Podcast
Beyond Your Brand
Hosted by Elise Sharpless · EN
Entrepreneurship is in my blood. As a fourth-generation entrepreneur, you could say it was destiny. I had a front-row seat watching my family build businesses from the ground up—and by age 10, I was already knocking on neighbors’ doors, selling my drawings.
The path was clear, but the journey? Anything but easy. I watched others master confidence, mindset, and boldness—qualities that didn’t come naturally to me. For years, I worked behind the scenes, helping business owners grow their brands—often doubling and tripling their revenue. Armed with a strong background in sales, marketing, and advertising, I developed the perfect formula to help businesses scale and created Hey You Social digital marketing agency.
Those moments make me proud, but nothing compares to having my family right beside me, chasing our dreams together. I helped my husband launch his business, and now our daughters—just 18 and 20—are entrepreneurs too!
As a wife and mother, it’s been my mission to pour confidence, mindset, and boldness into my family. We’ve taken big leaps moving from our hometown up North to our Southern paradise and just recently, we finished building our dream home, wall by wall, while running and growing our businesses.
YES! Building from the ground up takes grit, determination, and a mindset that won’t quit. And every decision has led me here, to this moment, with you.
Each week we go all in with real entrepreneurs who’ve built, scaled, and sustained powerful businesses. We’re sharing the raw, the real, and the unfiltered truth behind entrepreneurship..
Ready to push past your limits and take your business Beyond the Brand? Then let’s build something legendary—together.
I’m your host, Elise Sharpless—and this is the BEYOND YOUR BRAND Podcast.
24episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
How To Think Like The Ultra-Successful
Mar 3000:08:47Tap to summarizeWhat does it really mean to think like a CEO? In this episode, Elise pulls back the curtain on what happens behind corporate doors — and how high-level leaders approach strategy, planning, and leadership differently than most entrepreneurs. This isn’t about working harder. It’s about operating at a higher level. If you’re ready to step out of the day-to-day and start leading your business with clarity, vision, and intention, this conversation will give you the framework to start. In this episode, we discuss: • The difference between operators and CEOs • How high-level leaders approach planning and growth • The mindset required to scale sustainably • Why decision-making is a leadership skill • How to step into your next level of authority This episode was created for you—and if it resonated, don’t keep it to yourself.Download the episode, leave a review, and share it with another business owner who needs a smarter way to grow. My goal this year is to double this community, and every download helps make that happen.Want to take the next step?Visit www.elisesharpless.com for resources, updates, and ways we can work together to grow your brand with intention—not guesswork.Growing a business takes grit, determination, and a mindset that won’t quit. That’s why I show up here every single week—so you don’t have to figure it out alone.Thanks for listening to Beyond Your Brand.See you next week.
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The Bonus Plan That Backfired
Mar 2300:08:55Tap to summarizeAt first, it seemed like a win. A bonus structure designed to motivate, reward, and push growth. But over time, something didn’t feel right. In this episode, Elise shares the story behind a business decision that revealed a deeper truth about power, control, and leadership—and the moment she realized things weren’t as they appeared. In this episode, we discuss: • Why not all incentives are created equal • How to recognize control disguised as opportunity • The importance of ownership in your business • Red flags to watch for in partnerships and structures • Making the decision to step into your own power This episode was created for you—and if it resonated, don’t keep it to yourself.Download the episode, leave a review, and share it with another business owner who needs a smarter way to grow. My goal this year is to double this community, and every download helps make that happen.Want to take the next step?Visit www.elisesharpless.com for resources, updates, and ways we can work together to grow your brand with intention—not guesswork.Growing a business takes grit, determination, and a mindset that won’t quit. That’s why I show up here every single week—so you don’t have to figure it out alone.Thanks for listening to Beyond Your Brand.See you next week.
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Look at Those Ta-Da's: Get Things Done and Win
Mar 1600:11:56Tap to summarizeEntrepreneurs and high performers often feel overwhelmed not because they lack motivation, but because they have too many ideas and responsibilities competing for attention. In this episode, Elise shares a powerful mindset shift: focusing on Ta-Da moments instead of endless to-do lists. By celebrating small wins and building systems that support your workflow, you create the momentum that fuels progress, confidence, and growth. In this episode you’ll learn: • Why high-achieving brains often feel overwhelmed • The difference between a traditional to-do list and a Ta-Da list • How small completed tasks build momentum and confidence • Why entrepreneurs need systems to hold their ideas and responsibilities • How organization and automation can simplify running a business • Why systems create freedom instead of slowing you down • How small daily wins contribute to long-term business success Key Takeaway Success rarely happens in one big breakthrough. It’s built through hundreds of small Ta-Da moments that create momentum over time. This episode was created for you—and if it resonated, don’t keep it to yourself.Download the episode, leave a review, and share it with another business owner who needs a smarter way to grow. My goal this year is to double this community, and every download helps make that happen.Want to take the next step?Visit www.elisesharpless.com for resources, updates, and ways we can work together to grow your brand with intention—not guesswork.Growing a business takes grit, determination, and a mindset that won’t quit. That’s why I show up here every single week—so you don’t have to figure it out alone.Thanks for listening to Beyond Your Brand.See you next week.
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The Quiet Strategy Behind Life-Changing Moves
Mar 900:09:26Tap to summarizeThe Quiet Strategy Behind Life-Changing Moves Leaving everything familiar behind and celebrating the unexpected — the moment life quietly pivots into a brand-new chapter. The year I turned 40, I threw a party. Friends. Family. Celebration. But what no one knew was that the party was also a goodbye. Behind the scenes, my husband and I were preparing for a life-changing move that would alter everything about our future. In business and in life, some of the biggest decisions happen quietly long before anyone else sees the vision. In this episode of I’m sharing the story behind that moment — and why sometimes the most powerful moves begin in silence. If you're in a season where you feel a shift coming… this conversation is for you. Because often the next chapter starts before the world realizes the page has turned. This episode was created for you—and if it resonated, don’t keep it to yourself.Download the episode, leave a review, and share it with another business owner who needs a smarter way to grow. My goal this year is to double this community, and every download helps make that happen.Want to take the next step?Visit www.elisesharpless.com for resources, updates, and ways we can work together to grow your brand with intention—not guesswork.Growing a business takes grit, determination, and a mindset that won’t quit. That’s why I show up here every single week—so you don’t have to figure it out alone.Thanks for listening to Beyond Your Brand.See you next week.
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You Care About Quality Google Doesn't
Feb 300:10:17Tap to summarizeWhat You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why Google doesn’t rank businesses based on quality (and what it does rank instead)The real reason competitors with worse service often show up above youWhat Google sees as “confidence” in your businessHow reviews impact rankings (and why consistency matters more than spikes)Whether one bad review can actually hurt your businessHow to respond to negative reviews without making things worseThe truth about how many Google reviews are “enough”Why recency beats quantity when it comes to rankingsHow to build a simple, repeatable review system that works on autopilotKey Takeaways:Google reads momentum, not perfectionOne bad review won’t tank your ranking—but ignoring it canA 4.5-star business with real responses builds more trust than a silent 5-star profileReviews don’t make sales—they remove doubt (and doubt kills conversions)Action Steps from This Episode:Stop waiting for reviews to magically happen—build a systemAsk every customer, every time, the same wayRespond to every review using service and location keywordsFocus on steady, consistent reviews instead of big spikesPrioritize recency over total review count This episode was created for you—and if it resonated, don’t keep it to yourself.Download the episode, leave a review, and share it with another business owner who needs a smarter way to grow. My goal this year is to double this community, and every download helps make that happen.Want to take the next step?Visit www.elisesharpless.com for resources, updates, and ways we can work together to grow your brand with intention—not guesswork.Growing a business takes grit, determination, and a mindset that won’t quit. That’s why I show up here every single week—so you don’t have to figure it out alone.Thanks for listening to Beyond Your Brand.See you next week.
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Your Competitors Are Doing More Than Posting on Facebook
Jan 1800:08:31Tap to summarizeElise calls out the myth that Facebook ads are “too expensive” and shows how a simple $5-a-day strategy can put your business in front of the right people. Instead of chasing quick sales, she breaks down a 3-step ad system—grab attention with a giveaway, turn viewers into followers, and build trust with consistent content that actually converts.She stresses the importance of building trust with the audience, which ultimately leads to increased revenue. The episode is a call to action for business owners who are tired of ineffective marketing tactics and are ready to embrace a more strategic approach to grow their brand. Takeaways If posting on Facebook is your whole marketing plan, your competitors are already ahead of you. You run $5 a day ads to build an audience that actually wants to hear from you. Trust equals revenue; when you post your next offer, your audience is warm, ready and watching. Titles Unlocking the Power of $5 Facebook Ads Stop Posting and Praying: Effective Marketing Strategies Sound bites "If posting on Facebook is your whole marketing plan, your competitors are already ahead of you." "You run $5 a day ads to build an audience." "Trust equals revenue; when you post your next offer, your audience is warm." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Effective Marketing Strategies 01:25 The $5 a Day Facebook Ad Strategy 02:50 Step 1: Launching a Giveaway Ad 03:46 Step 2: Running a New Followers Ad 04:44 Step 3: Engaging with Fresh Content This episode was created for you—and if it resonated, don’t keep it to yourself.Download the episode, leave a review, and share it with another business owner who needs a smarter way to grow. My goal this year is to double this community, and every download helps make that happen.Want to take the next step?Visit www.elisesharpless.com for resources, updates, and ways we can work together to grow your brand with intention—not guesswork.Growing a business takes grit, determination, and a mindset that won’t quit. That’s why I show up here every single week—so you don’t have to figure it out alone.Thanks for listening to Beyond Your Brand.See you next week.
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Fix These 5 Google Business Mistakes Before Busy Season
Nov 500:13:31Tap to summarizePlus, Elise shares how Google’s algorithm really thinks, why reviews are more powerful than ads, and how to make sure your business appears when people are searching for what you do. 💡 Bonus: Download Elise’s free Google Business Optimization Checklist with 20+ tips to help you show up faster—available at DigitalBlueCollarMarketing.com This episode was created for you—and if it resonated, don’t keep it to yourself.Download the episode, leave a review, and share it with another business owner who needs a smarter way to grow. My goal this year is to double this community, and every download helps make that happen.Want to take the next step?Visit www.elisesharpless.com for resources, updates, and ways we can work together to grow your brand with intention—not guesswork.Growing a business takes grit, determination, and a mindset that won’t quit. That’s why I show up here every single week—so you don’t have to figure it out alone.Thanks for listening to Beyond Your Brand.See you next week.
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Outgrowing Your Circle
Oct 1100:19:15Tap to summarize✨ Key Takeaways:How to recognize when your energy no longer matches your circleWhy shrinking yourself to fit in only delays your growthThe mindset shift from guilt to gratitude as you evolveHow to make peace with change and step boldly into your next season💡 “You’re not leaving people behind you’re leading yourself forward.”If you’ve been feeling that tug toward something greater, this episode will speak right to your soul.🎧 Listen now to Episode 30 of Beyond Your Brand with Elise Sharpless — available on all platforms. This episode was created for you—and if it resonated, don’t keep it to yourself.Download the episode, leave a review, and share it with another business owner who needs a smarter way to grow. My goal this year is to double this community, and every download helps make that happen.Want to take the next step?Visit www.elisesharpless.com for resources, updates, and ways we can work together to grow your brand with intention—not guesswork.Growing a business takes grit, determination, and a mindset that won’t quit. That’s why I show up here every single week—so you don’t have to figure it out alone.Thanks for listening to Beyond Your Brand.See you next week.
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$5 a Day: The Meta Ads Strategy That Actually Works
Oct 300:18:46Tap to summarizeListeners will learn why compelling ad copy and eye-catching graphics matter, why you shouldn’t rely solely on AI for your visuals, and how to test, track, and refine ads for maximum impact. Elise emphasizes that advertising is a journey – one that requires patience, strategy, and the right creative tools – and she offers her agency’s expertise for those ready to take the leap into growth.Key Takeaways:$5 a day can bring you growthPaid ads are essential for visibilityCreate scroll-stopping ads with strong visualsSuccess starts with the right mindsetTarget geographically for better resultsStorytelling makes your ad copy more engagingDon’t rely on AI for graphicsTesting is necessary for ad successAlways track your ad performanceRefine your target audience for better engagement This episode was created for you—and if it resonated, don’t keep it to yourself.Download the episode, leave a review, and share it with another business owner who needs a smarter way to grow. My goal this year is to double this community, and every download helps make that happen.Want to take the next step?Visit www.elisesharpless.com for resources, updates, and ways we can work together to grow your brand with intention—not guesswork.Growing a business takes grit, determination, and a mindset that won’t quit. That’s why I show up here every single week—so you don’t have to figure it out alone.Thanks for listening to Beyond Your Brand.See you next week.
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Beyond the Storm with Krista K
Sep 2200:33:44Tap to summarizeConnect with Krista🌐 Website: www.thekristak.com🔗 LinkedIn: Krista Kowalczyk📸 Instagram / Facebook: @the.krista.kAs Featured OnKrista has been featured on major media outlets including:The Kelly Clarkson ShowGood Morning AmericaABC World News Tonight with David MuirFox WeatherThe Weather ChannelNBCLX This episode was created for you—and if it resonated, don’t keep it to yourself.Download the episode, leave a review, and share it with another business owner who needs a smarter way to grow. My goal this year is to double this community, and every download helps make that happen.Want to take the next step?Visit www.elisesharpless.com for resources, updates, and ways we can work together to grow your brand with intention—not guesswork.Growing a business takes grit, determination, and a mindset that won’t quit. That’s why I show up here every single week—so you don’t have to figure it out alone.Thanks for listening to Beyond Your Brand.See you next week.
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