimes it isn't even theirs We take a look at the origin of the narratives and self talk that reinforce these ideas and replace them with empowering beliefs that will support them in creating a life and way of being that is more aligned to what actually matters to them in this season I usually start with that question: what matters to you It is astounding how often I hear women say no one has ever asked them this question So helping them to get curious about their own desires and values is a foundational block to support them in living authentically where perfection is no longer the goal excellence is
5. What’s one key habit you encourage all your clients to adopt, especially women business owners, to keep them focused and motivated?
I always encourage women to actively practice gratitude Gratitude is the gateway to abundance In order to practice (actually take action) one must allow herself to be present in the moment This is really nice because there is peace in the present moment
It's when we jump ahead and begin to worry about the future that our anxiety, stress, grief, begin to rise. So I encourage everyone to reserve some time for yourself each day, turn down the volume on life and bask in what already is. Odds are, you have everything you need for this moment in time.
6. Let’s talk about resilience. Running a business or leading a team can be tough. How can women cultivate resilience and stay motivated, even when things get challenging?
Simply do and be the things that you are talking about When we show up pretending, masking, seeking approval, everything gets harder Be exactly who you represent yourself to be and again, stay close to the present moment Being present allows you to respond instead of react, which keeps you from operating outside of character When you're in character, you increase your capacity for connection and at the end of the day that's what it's really about Check in with yourself often Allow yourself to evolve Keep the main thing the main thing and surrender the rest This is not all on you Make room for your help
7. What inspired you to create Hello, Me, and what do you hope women gain from working with you through this program?
Hello, Me! is my answer to leaving the world better than I found it If more of us are able to love ourselves properly, we are able to increase our capacity to love others more purely and that's when life gets sweeter for everyone Everything flows from women so when we right the ship with ourselves our ripple effect intensifies exponentially I am privileged to provide women with an opportunity to reconnect with God's original vision for how we are to relate to ourselves
“I believe every single existing problem is rooted in someone's insecurities so if we each take responsibility for doing our own work to remove our insecurities, the world simply gets better just like that.”
and to one another So much of what the world teaches is scarcity and fear but I believe abundance was always God's intention for us By holding the mirror and allowing women to truly see themselves, to unveil the truth they are pretending not to know, and reconnect with who they were before the world told them who they should be, we really get to move the needle on how life works for humanity in perpetuity
Connect with Jihada online at https://www jihadagarrett com/
WhyGoal SettingisYour Shortcutto Success
BY DARICE RENE
Oprah
has said
it herself:
"You don’t become what you want, you become what you believe."
Let’s get real: success doesn’t just happen by chance If you want to crush it in your career or business, you’ve got to know where you’re going and how you’ll get there Goal setting is your roadmap to making it all happen It’s not just a buzzword it’s the strategy that Oprah, Danielle LaPorte, and Marshawn Evans Daniels swear by Yes, these powerhouses didn’t just stumble into greatness They set bold goals, dreamed big, and manifested their visions into reality. And guess what? You can do it too.
The Power of Clarity and Intention
Here’s the tea: when you don’t have clear goals, you’re basically winging it And while that might work for picking a Netflix show, it won’t cut it when you’re building your empire
Goal setting gives you clarity It forces you to decide what’s important, what aligns with your values, and what’s worth your time
Oprah has said it herself: "You don’t become what you want, you become what you believe " Setting intentional goals isn’t just about writing down dreams it’s about believing in them and making them non-negotiable It’s this level of clarity that propels you forward, even when things get tough
Manifesting Your Future
Let’s talk about the buzz around manifestation for a second Some might roll their eyes, but let me tell you there’s something powerful about visualizing your success Danielle LaPorte, queen of soulful goal setting, teaches us to focus not just on what we want to achieve, but how we want to *feel* when we get there That’s a gamechanger It shifts your goals from “I want to make six figures” to “I want financial freedom that feels expansive and joyful ” See the difference?
When you pair your goals with visualization and action, you’re setting yourself up for unstoppable momentum Marshawn Evans Daniels, another goal-getting icon, puts it this way: “Your purpose is tied to your vision ” That’s why she encourages women to dream unapologetically big and back those dreams with strategy
It’s Your Turn
Now, let’s bring this back to you Whether you’re leading a team, growing your own business, or just trying to figure out what’s next, setting goals is *your* superpower Start with the vision What does your dream life look like? Get specific Then, break it down into actionable steps that will take you there.
Need a little help to get started? That’s what I’m here for I’ve created a free resource just for women like you: 3 Steps for Successful Goal Setting: A Guide for High-Achieving Women This quick and easy guide will help you set goals that stick, align with your values, and move you toward the life and success you’ve been dreaming of
So what are you waiting for? Your goals are the first step to building the legacy you deserve Download the guide, get to work, and let’s make things happen Your future self will thank you!
Ready to start? Head to daricerene com and grab your free guide now Let’s do this!
