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In this episode, Samantha Eck welcomes Celina from Luna Marketing Services, a seasoned marketing professional with over 10 years of experience in social media marketing and co-founder of Luna Marketing Services. Together, they dive deep into the world of social media marketing, content creation, and audience engagement for small business owners and creatives.

They touch on:

• Stay Consistent: Regular posting and visibility across platforms help build a strong online presence.
• Engage Authentically: Thoughtful, meaningful interactions are essential to growing trust with your audience.
• Content Bank: Build up a stash of content during your creative bursts to stay consistent on slow days.
• Balance AI & Your Voice: Use AI as a tool to help, but always inject your unique voice into your content.
• Play the Long Game: Social media and organic growth take time—patience and persistence pay off.
• Have Fun: If content creation feels draining, take a step back. Your mental health comes first!

Connect with Samantha:
Website: https://www.firestormfinance.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firestormfinance/
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@firestormfinance?hl=en
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/firestormfinance/
Newsletter: https://firestorm-finance.ck.page/8194316ed3

Connect with Celina:
Website: https://lunamarketingservices.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lunamarketingservices/
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@lunamarketingservices
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lunamarketingserv

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Today on Creative Minds Smart Money, we’re tackling a huge topic for every creative entrepreneur—setting the perfect pricing for your services. 💰 You’ve got skills, you’ve got value, and now it’s time to make sure you’re getting paid what you’re truly worth.

We’re breaking down everything you need to know to feel confident in your pricing, including:

• Knowing your worth and why admin hours absolutely count
• How to charge for the transformation you’re delivering, not just your time
• Why checking the market is helpful, but it shouldn’t control your pricing
• The importance of testing, adjusting, and evolving your prices as you grow
• Making your pricing visible and why it’s key to attracting the right clients

Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been in the game for a while, pricing is something we all need to revisit. By the end of this episode, you’ll have the clarity and confidence to set prices that reflect your true value and ensure your business thrives. So, let’s dive in and get those numbers working for you!

Connect with Samantha:

Website: https://www.firestormfinance.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firestormfinance/

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@firestormfinance?hl=en

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/firestormfinance/

Newsletter: https://firestorm-finance.ck.page/8194316ed3

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In today’s episode of Creative Minds Smart Money, we’re diving into cash flow mastery—the money moves that every creative entrepreneur needs to get a handle on. Whether you're a freelancer, coach, or creative business owner, cash flow can make or break your business, and it's time we get real about how to master it.

I’m breaking down the key strategies you need to stay in control of your money, including:

• How to track Cash In vs. Cash Out
• Projecting your cash flow for the months ahead
• Dealing with clients who don’t pay on time (we’ve all been there)
• What to do when slow months hit, and how to build a financial cushion

Plus, we’re building on the finance routines you’ve already started—because it’s time to add cash flow tracking to the mix. Don’t let your money be a mystery. By the end of this episode, you’ll feel confident in managing your cash flow, planning for the future, and keeping your business running like the money-making machine it is.

Connect with Samantha:

Website: https://www.firestormfinance.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firestormfinance/

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@firestormfinance?hl=en

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/firestormfinance/

Newsletter: https://firestorm-finance.ck.page/8194316ed3

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On today's episode of Creative Minds Smart Money, we’re diving into the world of AI for creative entrepreneurs! Whether you're a solopreneur, freelancer, or small business owner, AI can help you level up your business without the overwhelm. Our guest today, Nikki, founder of The Creative Copilot, breaks down how to integrate AI into your workflow and use it as your personal assistant (not a replacement) to save time and boost productivity.

Here’s what we’re covering today:

• Getting started with AI—how to use tools like ChatGPT or Claude to eliminate the annoying little tasks that drain your time and energy.
• Delegating with AI—how to train AI tools to understand your business, voice, and unique needs.
• The assistant mindset—how viewing AI as an assistant (instead of a robot takeover) can make a world of difference in reducing your workload.
• Busting AI myths—is AI going to take over the world, or just help with your to-do list? Spoiler: It’s the latter.
• The future of AI for creatives—why getting started now can give you a competitive edge and free up time for the things you actually enjoy.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by all the AI talk or just weren’t sure where to start, this episode is for you. Get ready to embrace AI without feeling like you need a tech degree.

Connect with Samantha:

Website: https://www.firestormfinance.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firestormfinance/

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@firestormfinance?hl=en

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/firestormfinance/

Newsletter: https://firestorm-finance.ck.page/8194316ed3

Connect with Niki:

Website: https://thecreativecopilot.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecreativecopilot/

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@thecreativecopilot

The Creative Brief: https://creativecopilot.samcart.com/products/thecreativebrief/

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Welcome back to the Creative Minds Smart Money Podcast! I’m your host, Samantha Eck, and in today’s episode, we’re talking about something every creative entrepreneur needs but most tend to avoid—financial reports. Whether you're running a thriving creative business or just getting started, knowing your numbers can be the difference between growing and struggling.

Today, I’m breaking down the three essential financial reports that every creative entrepreneur should know:
💰 Profit & Loss Statement – How much are you really making?
📊 Balance Sheet – A complete snapshot of your financial health.
💸 Cash Flow Statement – Understanding the flow of money in and out of your business.

These reports aren’t just about tracking numbers—they’re telling you the story of your business, helping you spot opportunities, and warning you when things might be going off the rails. Plus, I’ll explain why checking these reports monthly can help you make smarter business decisions and keep you on track.

Don’t let your numbers intimidate you—grab your coffee, dive in, and learn how to make these reports work for you. Your future self will thank you!

Connect with Samantha:

Website: https://www.firestormfinance.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firestormfinance/

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@firestormfinance?hl=en

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/firestormfinance/

Newsletter: https://firestorm-finance.ck.page/8194316ed3

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Welcome back to the Creative Minds, Smart Money podcast! I’m your host, Samantha Eck, and today, we’re diving into one of the most crucial yet often dreaded parts of running a business: invoicing. Whether you're a freelancer, small business owner, or creative entrepreneur, getting paid should be the smoothest part of your business.

In this episode, we’ll cover the key strategies to simplify your invoicing process, prevent late payments, and make sure you’re paid on time—every time. I’ll also introduce some of the best invoicing tools, like QuickBooks, HoneyBook, and Dubsado, that can take the stress out of chasing payments and help you stay organized.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• The importance of setting clear payment terms from the start.
• How to customize your invoices for a professional, branded look.
• Why automation is your best friend when it comes to chasing payments.
• Tools for invoicing, from accounting software like QuickBooks and FreshBooks to payment processors like Stripe and PayPal.
• CRM systems like HoneyBook and Dubsado that streamline your entire client process, from contract to payment.

Whether you’re just starting out or refining your business processes, this episode will help you create a seamless invoicing system that keeps your cash flow steady and your stress level low.

Resources Mentioned:

• QuickBooks: Website
• Xero: Website
• FreshBooks: Website
• Stripe: Website
• PayPal: Website
• Square: Website
• HoneyBook: Website
• Dubsado: Website

Connect with Samantha:

🔥 Website: Firestorm Finance
🔥 Instagram: @firestormfinance
🔥 Threads: @firestormfinance
🔥 Pinterest: Firestorm Finance
🔥 Newsletter: Join Here

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Welcome back to Creative Minds Smart Money! In today’s episode, we’re diving into the power of leadership and why blending creativity with strong management is the secret sauce for building a successful business. I’m thrilled to have Tomasha Suber, founder of T28 Consulting and a leadership coach, as our guest.

Together, we explore her journey from the corporate grind to coaching business leaders on how to lead with authenticity and inspire creativity within their teams. We unpack the essentials for cultivating your own leadership style, balancing creative innovation with operational efficiency, and why emotional intelligence is the key to running a high-performing, motivated team.

Whether you're managing a small creative team or running the show solo, this episode is packed with actionable advice on how to lead with purpose, empower your team, and foster creativity without sacrificing productivity.

Connect with Samantha:

🔥 Website: Firestorm Finance
🔥 Instagram: @firestormfinance
🔥 Threads: @firestormfinance
🔥 Pinterest: Firestorm Finance
🔥 Newsletter: Sign up here

Connect with Tomasha:
🔥 Website: Tomasha Suber
🔥Instagram: @tomashasuber
🔥Threads: @tomashasuber
🔥LinkedIn: Tomasha Suber

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Welcome back to the Creative Minds Smart Money Podcast! I’m your host, Samantha Eck, and today’s episode is all about taking your creative business to the next level with smarter, more efficient operations. I’m joined by systems and operations consultant Lauren Glynn, who shares her insights on streamlining business processes to cut the chaos and boost your bottom line.

Lauren breaks down the importance of defining your core values, setting actionable goals, and utilizing tools like AI to help you work smarter, not harder. We dive into her transition from corporate agile coaching to helping creative entrepreneurs fine-tune their workflows for greater productivity and increased revenue.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by the day-to-day grind or just want to optimize your business for growth, this episode is packed with actionable tips to help you run a well-oiled machine while keeping your creative spark alive. Tune in to learn how to take control of your operations, eliminate inefficiencies, and set your business up for long-term success!

Connect with Samantha:

Website: https://www.firestormfinance.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/firestormfinance/

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@firestormfinance?hl=en

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/firestormfinance/

Newsletter: https://firestorm-finance.ck.page/8194316ed3

Connect with Lauren:

Website: https://laurenglynn.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4ZDmg2afyZODtkmnPBNu6g

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurengconsulting/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenglynn/

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@laurengconsulting

Freebie: https://laurenglynn.com/streamline

00:00 Introduction to the Creative Minds Smart Money Podcast

00:29 Meet Our Special Guest: Lauren Glynn

01:06 Lauren's Journey to Becoming a Systems and Operations Consultant

02:38 Defining Core Values and Vision

07:15 Creating and Prioritizing Goals

12:30 Strategies for Productivity and Task Management

15:06 The Importance of Task Audits and Delegation

16:57 Combining Vision, Goals, and Tasks into an Action Plan

27:12 Final Thoughts and Farewell

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