In this episode, we’re taking you behind the scenes of how we planned out our 2026 business year, before the new year even starts. We talk through how early planning helps us set clear priorities, reduce stress, and make space for real rest at the end of the year.
We also let you in behind the scenes of how we keep ourselves accountable to each other.
@therisingprofessionalpodcast
@dealsinheels
@carabrett.money
Boundaries aren't just for personal relationships. They're for business too. Trouble is, many of us business owners fail to establish any kind of boundaries and as a result, we end up resentful and burnt out.
We say Yes to way too much and this is where the wheels fall off.
Today's episode is all about how to set boundaries in your business so that clients respect your time and know your limits.
Because the truth is, you CAN say No and still open the door to an abundance of opportunities, even if it feels like you're going against the grain of how one SHOULD run a service-based business.
If you've ever felt like your business is starting to drain you, this episode will give you the tools to get back on track and leave clients with a sense of respect for what your stand for and how you operate.
Connect with us:
Follow Cara @carabrett.money
Follow Wendy @dealsinheels
Enrol in Money Mastery 101 with Cara
Join a community of driven women just like you -WENDYRUSSELL Institute
Has money stopped you from your ultimate dream of starting your own business?
Well, it doesn't have to, and today's episode explains ways you can get started without a big financial backing.
It's time to ditch the excuses and get motivated to start up scrappy.
We did it and so can you ... especially if you're going into service.
Connect with us:
Follow Cara @carabrett.money
Follow Wendy @dealsinheels
Enrol in Money Mastery 101 with Cara
Join a community of driven women just like you -WENDYRUSSELL Institute
No one likes to be "sold to". So with that said, how do you go about selling your service when this narrative is playing in the background?
Today's episode is all about the "anti-sell". How to sell without feeling salesy, pushy or as we like to say, Gross!
If you're ready to brush up on your selling skills, this episode will teach you the mindset you must adopt if you want to boost business and sell your service like a pro.
Connect with us:
Follow Cara @carabrett.money
Follow Wendy @dealsinheels
Enrol in Money Mastery 101 with Cara
Join a community of driven women just like you -WENDYRUSSELL Institute
Never before has Video Marketing been as easy, cost effective and timely to produce as it is now... so what's stopping you from hitting record?! Camera-shy peeps, listen up.
As service-led business owners we have the power to leverage video marketing like never before and if you're not tapping into this readily available resource, you will be by the end of this episode...
because being "front of mind" is your game changer as a small business owner.
Today we're sharing the different ways you can use and repurpose video content so your business is consistently in the highlight reel of your ideal client.
In this episode of The Rising Professional Podcast, we're taking you behind the scenes of what’s been happening in Cara's world lately—including the big move into a new office space.
Cara shares the real-life juggle of running a service-based business while navigating change, the challenges (and wins) that come with moving, and a few personal updates along the way.
If you’ve ever wondered what really goes on behind the polished side of business, this one’s for you.
Connect with us:
Follow Cara @carabrett.money
Follow Wendy @dealsinheels
Enrol in Money Mastery 101 with Cara
Join a community of driven women just like you -WENDYRUSSELL Institute
Everyone loves a little luxury... so what if you could deliver exactly this in your business?
Luxury isn't just about products. It's in the experience and how someone feels when they interact with your service offering.
Today's episode is all about ways you can tap into a luxury service offering and apply it to your business.
We're sharing the exact moves you can make to deliver a premium experience to your clients, even if your business doesn't operate in the luxury space. This is how you can up the anti on your offering and really stand out from the crowd.
If you've ever considered going luxe in your business, this is a must listen!
Connect with us:
Follow Cara @carabrett.money
Follow Wendy @dealsinheels
Enrol in Money Mastery 101 with Cara
Join a community of driven women just like you -WENDYRUSSELL Institute
Could you be building a Frankenstein Business without even realising? That is - a business that has taken on a life of it's own, and perhaps grown too big that you as the owner feel completely out of control, exhausted and ready to throw in the towel just to feel some relief!
Every business owner hits a point in their journey where the workload seems to move beyond our reasonable human capabilities, and the truth is, most of us secretly love it!
We're wired to be busy. To hustle. To push through no matter what it takes. But what happens when the hustle starts to hurt and instead of feeling driven to keep going, we feel drained, de-motivated and ready to quit the beast once and for all.
Hold it right there!
In today's episode we reveal the signs you might have built a frankenstein business and we're sharing ways you can course correct, save your sanity and still remain super profitable.
Let's put you back in the driver's seat so you're in control and steering the ship - not the other way around!
Connect with us:
@therisingprofessionalpodcast
Follow Cara @carabrett.money
Follow Wendy @dealsinheels
Enrol in Money Mastery 101 with Cara
Join a community of driven women just like you -WENDYRUSSELL Institute
Hindsight is a wonderful thing. The "if only's" and "what if we did it this way from the start" thoughts that plague our minds as business owners.
But in truth, would you REALLY do things differently?
Today we're stepping back in time to revisit our younger business selves to ask the question that every business owner has pondered at some point.
Knowing what we know now, what would we do differently?
I'll bet you'll be surprised at what is revealed in this thought provoking episode!
Connect with us:
@therisingprofessionalpodcast
Follow Cara @carabrett.money
Follow Wendy @dealsinheels
Enrol in Money Mastery 101 with Cara
Join a community of driven women just like you -WENDYRUSSELL Institute
Have you hit an income ceiling in your business? You've nailed your service offering and your client book is full to the brim BUT the thought of putting a cap on your earning potential hurts every part of your being as a business owner.
The reality? There's only so many hours in the day ... and only so much of YOU to go around... but what if there was another way you could add extra income to your bottom line WITHOUT exchanging time you simply don't have?
The question on every service-led business owner's mind eventually becomes ... how do I scale?
Creating multiple income streams in your business is the surefire way to bulletproof your cashflow (and your profit) but where do you begin when you're deep in the trenches of 1:1 clients and time is your scarcest commodity?
Episode 64 reveals the ways you can generate extra revenue into your business and scale your service in more ways than you might have imagined.
If you've hit an income ceiling in your business, this one's for You!
Connect with us:
@therisingprofessionalpodcast
Follow Cara @carabrett.money
Follow Wendy @dealsinheels
Enrol in Money Mastery 101 with Cara
Join a community of driven women just like you -WENDYRUSSELL Institute
When Riz Amin discovered a specific niche in the legal space, she stepped into action to create Foundd Legal - a platform that empowers Australian online businesses and creative professionals with easy-to-understand legal templates.
In today's episode we chat with Riz about how she built the business from scratch using her skills as a legal expert to make a difference in a space where entrepreneurs and first-time business owners are often misguided or hold limited knowledge.
This is a must-listen for anyone running a business who needs to get in the know about the legal stuff - which is all of us!
You can connect with Foundd Legal at:
We often find the most successful business owners have one thing in common. A consistent morning routine that works for THEM. And today, we're sharing ours.
Health, fitness, food and rituals we do on the daily to stay on top of our game and set the tone for a productive day ahead.
The reality is, we're all juggling life as busy business women and if there's one thing we've found that helps keep us grounded, focussed and (relatively sane), it's having a solid morning routine.
Connect with us:
@therisingprofessionalpodcast
Follow Cara @carabrett.money
Follow Wendy @dealsinheels
Enrol in Money Mastery 101 with Cara
Join a community of driven women just like you -WENDYRUSSELL Institute
Mel Alafaci is not your average chef. Rather, she's an international media personality, cooking expert, passionate teacher, and savvy businesswoman.
Vibrantly known as "The Happy Chef", Mel is passionate about teaching the culinary art of cooking to millions worldwide through her books, online lessons, media appearances and more recently, an inflight cooking school partnership with American Airlines.
Mel has featured in various Australian and international media showcasing her unique signature style food with those who share her passion for making cooking simple, easy and fun.
In today's episode, Mel shares how she has grown her brand from small town cooking expert to globally recognised chef and personality.
If you've ever wanted to meet a woman in business who oozes authenticity, enthusiasm, and is not afraid to find her niche and follow her passion, episode 61 will leave you inspired and confident to dominate in business (and in the kitchen)!
You can connect with Mel at:
Check out Mel's online cooking courses, cookbooks and more at:
When you run a service business, the client journey matters - and finding ways to tweak and improve this experience is what leads to greater retention, more referrals and yep, more revenue for you!
Managing a client's expectations not only sets them up for a great experience... it positions your business as an expert operator in your field and shows that you're always one step ahead in the process.
In today's episode, we're sharing ways you can set and manage the expectations of your clients so they feel confident and assured throughout their time working with you.
If your client journey matters to you, this is a must listen episode.
Subscribe to updates and business freebies at:
www.therisingprofessionalpodcast.com
Connect with us:
@therisingprofessionalpodcast
Follow Cara @carabrett.money
Follow Wendy @dealsinheels
Enrol in Money Mastery 101 with Cara
Join a community of driven women just like you -WENDYRUSSELL Institute
Are you feeling uninspired in your business? Like, you have that nagging feeling that something needs to change but you're not sure what.
When you've been burning the midnight oil in your business for some time now, things that once felt fresh and exciting can soon turn into mundane tasks you struggle to get through.
We've all been there!
But before you blow it all up and self-sabotage the empire you've worked so hard to build, know this ... You're not lazy and you're not alone.
In today's episode, we're unpacking some of the ways you can reignite the fire in a way that gets you on the path moving forward with enthusiasm yet again.
Whether it's small tweaks, subtle reminders or perhaps a larger shake-up, we're sharing all the ways you can find your spark and move through this next season of your business.
Subscribe to updates and business freebies at:
www.therisingprofessionalpodcast.com
Connect with us:
@therisingprofessionalpodcast
Follow Cara @carabrett.money
Follow Wendy @dealsinheels
Enrol in Money Mastery 101 with Cara
Join a community of driven women just like you -WENDYRUSSELL Institute
As a business owner, you should be taking your profit out first, before any other payments ... or should you?
In this episode, our resident financial advisor Cara shares her personal take on author Mike Michalowicz's : Profit First.
Are the concepts in the book realistic for today's business owner or is this just another fluffy way to make us all feel better about paying ourselves first?
Follow Profit First author @mikemichalowicz
Subscribe to updates and business freebies at:
www.therisingprofessionalpodcast.com
Connect with us:
@therisingprofessionalpodcast
Follow Cara @carabrett.money
Follow Wendy @dealsinheels
Enrol in Money Mastery 101 with Cara
Join a community of driven women just like you -WENDYRUSSELL Institute
Ever wondered how people really spend their money? We all see value differently when it comes to the things we choose to spend up big on, versus those where we like to budget a little harder.
Neither choice is wrong, but the differences from person to person can be quite stark as you'll see in this episode where we deep dive into Cara and Wendy's personal spending habits.
Today we reveal the spend versus savings habits of Cara and Wendy and where each of our co-hosts allocate their money throughout the year.
Subscribe to updates and business freebies at:
www.therisingprofessionalpodcast.com
Connect with us:
@therisingprofessionalpodcast
Follow Cara @carabrett.money
Follow Wendy @dealsinheels
Enrol in Money Mastery 101 with Cara
Join a community of driven women just like you -WENDYRUSSELL Institute
When we're busy running our business it can be easy to overlook those important but not urgent tasks. Keeping an eye on certain metrics in your business is crucial for efficiency and today, we're unpacking what you should be investing your time in as part of your ongoing operations.
If you're serious about running at maximum efficiency and profitability, this episode is a gentle reminder to keep an eye on those important business metrics.
Subscribe to updates and business freebies at:
www.therisingprofessionalpodcast.com
Connect with us:
@therisingprofessionalpodcast
Follow Cara @carabrett.money
Follow Wendy @dealsinheels
Enrol in Money Mastery 101 with Cara
Join a community of driven women just like you -WENDYRUSSELL Institute
So many of us build businesses without ever thinking, "does this actually align with my values?"
Money, freedom and self-satisfaction are typically at the forefront of why many people go into business, but few of us ever consider whether our personal values will truly align with what we're about to create.
Our special guest today is ahead of the game in this department after starting her hairdressing business almost 4 years ago with one goal in mind - to lead with her core personal value of community.
In doing so, Taylor has created a supportive culture where flexibility and community underpin the business, which has led to a parade of loyal clientele (including our resident co-host Wendy) and a successful first few years despite opening the doors during one of the most challenging times in our modern history - Covid.
Taylor shares some of her biggest challenges on shifting from salon manager to founder, including the moment she told her boss she was opening her own business.
Get ready for an incredibly inspiring episode we can all relate to as business owners.
Taylor's business is Trove Salon at www.trovesalon.com.au
You can follow Taylor:
Subscribe to updates and business freebies at:
www.therisingprofessionalpodcast.com
Connect with us:
@therisingprofessionalpodcast
Follow Cara @carabrett.money
Follow Wendy @dealsinheels
Enrol in Money Mastery 101 with Cara
Join a community of driven women just like you -WENDYRUSSELL Institute
If you can't build Trust, you won't have a service business (for long anyway). Word of mouth marketing and having people spread the (good) word about you and your business is the surefire way to creating the kind of trust that draws clients in.
Today we're focussing specifically on how you can use Testimonials and Case Studies to showcase your credibility as a business and service provider.
If there's one takeaway you get from this episode, please... please ask for those testimonials!
Wendy and Cara break down their unique processes around requesting testimonials from clients and why the use of scripts is a game changer.
We'll show you how you can do it without coming across as pushy or asking for too much.
Subscribe to updates and business freebies at:
www.therisingprofessionalpodcast.com
Connect with us:
@therisingprofessionalpodcast
Follow Cara @carabrett.money
Follow Wendy @dealsinheels
Enrol in Money Mastery 101 with Cara
Join a community of driven women just like you -WENDYRUSSELL Institute