Entrepreneur Encounter
byEntrepreneur Encounter
BusinessEntrepreneurshipEducationHow-To
Entrepreneur Encounter is a weekly podcast designed to support creative business owners in developing the soft skills that lead to lasting, values-aligned growth.Hosted by Dana Johnson, founder of a boutique Pinterest marketing agency for wedding pros and creatives, and Sara Lowell, a consultant specializing in business management & team leadership along with podcast management, each episode explores the mindset shifts, communication skills, and leadership habits that empower entrepreneurs to grow sustainably—without the burnout.Through real stories, practical frameworks, and transparent conversations, Dana and Sara offer a behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to run a purpose-driven business in a...
Episodes(40 episodes)
How Pinterest Helps Creatives Overcome Imposter Syndrome & Build Confidence in Marketing | EP 18
Send us Fan MailYou know that jittery moment when you’ve crafted the perfect post, you love what you’ve written, you're ready to hit “publish.” But then your heart sinks: what if everyone sees this? What if they judge me? So you don’t. You archive it. Drafts sit untouched. It’s a familiar freeze many creatives know too well: when marketing yourself feels less like sharing your work and more like putting your soul under a spotlight. We’re about that exact fear, why self-promotion freaks us out, and how you can gently break through that b...
Published: Dec 12, 2025Duration: 9m 46s
Why Systems Alone Can’t Fix Your Team Problems (Soft Skills Matter) | EP 17
Send us Fan MailEver hire talented people, set up strong systems, and still feel like something in your team just isn’t clicking? We bring you into the messy middle of team building, the part no one warns you about. The part where miscommunication, awkward conversations, and unmet expectations creep in… even when you’re “doing everything right.” We share a real story from behind the scenes, one that every business owner will instantly relate to.We break down why soft skills (not software) are the foundation of every successful team. We why communication gaps turn...
Published: Dec 5, 2025Duration: 12m 10s
Self-Awareness in Business: The Hidden Skill That Improves Decision-Making and Trust | EP 16
Send us Fan MailHave you ever had one of those days where something small sets the tone, your tech isn’t cooperating, you're behind schedule, and suddenly a simple question from someone feels heavier than it should? That’s exactly how we kicked off this episode. But instead of brushing it off, we leaned into the moment. Because if we’re honest, those little flashes of irritation or overwhelm often reveal something deeper: sometimes we are the ones creating the friction in our own business without realizing it.We unpack how self-awareness quietly shapes the wa...
Published: Nov 28, 2025Duration: 18m 13s
Confirmation as a Skill: Avoid Miscommunication in Your Business | EP 15
Send us Fan MailThere’s a moment every entrepreneur knows too well, the instant when you realize the chaos you’re experiencing could have been avoided with one simple thing: clarity. We’ve lived it ourselves. Like the time one of us confidently marched toward a Friday deadline… only to find out the client thought everything was due on Monday. Cue the panic, the late-night scramble, and the unnecessary stress that stole time we’ll never get back. And the truth is, that moment didn’t happen because we didn’t work hard—it happened because we didn’t confir...
Published: Nov 21, 2025Duration: 24m 45s
Stop Waiting for a Rescue - How to Take Initiative in Your Business | EP 14
Send us Fan MailEver had that moment where you’re waiting, waiting for someone to notice your hard work, waiting for the “right” opportunity, waiting for permission to finally take that next big step? We’ve all been there. In this episode, we get real about those moments of hesitation and how taking initiative, rather than waiting for validation, can change everything. Through honest stories, laughs, and lessons learned, we unpack what it means to stop seeking the green light and instead be the green light for your own success.You’ll hear how to spot op...
Published: Nov 14, 2025Duration: 25m 4s
Overcoming Entrepreneur Burnout: Setting Boundaries and Managing Priorities | EP 13
Send us Fan MailEver had one of those weeks where it feels like you’re just putting out fires?You start your day ready to tackle a big project, and suddenly your inbox explodes, software issues, client “emergencies,” and endless messages that derail your focus. Before you know it, your day is gone, and that important task is still sitting there, untouched. In this episode, we get real about how we unintentionally create chaos in our own workdays and what it takes to finally escape that cycle of constant urgency.We unp...
Published: Nov 7, 2025Duration: 25m 47s
From Meeting Overload to Meaningful Time: Soft Skills for Smarter Collaboration | EP 12
Send us Fan MailWe’ve all been there, sitting in a meeting halfway through, realizing it could’ve just been an email. We’ve been in those meetings, too, lots of motion, zero progress. In this episode, we decided to change that narrative by pulling back the curtain on the system that’s helped us transform our own meetings from time-wasters into powerful, productive sessions that actually move the needle forward. Spoiler alert: it involves one of our favorite tools from the EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) framework: the Level 10 Meeting (L10).In this episode, we not o...
Published: Oct 31, 2025Duration: 21m 41s
Lessons in Leadership: Real Advice for New Managers and Entrepreneurs | EP 11
Send us Fan MailYou know that moment when you realize leading a team feels a lot like parenting? You’re guiding, teaching, and sometimes repeating yourself a hundred times but this time, the “kids” have deadlines and invoices. In this episode of Entrepreneur Encounter, hosts we share an honest conversation about what leadership really looks like behind the scenes. From letting go of control to building trust and boundaries, we unpack the messy, rewarding, and often funny realities of becoming a first-time manager or bus...
Published: Oct 17, 2025Duration: 17m 22s
How to Build Rapport That Doesn’t Feel Fake or Forced | EP 10
Send us Fan MailHave you ever looked through your LinkedIn connections and realized you don’t actually know most of them? You’re not alone. In this episode, we peel back the layers of what authentic networking really means, beyond the surface-level messages, cold pitches, and “Hey, just checking in” DMs. From stories about awkward online connections to the real magic of building genuine relationships, this conversation will make you rethink how you approach networking both online and in real life.We open up about our early misconceptions around networking, thinking it was all about pi...
Published: Oct 10, 2025Duration: 25m 25s
How to Have Difficult Conversations Without Burning Bridges | EP 9
Send us Fan MailEver held back a conversation for so long that it turned into a ticking time bomb? In this episode, we get real about the messy emotions, mounting overwhelm, and quiet assumptions that can build up when we avoid speaking our truth. From burnout tears to breakthrough clarity, we share how one honest talk completely shifted the way we work together and why those conversations, though uncomfortable, are what actually save relationships and projects.We dive into the art of having difficult conversations before they spiral into full-blown conflicts. Breaking down real-life...
Published: Oct 3, 2025Duration: 32m 20s
When Growth Stalls: What to Do When Your Team (or Clients) Stop Evolving | EP 8
Send us Fan MailIt’s one of the hardest moments as a leader, you pour your energy, knowledge, and heart into helping someone grow, only to realize they’re not moving forward. Maybe it’s a client who resists every strategy you put in place, or a team member who refuses to develop skills outside of their comfort zone. The frustration builds, and you start to question yourself. In this episode, we get candid about their own missteps, the lessons we learned the hard way, and the strategies that finally made a difference. Together, we dive...
Published: Sep 26, 2025Duration: 30m 10s
Why Great Leaders Ask Questions, Not Just Give Answers | EP 7
Send us Fan MailShe sat at her desk, staring at a list of problems she felt responsible to solve. The pressure was heavy, after all, wasn’t a leader supposed to have the answers? But then came the shift: what if leadership wasn’t about fixing everything, but about asking the right questions? That simple mindset flip changed the way she showed up for her team, and it can change the way you lead too.In this episode of Entrepreneur Encounter, we unpack the concept of humble inquiry, a leadership style built on curiosity, not...
Published: Sep 19, 2025Duration: 30m 31s
Building Resilience: Thriving Under Entrepreneurial Pressure | EP 6
Send us Fan MailEvery entrepreneur faces that moment when everything seems to be falling apart, missing files two days before a client deadline, algorithm changes that tank your reach overnight, or technical glitches that threaten your reputation. These scenarios used to send successful business owners into complete spirals of panic and self-doubt. But what separates thriving entrepreneurs from those who burn out isn't avoiding these challenges, it's developing the soft skills of resilience which transforms every setback into fuel for growth and creative solutions.In this episode, we explore the essential skill o...
Published: Sep 12, 2025Duration: 31m 45s
Understanding Empathy vs Enabling | Why Caring People In Business Care Themselves into Burnout | EP 5
Send us Fan MailEver catch yourself spending unpaid hours researching solutions for problems you weren't even hired to solve? There have been times when we both have done exactly that, laying awake worrying about a business when we should have not. We then discovered the hard way that there's a crucial difference between caring about your clients and caring yourself straight into burnout.In this episode, we explore the difference between empathy and enabling in client relationships. We share hard-won lessons from our own experiences of burning out while trying to solve problems outside...
Published: Sep 5, 2025Duration: 31m 22s
How to Time Manage with Time Blindness | Why Your Creative Brain Always Underestimates Projects | EP 4
Send us Fan MailDoes your creative brain underestimate projects? You know that sinking feeling when you confidently tell a client "this will only take 30 minutes" and then find yourself three hours deep in what was supposed to be a quick task? Dana learned this lesson the hard way when a simple Pinterest rebrand turned into an all-day task, leaving her scrambling to catch up on her own business marketing. It's the classic creative entrepreneur trap: we get so excited about the fun parts of our work that time becomes this slippery thing th...
Published: Aug 29, 2025Duration: 31m 12s
Bringing Your Team Back to Reality After Summer Break | EP 3
Send us Fan MailA hurricane, an unexpected illness, or even the chaos of back-to-school season, sometimes life throws curveballs that force us to step away from work. But what happens when your business can’t stop running just because you need to? In today’s episode of Entrepreneur Encounter, we share real stories and honest conversations about the importance of having systems in place, especially as business owners and team leaders transition from summer slowdown into fall routines.This episode is all about reestablishing focus, setting realistic schedules, and leading with empathy while keeping prod...
Published: Aug 22, 2025Duration: 37m 20s
Sustainable Content Creation & Mindset Shifts for Entrepreneurs After Summer Break | EP 2
Send us Fan MailPicture this: It's the end of summer, and you're staring at your neglected Pinterest account. While other entrepreneurs are frantically trying to catch up on daily social media posts, scrambling to create new content, and feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to be "constantly on," there's a different path. What if we told you that one platform could work for you even when you're out with your kids or enjoying that slower summer pace? Dana shares how she uses Pinterest not just as a business tool, but as a way to find activities for...
Published: Aug 16, 2025Duration: 25m 50s
Why Letting Go of What's Not Working is the Secret to Business Growth | Ep 1
Send us Fan MailEver feel like you're spinning your wheels, trying to juggle all the moving parts of your business, only to end up exhausted and overwhelmed? You're not alone. Sometimes the answer isn't about adding more strategies or doing more things, it's about having the courage to let go of what's no longer serving your business growth. We’re pulling back the curtain here. In this episode, we get real about the difficult decisions that led us to completely restructure our podcast approach. We discuss what we’re letting go that doesn't align with o...
Published: Aug 9, 2025Duration: 23m 39s
How to Understand Your Audience Beyond Your Own Bias
Send us Fan MailEver wondered why your marketing feels like shouting into the void? You're not alone. In this conversation, we dive deep into the entrepreneurial mind trap that keeps businesses stuck in their own heads instead of connecting with their customers. Our guest Charlie shares the brutal truth about why even seasoned marketers struggle to apply their own expertise to their businesses—and reveals the difference between content that gets likes and content that gets sales.In this episode, Charlie, a social expert who recently transitioned from agency life to entrepreneurship, breaks down th...
Published: Aug 4, 2025Duration: 40m 4s
How to Set Healthy Business Boundaries and Prevent Entrepreneur Burnout: A Wedding Photographer's Success Story
Send us Fan MailAre you tired of working weekends, answering client emails at 2 AM, and feeling completely burned out in your creative business? What if you could take eight weeks of vacation while having your highest-earning year yet? Wedding photographer and business coach Johanna Hribal joins us to share exactly how she transformed her photography business from chaotic feast-or-famine cycles to a sustainable, boundary-rich enterprise that supports both her lifestyle and financial goals. If you're struggling with people-pleasing, overworking, or the seasonal ups and downs of creative entrepreneurship, this conversation will show you a better way...
Published: Jul 29, 2025Duration: 38m 30s