The Unicorn Living Podcast

🚗 Applying for federal grants can feel like navigating a road trip without a map or a plan. Trust me, dodging common pitfalls can be the difference between cruising to success and finding yourself stranded on the grant highway. 🛣️ We'll guide you from chaotic submissions to smooth sailing applications—including cutting down wordiness and mastering those tricky grant portals. Join us on this journey to make grant writing a breeze! 🌟

👉 Want to hire a professional to navigate grants for you? Find a certified grant writer here.

👉 - https://www.learngrantwriting.org/hir...

More videos like this? ➡️ Grants.gov is NOT the end all be all! The 3 places I’d look for free money from the government:

• Grants.gov is NOT the end all be all!...

EPISODE CREDITS:

Hosted by: Meredith Noble & Alex Lustig

Guest host: Haleigh Jinkins

Audio Edit by: Ana Castro

Connect with Us:

• Website: [senworks.org]
• Instagram: [@learngrantwriting]
• Facebook: [Learn Grant Writing]

A gas leak explosion in a tiny house derailed the original schedule to get this podcast episode posted, but it’s finally here! 🎊

📚 “The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why it Matters” by Priya Parker

Alex loves gathering. "We spend all this time thinking about the beginning of events and we don’t spend time thinking about the end. This book talks about how we intentionally gather...including the beginning and the closing." Parker has encouraged us to think more deeply about how our Collective members can feel connected! ✨

📚 “Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art” by James Nestor

We have Alex’s husband to thank for this! Stand out stat: you get 18% more oxygen into your body when you breathe through your nose versus your mouth. #gains 💪

Alex always opens up our coaching calls in the Collective with a breathing meditation. Breathing in shorter on the inhale and longer on the exhale allows you to get out of fight or flight and into a space where you can be present.

📚 “Decolonizing Wealth: Indigenous Wisdom to Heal Divides and Restore Balance” by Edgar Villanueva

For Meredith, this book was eye opening to the colonial, saviorism type narrative that is very common in foundation funding. This is a very important trend for modern grant writers to be tracking as the most progressive and interesting foundations are going in this direction. 🧭

Curious how you could get into grant writing and build a career in it? Here is a free training on how to do that without volunteering or having prior experience: https://www.learngrantwriting.org/webinar-videos/discover-grant-writing

📚 “Crazy Brave” by Joy Harjo

One of Alex’s picks: “The writing is gorgeous!” Joy’s autobiography, but written through time and space as if it’s not linear.

📚 “We Should All Be Millionaires: A Woman’s Guide to Earning More, Building Wealth, and Gaining Economic Power” by Rachel Rodgers

A book that arrived to us through the Unicorn led Book Club in the Collective. Meredith goes to money church 💰 every Wednesday morning because of this book!

Rodgers talks a lot about the time buy back principle and how that can apply in multiple areas of your life. Alex’s time buy back: paying someone to handle snow ❄️ removal. Meredith’s time buy back: hiring a local woman to prepare healthy lunches!

📚 “Pussy Pedia: A Comprehensive Guide” by Zoe Mendelson

Don’t freak out about the title! This book is packed with fascinating research and beautiful graphics.

📚 “How to Write a Grant: Become a Grant Writing Unicorn” by Meredith Noble

This book is a distillation of the most important information you need to know about grant writing. There’s now a hardcover available! Alex also wrote two chapters in this edition. 🪄 If you read it, would you please leave a review?

Like audiobooks and podcasts? Listen to Meredith’s book, “How to Write a Grant: Become a Grant Writing Unicorn” for free here: https://www.learngrantwriting.org/free-audiobook

Books next up on the list include:

🔸 “Me and White Supremacy” by Layla Saad

🔸 “All Over Creation: A Novel” by Ruth Ozeki
🔸 “You Are a Badass” by Jen Sincero

🔸 “Coming Into the Country” by John McPhee

Resources and links:

• Video walk through of the house that exploded
• Listen to the podcast episode of the gas leak explosion
• “The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why it Matters” by Priya Parker
• Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art” by James Nestor
• “Decolonizing Wealth: Indigenous Wisdom to Heal Divides and Restore Balance” by Edgar Villanueva
• “Crazy Brave” by Joy Harjo
• “We Should All Be Millionaires: A Woman’s Guide to Earning More, Building Wealth, and Gaining Economic Power” by Rachel Rodgers
• “Pussy Pedia: A Comprehensive Guide” by Zoe Mendelson
• “How to Write a Grant: Become a Grant Writing Unicorn” by Meredith Noble
• “Me and White Supremacy” by Layla Saad
• “All Over Creation: A Novel” by Ruth Ozeki
• “You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life” by Jen Sincero
• “Coming Into the Country” by John McPhee

Want to learn more about the Grant Writing Unicorn Collective? DM us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/learngrantwriting/

While you’re at it, let us know what books you’re reading!

Timestamps

00:00 Intro An Insanely Delayed Recap of Our Favorite Books From 2021

01:22 Book #1: “The Art of Gathering” by Priya ...

Dr. Christie Edwards, Alex’s mom, is living and breathing the Unicorn Lifestyle. 🦄 She’s living an awesome life and is passionate about serving her clients as a Doctor in Natural Medicine. She first earned her B.A. in Zoology to serve animals. Then, she went back to school for further study (right around the same time that Alex graduated high school). Christie became the owner of a packaging store business where she learned a lot about business operations, marketing, and connecting with others.

Steve, Alex’s Dad, likes to say that “no one could make a packaging store business fun except for Mom”. ✨ Christie redecorated the store and cultivated a place for connection. It was also important for her to become involved in network marketing which built up her confidence along with helping the store’s bottom line.

Curious how you could get into grant writing and make a business out of it? Here is a free training on how to do that without volunteering or having prior experience: https://www.learngrantwriting.org/webinar-videos/discover-grant-writing

After an “aha!” moment, Christie knew it was the right time to shift careers to become a Doctor of Natural Medicine. Her passion for nutrition and health helped her family for years. Going back to school online in her late 40s was a unique experience that required motivation and flexibility with work, but it was worth it. She’s now in her fourth year of business and has a cute, cozy office inside a pilates studio in Lone Tree, Colorado. ⛰️

It only took a few months before her business was self-sustaining. The business has grown exponentially each year without any social media (there’s hope for us yet!). It helped to have so many people in her immediate circle supporting her and engaging in the business. She also implemented boundaries with certain relationships to help her stay on her path.

Other tools that helped her stay motivated include meditation, listening to creative visualizations to combat limiting belief patterns, and having an intrinsic WHY. 🧡

Dr. Edwards is all about the Unicorn Lifestyle and to those considering a career shift she says, “Just go for it!”. Stepping outside of your comfort zone is a huge step toward growth. It’s important to continue moving forward and to always keep learning.

Want to learn more about the Grant Writing Unicorn Collective? DM us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/learngrantwriting/

Timestamps

00:00 How Alex’s Mom embodies the Unicorn Lifestyle

00:27 Meet Dr. Christie Edwards!

01:58 Why did you decide to become a business owner?

03:49 How did you know it was time to shift to a new career?

04:40 What was it like going back to school in your late 40s?

06:15 How long did it take you to be fully self-sustaining?

07:24 How do you motivate yourself and use tools around you so that you can continue pursuing your dream?

11:50 What would you say to others who might be later in life if they wanted to pursue their passion?

Links

Positively Whole Health

Learn Grant Writing Instagram

Learn Grant Writing Website

EPISODE CREDITS:

Hosted by: Meredith Noble & Alex Lustig

Guest host: Haleigh Jinkins

Audio Edit by: Ana Castro

Connect with Us:

• Website: [senworks.org]
• Instagram: [@learngrantwriting]
• Facebook: [Learn Grant Writing]

Karisa Coe, member of The Grant Writing Unicorn Collective, conducts an informational interview with Meredith. The timing is divine as The Collective is in the midst of an informational interview challenge. Karisa is a recent college graduate from Texas A&M University who is working towards becoming a freelance grant writing consultant. She reached out to Meredith for an informational interview to learn more about the why and how behind entrepreneurship.

Curious how you could get into grant writing and build a career in it? Here is a free training on how to do that without volunteering or having prior experience: https://www.learngrantwriting.org/webinar-videos/discover-grant-writing

Meredith is known for saying, “My forte is turning ideas into reality”. How does she not get overloaded and lost? In the ideation phase of anything, Meredith recommends not limiting yourself to thinking within boundaries and not thinking too technically about cost and timeline. Creating an environment for creative brainstorming is key. Then, ask: “Who am I serving?” Project management comes into play here to break your vision down into actionable steps.

Alex is an integrator while Meredith is a visionary and they feel that there is an opportunity for people that identify strongly with operations and project management to become integrators. Meredith and Alex are in the process of examining whether integrators can be trained up from scratch or not. They’re conducting several informational interviews with female CEOs.

For Meredith and Learn Grant Writing, the values of the business are the values of herself. These values include taking responsibility, leadership, and working hard, but recognizing that today is all we have. Since Alex has become part of the business, celebrating wins has replaced working hard. Values are what you fall back on when you’re reflecting on how to handle a situation. A question can be used as a decision making framework and then the values help nudge that to the finish line.

For those just starting a career, Meredith strongly suggests doing informational interviews. These interviews provide insights, little bits of wisdom, and connection. Informational interviews allow you to authentically and genuinely build your network with people you want in it.

Several qualities are helpful to become a successful entrepreneur. These include problem-solving, failing fast, having a growth mindset, and staying focused.

With Karisa’s final question, Meredith reveals her dream of owning a property in Spokane, Washington. Two books that have been helpful for her in developing and sharing her ideas are “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill and “The Mom Test” by Rob Fitzpatrick.

Resources referenced:

• Meyers Briggs Type Indicator
• “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill
• “The Mom Test: How to Talk to Customers and Learn If Your Business is a Good Idea when Everyone is Lying to You” by Rob Fitzpatrick

Like audiobooks and podcasts? Listen to Meredith’s book, “How to Write a Grant: Become a Grant Writing Unicorn” for free here: https://www.learngrantwriting.org/free-audiobook

Timestamps:

00:00 Karisa Coe Interview

00:28 Intro

01:25 Meet Karisa

02:00 How to pay a grant writer?

04:06 How do you not get lost and overloaded when turning ideas into reality?

07:54 What are some of the questions you’re planning to ask other women CEOs?

09:00 Meyers Briggs Type Inventory: are there massive trends with grant writers?

11:20 How do your personal core values influence your business values?

15:30 What advice would you give to a recent college graduate just starting their career?

18:11 What’s the most important quality you look for in someone who wants to be an entrepreneur?

21:00 What’s the third ball you want to kick?

EPISODE CREDITS:

Hosted by: Meredith Noble & Alex Lustig

Guest host: Haleigh Jinkins

Audio Edit by: Ana Castro

Connect with Us:

• Website: [senworks.org]
• Instagram: [@learngrantwriting]
• Facebook: [Learn Grant Writing]

In this episode, we sit with Meredith, Alex, Jared (Alex’s husband), and Tobias. We celebrate the work wedding of Meredith and Alex as Alex legally becomes part owner of Learn Grant Writing.

The four gather at an AirBnB for a weekend away to honor the occasion. As is tradition for Meredith and Alex, tarot cards are drawn for each of the four individuals. The cards pulled by each person pertain to their personal lives and inspire thoughtful reflection. “Anything that manifests in your business is tied to your personal life.”

Jared reflects on his skepticism of Alex joining the business. While originally cautious, Jared has since gladly been proven wrong. Back when Alex first joined, the primary focus of the business was grant writing consulting.

Curious how you could get into grant writing and build a career in it? Here is a free training on how to do that without volunteering or having prior experience: https://www.learngrantwriting.org/webinar-videos/discover-grant-writing

The team transitions to reading Promises inspired by the following prompt: “What Does Our Truest & Greatest Business Partnership Look Like?”. Alex and Meredith aim to uphold a business partnership that is vibrant, safe, and balanced. They promise honesty and clear communication as they continue to challenge one another to be their best selves.

The promises inspire another major question: should Alex and Meredith get matching tattoos? DM us on Instagram if you think so: https://www.instagram.com/learngrantwriting/

Meredith and Alex explain the paperwork to be signed that legally mark Alex as part owner of the Limited Liability Company (LLC). The pair are Amending and Restating the Operating Agreement now that Alex is part owner. Meredith serves as Chairwoman, President of the Board, and Treasurer under this updated agreement while Alex serves as Vice President and Secretary.

Finally, Meredith and Alex reflect on the weekend away. Alex and Meredith both appreciate how they were able to be comfortable and allow everyone to love them for them. All in all, it wasn’t as sparkly as anticipated, but it was exactly what was needed.

As Meredith and Alex consciously make the decision to be in this business together, they resolve to continue following their intuition closely. There will be a vibrant celebration with cake and food with everyone they love. To be determined on when that happens, but the celebration of Alex sharing ownership of the business is certainly coming. Cheers to “forever in business, forever”!

Resources referenced:

BossBabe Podcast

“Slicing Pie: Funding Your Company Without Funds” by Mike Moyer

Want to learn more about the Grant Writing Unicorn Collective? DM us on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/learngrantwriting/

Timestamps

00:00 Learn Grant Writing’s Work Wedding

00:40 Welcome to the Learn Grant Writing Work Wedding

00:55 Background Story: What is a Work Wedding?

02:50 How Alex Joined the Learn Grant Writing Team

06:08 What Does Equity Mean in a Business?

07:10 Slicing Pie (Method by Mike Moyer)

12:00 Toast to the DIY Career Path

14:00 Drawing Tarot Cards

30:05 Jared’s Perspective of Alex Joining the Learn Grant Writing Team

38:35 Reading Promises: “What Does Our Truest & Greatest Business Partnership Look Like?”

47:00 Should Alex & Meredith Get Matching Tattoos?

48:00 Signing Paperwork: Amending & Restating business Operating Agreement

54:00 Work Wedding Reflection

59:00 Cheers to being business partners!

EPISODE CREDITS:

Hosted by: Meredith Noble & Alex Lustig

Guest host: Haleigh Jinkins

Audio Edit by: Ana Castro

Connect with Us:

• Website: [senworks.org]
• Instagram: [@learngrantwriting]
• Facebook: [Learn Grant Writing]