OWN YOUR BRAND SHOW with Victoria Odekomaya

Building Your Business with Purpose | Epi 70

• Victoria Odekomaya | LiMStudios Network • Episode 70

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Ever wonder how companies figure out what to pay their employees? Meet Cassandra, founder and CEO of Total Rewards Solutions, who’s spent over 20 years helping businesses get compensation right. Her journey from administrative assistant to compensation expert to entrepreneur is full of lessons on spotting market gaps and building sustainable businesses. After years in corporate HR, she realized small and mid-sized companies lacked access to the same expertise as big corporations—so she built a solution that changes that.

In this episode, Cassandra breaks down her top tips from two decades in business—from implementing a CRM system early to mastering Profit First, understanding your financials, and planning for retirement. She also opens up about the challenges of entrepreneurship and the power of having a trusted network. Whether you’re just getting started or refining your next stage of growth, this conversation is packed with real, actionable wisdom you can use right away.

Learn more about Total Rewards Solutions:
👉 https://totalrsolutions.com/about/

Check out the book Compensation Sense: 101 Common Questions About Employee Pay Answered on Amazon:
📘 https://www.amazon.com/Compensation-Sense-101-Questions-Employee/dp/1732663505

ABOUT

Victoria Odekomaya is a Nigerian American entrepreneur, speaker, and content marketing strategist on a mission to help business owners grow their business, brand, and legacy through the power of storytelling and strategic content marketing.

She’s the founder of LiMStudios, a full-service creative agency and state-of-the-art content studio in Indianapolis where strategy and storytelling come together through high-quality content production and marketing implementation. She’s also the creator of Boss Ladies Magazine and host of The Own Your Brand Show, a video podcast to help business owners grow their business, brand, and legacy through strategic content marketing and authentic conversations about the entrepreneurial journey.

Each week, Victoria breaks down practical content marketing strategies in her solo “Own Your Brand” episodes and sits down with entrepreneurs in her Behind the Brand series to uncover the stories, struggles, and systems behind their success. Because when we get real about the wins AND the struggles, we realize we're not alone and that's when real transformation happens.

Follow her journey through LiMStudios, Boss Ladies Magazine, and The Own Your Brand Show and join the movement to amplify voices, build legacy, and make impact.

📩 For sponsorship or business inquiries:
mtr.bio/limstudios | hello@thelimstudios.com | Text 260-777-7211

Cassandra Faurote:

The minimum wage at the federal level is so low and it hasn't been increased for so long. Nobody's paying that anymore. It's not tailored to a particular industry or the size of the company. Geographic area plays an important part. Are you working out in California? Are you working here in Indianapolis, Indiana? Literally, the minute revenue hits your checking account, you transfer it to the tax account and you do not touch it. Purchase and implement a CRM day one. Don't let anyone tell you that you can do it later. Find yourself a good, we kind of call that a board of directors who can help you understand this too, shall pass.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Hello and welcome to another episode of the Own Your Brand Show. I'm your girl Victoria Odeko Maya. And on this show, we share stories and insights from amazing women that are crushing in their business as well as share insights on how you can grow your brand and your business. And today I have a very special guest who I had the opportunity to photograph with the Narbo Boss Ladies magazine. Like this woman is doing it. And I'll read a bio in a moment so you can get an idea. So Cassandra is the CEO and founder of Total Reward Solutions. It's a WEE company. Um and it's that um that is the trusted partner for employee compensation consultation for 20 years. And she just told me a little bit before we got started what that really means. And I was like, oh, so that's what you guys do. You know, basically, I'll just tell you right now. You know how when you're in corporate and you're trying to, I always thought, how do they decide how, you know, what do we get paid? Like the pay range and all our company is behind all that. So they they do all the studies to make sure that each type of role has, you know, the appropriate amount of compensation allocated to them. Um, she is also the author of Compensation Sense 101, which is available on Amazon. So I'll put the link below so you can get that. Um, and this is a common sense answer to your questions about employee compensation and total rewards. She has over 30 years of experience in human resources and is frequently a speaker at conferences or a guest speaker on podcasts, as well as has several articles published on various media. So I am so thankful for you coming here. Thank you so much for coming to share your wealth of experience in the area of building being an entrepreneur as well as in HR2. So welcome to the podcast.

Cassandra Faurote:

I appreciate the opportunity to be here. Thank you. How are you doing today?

Victoria Odekomaya:

I'm doing good. Good, yeah. So for those people that don't know who you are, I just kind of like to set the stage. Tell us a little bit about you and kind of like you maybe like your background story.

Cassandra Faurote:

Sure. So um I actually started, um, believe it or not, in uh secretarial work and administrative work. Oh wow. And uh grew into an office manager role, uh, which then grew into having human resources responsibilities. So I went back to school and finished that degree that I had started and um then started working on, you know, the human resource certifications that would give you credentials and credibility and uh secured those. And I worked in the corporate environment for about 15 years, I think, in HR, prior to that, some other roles. And what I soon found was when I got to choose what I worked on, I always gravitated to the compensation area and I really loved it. So that is when I started actually seeking out roles in larger companies that had compensation departments, like you know, full four, five, six, you know, people in their compensation department so I could learn how to do compensation in a large organization.

Victoria Odekomaya:

You know, I didn't even realize, sorry to cut to you that there was also in within HR, there is a department for compensation.

Cassandra Faurote:

If companies are big enough, yeah, absolutely there is. And sometimes it's as small as one or two people, sometimes it can be a whole team of people, you know, ten people. Wow. It really depends on the size of the organization. And so what I realized uh in doing that work was that small and medium-sized businesses never had access to anyone to help them with this because they couldn't afford the expense of large consulting firms. So that's when I decided there was a need that needed to be fulfilled. And that's when I started the business so I could help those small and medium-sized businesses.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Yeah, and that's so good because I mean, half the time I'm like, how what do I pay? You know, and sometimes you're sitting in an interview and then you ask someone like how much do you want to be paid? And you know, we all have the numbers that we that's ideal for us, but like, how do we know that it's the right amount for both, you know, and fair too? So your work is pretty important too, you know, very, very important actually.

Cassandra Faurote:

Yeah, you know, there's a lot of information available on the internet, Victoria, but it's not tailored to the company.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Yeah.

Cassandra Faurote:

Um, you know, so it's not tailored to a particular industry or the experience level of the job or the size of the company, whether that be employee size or revenue size, or what if we're a not for profit, you know, versus a for-profit. So there's a lot of variables that go into tailoring that data to the organization. And so while there's a lot of free information available, it's really not, you know, specific enough to what companies really need.

Victoria Odekomaya:

So if I get this right, you're saying that just because you're a project manager with a small firm that maybe are focusing on marketing, that doesn't mean that you would get the same amount of pay as a project manager in a bigger organization. That's correct. Wow.

Cassandra Faurote:

And also geographic area as well plays an important part. You know, are you working out in California? Are you working here in Indianapolis, Indiana?

Victoria Odekomaya:

Yeah, standard of living factors into that view. Yes. Oh, that makes a lot of sense now. I I didn't realize that there was a whole, you know, wow, that is that makes a lot. Thank you. You're welcome. Because like your job is so important because, you know, like I'm thinking when back in the day when I used to get a paycheck, like it makes sense that I'm getting the right paycheck for my job, but so to be able to live have a living. You know, so it's important that we have people that are dedicated to making sure that not only, you know, we're paying, being paid fairly, but we the employees also have life, they can live a life too, right on what they do.

Cassandra Faurote:

Yeah. We have a lot of conversations with our clients around living wages for their area, so that you know, hopefully maybe we can start, you know, their starting rate at that. Um some organizations literally can't afford it, right?

Victoria Odekomaya:

But others can. I actually thought it was based on like um federal level. You know, like you know how they have like the minimum wages. I I thought that a lot of that too.

Cassandra Faurote:

But the minimum wage at the federal level is so low and it hasn't been increased for so long. Nobody's paying that anymore. It's it's kind of almost ridiculous that the law exists because nobody pays that low of amount anymore. And it's so far below a minimum living wage, you know, which is different than the minimum wage laws uh and what it takes for somebody to survive just for basic needs.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Right. And I'm also thinking like for a company to be competitive too, right? Like you have they need your services to be able to factor in that competitiveness, right? To provide a competitive offer to people that they're trying to hire. Exactly.

Cassandra Faurote:

That whole industry piece is really important. Industry, size of the company, geographical location are some of the really important factors.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Wow. Wow. So so you decided that you love this so much, you've had a lot of experience, now you start your own business, right? What does it look like in the very beginning? Were you like, did you come in with a lot of clients, or you were like, oh my God, what was I thinking?

Cassandra Faurote:

Well, I was kind of fortunate. Um, we're at a position in our personal lives uh where my husband had asked me if I would think about working part-time, to which I thought he was absolutely crazy. Um but um I did seek that out and found a 30-hour a week job. And so with the balance of my time, I started building this business on the side. That's smart. And so I literally went back to places I had worked previously and said, hey, I'm hanging out a shingle. I'm available to do some work. If any of you, you know, are interested in me helping you out with this, let me know. My very first project came from a previous client that I had worked at where I wanted to do a pace study while I was there and they would not let me.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Oh wow.

Cassandra Faurote:

But after I left, they asked me if I would come back and do the pace study. Um, and that was, you know, 20 years ago, and that's just hard to believe. But that's how I got started. And then, you know, you just keep reaching out and you keep doing your marketing and you keep networking and having coffee until you think you can't drink another cup of coffee. Um, and then word of mouth just starts getting around.

Victoria Odekomaya:

That's right. You know, it's funny that you're the second person that mentioned, like, when they started their business, going back to the previous people that they've worked with and then getting like I would not have thought about that, but that's like, you know, because they already know your skills, they know your wow, capabilities and yeah, wow.

Cassandra Faurote:

You've got a relationship that you've established there as long as you left on good terms, of course. Right. Um, and and you were a good employee when you were there. Um and so, yeah, they really trust you. It's got an as you know, an automatic trust factor where with prospects that you don't know at all, you know, you gotta kind of first establish trust and that you care about them and you care about their needs before they're willing to trust you.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Right. Okay, wow, that's interesting. So so have you as you started building this business, like did you continue to have clients immediately or like was there any like ups and downs? Like we probably, you know, it's normal.

Cassandra Faurote:

So yes, this is a project-based business. Okay. So unlike uh other human resource consulting firms who are on retainer on a regular basis, we come in, we do a project, and then we go away, basically. Um, then we come in when you need the next project done. It might be a year later, it might be two years later. Um, and so because it is project-based, you're always chasing your next set of projects, right? Um, however, you know, after you've been in business a few years, if you have a good follow-up system, um, you know, you're following up. Hey, it's been two years since we did that base pay project, you know, it's time to look at those rates again. Are you ready to do this? And so those previous clients, you know, where we've had the privilege of doing a project with them four, five, six, seven times at this point, is really exciting because we've built really strong relationships with those folks. And you know, to the point where, you know, they're they're they're more than just a client.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Yeah, you know, that's amazing. I mean, like what I'm hearing from you from a marketing point of view is like there's gold in that follow-up, you know, and and it's cheaper to get a follow-up, it might cost you nothing essentially than to try and get a new client. So people, you don't want to sleep on that. If you ever have the opportunity to build a relationship, a long-term relationship with a client, do that so that way, you know, because it's not like you're, you're, you're, it's not like you're taking away from them because it's an exchange of service, right, for money. So you're helping them continuously. And that that has a lot of value in it too, because now they don't have to worry about trying to search for someone to come help them out. They already have a trusted person that they've built a relationship with, and it just, you know, keeps on going like that.

Cassandra Faurote:

Yeah, they don't have to train a new person while you know them.

Victoria Odekomaya:

And so that goes a long way as well. Yes. Oh, that's incredible. So the was the like pandemic. I'm just I'm just curious, did you have any time where you're like, okay, where are the projects? Like, what's going on? Like, you know.

Cassandra Faurote:

Oh, yes. Um, during the pandemic, not only did every project that was in process put us on hold, um, but every prospect put us on hold as well. Literally, for about a three-month period. Wow. And actually, during that time period, um, I birthed a second company. Oh, wow. Okay. Um, I decided, you know, it really makes you reflect, right? Yes. I'm in sort of reflecting on what do I want to do next? What's what's another thing I want to do yet? Right. And what I had remembered at the time, I had been in business maybe about 15, 16 years at that point, was that I remembered how hard it was to get started. I remembered all the forms, all the processes, just everything, proposal letters, everything I had to put together, right? So we went about putting it all into a turnkey solution. And it literally took us about three years to build it. Wow. Um, because then business picks back up. So now you're doing it on the side, not full time, right? It's kind of like starting that side gig. And so uh we went about building it, and um, we have that completed now. And that that's exactly what it is. It's a turnkey solution that helps other compensation professionals leave the corporate world and start their own compensation consulting practice.

Victoria Odekomaya:

That's amazing because I know I remember during the pandemic, there was a lot of exits out of corporates. And a lot of us, I think that's when I actually came out of to like we're just going based on our desires, our passion, like I can do this, let's go. And then you're like, oh, but I have to fill out this form, and then I have to do this. Oh my God, nobody told me that I need, you know, it's like, oh no, what did I get myself? Oh God, yes, you know. So that is that is so valuable, just being able to have, okay, this is all you need to know. And these are the step-by-step checklist, you know, you know, to keep you going so that way you're not getting in trouble where your passion is driving you to move forward. And you're not trying to do all that and build business at the same time. That's right.

Cassandra Faurote:

Was what I found. You know, I'm trying to wear 14 hats. So what I've done is try to take it at least down to maybe people are wearing seven hats instead of 14 when they start by giving them all the tools and processes that they need. And so now they're spending their time on business development and building relationships and connections and getting the work in the door. Wow.

Victoria Odekomaya:

And I know you have this 10 tips that you have for entrepreneurs. So maybe we just dive right into it because this is like a great segue for someone out there that may be thinking, like, you know, I really want to start my business. I know, you know, like, oh, I'm already doing it, but maybe there's something out there that I could be doing. So do you want to share with us the first time? Sure.

Cassandra Faurote:

Um, so um, the first thing I would say is purchase and implement a CRM day one. Yes. Customer relationship management is what CRM stands for. Don't let anyone tell you that you can do it later because it is just overwhelming if you wait too long.

Victoria Odekomaya:

And in CRM is one of those things where you it helps you keep track of all your clients, all the inquiries that are coming through so you can follow up later, you know, and it just has everything all in the same place. The phone numbers, the email, all the things.

Cassandra Faurote:

Keep the little things you learn, their birth dates, their anniversaries, who their kids are. That's right. All those things that make a personal connection, right? Yeah. That's that's the that's the first one, and really um one I wish I would have started day one, let me tell you. I didn't do that. So that was a lesson learned. Yeah. All right, yeah, cool. What's the next one? Um, set aside money to pay your taxes the minute it comes in the door. You wouldn't believe how many entrepreneurs have gotten in trouble when it comes tax time because they spent all the money that came in the end because look, I was making up the money and I forgot about taxes.

Victoria Odekomaya:

And I'm like, wait, I have to pay this? Like, what wow? And the money was gone because it wasn't like it's, you know, because you keep finding nine other things. And I'm like, I have to, wow.

Cassandra Faurote:

You gotta get with the tax advisor and let them, you know, tell you how much do you need to pill aside, have a separate tax account. Literally, the minute revenue hits your checking account, you transfer it to the tax account and you do not touch it until it's time to pay the tax account. That's right.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Yeah, I've learned about this. I don't know if you know about this thing called um um profit first system. Yes. Profit first, that's that's the next point. Yeah, because it helps you have those bank accounts so you can put money aside and you know where the money is going. Yes. And I like it also because like it there's the operating account where you know that's only the amount of money you have to spend. So you've got to figure it out, make it work, you know. Exactly. As opposed to I have all this money.

Cassandra Faurote:

That's exactly correct.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Yeah.

Cassandra Faurote:

I call that plan purposely for profit. That's right. And I always say to folks, start out small. Start off with 5% of your revenue. So you set your taxes aside, you set out 5%, you know. At the end of the year, you have a pot of money. And here's what you get to decide: Am I gonna reinvest that back in the business? Is there some new product, some new service, some piece of equipment, something I need? Or are have we grown to the point where I'm gonna take half of it as a bonus because maybe you're not paying yourself that much throughout the year. And the other half I'm gonna reinvest back into the business. We all know the need for an emergency fund, right? We have an emergency fund personally, you need an emergency fund for business as well. Guess what? COVID hits every now and then. Oh, it does. And you need to be able to pay people.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Right.

Cassandra Faurote:

And so um, that's what's great about you know, having that money at the end of the year, then you know, as your business continues to grow, eventually it's a nice bonus for the owner. Oh my god, or you share that bonus with your employees or you know, whatever you want to do with it.

Victoria Odekomaya:

It's so funny how like a lot of these things we don't even think of or know of before we get started in business. And I'm so glad that you have that turnkey program, you know, which you know, helping to share some of this too, that's so helpful. So, what's number what's the next one?

Cassandra Faurote:

The next one is open a retirement plan early on.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Oh my god.

Cassandra Faurote:

So I went several years without, you know, because you lost your 401k, right? You're not in corporate anymore. And I went several years without putting a dime back for retirement because I just didn't know I could, Victoria.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Can I tell you a thing? So when I was starting my business, before I started my business, I was worried about two things. I was worried about my 401k and health insurance. Because those things were built into corporate. And I was like, would I be able to continue? I was so I like, I was like, oh my God. But so I'm so thankful because there are ways on it wasn't until I started asking questions that I knew that you could actually start paying money into, oh my God. Yeah.

Cassandra Faurote:

So again, you got to get a financial services professional, right? Again, I had no idea. But once I got an accountant and a financial services professional together, and we were able to figure out the beauty that I have learned, at least for me, and it does depend on what type of entity your business is, you know, are you an LLC, an S Corps, et cetera, is that the same money I used to set aside just to pay taxes now covers my retirement contribution and my taxes. Because it's reducing my tax liability because of the retirement contributions. Wow. So yeah, I went four or five years, so I've now spent several years trying to make up my catch up. Four or five years and catch up.

Victoria Odekomaya:

You got it. Yeah, that's so so yeah, because again, like I said, for me, it was one of those things where I thought I it would not happen for me. Like, how am I gonna figure this out? So I'm thankful that you're sharing this now because for anyone out there that may not have it yet, or like you're thinking about, okay, I'm trying to get out of this business, what's gonna happen? Like, there are options out there. You just need to ask the question and get a good financial person to help you out. Absolutely. All right, what's the next one?

Cassandra Faurote:

So, really important become one with your financials. If you are lacking in this area, and quite honestly, I was. You get with get some training. Um, I credit the Goldman Sachs program for my training in this area. I mean, it was just incredible. You gotta learn the difference between a balance statement and a cash flow statement and what all those mean and what they tell you. And you really uh you gotta understand your numbers to function.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Yes. And you know, it's funny, like I'm glad that we both went to, you know, through the Goldman Sachs program, but like like it does something to you, and I think it it puts you in the driver's seat because you know your numbers. Yeah, like you just feel confident to know, like I remember when we were talking, because Literary, I could not tell the difference between a PL statement and a balance. I'm like, what you know, I look at it, but I don't understand what it means. But like, you know, if you're looking to grow your business, like what they thought of, like you have to be able to explain the numbers, defend the numbers, and project, forecasting, all of those things. So, wow. Absolutely. Oh, goodness. Okay. What's the next one?

Cassandra Faurote:

Well, you kind of hit on this one, and and that is um what I call financial forecasting and developing a budget. So you mentioned this, right? You're operating accounts. So that's what you know you have available for expenses. And just like at home, you you mostly buy by a budget, right? And if the money's not there, you either put it on credit card or you don't get it. Right. And I think that's an important thing to realize in business. You know, if you're putting stuff on credit, it's got to be paid back at some point. Right. And so if you have the separate accounts, like you mentioned, and you're only using your operating income account for expenses, you know when you have money to spend and when you don't.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Yes, yes. So powerful. And then, like you said, the forecasting to just like planning out how much revenue is gonna come in, right? Because I find that that fits into all the work you know you need to do to get to those numbers.

Cassandra Faurote:

Exactly. I always say to folks, do your sales planning first for the year. So know what do you have coming in, what do you need to come in, and what is it gonna take to get it in? And then you know how much you have for expenses. Yeah. Um, but if you know you're anticipating a down revenue year for whatever reason, maybe economy's tight, whatever's going on, then you better lower those expenses down.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Right. So do you know, I wonder, like, I feel like, I mean, honestly, going through that program and also talking about this with you, right, makes me really feel like I'm a big girl. Yeah, you know, you know, because it's like these are things that you you nobody taught us, you know, how to run a business. You know, you just literally go out on the passion of what you love to do. But there is a method to it, like, you know, and and I think it's the same thing that big corporate people do too, right? Right. Um, but like I was just wondering, like, what what do you feel like? Why do you feel like we always just like don't even think about all of these things? Like, we don't look at because you made a great um um scenario here where like your your um f personal finances, you you kind of treat it the same way. You want to at least like what are the budgets that we have for this and that, right? You want to have the same thing in your business. Why do we not think of it like that when it comes to business?

Cassandra Faurote:

I think it's just lack of entrepreneurial training. I mean, we didn't have until recent years even degrees, right, in our colleges for entrepreneurs. Yeah. So many of us have learned it on the fly. On the go, yes. Um, unless you had parents that owned a company and you learned at their feet, how else do you learn it? You work in big corporate, big corporate's different, right? Right. And you don't have to be an expert in finance and marketing and sales and bookkeeping and you know, everything else that hits an entrepreneur's platter. There's just all these other people to do those things. Yeah. And you don't have all those other people when you first get started.

Victoria Odekomaya:

That's right. Wow. It's good to know. All right, so what do you have next? Um, you need a marketing and a sales plan. Oh, yeah. I'm definitely 100% in agreement with that one.

Cassandra Faurote:

And since you do that work, you totally understand. Yes, you absolutely have to have a marketing and a sales plan. You're not gonna get where you need to go without one.

Victoria Odekomaya:

And you know, like you said, I love the way you put it. Like you have a sales plan in the very beginning of the year. So you know how much work you need to put in, whether through your marketing or all the other pieces of how you market your business, to be able to get to those numbers that you hope to get to forecasting, right? Exactly. But because we don't do that, we don't even know how whether our marketing is working or not, because there's no nothing to measure up to. Exactly.

Cassandra Faurote:

Well, and to me, I've always treated marketing as an expense. I know you can track marketing metrics, and I know there's some ROI on marketing, and I do understand that. But at the same time, marketing is marketing, it's getting your name and your brand out there, is what it is. Sales is different, right? Right. I know I need four base projects this year and three bonus plans or whatever it might be to make my numbers. But marketing's different. That's just an awareness, right? That you exist. Right.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Yeah, to bring people in and then the sales closes the deal. So, yeah, you need to know what numbers you need to get in terms of sales, but then you can backwards work your out to feel like how much marketing do I need to get enough eyeballs into the door so I can close this number of sales.

Cassandra Faurote:

Exactly. Well, and you mentioned metrics, right? You've got to figure out what metrics are important for your organization and start tracking them right away. You know, different metrics work for different organizations. Right. So, you know, you need marketing metrics and sales metrics and financial metrics, and um, but you've just got to establish what's important to your business. Yeah. And because if you don't have metrics and you're not looking at them, how do you know how you're doing? Exactly. Oh, I have money in the bank, that's not the only measure.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Right. Oh, I I do know okay. Are we supposed is this where we hope to be in, you know, like maybe have a five-year plan and figure out like because I think that may also be the reason why sometimes we get um, you know, when the journey gets tough, it's easier to give up because we're not seeing results. But if we're not measuring, you can't see the results. Exactly. You don't know where to adjust if you don't have metrics, do you? That's right. That's so good. Wow. So do you have any other ones?

Cassandra Faurote:

Uh two more. Okay, yes, let's go. Um, and that is create standard operating procedures for everything. Now, nobody enjoys doing this right. This is not a good time. I do not like writing SOPs. Matter of fact, I was fortunate someone on my team loved to do it. Oh, wow. She got all the SOPs right. Um, but yeah, you've got to have those because when you have turnurb and I'm sorry, not everybody's gonna stay with you forever. Um, and um, you know, or you're starting to add different lines of services or products, you have got to have SOPs. And I mean for everything. Right. Everything from how to create the financials, how to do the administrative task, how to do the work you do. You need them for everything. And don't wait too long. I waited too long to start that process. And then it was really overwhelming.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Yeah, to try and do everything at the same time. Yeah, I feel like one of the things that I have learned to help me with that is like as you go along, especially for it's probably easier to do online. Like if you're doing any training online, just record it. Yes. So at least you have something, right? But like, but if you're doing something in person, that's a little different. But like if you can record online training, you know, that kind of thing. But yeah, sometimes, yeah. And then also I think um making it clear enough for other people to follow. Yes. That's another part of that, too.

Cassandra Faurote:

Absolutely.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Because it makes sense to the person that wrote it.

Cassandra Faurote:

And so, yeah, the process we used was I would bullet point everything out and give it to one of my employees, and then she would write it all up. And if something didn't make sense, she'd go, What are you talking about here? We don't do this. Um, and then I would review them again, right? When we thought they were final. You still find things that need to be fixed. Um, so absolutely, yeah.

Victoria Odekomaya:

That's amazing.

Cassandra Faurote:

Okay, yeah. Um, last one is continue to get education. Um, you know, once we become an entrepreneur, is not our where our learning journey stops. Um, as we know, we have lots to learn. And you may have how to do your trade. You may be a subject matter expert at what you do, but for example, as we've talked about today, there's lots of things you don't know about being an entrepreneur, right? Um there are so many great low and no-cost programs out there that are available, so many resources uh for entrepreneurs that they can, you know, use. And you just gotta go seek them out, but never ever stop learning.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Yeah, that's a good one. Yeah. Because it's just, I mean, I feel like that's also applicable to life in general, too. Yes. You have to keep learning. Yeah, absolutely do. Wow. So I'm thinking here, and I don't know you, so you helped me. Is some of this at least included in your, you know, tonkey program, like your side project that you did?

Cassandra Faurote:

It is, um, because we thought this was important. Um, and so we actually have an SOP. Manual for that business for people who become advisors and licensees with us. That has a lot of this information in it. That's amazing. Where can people get their hands on that? Just reach out to me, Cassandra at I've got uh Compensation Sense.com is the advisor licensee business. If we have a business who is looking for help with their employee compensation, that's Cassandra at totalartsolutions.com.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Okay. And I'll make sure to put all of that in the link below too, because first of all, I feel like there's a lot of us out there that small business owners that we we definitely need your help figuring out where am I paying what do I need to be paying, you know, as especially as you're growing too. But also like to get our hands on this opportunity to redo if we need to go back and like the forms, the you know, how to write a proposal, like all the things that we need to we needed to have put in place before we started a business, you know, as we just continue to do it as we're going because sometimes it might come to bite us eventually, but before it gets to that point, get some resources to help you. Yeah, absolutely. Good. And then so your book too. Where can we find your book?

Cassandra Faurote:

Book is on Amazon, it's the only place you can find it.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Uh-huh.

Cassandra Faurote:

And we have it's available in ebook format. Um, if you like the paperback like I do, um, it's available in that. And then it is also just newly released in audio version, and that is available on Audibles. I believe you can also get it on Amazon too. Um, so exciting!

Victoria Odekomaya:

You know, because like a lot of people want options now. So like just read that I can listen to. So you got no choice, okay? You got the reading, you got the audio version. So, yes, so get your hands on it. So before we end, I want to ask you, I know you have a ton of experience, you know, over, I mean, 20, 30 years of experience as an entrepreneur. What is something that you would tell to anyone right there that is like struggling? You know, I mean, you've shared a lot of tips already, but like if you could speak to them and say, look, whatever you might be going through right now, because a lot of people that I know listen to this, uh, you know, we feel isolated, we feel like we're the only ones going through this. You've I'm thankful that you mentioned like we wear a lot of hats, you know, but that's not just us. It's a ton of people. So if you can have, if you can just share with them a word of encouragement to just, you know, like help them as they're going through life right now to, you know, keep going.

Cassandra Faurote:

I would say first, stay the course. Um, and secondly, network. Get yourself a good group of people that you trust that you can pick up that phone when you're having that bad day. I fielded one of these a few weeks ago, just in tears. Um, we all have that.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Are you saying that the buddies never end?

Cassandra Faurote:

Like even no matter how long your video does. You know, we all have bad days, right? Um, and sometimes we just become overwhelmed, right? And we just need someone with a listening ear who's been there who says, hey, look, let's put this in perspective, you know, and and just help some think through it, process it. Um, and so, you know, find yourself a good, we we kind of call that a board of directors.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Yeah.

Cassandra Faurote:

Um, you know, find yourself two or three, four, five people you can trust that you can pick up the phone on that bad day, and you know, you can get somebody who's been there who can help you understand this too, shall pass, um, and you will, you know, be able to continue on. But but in the moment, you know, it can feel very overwhelming. I mean, maybe you just lost the biggest contract you ever wanted in life, right? You're devastated. Um, or maybe, you know, you're struggling this month with how am I gonna pay people? I mean, these are real struggles that all entrepreneurs face.

Victoria Odekomaya:

Wow, thank you. Thank you so much. Well, I hope that really helps and inspires you. But I would love for you, it's I we're gonna put all of the links in the comment below so that you can get your hands on these resources, either the book reading or listening, and also like um on the tell us the name of the program again. I don't think we kind of actually got Compensation Sense. S E N S C is the advisor licensee opportunity. Yeah, so like if that's something that you're interested in, you know, uh definitely get your hands on it. Also surround yourself with a board of advisors because you know, life is full of full of ups, ups and downs, and we need those people around us to lift us up when the journey gets tough. But thank you again so much for coming. Welcome. I appreciate your time and just sharing with us. Like, those are really great nuggets. Like, I feel like I have to go back and like check. But well, until next time, keep it locked here, and we'll bring you new episodes every Monday. Take care.

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