Got a Business Idea? Here's How to Make It Real

Have a business idea you can’t stop thinking about—but keep talking yourself out of it?
What if the idea sitting in your spirit is the very thing you're meant to build?

In this episode of the EmpowerHER Business Podcast, host Linette Cottrell sits down with Lisa Ascolese, widely known as "The Inventress," to discuss what it really takes to turn an idea into a successful business. Lisa shares her journey as a Black female inventor, entrepreneur, author, and founder of multiple ventures, revealing how she overcame doubt, fear, and setbacks to bring her ideas to life.

Whether you're still sitting on an idea or you're ready to launch your next big move, this conversation will inspire you to stop second-guessing yourself and start taking action.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to stop talking yourself out of your business ideas
• The mindset shifts needed to move from idea to execution
• Why fear, doubt, and perfectionism keep entrepreneurs stuck
• Practical lessons from a successful Black female inventor and entrepreneur
• How to build momentum and bring your vision to life

👉 Follow the podcast and share it with a sister who needs this conversation. We’re on a mission to help Black women make it through the first five years in business — and thrive far beyond them.

#EmpowerHERBusinessPodcast #BlackWomenInBusiness #BlackWomenEntrepreneurs #WomenEntrepreneurs #BusinessStartup #EntrepreneurMindset #InventorLife #ProductDevelopment #TheInventress #SmallBusinessOwner #StartupSuccess #WomenInBusiness #BusinessGrowth #IdeaToExecution #FounderJourney #Entrepreneurship #BusinessTips #PersonalDevelopment #WomenEmpowerment #BlackBusinessOwner

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:09

What hey beautiful people and welcome back to the Empower Her Business Podcast. I am your host, Lynette Catrell, founder of Empower Her Advisory, and I guide women founders through designing business financial systems that bring relief and revenue. My calling is to free women from centuries of business structures that were not built without feminine energy in mind. And I invite women founders to go further and expand their capacity to hold their increased wealth. As you know, Empower Her Business Podcast is all about delivering conversations, expertise, and solutions to black women founders figuring out how to build a sustainable business in Hungary for real stories that represent them. And today's conversation is for the woman who has had an idea sitting in her spirit, the one who's thought about it, talked about it, and talked herself out of it, picked it back up and maybe put it back down again. Because today our guest can tell you what it actually looks like to take an idea and turn it into something real. Today's guest is known as The Inventress. She's an inventor, entrepreneur, true mentor, philanthropist, keynote speaker, independent project agent, and a woman who has not only built products herself, but she has helped others do the same. She's the CEO and founder of Inventing A to Z L C. Lisa believes when you think it and believe it, it can be done. Her business covers graphic designing, engineering, prototyping, manufacturing, marketing, and licensing. In addition to all of that, Lisa is the host of Inventure Spotlight TV and also the founder of a nonprofit organization, the Association of Women Inventors and Entrepreneurs. Her slogan is lifting each other up, two hands at a time, and sometimes you need a foot. I love that. Lisa, welcome. I am so glad you're here.

SPEAKER_00 2:45

Oh my gosh, what an introduction. Thank you so much. Happy to be here. I'm elated.

SPEAKER_03 2:52

Yeah. So let's start with this. Who are you beyond the inventress?

SPEAKER_01 2:58

Oh, I'm so mommy. I'm a mommy. I'm a grandma. I'm just loving a person who loves her family, God and her family first. And then all that other stuff happens in the interim.

SPEAKER_02 3:13

Beautiful, beautiful.

SPEAKER_01 3:15

I'm also an author. Okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So uh, yeah, but absolutely. And yeah, all of those things you've mentioned, I I absolutely enjoy. I I love what I do as an entrepreneur. Um, to have the opportunity to do all of the things we do as women is great. It's greatness. It really is. Yes. You know, so yes, yes, you know it. You know it. You're an entrepreneur. This is what you do. There's nothing better, there's nothing more freeing than to be a person who can do what you want independently and rise, rise and lift others, you know. As I say, lifting each other up two heads at a time, and sometimes you gotta use that foot. Yes, there's nothing better than that. It's so fulfilling, you know, and just to to be around other women and to lift and inspire makes makes all the difference for us in the world. And it's not just women, I do have a business where I help everyone. But just want to come into that. Okay, but women are my favorite.

SPEAKER_03 4:17

Yes, mine too. So, Lisa, you started inventing at a very young age. Do you believe that inventors are born or they develop over time?

SPEAKER_01 4:31

It happens both ways, I think. I mean, because obviously I have clients who come to me who start developing over time, but the the people who really go back to their ideas and inventions are the ones who have it in their spirit. I I feel like I was born an inventor. I really do, I think it's in my DNA. Hands down, no two ways about it. I'm doing it as a nine-year-old. I'm doing it creating as a nine-year-old, and not just not just being an entrepreneur, but being a creator, creating designs and creating products to work for me. And I couldn't do it any other way. And it's just it's just who I am.

SPEAKER_02 5:09

Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_01 5:10

So so for many, yes. So for many, you know, as you can concur, um, it's either in us or it's not, or we, you know, or we we can develop whatever that thing is, but you have to have a love and a fire and a passion for whatever, whatever that thing is you're doing.

SPEAKER_03 5:27

Got it, got it. So t walk us through like the first thing you invented at age nine. I mean, just think about that. A nine-year-old inventing something, right?

SPEAKER_01 5:40

But I mean, I I didn't even know it was an invention, you know. So I say it now, but I look back to the things I would modify. So I would play handball and play outside all the time. I have to say, I was born in London, raised in Brooklyn by West Indian parents. So we played outside. When you were in New York or Brooklyn, Brooklyn, you play outside. We played handball, we played uh tag, whatever. And my shoelaces would come on tied. So I created a shoelace that would stay together and not come on tied because I didn't have time not to play.

SPEAKER_03 6:14

So that was your necessity. They they say the uh necessity is the mother of creation.

SPEAKER_01 6:20

So that was your mother of invention, exactly.

SPEAKER_03 6:22

I need to play, and I don't have time to stop and tie my shoes. So I need to create something to make this happen.

SPEAKER_01 6:30

That's right, that's right, and it just went on from there. I mean, every single thing I touched, if it wasn't working for me, I redesigned it or revised it or created something to work for me. And that's how it started. And then I look back and say, Wow, that was an invention. I could have sold that one.

SPEAKER_03 6:48

Ah beautiful. I love that story because I think a lot of times we have to sit in retrospect and realize things we've actually oh, you know, I did I was, you know, inventing something when I did that, right? Absolutely, wonderful, wonderful.

SPEAKER_01 7:06

We all do it. I mean, 100% of you out there, ladies and gentlemen, you have a mental invention. If you're saying somebody should invent that thing, and I say, Why not make it you?

SPEAKER_02 7:18

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 7:19

Why not make it you? You have inventions out there. You definitely do.

SPEAKER_02 7:24

Love it, love it.

SPEAKER_03 7:26

So many of us, especially women, we have ideas, and to your point, what you just said, we don't act on them. We're thinking someone else should invent this, right? Because we've come with we've so we've came across an experience that caused us to have the necessity of it, like it needs to be here. Yes, but we don't move forward and invent it. What do you think stops most people from moving forward to invent something?

SPEAKER_01 7:54

The fear of the unknown. Who uh and who to trust. Who are you going to trust to share this idea with? How could I possibly afford to do something? That's not me. I see products on the shelf. I could never imagine putting my idea on a shelf. So it's the naysaying brain. First, we do it to ourselves, yeah, and then we may say it to someone else. And that other person may say, Yeah, right, you can't do that. You can't do that thing. Why would you? So it's the naysaying brain, and then it's the naysaying others. Um, or just or as I said, the fear of not knowing who to trust.

SPEAKER_05 8:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:32

Is there an attorney? Who what kind of attorney would I go to? It's a very esoteric industry. Like it's real well, who do you talk with?

SPEAKER_03 8:39

Right, right.

SPEAKER_01 8:40

Yeah. If your invention companies out there, but who are they? Are they gonna rip?

SPEAKER_03 8:44

Right, exactly. Are they gonna steal my idea and then you know put it to market and how can I defend it?

SPEAKER_02 8:51

Right.

SPEAKER_03 8:51

So if someone's sitting there and they're saying, Oh, you know, I have this great idea for an invention, what would you tell them are the first like three steps? What are the first three things they should do with this great idea?

SPEAKER_01 9:04

Sure. So, number one, everybody out there, get yourself a journal for your inventions only. Because if you have one, you have many. So take a journal or a notepad, write down the idea that you came up with. Just write it out. Write it out, and then sketch it. If you can't sketch it, you know, have AI sketch it for you. But sketch it, but don't say too much. So I'm pulling that back a little bit.

SPEAKER_02 9:31

Right.

SPEAKER_01 9:32

Sketch it out, and then as I say in my book, name it and claim it. Name the thing and claim it because it becomes real. Okay, so that idea like it actually comes to life. It will actually come to life when you give it a name. Okay. You know, if you know, if you came up with the idea, obviously it's something that you needed. And you're not the only one. We all live the same way. If you invented it or you said, why didn't you know somebody should invent that thing and you start jotting it down and fooling around with it? You should, it's an invention. We can all do it. So write it down, write it down, name it and claim it. Name it, claim it. Name it and claim it. You have it.

SPEAKER_03 10:19

So write it down, sketch it, name it and claim it.

SPEAKER_01 10:22

That's right.

SPEAKER_03 10:23

Those are your first three steps. Wonderful. Is there a point when someone has an idea when they realize it's really viable? Like, I'm thinking of this thing, but how do I know it's viable? It's a viable invention.

SPEAKER_01 10:40

Well, I mean, if you look around, I mean, thank God for the internet, right? Um, don't plug it in though. Again, don't plug it in because I'm one of those people I say, if I if I put it in, somebody else will do it, right?

SPEAKER_02 10:52

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 10:53

That's actually a fact these days. Today it's real. So take a look around. What's the use? You know, I mean, if only your mom is gonna buy it, it's not, it's probably not, you know. I mean, mom likes everything that you do, right? So do your due diligence, see what is out there close to what you're doing. Is it something that's being sold? And a tip is don't be discouraged if you see something out there like it. Because if it's out there, great mind think alike, it should be out there.

SPEAKER_05 11:22

Right.

SPEAKER_01 11:23

You know what I mean? For example, there's not one cell phone, not one phone, not one, you know. So, um, yeah, so if if you think that people can use it, if you're utilizing it, it's something that the whole world could use.

SPEAKER_03 11:37

Okay. So I like that you said if you're utilizing it, so when we go back to your story when you created the shoestrings that didn't untie, so let's say someone's working on something that they haven't created the prototype for because they don't have the material, right? So they can't say I've used it, but they feel like it would be very usable to a lot of people, right? So you're giving us the instructions of write it down, sketch it out, and name it.

SPEAKER_01 12:12

Use tools from your house. You have things around the house. I'll give you the example of my uh next product, not the next one, but the product I put on the market. The first product I put on the market was called the Bosom Buddy breastfeeding cape. Okay. So the bosom buddy breastfeeding cape was born because I had my son when he was, I was very, very young, and I was very embarrassed to nurse in front of anybody. So I said, you know what, the baby's gotta eat, and I have to feed him wherever. So I designed this breastfeeding cape so I could feed nurse my children in public privately. There was a need, it was a necessity. I took a sheet, cut it out, created my own prototype, and you know, long story short, got it manufactured down the pike, not right away. Took some time to redesign it and develop it and make sure it worked and got it done. And I'm making it sound super simple. It's not as simple as that, but you you could take those steps by using things that you have around your house.

SPEAKER_03 13:12

Yeah, I like that. Um, that that really gives paints a clearer picture for us, right? Oh, sure. You can try it out with whatever's around you and and and figure out how to make it work.

SPEAKER_01 13:28

Absolutely, wonderful. It can be done. As you said, if I you think it, you have faith in it, you take that week forward, it can be done.

SPEAKER_03 13:39

Love it, love it. So you've built a lot of products and help others do the same. What would you say is the hardest part of this journey that most people don't see?

SPEAKER_01 13:51

Um, people are very impatient, okay? And rightfully so, because they don't know the journey. So I would say the time that it takes to have something manufactured and prototyped the right way. Okay. Because you may have something in your mind that you think um a manufacturer will automatically get, automatically understand. And because it's a napkin or whatever it is. So it's a it's a let's just use something basic. Like the my but my bosom buddy. Simple product, right? Not so simple. Not so simple. I mean, it's a cape, it has stitching, it has velcro, and you would think that that's something simple. Right. The stitching may not be lined up the way you want it stitched, the color may not be right. You're gonna go back and forth and back and forth with prototyping until it's right. So it's not just a one-shot deal, it's over and over again until it's right. So I would say that's the most frustrating part for inventors because they don't realize the time that it takes.

SPEAKER_03 15:00

Got it. So they're thinking the first time it's gonna turn out exactly the way I want to see it. Correct. But they have to go back with multiple iterations to really get it right. That's correct.

SPEAKER_01 15:14

Simple as a thread, as simple as stitching. And you don't settle because that's not how you want your product to look.

SPEAKER_05 15:21

Ah.

SPEAKER_01 15:22

So that can take time. Redoing a stitch, redoing the color of a stitch. I mean, that's as simple as that. So that is it, it is 100% the most frustrating part of the manufacturing product or makes it all.

SPEAKER_03 15:36

It is that makes sense. I can feel that because you're because as the inventor, you're you're anticipating getting your finished product exactly the way you drew it, you wrote it out, you dreamed about it, right? And now you have to kind of work through the process till it gets just right.

SPEAKER_01 15:54

That's right. Good, good, exactly. So that that's definitely it. This way, the time, the time. Yes.

SPEAKER_03 16:01

So let's talk a little bit about um business building and some of the challenges of that. So, in the first years of building your business, what are some of the things that you had to learn that you would say you had to learn it the hard way?

SPEAKER_01 16:17

Um, learning uh in business the hard way. Um, I would say, I'm gonna use my my structure, uh, for example. Like, so my business is reaching out to buyers, having that communication, sending out emails, and assuming, much like manufacturing, that people are gonna get right back to you. Not how it works. You have to continuously have the mindset of continuously reaching out. And you're not you're not bothering anybody by reaching out over and over again. You're being determined. So I learned through the years that you're not gonna get an email response quickly, or back in the day when you picked up the phone and called people, right? You're not getting a return phone call right away. So you have to understand that this is the way of the business. You can't give up because things are like that are could be very, very frustrating.

SPEAKER_03 17:16

I love that.

SPEAKER_01 17:17

So that was a piece that I had to learn. Like, wait a second, I called this person a week ago, two weeks ago, never returned my call. Well, you have to well email again and again and again and change the subject line. Change I've learned that over the years.

SPEAKER_03 17:33

Got it. So don't just um reply on the same email thread, start a new email with a new subject line.

SPEAKER_00 17:41

Yes, got it.

SPEAKER_03 17:42

I like that. I love the way you said you said you're not bothering people, you're being um determined. Because a lot of us struggle with that, right? It's like, well, I sent them three emails, I didn't hear anything. I don't want to be a pest, I don't want them, you know, to to block my emails. Yes, but maybe they didn't see the first three emails, right? So you're determined and you're still reaching out more.

SPEAKER_01 18:09

Yeah, think about how many emails you get in a day, right? And you may not see, you may not see the ones that came first. You know, we have to do that arrow and go down and see.

SPEAKER_05 18:18

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 18:19

I say to people all the time, if I didn't respond to your email, I didn't see it. Send it to me again and again and again. Text me and let me know you sent me an email that I didn't respond to. I love it. I love when people are assertive like that and reach out to me. And so do they, so do people in business. Everybody's busy. We've got cell phones, uh, laptops. There's so many ways that we can, you know, there's so much communication that it's over, we're on overload. So make sure you reach out again and again and again.

SPEAKER_03 18:51

Wonderful. I love that. So looking at starting the first years of your business, a lot of entrepreneurs have challenges with how do I fund my business, right? How do I get started? What do I use as the source of money to get started? How did you navigate money in the early years of your business? What did that look like for you?

SPEAKER_01 19:16

I piggybanked everything. I I mean, but that's my mindset. So I anything I wanted, I had a special savings for that thing. From patents to prototypes, I set aside. I know that this is gonna be costly. Cut back on that cup of coffee or whatever it is that you're doing. Yeah, I mean, you have to sacrifice, you have to make sacrifices. I mean, I I was fortunate enough not to ever have to take out a small business loan, which many people do. And there's all that opportunity is is here for you. I don't know how available it was when I started, I don't know back then, but now I know it's readily available. There are, you know, small businesses are uh funded by um community colleges at times, SBDC, small business development center. So all of those things are available, and had had I known that back then, I probably would have reached out instead of waiting a year, two years to fund my piggy bank, my piggy bank for my prototype for my patents.

SPEAKER_03 20:22

So you saved over time you had the amount of money you needed to do the next step in the next step. I did. Okay, wonderful.

SPEAKER_01 20:32

I did. It was determination. I wanted it badly enough, so I saved my money to make it happen.

SPEAKER_03 20:38

So was there any time in your business when you felt like, are you doubt it? You know, you felt like, is this going to work? Is this not going to work? And how do you handle those moments when those things arise?

SPEAKER_01 20:53

Um, is it going to work? Is it not going to work? Sure. I mean, I think when you're doing anything, but I I talk myself out of that because I don't want to hear that voice, right? I'm that I don't want to hear, I don't even want to hear my own voice doubting anything. So I kind of walk through things until it, if if it doesn't work, it doesn't work. I walk, I push through it to see if it does, and if it doesn't, well, actually, if it doesn't, I try again. But sure, I mean, there's always a doubt. There are always doubts in anything I think anybody's starting out doing.

SPEAKER_03 21:27

That's wonderful. I I just want to make sure that we make that point because a lot of times as new entrepreneurs, we feel like if it's not, if I can't see my way from A to Z, right? Maybe I can only see A to D and I don't see the rest of it. Then maybe um I just need to stop right here because I can't figure the rest out, as opposed to everyone has doubts. Everybody does, no matter what. You just keep working through the doubts and going forward.

SPEAKER_01 22:00

And shift, shift. You know, I'll give it a really good example. It's it's like pulling your closet apart, right? And putting it back together again. But when you're putting it back together again, it does it's endless. It doesn't feel like it's ever gonna end. Walk out of the room, come back in and take a look at it again. And it doesn't seem as complicated. And it's it's the truth.

SPEAKER_02 22:24

Yes, it is.

SPEAKER_01 22:25

Put it down, yes, put it down, look at it again, come back, look at it with fresh eyes from a different perspective, and do it again. Look at it again. Yes, yes, it's overwhelming and daunting if you're just staring at it and not making modifications or shifting, yes, and look back at it again with fresh eyes. Take a nap, have a cup of tea.

SPEAKER_03 22:48

Exactly. I love that. That was that's exactly what I was gonna say. Take a nap, take a break, go refresh your brain, yes, and then come back and you see it differently, right?

SPEAKER_02 23:00

Always, yes, yes. I love that, I love that.

SPEAKER_03 23:04

Yes, so in the beginning of starting our business, we're usually solopreneurs, we're usually the only person wearing all the hats, doing all the things. So, in your business experience, how did you manage that and not burn out? Like, did you have a system for okay? I know I need to rest now, I know I need a break now, and put that into action, or because a lot of us feel like we can't rest. We can take a break. Things are gonna fall apart if we do, right? You manage that.

SPEAKER_01 23:38

I have to take a break. I have to take a break, like I said, I mean, I really do. I go to the beach, I take a book with me. I I really do because I can't you can't you will burn out. If you don't step back from it, you'll burn out. And I don't want to burn out. I'm determined, I'm too determined to burn out. You know what I mean? So I do. I I have to refresh. I'll go to a spa, do something good for myself, go get my nails done, do something, walk away from it, come back and refresh. It's important.

SPEAKER_03 24:10

So um sometimes we have these creative ideas, but we falter when it comes to executing them. So, what does discipline look like in the life of an inventor?

SPEAKER_01 24:26

It's really, it's it's really hard for inventors, I have to say, because inventors are creative, right? So that focus is not easy. You gotta reel it back in. Do one thing at a time, write down one in that notebook I talked about earlier. Write down the things in one notebook and stick to that strategy, stick to that thing so you stay focused. It's it's difficult to do. I mean, I overcame the um floundering and the scattered behavior when I developed my first product and it was done because it was initiated and completed. So, my advice this is it. Complete a task. Complete a task so you can stay the course. You have to see yourself see something through in order to stay the course.

SPEAKER_03 25:18

Got it, got it. I like that. I feel like you're talking to me about my writing, my writing right now. Oh, is that right? It's like, yeah, I'm working on a book, and and I can get to a certain point where I'm like, am I really interested in completing this? You know, but I'm thinking, okay, so what if I say I'm just gonna complete a page today? Yes. Right? Yes, then a page tomorrow versus looking at the entire you know, novel that I I'm writing. Let's just do a page today, then I completed something.

SPEAKER_01 25:52

Okay. One thing at a time. In fact, I make quadrants, so I'll write down on a piece of paper, I'll take four quadrants and write down in all of the boxes what priority is. Write down those things and check them off. Check them off. What's priority from most important to least important? Okay, check them off and rewrite them again the next day until those things and those boxes are checked off.

SPEAKER_03 26:20

I like that. I like that.

SPEAKER_01 26:21

Do a checklist, do a checklist.

SPEAKER_03 26:24

Yes. So you created inventing A to Z to help others. What made you decide not to just build for yourself, but to help others in this inventor space?

SPEAKER_01 26:36

So the whole um it was very frustrating in the beginning because I had no help, right? So I said to myself, there have to be other people out there like me who are developing products and not knowing where to go, not there's no one to reach out to, no one to help. So my goal was to be able to help anybody out there who had an idea, who had an invention, who didn't know how to take it to the next level. I said, I'm going to be their mentor. I'm gonna hold them up, lift them up, and inspire them and tell them they can. If it wasn't for my parents teaching us the power of positivity, I don't know if I would be doing what I'm doing, honestly. Because it's not easy, it's not easy. You have to have that motivation, grab onto somebody that's gonna lift and inspire you, hold on to that person tight uh because you can lose it. So I that was my goal, my dream, my aspiration to really help other people because it's not easy.

SPEAKER_03 27:40

I like that. Tell us a little bit about the the power of positivity your parents.

SPEAKER_01 27:46

Yeah, so my parents were just, I mean, there wasn't anything we couldn't do. It was a yes you can home. You know, there's nothing I I couldn't say I can't do this. Are you kidding me? You can't do why why can't you do it? What's what give me a fact? Why wouldn't you be able to do it? I couldn't come up with reasons why certain things couldn't get done, right? And that was it. I mean, so and they would always, I mean, tell us we could. Yes, you can. If you're determined enough and you want this, if you want it enough, you can do it. There's nothing you can't do. By the grace of God, there's nothing you can't do.

SPEAKER_03 28:27

Right, right. So tell tell us a little bit about your first experience when you were on um a network, I forget which network it was, that you were selling your product in. Um how how did that affect how you reach out and help others today?

SPEAKER_01 28:47

It was such an amazing experience. And I I still feel like that now. It's just about 30 years later, QBC was the you know, first network shopping network I was on. And um, I remember walking through those doors and you know, meeting with buyers and saying, boy, this is such an amazing feeling. And I didn't see too many people like myself, right? Like me at all. And even then, I said, when I walk through these doors and I'm successful at getting a product on the air, I'm bringing everybody with me. I'm bringing everybody with me because I can, right? Why not share that opportunity with others? And um, it was amazing. And even to this day, when I bring people to QVC or HSN, I still feel that um the gratitude. I feel gratitude, I feel so grateful. I still cry when I walk through those doors later, because it's an opportunity, right? It's an opportunity to bring other people. Today I was on the phone with Dion Warwick. Dion Warwick, I'm bringing her, and I could say it out loud because it's happening. I say, Don't say anything until the ink drives. Well, this is happening, so I can say it. So even with her, bringing her, bringing other people, not just celebrities, but regular folks through those doors. I said, when I when I walk through those doors, I'm gonna leave my shoe heel in the door when I'm leaving because I'm coming back. 30 years ago, leaving the shoe heel in the door because I'm coming back.

SPEAKER_02 30:14

It's you don't leave that gap there, right?

SPEAKER_01 30:18

That's right. That's right. So I can open up the door and come back in.

SPEAKER_02 30:22

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 30:23

Oh, yeah, it was the most amazing, amazing feeling.

SPEAKER_03 30:27

I love that. I love that. So, what inspired you to start your um TV show?

SPEAKER_01 30:33

Good question. So, what inspired me to start Inventor Spotlight TV um was everybody cannot get on QBC. Everybody can't get on HSN, and only because there is a minimum of um product, so there's a minimum order that they need to have on air. And I mean, it's may sometimes not necessary for a manufacturer to over-manufacture 3,000, 4,000 units when you don't know it's going to whether it's gonna sell or not.

SPEAKER_03 31:02

Right.

SPEAKER_01 31:03

So, I mean, it's it's a level of, I mean, do I want to invest this much inventory in something and not know it's gonna sell? So on my shopping network, you can have a minimum of 100, 200 units to get on the show. Okay, of the minimum order and a great attitude to get on a good spotlight TV. So everybody gets a seat at that table.

SPEAKER_03 31:25

Got it, got it.

SPEAKER_01 31:26

Everybody gets a seat at my table.

SPEAKER_03 31:28

Beautiful, beautiful. And tell us a little bit about your nonprofit platform. Um, you're helping women bridge a gap there. What is that about?

SPEAKER_01 31:38

Between ambition and success. So it's the Association of Women, Inventors and Entrepreneurs. Uh it's an organization that I started 13 years ago. This is our 13th conference coming up um Sunday, May 3rd, um, 2026, right around the corner. So I had spoken at so many different conferences all over the country and um was uh, you know, just a part of speaking and things like that. And I would see that many of the vendors and people were left outside the door because there wasn't enough room for everybody to come in. And I felt just like I said, everybody deserves a seat at the table. That's how we feel about inviting women into this conference, women who didn't necessarily have a place to go or talk about products. I invite all women to come in and share their stories and speak on our platform. So it's a thing that I lift and inspire, we lift and inspire women to be the best they can be. Because why not? We can, right?

SPEAKER_03 32:34

Yes, yes. So I'm feeling and and and as I listen to you, I'm seeing a common thread between all the things that you do, that you have a you have a heart for helping others, right? Like I'm succeeding, but I also want to help others succeed. And it seems like everything you are doing is centered around that energy of how can I help others succeed too? I find that very yeah, very beautiful. That's um, that's like the soul of everything that you do is really helping bring others up. So helping people bring their dreams to life. Yeah, and you know what?

SPEAKER_01 33:15

I have expectations, though. I have expectations for those I lift and inspire. I have expectations of them lifting somebody else, you know. And if I'm down, lift me, right? Lift me up and push me up. I want to lift you and I want to lift you higher, right? Right, put your hand back down and lift me up. Lift others up. We have to do that, and I felt like that was lacking too. That was another reason for building and you know, AoE the way it is, right? Because I felt it was. I mean, in many of the communities I was looking at, I didn't see the that connection, that love, that support. I didn't see it. I mean, in many places I did, but there were a lot of places that were not. There were many gaps, yes, and so that's where I said, nah, this is mm-mm, we gotta do this. We can do this as women together. Let's join together and lift and inspire each other and remember to lift the person next to you.

SPEAKER_03 34:11

Yes, yes. So of all the different things that you do, how do you manage it all?

SPEAKER_01 34:22

Oh no, I really, I mean, I it's I love what I do, I just love what I do, and I'm passionate about every single thing. And I'm not doing all of it every day. You know, the podcast I have once a week. My podcast, my motivational Mondays once a week. Um, my you know, I wrote the book. I wrote the books, you know, it's a year ago. So those are, you know, I'm doing my touring and stuff like that. I don't know how I do what I do. I don't know. Seems like a lot.

SPEAKER_03 34:47

Yes, it does, but I but I like what you just said is you don't do it all at once, right? Right. So um it sounds like you have a um great system of scheduling how you handle things and when you handle things, and maybe some things are seasonal, you know, uh when other things are down, something else is up. Because uh you do a lot of great work.

SPEAKER_01 35:11

Thank you. There is structure and there's organization. Yes, there has to be, there's no way. I mean, when you said the things I did, I go, I said, Wow, that's that seems like a lot, but it's very organized. My conferences happen once a year, uh-huh. So that happens once a year. My business, my day-to-day business is very organized. I have my consultations and you know, those things happen every day. And I do, I write things down. Not only do I write things, I type things, and I keep myself structured and organized.

SPEAKER_03 35:41

Got it.

SPEAKER_01 35:42

We have no choice.

SPEAKER_03 35:43

Yes. So, what does your daily schedule look like? Because I find that a lot of um entrepreneurs have they struggle with keeping their schedule organized. I know some people do block scheduling where they they block out so many hours for a particular task. Some people do it by the day, they do certain things on certain days, right? And then some people just all that is mixed up together, right? Yes. How do you do you have what would be your system for your schedule?

SPEAKER_01 36:14

So my system is so I don't overwhelm myself at night. I do everything the day before. I structure everything that I'm doing the day before. So the things I'm doing tomorrow, I'm not going to sleep with. I know it's done. I know my list is checked off, and the people I'm gonna speak with first thing in the morning. So I have a schedule of what happens first, second, third. My podcasts are usually later in the day. Um, but I have an organization and I keep the same thing every single day. You know, I'll speak with my clients at a certain time during the day.

SPEAKER_05 36:45

Got it, got it.

SPEAKER_01 36:46

Just like I said, the quadrants, I write the things down and I do, and the other thing is I do I do the easiest things first, I get the easy tasks out of the way first. Okay, most difficult for later.

SPEAKER_05 36:59

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 36:59

And the reason I do that is because if you have something hard in front of you and you're you have ten things in front of you, and um five of the things are difficult, you're not gonna get to the rest because you're focused in on those big things. For example, water the plants first. If that's on your list, what are the plants, get the plants out of the way. Yeah, you know, go run and get your milk, get that out of the way. The little things, right? Right, and then leave the big things for later.

SPEAKER_03 37:27

I like that. Makes so much sense, right? Yes, yes, wonderful, wonderful. So, if someone's listening to us right now and they are sitting on an idea that they've just been running around in their heads, what would be your best advice to them?

SPEAKER_01 37:48

So take the information out of your brain, jot it down, or type it to yourself, email it to yourself. And, you know, as I said, even if it's a business, write down the name of the business you want. Where do you see that business going? Where do you see yourself, not in five years from now, but where do you see yourself in a month? Take baby steps, baby steps into the thing. Is it something you really want to do? Write it down and move towards it. Take the steps and move towards it. If you have invention, come to me. I'll help you.

SPEAKER_03 38:20

Wonderful. I love that. I love that. Well, thank you so much, Lisa. Before we close out, I want to ask you if there's anything on your mind that we haven't covered that you would love to share with the audience, feel free to do so now.

SPEAKER_01 38:35

Certainly. I mean, I would say everybody out there who has um ideas for invention, buy my book. It's the Inventress's Guide to Inventing the Right Way, all or nothing now or never. And that's the actual title. All of that. It's all or nothing now or never. And I say that because we put off things like we talked about in the beginning. Why do we put things off? As I say, we have five minutes on this planet, guys. You know? You know, let's get the things done that you want to get done.

SPEAKER_03 39:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 39:05

All or nothing now or never.

SPEAKER_03 39:07

Got it. Wonderful. So now I'm gonna ask you, Lisa, a couple of fun questions so our audience can get to know Lisa the person.

SPEAKER_00 39:17

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 39:18

The first one is has there ever been anything, any invention that was unexpected to you, something that really surprised you that someone invented that stood out?

SPEAKER_01 39:36

Um that stood out that somebody invented. I can't think of it off the top of my head. Let's go to the next one. Okay, the next question.

SPEAKER_03 39:46

The next one is has there ever been an invention that you've seen that you thought of? Yes. Someone else invented all the time.

SPEAKER_01 39:54

All the time. Because all I do is think exactly. You're always thinking of inventions, constantly, constantly. But some sometimes I'll say, Oh, thank God. Thank God that's done. I don't have to do it. So I don't have to do it. Wonderful. I'm not one of those people who says, Oh man, because there's so much, there's so much here.

SPEAKER_03 40:17

I love that. I love that. So Lisa, if there was, if you could spend the day with any person from any time in history, who would you choose to spend the day with and want?

SPEAKER_01 40:31

Oh man. Wow. Any time in history.

unknown 40:38

Oh wow.

SPEAKER_01 40:42

I'm gonna say. Is it a day? I have to get they're gonna get it. I would love to spend the day. I mean, obviously it's Oprah, right? But I would love to spend the day with Michelle Obama. Ah I would love to spend the day with her. Yes, she's great, she's light, she's open, she's loving, she's honest, she's caring. Um, Oprah, no offense. I mean, I I want to spend the day with you too, Oprah, if you listen. Right. How about both of you? Interview two.

SPEAKER_03 41:12

Love that, love that. Okay, and lastly, what was your favorite childhood game? Pandball.

SPEAKER_01 41:21

Ah, okay, hands down. Hands up.

SPEAKER_03 41:26

Yes, wonderful wonderful.

SPEAKER_01 41:28

Yes, loved it. Every day.

SPEAKER_03 41:31

Wonderful. So Lisa, tell our audience how they can connect with you. Where should they connect with you and get to know more about the things that you do, get to know about your book and follow you.

SPEAKER_01 41:44

Absolutely. So go to my website, it's inventing a t-o-z dot com. I'm on every social media platform. The underscore inventress is Instagram and everything else. So just look up Lisa Askalese and you'll find me. And uh love to talk with you, love to share.

SPEAKER_03 42:01

Wonderful. And we're gonna put all of Lisa's contact information in the show notes. So it'll be there for you, audience, to connect with her. Thank you for being with us today. This was one of those conversations, audience, that reminds you that what you have matters. Your ideals are not random. There are invitations. And if this episode of our podcast spoke to you, don't just sit on it, subscribe, rate us five stars, and share it with another sister who needs this information. This podcast is sponsored by Empower Her Bookkeeping and Advisory, a boutique firm for women founders ready to increase their revenue, be guided through better systems, and expand their capacity to hold more wealth. Please see our contact information in the notes. Until next time, trust what you've been given, move on what you see, and don't let another idea sit too long. Be well. You've been listening to the Empower Her Business Podcast. And before you go, I want to thank you for being here. If this episode supported you, please pay it forward. You can do that by hitting the follow button, rating us five stars, leaving a comment, and sharing us with others. This is how we ensure the podcast reaches more sisters and business. Until next time, I wish you the very best of joy, health, and wealth.

unknown 43:44

Anyway, we're going to be able to do it.