{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Andrea Heuston: From Layoff to Leading a Million-Dollar Design Firm","description":"What would you do if your employer laid you off and then asked you to come back two days later? For Andrea Heuston, the answer was starting her own company so no one could ever control her destiny again. In this episode, Andrea joins Alice Tang to discuss her 29-year journey as the founder of Artitudes Design. She shares a candid look at the early mistakes she made with the IRS and how she scaled to $1 million in revenue in just 18 months once she fixed her infrastructure. Learn why Andrea believes you must be &quot;risk tolerant&quot; to hit seven figures and how she uses profit to create joy for others.  In this episode, you\u2019ll learn: The Infrastructure Pivot: How fixing 1099 and IRS reporting mistakes allowed Andrea to hit $1M in just 1.5 years.  The &quot;Tribe&quot; Checklist: The five essential professionals every founder must hire to reach the million-dollar mark.  Risk as a Given: Why you aren't taking enough risk if you aren't slightly uncomfortable.  Values-Based Decision Making: Andrea\u2019s process for saying &quot;no&quot; to money that doesn't align with her core beliefs.  Key Moments 01:10 \u2013 The Layoff Story: Andrea describes being fired and rehired in the same week and deciding to own her destiny. 02:50 \u2013 First Money Memories: Growing up in a household where money was taboo and a source of friction. 03:55 \u2013 Money as a Catalyst: Why Andrea uses profit to create security and give back to her community. 05:15 \u2013 The 10-Year Fix: Navigating legal and financial hurdles before incorporating the company. 06:05 \u2013 The $1M Milestone: Celebrating the first seven-figure revenue mark with an office party. 07:55 \u2013 Navigating Social Bias: Growing up in a right-wing family that believed women should only be wives and mothers. 08:50 \u2013 The Tenacity Label: Choosing to be &quot;tenacious&quot; rather than &quot;stubborn&quot; to get ahead in business. 10:45 \u2013 Gathering Your Tribe: Why you must hire a CPA, lawyer, and coach to reach the next level. 12:15 \u2013 Risk Tolerance: Andrea explains why you must &quot;jump and trust yourself&quot; to achieve massive growth. 14:55 \u2013 The Gut Check: Using meditation and intuition to handle high-stakes decisions. 17:15 \u2013 Forward Progress: Why caring for her employees and her own independence keeps Andrea going during low points. 18:45 \u2013 Tenacity and Gratitude: A reflection on surviving a health crisis and the lung capacity to keep pushing forward. ","author_name":"Women's Million Dollar Conversations","author_url":"https:\/\/askalicetang.com\/womens-million-dollar-conversations\/","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/39739030\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/88AA3C\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/content\/197516300"}