Podcasts about journalism public relations

On this episode of the "What I Wish I Knew Podcast", Ashley sits down with Courtney Galle. Courtney Galle, IOM, has over 20 years of marketing, public relations and fundraising experience. Currently she serves as the marketing manager for Lone Star Family Health Center. Prior to that, she served as the director of special events for the Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce, marketing and PR manager at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion and communications manager for the Lake Conroe Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism--Public Relations from Sam Houston State University.Courtney currently serves on several nonprofit boards and committees. She was honored to be a recipient as a Woman of Distinction for Leadership Montgomery County in 2020. She is a certified nonprofit organizational manager from the US Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organization Management. Courtney is a graduate of Leadership Montgomery County and Greater East Montgomery County Chamber's Pathway to Leadership. Courtney has resided in Montgomery County for over 21 years and currently lives in New Caney. She was born and raised in Brenham. She is a godmother to five goddaughters, has a niece and two nephews plus a dog named Scout, which all keep her busy in her spare time. She loves to read, watch old movies, shop and spend time with family and friends.Courtney has a passion for volunteering and giving back to the community in which she lives.

LeeAnn is a graduate of the University of St. Thomas where she earned degrees in Mass Communications & Journalism – Public Relations and General Business Management. Throughout her career, LeeAnn has focused on consumer retail and financial services with an emphasis on brand building and digital transformations for Fortune 1000 companies including Macy's, RBC Wealth Management, Sleep Number, and Securian Financial.In recent years, LeeAnn completed a Diversity & Inclusion certification through Cornell University and earned her MBA at Hamline University. A lifelong learner and community servant, LeeAnn is inspired by creating meaningful change in the business world and in the local communities in which she works and lives. She has served as a leader in multicultural and diverse employee resource groups and taskforces. LeeAnn is known for driving policy and cultural change to create opportunities for women and people of color in the workplace.LeeAnn joined the board of WomenVenture in 2018 and served as chair of the governance committee. She is highly passionate about the organization, its mission, and its long-term impact on the community. Supporting women business owners to thrive and solving the child care crisis is deeply important to LeeAnn.Outside of the workplace, LeeAnn is a mom to four children and a Labrador retriever. She enjoys traveling the world, cooking, and entertaining while staying active through running, yoga, and cycling.

Political strategist Wade Cowper, managing partner for Hidden Gems Public Relations talks with journalist Josh Molina about public relations, local journalism and social media. Cowper has advised a variety of elected officials, including Kate Ford, Meagan Harmon, Alejandra Gutierrez, Gabe Escobedo and Virginia Alvarez. He was also managed James Joyce III's campaign that saw him surpass the incumbent mayor and land in second place for the mayoral seat. Cowper earlier this year branched off to form Hidden Gems Public Relations, where he advises nonprofit organizations on how to get their messages out. This is podcast full of humor, jokes and insider stories. Check it out. Make a contribution to support this podcast series by visiting www.santabarbaratalks.com. Molina writes for Noozhawk.com and teachers journalism part-time at Santa Barbara City College.

Ms. Liljenberg, entered the insurance business in 2004 as she started her first agency from ground zero, growing the business to over $6 million in revenue in less than 12 years.Ms. Liljenberg holds a BA in Journalism/Public Relations and a MA in Political Science/Public Administration from the University of Texas at Arlington. She is a Professional Financial Representative holding both Series 6 and Series 63 licenses, she is an Expert Witness in the Insurance field, a Texas Public Adjuster, Property & Casualty Agent, Life & Health Agent, and a Texas Real Estate Broker.She is well-known in the insurance and real estate industries for her responsiveness, knowledge, and professionalism in handling situations in both industries. Her 36 years of contractual knowledge is extensive and is strengthened by her years as a Commodity Electricity trader during Deregulation in 2001.Taking an Ethics course is a great way to protect yourself from E&O and the court system.​ 

Robin Benoit, Sorority Alumna, Author, Sisterhood Robin's first-two books were non-fiction. The Eighty-Year-Old Sorority Girls is her third book, a novel. Based on sisterhood, Robin Benoit's inaugural work of fiction is rooted in reality. Reality of her mother's Alzheimer's and her knowledge of the necessity of support and sisterhood. There are many stereotypes of what a sorority is. Sorority = friendship, sisterhood, support and always showing up. With a degree in Journalism/Public Relations, Robin established her career in public and community relations for non-profit agencies and corporations. Robin's first book followed the success of her daughter Jillian's vision therapy, Jillian's Story: How Vision Therapy Changed My Daughter's Life. Her second Robin co-authored with her daughter, Dear Jillian: Vision Therapy Changed My Life Too. Both books are stapes in optometry offices across the country and around the globe.

"When I speak of resilience, and when I speak of celebrating Juneteenth, it is recognizing that Pastor Kelsey and I get to have this conversation today as equals, as co-laborers in the Gospel of Jesus Christ."Over 150 years after Juneteenth was first celebrated by Black communities in the United States, it was finally recognized as a national holiday in 2021. Artistic Theologian, Alexus Rhone, curated a storytelling event a few years ago to celebrate Juneteenth, primarily focused on resilience. When I asked her about resilience within the Black community, she spoke about the page 1 reality of trauma and suffering, and the page 2 that comes after - which is the resilience: the way the Black community "built something out of nothing."We're releasing this episode a few days prior to Juneteenth 2022 in hopes that you approach this holiday with a perspective widened by the stories and wisdom Alexus Rhone shares with us today.About AlexusAlexus Rhone is a writer, producer, artistic theologian and "revolutionary artist" devoted to creatively exploring the power of truth when ‘dressed' in story. Founder of Truth Meet Story, LLC, Alexus is committed to expanding empathy one story at a time.She holds a Master of Arts in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, and a Bachelor of Journalism/Public Relations degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Host of the virtual faith and adult storytelling series “Jesus, Jazz & Dessert Wine@Vespers”,  Alexus currently resides in Raleigh, North Carolina.Connect with AlexusVia her websiteOn YouTubeOn Twitter @UnshackledProdOn LinkedInResources about JuneteenthJuneteenth.comHistory.com article on JuneteenthNew York Times article on JuneteenthVideo from Columbia University on JuneteenthConnect With UsSign up for our Weekly Devotional emailsFollow us on Instagram or FacebookSupport the Lady Preacher Podcast!

About Bree: Attorney Bree Sullivan-Howell  was born and raised in South Georgia. After graduating with honors from Deerfield-Windsor School in Albany, Ms. Sullivan matriculated to the University of Georgia, where she graduated from the UGA Honors Program with a perfect 4.0 grade point average in Journalism/Public Relations, First Honor Graduate, Summa Cum Laude, with honors, in 1999. Ms. Sullivan's academic success brought with it memberships in such honor societies as Phi Beta Kappa, Golden Key National Honor Society, Omicron Delta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, and Order of Omega Greek Honor Society. While a student at the University of Georgia, Ms. Sullivan-Howell was named one of ten Outstanding Senior Leaders and was awarded a 1997 National Leadership Award from Delta Epsilon Iota Honor Society. She also represented UGA's athletic department in UGA football recruitment efforts, was a member and philanthrophy chairperson of Kappa Delta Sorority, and was a member of Mortar Board. Perhaps her best preparation for law school and, ultimately, a career as a litigator came when she was selected to serve as Defender/Advocate on UGA's University Judiciary. Ms. Sullivan-Howell served as an intern in the Washington, D.C., offices of the late U.S. Senator Paul Coverdell and U.S. Representative Nathan Deal, who went on to become Georgia Governor.  While working on Capitol Hill, Ms. Sullivan-Howell attended and completed a course of study with the Institute on Political Journalism at Georgetown University. Ms. Sullivan-Howell worked two years during college as a file clerk in the Athens law firm of Fortson, Bentley & Griffin, P.A. before matriculating to law school in 1999. Ms. Sullivan-Howell's academic success and leadership while an undergraduate earned her a full scholarship to attend law school at Mercer University's Walter F. George School of Law. While there, Ms. Sullivan distinguished herself as a top student, graduating Cum Laude in 2002 and receiving CALI Awards For Excellence in First Amendment Law, Environmental Law, Taxation of Tax-Exempt Organizations, Appellate Practice and Procedure, Advanced Legal Research, Legal Writing I and Legal Writing II. Ms. Sullivan-Howell also received Faculty Awards for Excellence in Legal Writing I and Legal Writing II and was named to the school's Dean's List. Outside the classroom, Ms. Sullivan-Howell participated in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program helping needy people complete income tax returns and was active in the Federalist Society. She also served as Vice President of Mercer's chapter of Christian Legal Society and gained invaluable experience as an intern to the late Honorable Duross Fitzpatrick, Judge, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia in 2001. ​After her admission to the Georgia Bar in 2002, Ms. Sullivan-Howell accepted a position as an associate with the Macon firm of James, Bates, Pope & Spivey, LLP, (now known as James Bates) where she worked as a commercial and business tort litigator.  Ms. Sullivan-Howell relocated from Macon to Thomasville in 2005. Ms. Sullivan-Howell serves as a Board member for Family Enrichment Group, Inc., the Thomas County affiliate of CASA Georgia, Inc., an organization which provides child advocacy services in Georgia's Juvenile Courts. She is also an active member of the Women's Forum, a subsection of the Thomas County Chamber of Commerce, and has presented legal information programs for Boy Scouts and women's small groups in Thomasville.   Ms. Sullivan-Howell has served as a competition judge and advisor to the Scholars Academy team in Georgia High School Mock Trial proceedings. Ms. Sullivan-Howell is a member of the Georgia Bar's Sections on Family Law and Child Protection & Advocacy and the Thomas County Bar Association. Ms. Sullivan-Howell has served for many years as Chairperson for the Advisory Board to Southwest Georgia Technical College's program in Paralegal Studies. The American Institute of Family Law Attorneys named Ms. Sullivan-Howell one of the Ten Best Family Law Attorneys in Georgia. Positive feedback from clients has earned Ms. Sullivan-Howell an Avvo Client's Choice badge on Avvo's widely-used legal services website (www.avvo.com). Ms. Sullivan-Howell is admitted to practice in all Superior Courts of the State of Georgia, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, Washington, D.C. She is an active member of Thomasville First United Methodist Church, where she sings with the Worship Team and teaches Sunday School. Where to Find Bree: Website: The Sullivan Firm Instagram:  Bree Sullivan-Howell Instagram: Crush Your Divorce

Truly an episode you won't want to miss as John and Matt welcome Washington, D.C based journalism and PR pro, Julie Parker! Julie worked as a reporter with WJLA-TV for almost 9 years before venturing down a new path as the Director of the Media Relations Division for the Prince George's County Police Department. Excelling at her position, Julie transformed the department by using their social media platforms in an innovative way, becoming more transparent with department information and building relationships to connect with the community. Listen to how Julie has handled crisis situations, media relationships, and is now building her own company, Julie Parker Communications. Give her a follow on Twitter @JulieParkerComm and visit julieparkercommunications.com.

Punctuation With 1period facilitates the BEMOR LLC public meetings - https://www.bemor.org/ in collaboration with: The Phoenix Local Organizing Committee - https://thephxloc.org/ in partnership with: Ashlea Taylor, MAS-LMFT; Owner - https://www.favorgraceunderfire.com/Dr. Rischer, Author; Entrepreneur; - https://lessonsfromfatherandbrother.com/- https://mindfulinergytees.com/ - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaRQ... Alexus Rhone (affectionately known as “Lex”) is a writer, producer, artistic theologian and "revolutionary artist" devoted to candidly exploring the power of truth when ‘dressed' in story. Founder of Truth Meet Story, LLC, Lex holds a Master of Arts in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, and a Bachelor of Journalism/Public Relations degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Lex is the host of the weekly faith and adult-storytelling series “Jesus, Jazz & Dessert Wine@Vespers”, and currently resides in Raleigh, North Carolina. - https://www.alexusrhone.com/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/punctuationwith1period/support

Freeli TV…Here we come with Javier Mac & Tenia Wright! Hello, Hello, HELLO friends! Fam, we got a streaming deal!!! We are so excited to share our big news!  Your favorite pharmacists are a part of Freeli TV family.  Freeli TV is a streaming app and is jam packed with channels for whatever interest, hobby, or favorite that you have. From lifestyle channels, to music channels, to feature length movies, to celebrity interviews, Freeli is free to watch and 100% for the Culture. Today we are sitting down with Talent Curator and the Chief Programming Officer of Freeli TV, Javier Mac & Tenia Wright!  You always know it’s going to be a fun conversation with your girls! In this episode you will learn: The mission of Freeli tv Meet our Super friends behind the scenes of this all Black streaming app The focus is content for us by us. How to download Freeli tv How to watch 3 friends TALK on Freeli tv Download the Freeli app for free: www.freelitv.com About Javier Mac: Javier McIntosh is currently a full-time artist living in Downtown, Atlanta. After graduating from Georgia State University with a Managerial Science degree, Javier decided to focus all of his efforts into video production. Within a year he became Director of Photography for one of Atlanta's most successful photo marketing boutiques and would win Best Atlanta Indi Production Company in 2017. Over the past decade, he produced for brands such as Spotify, Sprite, and Kia Motors, just to name a few. Before joining forces with Jabriel McIntosh to create McIntosh Bros LLC, Javier was personally commissioned by Reebok, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Patti LaBelle, and then toured with Grammy Award Winning group Arrested Development. When Javier is not working on film projects, he enjoys playing the piano, boxing, and salsa dancing. In his spare time, he volunteers with organizations such as Big Brother Big Sister and Re:ImagineATL.  About Tenia Wright: Tenia is a founding member and Chief Programming Officer for Freeli TV where her responsibilities include the curation and programming of TV shows and movies.  She received a Bachelor's in Journalism/Public Relations from Georgia State University and a Master's in Human Resources Management from the University of Phoenix.  When she is not programming for Freeli, she enjoys producing film projects and serving on the high school ministry at her church.   Connect with Javier and Tenia at: www.freelitv.com www.instagram.com/freelitv www.facebook.com/freelitv www.twitter.com/freelitv Connect with Dr. Courtney, Dr. Leah, & Dr. Sylvia: www.3friendsTALK.com www.instagram.com/3friendsTALK https://www.facebook.com/3friendsTALK      

Esoteric Esa, is an Intuitive Content Creator and Numerologist. After graduating with her B.A. in Journalism - Public Relations from Cal-State University, Northridge she quickly transitioned to help craft the public perception and brand image for one of Music's Biggest Award Shows - The GRAMMYs. With seven years of experience in Events, Entertainment, Music, and Social Media, it became apparent that her Gemini Midheaven was leading her to her life's work. Esoteric Esa was birthed after her spiritual awakening. Influenced by the thought that conversation around destigmatizing the negative misconceptions associated with esoteric teachings in the Latinx community is what drove her to believe that Spirituality in our community needs to be talked about. Through that intention, she launched her self-titled YouTube channel and her SOULIMINATI blog to share purpose-driven content for women seeking spiritual liberation. Her Podcast, Better Work Bitch, "A Podcast for Manifestors" is now on its second season and highlights how to play with the Universe to better create our realities through sharing her journey of becoming "The Modern Spiritual Latina." It's in her lineage to foster other women and spread the self-empowering knowledge within astrology, crystal stones, and numerology.   In This Episode We Tak About:  Jasmin’s origins story and how she got into spirituality and astrology. The difference between twin flames, soulmates, and karmic relationships.  Masculine and feminine energy and how it relates to twin flames. What is the purpose of a twin flame journey?  The signs and synchronicities of when you meet your twin flame. Her advice for calling-in your twin flame.  The reason why partnerships are meant to grow your soul. How can you tell between a karmic relationship and a twin? The numerology of the Divine Masculine awakening in 2020.  FULL SHOW NOTES Connect with Awaken and Align: If you enjoyed the podcast and you feel called, please share it and tag me! Subscribe, rate, and review the show wherever you get your podcasts. Your rating and review help more people discover it! Follow on Instagram @awakenandalign Let me know your favorite guests, lessons, or any topic requests.

Alex is with us today to chat about her journey from enjoying writing at school to pursuing a Bachelor of Communication (Professional Communication). This course starts with a more general approach and allows students to experience different areas, which has led to Alex pivoting and choosing a major that's different to what she initially planned. What we're talking about: Today we talk about accelerating in VCE, using your time efficiently to get your study done, how a Bachelor of Communication degree works and the benefits of doing a course that starts off in a more general way. Accelerating in VCE: Alex did Global Politics Units 1&2 in Year 10 and followed it with Units 3&4 in Year 11. She had a few different options for acceleration to choose from and chose politics because it was the one she was most interested in. We talk about the pros and cons of accelerating and how to decide whether it's a good idea or not for you. Using your time efficiently to get your study done: Alex realised that she needed to spend less time creating beautiful flash cards and getting organised to study, and just work out what needed to be done and do the work. I've helped so many recovering perfectionists with this and completely agree that sometimes you can fool yourself into thinking you're studying when you're actually procrastinating. How a Bachelor of Communication degree works: Alex gives a great insight into how her degree works, including explaining more about the general first year, when you start to specialise, opportunities for travel and how students get a taste of what sort of work they will actually do when they finish their degree. The benefits of doing a course that starts off in a more general way: Even if you know (or think you know!) what you would like to pursue, it can be better to start with a more general degree that allows you to specialise in a particular area after you've had a taste of a few similar options, especially if your experience up until this point is relatively limited. Alex thought she would major in journalism, but after having the chance to experience advertising, public relations and media as well, she discovered that she enjoyed advertising more as it would give her more opportunities to work in a team environment. Links mentioned: My website: https://www.roadmapeducation.com Course that Alex mentions: https://www.rmit.edu.au/study-with-us/levels-of-study/undergraduate-study/bachelor-degrees/bachelor-of-communication-professional-communication-bp222

We're back in a new year with Season 5! After the storm that was 2020, we discuss how to pick up the pieces and rediscover what we might've lost in the chaos: a sense of purpose. Joining us is none other than the Destiny Activator herself, Jennifer Fonseca.  Also listen in for a major announcement regarding Michelle and Season 5.  Timestamps Season 5 Updates/Announcement (0:16) Introducing Jennifer Fonseca: Destiny Activator (4:30) Purpose and Our Work (13:31) Purpose and Our Identity (16:53) How To Find My Purpose (29:15)   Jennifer currently serves as the Destiny Activator / Assistant Director of Career Development at Palm Beach Atlantic University, while managing her private coaching practice. She is published in a NASPA Journal and Player magazine. She earned her M.Ed. at the University of Toledo (after reading and embracing What Color is Your Parachute), and has a B.S. in Journalism/Public Relations from Bowling Green State University. She was certified by Gallup in 2003 in StrengthsFinder, and is a certified practitioner in the Strong Interest Inventory and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Connect with Jennifer and activate our destiny at: jenniferfonseca.com   Music Credit: LAKEY INSPIREDTrack Name: "The Process"Music By: LAKEY INSPIRED Official SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/lakeyinspiredOfficial YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOmy8wuTpC95lefU5d1dt2QLicense for commercial use: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported "Share Alike" (CC BY-SA 3.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcodeMusic promoted by: Chill Out Records @ https://goo.gl/fh3rEJ www.ChillOutMedia.com / www.LoFi-HipHop.com

In this episode, I talk with someone who founded a job board. We often interact with job boards when we’re applying to different gigs, but have you ever thought about what goes into setting up a freelance job board? Today’s episode guest is Lesley Pyle of Hire My Mom. Moms wanting to work from home and get more flexibility and Lesley was way ahead of the curve on recognizing the need to promote hiring mothers and parents. Not everyone’s path to becoming a freelancer looks the same, but many people are rethinking how and where they work. Starting a freelance side hustle is a great opportunity to explore new passions and decide what’s really best for you. People who want to work from home have a hard time getting started if they don’t have a pipeline for finding clients. In fact, it’s one of the most common hurdles people experience if they don’t have a solid marketing plan. If you’re a new mom or have children already, Hire My Mom might be the perfect site for you to learn about new opportunities! In this episode, we discussed: Why becoming a mother let Lesley think more about how her work style was going to change, even when her new feelings were totally unexpected. Why getting started with freelancing often means thinking small and staying in a day job and how you should think about that in your own home. How Lesley went from being one of the early pioneers working from home to starting her own website to help other people get their own freelance careers started. How Hire My Mom started and what it’s grown into today What to do if you don’t have the experience to get started as a freelancer working from home? Do you really need to have a resume or cover letter when you’re looking at job boards? How can you be best prepared to join a site like Hire My Mom? Why you should expect to pay something reasonable for a legitimate freelance job board site. Bio: Lesley Pyle is the founder of HireMyMom.com, a boutique service connecting Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses with top-notch Virtual Professionals across the country founded in 2007. She began her work-at-home career in 1996 with the launch of her first website: Home-Based Working Moms. She has a Master's degree in Public Relations from the University of Stirling, Scotland while on a full academic scholarship and as an Ambassador of Goodwill for Rotary International. She also has a BA in Journalism / Public Relations from Texas State University. Pyle has been featured in numerous publications including Forbes, Entrepreneur, Wall Street Journal and USA Today. In her spare time, she loves traveling, decorating, football and spending time with family and friends. She and her husband live in Texas and have four children ages 12-24. Connect with Lesley: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HireMyMom Instagram: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hiremymom-com/ LinkedIn: https://www.pinterest.com/hiremymomcom/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/hiremymom

Courtney J.E. Poulos is the broker/owner of ACME Real Estate, a design-savvy boutique brokerage focusing on brand marketing and real estate sales. She is a member of Forbes Real Estate Council, a repeat panelist at Inman Connect and Awesome Females in Real Estate, and is a panelist and emcee for the California Association of Realtors WomanUp!® Initiative. She recently was the host of FYI Network’s “My City’s Just Not That Into Me,” where she played real estate matchmaker with buyers and sellers nationwide. She has been selling real estate since 2005.     Courtney’s stated mission is to help women achieve financial independence through real estate investment. Her latest book, Break Up! With Your Rental: The Professional Woman’s Guide to Building Wealth through Real Estate, is available nationwide.     As co-founder of the Northeast Los Angeles Business Culture, Courtney brought together over 50 small business owners in a transforming neighborhood to create community and cross-promotional opportunities, applying social media marketing and outreach.     Courtney hails from the East Coast, graduated from University of Maryland at College Park’s esteemed Phillip Merrill College of Journalism with a degree in Journalism/Public Relations, and spent 9 years working in arts and entertainment public relations prior to entering real estate.     In her free time, she enjoys being a mama, maintains the brokerage website for design and real estate, www.acme-re.com, military-style workouts, singing karaoke at dive bars, and enjoying a nice glass of Malbec under twinkle lights.     Courtney is available for speaking engagements.        In this episode, Karen and Courtney discuss:  Success Story of Courtney  Commit to Get Leads  Don’t wait for “Mr. Right” or the right moment with all the stars aligned before investing in real estate. There is something for everyone, open your eyes and think outside of where you live.  Consult to Sell  The psychology of buying property is the biggest hurdle for buyers and sellers. Understanding the emotions in the transaction can help your client through the process.  Connect to Build and Grow  Be involved. Find your voice. Have an impact.   Success Thinking, Activities and Vision  Self-care and stress maintenance are critical in real estate, as in most jobs. Don’t allow other people’s transition energy to destroy your balance.  Sweet Spot of Success        "There are no mistakes you can make here…If you look at people who are wealthy in this world, they all have long term real estate holdings. There’s never a bad time to buy, only a bad time to sell."- Courtney Poulos        *5 Minute Success - Listener Giveaway*   Go here to receive your FREE Guide to 5 Secrets to Break Up! With Your Real Estate!        Connect with Courtney Poulos:      Facebook:  ACME Real Estate  Website:  acme-re.com & BreakUpWithYourRental.com  Instagram: @acmerealestate & @breakupwithyourrental & @courtneyinlala        About the Podcast     Join host Karen Briscoe each week to learn how you can achieve success at a higher level by investing just 5 minutes a day! Tune in to hear powerful, inspirational success stories and expert insights from entrepreneurs, business owners, industry leaders, and real estate agents that will transform your business and life. Karen shares a-ha moments that have shaped her career and discusses key concepts from her book Real Estate Success in 5 Minutes a Day: Secrets of a Top Agent Revealed.      Here’s to your success in business and in life!        Connect with Karen Briscoe:     Twitter: @5MinuteSuccess  Facebook: 5MinuteSuccess  Website: 5MinuteSuccess.com  Email: Karen@5MinuteSuccess.com     5 Minute Success Links     Learn more about Karen’s book, Real Estate Success in 5 Minutes a Day     Karen also recommends Moira Lethbridge's book "Savvy Woman in 5 Minutes a Day"     Subscribe to 5 Minute Success Podcast     Spread the love and share the secrets of 5 Minute Success with your friends and colleagues!       Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.   

Lesley Pyle's dream was born out of her own desire to be at home with her baby instead of reporting to a job. In 2007, she founded HireMyMom.com with a strong desire to help professional women find flexible, legitimate, home-based work. Lesley's story teaches us the value of not waiting until you have it all figured out before taking a step in the direction of your dream. She talks about learning along the way and how her passion made up for the expertise she didn't have when she began. You'll discover how the solution to a pain point in your own life can reveal a God-shaped dream you might have to serve and support others. She shares why it's important to let go of the mom guilt, get out of your comfort zone and trust God with the path He has you on. And finally, to cover it all in prayer because He knows you, He's for you and He is with you as you take the next steps.   MORE ABOUT LESLEY: Lesley Pyle is the founder of HireMyMom.com, a boutique service connecting Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses with top-notch Virtual Professionals across the country founded in 2007. She began her work-at-home career in 1996 with the launch of her first website: Home-Based Working Moms. She has a master's degree in Public Relations from the University of Stirling, Scotland while on a full academic scholarship and as an Ambassador of Goodwill for Rotary International. She also has a BA in Journalism / Public Relations from Texas State University. Pyle has been featured in numerous publications including Forbes, Entrepreneur, Wall Street Journal and USA Today. She and her husband live in Texas and have four children. You can find the show notes, learn how to enter the giveaway for a free 3 month job seeker package on hiremymom.com and connect with Lesley, here: http://www.merrittonsa.com/podcast/128   NEXT STEPS: If you're new to the Devoted Dreamers Podcast or just trying to figure out what's next after you've heard this one, check out my 30 Days of Prayer series or one of these recent interviews: Episode 127 – Because It Will Never Be the Perfect Time to Start with Haley Williams – released 9/4/2019 Episode 125 – How to Step Confidently into God's Calling for Your Life with Brittany Rust – released 8/14/2019   GET MORE INVOLVED...BECOME A DEVOTED DREAMERS PATRON   Listener support makes this show possible! Click here to learn more about how you can get involved!    GET CONNECTED WITH THE COMMUNITY:   Find your tribe in the Devoted Dreamers Insiders Facebook Group where you can connect with other like-minded women in pursuit of their God-shaped dreams. Leave your review of the show on Apple Podcasts/iTunes or Stitcher Subscribe on Apple Podcasts * Subscribe on Android

In this episode, we discuss: Five things you need to know before you start working from home. What does it take to be successful working from home? What are the biggest mistakes people make when starting to work from home? About our guest: Lesley Pyle is the founder of HireMyMom.com, a boutique service connecting Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses with top-notch Virtual Professionals across the country. She began her work-at-home career in 1996 with the launch of her first website: Home-Based Working Moms. She has a Master's degree in Public Relations from the University of Stirling, Scotland while on a full academic scholarship and as an Ambassador of Goodwill for Rotary International. She also has a BA in Journalism / Public Relations from Texas State University. Pyle has been featured in numerous publications including Forbes, Entrepreneur, Wall Street Journal and USA Today. She and her husband live in Texas and have four children.   Rhonda: Thank you so much for joining us! I am really excited to be able to introduce to Lesley Pyle, and she is the founder of Hire My Mom, which is a boutique service connecting entrepreneurs and small businesses. She began her work-at-home career in 1996 with the launch of her first website, Home-Based Working Mom. So, for all of us moms out there, we can relate to her business. Whether it's a full-time hustle, a side hustle, we're going to be sharing some tips on working from home. Lesley has a master's degree in public relations from the University of Stirling in Scotland and she also has some additional credentials as well. She has a bachelor's degree, bachelor's of arts actually in journalism and public relations from Texas State University. As I was looking through your credentials, isn't it fun that we have the opportunity to be able to use our journalism and public relations backgrounds to be able to share something we're super passionate about? Lesley: Yeah. You know, I was so thankful that I did have that background because it comes in handy no matter what business you have, to have a PR and marketing background. So, I credit that with helping me get my business off the ground because- Rhonda: Yeah, absolutely. Lesley: ... so many of us start on a shoestring budget, so being able to do some marketing and PR, in the beginning, was really helpful. Rhonda: Yeah, absolutely. Well, thank you so much for joining us today. Lesley: Yeah. Thank you. Pleasure to be here. Rhonda: So, share with us ... I know you've had several articles written, Huffington Post. What are some of the other places that you have written articles for or been - Lesley: I wrote ... Yeah, I wrote for Women Entrepreneur for quite a while and then I've written for some ... one-time posts on various parenting and work from home blogs. So, yeah. 24 years of doing this, so it's been ... A lot's changed over the years. Rhonda: Right? Well, when you and I chatted prior to doing the recording, that was one of the things that we were talking about is how things have shifted so much over the years. You know, I'd love for you to share, from your perspective, some of the things that you've seen as far as some of the shifts. Lesley: Yeah, most definitely. So, when I first started out 24 years ago, working from home was not so widely accepted. So, I basically .. When I started freelancing, I didn't tell my clients that I work from home because I knew it was going to be not as well received. Today, everybody thinks it's great and they're jealous if you work from home, but back then it was like, "Oh, you must not be very good at what you do if you work from home." So, that's been the biggest change. Lesley: With the advent of all the technology we have today with the Internet and with cell phones and email, none of that existed back ... Well, I think we had ... I did have a website, but I don't even know if I had email originally. But so much has changed and it just makes working from anywhere so possible now. With moms wanting that flexibility to work from home, not just moms that are searching for work, but moms who are business owners, a lot of them want to work from home, too, because that flexibility is just so helpful and beneficial for moms. So, I don't know about you, but I had ... When my babies were young, I had somebody come in and watch them while I work. That worked out beautifully. Then as they got older, they could go to a mother's day out or a preschool for a few hours a day and that sort of thing. Then, transition. Now, they're all in school. Rhonda: I know, right? It's like, "Oh, my gosh." Well, I think a lot of times, people start, they want the flexibility, and yet I think it takes the right person and right personality to be able to be disciplined and navigate through all of those pieces because ... I don't know that balance is really the right word because I don't know if you can ever have balance, but it's prioritizing those things and then also knowing like, "Hey, we might have to work a little bit longer this day so that we can do this on this day," you know? Lesley: Exactly. I find myself doing that. So, I may get up early one day and get a lot done because I want to do something that afternoon with my only one that's still at home or vice versa. I may work in the evening if I need to catch up on something if I've taken off a few hours during the day to go have fun or run errands or whatever it might be. So, yeah, it's such a huge benefit to be able to work that flexibility. Rhonda: Well, like you said, it is more widely accepted for people to stay at home. So, let's talk a little bit about some of the successes and lessons that you've learned from 24 years of working. Not only working from home yourself, but really helping other women work from home as well. So,- Lesley: Yeah. Rhonda: So, what are five things that women need to know before starting to work from home? Lesley: I think one of the biggest mistakes I see moms make is they jump right into something because they just want to work at home. So, the first thing that comes along, they're like, "I'm going to do it. I can make money." Well, that doesn't always work. It may work for some people, but I really think the best thing to do is to really spend time thinking about your true strengths, your passion, your experience, your education, and how those all fit together, and what could you do with that combination of skills and passions. I think you'll be so much more successful. Lesley: It may not be something that you can start and be up and running and making money the next day, but I think the old saying "Find what you love and the money will follow," is so true because I love what I do, so working is never like, "Oh, I've got to work today." Working is like, "Yay! I'm going to work today. What fun am I going to have?" because every day's a little bit different and I interact with different moms and business owners. So, that's my first recommendation is find something that you're passionate about. Lesley: Then, also consider the viability of your business. So, if you want to do something and there's no market for it or the market is saturated, maybe you need to go to plan B because if there's too much competition, it may be hard for you to make an income. But there's always room, you know. On the other hand, if what you do is really good and you can find your unique selling point, then you can always give it a go. Lesley: I also think it's really important to be a motivated self-starter because you don't have a boss looking over your shoulder and telling you to get in there and get to work. So, if that's not your personality, either you got to figure out how to make yourself become more motivated and self-start or maybe find something else where you are working for someone else. Lesley: Then, I think it's important to develop a plan, even if it's informal, where you write down your business idea, who your market is, how you think you can target them through whatever advertising, marketing, direct mail, whatever works for you, or direct email more these days. Lesley: Then, my final piece of advice is to commit yourself to at least six months. Don't give up too quickly because it does take time to get a business up and running, and sometimes it takes up to 12 months. So, if you're not making money the first month, don't give up. I know when I first started 24 years ago, I had such passion to make it work because I did not ... I took my baby girl to daycare for two weeks and I cried every day. This was me thinking ... I never thought I would be a stay-at-home mom. I used to think that was such a boring life, like, "Who wants to do that?" So, I had always envisioned myself as being this big, corporate career lady with my briefcase and my stilettos and I was going for it. Then, I had a baby and all of that just changed for me. Lesley: I was like, "I cannot bear to leave her in somebody else's care." So, when I quit after two weeks, my motivation was, "I better get some clients fast because we couldn't afford for me not to work." So, that was my motivation, and it pushed me out of my comfort zone because, normally, I'm not the type that would just cold call or call someone up and say, "Hey, do you need blah blah, blah?" but I did because I was really determined to make it work. So, if you're that determined, I think you've got your foot off to the right start. Rhonda: Yeah, absolutely. Well, I think, too, it's ... Part of the tip, too, is identifying needs, right? A lot of the businesses are started because there's a need of something. "We're going to help solve a problem for something," whatever that something is,- Lesley: Right. Rhonda: ... right? Lesley: Mm-hmm (affirmative). Most definitely. Rhonda: So, no, those are definitely some really great tips. So, let's talk a little bit about what it takes for women to be successful when they are working from home. Lesley: Okay. Yeah. I think some of the personality traits I've already mentioned, to be motivated, self-starter, perseverance, drive, determination. Because let's face it, you don't always have good days in your business. There are bad days. There are good days. So, just to persevere when you do have those bad days or there's difficult clients or things don't go right, that sort of thing. Lesley: It's also very important to be organized because, at least in the beginning, you're most likely going to be doing everything yourself, and so to be organized and have ... I like to sometimes time block my schedule so that I know for one hour I'm doing email, for the next hour, I might do social media, for the next hour, I might work on a project, and to give myself an organized daily outline of what my day is going to look like. Of course, you got to have flexibility sometimes because things happen, but that works well for me. The ability to manage your time well and to not allow yourself to get stuck viewing social media or whatever it is that might pull you away from getting work done. Lesley: I also think it's important to be a continual learner. Like I said, I've been doing this for a long time, but I still try to listen to podcasts and read books and stay up-to-date on new trends. There's always so much more to learn. I feel like there is so much more I could do and learn. You just don't have enough time. But to be a continual learner and to have that as your mindset, like, "I'm not going to get stuck and just do things the same way forever," because you want to stay current with everything. It's also important to adapt to changes. There may be something that changes in your industry or in your market, maybe new competitors to come in, and just being able to adapt and change. Lesley: So, I know with Hire My Mom, when I first started Hire My Mom, which is 12 years ago, there was not many other sites like Hire My Mom, but now there's quite a few. There's Fiverr and Upwork and FlexJobs and all these others, so what I've tried to do is stay in my lane and differentiate what is ... how is my Hire My Mom different? Well, we're different in that we're a boutique site. We're a lot smaller than those other big sites. We don't have a staff of 200 people. I have a team of three, so we're much smaller and we cater, obviously, to moms and small businesses and entrepreneurs. So, we don't go after the Marriotts and the big companies that do have work from home options. We just try to cater directly to our audience and provide the best service we can, a personalized service that you don't get on the bigger sites. Lesley: Then, like I said before, just having a passion for what you do I think is so important because when I talk to prospective business owners, I think they can tell that I truly enjoy what I do because I'm both an entrepreneur and a mom, so I fit both sides of my market and I'm passionate about being a mom and I'm passionate about being an entrepreneur, and I think that comes out when I talk to people. It's not something I have to manufacturer because it's truly something that I love. Lesley: Then lastly, I would say the ability to continue when other things are calling you. So, if you work from home, you can guarantee that you'll have distractions, whether it's the neighbors that want to come over and chit-chat or the laundry that's piling up or the grocery store that's calling you, and none of those things are bad, but you just have to know when to say, "No," to those things and let your ... get the work done that you need to get done for that day. Rhonda: You know, one of the ... I just love this conversation because I think, A, there's plenty of moms that are listening to the podcast right now that are trying to figure out, "Okay. Well, what am I passionate about? Where can I look to find gigs that I can do from home?" and there's also entrepreneurs that are looking for people to be able to help. Lesley: Right. Rhonda: One of the things that I ... There were two words that I wrote down that our conversation prompted me to think of. One is ... I think one of the things that we need to be very intentional about, especially when we're working from home, is not to be isolated because it's very easy to stay home, right? I mean, you've got ... Your kids are home, you're busy, you're working from home, and I think being intentional about finding specific groups or a group that you can be part of so that you can get out and meet people and talk to people,- Lesley: Right. Rhonda: So, just making sure that we're intentional of doing that because I think it's easy to do. Lesley: It is. Rhonda: Days go, weeks go by, and you're like, "I haven't even hardly left my house." Lesley: Right. That, I think, is a great tip as well. So, I do that. I make myself get out, too. I usually go to the gym and I'll do a workout class or something, so I'll have interaction there. I feel like it gets my mindset in the right place because I've got those endorphins running, I feel good, I've done something good for my self-care. Then I do a weekly women's group. We either have a prayer group or a Bible study, and so I connect in that way each week, too. Occasionally, I'll do the girls' lunch. Last week, I met with two other Hire My Mom ladies that are here in my area, in the Woodlands Spring near Houston. So, it is fun just to make sure that you don't isolate yourself and that you are getting out. You can always use that as networking because people are always asking, "What do you do?" "I work from home." So, it's an open door to share what you do. Rhonda: Yeah. No, I think that's awesome. Well, one of the things that I think ties into the services that you offer is the importance of delegating because I know that my business would not be where it is today without me delegating to very important people that are part of my team. One of which is a virtual assistant who runs a lot of the backend stuff, does testing. I mean, all of those kinds of things are happening, whether it's we're delegating to technology, we're delegating to people, we're delegating to a combination thereof. Can you talk to that just a little bit and the importance of delegating? Lesley: Yeah, absolutely. I agree with that 100%. Like I said earlier, you may not be able to delegate the day you start your business because funds may be tight, but as soon as you can, the first thing I did was hire a VA. That is ... It allows me to do what I'm good at and frees me up to not spend time in email and customer service and things like that. Lesley: So, my VA is wonderful. Found her on Hire My Mom, and she answers all of my emails that comes through the website, she does all the customer service phone calls, we use Grasshopper so they can direct who gets which calls, and then she also researches every job that's posted. So, we try our best to make sure every job is legitimate. So, she spends time googling them on the Internet, looking at them on LinkedIn, finding out ... going to Better Business Bureau, all these different ways to prevent any scams from getting in, so that's a huge help. Lesley: Then, I have someone who helps me with social media. So, we know it takes a lot of time if you're going to have a social media presence, so I'm delegating for that. Then, I have somebody who helps me occasionally with Pinterest and blogs and with our new concierge service. I have an HR professional who ... Our concierge service is for busy professionals who need the hire, but they don't have the time or desire. So, we'll do a consultation, we'll write the job post, we'll post the job, we'll interview, reveal the candidates, interview, and then present the top couple of candidates for them to make the final decisions. So, I have somebody that helps with that when I have a client that needs that. Lesley: So, yeah, you can't really grow your business without delegating and outsourcing. Today, virtual teams are so common, and with all the tools that are out, like what we're using, Zoom, you can have face-to-face meetings even in different locations. Rhonda: Right. Lesley: So, yeah, it's a wonderful ... I think it works great for small businesses who want to continue working from home but need to grow and expand the business because one person cannot possibly do it all. Rhonda: No. For sure. I think a lot of times ... Well, A, myself, I have to remind myself of this, but then also the women that I'm working with to say, "Okay. Let's just get the facts," because I think sometimes people think, "Oh. Well, I couldn't hire a virtual assistant," or, "I couldn't hire somebody to help me on social media." Okay. Well, maybe you can, maybe you can't, but let's get the facts. Let's find out what they could offer within your budget. When I hired my virtual assistant, we started at 10 hours a month because that's what I could afford to have her help me with. Lesley: Absolutely. Rhonda: Now, she's grown with me and she's doing 40 hours a month. So, we've literally quadrupled what we were doing. I look back, I'm like, "Oh, my gosh. There were just a couple of things I had her working on and now she's running ..." She was always capable of doing it. It was just ... I think sometimes I didn't even know what to ask her to help me with. Lesley: Right. Rhonda: She's pushed me. You know what? I step out of my comfort zone. We just started a new project management tool that we can all be on the same page and we're getting a lot more done, and I told her, I said, "This is ... You're pushing me out of my comfort zone, and as much as we resist it, I know I need it. Lesley: That's what's so great about virtual assistants because, a lot of times, they'll work for more than one client and they learn from different people and then they can bring that skill to you. But I was the same way. My first VA probably worked two or three hours a week so about $10 ... $10 ... about 10 hours a month. As your business grows, they can grow with you, and as your income increases, you can delegate more out. I know my VA has two other clients that she works for because she still ... She probably works for me about 10 hours a week now, so it's increased, but it's still not ... She's looking for about 30 hours a week. So, it works great. Lesley:  They don't have to just work for one person, and it is beneficial because sometimes they bring things to you that you're like, "Wow," because we use ... My social media assistant and I use Slack. I don't know if that's the one that you use, but that's how we collaborate. So, she can put things in Slack, and I can review them, we can collaborate on them, and then she can go ahead and post it. But that way, I oversee everything and make sure it's in tune with my voice and my mission without it just going directly to social media. So, there's so many great tools out there like that where you can collaborate and communicate and keep things in their channels so that it's not ... Emails get crazy and get lost, and then you go try to dig and, "Where's that conversation when we were talking about X, Y and Z? I don't know." So, tools like Slack, Asana, Trello. There's a lot of them out there that are great for that. Rhonda: Yup. We just started using ... Asana is the one we started using. Lesley: Okay. Yeah. Rhonda: I mean, it's working really well. We've only been using it now for a couple of weeks, but, man, it's so nice to be able to be on the same page and assigning the tasks. Then, I think the big thing for me as business owner is I don't feel like I have to micromanage all the pieces, but I actually just want to know when stuff's done or where we're at on it because a lot of times what I'm working on is depending on where they're at on a certain part of the project. Lesley: Right. Exactly. Rhonda: To get stuff done and checked off, you're like, "Oh, my gosh. Okay. Good. Now, that can be- Lesley: Yes. Rhonda: ... set aside. Lesley: Yes. I agree 100%. You're not wasting time emailing back and forth saying, "Where are you?" that sort of thing. You can just look and see where they're at. Rhonda: Yeah. Lesley: So, I liked that with ... Have you ever heard of or used Grasshopper, the phone service- Rhonda: No. Lesley: ... I was talking about? Rhonda: So, I used to have my cell phone listed on my website because who has a business line these days if you work from home? The only problem was 90% of the calls were for my virtual assistant, but I didn't want to put her cell phone on that website, so we use Grasshopper, and so I have an 800, or it's an 833 number, but it's, "Press one for this, two for that, three for that," and so depending on which number they push, it'll either go directly to her or directly to me, but I can see every voicemail that's left as the owner of it and you can also text people back. I can see every time she responds by text. It comes to me. So, if I want to, I can review all of the different communication, make sure that everything was answered to my satisfaction. But now that she's been with me a while, I don't really have to do that as much. But yeah, that's another great tool that works good for small businesses from home where you have some ... a virtual team and you want to direct calls to different people. Rhonda: Wow. That's really cool. So, is that actually an app? Lesley: It's an app and it's ... You can use it on your computer. So, what's nice, too, is every time a voicemail is left, it also emails you the voicemail. So, you can listen to it in your email as well as the app. Rhonda: That is awesome. Lesley: But yeah, I really liked that. Rhonda: So, for the women that are going through divorce, they can use it. "Press one for my ex-husband. Press ..." Lesley: Yeah. Yeah. There you go. That's great. Rhonda: Not taking his calls anymore. Don't call me. Oh, my gosh. That is awesome. I love the tips in the tools, right? Part of the reason that I wanted to do this podcast interview was because there are so many women that I work with that are needing to reinvent themselves or they're needing to be able to supplement the income that they're getting from child support and maintenance to be able to maintain a good standard of living for them and their kids or they just have time and they want to do something and make a difference and help people. Lesley: Yeah. Rhonda: I love the opportunity to be able to help them, introduce them to tools, resources, platforms that can help them do that. I think one of the other things, in addition to "What does it take for people that are working from home to be successful?" I think we also want to say, "Hey, what are some of the mistakes that people potentially make as they are working from home as well?" So, chat with us a little bit about that. Lesley: Okay. One of the mistakes ... I already mentioned when people rush too quickly into something, then they don't really give it the time and attention that they should. For instance, "Oh, my girlfriend is making $500 a month. I'm going to do that. Or $5,000 a month," but it has something that you're totally not interested in. If it's home parties and multilevel marketing, that's great, and some people do very well, but if you know that's not your cup of tea, then you probably shouldn't waste your time because the people that make a lot of money work their butts off. They don't just sit at home and watch the cash roll in. So, that's really important. I think it's just ... Lesley: Again, think about your personality, your strengths, your experience in research. I mean, the Internet is such a fast resource, so if you're looking to ... We were talking so much on the Internet. there's virtual administration, there's social media, there's blogging, there's writing, there's editing, there's web design, bookkeeping, accounting. There's so many different opportunities if you're looking to work for someone and not start your own business and there's tons of courses. So, if you want to be a virtual assistant, but you're thinking, "Oh, my skills are rusty. I really don't know if I could do Asana, Slack and all these things." None of these are difficult, but you do need to be acclimated to them and know how to use them because someone that's looking to hire is not going to want to train you on everything. So, if you can do 30-day, 60-day virtual assistant training, then you're so much more likely to get a job. Rhonda: Yeah. Lesley: We partnered with a few different people on some of those training programs that have actually been Hire My Mom members that started out as a virtual assistant and now they've transitioned into being more like a coach and courses and things like that. It's not just for virtual assistance. There are similar programs for if you want to do social media or bookkeeping or whatever it might be. So, yeah, I think it's just really deciding what you're passionate about, what you want to do and not wasting your time on something that you think you'll just make money at. Rhonda: Yeah, absolutely. Well, I think, too, the return on the investment, right? The opportunity to be able to not only have the flexibility, but the cash flow aspect of it, too, I think is certainly an important and attractive piece of this whole conversation. Lesley: Yes. I can relate because I think I mentioned before we did the podcast, I was divorced as well. I was married 14 years and went through a divorce, unexpected, unwanted, so not only financially devastates you, emotionally, mentally and everything. So, I can relate to where some of these ladies probably are. I had started my home business at that time, but I completely went missing pretty much for a month or two before I could really get my focus back. Thankfully, my business wasn't destroyed through that, and when I got my feet back underneath me, I actually ... Lesley: I'm a woman of prayer. I was like, "Okay, God, I can't make it on what I'm making right now and I do not want to have to put my kids ... change more for them than already has been changed." I had two children at the time. They were five and seven, and I was like, "I don't want to have to move," and not because I need the house where I am, but I just didn't want to change more for them. If there was any way possible, I wanted to be able to stay where I was. same school, same friends, same house and not have to get a full-time job. I was trying my best to keep things as similar as it was without dad at home for my kids. Lesley: So, I was just like, "Okay, God, I need some help here because I need to increase my income," and, "You know what I need," and, "I'm willing to cut back and eat ramen noodles. I've done that, been there, been that poor college kid, put myself through college, so I know how to live inexpensively." So, I did, and it was a luxury to take my kids out for ice cream at a time. That was a big deal. But slowly, I just felt like God gave me new ideas. At one point, I had ... My first website was Home-Based Working Moms and then I launched one for Canada, so I had a Canadian version, and then I launched a work at home kit where I wrote a workbook and had some other authors and their books and included membership, and then I had an e-directory of ... So, I had all these other ideas that came and really helped me expand my business and be able to continue working at home. Lesley: Then, it wasn't until 2007, which was about five years after my divorce, when I started Hire My Mom. Now, that's the only website I have because it keeps me busy and it's the one that fits our times where we're at, you know? So, that adapting and changing. Like I said, this is my sixth website, and every website was current for the time. Who knows? Hire My Mom, may be a day when it's not current and the thing anymore, but for now, it is. Rhonda: Yeah. That's awesome. That is awesome. Well, I know that we have covered a lot of ground so far. I always like to wrap up the podcast with two things. One is your favorite quote and the second thing is a client success story. So, let's go ahead and start with your favorite quote. Lesley: Okay. Well, I have two. One, I've already mentioned, which is "Do what you love and the money will follow," and the other one is "Success is different for everyone, and only you can decide what success is for you." So, for me, success may be working from home and just making a good income. Success for someone else may be making six figures. Someone else, it may be raising kids and just working as little as possible. So, just knowing what success is for you and not getting caught up in what someone else's definition of success is. Rhonda: Yeah, absolutely. I love that. So, share with us one of your favorite client success stories. Lesley: Yeah. I have two that recently came through, and both of them are favorites of mine because they are both previous Hire My mom job-seekers. So, they started out on Hire My Mom, found work, and one of them is an editor and the other one, I think she was administration, can't remember off the top of my head. But the bottom line is just in the last couple of months, both of them have come back to Hire My Mom as employers to post jobs because now their business has grown so much that they are now hiring a virtual team. So, that's my very favorite success story because it just shows the full circle of ... You might start out as the job seeker and get one, two, three, four clients, and your business may grow so much that you have to then come back and then hire someone to help you and outsource some of your work. So, yeah. Both of those stories are on our blog if somebody wants to read more about Monique and Andrea's success stories with us. Rhonda: I love that. Isn't that ... I just have goosebumps because isn't that really what entrepreneurship for women is all about? Lesley: Yes. Yes, I agree. Both of them still have young children at home, so they're living the dream, as they would say, being able to now ... Because I think as moms, it's so meaningful to be able to hire another mom because we've been there where we had littles and we wanted to be at home with them, then knowing, "I'm helping this mom be at home with her littles because it meant so much to me." That was my whole reason for starting Hire My Mom. It meant so much for me to be able to work from home. I wanted to help other moms, too, you know? As an entrepreneur now, it means so much to me to hire moms, to help them be at home, that it's the whole thing, you know? It's just one of my passions, obviously. Rhonda: I love it. I love it. So, share with our listeners just really briefly about your business because I know there's the two sides. There's the job-seeker and then the employer, right? Lesley: Right. Yes. Rhonda: So, talk to us a little bit about that and how your platform works. Lesley: Okay. So, yeah, you can come to our site. If you're a job-seeker, you can come, and I would say have your resume ready so that as soon as you join, you can start applying for jobs. We have three packages available for job-seekers. So, we have a one-week trial, we have a three-month, our gold membership, which is our most popular. So, the one-week trial is $9.99. The three-month gold membership is $29.99 Then, we have a platinum membership that is six months and it also includes being the featured candidate on the home page, and that one's $99. So, like I said, as soon as you sign up, you're able to apply for jobs immediately, any and all that you're interested in. Lesley: Then, on the employer side, we also have three packages. So, we have a one-week trial for a posting a job, and that's $14.99. Then, our gold package to post a job for one month is $39. Then, we have the concierge service that I mentioned earlier, and that's where we basically do everything for the busy business owner who needs to hire a virtual professional, and the cost for that's is $4.99. So, all of those are available to small businesses and entrepreneurs. Rhonda: Awesome. Awesome. Well, you are matchmaking, right, in a differences. Lesley: Yes. Rhonda: I just want to thank you so much for spending some time today to just share a little bit more about some tips and we shared some resources and some tools for women that just may be feeling like, "Where do I go next? I just got the word that I may be going through divorce," or, "We filed for divorce and now what?" I love that I have the opportunity to have met you and now share this great resource with the women that need you most. Lesley: Yeah. Well, thank you. I appreciate being able to share with them.       QUOTE: “Find what you love, and the money will follow” AND “Success is different for everyone. Only you can decide what success is for you.” SPECIAL OFFER: For any new members, we will add an additional week to your membership or posting if you mention this podcast on your order form. CONTACT INFORMATION: Lesley Pyle Founder & Owner Hire My Mom 4057 Riley Fuzzel Road, Suite 500-117 Spring, TX 77386 lesley@hiremymom.com  (281) 757-2207 LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest Visit the Women’s Financial Wellness Center for a full directory listing of experts. Be sure to reach out if you would like to connect personally with the Women’s Financial Wellness Center. You can visit our website or grab a complimentary 30-minute consult. Leaving a positive podcast review is hugely important: they help the podcast get discovered by new people. Please spend 5 minutes of your time to leave a review on your preferred listening platform, we’d love to hear from you!  

Erika Thorkelson 3:57Erika Thorkelson holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia and is currently a sessional instructor at Emily Carr University of Art + Design. She is a regular contributor of arts and culture writing to the Vancouver Sun and Edmonton Journal as well as a host and operator on The Storytelling Show on Vancouver Co-op Radio. Erika joins us at AWP to discuss Room Magazine, Alicia Elliot, indigenous writing, and red lipstick. Gary McDowell 5:13Dr. Gary L. McDowell holds a Ph.D., Western Michigan University. He is an Associate Professor of English at Belmont University, specializing in Creative Writing and contemporary American poetics. His current collection of lyric essays is titled, Caesura: Essays (Otis Books/Seismicity Editions, 2017)Poet, essayist, and magician Gary McDowell gabs about indie presses, how he fell in love with writing lyrical essays, and how he found his way to Otis. He has other titles, including Mysteries in a World that Thinks There are None (Burnside Review Press, 2016). Find him on Twitter @poetwritesnovel. Kate Hope Day 22:18Kate Hope Day holds a BA from Bryn Mawr College and a PhD in English from the University of Pittsburgh. She was previously an associate producer at HBO. If, Then, is her first novel.Kate tells us about her new book, which is set in Clearing, Oregon and begins as a family drama until some strange things begin happening. Listen as she shares about If, Then, her New York Times Article, “Carrying the Ghosts of Lives Unlived,” her publishing journey, and juggling writing with raising children. Her book can be found in indie bookstores or online at any major retailer. It is also available in audio format. Read, “Carrying the Ghosts of Lives Unlived.”J. Kasper Kramer 33:15Kramer earned her MA in Creative Writing at UTC, where she now teaches English. Her work can be found in The Rumpus, The Coachella Review, and Catalpa. Her debut novel, The Story That Cannot Be Told, is forthcoming from Simon & Schuster/Atheneum in October 2019. She joins us to talk about being a young adult writer, how fantasy and reality are separated in literature, and why the two should be blended. LaRue Cook 42:29LaRue Cook is a PhD student in Creative Writing at Georgia State University, where he also teaches. His debut book, Man in the (Rearview) Mirror: That Time I Left Corporate America, Became an Uber Driver, and Lived to Write About It was published in March, 2019. His fiction has appeared in Noctua Review, Washington Square Review, and Barely South Review, among other places, while his nonfiction has appeared in such publications as ESPN The Magazine, The Bitter Southerner, and Reader’s Digest. LaRue Cook tells us about his debut book and the journey he took from writing journalism to fiction. He describes the kind of anonymity Uber provided as he worked during the 2016 Presidential race and how that enabled him have conversations he wouldn’t normally have with people whose loyalties varied.Paolo “Lanegan” Bicchieri 48:40Paolo is a novelist, poet, and journalist. He graduated in 2016 from Western Washington University with a major in Journalism/Public Relations and a minor in Education and Social Justice. Kate and Paolo bond over The Sympathizer and discuss his writing interests, to wit: fantasy. For more information about Paolo, visit www.paolobicchieri.com or on Twitter @paoloshmaolo. Click here, for more information about 826 Valencia.James Brubaker and Aviation Gin 55:00James Brubaker is the author of Liner Notes (Subito Press), Pilot Season (Sunnyoutside Press), Black Magic Death Sphere: (Science) Fictions (Urban Farmhouse), The Taxidermist’s Catalog (forthcoming from Braddock Avenue Books), and a number of short stories that have appeared online and in print. He is the director of Southeast Missouri State University Press and the editor of Big Muddy.Kate and Phuc share some gin and tonic with James and talk AWP conspiracy theories, booth psychology, and other more serious topics such as writing, mortality, time travel, and Michael Stipe. Also, drink responsibly.Jamison Lee 1:15:20Jamison Lee received his PhD in English Studies with a focus in Creative Writing from Illinois State University. He teaches at North Idaho College and his novel titled, To Deer at Swim (Lit Fest Press), was published in February, 2019.Jamison reads an excerpt from his novel, which follows four different characters whose lives intersect in sinister ways. We delve into his publishing journey with Lit Fest Press and celebrate how many times the word “urinal” was used in a single paragraph. Olivia Robinson 1:30:05Olivia has worked in newsrooms such as Ottawa Citizen and the Haliburton Echo. She is rabble.ca’s Jack Layton Journalism for Change Fellow in 2019 as well as a 2019 Joan Donaldson CBC News Scholarship recipient. She holds a Master of Journalism from Carleton University. Olivia and Phuc discuss how diverse the audience is for young adult literature and Olivia shares how she looks back at older work for evidence of who she was and who she has become.Daryhl Covington 1:40:02Darhyl Covington is a student of African American studies, English, Creative Writing, and Graphic Design. He joins Phuc to talk about being a student at The University of Michigan and the possibilities of creating a new path toward what it means to be a black writer in America where western storytelling and philosophy are more studied than the same subjects from eastern and middle eastern cultures.

In this episode I receive a reading from Esoteric Esa, we also get into a conversation on why I have only ever received two readings (now third) and why I would stay away from it. Esoteric Esa is an Intuitive Content Creator and Numerologist. After graduating with her B.A. in Journalism - Public Relations from Cal-State University, Northridge she quickly transitioned to help craft the public perception and brand image for one of Music's Biggest Award Shows - The GRAMMYs. With seven years of experience in Events, Entertainment, Music, and Social Media, it became apparent that her Gemini Midheaven was leading her to her life's work. Esoteric Esa was birthed after her spiritual awakening. Influenced by the thought that conversation around destigmatizing the negative misconceptions associated with esoteric teachings in the Latinx community is what drove her to believe that Spirituality in our community needs to be talked about. Through that intention, she launched her self-titled YouTube channel and her SOULIMINATI blog to share purpose-driven content for women seeking spiritual liberation. Her Podcast, Better Work Bitch, "A Podcast for Manifestors" is now on its second season and highlights how to play with the Universe to better create our realities through sharing her journey of becoming "The Modern Spiritual Latina." It's in her lineage to foster other women and spread the self-empowering knowledge within astrology, crystal stones, and numerology. You can connect with her @esoteric_esa or souliminati.com

We had a blast getting to know a triple threat fellow podcaster the Mulletboys admire, Carey Balogh, the Founder & Chief Groupie at Brand Groupies, mic master of the Brand Groupies podcast, and Mamadrama guitarist. As an entrepreneur and award-winning business owner, Carey Balogh boasts 20+ years of experience in brand development, management, public relations, marketing, and special events. Carey obtained her B.A. in Journalism/Public Relations from the University of Maryland and her Master’s in Fashion Promotion from the Marangoni Institute in Milan, Italy. She has worked with hundreds of start-up brands to international powerhouse clients like Gucci, Calvin Klein Collection, and Hublot Watches at the executive level. She co-founded a children’s rock ‘n’ roll – themed play space in Williamsburg, Brooklyn called Frolic! which was named “Best Play Space in NYC” by TimeOut New York Kids. The brand was then licensed to the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. Carey assisted with Rook Coffee’s launch in 2010 and remains a proud member of the advisory board. She advises any size business ranging from small local entrepreneurs to bigger brands, like Brand Groupies’ client Mancini Duffy, a 100-year-old architecture and design firm in NYC. Entrepreneurs look to Brand Groupies to help build a new brand, or revamp current brands through brand strategy sessions and mastermind groups. Tune into the Brand Groupies Podcast where Carey interviews inspiring brand founders about how they build and rock their brands. You can also catch her playing guitar in Mamadrama, a mom-only band out of Asbury Park. Find out more about Carey & the Brand Groupies mastermind groups at www.brandgroupies.com Subcribe to the Brand Groupies podcast at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/brand-groupies/id1336590849?mt=2 Look out for some gig announcements soon at www.mamadramaband.com at last but not least, follow Carey on the Gram @brandgroupies

Monsanto doesn't want you to listen to this show! GMOs (or “genetically modified organisms”) are organisms whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated in a laboratory through genetic engineering, or GE. This relatively new science creates unstable combinations of plant, animal, bacteria and viral genes that do not occur in nature or through traditional crossbreeding methods. Don't miss this interview Caroline Kinsman of the Non-GMO Project (NonGMOproject.org). The Non-GMO Project is a non-profit organization committed to preserving and building the non-GMO food supply, educating consumers, and providing verified non-GMO choices. We believe that everyone deserves an informed choice about whether or not to consume genetically modified organisms. The Non-GMO Project is governed by a Board of Directors. We also work with a collaborative network of technical and communications advisers from all backgrounds and sectors. Guest Information: Caroline Kinsman Growing up and working on a family-owned dairy farm in the foothills of Mount Rainier, Caroline Kinsman has strong roots in honest food production. Caroline traded in her childhood milking shifts for a career in marketing and public relations. Caroline is Outreach Manager at NonGMOproject.org. She graduated from Western Washington University with a degree in Journalism / Public Relations and an emphasis in economics. She has kept one foot in farming through the family-owned farm while garnering experience in a wide range of media outlets. In previous roles, Caroline was driven to create award-winning campaigns and repeated placement in notorious publications—such as Sunset Magazine, Aka Skidor, Better Homes & Garden, Powder Magazine, various AAA publications and The Vancouver Sun. TAGS: organic, sustainable living, grow your own, urban farming and gardening, talk

In this episode, you will learn about how regions can collaborate together and pool resources to do things together that they could not do alone from Laury Poland. As president of Finger Lakes Wine Country Tourism Marketing Association (FLWCTMA), Laury Poland is responsible for creation, coordination, administration and implementation of all FLWCTMA programs and initiatives to promote economic development in the Finger Lakes region of the state of New York. A native of Rockville, Maryland, Laury began her employment at the Corning, New York-based tourism marketing association on September 30, 2013. Before coming to the Finger Lakes, Laury was responsible for all advertising and promotions initiatives of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board’s (PLCB) Bureau of Marketing Communications, Branding & Design. During this time, Laury developed a keen interest in the wine and spirits industry, completing significant coursework in wine education. In her professional role with the PLCB, Laury constructed full-scale traditional and new media campaigns, including website development, digital advertising, and a social media presence through Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest, as part of a $6M annual advertising budget. Laury also determined new areas of media to include in marketing and public relations efforts based on trends and technology. Laury wrote, produced and edited video projects for the PLCB’s 608 retail stores, Fine Wine & Good Spirits, and oversaw all print, web, radio, television and digital material, ensuring consistency of corporate brand image and messaging. Prior to her time at the PLCB, Laury represented New York-based Church Pension Group Services Corporation (CPG) as vice president of Church Publishing Incorporated, from 2006-2011. Laury joined Continuum International Publishing Group in 2004, as director of Morehouse Church Supplies – a position she held until late 2005 when CPG acquired the book publishing, curriculum and church resource divisions of Morehouse Publishing. Laury was also a business owner, managing her own public relations, marketing and advertising firm, In-House Agency, from 1998-2004, serving as the communications specialist for numerous successful media initiatives. Laury holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism/Public Relations from the Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism at West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV. What you’ll learn about in this episode: Laury’s personal story of visiting the Finger Lakes as a tourist and how it challenged her conceptions of the region and allowed her to bring an outside perspective once she joined the Finger Lakes Wine Country Tourism Marketing Association How to tell the story of the entire region and the success Laury has seen from doing this for the Finger Lakes Region Giving your visitors an organic experience and letting them live like locals Offering education opportunities for visitors in a way that doesn’t feel like the classroom Why travelers are taking shorter vacations but packing more in The study that shows that 81% of visitors who went to the Finger Lakes came back 5 times Giving visitors the opportunity to find their own escape (and why you can’t find it for them) Why the sum of the FLWCTMA’s parts is much greater than what the counties would have alone (ex: together they have the largest Facebook following for any wine region in America with 72,000 followers) The FLWCTMA’s unique structure, why they act like a marketing agency and how funding flows throughout the whole system The FLWCTMA’s integrated marketing plan, beginning with its website that sees a half a million unique visitors a year Why word of mouth is the #1 referral and how it has evolved much in recent years with social media The challenges Laury’s faced by collaborating with so many different organizations and how she overcame them by giving people the resources to do what they do best Ways to contact Laury: Website: www.fingerlakeswinecountry.com

108:  Mark, MHWPR president/owner, has broad knowledge in the many facets of public relations ranging from strategic communications planning, crisis communications, and internal, media and community relations to development and delivery of the communications tactics to support those efforts (print, web, photo/video, etc.). Mark retired from the U.S. Army in Fall 2004 as a Lieutenant Colonel after 23 years experience leading and training Infantry and Public Affairs Soldiers around the world. After retiring from the Army in December 2005, Mark worked for a year in corporate public relations and left that position to start his own business. Mark has a B.A. in English/Technical Writing and an M.A. in Journalism/Public Relations (with honors) and was an honor graduate of the Defense Information School. http://traffic.libsyn.com/veteranonthemove/Mark20Wiggins20Ep108.mp3 - Networking takes time - Grow where you are planted The Veteran On the Move podcast has published over 100 episodes giving listeners the opportunity to hear in-depth interviews conducted by host Joe Crane featuring the people, programs and resources to assist veterans in their transition to entrepreneurship:  Marine Corps, Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard veterans, DOD, entrepreneurship, business, success, military spouse, transition, education, programs and resources.  Veteran On the Move has garnered over 500,000 listens verified through Stitcher Radio, Sound Cloud, Itunes and RSS Feed Syndication making it one of the most popular Military Entrepreneur Shows on the Internet Today.

A colloquium presentation at the CRC focusing on the intersection of news and PR in Taiwan.