In this episode of West Coast Women Rising, JJ Flizanes sits down with Dianna Terry—branding photographer, content creator, and attraction marketing strategist—to talk about what it really takes to grow a business sustainably. Dianna shares how she went from the restaurant industry (including management and event programs) into entrepreneurship, how COVID forced her "side hustle" to become her main hustle, and why personal growth is the ceiling for business growth.

Together, JJ and Dianna explore the deeper layer behind marketing and visibility: alignment. From setting boundaries and saying "no" to the wrong opportunities, to creating content that feels like you (instead of a polished version that doesn't match real life), this conversation is a permission slip to lead with truth, community, and the energy underneath everything you're building.

What You'll Hear In This Episode

• How Dianna "watched" VCBW for a year before joining—and what finally shifted
• Why she chose to offer value first by capturing a VCBW event (and how that opened doors fast)
• Her business evolution: from restaurant management → single mom with 3 jobs → creative side hustle → full-time business owner
• The reality of COVID: losing three incomes in 48 hours and pivoting through skill-building and reinvention
• The mindset shift that changed everything: business doesn't have to be hard to be valuable
• "Your business will only grow as much as you do personally"—and why that's not optional
• Boundaries in business: why saying yes to everything is not abundance
• Dianna's story of identity, timing, and learning to trust intuition (even without "proof")
• ADHD diagnosis later in life and the unraveling of "shoulds" in how we work, dress, market, and lead
• Content that converts: meeting people at the heart, not just selling outcomes
• Why "perfect" branding can backfire if it doesn't match the real experience of working with you
• The energetic truth: if you hate creating content, people can feel it
• JJ's take on communication, the long game of podcasting, and "the energy underneath" as the real driver of results

Key Quotes

• "Your business will only grow as much as you do personally. Full stop." — Dianna Terry
• "Saying yes to everything is not abundance." — Dianna Terry
• "People need to be seen first. The outcome is the last little bit." — Dianna Terry
• "It's less about what you're doing and more about what's fueling what you're doing." — JJ Flizanes

About Dianna Terry / Blue Steele Media

Dianna Terry is the founder of Blue Steele Media, where she helps women entrepreneurs build brands that feel aligned, real, and magnetic. Her work includes branding photography, lifestyle content capture, website support, and attraction marketing strategy—focused on helping clients stop chasing trends and start creating from authenticity.

Dianna specializes in capturing the essence of what her clients do, building robust content libraries (images + video) that can be repurposed into consistent, heart-centered marketing.

How to Work With Dianna

Dianna's best starting point is her content capture experience—a one-day shoot designed to build a full library of aligned assets. She also supports strategy and community-based content opportunities, including collaborative event concepts to make content easier and more fun.

Connect:

• Website: bluesteelmedia.com
• Instagram: @bluesteelmedia

JJ reconnects with longtime friend and homeopath Avghi Constantinides (yes—at Trader Joe's!) for a timely conversation on natural immune support during the holiday season and beyond. Avi breaks down what homeopathy is, how it differs from symptom-only approaches, and shares her go-to homeopathic "flu season trio" that many of her clients use for prevention and support. Then the conversation shifts into entrepreneurship: how Avi built a thriving private practice, launched a school, and why quick follow-up and responsiveness can make (or break) a business.

• How a chance reconnection at Trader Joe's led to Avghi joining the community and landing on the show

• Avghi's origin story: from the UK to South Africa to the U.S.—and the epiphany that shaped her life's work

• What homeopathy is: treating the whole person (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual) vs. "one symptom = one drug"

• What to expect in a first homeopathic appointment (and why it goes deep)

• Why the "why now?" question matters (and how life events can be connected to symptoms)

• Avghi's 3 core remedies for flu season support:

  • Influenzinum (homeopathic version of the current flu strain, taken weekly through flu season)

  • Briar Rose (often used for upper respiratory/chest vulnerability)

  • Thymuline/Thymulin (to support immune function / T-cell support)

• How to use these remedies: weekly use + extra doses for travel, exposure, or "I feel something coming on" moments

• Combo remedies for cough/cold: why they can help, and why a persistent cough may require a professional to individualize care

• Avghi's work supporting first responders and community efforts during the 2025 California fires

• The "business side" for solopreneurs:

  • How Avghi marketed herself before social media (networking groups, local referrals, in-person education/booths)

  • Why fast follow-up wins trust and clients (and how slow response loses them)

  • The importance of "boots on the ground" visibility and community service

• Avghi's school pathways: foundational learning for personal use or a full practitioner track

• A practical takeaway: build a home remedy cabinet/first-aid kit so you're prepared for acute situations

• Avghi's practice: HomeopathyForLife.com

• School: LASchoolofHomeopathy.com (site may still display the former name during the transition)

• Email: avghi@homeopathyforlife.com

First Aid Homeopathy List: JJFlizanes.com/firstaid

Today's guest is Deborah Deras, a dynamic speaker and coach who has spent nearly three decades helping professionals work smarter, not harder. She has trained leaders at Fortune 100 companies like Netflix, Google, Procter & Gamble, and Verizon, as well as the U.S. military. She is launching the groundbreaking AI curriculum she created for Santa Barbara City College that she is teaching this Fall. She is also a doctoral student getting her degree in Organizational Leadership on the impact of AI in the Workforce.

Deborah is also the author of Confessions of an Adrenaline Addict: How to Achieve More with Less Effort. And now, she's sharing insights from her upcoming book, Your Ego is Not Your Amigo, where she helps us let go of distractions and realign with our true purpose. Please help me welcome, Ventura's own, Deborah Deras. https://www.deborahderas.com/

JJ Flizanes is a top-rated podcaster, business strategist, and podcast coach who helps entrepreneurs amplify their message, grow their audience, and turn visibility into profit. With over a decade of podcasting experience and multiple chart-topping shows, she empowers purpose-driven women to confidently share their voice and build businesses that thrive.

JJ Flizanes works with conscious, spiritual truth seekers who want to remove emotional blocks to success. She helps people identify sabotaging patterns and transmute struggle into joy. Through a series of clarifying exercises, she is able to curate a personalized roadmap to emotional healing. JJ is passionate about empowering people with the knowledge and awareness of how they can live the life of their dreams. Here is her website to learn more. http://jjflizanes.com

Tawney Noriega is the founder of Ventura County Business Women (VCBW), a dynamic network empowering female entrepreneurs through community-driven support, events, and visibility opportunities With a rich background in business operations, social media marketing, and community development, Tawney specializes in helping women break out from traditional norms and build impactful businesses on their own terms

She spearheads VCBW's signature Elevate Series, spotlighting outstanding women and connecting them with opportunities for leadership and growth Through curated virtual and in-person events—like "Coffee & Connection" and panel discussions—Tawney cultivates a space where entrepreneurs gain clarity, confidence, and collaboration https://www.venturacountybusinesswomen.com/