054: Letting Go, Leveling Up: How Sarah Sold Linked and Launched Something Bigger

Ep 55_Sarah_GLP_FINAL

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[: 00:00:00

I have a passion to empower fellow

Sarah: business spades.

This podcast is made to equip you with everything you need to succeed from actionable marketing steps to digging deep on your mindset. I know firsthand the heart hard work, and let's be real at times of struggle that makes up this amazing journey. You wanna know what has enabled me to shine the brightest coaching plus community here at Goldie Links.

to the Goldie Links podcast.[: 00:01:00

Hey there. Did you know that we offer handmade permanent jewelry supplies? Go to goldie link supplies.com to view our beautiful chains, connectors, Bengals, and more, including our non-permanent stretchy bracelets that are available to you for wholesale. Everything is created by a tribe of mama makers.

What is a mama maker? Stay-at-home moms that create on their own time between raising their children, serving as a self-care creative outlet, and supporting their families. Your items come with signage on how these supplies are made, along with Gemstone property info, as each gemstone has a special meaning.

If you wanna level up your business with handmade supplies, not made by a machine, but made by hand with love, then check it out@goldielinksupplies.com. Now onto the show. Sarah is back. Sarah is one of the former founders of Linked Permanent Jewelry. Yes, I said former. She's headed into a new era as she just launched Vault.

It is virtual [: 00:02:00

We've been on before and a lot has changed since you were on the podcast last, so I feel like it was Sarah from Linked Before. And do you wanna reintroduce yourself?

Sarah: Yeah. So I am, uh, Sarah Jenkins and, uh, former founder of Link. I did scale and Exit that company sold, um, to my previous business partner.

Jake Randolph and I just launched a business on a whim called Vault Collective, which is uh, consulting and virtual assistant agency. While I'm waiting for my new entity to launch, which I'm hoping that'll be done in the next month or two. Can you share about the other entity right now or no? No, because I want to so bad.

eve me, I want to so bad and [: 00:03:00

I wasn't prepared to, to announce and then they did. And I was like, okay, well I'm just gonna tell everyone at PJX. Everyone knew I exited. I got all the congratulations. People had stories that came to tell me, uh, which I was telling you a second ago was really validating to hear, but. The big I, I got asked three types of questions.

One of the questions I'm not gonna share because the new entity that I'm gonna release is going to solve that problem for everyone. But the other question which was validating, right, of like, I already wanna do this thing, and then I was getting these questions at PGX. I'm like, yes. Yes. Yes. Ask more because I'm gonna, I'm gonna help you.

ackends, understand customer [: 00:04:00

And so as I'm preparing to launch the new entity, that's a secret that I'm not telling anyone about right now. I'm gonna have discipline about keeping it a secret. I was like, well, I'm, you know, I'm gonna need virtual assistance for that. And I already have these other several businesses that, you know, have the Glass house.

And my husband has JW Beef Company, which is Bulk Beef, and I have tons of friends and family around me that I help them with their businesses. So I was already naturally consulting and everyone kept asking, you know, on the consulting side, like, would I help them with certain things? And then where could they get a virtual assistant?

And I am very selfish and I'm like, I'm not sharing my virtual assistant with everyone. I love my virtual assistants. Like if I share them with you guys, how are they gonna help me with my stuff? So I was like. You know what? Screw it. I'm already doing consulting for people. I had already helped two people launch their business a month prior to PJX and it wasn't even affiliated with permanent jewelry.

hat I can plug and go. Done. [: 00:05:00

I was like, oh man, like I'm not, I'm not in the permanent jewelry industry any longer, but like, I, I kind of am. And so being there was super validating and just hearing people ask me those specific questions of, of, of business ideas that already lingering in my mind was just, it was so exciting and like it set me on fire.

But you are in the industry, like the thing is you grew this, uh, linked, I mean, obviously you were. The pivotal part of growing linked, and so obviously you are so familiar with the permanent jewelry world and whether or not you continue, I don't know this other entity, if you're speaking about, if that's permanent jewelry related.

I don't know. Is it,

Sarah: of course I'm not going anywhere. I'm saying, and it's not, I mean, I know everyone's like. Oh my gosh. Her secret is she's gonna launch a training. It's not just a training. Of course I'm gonna have some level of training 'cause I enjoy that, but there's so much more to it and I cannot wait, cannot wait for it to be released.

I know

th what, at this point, what [: 00:06:00

And when you get into business, you, that's what I think if someone has never had a business and get into permanent jewelry, that's what they think of. They think of like, okay, just the chains welding. Woo hoo. Right. Fun. But really there's so much more to it. Right. So when you're speaking of like these facets of business that I'm assuming the reason why you even have this right now, the consulting in the VA and talking about the.

About this is because what you learned from growing Linked, correct. I mean, kind of what you needed.

Sarah: A hundred percent. And just like I was already in business for a decade prior to Linked, so I understood it to some extent. The delegating was what Linked really taught me and the letting go of that control.

instead of hanging out in my [: 00:07:00

No. So why would I not delegate that to someone who one enjoys it, knows exactly what they're doing and they build them to be super effective. Right. So, which I kind of, last time we did a podcast kind of talked about the CRM. Situation that I was wanting to integrate into Linked, and I ultimately chose not to.

And there's another facet of why I launched Volt before this new entity and why Volt and what Volt offers was never a thing that Linked Did is 'cause my anticipation was always to exit linked, right? Not in the manner. Uh, and the time in which I did, I'm glad it happened, whatever, but I always anticipated exiting, linked, and with this new entity that I'll launch, I want to exit to, but Vault is so close to home and who I am and my zone of genius that if I were to exit and sell like, like I did linked, I would've had to let go of what Vault.

ions, and their current pain [: 00:08:00

Makes sense. Okay. So, and it's so cool actually. Now I'm really bad with time 'cause I'm like, uh, half the time, like, what day is it? But I'm trying to think back to when we first talked and then even we will, we'll say this, we actually recorded something about six weeks ago maybe. I know it was a couple weeks before PJX and it just was, there was a lot of technical difficulties we had and so we had to rerecord, but at the time we did that even six, seven weeks ago.

You didn't, you weren't speaking of

Sarah: vault at all. I was already doing the things that I was already consulting with people. Like I said, I already helped, I helped. Someone with an IV business from Ground Zero launch. She's already $22,000 in in a few short weeks. I helped a girl with her spray 10 business Ground Zero launched.

All of my friends, all of my family, they come to me about business stuff and I enjoy it. I love it. And so after PJX, when I just kept getting asked and asked and asked, I was like, well, I'm gonna package it and I'm gonna charge for it, and then I'm gonna use it in my new entity. Right? So literally, vault was.

[: 00:09:00

is so cool. Good for you. Like, and I feel like that's such a great lesson in someone because you're just, you're definitely like a, a, a doer, right? You just, I mean, obviously you have experience in dif different businesses, so you kind of know the steps in order, but I feel like you just, you see, you see it, you feel it, and you do it kind of thing, and you see there's a need for it.

And I, I love that because I think a lot of people hesitate and they think about all these what ifs and whatnot. And I just also wanna point out too, like no matter what stage in business you are, how important it is to be kind of fluid and be flexible and like, who knows? Like, just think about, well, how much has transitioned with you for in just the last six months

Sarah: is kind of insane.

Right?: 2025

I wanna go B by [: 00:10:00

Thank you. I wanna go back to like actually take it back to why even you decided to exit link. 'cause we didn't touch on that yet. But I think what's important to also point out is that it wasn't like you were, the business is struggling, right? Which is why you left. It was like you were thriving. You could have stayed and obviously done well and thrived in linked.

Like if I'm, you know, speaking correctly here in a, you know, again, I guess you can continue to tell us. And going to tell us, but it was like almost for you was more of a gut feeling. It wasn't the fact of like a money thing. It was like Right. It was like what you feel was right for you. And so a lot of times it's hard for us to like say goodbye to something when we're like, gosh, well we're doing well monetarily.

And we are like, we we're putting all these. Things together. Like, wait, I should be grateful. I, I, you know, I'm, I making good money. Like, this is what, you know, it's providing, like in looking at the positives, but it's like that gut feeling keeps telling you like, Hey, like, I don't like this anymore, or something's telling me to get outta here and like, do something else.

ded and how this came about. [: 00:11:00

Sarah: So. I mean we, when we did our original podcast, I think that was like November of last year. Yes. Okay. Um, it was about partnerships and that I really enjoyed that podcast and it was really good for me to verbalize all of those thoughts and the things that I was experiencing at that point in time with partnerships in my.

Thought theory and I ideal over what does it mean to be in a partnership still stands from that podcast, right? Even when I was in the thick of it. And so during that podcast I knew we, we were headed into litigation, but I always thought there was gonna be one of two outcomes. It was either I was gonna buy my partner out.

hours of [: 00:12:00

3:00 AM I'm like, screw it, I'm selling, I'm done. And I shed a tear for a second. I sat there with my attorney and a few of my team members and I shed a tear. 'cause it felt like I had just like severed a limb. Everyone compares it to like, oh, it's your baby. And I would never give up my baby, first of all, but I might cut an arm off to save my entire body.

Right? And so that was what it felt like, is I just like, I have to, I have to cut this limb off. And it's gonna suck for a second, and I'm gonna be freaking out because I haven't been mentally preparing myself for weeks leading up to this. And I did it. I shed a tear and I got in the car and it was so late.

eduled and organized and I'm [: 00:13:00

And those three weeks leading up and then going to PJX and all of it was just, but it, going back to chesting, you know what I just said? Chesting my gut, uh, chest, my gut on that. I tested my gut on vault and already in a week and a half, I mean, I've had to hire, I'm delegating task. I'm operating better than I have any other business, just 'cause I understand what needs to be, be done and I'm, and I'm happier.

I'm happier. It's crazy. I know, because even though I severed a limb, I'm happier.

Yes. I mean, even just seeing you and hearing you, like I can't even, and even though it just has been very recent of you exiting LinkedIn and starting, like you said, you literally launched Vault like less than a month ago, right?

I, I can't even picture you. Doing anything else, like, you know what I mean? Like I can't picture you like, it just feels so right. You're, what you're saying is like, God, you're like, you're on your path like this. This is like what you're meant for. Because I think you kind of felt you gained all this pay by operating something before linked even.

ating linked, you've learned [: 00:14:00

Sarah: Yeah. No, I mean, I'm not gonna pretend like it wasn't hard and I didn't have my moments right, but Oh yeah, of course.

After it was done, it was just, I mean, like, like I said, I can't, I can't describe the feeling even sitting here now, like I'm just so thankful and I'm, I'm kind of, I have whiff flash because like I said, it's, we're already in June, like it's been six months and all of this has happened and none of it was on my calendar and like, but geez, you know?

Yeah.

Yeah, so going back to November. Thank you for reminding me of that. 'cause that is, okay. So that's what, yeah, it's about six, uh, or no more than, more than that. Six. Eight months ago. Mm-hmm. So you had already known, although we didn't talk about the podcast that you were, that was a plan for, again, free to exit or, or do whatever you you're planning on doing with Linked.

nt way, what led you to want [: 00:15:00

Sarah: because we, I mean, we just had a difference.

We, we couldn't come to an agreement on, on views and what, like our core values were. Not that his were wrong, they just weren't the same as mine. And as time went on and I kept trying to force, we kept trying to force our co core values to coexist when they were so. Different. They were polar opposites. It was just, I mean, it was hard on me.

It was hard on him. I'm not gonna pretend like I'm a victim in a situation by any means. We're both adults. Um, but it goes back to like that, in that podcast that I had with you of like, we started this business on a whim and there was, yeah, we had. You know, a partnership agreement. But the operating, the, the operating agreement was very standard.

by that operating agreement [: 00:16:00

Our mission for this business is not aligned and it's not gonna continue to work. And so we went to litigation.

We spoke about it like it was a marriage, like with partnership. We spoke about that back in November. So if you haven't listened to that, it's a good one to listen to, especially if you're in a partnership or thinking about doing a partnership, like we said, because there's so many things that you just go into always things, like you said, thinking like a, the when you don't know.

We kept saying that too, that that time was like, you don't know what you don't know. Like that is so true, and sometimes you just learn as you go, but trying to educate yourself and learn from other experiences is so important. But like even in a, in a romantic relationship. Like, sometimes people always wanna place a blame, but sometimes it's just like we are just in different places now.

Like, it's okay. It doesn't make you bad, doesn't make me bad. It's just we're different and that's okay.

amentally as people. And so, [: 00:17:00

ou know, we signed three over: 3000

of like. Oh, well, I promised: 3000

I'm not gonna charge you. I am, I have a moral obligation to you, and I'm gonna continue to help however I can. So that, that part was a little hard. Um, but everything else has been gravy. I mean. Yeah,

I know. I was like, I was gonna say, I just pic, I'm trying to picture your, 'cause it was like overnight. It wasn't really like overnight.

f like be like, okay, I'm no [: 00:18:00

Sarah: and I went silent too. And even Sunstone was like, Sarah, you have to get back on the groups, but like you, you have to keep using your voice. You have to get back on the groups. I was like, I just don't know what to say to anyone right now. Like, I didn't anticipate this ever happening and I had to sit with it for a little while and then they, I don't know if they did it strategically or on.

But they didn't announce my exit before. I couldn't know panicked. My whole family panicked. I was like, I have to post it. I have to post it right now. Very quickly later we were at PGX and it was just like, it's

been nonstop since then. That's amazing. So yeah, that's, I, I know 'cause we, last chat we did that, we.

We again, couldn't put out 'cause of technical difficulties. You had mentioned that you were really nervous to go and so yeah. What was your takeaway? I think, I mean obviously it grew a whole little business for you, that little big business for you, but yeah, like what was your experience going? Because I know you were really nervous to go.

. And in that too, you know, [: 00:19:00

And so I wasn't heading a team any longer and I was. You know, on the phone with my mom who is, uh, like one of the best leaders I know. And I was like, how am I supposed to get on stage and teach these people about leadership and I don't even have a team anymore? And I had to remember, like, just because I sold doesn't mean that I lost my accolades or my wisdom or, you know, all of the people that I helped, or the grit that I have or the, uh, everything that I wanna share.

So. Getting there. I was, I was nervous. I was nervous because, you know, my ex-business partner was gonna be there and I didn't, I knew that I was gonna be cordial. I was expecting him to be too, but I was like, you never know. Like, please don't, please don't make me act full. And he was, he was great. And we were able to coexistent not be a thing, which I really appreciated.

n, I, you and I were texting [: 00:20:00

crazy.

I know. Yeah.

Sarah: I, I didn't expect for it to be such a whirlwind and it was so valuable. It was so nice to be able to, to see, you know, all the, the students that I, I have and then the connections that I've made over the internet with people like you and the PGX board and all the other vendors that were there.

It was really nice to get to see them. Um, so overall, I mean, I think it was a great experience and I, it really did set, set a fire under my ass and I hope that it did the same for everyone else and that. You know, I walked away and I made something out of that experience and I helped. I, I think, and even just watching people on the internet, I think that it was the same, like people went home and really implemented the things that they learned there.

So,

no, I mean, it's just a, I, that's why I can't describe enough about like how I feel passionate about PJX, because again, it's such a niche down. Like, you know, you can go to any business. Conference, but to have people all understand and kind of, of course like directed worry towards permanent jewelry, but not only like, it's funny, even after PGX last year, PGX, this year for myself, even like speaking and being a vendor, I mean, I leave with so much inspiration just by talking to people.

ke you said, you've got this [: 00:21:00

And that connection piece is just a priceless, and I think you can't get that just online.

Sarah: Yeah. No, I, I agree wholeheartedly. And I, I think people tend to be a little bit more vulnerable in person too. So like, yeah, we have these groups and they're amazing, amazing. Like the OG permanent jewelry group, I think Ashley and, uh, Danielle had that one.

Like, that's a great group, right? Where you can connect with people, but to be in person, it just adds that whole other layer, layer of vulnerability that when you're speaking to the, you know what I mean? Uh, instead of just over the internet. So that was, I don't know, I, I just enjoyed it overall. It was really nice.

pects because I think for me [: 00:22:00

Thoughts and fe like just inspiration and ideas just from conversations. So anyway, I just, I can't say enough about it. So, and again, again, so good to see like you in person and you know, just kind of connect with everybody. It's amazing. Okay, so speaking to you, vault, what exactly is it and how does it benefit somebody as a business and what you offer?

Sarah: Okay, so Vault, like I said, I was already naturally operating some level of what Vault is, and that is consulting and or virtual assistants. And instead of a typical marketing agency, like we're not running ads and just kind of. We're not running at, we're not typical marketing agency. We're not broad marketing or anything like that.

we, especially in permanent [: 00:23:00

I need to get 'em on the phone. You know, none of us are as, as, um, creatives are doing that. And so Vault comes in and does that. So Vault either, there's the consulting aspect, which is me. I feel like my little superpower or like. My magic is that I can look at almost any business model. I mean, I literally was just on the phone with someone in oil and gas training.

Well, I no training, right? So I'm listening to his business model and what his goals, aspirations, desires, and pain points are, and I'm able to see the gap, see exactly what needs to happen, and I can create a very obtain roadmap. And lay that out. Like, here are the options. Here are the, the three avenues that you can take.

side comes in, is when they [: 00:24:00

The other aspect is really, honestly, yeah, there's all these marketing agencies, but what they're not doing is they're not taking your raw footage and turning it into posts that actually turn engagement. And then when you get engagement, those marketing agencies aren't responding to those engagers.

They're also not. Reaching out to every single person that follows you. They're also not searching your zip code and finding people who probably need to follow you or want your service. And they're definitely not selling in your dms because marketing agencies are really good at saying, oh, I got you 200 cold leads, but none of 'em turned into an actual one account because you don't know how to nurture anything.

too, of how to connect with [: 00:25:00

So creatives, right? Like people who just wanna sit down and make jewelry, can have profitable businesses, but don't have to set and do all of those things that I just listed, handle an entire CRM or handle an entire automation, or build out a whole sales funnel that speaks to the audience. You already have an audience.

Here's what Volt can do to continue to foster those people and make sure that they're engaging and that they're buying.

So as a consulting business, is it like any, basically any step of business or you know, stage, I should say, a business that you're in, they're coming to you and saying like, I wanna do this.

This is my problem. And you kind of like deep diving into individual businesses, obviously, and what they need, they catering to them. Is it a package you offer? Is it continuous consulting? Like how does it work?

Sarah: So the consulting, like I said, is separate from the virtual assistants and the virtual assistants we have.

u're not gonna have a ton of [: 00:26:00

And then we have something called VIP days where you basically hire me and my lead va and we'll sit with you for three to six hours and we will either you come with a, something that you want solved, you bring something you want solved to the table, or you can bring your whole business, say something's not right.

Look at all of this with me. Tell me what's missing. My personal favorite is working with people who are starting a business from ground zero because it's. One thing to start a business with the correct foundation and its success is, is easy. It slices like butter, right? There's another thing to bring a business to the table that's been existing for a while and things are gonna have to change.

'cause number one, people don't like change. And number two, I mean, it is just like cleanup. That's what what we're playing. It's cleanup to get us damage control to get us to a place of a great foundation, a great laid foundation.

to like getting into a brand [: 00:27:00

But then if you have a brand new home, it's easy to furnish, right? It's like, oh man, there's a lot of work to do. We gotta clean up. So like, obviously it's a lot more work and time on your end, I'm sure.

Sarah: But I mean, they're not mutually exclusive. You don't have to do the consulting and the virtual assistants.

Most people are going after. I was actually am surprised 'cause I was like. Not very many people are probably gonna hire me for three to six hours a day to do the consulting. And then they're, they, most people are probably just gonna be worried about like, Hey, can you post for me, respond in the comments, sell in my dms, find me new followers, blah, blah, blah.

Without doing ad spend. I thought that's what people are mostly gonna be interested in, but they're interested in both, which is exciting for me 'cause I love the consulting aspect of it. Whether it's a brand new baby business or you've been existing for three to five years and I'm coming in and I'm, 'cause I enjoy.

I enjoy each of those for different reasons. But, um, yeah, I mean, I'm just having the time of my life to be honest. I'm just, I'm just happy to be doing, I'm just thankful to be doing it.

So what would [: 00:28:00

So when do you feel like that's either necessary or what, what would you say and speak to someone who just feels like that's not in their budget right now?

Sarah: Yeah, so I actually have two clients that I worked with. At the end of last week, and they're on different spectrums. One is a brand new business, but she has just taken off and seen it.

So she's on my highest pay package. She's got me down pat for consulting, and we're, we're just tweaking as we go. Like everything's working. We'll just assess the data as we go and tweak as we need to. Right. The other is an existing business she's had for a while, but she hasn't had a ton of clients and um, she already has, she has an a nine to five.

listed, and we will deploy a [: 00:29:00

And if we need to upgrade packages, we will. And when you're ready to upgrade to a full blown CRM, we'll take that CVS file of all of those leads you've been connecting with the, with the tiny one. And upload it into your bigger one. So no matter which stage you start at, it grows with your business. And that's what was really important to me is because yeah, you might need my $1,500 package.

It doesn't matter if it's a baby business or you've had it for a couple years and it just hasn't built any traction. Everyone's different. And I think that's what I love about Holt too. Is it, it's customizable. Oh, awesome. And it grows with you.

And when you talk about leads, 'cause again, if the consulting is kinda separate from va.

Because I'm assuming the VA has more of a, a part in kind of getting those leads, correct? Yes. So if you're just consulting, are you kind of like direct when you say leads, because I feel like people are gonna be confused by that. Are you directing people like to actually like boost and do ads and get those leads?

r how are they getting, like [: 00:30:00

Sarah: No, so I'm not, uh, right now I'm not directing anyone to run ads that's not already doing it. And if they are doing it, we're deploying a small CRM, um, which is uploading into their bigger CRMI really wanna focus on fostering the existing audience and continuing to grow that audience organically with the people who belong to, who belong in your ecosystem, right?

Because yeah, you could run ads and spend a hundred dollars a day and have. Three or five different types of people who aren't ever gonna buy your product, but follow your page. 'cause you paid for them too. And how does that help you? Right. All it does is change up your algorithm, puts it in front of people who aren't interested in your product slash service.

king sure that you're top of [: 00:31:00

Like. For instance, I was working with a catering company the other day. I'm like, we don't, number one, we don't need to run ads for your company right this second, the stage it's at. But the reason that you wanna do X, Y, and Z is because, yeah. You know, I'm a follower and I might not, I don't have any parties planned right now, but if I'm in your ecosystem and you've been fostering me and making sure I'm top of mind, if tomorrow someone reaches out to me and says, Hey, can I have a bridal party at your house?

And be like, yes. And I already know who I'm gonna get for catering. So how

does that look? Is it like showing up like in, 'cause once you have the follower, right, and they're in obviously interested enough to follow you, are you showing up in their dms? Like what are you? Yes. Yeah. Yeah.

Sarah: A hundred percent. Um, like, Hey, thank you so much for following us.

Uh, and next the message is customized to the business that we're working with, right? So if it was for the catering, we thank you so much for following us. We wanted to let you know that these are our services. Here's our website. Um, do you have any parties upcoming or are you just. Are we just here to thank you for following us?

, to have some level of, uh, [: 00:32:00

Is that an automatic thing or something that you're literally going in and doing individually or followers unless they engage with a certain type? Um, a certain post. It's not automatic. Um, because meta does have limitations. So, and I, that's the other great thing. You see how you can automate as much as you want, and I support that.

Like I want to automate as much as I can on your page to get like instant gratification for those. Users, but there are limitations. So like if you were to follow Vault right now, you're not gonna automatically get a mess message from an automation. It's going to be a human.

Okay. Yeah, because it's so funny you said that there was, it was years ago where I had that thought of like, man, I wish there was something, I don't even know if anything exists out there like that, to be honest.

eep delete because they know [: 00:33:00

I was like, man, if they're following me, like I wanna kind of give them information right away about like, I. What, you know, where you can find us and what are, what, who we are, and just a little bit more information. So, so I had that thought years ago actually, and I'm like, I looked into it really quick and I don't think at the time I found anything.

And then that was even before where you can do the keyword where it's like, oh, comment with link and I'll send you, you'll get a dm. You know what I mean? Which I think is super amazing as well. But that not everybody's gonna see that and comment and do that. So

Sarah: to my knowledge, you can't, there's not a system that will automatically message a follower because meta has so many rules on.

Marketing, right, that it would, there's so many spammers that if they had access to something like that, it would be insanity and it would ruin marketing as we know it. So to my knowledge, nothing like that exists. And I really prefer the human aspect of like, I'm a real human. Who is reaching out to you, a real human to talk to you, right?

, to get the link, you could [: 00:34:00

Point blank into story.

I know, I think I love that you said that because I think that everyone always wants, like get more customers, like more and more, more. But it's like really, it's like taking advantage of, even if you have 50 followers, that's 50 people and we always like the whole thing of picturing 50 people in a room and you know, the, like that's actually a decent amount of people, right?

There's an a statistic where it's like, how. To get a new customer versus just serving, uh, an existing customer, like how much more effort it is to get a new customer versus serving your existing customer. And I have to say, like even for our business, and I feel like I, I always say this how I feel like I grew it is just treating my current customers so well because I have so many repeat customers.

and she dah, dah, dah. Like, [: 00:35:00

Sarah: Yeah. And when you, even when you're looking, like I've just told you, you know, my intention was always to scale and exit linked. My intention with this new entity that I'll create is to scale and exit it. When I go to exit. When I list that business for sale with either a broker or just on my own, the buyer is gonna wanna know about your repeat customers.

How many do you have? What does that look like? You know, how many people are continuing and for the exact reasons that you just listed, because they're the easiest ones to sell, especially if you're doing it. So,

I mean, can you imagine any store like, and you know how you have, you probably want some of your favorite stores you always go to, right?

That you're like, oh, I always find something cute here. Or whether it be clothing, whatever. Can you imagine if that store, like no one ever came back, but they had to keep getting new customers and no one ever repeat, you know, stepped in the door. I mean, that would be exhausting and that also would just

Sarah: not be sustainable.

ke, I can just message every [: 00:36:00

How much time do you really have to set down and message every single person and then continue a conversation with them when they message back?

Well, yeah, I mean, you're opening my mind a little bit because I'm not gonna lie, I definitely, since opening the brick and mortar over here, just to kind of get a little personal with what's going on here, but.

Obviously a mom of two young girls as well. They're on summer break. I mean, it's been wild like past three and a half months. The, the growing pains, the adding employees, the managing a brick and mortar, I mean, managing the other side of my business. I, I am to a point and it's, this is great that we're talking about it.

I need to utilize your services, but I just know that I need to outsource more. I know that I can't do it all, and like you said, I love you. You said no one wants to be tit deep in their

Sarah: dms. No one does. I don't dying from that. I'm like, that's like the new tagline that you should have for your business.

Yes. I sit right after this. No one does though. Who wants? It's passionate. You're creative. Who wants to do that? No,

because again, yet is [: 00:37:00

There's no doubt. Like I, I could at this point,

Sarah: so, but why would you wanna be a slave to the thing that you created in the name of freedom?

Exactly. Thank you for saying that because honestly, it's, it's hard as you know, as somebody who's grown something yourself and to, and although I, I've been getting a really great, I, I found a full-time employee for my brick and mortar.

I'm about to hire another full-timer, and I'm like, that handing that off has actually been really amazing. And finding people I trust has been, that's beautiful, but I feel like yes. Like, just like you said, it's taking away from time that I could be creative and using my, my creative genius and what I'm good at to really move the needle in my business.

, to be honest. So, so let's [: 00:38:00

And so when I'm hearing you talk, I realize, man, there's a lot that I don't know about what a VA does. So tell us 'cause this

Sarah: is, this is so good. Um, and this is really gonna put it in perspective for as if I didn't already understand on my own what VAs were capable of. It has been such an experience. So mind you.

PGX was what, like a month ago? Two days after I'm creating that EIN and I got a, a plan together. I'm open to the bank account two days after that. My VA is full force. We've got a to-do list. We have all of as systems that we need to be able to communicate with each other, and we know the checklist, blah, blah, blah.

e why. Yesterday I spent all [: 00:39:00

I not worry about anything. I just launched a business that's already multiple figures. I having read to really do anything beyond what I enjoy, like take meetings, that's it. Work with people in their businesses and give my unsolicited opinion that they paid me to give. Yeah, that's what VAs do.

So the, my, my worry is, and I think like I can speak to probably what people, most people are gonna maybe be thinking is that I don't wanna lose my voice in my business.

You know, I. I like and, and maybe it's a control freak part of me, but it worries me. Even with having an employee in my shop, I was very, very detailed with my expectations and also too what the Goalie Links culture is, because I wanna get down to how you communicate with customers, how you treat them.

That is really, that's hard for me because if I walk out and I can't trust that you are doing exactly what you do and treating people how and talking to them how I'd like you to talk to 'em, that's hard. So, handing that over, I worry about. And I feel like, you know how it's always like, oh, no one could do it like me.

e wrong spots. Yes. It's the [: 00:40:00

That's like, I just feel like, okay, it's not possible.

Sarah: That's how I, that's a very valid question. And so for me to make the example of like, my business kind of launched on autopilot beyond what I personally wanted to put in and everything else I delegated, that is really easy for me to say because the VAs that I have are ones that I have worked with for a very long time.

They came, they didn't, they didn't go with me. They came with me for their own reasons, right. That I can't speak on, but. So Maria VAs already know my brand voice. They know me, they know how I want to treat my customers. They understand the level of excellence that I expect. But, and so your, your concern is extremely valid because that is hard and it is hard to let go, and it's a very hard lesson that I had to learn.

t. That's insanity. But when [: 00:41:00

We're taking over. Right? There's a whole, there's a whole like, we want to know everything. We are gonna ask you every question, and we are not gonna make a move unless you have checked it off. And once you get to that level of like, you're not worried about what we're doing, we're just gonna do it. So I'm not, I'm not expecting people to just hand me over the keys and walk away by any means, dare.

I, I want to be loyal and to honor people's brand voice and their customer journey and what their level of, of excellence looks like. Um, and my, my VAs, that is one of my, especially my lead va, her magic gift, and I have watched her do it, create website after website and CRM for people. And all of those things have to be intricate and in that person's brain voice.

And some of these people she's doing it for are people that I know and I've, I've, I've watched them create their businesses for the last several years, so I understand. And I'm reading. I'm like, you're a wizard. Like I couldn't have imagined Katie saying that any better for her business. And you just said it for her.

Hey, busy entrepreneur.

photographer, videographer, [: 00:42:00

It's our monthly permanent jewelry membership. We have a weekly call to talk about all the things, but not only that. Including monthly photography and video to use for your social media and marketing. Canva templates, monthly business expert, monthly training, support group discount and first dibs on Goldie Link supplies and more.

My intention is to create a beautiful community of permanent jewelers that wanna level up their businesses together while creating lasting friendships and having fun. This is what I wish existed when I started my business almost 10 years ago. If you wanna know more, check it out@goldielinkssociety.com or at all the things permanent jewelry.com.

I hope to see you there. So can you give VA just like, kind of like, of course it's a virtual assistant, so it's obviously an assistant because I, I literally been saying that for a few weeks, especially since the girls right after PJX, like granted it was crazy even getting ready for PJX, but even after that, life got even crazier, right?

So I lost a [: 00:43:00

I'm like, I just need help. Like, I need help, but I just don't know what, again, it's, it's more of maybe I. Knowing where to go for it is also hard and what I exactly need. So I'm trying to like, you know, implement these things and go through the growing pains and implement what I need, but that's why I'm so glad I'm talking to you right now.

So a VA responds obviously, but what else can, when you're talking about websites and stuff, like, tell me more. So what does a VA do?

Sarah: The, it's very level, it's very layered and convoluted when you're thinking about right now, all you know is that you need help, but you can't imagine right now any tasks that you're probably comfortable handing over.

yself in the consumer shoes, [: 00:44:00

And that's what I listed in those packages of what I know is going to reap reward and results for the person that's purchasing my packages. Make the most impact. Right, right away. So as Vault grows, I might add other things that virtual assistants can do and there's some people that I'm taking on that we're doing a custom package, like we're just gonna check your emails.

If that's all you're comfortable with us doing, we will check your emails. If you have a hundred of 'em coming in a day, we will do that all day long. And that, that's a custom package, right? So we, when we do these free discovery calls, we're really listening to what people need. But virtual assistants can do anything.

a concern for everyone, but [: 00:45:00

Uh, the other is that who, who is this person and do you trust giving them your logins to everything, every asset, facet of your business? And are they gonna ghost you? And are they actually capable of the things they're telling you they're capable of through chat GPT when they're talking back and forth, and then you find out they really don't know how to.

Write English. And so that's where Volt comes in of these people I trusted already to run a a multi, multiple million dollar business for me. I've trusted them to kind of help with the people that I was already consulting with. Just on the low, I've watched what they're capable of. So when you're hiring Volt, you're hiring me and you're hiring into the trust that I've built.

You can hire a VA anywhere to do anything genuinely to do anything. I mean, just to, if you wanted them to. Just edit photos for you all day. It could be that if it's just websites or to just do your email or to just live in your inbox or to just, uh, respond to people that follow you. You can hire a VA to do quite literally anything.

think it's called Foundation [: 00:46:00

So when you go to shoot it and give us back raw footage, we have something to actually work with. 'cause you can give us footage all day long, but if it's not speaking to your audience, it doesn't really help us. Right? So we're consulting on that level of what your. Your expectations are for your content schedule and the content that you wanna be publishing, and then we're responding in those dms and we're spending a certain amount, a certain time each day doing that, certain time each week.

Then there's growth, which is just a a little bit more of this things report posting. More often, we're doing more of the editing, more of the raw content. We're spending a little bit more time in your dms. And then you have Empire, which sets up about $1,500 a month. It's like a full blown employee. I mean, doing all the things I just mentioned, but on steroids.

onferences that maybe you'll [: 00:47:00

Cool. We book it. So that's kind of the. The favor to the permanent jewelry artists that I layered into Empire. 'cause I didn't niche down with Vault, right? Like it's not just for permanent jewelry artists. I wanna work with all kinds of entrepreneurs. And then in those packages there's some level we're meeting once a once a month, whether it's for 30 minutes or for it's for two hours.

There's some level of consulting layered in there because I. Enjoy that part too. Or they can hire me for additional consulting hours. Um, so that's kind of the gist of what Volt is doing. Now, I have add-on packages too, so like, I'm sorry, add-on services too. So we have these packages, but let's say that you want to redo your entire CRM or you don't even have a CRM yet.

that aren't included in the [: 00:48:00

Yes, it does. It sounds amazing. I feel like this will be beneficial for a lot of people listening. I think in my membership alone, I, a lot of people do, most people, I feel, I wanna say like 75% struggle with social media. So the virtual assistant that you, so obviously that's a big part of it, right? Is the social media.

I mean, really is it actually posting for you? Obviously you're, you're supplying the photos and the content, right? And you have like maybe a vault that they can like access. A volt of like photos or whatnot, right?

Sarah: Where we'll, we'll schedule that content. We'll have the caption there, and if there's a call to action, et cetera, et cetera, and that has to all be approved before it can go live.

But we're scheduling a month in advance, so that way you as business owner only should have to only set down for like 30 minutes. If you have any edits, you'll notify us in the box of where that content's scheduled. We'll see that notification, go back and edit it, put it in front of you again to approve.

a foundation package, which [: 00:49:00

And then Empire. Empire is like, we're pretty much doing all of it for your hands off.

Okay, so question that just came up. Oh, so do you have to sign for so many months? Is there a contract of any sort? That's so much to know about. I, I do suggest,

Sarah: just like any other marketing agency would, is that you give it at least, you know, three to six weeks to really see and re give us enough time to put data back in front of you.

Right. Um, but I am not walking anyone into a contract. I don't have any interest in doing that. I just ask like 14 days. You let me know and we'll. Get all of your assets back to you, make sure we're logged out of everything. That's amazing. That sounds awesome. That is so cool. So how many VAs do

you have

Sarah: right now?

rrent VAs I have are kind of [: 00:50:00

Like I want someone that is. Like a whiz at Canva. I want someone that is a whiz at being a cold caller. 'cause if you have people that you want us to call, like get on the phone and call 'em, depending on the service you're offering, right? For permanent jewelry, it's not really something that we would do.

But um, for these other, like this oil and gas company, probably a cold caller needs to be. Negotiated into one of those packages. So I'm trying to niche down on who I'm hiring to make sure that everyone is an expert in that field and it's not just a bunch of jacks of all trades. And then my current VAs that I have my trusted tried and trues will head those, all of those operations to make sure that the deliverables are being met and they're done with that level of excellence that we kind spoke about what I expect for vol, and then what our customers will expect for their, their individual businesses.

y just can't stay consistent [: 00:51:00

You know, it's, it's really easy to focus on one thing and let something else go. So having someone else be able to take care of that and know that's being taken care of while again, you're by the pool with your kids or you're, you know, you're doing events because you have a super busy July and you can't handle, and you're like, oh my God.

I, I hate that feeling of knowing I should be doing something in the back of my mind. And it's like just lingering there and I'm like, okay, I haven't posted on social media in three weeks 'cause I've been so busy in the shop and no one else is doing it for me. And, you know, and that is affecting my business.

Sarah: You know, I had a conversation, I did a discovery call with someone, uh, I think last week and her business model. I know without a doubt that we are going to push revenue into that business. No problem. No questions asked just by the, the interact and interacting on the social media, and she was really concerned about like the ROI or like, how, how much are you think we're gonna get in sales?

't have any data to work off [: 00:52:00

Worst case scenario, you hire us $1,500 a month almost as a full-time employee. That's cheaper than any labor that you're gonna get here in America. Worst case scenario, you just get your time back and you're still making the same amount of money, which I know is not gonna be the case. We're going to push the revenue, period.

Point blank, end of story. And she was like, I didn't think about it. Like I didn't think about. Maybe the only thing I just need is some time to get back, like I need some of my freedom back.

Yes. I just love that you said that because yes, time is the currency. We can't get time back. We can earn money back.

But time especially, again, depending, I mean just for me, I can speak to this 'cause my kids are four and six, we're in summer. And that is, that's what, that's why I have these feelings lately and I've been more emotional because I love where I'm at, my business. I do. And that, so when I say these things, I don't wanna sound like I'm complaining because I'm like, I am.

So [: 00:53:00

But not only that, but when you think about even just. You know, you put in perspective when people, even someone were complain about you to, about your pricing for permanent jewelry, let's just say. Mm-hmm. And then you're looking at their nails and they, they have their nails done and you're like, okay, but yeah, you spent that much money on a manicure that lasts two, two weeks.

Right. Or you just spent $8 on a, a latte from Starbucks that you're gonna drink and it's gonna be gone in 20 minutes. Right. It's like putting in the perspective what we spend our money on. And really, when I even think of childcare, I what? I pay for my two girls to be, let's say, in a day of childcare so I can do these.

t's just kind of putting all [: 00:54:00

Right? And we're talking about worst

Sarah: case scenario.

Worst case scenario is you're just gonna get some time back. So true. So true. I love that you said that. Uh, man, I'm so glad we chatted today. I'm like, I'm gonna go. Where do we check everything out? Because I wanna like, basically go check it out and sign up.

Okay.

-: 7152

wanna make sure that we're a [: 00:55:00

'cause it's almost like a Hi. You're hiring, you're, it's an interview. We're in an interview and you're gonna hire us and we're gonna be your employee.

We will have to hop back on for the third time to listen to and hear about your next venture, which will be PBD. Um, excited to see what happens there. I'm really excited.

So

Sarah: I filmed for that. We have like 30 to 45 day turnaround on edits and then after I'm obviously building the backend with my VAs as we wait for those edits to come back. Um, but that will be a big announcement. I'm sorry I can't tell you about it. I want you so bad. Trust you. But I'm just.

This is amazing though.

This is gonna be so valuable for a lot and just a lot for people to think about because I think the things that are overwhelming and most likely things, again, that you don't wanna be, again, tagline, tit deep in your messages, but just, but not only just responding messages. If you're not getting a ton of dms, you're like, oh, I don't need this.

usiness to jump on that free [: 00:56:00

All right. Anything else you wanna leave us with

Sarah: before we say goodbye? Anything? I don't think so. I mean, I feel, I think it's the same sentiment as before, is like you don't know what you don't know. Yeah. Um, make sure that you listen to my podcast about partnerships for you getting one, and then research my story before you send the dotted line and then, yeah, like.

Time. We did not. We did not all get into business collectively so we could be slaves to our phones and business apps. We got into businesses so we could be in our zone of genius and be creatives and have freedom. Point blank in his story. We didn't do it to sign up to be slaves, to the one thing we created in the name of freedom.

Ah, such a good ending. Thank you. So,

alright.

Sarah: Thank you so much for having me on. I really appreciate you.

No, I always love talking to you. Thank you

Sarah: so much. We'll off to come to Colorado soon. I appreciate you. I can't wait to talk to you again. Sounds good. Thank you. Yeah. Bye for now. Bye.

Well, how do you feel?

walk away feeling inspired. [: 00:57:00

Okay, I will see you next time. Have a golden day.