Gut Instincts and Common Sense Over an MBA Any Day
Amber Vilhauer and I started our businesses only one year apart in 2007 and 2008, so I wanted to ask her some questions focused on longevity and what she believes are the reasons she’s stayed in business for 17 years and counting.
We are so lucky to have an amazing woman who also happens to be an incredible businesswoman join us on the show this week!
Amber is a Books & Business strategist, multi-bestselling author, speaker, and Founder of NGNG Enterprises (No Guts No Glory), an Inc. 5000 top marketing agency. She is the author of Infinite Impact and co-author of The Long Forest Trail with her son, Clay.
Since starting NGNG in 2007, Amber has helped thousands of entrepreneurs align their businesses with their core talents and desires, empowering them to build the business and life of their dreams while naturally scaling revenue and impact.
Among her clients, Amber has a reputation for getting quality work done quickly. She and her team routinely get in the trenches, implementing custom marketing strategies that attract qualified leads, launching bestselling books, and growing engaged followings that convert. Her strategies are comprehensive, deep, and built to align every aspect of her clients’ businesses with their ultimate visions.
No MBA? No Problem.
Amber and I do not have MBAs and we didn’t plan to have our own businesses when we first entered the workforce. We learned the skills necessary to keep our business growing and profitable, but it’s not finance, marketing, or other technical skills keeping us in business. Amber believes consistency and her non-negotiables around how she treats clients and the quality of her work truly make a difference.
Get Over Perfectionism & Get Scrappy
Amber has great advice on how to shift your perspective on getting work done. By letting go of perfectionism, we can better help people in need of our services.
Don’t underestimate the value of being scrappy as an entrepreneur. When we live in an age where we can learn about anything with just a few searches and countless resources, there is no excuse to let, “I haven’t done that before” or “I don’t know how to do that,” stand in your way.
Find A Balance and the Right Fit
As a single mom, Amber lets us in on how she’s able to be a present mom AND a successful businesswoman. Her priorities are always top of mind. She even tells us her process of deciding if a client is still in alignment with her values and if they still light her up when working with them. If they don’t, she lets them go in a gentle but straightforward way.
As you’ll hear in our discussion, Amber and I agree treating your clients well, prioritizing your energy as a business owner, and confronting your perfectionism will help you go the distance. Happy Listening!
What’s in This Episode
- Non-negotiables and consistency lead to longevity in business
- Prioritize effort, energy, and intention over perfectionism
- How to let a client go
- Running a business as a single mother
- Word of mouth is the most powerful piece of marketing
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What To Do Next
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Where To Find Amber
You can find Amber at her website, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and LinkedIn.
Books Mentioned in This Episode
Amber’s book, Infinite Impact
A LIVE 5-MONTH COHORT WITH LISA LARTER · STARTS AUG 4, 2026