Description: In corporate America, they called Stephanie "pushy nice"—and at first, she wasn’t sure how to take it. How can you be pushy AND nice? But she's learned that this contradiction is exactly what makes entrepreneurs successful. We have to be confident yet humble, persistent yet flexible, generous yet profitable.

In this episode, discover how to stop fighting your contradictions and start using them as your secret weapon. Learn the art of being "both/and" instead of "either/or" and get practical strategies for knowing when to lean into different sides of your personality based on what the situation requires.

Key Takeaway:

“I want you to understand that being a person who maybe doesn't fit so neatly into a simple category is a potential superpower. So, look for your dance. Look for your way to navigate these contradictions and embrace the paradox. Use the tension. Stop apologizing for being wonderfully complicated.”

— Stephanie Redcross West

Show notes:

💪[2:10] Seeing contradictions as strengths instead of weaknesses.

🔗[4:42] The magic happens when you can be two things at the same time.

🏋 [8:01] Giving yourself the ability to practice.

📝 [13:57] Contradiction #1: Pushy but Nice.

🧑‍🏫 [14:14] Contradiction #2: Confident but Learning.

🎢 [16:21] Contradiction #3: Flexible but Focused.

🐢 [22:33] Contradiction #4: Patient but Urgent.

💖 [24:21] Contradiction #5: Generous but Profitable.

🛠️ [28:47] Using contradictions for decision-making in your business.

⚙️ [30:06] When to lean more heavily into one side of a contradiction.

🤔 [34:01] Reflect on a recent conflict to use both sides of a contradiction.

☯ [36:57] Embrace the paradox, use the tension, and stop apologizing for being wonderfully complicated.

Ready to Take Action?

Free Resources: Find the complete "Contradiction Management Toolkit" at https://skills.veganmainstream.com/c/learn-get-inspired/ - including pushy nice communication scripts, boundary-setting templates, and contradiction assessment tools.

Take It Deeper: If mindset challenges and self-doubt are creating internal conflicts in your business approach, check out our "Healing Burnout" course for strategies to build confidence and manage perfectionism. https://veganmainstream.com/courses/healing-burnout/

New to SKILLS? Join our community for free at https://veganmainstream.com/support/vegan-business-community/ and access hundreds of resources for vegan entrepreneurs, or upgrade to premium for complete course access and live coaching sessions. https://veganmainstream.com/vegan-online-training-community/

Description: Everyone sounds polished now—perfect copy, flawless videos, expert-level everything. But your audience is craving something real. In this episode of the SKILLS Podcast, Stephanie reveals why your imperfections are actually your competitive advantage and how authentic communication cuts through all the polished noise.

Discover why being "perfectly imperfect" builds more trust than any polished content strategy, and learn practical ways to share your learning moments, honest struggles, and work-in-progress without feeling like an imposter.

If you've been waiting until you feel "ready" or "expert enough" to share your message, this episode will give you permission to show up as you are.

Key Takeaway

“Your people are out there right now. They're struggling right now, today. They were struggling last week. They might have been struggling last month. And the exact problem that you're facing right now, they might be facing too. And they need your perspective. They need your solutions. They need your humanity. So I need you to be brave. I need you to be real. And I want you to stop trying to be perfect and instead get out there and help people. Do the work that you want it to do. Drive the change that you want to drive.”

— Stephanie Redcross West

Show notes:

💯 [2:57] What it means to be authentic.

🙋🏻‍♂️ [5:45] Your audience is often looking for someone like them.

👌 [8:55] If you only do perfect content, you attract people who want to see perfect content.

🔄 [12:35] Your unique perspective is what makes you stand out in the crowd.

📌 [16:53] How do you let people know where you are now?

😣 [18:37] The real struggles: sharing something that you were challenged with.

🚧 [21:02] Work in progress: sharing things while you're still testing it.

😌 [22:57] Honest opinion: something different than popular advice.

🎬 [25:09] Behind the scenes reality.

▶️ [27:12] Test things out by posting a video.

🤝 [29:15] Vega Mainstream Village: a free side of our community.

Ready to Take Action?

Free Resources: Find the complete "Authentic Authority Content System" toolkit at https://skills.veganmainstream.com/c/learn-get-inspired/ - including vulnerable content templates, behind-the-scenes prompts, and authentic voice audit worksheets.
(Note: You’ll need a free SKILLS account to access these resources. Sign up takes less than a minute, see link below)

Take It Deeper: If you want to build a complete, authentic social media strategy that attracts your ideal audience, check out our "Social Media From Scratch" course for comprehensive guidance on creating content that converts. https://veganmainstream.com/courses/social-media-from-scratch/

New to SKILLS? Join our community for free at https://veganmainstream.com/support/vegan-business-community/ and access hundreds of resources for vegan entrepreneurs, or upgrade to premium for complete course access and live coaching sessions. https://veganmainstream.com/vegan-online-training-community/

About SKILLS in Action Podcast

SKILLS in Action Podcast is your resource for building a vegan business that's profitable, sustainable, and aligned with your values. Hosted by Stephanie Redcross West, founder of Vegan Mainstream, each episode delivers practical strategies you can implement right away.

You started your vegan business to make a difference, but passion alone isn't enough to keep you going. In this episode of the SKILLS Podcast, Stephanie gets real about what it takes to build a mission-driven business that sustains you financially, emotionally, and energetically for the long haul.

Discover why your love for animals and the planet needs to be paired with boundaries, profitable pricing, and sustainable systems. Stephanie shares the mindset shifts that transformed her approach to vegan entrepreneurship, including how to charge appropriately without betraying your values and why taking care of yourself IS part of taking care of your mission.

Whether you're just starting your vegan venture or feeling burned out from trying to save the world single-handedly, this episode will help you build something that creates lasting change without sacrificing your wellbeing.

Key Takeaway:

“Your passion is your starting point. It's not your business plan. Your persistence matters, but you need to be strategic about your persistence, and you need some systems behind you to make it work. Your profit isn't separate from your purpose. It is what enables your purpose to grow and thrive. So don't fall into the trap of thinking that you have to struggle. It's got to be hard. It's a noble thing. If you're trying to drive change, everyone deserves everything you're doing. And, you know, we have to give it all. The idea is that we need you. We need you here. We need you for the long haul. So make some of these changes.”

— Stephanie Redcross West

Show Notes:

🌱 [1:48] What it takes to really build a sustainable business.

👻 [5:42] It's possible to build a business that feeds your soul and your bank account.

🔋 [9:19] Strategies that you're putting in place should protect your energy.

⚠️ [13:28] Boundaries are there to help you avoid the danger zones.

⛔ [15:11] Boundaries can be set by publishing your working hours.

⚙️ [20:05] Having a system that you can automate in your business.

✨ [22:25] Aligning your profit with your purpose.

💪🏼 [26:15] Having resilience: putting processes in place so you can get up more easily.

🎲 [29:07] Board games and a feeling of accomplishment.

👥 [34:05] For more training and ideas, get a lesson in our online community “Skills”.

🔥 [35:36] Your passion is your starting point, it's not your business plan.

Ready to Take Action?

Free Resources: Find the complete "Mission-Driven Business Foundation" toolkit at https://skills.veganmainstream.com/c/learn-get-inspired/ - including pricing calculators, burnout prevention checklists, and energy management templates.
(Note: You’ll need a free SKILLS account to access these resources. Sign up takes less than a minute, see link below.)

Take It Deeper: If burnout is already affecting your business, check out our "Healing Burnout" course for comprehensive recovery strategies. https://veganmainstream.com/courses/healing-burnout/

New to SKILLS? Join our community for free at https://veganmainstream.com/support/vegan-business-community/ and access hundreds of resources for vegan entrepreneurs, or upgrade to premium for complete course access and live coaching sessions. https://veganmainstream.com/vegan-online-training-community/

About SKILLS in Action Podcast

SKILLS in Action Podcast is your resource for building a vegan business that's profitable, sustainable, and aligned with your values. Hosted by Stephanie Redcross West, founder of Vegan Mainstream, each episode delivers practical strategies you can implement right away.

In this personal and inspiring solo episode, our host opens up about a challenging season marked by illness, personal loss, and professional disruption. With honesty and vulnerability, she shares what it’s been like to navigate through a time of immense struggle — from losing her voice during a critical business moment, to mourning the loss of a long-time client, and feeling like everything was slipping through her fingers.

Despite the weight of it all, she’s found her way back to the mic — not because everything is fixed, but because resilience means moving forward anyway. Centering the episode around Kent Keith’s Paradoxical Commandments, she explores the power of building, helping, and giving your best even when it feels like the world isn’t noticing — or worse, pushing back.

Whether you're a new entrepreneur feeling overwhelmed, a growing business owner juggling priorities, or a seasoned leader navigating a difficult chapter, this episode is for you. Walk away with a renewed sense of purpose, clarity, and an invitation to write your own “anyway” statement — a personal mantra for showing up, especially when it’s hard.

Quote:

I couldn't build the projects, and I couldn't do all the things I wanted to do. So I said, why don't you just build anyway? Build what you can. Start where you can. Maybe I couldn't help everybody through everything. I couldn't help everyone through all the grief that they were feeling. I couldn't be everywhere. I couldn't manage everything. But I found a way to help anyway.

– Stephanie Redcross West

Show Notes:

👉 [01:05] Finding a way to rebound: Stephannie's story of resilience.

🚧 [02:50] Who is this for: if you are going through a setback - this is for you!

⏪ [04:06] Book Anyway by Kent Keith: three most important quotes for all of us who are dealing with setbacks.

💎 [06:48] Logic and expectation we have: reducing the burden and being led by something bigger.

🏃 [11:28] Why sprint: becoming very sick, the passing of a client, and plans failing seemed so unfair to Stephanie.

🤷🏼 [16:49] Show up for yourself - anyway: building your own Anyway statements as your reminders.

Link to a book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0425195430

In the fast-paced world of social media, it's easy for vegan business owners and entrepreneurs to feel the pressure to constantly share their lives and business ventures with the world. But is this always the best approach? In this episode, we dive into the importance of setting boundaries between your personal life and your business brand in the online space.

While it's essential to create an authentic connection with your audience, it's equally vital to protect your personal space and prevent burnout. We explore the significance of finding a balance that allows you to share glimpses behind the scenes without compromising your privacy.

Join us as we share practical tips for navigating the lines between public and private sharing on social media platforms. Learn how to differentiate the content you post for personal profiles versus business platforms, and how to tailor your posts to suit the preferences of your audience.

We also delve into the concept of finding your unique balance, setting clear boundaries, and staying true to your values as a vegan entrepreneur. By the end of this episode, you'll be equipped with three essential questions to ask yourself when the lines between personal and business life start to blur.

Discover the key to managing your online presence effectively while safeguarding your personal time and space. Tune in now to learn how to strike the perfect balance between privacy and building your business brand.

Lesson Reference For Paid Members: https://skills.veganmainstream.com/c/content-marketing/private-or-public-setting-your-business-boundaries

Want to access this lesson and more? Become a paid SKILLS member: https://veganmainstream.com/vegan-online-training-community/

Quote

You deserve to have a space for you – a place in time where you can let your guard down, and you don't have to filter or be concerned about how you'll be perceived in the moment. We all deserve that space, where it's okay to just be in the moment and not be evaluated all the time. But if we start to blend our lines, if we start to feel like everything we do is for public consumption, we can lose ourselves, and we can lose opportunities to enjoy time with friends, families, and loved ones. What can happen is our businesses can consume us.

-Stephanie Redcross West

Notes:

😇 [01:05] Setting boundaries in your social media marketing, business and private life.

✍🏾 [02:39] Lesson focus important for everyone: write down your rules.

🥅 [07:54] Making space for personal time and experiences can lead to more authentic interactions.

[13:22] How to step away from social media: evaluate how your social media affects you.

🎯 [15:39] Identifying if you are in burnout or heading in the wrong direction and reflecting.

🫨 [16:22] Business vs private boundaries: getting too deep into your business consumes you.

🤩 [18:22] What inspires you and what do you love outside of your business?

🌞 [20:00] The way to stand out is to be fully you and authentic to yourself: sharing vulnerable moments.

🗝️ [24:00] Key activity about your content: categories of information you want to share.

🚶🏾‍♀️ [26:02] Walk, run, sprint: walk on the path of your boundaries in next 30–90 days.

3️⃣ [29:18] Private or public setting boundaries for your business lesson: three questions to ask yourself.

⚠️ [31:35] Rules that keep you out of the danger zone: some guidelines to put in place.

Ready to navigate the exciting world of social media for your vegan business? Don't fret, we've got you covered! In this episode, we'll walk you through the major platforms and help you find the perfect fit for your brand.

Starting small is the key, so don't overwhelm yourself by trying to do it all at once. We'll guide you through each platform's strengths and the type of content they excel in. Whether you're all about visuals, storytelling, or quick updates, there's a platform that suits your style.

From the friendly connections of Facebook to the picture-perfect pins on Pinterest, we've got the inside scoop on what works best. Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, and TikTok are all in the mix too, so you can choose the ones that resonate with your vegan business.

Take your time to find the right mix of platforms, and watch your audience grow as you build your brand's online presence. Tune in now and simplify your social media journey!

Lesson Reference For Paid Members: https://skills.veganmainstream.com/c/social-media/driving-sales-via-social-media

Want to access this lesson and more? Become a paid SKILLS member: https://veganmainstream.com/vegan-online-training-community

Quote:

Social media is a marketing tool. It's not the success of your business. You have to balance the tools versus your objectives. Sometimes it's more important to get started, get active, get educated, and be successful – even in a small corner of the world – which may be a small corner of the social media world. Once you understand how these platforms work for your business you'll start to learn from your experiences and learn to apply them instead of thinking you have to have all the answers when you start.

- Stephanie Redcross West

Show Notes

😇 [01:04] You don’t have to be everywhere: picking the right platform for your brand.

👁️ [02:44] Lesson focus: for newbies starting the business – when decision fatigue kicks in.

🎯 [04:17] How you can get more from being targeted than going wide: knowing the nuances of each platform is very important.

🤔 [08:36] How to pick your platform: strategic thinking about data, type of content, and commitment level in figuring out where you can make an impact.

🦋 [13:40] Life of your content and traction: the difference between YouTube and other networks.

🏎️ [15:33] Sprint: choose your platform fast because posting is just a piece of the puzzle.

🌞 [18:38] Social Media From Scratch Course.

Description:

Join host Stephanie in this game-changing episode of the SKILLS Podcast as we delve into the world of efficient payment processes for your vegan business. It's time to build a strong backbone and make getting paid effortless and enjoyable for your valued customers.

Discover how a hassle-free payment process can set your business apart and drive customer loyalty. Stephanie shares actionable tips to simplify your payment flow, offering multiple options and empowering your customers with choices.

Building a strong infrastructure doesn't have to be daunting. Take it one step at a time, ensuring your systems align with your current business stage. Small upgrades can make a significant impact without overwhelming your resources.

Join us for this essential episode of the SKILLS Podcast and embark on a journey to simplify getting paid. Let's make the payment process a breeze and create an unforgettable customer experience together!

Lesson Reference For Paid Members: https://skills.veganmainstream.com/c/proposals-invoicing-payments/building-backbone-for-your-business-taking-the-pain-out-of-getting-paid

Want to access this lesson and more? Become a paid SKILLS member: https://veganmainstream.com/vegan-online-training-community/

Quote:

Growth isn't always about more - growth is truly about optimization. It's about looking at what you're doing and fixing it. This is really true for everything in your business. You have to spend time walking a mile in your customer's shoes. At times in our business, we get so deep in it – that is our perspective as the business owners, as the managers in these businesses, as the people who are responsible for delivering on the service and products – that we forget that we can't just look through that lens. The majority of the time, we have to switch the lens and look at the business and experience the business from the customer's perspective.

– Stephanie Redcross West

Show Notes
✌🏾 [01:05] Ensure that your purchase process is easy, simple and hassle-free for your customers.
👀 [04:01] Lesson focus for growing businesses: you need enough experience to make improvements - evaluate your sales processes.
📈 [08:08] Lesson focus for scaling businesses: make sure you don't have leaks in your sales process, getting paid process + check your analytics.
📌 [11:46] Importance of process mapping to simplify payment processes and reduce pain points for customers.
🤓 [14:37] How to work with invoices: reminders for invoices that are due, type of invoices.
🧠 [17:29] Payment processes are different on each platform: Stephanie’s solution for different platforms.
💲 [20:12] Adding different payment options to your website: hassle-free experience and quick purchasing time seals the deal.
🏃🏾‍♀️ [23:24] Sprint/run strategy: don’t wait, this is impacting your business on a daily basis.
⌚ [26:26] Taking minutes from the process: reducing friction by 20% is huge for your business.
🐌 [27:33] Something is slowing down your customers: list of things you can do to make your customer decide to purchase faster.
👓 [29:10] Growth is truly about optimization: importance of experiencing your business from a customer’s lens.
💰 [31:24] Finding money without getting into more marketing: generate more sales with quick changes.