February 25, 2025 • 35 mins
Today, we’ve got an incredible episode lined up for you! 🎙️ I’m sitting down with seasoned entrepreneur Michelle Kuzmick, whose passion lies in empowering women to turn their dreams into thriving businesses. With over two decades of experience—from her early days as a photographer to her current roles as an Online Business Strategist, Kajabi Expert, Brand and Website Designer, and Executive Editor of She’s Making Her Way Magazine—Michelle has navigated the ups and downs of entrepreneurship firsthand.
In this episode, Michelle gets candid about balancing business with family, knowing when it’s time to pivot, and overcoming the challenges every entrepreneur faces. Whether you're just starting or looking to redefine your business, you’ll walk away with actionable insights and a renewed sense of purpose.Â
Connect with Michelle Kuzmick
Michelle Kuzmick is a seasoned entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in the business world passionate about empowering women to achieve their dreams. From her early days as a photographer to her current roles as an Online Business Strategist, Kajabi Expert, Brand and Website Designer and Executive Editor of She's Making Her Way Magazine Michelle has walked the path she now guides others on.
She understands juggling career, family, and personal goals isn’t easy. But with her blend of expertise, empathy, and a touch of grit, Michelle is here to show you it can be done. Whether you need a strategic business plan, branding and website design or tech support Michelle is your partner in building a business—and life—that truly fulfills you.Â
Learn more about Michelle and her business at her site:
 -> https://www.michellekuzmick.com/
Hey there—it’s Carrie! Quick heads-up: Doors are officially open for my course, The Converting Website! Learn in just 8 weeks how to turn website visitors into customers.
You’ll get 8 weeks of coaching, templates to make copywriting easier, and exclusive bonuses—including $200 off and a 60-day trial of Course Creator Suite.
Enrollment is open now—but only for a limited time!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Carrie Saunders (00:00):
Today, we have an incredible episode lined up
for you.
I'm sitting down with seasonedentrepreneur Michelle Kuzmich,
whose passion lies in empoweringwomen to turn their dreams into
thriving businesses.
With over two decades ofexperience, from our early days
as a photographer to her currentrole as an online business
strategist, kajabi expert, brandand website designer and
(00:22):
executive editor of she's MakingHer Way magazine, michelle has
navigated the ups and downs ofentrepreneurship firsthand.
In this episode, michelle getscandid about balancing business
as family, knowing when it'stime to pivot and overcoming the
challenges that everyentrepreneur faces.
Whether you're just starting orlooking to refine your business
, you'll walk away withactionable insights and a
(00:44):
renewed sense of purpose.
Welcome to the e-commerce madeeasy podcast.
I'm your host, k Saunders.
When we started this business,all I had was a couch, a laptop
and a nine-month-old my maingoal To help others.
Now, with over 20 years in thee-commerce building industry and
even more than that in webdevelopment, I have seen a lot.
I love breaking down the hardtech into easily understandable
(01:06):
bits to help others besuccessful in their online
business.
Whether you're a seasonede-commerce veteran or just
starting out, you've come to theright place.
So sit back, relax and let'sdive into the world of
e-commerce together.
Welcome back to the show.
Today we have a special guestfor you.
Her name is Michelle Kuzmich.
She started her business in2002 and has transformed where
(01:30):
she started from, in photography, to what she's doing now, and
we're going to have thiswonderful story about talking
with her on the transition andhow she made decisions and all
the things as entrepreneurs, weneed to decide on and to really
think through as we're goingthrough, and sometimes we feel
pretty lonely when they do it.
So welcome, michelle, to ourshow.
Michelle Kuzmick (01:51):
I am so excited to be here and actually
talk to you face to face.
Carrie Saunders (01:55):
Yes, we've been talking online for quite a
while now and finally get totalk face to face for once.
So tell us a little bit moreabout you, michelle.
Just you know kind of a littlesynopsis about who Michelle is.
Michelle Kuzmick (02:07):
So I am a serial entrepreneur and I love
it, and so anytime an idea comesacross my desk or across my
brain I'm like, oh, I can dothat, and then I'm off on like a
whole tangent.
But I started my business backin 2000 when well, it was 2000.
(02:33):
I started, but in 2001,.
I was pregnant with my daughterand I knew I didn't want to go
back to the corporate world andso I was like I had been doing
photography.
I started the businesstechnically I mean it was fun
and it I was like I had beendoing photography.
I started the businesstechnically I mean it was, it
was fun and it was a little bitextra money, but I didn't really
consider it a business.
So I started it so that I couldstay at home with my daughter
(02:54):
until she went to kindergarten,and by time she started
kindergarten.
Then she had two brothers, sothen it was until they got out
of kindergarten, and now my baby, the third, is graduating high
school and I never went back.
So all of my ideas andbusinesses are have really up,
(03:18):
and even the recent swap hasbeen based around what was going
on in my kids lives.
Carrie Saunders (03:24):
That makes total sense.
I know that I was kind ofsimilar.
I started our business in 2002and I had a nine month old and I
just never really wanted towork out in the corporate world
because I had done it some as agraduate, as an undergrad in
college and it just wasn't theright fit for me.
So I totally can relate.
Michelle Kuzmick (03:44):
Yeah, it's when I like, when I look back, I
always like going through highschool and stuff.
I always wanted to be boss.
But back then, you know and I'mshowing my age because I
graduated in 90, but peopledidn't just go out and start
businesses.
So I figured I would be boss ofsomeone's company, you know,
(04:06):
but it never occurred to me itwould be my own.
Carrie Saunders (04:09):
And here I am so very interesting, so so I
know you initially started outwith photography and we were
talking before the interviewthat you're transitioning out of
that.
So what was your first initialdream behind the photography
business and how have youevolved that over the past 25
years?
Michelle Kuzmick (04:28):
So I never had a dream really to run a
photography business.
It was really a need.
There was no big planwhatsoever.
Like I said, I was doing it alittle bit before I got pregnant
with my daughter and, you know,just for fun, and I think I
charged like $300 for a weddingone time and they felt so bad
(04:52):
all the work that I did.
They gave me a tip, you know.
But so my dream, my only dream,when I first started out, was I
wanted to make enough money tocontribute to the bills until my
daughter went to school, that I, you know, that I could stay at
home with her, because to me itdidn't make sense to go back to
my corporate job if I was goingto be dropping half of my
(05:13):
paycheck a week on daycare.
So really it was.
It was a little bitty dream,you know, to just make and I
mean probably back then it wasprobably like two or $300 a week
was what I was, you know,because I was married at the
time and that was really what Ineeded diapers formula, you know
, basic stuff.
So it wasn't this huge plan atall in the in the least.
(05:37):
So, and and when I first started, I was a wedding photographer
and still shooting weddings somebecause I get referrals because
I've been doing it so long theI.
The goal with that was theirdad was home on the weekends
from work, so then I would shootweddings on the weekends.
You know it was just kind of awin win.
(05:59):
And when they all got out ofmiddle school or went to middle
school, when the baby ended upin middle school, you know they
didn't need me there to be room,mom or you know, to make
cookies or have lunch with themanymore.
So I started shifting to whereI did more portrait photography
(06:20):
on the weekdays and then I gotinto corporate and branding
photography Because I could dothat all during the weeks.
I was tired of working weekends.
So again it was.
I never had this huge plan, itwas.
I just evolved based on wheremy kids were in their lives.
Carrie Saunders (06:37):
When it sounds like you've also just went along
with your intuition and what,what felt right for the time,
which I think is a good lessonto a lot of business owners,
because sometimes we fight ourintuition and fight where life
is leading us, and sometimesthat's where we're really
supposed to go.
So I love how you just let lifelead you where to go when it
(06:58):
comes to your business aspects.
Michelle Kuzmick (07:00):
Yeah, and again's, so many people try to
figure it out before they start.
And there is, of course youknow I teach, dream it, brand it
, build it.
So there is a theory behindthat, but really it is.
What do you want your life tolook like?
You know, if you want to be areal estate agent and you don't
(07:22):
want to work on weekends, fine,but that means you're probably
going to be working withretirees so that you can show
them houses during the week.
You're not going to be workingwith first time homebuyers with
babies, you know.
So it's really find somethingyou like to do, find a way to
make money at it and just fit itinto your life.
It doesn't have to be thisearth shattering, you know plan.
(07:44):
And if it doesn't have to bethis earth shattering you know
plan and if it doesn't work youjust pivot.
Carrie Saunders (07:48):
Yeah, and I think that's where a lot of
people get stuck.
They think it's got to be anearth shattering plan, and for
our business too.
I accidentally build it, likewhen I was had a nine month old
I did not intend to build abusiness that I have today, and
so I love how you can help makethat relatable to others,
because a lot of people thinkit's got to be like you know a
(08:08):
strict business plan and youknow this earth shattering thing
that you know is going to workand you just sometimes got to
jump in and try it.
Michelle Kuzmick (08:16):
Yeah, just do it, and if it doesn't work,
don't.
I mean, you know, it's not theend of the world.
So in 2014, my kid's dad and Iwe separated, so I became I
can't say I was a single mombecause he was very hands-on but
I was a single person.
The kids stayed with me andreally I just needed grocery
(08:40):
money and, of course, goingthrough a divorce and the you
know everything suffered, youknow.
So it was like my business thatwas once six figures with ease
was.
You know.
You know we were at welfarelevel, you know.
So it's like, and people hadalways asked me to shoot real
estate and I did not want toshoot real estate because I was
(09:04):
a people person and justshooting pictures of houses, I
had no desire to do thatwhatsoever.
But so one day somebody askedme, right after that happened, I
said, well, how much do youmake doing that?
And you know, they told me theaverage and I was like so if I
shoot one house, I can buygroceries, I can do that for a
(09:26):
little while.
And then, three years later, Iwas one of the top real estate
photographers in the areabecause it worked better with my
life than what I was doing andit was just so simple and there
wasn't like what I do, what weboth do now we help manage
businesses and stuff.
(09:47):
Where I was emotionally at thattime I couldn't run my own
business, much less try to givesomeone else direction.
And the real estate photographywas cool.
I get in the car, I takepictures of houses, I come home,
I edit, I don't even have tothink about it.
So you know it was really adaptand it worked.
And that's one of the fewthings I'm still shooting now is
(10:10):
real estate.
Carrie Saunders (10:12):
I love how you pivoted there based upon your
life situation, because I thinkthat's so smart and sometimes
people resist doing that.
So again we're coming back tolike really listening to what
your life's bringing you.
And now I know you've builtmultiple brands across the years
and you love to talk aboutbranding, right.
So how do you approach branding, the branding process for
(10:33):
yourself and for your clients?
Michelle Kuzmick (10:34):
Yeah, so well, the first thing that I do with
branding is color, and I saythat because I do a lot of
website and brand audits.
And colors are based onfeelings and every color is
going to give someone a feeling.
And, for an example, I did anedit of an agricultural website
(11:01):
not too long ago and it waspurple.
And I just kind of looked at itand nothing about that website
said purple to me.
I mean, it was a pretty purple,but you know.
So it was kind of like you knowyou have to decorate your
business like you decorate yourhome, like you know you have to
(11:22):
decorate your business like youdecorate your home.
And the second part of thatbranding is for all the logos.
And you know everything thatyou'll build, especially if
you're in business for yourself.
You are your brand and soeverything that you do should,
you know, be in alignment withwhat you represent as a person.
And I'll give you an example.
(11:43):
So it wasn't well gosh.
It was during COVID and I had,right before when COVID hit, I
had a couple I was supposed toshoot their wedding and it was.
It happened like the weekend.
Everything shut down right, andso they had already paid their
deposit.
They had paid a lot of money,actually more than deposit.
(12:05):
It was pretty paid in full andmy contract and everything was
solid.
You know, hey, you canreschedule, you got 12 months,
you know whatever.
And I didn't have to give thema refund, the you know she, they
decided to elope and I said youknow what, I'll come, I'll
still take pictures, I'll makesure you get the pictures of the
(12:28):
family, because it was going tobe like a backyard wedding.
And she was like no, no, no, wejust want to cancel.
And I didn't give her her moneyback and for a time that really
did not set well with me.
But during COVID, you know, mybusiness was at that time I was
more people than it is you knowin person and I didn't have any
(12:52):
idea what I was going to havecoming in.
So I stood by my contract andshe was fine.
She didn't flip out some anynasty email, sue me, or anything
like that.
But it was about eight monthslater and I sent her an email
and I said, hey, can I get yourhome address?
(13:12):
And she said yeah, and I saidyou know, I've thought about you
a lot and I really want to sendyou your money back, and so it
was eight months later.
I sent her her money back andit was probably about six months
after that the real estateagent listing her house called
me to shoot it and I mean, butit was so much.
(13:32):
It really wasn't about themoney, it was more about me
being in line with who I was,and I just think that when you
run your business, when you'reyour brand and you base it on
your ethics and what's importantto you, it all just kind of
comes together.
Carrie Saunders (13:51):
That makes a lot of sense.
Michelle Kuzmick (13:52):
And.
Carrie Saunders (13:52):
I love how you know, even though at first you
didn't think you should give herthe money back, you still sat
on it and you were okay andhonestly brave enough.
Some people wouldn't be braveenough to reach out and give
that refund eight months later.
So I love how you'reincorporating you into your
brand and really making sure youstick to who's true to you
(14:16):
there.
Michelle Kuzmick (14:17):
One of the things recently and what I ask a
lot of my clients and afterthey've worked with me for a
while anything that I create Ialways say how does this feel?
And I don't know, probably acouple months back, somebody has
this.
It's like a quiz and when youtake the quiz, it gives you your
(14:38):
brand personality.
Then they look at it on you,they look at your website, do a
website audit and tweak it basedon what your website
personality should be.
And mine was magician.
Okay, and and I can feel thatbecause I am the person that's
like if you need something done,we're going to pull a rabbit
(15:00):
out of the hat and get it done.
And one of her suggestions was Iwant to see some dark, mystic,
magical stuff on your websiteand my website.
My brand is Pink and I took it,took her information, I
appreciated it and I sat with itand I just was like no part of
(15:25):
me is dark and mystery.
You know I am out there.
Yes, there's no mystery behindme whatsoever.
You're going to hear more thanyou ever need to know.
And I kept it the way it was,despite her opinion, and you
know it was fine, but it was.
Carrie Saunders (15:44):
I wouldn't have been happy if I would have made
that change, because it didn'tfeel good to me to make that
alignment, I think yeah, and Ithink that's great because I
feel like, especially I feellike even now more than before,
we feel so rushed to make thosedecisions Like, and you allowed
yourself to sit with thequestion of whether you should
(16:06):
change it to be like that, andso I think you know anybody
listening really really let thissink in, you know, let let your
decision sit and sink for a bitso you can make sure that
you're you are making thedecision that's aligned with you
and your brand and and who youreally are.
Cause I think that's a reallygreat example, cause I know that
I've been sometimes swayed intoto not sit with the decision
(16:30):
long enough to feel it was notthe right decision.
I've had to look back and go,oh, that wasn't quite the right
decision and I realize that now.
Now I'm going to change and,you know, get back to what's
right and aligned for me.
But, yeah, giving yourselfpermission to do that I think is
great.
Michelle Kuzmick (16:46):
I, I think that and I don't know who said
it, but somewhere along myjourney someone said if it's not
a yes, it's a hell no.
And I don't necessarily thinkthat.
I think if it's not in a yes,it means maybe not now, it
doesn't mean you can't do thatin you know, five months or five
(17:10):
years or or something like that.
And we're such a and I'm guiltyof it we want things now
because we can get everything ata push of a button.
Carrie Saunders (17:34):
And but I think that's what you know, people.
It's like, if it doesn't alignwith what you're feeling right
now, keep doing what you'redoing, you know, and then, when
it comes up, when it's time,you'll feel it and it'll work
out.
Yeah, I love that, and then solet's transition a little bit to
more of what you're doing now.
And so, for those that aren'tfamiliar with Kajabi, it's a
course creator platform and Iknow that many entrepreneurs
struggle with the tech of it andreally just systems behind
things like that.
So, as a Kajabi expert, whatare some of the essential pieces
that you feel like people needto have to really build a
(17:58):
business that runs smoothly?
Michelle Kuzmick (18:01):
So a lead magnet, some way to get an email
from someone that is alwaysfirst and foremost number one.
And I tell people that and theyused to laugh at me because I
would say, you know, if Facebookshut down today and they're
like, ha ha ha, that's nevergoing to happen I'm like, yeah,
(18:23):
we didn't think the world wasgoing to close down for 18
months either, right, like wewould have to wear masks to go
out of our house.
So you know, it's always aboutlist building.
I think mine and your friendTracy said something one time
that said, all roads lead tolist building.
So when I work, especially witha new Kajabi person, my first
(18:47):
thing is, before we ever talkabout a website or anything, is
we're going to get your leadmagnet opt in page up and get it
out so you can start gettingemails.
And I'll share a funny thing,for, if anybody's listening, I'm
sure your audience all knowswhat a lead magnet is.
But basically it's a way to youknow, you get their information
(19:09):
, you give them something forfree and then you can
continuously market to them.
And when I first started myphotography business and I
didn't even know it was a leadmagnet, because you know well
one.
There was no Google or anything.
I shot film and everything Ishot had prints, so I would.
(19:32):
Every client that came in whenI submitted their order to the
lab, I had a design that I hadput on a magnet and I would put
one of their images in thedesign and create a refrigerator
magnet for them.
And it had like celebrate life,which was my.
You know my theme and myinformation, and it was about
(19:54):
two months ago.
I got an email from, or aFacebook message from.
She's a mom now of three kids.
It's probably been a good 15years since I did her senior
portraits and she said I was atmy parents house today and she
said this magnet is still ontheir refrigerator, and there
are so many of my clients thatthat tell me that.
(20:18):
So it's it's so important thatyou give them something that
they're going to hold on to, andfor me it was lead magnet or
not an actual magnet, and thenyou know, so that that's the big
thing is you want to get theiremails.
Carrie Saunders (20:36):
Well, and what I found interesting, as you know
and we're over 20 some yearsinto our business, 22 now
actually working on 23 and youknow I learned about the lead
magnets for the first time maybefour years ago, but then, if I
look back at my business, I hadlead magnets from the beginning.
I had these free softwareplugins you could put into your
(20:58):
shopping cart.
Those were my lead magnets.
I gathered 16,000 or so likeemails from that.
So I feel like, no matter whattype of business you have, there
should be in.
In will be a way for you toprovide value and then receive
the email from them.
Because, as we all know,facebook has shut down for one
(21:22):
time.
What was it?
Almost a half a day orsomething.
It was quite long.
It's shut down a couple oftimes in the past five years.
So having your potentialclients' information in-house is
super important so you're notrelying on another system like
Facebook or Instagram orLinkedIn or something like that.
Michelle Kuzmick (21:42):
Yeah, and I and also you know when Facebook
started and this is what a lotof new people don't realize,
because Facebook and I knowthere's a lot of people that
would argue with me about thisbut you know it's really a pay
to play.
If you want lots of leads, it'snot hey, I'm a photographer or
(22:04):
hey, I can build you a Kajabiwebsite there's because you're
not going to get links if you'renot paying for it.
Facebook is going to dump youout of the algorithm and you're
not even like you exist andyou're not even like you exist.
And back in.
You know when Facebook firststarted.
I could do that because youknow what.
(22:25):
There was 10,000 people onFacebook, so of course, my stuff
showed up.
You know not that way anymore.
Carrie Saunders (22:33):
So Very true, we're just a little tiny fish in
a huge, huge pond right now.
As far as the content that goesout and who sees it and it's
one thing we talk about a lot onour podcast is when you do grab
their attention, grab likecommon mistakes, that you feel
like you could give a little bitof advice to new business
owners or or ones that might betransitioning to a new area,
(23:04):
maybe a new segment of theirbusiness.
Michelle Kuzmick (23:09):
So and I don't know if this is going to answer
your question, but it's a hugemistake that I made and I wasted
a lot of years on it.
So throughout my photographycareer and I can't well,
actually it was when my daughterwas first born I was a Mary Kay
consultant.
Love Mary Kay, still do.
(23:31):
Phenomenal company this is myopinion.
So I love y'all, all Mary Kaypeople, my opinion.
So I love y'all Mary Kay people.
But the I did very well.
I won a car.
I was in Queens Court of Salesrecruiting.
All of that good stuff wentacross stage.
So I was very successful on theoutside.
(23:52):
But one of the things in MaryKay was they want you to invest
in inventory when you getstarted and I think that can be
a very, very positive thing.
But for me it didn't set wellwith me as a Mary Kay sales
director.
When someone comes, when Ibring someone into the business,
(24:14):
it was 100 bucks then I don'tknow how much it is now that I
would.
I hated talking to them aboutinventory and I needed to
because.
But I just was very antiinventory because if a single
mom came to me, broke and I gave, it was $100 to join.
And now I'm saying, oh bam,$4,000 to invest in inventory.
(24:38):
It just didn't set well.
And again, on the outsideeverything looked good.
Treasure my time and my friendsand Mary Kay.
But I spent a lot of timeworking that business.
That wasn't in alignment withwho I am.
So I guess, instead of what Iwould say, if you start
something it doesn't feel good,pivot, do something else.
(25:02):
I mean, I learned a lot, noregrets, but you know, I could
have did a whole lot more in myphotography business because I
was building both of them at thesame time, you know, if I
hadn't been so scattered.
So that would be.
Carrie Saunders (25:16):
my big thing is don't be afraid to say yes,
this is a good opportunity, butit's not for me.
Yeah, I think that's somethingthat we sometimes, as adults,
have a hard time doing, becauseI feel like as kids, we
sometimes more understand whatis a good fit and we're not
afraid to say no, but as adults,sometimes we're afraid to say
(25:39):
no even to opportunities thatlook good.
So being able to say no andbeing able to pivot when you've
made a decision that now is notin alignment, I think is really
important for business owners tohear.
Michelle Kuzmick (25:51):
Yeah, and I'm the type of person I think you
are too that no matter what youdo, you're going to do it very,
very well and you're going to besuccessful at it.
But it's about and I have amagazine because you've
contributed to it, and that'swhat my magazine is all about is
about building your life, notyour business.
Your business should complementyour life, and I was so out of
(26:14):
alignment and I struggled somuch for those years.
I mean, it's took a lot of joyaway.
You know it was, but so.
Carrie Saunders (26:25):
Yeah, and I I love that transition actually
because I next I was going toask you about your magazine and
I'd love to hear you know thetitle.
I know the title, but I'd loveto hear it in your words and
what it's all about.
And I just love the premisebehind it too when we first met
online over a year ago and thepremise behind it.
(26:46):
So can you tell us a little bitmore about your magazine?
Michelle Kuzmick (26:48):
you have yeah, so it's she's Making Her Way is
the name of it.
It's for female entrepreneursthat really want to figure out a
way to have a life firstbusiness, and I try to give
resources and stories, you know,quarterly to you know, to help
people.
But the one thing I'll tell youand I love all the articles and
(27:10):
everything, but for me, when Ifirst started it, you know I
wanted to get the informationout, but I wanted to be able
because I was building, you know, websites and sales funnels and
stuff for people and I loveshowcasing them in that magazine
and like, if you're on my emaillist, you'll see people will
(27:31):
pop up and say you know, on myyou know such and such launch
this week.
I just love supporting otherwomen.
Like I've added that to mysignature title a support system
for, for female entrepreneursand like when you you've
contributed a couple times now Ithink I think twice.
(27:52):
It's just so great to buildthose connections beyond a like
and things and it feeds mycreativity too.
So that was why I started and Ijust really want it to be a
showcase where I can supportother people to grow their
business.
Carrie Saunders (28:11):
Well, and I think it's really important as
business owners to have thatbusiness family too, which is,
you know, what you're talkingabout here is having that
business family, the otherpeople who can walk alongside
you in the journey of owningyour own business, because it's
totally different than workingfor someone else and you need
that support.
(28:31):
It's sometimes really lonely.
Michelle Kuzmick (28:34):
It can be very lonely, and especially because
all of but one of my really goodfriends, you know they have a
nine to five job.
So if they can't even begin tocomprehend if I'm struggling
with something like what's goingon and things like that, I can
(28:57):
understand their strugglesbecause I put my time in
corporate America.
But being an entrepreneurespecially when you're raising
babies and you're trying tobuild a business while you're
building your family, that mightbe the toughest thing, Like.
If you can make it through thatwithout a nervous breakdown, I
mean, you're in good shape.
Carrie Saunders (29:14):
Yes, yes, I can totally relate to that and
that's something I've beentelling myself, you know, the
past few years, because we'vebeen pivoting our businesses.
You know, I started thisbusiness with a nine month old
and then, shortly thereafter, Igot pregnant with a second.
I was in the finishing mymaster's degree and I, you know,
started this business and itwas making six figures in a year
(29:38):
.
Started this business and itwas making six figures in a year
, like if I could do that, thensurely I can pivot.
Now the situation's differentand I have to sometimes be my
own cheerleader and say, yes,you can still do this, you can
still pivot, you can still, youknow, make great new things.
And I think I think asentrepreneurs sometimes we need
to hear that from other businessowners that you know you may
(30:00):
have done really great in thebeginning and then things may
have changed, situations havechanged.
You've got to have faith inyourself that you can figure it
out and you can do it again.
Michelle Kuzmick (30:09):
I'll tell you a story about when I was going
through my divorce because,again, you know, no shame here I
was at welfare level leadinginto it and you know, struggling
, and I decided it was going tobe easier for me to go back to
work.
It was a little bit challengingbecause, although you know I
had had left corporate Americaat a very high level, I couldn't
(30:34):
just walk back into it 12 yearslater.
Couldn't just walk back into it12 years later.
And so, you know, I put in allof my applications, got a job
offer.
I got two job offers.
One was for a local real estateagent that just needed me to do
his marketing part time.
Then one was a full time.
I wasn't going to have to worryabout money, right.
And they both called on thesame day and I sat there and the
(30:59):
thought of not being able toput my kids on the bus or having
to ask somebody for permissionto not go to work because one of
them was sick or whatever.
I I physically hurt justthinking of that and I said you
know what?
I build a six, built a six sixfigure business once and there
(31:19):
is no reason why I can't do itagain.
I turned down corporate America.
I worked for the real estatecompany for about six months as
their advertising person, andyou know.
And then it all got better.
So, but it was, it was tough,but but yeah, you have to trust
yourself and you have to believein yourself and even if it
(31:42):
doesn't feel good because Iremember going to sleep that
night thinking what have I done?
Carrie Saunders (31:53):
Sometimes it can be so scary.
But yeah, in our heart we knowit's the right decision.
But logically it can be soscary.
Michelle Kuzmick (32:00):
Yeah, and it was, yeah, it was scary.
Carrie Saunders (32:03):
We've really got to listen to our gut and our
heart more than, sometimes, ourlogical brain when it comes to
decisions with businesses.
So so I love talking to youabout all your business journeys
over the past 25 years.
You've got a few more years onme as far as running a business,
so I love actually talking.
It's kind of rare for me tofind another female entrepreneur
(32:26):
that's been running a businessas long as I have, so it's been
a joy to talk to you.
So if people want to find moreabout your magazine or you, what
would be some good ways to findyou on the internet?
Michelle Kuzmick (32:44):
So I don't.
I have social media channels,but I don't keep them up because
that is not in alignment withwho I am.
So the best place is reallyjust to go to michellekuzmichcom
.
The magazine subscription isfree.
Getting ready to drop atemplate vault that will help
people when they're struggling.
It's going to have a bunch ofstuff in it Social media and
email templates and everythingthat you might kind of need to
(33:06):
get started or grow yourbusiness MichelleKuzmichcom.
Carrie Saunders (33:11):
Great, and we'll put that in the show notes
to her website so that you haveit spelled correctly too, and
you can always find that atecommercemadeeasypodcastcom or
in your favorite podcast player.
So thank you so much, michelle,for being on our show today.
I thoroughly enjoyed ourconversation.
Michelle Kuzmick (33:29):
Oh, you're welcome.
Thanks for having me.
I enjoyed it too.
Carrie Saunders (33:34):
Well, wasn't that an insightful conversation
with Michelle Kuzmich.
I love how she shared the realand raw side of entrepreneurship
balancing family, navigatingpivots and pushing through the
challenges to create a businessthat aligns with your passion
and purpose.
I hope you're walking awayfeeling inspired and equipped
with practical tips to help younavigate your own business
(33:56):
journey.
If you found value in today'sepisode, be sure to subscribe to
the podcast.
You never miss out on futureepisodes packed with actual
insights and expert advice.
And if you're loving the show,I'd be so grateful if you could
leave a quick rating and review.
It helps more entrepreneursjust like you discover the
podcast.
And don't forget to check theshow notes for ways to connect
(34:18):
with Michelle and learn moreabout her work.
Thanks again for tuning.
Today, we have an incredible episode lined up
for you.
I'm sitting down with seasonedentrepreneur Michelle Kuzmich,
whose passion lies in empoweringwomen to turn their dreams into
thriving businesses.
With over two decades ofexperience, from our early days
as a photographer to her currentrole as an online business
strategist, kajabi expert, brandand website designer and
(00:22):
executive editor of she's MakingHer Way magazine, michelle has
navigated the ups and downs ofentrepreneurship firsthand.
In this episode, michelle getscandid about balancing business
as family, knowing when it'stime to pivot and overcoming the
challenges that everyentrepreneur faces.
Whether you're just starting orlooking to refine your business
, you'll walk away withactionable insights and a
(00:44):
renewed sense of purpose.
Welcome to the e-commerce madeeasy podcast.
I'm your host, k Saunders.
When we started this business,all I had was a couch, a laptop
and a nine-month-old my maingoal To help others.
Now, with over 20 years in thee-commerce building industry and
even more than that in webdevelopment, I have seen a lot.
I love breaking down the hardtech into easily understandable
(01:06):
bits to help others besuccessful in their online
business.
Whether you're a seasonede-commerce veteran or just
starting out, you've come to theright place.
So sit back, relax and let'sdive into the world of
e-commerce together.
Welcome back to the show.
Today we have a special guestfor you.
Her name is Michelle Kuzmich.
She started her business in2002 and has transformed where
(01:30):
she started from, in photography, to what she's doing now, and
we're going to have thiswonderful story about talking
with her on the transition andhow she made decisions and all
the things as entrepreneurs, weneed to decide on and to really
think through as we're goingthrough, and sometimes we feel
pretty lonely when they do it.
So welcome, michelle, to ourshow.
Michelle Kuzmick (01:51):
I am so excited to be here and actually
talk to you face to face.
Carrie Saunders (01:55):
Yes, we've been talking online for quite a
while now and finally get totalk face to face for once.
So tell us a little bit moreabout you, michelle.
Just you know kind of a littlesynopsis about who Michelle is.
Michelle Kuzmick (02:07):
So I am a serial entrepreneur and I love
it, and so anytime an idea comesacross my desk or across my
brain I'm like, oh, I can dothat, and then I'm off on like a
whole tangent.
But I started my business backin 2000 when well, it was 2000.
(02:33):
I started, but in 2001,.
I was pregnant with my daughterand I knew I didn't want to go
back to the corporate world andso I was like I had been doing
photography.
I started the businesstechnically I mean it was fun
and it I was like I had beendoing photography.
I started the businesstechnically I mean it was, it
was fun and it was a little bitextra money, but I didn't really
consider it a business.
So I started it so that I couldstay at home with my daughter
(02:54):
until she went to kindergarten,and by time she started
kindergarten.
Then she had two brothers, sothen it was until they got out
of kindergarten, and now my baby, the third, is graduating high
school and I never went back.
So all of my ideas andbusinesses are have really up,
(03:18):
and even the recent swap hasbeen based around what was going
on in my kids lives.
Carrie Saunders (03:24):
That makes total sense.
I know that I was kind ofsimilar.
I started our business in 2002and I had a nine month old and I
just never really wanted towork out in the corporate world
because I had done it some as agraduate, as an undergrad in
college and it just wasn't theright fit for me.
So I totally can relate.
Michelle Kuzmick (03:44):
Yeah, it's when I like, when I look back, I
always like going through highschool and stuff.
I always wanted to be boss.
But back then, you know and I'mshowing my age because I
graduated in 90, but peopledidn't just go out and start
businesses.
So I figured I would be boss ofsomeone's company, you know,
(04:06):
but it never occurred to me itwould be my own.
Carrie Saunders (04:09):
And here I am so very interesting, so so I
know you initially started outwith photography and we were
talking before the interviewthat you're transitioning out of
that.
So what was your first initialdream behind the photography
business and how have youevolved that over the past 25
years?
Michelle Kuzmick (04:28):
So I never had a dream really to run a
photography business.
It was really a need.
There was no big planwhatsoever.
Like I said, I was doing it alittle bit before I got pregnant
with my daughter and, you know,just for fun, and I think I
charged like $300 for a weddingone time and they felt so bad
(04:52):
all the work that I did.
They gave me a tip, you know.
But so my dream, my only dream,when I first started out, was I
wanted to make enough money tocontribute to the bills until my
daughter went to school, that I, you know, that I could stay at
home with her, because to me itdidn't make sense to go back to
my corporate job if I was goingto be dropping half of my
(05:13):
paycheck a week on daycare.
So really it was.
It was a little bitty dream,you know, to just make and I
mean probably back then it wasprobably like two or $300 a week
was what I was, you know,because I was married at the
time and that was really what Ineeded diapers formula, you know
, basic stuff.
So it wasn't this huge plan atall in the in the least.
(05:37):
So, and and when I first started, I was a wedding photographer
and still shooting weddings somebecause I get referrals because
I've been doing it so long theI.
The goal with that was theirdad was home on the weekends
from work, so then I would shootweddings on the weekends.
You know it was just kind of awin win.
(05:59):
And when they all got out ofmiddle school or went to middle
school, when the baby ended upin middle school, you know they
didn't need me there to be room,mom or you know, to make
cookies or have lunch with themanymore.
So I started shifting to whereI did more portrait photography
(06:20):
on the weekdays and then I gotinto corporate and branding
photography Because I could dothat all during the weeks.
I was tired of working weekends.
So again it was.
I never had this huge plan, itwas.
I just evolved based on wheremy kids were in their lives.
Carrie Saunders (06:37):
When it sounds like you've also just went along
with your intuition and what,what felt right for the time,
which I think is a good lessonto a lot of business owners,
because sometimes we fight ourintuition and fight where life
is leading us, and sometimesthat's where we're really
supposed to go.
So I love how you just let lifelead you where to go when it
(06:58):
comes to your business aspects.
Michelle Kuzmick (07:00):
Yeah, and again's, so many people try to
figure it out before they start.
And there is, of course youknow I teach, dream it, brand it
, build it.
So there is a theory behindthat, but really it is.
What do you want your life tolook like?
You know, if you want to be areal estate agent and you don't
(07:22):
want to work on weekends, fine,but that means you're probably
going to be working withretirees so that you can show
them houses during the week.
You're not going to be workingwith first time homebuyers with
babies, you know.
So it's really find somethingyou like to do, find a way to
make money at it and just fit itinto your life.
It doesn't have to be thisearth shattering, you know plan.
(07:44):
And if it doesn't have to bethis earth shattering you know
plan and if it doesn't work youjust pivot.
Carrie Saunders (07:48):
Yeah, and I think that's where a lot of
people get stuck.
They think it's got to be anearth shattering plan, and for
our business too.
I accidentally build it, likewhen I was had a nine month old
I did not intend to build abusiness that I have today, and
so I love how you can help makethat relatable to others,
because a lot of people thinkit's got to be like you know a
(08:08):
strict business plan and youknow this earth shattering thing
that you know is going to workand you just sometimes got to
jump in and try it.
Michelle Kuzmick (08:16):
Yeah, just do it, and if it doesn't work,
don't.
I mean, you know, it's not theend of the world.
So in 2014, my kid's dad and Iwe separated, so I became I
can't say I was a single mombecause he was very hands-on but
I was a single person.
The kids stayed with me andreally I just needed grocery
(08:40):
money and, of course, goingthrough a divorce and the you
know everything suffered, youknow.
So it was like my business thatwas once six figures with ease
was.
You know.
You know we were at welfarelevel, you know.
So it's like, and people hadalways asked me to shoot real
estate and I did not want toshoot real estate because I was
(09:04):
a people person and justshooting pictures of houses, I
had no desire to do thatwhatsoever.
But so one day somebody askedme, right after that happened, I
said, well, how much do youmake doing that?
And you know, they told me theaverage and I was like so if I
shoot one house, I can buygroceries, I can do that for a
(09:26):
little while.
And then, three years later, Iwas one of the top real estate
photographers in the areabecause it worked better with my
life than what I was doing andit was just so simple and there
wasn't like what I do, what weboth do now we help manage
businesses and stuff.
(09:47):
Where I was emotionally at thattime I couldn't run my own
business, much less try to givesomeone else direction.
And the real estate photographywas cool.
I get in the car, I takepictures of houses, I come home,
I edit, I don't even have tothink about it.
So you know it was really adaptand it worked.
And that's one of the fewthings I'm still shooting now is
(10:10):
real estate.
Carrie Saunders (10:12):
I love how you pivoted there based upon your
life situation, because I thinkthat's so smart and sometimes
people resist doing that.
So again we're coming back tolike really listening to what
your life's bringing you.
And now I know you've builtmultiple brands across the years
and you love to talk aboutbranding, right.
So how do you approach branding, the branding process for
(10:33):
yourself and for your clients?
Michelle Kuzmick (10:34):
Yeah, so well, the first thing that I do with
branding is color, and I saythat because I do a lot of
website and brand audits.
And colors are based onfeelings and every color is
going to give someone a feeling.
And, for an example, I did anedit of an agricultural website
(11:01):
not too long ago and it waspurple.
And I just kind of looked at itand nothing about that website
said purple to me.
I mean, it was a pretty purple,but you know.
So it was kind of like you knowyou have to decorate your
business like you decorate yourhome, like you know you have to
(11:22):
decorate your business like youdecorate your home.
And the second part of thatbranding is for all the logos.
And you know everything thatyou'll build, especially if
you're in business for yourself.
You are your brand and soeverything that you do should,
you know, be in alignment withwhat you represent as a person.
And I'll give you an example.
(11:43):
So it wasn't well gosh.
It was during COVID and I had,right before when COVID hit, I
had a couple I was supposed toshoot their wedding and it was.
It happened like the weekend.
Everything shut down right, andso they had already paid their
deposit.
They had paid a lot of money,actually more than deposit.
(12:05):
It was pretty paid in full andmy contract and everything was
solid.
You know, hey, you canreschedule, you got 12 months,
you know whatever.
And I didn't have to give thema refund, the you know she, they
decided to elope and I said youknow what, I'll come, I'll
still take pictures, I'll makesure you get the pictures of the
(12:28):
family, because it was going tobe like a backyard wedding.
And she was like no, no, no, wejust want to cancel.
And I didn't give her her moneyback and for a time that really
did not set well with me.
But during COVID, you know, mybusiness was at that time I was
more people than it is you knowin person and I didn't have any
(12:52):
idea what I was going to havecoming in.
So I stood by my contract andshe was fine.
She didn't flip out some anynasty email, sue me, or anything
like that.
But it was about eight monthslater and I sent her an email
and I said, hey, can I get yourhome address?
(13:12):
And she said yeah, and I saidyou know, I've thought about you
a lot and I really want to sendyou your money back, and so it
was eight months later.
I sent her her money back andit was probably about six months
after that the real estateagent listing her house called
me to shoot it and I mean, butit was so much.
(13:32):
It really wasn't about themoney, it was more about me
being in line with who I was,and I just think that when you
run your business, when you'reyour brand and you base it on
your ethics and what's importantto you, it all just kind of
comes together.
Carrie Saunders (13:51):
That makes a lot of sense.
Michelle Kuzmick (13:52):
And.
Carrie Saunders (13:52):
I love how you know, even though at first you
didn't think you should give herthe money back, you still sat
on it and you were okay andhonestly brave enough.
Some people wouldn't be braveenough to reach out and give
that refund eight months later.
So I love how you'reincorporating you into your
brand and really making sure youstick to who's true to you
(14:16):
there.
Michelle Kuzmick (14:17):
One of the things recently and what I ask a
lot of my clients and afterthey've worked with me for a
while anything that I create Ialways say how does this feel?
And I don't know, probably acouple months back, somebody has
this.
It's like a quiz and when youtake the quiz, it gives you your
(14:38):
brand personality.
Then they look at it on you,they look at your website, do a
website audit and tweak it basedon what your website
personality should be.
And mine was magician.
Okay, and and I can feel thatbecause I am the person that's
like if you need something done,we're going to pull a rabbit
(15:00):
out of the hat and get it done.
And one of her suggestions was Iwant to see some dark, mystic,
magical stuff on your websiteand my website.
My brand is Pink and I took it,took her information, I
appreciated it and I sat with itand I just was like no part of
(15:25):
me is dark and mystery.
You know I am out there.
Yes, there's no mystery behindme whatsoever.
You're going to hear more thanyou ever need to know.
And I kept it the way it was,despite her opinion, and you
know it was fine, but it was.
Carrie Saunders (15:44):
I wouldn't have been happy if I would have made
that change, because it didn'tfeel good to me to make that
alignment, I think yeah, and Ithink that's great because I
feel like, especially I feellike even now more than before,
we feel so rushed to make thosedecisions Like, and you allowed
yourself to sit with thequestion of whether you should
(16:06):
change it to be like that, andso I think you know anybody
listening really really let thissink in, you know, let let your
decision sit and sink for a bitso you can make sure that
you're you are making thedecision that's aligned with you
and your brand and and who youreally are.
Cause I think that's a reallygreat example, cause I know that
I've been sometimes swayed intoto not sit with the decision
(16:30):
long enough to feel it was notthe right decision.
I've had to look back and go,oh, that wasn't quite the right
decision and I realize that now.
Now I'm going to change and,you know, get back to what's
right and aligned for me.
But, yeah, giving yourselfpermission to do that I think is
great.
Michelle Kuzmick (16:46):
I, I think that and I don't know who said
it, but somewhere along myjourney someone said if it's not
a yes, it's a hell no.
And I don't necessarily thinkthat.
I think if it's not in a yes,it means maybe not now, it
doesn't mean you can't do thatin you know, five months or five
(17:10):
years or or something like that.
And we're such a and I'm guiltyof it we want things now
because we can get everything ata push of a button.
Carrie Saunders (17:34):
And but I think that's what you know, people.
It's like, if it doesn't alignwith what you're feeling right
now, keep doing what you'redoing, you know, and then, when
it comes up, when it's time,you'll feel it and it'll work
out.
Yeah, I love that, and then solet's transition a little bit to
more of what you're doing now.
And so, for those that aren'tfamiliar with Kajabi, it's a
course creator platform and Iknow that many entrepreneurs
struggle with the tech of it andreally just systems behind
things like that.
So, as a Kajabi expert, whatare some of the essential pieces
that you feel like people needto have to really build a
(17:58):
business that runs smoothly?
Michelle Kuzmick (18:01):
So a lead magnet, some way to get an email
from someone that is alwaysfirst and foremost number one.
And I tell people that and theyused to laugh at me because I
would say, you know, if Facebookshut down today and they're
like, ha ha ha, that's nevergoing to happen I'm like, yeah,
(18:23):
we didn't think the world wasgoing to close down for 18
months either, right, like wewould have to wear masks to go
out of our house.
So you know, it's always aboutlist building.
I think mine and your friendTracy said something one time
that said, all roads lead tolist building.
So when I work, especially witha new Kajabi person, my first
(18:47):
thing is, before we ever talkabout a website or anything, is
we're going to get your leadmagnet opt in page up and get it
out so you can start gettingemails.
And I'll share a funny thing,for, if anybody's listening, I'm
sure your audience all knowswhat a lead magnet is.
But basically it's a way to youknow, you get their information
(19:09):
, you give them something forfree and then you can
continuously market to them.
And when I first started myphotography business and I
didn't even know it was a leadmagnet, because you know well
one.
There was no Google or anything.
I shot film and everything Ishot had prints, so I would.
(19:32):
Every client that came in whenI submitted their order to the
lab, I had a design that I hadput on a magnet and I would put
one of their images in thedesign and create a refrigerator
magnet for them.
And it had like celebrate life,which was my.
You know my theme and myinformation, and it was about
(19:54):
two months ago.
I got an email from, or aFacebook message from.
She's a mom now of three kids.
It's probably been a good 15years since I did her senior
portraits and she said I was atmy parents house today and she
said this magnet is still ontheir refrigerator, and there
are so many of my clients thatthat tell me that.
(20:18):
So it's it's so important thatyou give them something that
they're going to hold on to, andfor me it was lead magnet or
not an actual magnet, and thenyou know, so that that's the big
thing is you want to get theiremails.
Carrie Saunders (20:36):
Well, and what I found interesting, as you know
and we're over 20 some yearsinto our business, 22 now
actually working on 23 and youknow I learned about the lead
magnets for the first time maybefour years ago, but then, if I
look back at my business, I hadlead magnets from the beginning.
I had these free softwareplugins you could put into your
(20:58):
shopping cart.
Those were my lead magnets.
I gathered 16,000 or so likeemails from that.
So I feel like, no matter whattype of business you have, there
should be in.
In will be a way for you toprovide value and then receive
the email from them.
Because, as we all know,facebook has shut down for one
(21:22):
time.
What was it?
Almost a half a day orsomething.
It was quite long.
It's shut down a couple oftimes in the past five years.
So having your potentialclients' information in-house is
super important so you're notrelying on another system like
Facebook or Instagram orLinkedIn or something like that.
Michelle Kuzmick (21:42):
Yeah, and I and also you know when Facebook
started and this is what a lotof new people don't realize,
because Facebook and I knowthere's a lot of people that
would argue with me about thisbut you know it's really a pay
to play.
If you want lots of leads, it'snot hey, I'm a photographer or
(22:04):
hey, I can build you a Kajabiwebsite there's because you're
not going to get links if you'renot paying for it.
Facebook is going to dump youout of the algorithm and you're
not even like you exist andyou're not even like you exist.
And back in.
You know when Facebook firststarted.
I could do that because youknow what.
(22:25):
There was 10,000 people onFacebook, so of course, my stuff
showed up.
You know not that way anymore.
Carrie Saunders (22:33):
So Very true, we're just a little tiny fish in
a huge, huge pond right now.
As far as the content that goesout and who sees it and it's
one thing we talk about a lot onour podcast is when you do grab
their attention, grab likecommon mistakes, that you feel
like you could give a little bitof advice to new business
owners or or ones that might betransitioning to a new area,
(23:04):
maybe a new segment of theirbusiness.
Michelle Kuzmick (23:09):
So and I don't know if this is going to answer
your question, but it's a hugemistake that I made and I wasted
a lot of years on it.
So throughout my photographycareer and I can't well,
actually it was when my daughterwas first born I was a Mary Kay
consultant.
Love Mary Kay, still do.
(23:31):
Phenomenal company this is myopinion.
So I love y'all, all Mary Kaypeople, my opinion.
So I love y'all Mary Kay people.
But the I did very well.
I won a car.
I was in Queens Court of Salesrecruiting.
All of that good stuff wentacross stage.
So I was very successful on theoutside.
(23:52):
But one of the things in MaryKay was they want you to invest
in inventory when you getstarted and I think that can be
a very, very positive thing.
But for me it didn't set wellwith me as a Mary Kay sales
director.
When someone comes, when Ibring someone into the business,
(24:14):
it was 100 bucks then I don'tknow how much it is now that I
would.
I hated talking to them aboutinventory and I needed to
because.
But I just was very antiinventory because if a single
mom came to me, broke and I gave, it was $100 to join.
And now I'm saying, oh bam,$4,000 to invest in inventory.
(24:38):
It just didn't set well.
And again, on the outsideeverything looked good.
Treasure my time and my friendsand Mary Kay.
But I spent a lot of timeworking that business.
That wasn't in alignment withwho I am.
So I guess, instead of what Iwould say, if you start
something it doesn't feel good,pivot, do something else.
(25:02):
I mean, I learned a lot, noregrets, but you know, I could
have did a whole lot more in myphotography business because I
was building both of them at thesame time, you know, if I
hadn't been so scattered.
So that would be.
Carrie Saunders (25:16):
my big thing is don't be afraid to say yes,
this is a good opportunity, butit's not for me.
Yeah, I think that's somethingthat we sometimes, as adults,
have a hard time doing, becauseI feel like as kids, we
sometimes more understand whatis a good fit and we're not
afraid to say no, but as adults,sometimes we're afraid to say
(25:39):
no even to opportunities thatlook good.
So being able to say no andbeing able to pivot when you've
made a decision that now is notin alignment, I think is really
important for business owners tohear.
Michelle Kuzmick (25:51):
Yeah, and I'm the type of person I think you
are too that no matter what youdo, you're going to do it very,
very well and you're going to besuccessful at it.
But it's about and I have amagazine because you've
contributed to it, and that'swhat my magazine is all about is
about building your life, notyour business.
Your business should complementyour life, and I was so out of
(26:14):
alignment and I struggled somuch for those years.
I mean, it's took a lot of joyaway.
You know it was, but so.
Carrie Saunders (26:25):
Yeah, and I I love that transition actually
because I next I was going toask you about your magazine and
I'd love to hear you know thetitle.
I know the title, but I'd loveto hear it in your words and
what it's all about.
And I just love the premisebehind it too when we first met
online over a year ago and thepremise behind it.
(26:46):
So can you tell us a little bitmore about your magazine?
Michelle Kuzmick (26:48):
you have yeah, so it's she's Making Her Way is
the name of it.
It's for female entrepreneursthat really want to figure out a
way to have a life firstbusiness, and I try to give
resources and stories, you know,quarterly to you know, to help
people.
But the one thing I'll tell youand I love all the articles and
(27:10):
everything, but for me, when Ifirst started it, you know I
wanted to get the informationout, but I wanted to be able
because I was building, you know, websites and sales funnels and
stuff for people and I loveshowcasing them in that magazine
and like, if you're on my emaillist, you'll see people will
(27:31):
pop up and say you know, on myyou know such and such launch
this week.
I just love supporting otherwomen.
Like I've added that to mysignature title a support system
for, for female entrepreneursand like when you you've
contributed a couple times now Ithink I think twice.
(27:52):
It's just so great to buildthose connections beyond a like
and things and it feeds mycreativity too.
So that was why I started and Ijust really want it to be a
showcase where I can supportother people to grow their
business.
Carrie Saunders (28:11):
Well, and I think it's really important as
business owners to have thatbusiness family too, which is,
you know, what you're talkingabout here is having that
business family, the otherpeople who can walk alongside
you in the journey of owningyour own business, because it's
totally different than workingfor someone else and you need
that support.
(28:31):
It's sometimes really lonely.
Michelle Kuzmick (28:34):
It can be very lonely, and especially because
all of but one of my really goodfriends, you know they have a
nine to five job.
So if they can't even begin tocomprehend if I'm struggling
with something like what's goingon and things like that, I can
(28:57):
understand their strugglesbecause I put my time in
corporate America.
But being an entrepreneurespecially when you're raising
babies and you're trying tobuild a business while you're
building your family, that mightbe the toughest thing, Like.
If you can make it through thatwithout a nervous breakdown, I
mean, you're in good shape.
Carrie Saunders (29:14):
Yes, yes, I can totally relate to that and
that's something I've beentelling myself, you know, the
past few years, because we'vebeen pivoting our businesses.
You know, I started thisbusiness with a nine month old
and then, shortly thereafter, Igot pregnant with a second.
I was in the finishing mymaster's degree and I, you know,
started this business and itwas making six figures in a year
(29:38):
.
Started this business and itwas making six figures in a year
, like if I could do that, thensurely I can pivot.
Now the situation's differentand I have to sometimes be my
own cheerleader and say, yes,you can still do this, you can
still pivot, you can still, youknow, make great new things.
And I think I think asentrepreneurs sometimes we need
to hear that from other businessowners that you know you may
(30:00):
have done really great in thebeginning and then things may
have changed, situations havechanged.
You've got to have faith inyourself that you can figure it
out and you can do it again.
Michelle Kuzmick (30:09):
I'll tell you a story about when I was going
through my divorce because,again, you know, no shame here I
was at welfare level leadinginto it and you know, struggling
, and I decided it was going tobe easier for me to go back to
work.
It was a little bit challengingbecause, although you know I
had had left corporate Americaat a very high level, I couldn't
(30:34):
just walk back into it 12 yearslater.
Couldn't just walk back into it12 years later.
And so, you know, I put in allof my applications, got a job
offer.
I got two job offers.
One was for a local real estateagent that just needed me to do
his marketing part time.
Then one was a full time.
I wasn't going to have to worryabout money, right.
And they both called on thesame day and I sat there and the
(30:59):
thought of not being able toput my kids on the bus or having
to ask somebody for permissionto not go to work because one of
them was sick or whatever.
I I physically hurt justthinking of that and I said you
know what?
I build a six, built a six sixfigure business once and there
(31:19):
is no reason why I can't do itagain.
I turned down corporate America.
I worked for the real estatecompany for about six months as
their advertising person, andyou know.
And then it all got better.
So, but it was, it was tough,but but yeah, you have to trust
yourself and you have to believein yourself and even if it
(31:42):
doesn't feel good because Iremember going to sleep that
night thinking what have I done?
Carrie Saunders (31:53):
Sometimes it can be so scary.
But yeah, in our heart we knowit's the right decision.
But logically it can be soscary.
Michelle Kuzmick (32:00):
Yeah, and it was, yeah, it was scary.
Carrie Saunders (32:03):
We've really got to listen to our gut and our
heart more than, sometimes, ourlogical brain when it comes to
decisions with businesses.
So so I love talking to youabout all your business journeys
over the past 25 years.
You've got a few more years onme as far as running a business,
so I love actually talking.
It's kind of rare for me tofind another female entrepreneur
(32:26):
that's been running a businessas long as I have, so it's been
a joy to talk to you.
So if people want to find moreabout your magazine or you, what
would be some good ways to findyou on the internet?
Michelle Kuzmick (32:44):
So I don't.
I have social media channels,but I don't keep them up because
that is not in alignment withwho I am.
So the best place is reallyjust to go to michellekuzmichcom
.
The magazine subscription isfree.
Getting ready to drop atemplate vault that will help
people when they're struggling.
It's going to have a bunch ofstuff in it Social media and
email templates and everythingthat you might kind of need to
(33:06):
get started or grow yourbusiness MichelleKuzmichcom.
Carrie Saunders (33:11):
Great, and we'll put that in the show notes
to her website so that you haveit spelled correctly too, and
you can always find that atecommercemadeeasypodcastcom or
in your favorite podcast player.
So thank you so much, michelle,for being on our show today.
I thoroughly enjoyed ourconversation.
Michelle Kuzmick (33:29):
Oh, you're welcome.
Thanks for having me.
I enjoyed it too.
Carrie Saunders (33:34):
Well, wasn't that an insightful conversation
with Michelle Kuzmich.
I love how she shared the realand raw side of entrepreneurship
balancing family, navigatingpivots and pushing through the
challenges to create a businessthat aligns with your passion
and purpose.
I hope you're walking awayfeeling inspired and equipped
with practical tips to help younavigate your own business
(33:56):
journey.
If you found value in today'sepisode, be sure to subscribe to
the podcast.
You never miss out on futureepisodes packed with actual
insights and expert advice.
And if you're loving the show,I'd be so grateful if you could
leave a quick rating and review.
It helps more entrepreneursjust like you discover the
podcast.
And don't forget to check theshow notes for ways to connect
(34:18):
with Michelle and learn moreabout her work.
Thanks again for tuning.
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