Why Your Best Work Happens Away From Your Desk | Leadership With a Twist

Harnessing Creativity and Leadership: Andie Asacker’s Entrepreneurial Journey Andie Asacker had clients before she had a business plan. That head start came with a catch she didn't notice for years: when you stop steering your own business, the inbox does it for you. In this episode of Leadership With a Twist, Barbara Schindler sits down with Andie, founder of Whirlybird, a one-woman marketing agency in Vermont, to talk about building a business out of a December 2020 layoff and staying on course when platforms change every time you log in. Andie shares a line she picked up from the movie Uptown Girls as a kid, fundamentals are the building blocks of fun, and ties it to years of pliés at the barre and to clients who want the newest software before they know what they're trying to accomplish. Barbara brings the coaching lens, including the story of a client who realized mid-meeting that she'd been making decisions from other people's interpretation of the facts. In this conversation • How Andie decides what complete looks like when the to-do list never ends • Taking time to make time, and why a walk makes you feel like you've gone somewhere • The unemployment letter, the quarterly taxes and the fee she never owed • Your business will steer you if you don't steer it • Meta ads, platform instability and shiny software syndrome • Fallow periods, and who actually benefits from constant output • Failing faster, or as Barbara puts it, getting your lessons faster • Barbara's stages of change, from it's happening to me toward co-creation and flow • Leading yourself first as the new paradigm of leadership Key Takeaways • Define done at the start of the day so demand doesn't define it for you. • You can't be a specialist in an algorithm you'll never see. Clear goals and clear communication carry across every platform. • Asking the scary question is an act of self-leadership that gives others permission to speak. Action Steps • Pick three priorities for today and three for the week. • Next time you're stuck at your desk, walk first and decide after. • Say "give me some time, I'll get back to you" the next time a decision needs more information. Questions to Reflect On • What have you said yes to lately that pulled you away from what you want to offer? • Where are you relying on someone else's interpretation instead of your own understanding? • What would a fallow period look like in your work right now? Want to talk this through for your own leadership? Book a complimentary call with Barbara: https://www.empoweringleadershipteams... Subscribe for more conversations on human-centered leadership, and tell us in the comments which part of Andie's story hit closest to home. Andie Asacker is a digital strategist, creative powerhouse, and the founder of Whirlybird—a one-woman marketing agency based in the heart of Vermont. She's spent nearly 15 years in sales and marketing—managing six-figure advertising portfolios, representing Fortune 500 brands, and playing key roles in small businesses and startups. Whether creating stunning visuals or meticulous spreadsheets, Andie is happiest at the intersection between inspiration and execution. She brings a fresh perspective and keen attention to detail to her work, designing logos, websites, theater sets, trade show booths, and SOPs. She is also a musician, dancer, choreographer, fire spinner, potter, quilter, watercolor painter, and illustrator. Andie loves the ins-and-outs of bringing ideas to life! Creativity isn't just what she does, it's how she's wired. social media and website for Andie Asacker https://www.whirlybirdonline.com @whirlybirdonline on Instagram #LeadershipWithATwist #EmpoweringLeadershipTeams #EntrepreneurialLeadership #CreativeEntrepreneur #Solopreneur #ConsciousLeadership #HumanCenteredLeadership #DigitalMarketingStrategy #SmallBusinessOwner #LeadYourselfFirst 🚩🚩🚩 Be sure to click the Subscribe button above for more videos on leadership development and self-leadership! 👉 @EmpoweringLeadershipTeams ⭐️WELCOME⭐️ Empowering Leadership Teams is a premier consulting and training company specializing in leadership development, executive coaching, and business consulting for entrepreneurial leaders and companies. We offer our services through group sessions, one-on-one coaching, online courses, and in-person workshops, boasting over a decade of success in driving sustainable, team-driven growth. As a women-owned business with decades of collective experience in entrepreneurial enterprises of all sizes, we are excited to bring our unique perspective and expertise to help your organization thrive. Welcome to our channel! Barbara Schindler, Heather McGonigal, Tami Blodgett Co-CEOs Learn more about Empowering Leadership Teams: https://www.empoweringleadershipteams... Follow us on your favorite platforms: https://linktr.ee/empoweringleadershi...