In this episode of Divi Nation, the official Divi podcast, we sit down with Tammy Grant of Sunflower Blog Designs to hear her story and talk about what it means to “play the long game”; to build a business for yourself (and possibly your family) instead of opting for the immediate security or simplicity of a “regular job”.
Divi Nation 14: Playing the Long Game with Tammy Grant
[powerpress]
Many of our guests on Divi Nation end up talking about how how their decision to start their own business, while challenging, has ultimately been one of the best decisions they’ve ever made. With Tammy however, we went a bit deeper on that topic and talked about how the rewards for doing so can go far beyond the normal stuff that everyone usually talks about–more control over your time, no bosses, etc.
In Tammy’s experience the lessons learned starting and running your own business can provide you with something of immense value to pass on to the next generation. Not to mention the possibility of passing on your business itself!
I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as we did. And if you’d like to make sure you can easily watch or listen to future episodes of Divi Nation, please take a moment and use one of the subscription options we’ve provided below.
Subscribe To Our Youtube Channel
All Subscription Options:
This Week in WordPress 12
In this edition of This Week in WordPress our host Nathan B. Weller and guest host Tammy Grant discuss the importance of starting before you’re ready, common freelancing mistakes, and the pros and cons of freelance work versus a salaried job.
Playing the Long Game with Tammy Grant
In this interview from our podcast Divi Nation, host Nathan B. Weller talks with guest host Tammy Grant about the importance of playing the long game in her career as an entrepreneur. How the choice to build something for herself–instead of working for someone else–has allowed her to live life on her own terms. To homeschool her children, cope with life seasons better, and ultimately pass on valuable wisdom and experience to her family.
Divi Quick Tip 10: How to Trigger Animations When Scrolling Both Up & Down
In this edition of Divi Quick Tip we show you how to use a small jquery script to trigger page element animations on both the up and down scroll–whereas by default they would only trigger on the down scroll.
You can use the code below to follow along:
<script> (function($) { var $animation_elements = $('.et-waypoint'), $window = $(window); function check_if_in_view() { var window_height = $window.height(), window_top_position = $window.scrollTop(), window_bottom_position = (window_top_position + window_height); $animation_elements.each(function() { var $element = $(this), element_height = $element.outerHeight(), element_top_position = $element.offset().top, element_bottom_position = (element_top_position + element_height); //check to see if this element is within viewport if ((element_bottom_position >= window_top_position) && (element_top_position <= window_bottom_position)) { $element.addClass('et-animated'); } else { $element.removeClass('et-animated'); } }); } $window.on('scroll resize', check_if_in_view); })(jQuery); </script>
Production Notes
As always, below is the list of the software and gear used to create Divi Nation.
- Scrivener for the scripts.
- Skype for the interviews.
- Ecamm Call Recorder for the interview recordings.
- Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 for call recording and webcam segments.
- Canon XA20 Professional Camcorder for my segment videos
- iPad Teleprompter for segment videos.
- LimoStudio Light Kit w/ Backdrop for my lighting.
- Screenium for screencasting.
- Rode Procastor mic for my interview audio.
- Rode NTG4+ Boom Mic for my segment audio.
- Scarlette 2i2 interface for both segment and interview recording.
- Adobe Audition for audio editing.
- Adobe After Effects CC 2015 for the motion graphics.
- Adobe Premiere Pro CC 2015 for video editing.
- Blubrry PowerPress for podcasting from WordPress.
Ok, so this week I’ve introduced some new audio elements to the segment videos. And some new camera settings too. The video quality is much sharper and focused, but now there seems to be more visual noise in the image than I would care for. It’s an improvement, but a work in progress nonetheless.
As for the audio, I’m quite happy with the new sound. As I mentioned a few episodes ago we got a boom mic and I absolutely love the sound I’m getting out of it. Part of the reason for the improvement is moving from the H6 Zoom recorder and instead using the Scarlett 2i2 to record directly onto my computer. I’ve also learned more about editing audio in Adobe Audition and the processes I’m running all of my audio tracks through has improved bit by bit each episode.
My goal for the next episode is to work on the visual noise in the segment portions as I’d like to end Season One with the best quality possible.
As always if you have any production related questions please feel free to hit me up in the comments section below.
Nominate Our Next Co-Host!
We are looking for Divi enthusiasts to co-host Divi Nation each week. If you are interested in sharing your experience with the Divi community, be sure to submit your application below so that we can get in touch! Or, if there is someone else you’d like to see featured on the show, please take a moment to nominate them so that we can reach out to them.
Tammy. Your business model is an inspiration to me. Can you me give any tips as to how to get the ball rolling to building child-themes to build up a store along side getting through the daily grind of dealing with projects and clients.
Hi Lisa,
Thank you! I would love to give you some insight. Please send me an email or find me on facebook. [email protected]
Hello, ET
I’m still waiting for Extra Theme, when it will be available?
Yes! Your comments about wanting to support women in business and dropping the prices ring very true to me. I also get emotionally invested in my clients and I guess, even if my business is not making me super wealthy, I sleep well knowing I am giving my best and helping to empower women (and men!). Many of the clients I have helped have gone on in turn to employ and inspire other women. Success can be defined in many ways.
So true Ally. In the end if you can sleep well at night knowing that you were able to strike a balance between earning a living and giving that is all that matters.
Another phenomenal podcast! Nathan, I love that you have your guests go through how they got started in web design and with WordPress. The stories are so varied and wonderful with the kind of self start, bootstraps kind of spirit that motivate me.
Tammy, wonderful to hear how you are encouraging entrepreneurship with youth. That rings so true for me; from my first lemonade stand I was hooked. I couldn’t do it any other way now.
Thanks for the inspirations, both of you.
Thank you for watching the podcast Melissa. Inspiring youth to start businesses is my passion. I am constantly drilling this to those who know me.
it would be great if you add the tools your guests are using in your notes.
Thanks.
I would love to nominate some of my co-bloggers who are using Divi to co-host Divi Nation each week. In fact I have already told one of them to fill the form available here in this article.