Podcasts about sarah blakely

EP:83 Bonus: How Manifestation and Positive Thinking will change your life: It's all in the Science.In this enlightening bonus episode of the "Shoe Dares Wins" podcast, hosted by Michelle, the focus shifts to understanding the power of manifestation and positive thinking. While Michelle confesses her initial skepticism, she delves into the concept from a scientific perspective, exploring how mindset, neuroscience, and psychology play crucial roles in turning dreams into reality. Motivated by her brother's suggestion and her curiosity sparked by Napoleon Hill's book "Think and Grow Rich," Michelle sets out on a journey to unpack the mechanisms of the brain's role in achieving goals.The episode navigates through various elements that underpin the practice of manifestation, including the reticular activating system, neuroplasticity, and dopamine's impact on motivation. Michelle explores how these elements can rewire the brain's pathways and facilitate success when coupled with a positive mindset. She emphasizes the importance of specificity in goal-setting, highlighting the need to replace vague aspirations with concrete, achievable targets. Throughout the episode, Michelle shares compelling examples of successful women who have embraced manifestation, such as Oprah Winfrey, Sarah Blakely, and Lady Gaga, showcasing how conviction and focused desire can lead to remarkable achievements.

In this two-part episode, Megan dives into the creation and launch of her new offer, Super Community. She shares the concept of a "hero offer," inspired by Sarah Blakely, and how she aimed to fill a gap in the coaching industry by building a program that not only addresses its challenges but also encourages community engagement.Megan discusses her own journey from individual coaching to developing group programs and highlights the importance of fostering a buyer-ready community. The Super Community initiative is designed to provide participants with actionable skills and quick wins, all at an accessible price point.Megan also touches on the varied success stories from early participants and emphasizes the need for adaptability based on market feedback. In the next episode, she'll explore the benefits participants are experiencing and how the program will evolve.HIGHLIGHTS:3:19 The Concept of the Hero Offer8:59 Analyzing Client Pain Points14:39 Building a Buyer-Ready Community18:28 Creating the Super Community Offer21:32 The Launch Process Begins33:35 The Importance of Getting Started35:56 Insights on Buyer Demographics41:02 Reflections on the Launch ExperienceMegan Huber's Socials & Resources:LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Book a Call | ConsultingStructured Freedom Inc | Client Acquisition For High Ticket CoachesThe Coaches Pathway to $500K | Guide and 10-part video mini-course

In this episode, Maggie Perotin explores how journaling can be indispensable in your high-performing CEO toolkit. From Bill Gates to Sarah Blakely, successful business leaders use journaling to foster creativity, solve problems, and maintain peak performance.What You'll Learn:The science-backed benefits of journaling for entrepreneursFour powerful journaling methods that boost business performanceHow handwritten journaling improves memory, creativity, and problem-solvingSimple techniques to incorporate journaling into your daily routineKey Benefits of Journaling Discussed:Emotional regulation and stress reduction - Process emotions to reduce overwhelmEnhanced self-awareness - Gain deeper insights into your thoughts and decision-makingImproved problem-solving and creativity - Create space for breakthrough business ideasHealth benefits - Boosted immune function, lower blood pressure, and better sleepIncreased productivity - Better organization, goal-setting, and motivationFour Journaling Methods for Business Owners:Mindset Maintenance Journaling - Daily gratitude and celebration practice (10 minutes before bed)Idea Development Journaling - Brainstorming solutions and developing intellectual propertyOrganizational Journaling - Weekly planning and project managementTransformational Journaling - Brain dumps and prompted reflection for personal growthFeatured Quote:"As business owners and leaders, our business cannot outgrow us. We must first grow for the business to deliver the results we want."Resources Mentioned:DREAM-PLAN-DO JournalResearch by psychologist James PennebakerMueller & Oppenheimer Research (2014)Baikie & Wilhelm Research (2005)Michigan State University researchTake Action:Ready to transform your business through journaling? Join Maggie's journaling challenge!Book a consultation to learn how to combine personal development with business coaching for maximum results.Connect with Maggie:Visit stairwaytoleadership.com to learn more about coaching options and the Diamond Effect Group.

What do Steve Harvey, The Rock, and top real estate agents have in common? They all mastered the power of the pivot. In this episode, discover how to turn life's detours into your biggest opportunities.In this inspiring episode, Barry dives deep into the mindset and strategy behind successful pivots—whether in business, real estate, or personal life. From navigating a post-pandemic shift to adjusting to today's high-interest-rate market, this conversation is packed with wisdom and actionable takeaways.Highlights include:How Barry pivoted from a failed football dream to building a thriving businessReal-world examples of icons like Sarah Blakely and Dwayne Johnson who turned setbacks into billion-dollar winsA 4-step framework: Pause, assess, reframe, and move forwardWhy the ability to pivot is the #1 skill in a changing marketHow Barry is navigating a move to San Diego while staying focused on growthIf you're facing challenges or feel stuck, this episode is your reminder that the right pivot can change everything.

If you've ever felt like self-doubt is slowing you down or wondered how the most successful people keep showing up with grit, resilience, and fun—this episode is for you. I had the honor of sitting down with power couple Sarah Blakely and Jesse Itzler for a live conversation that will completely shift the way you think about mindset, momentum, failure, and chasing your dreams your way. From Spanx to ultra-marathons, reality TV to billion-dollar exits, this one is packed with real talk, hilarious stories, and life-changing insights on how to create confidence that lasts. In This Episode You Will Learn How to spot and protect your billion dollar idea. How to build momentum (that leads to unstoppable success.) The direct connection between your mindset and how far you'll go. 2 ways to create deeper customer connection. Your “why” sells more than your “what.” Be different—your uniqueness is your biggest business asset. Resources + Links Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at shopify.com/monahan Download the CFO's Guide to AI and Machine Learning at NetSuite.com/MONAHAN. Want to do more and spend less like Uber, 8x8, and Databricks Mosaic? Take a free test drive of OCI at oracle.com/MONAHAN. Get 10% off your first Mitopure order at timeline.com/CONFIDENCE. Get 15% off your first order when you use code CONFIDENCE15 at checkout at jennikayne.com. Call my digital clone at 201-897-2553!  Visit heathermonahan.com Sign up for my mailing list: heathermonahan.com/mailing-list/  Overcome Your Villains is Available NOW! Order here: https://overcomeyourvillains.com  If you haven't yet, get my first book Confidence Creator Follow Heather on Instagram & LinkedIn

The session focuses on overcoming 'playing small' in careers through boldness and imagination, using examples like Sarah Blakely's cliff-jumping analogy and Jim Carrey's mindset. It emphasized mindset shifts (e.g., 'act as if' principles) over technical skills, with practical applications in leadership, relationships, and health. In this episode, you'll hear: The idea that individuals are not defined by their job, relationships, or careers—allowing them to creatively explore their potential as a 'game' rather than a fixed identity. Mathew's mentor advised him to act 'as if' he were already in a larger market (Washington, D.C.), leading to tangible career advancement—emphasizing mindset shifts over technical skills. Extending the 'act as if' principle to relationships, health, and leadership (e.g., 'Dress for the job you want') to embody desired outcomes proactively. Cortney McDermott, a returning guest and a beloved voice on the show, is an international speaker and TED Talk presenter, Cortney is also a bestselling author. Her latest book, Give Yourself Permission: Be Confident. Be Happy. Be You., is out now.

The essential habits that set the top 1% of women apart from the rest. By exploring executive presence, the power of networks, an uncompromising drive for growth, quick decision-making, and strategic focus, Stacey unveils the tools and strategies that any woman can use to elevate her game. Through inspiring examples like Beyonce, Oprah Winfrey, Serena Williams, Sarah Blakely, and Reese Witherspoon, you'll gain insights on how these powerful women achieved their success and how you can apply their habits to your own life. Whether you're looking to build a business, advance in your career, or simply improve yourself, this video will guide you towards becoming the best version of yourself.

Ready to escape the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle? Dreaming of turning that spark of an idea into a thriving side business? This game-changing episode breaks down exactly how to launch a successful side hustle without overwhelming yourself or sacrificing your day job.We dive into the story of Sarah Blakely, who transformed from selling fax machines door-to-door to becoming the billionaire founder of Spanx – all by working on her passion project during off-hours. Her journey proves you don't need special credentials, just determination and a solution to a common problem.Discover how to find your perfect side hustle at the intersection of three crucial questions: What are you good at? What do you enjoy? What do people need? We explore practical examples from blogging and social media management to crafting and virtual fitness coaching that can generate extra income while aligning with your natural talents.The episode tackles common roadblocks head-on, from imposter syndrome ("Who am I to start a business?") to time management challenges. You'll learn why "test before you invest" should be your mantra and how becoming "neighborhood famous" before trying to go global creates sustainable growth. As Mel Robbins wisely notes, "The biggest killer of side hustles isn't failure – it's never starting."Whether you're seeking financial freedom, creative fulfillment, or an escape from a soul-crushing 9-to-5, this episode provides the blueprint and motivation to take that crucial first step today. What passion could you transform into profit? Let's build this movement together.Look-up, and let's elevate!Support the showhttps://linktr.ee/genthebuilder

In this episode of The MHP Broker's Tips and Tricks podcast, Maxwell Baker, president of The Mobile Home Park Broker, interviewed his wife, Kathryn Baker, and two more female business leaders. These were industry business owners Justine Natalie and Maria Horton.  As with every Tips and Tricks podcast episode, this one is brought to you by The MHP Broker's proprietary Community Price Maximizer. Use this four-step system to get the highest price possible for your mobile home park or RV community when you sell it through The MHP Broker. Guaranteed. Call Max for details. Here Are the Show Highlights: Kathryn introduced herself as the co-owner and chief operating officer (COO) of The Mobile Home Park Broker. Her focus is on customer service excellence, optimizing workflow and driving growth. (Kathryn, 1:26) Justine Natalie introduced herself as the co-founder and co-owner of a company called Dynamic MH Solutions. THat's a hybrid third-party park management operation she started with business partner Mike Scheffler in 2021.They started by offering sales and financing services, and then got into property operations. Their focus is in teaching and training community management. (Justine, 3:00) Maria Horton introduced herself as someone who has been in the business for about 23 years, mostly on the human side of the business: property management, community relations, and such. She said she loved watching her young residents grow up, get scholarships, and take on life. She also loves going to industry conferences and networking. (Maria, 4:10) Maria said she thinks the biggest challenge is trying to change the image and perception of her industry and the very concept of what a mobile home is. It's also difficult to go up against the obstacles that local communities place on manufactured home parks to regulate them and seemingly control them out of existence. (Maria, 5:55) Max observed how intimidating an industry conference might be to some. For instance, the difficulty of someone just starting out trying to strike up a conversation with someone who owns 100 parks. (Max, 6:48) Maria noted that she has the social ability to approach anyone at a conference, and that she goes out of her way to meet someone who seems intimidated or on the outskirts of the social action, and introduce them to others. She's also glad to see how many women there are at these shows now, compared to years before. Women are finally becoming a bigger part of the career path. (Maria, 7:07) Max then asked his guests to address the various business challenges they've had to take on, being women in the business. (Max, 8:00) Justine said that there are so many details and decisions she has to stay on top of, it's easy to get imposter syndrome and wonder how she possibly has the talent and ability to thrive or survive in such an environment. She said that she thinks women might overthink this more than men, who might have a greater tendency to just “jump right in” with greater confidence and less insight. This, she thinks, is a daily challenge and one she's always trying to overcome as a female business owner. (Justine, 8:23) Max said that he thinks women tend to be better business operators than men. The men prefer “flying by the seat of their plants” while women plan and strategize before taking action. (Max, 9:49) Justine and her husband have observed that the careful pre-planning is something she does in her business life, but not at all in her private life where she's more spur of the moment. (Justine, 10:09) Maria thinks that might be because more people are affected by decisions she makes in the business life. At home, she can blunder her way through decisions because they affect fewer people. (Maria, 10:40) One of Maria's biggest challenges is staying abreast of all of the organizations and associations she takes an active part in. She always wants to feel that she's making a positive impact in her industry, but it's easy to get sucked in and get overinvolved. Sometimes she just doesn't know when or how to say no. (Maria, 11:29) Kathryn stated that she also sometimes experiences the impostor syndrome like Justine. She's eventually come to realize that she doesn't always have to have all of the answers, that she can rely on others on the topnotch team they've put together through the years. (Kathryn, 13:39) Justine has made a point of hiring great people who are good at what they do so she can let them make key decisions when they should. But it took her awhile to realize that she could trust others to help her run the business. (Justine, 14:21) Kathryn said that she learned how to accept the freedom to fail from a video biography of Spanx founder Sarah Blakely. She said that around the kitchen table as she was growing up her dad would ask her all the time, “Sarah, what did you fail at today?” The idea was to lose the fear of failing and be able to take decisions and get right back up on your feet if you failed the first time. Kathryn feels she is much more confident that way, now. (Kathryn, 15:12) Regarding advice she'd give for women who are trying to purchase a manufactured home community, Justine said that her first tip would be to join Women Advancing Manufactured Housing (WAMH). In that way, women business owners would join a network of seasoned professionals who could offer tips and suggestions and advice. That's the purpose of WAMH, an organization with which Justine has been closely involved. (Justine, 16:49) Her second piece of advice is that the female entrepreneur should learn how to advocate for themselves and not to sit quietly by. The idea here is to control their own destinies. (Justine, 17:30) Justine said that she thinks there's still a little of a glass ceiling working against female entrepreneurs, but it's much more subtle than it used to be. She said that she can buy a community today, but if she goes to see a lender with a male partner, the lender's questions and comments often get directed to her partner a lot more than to herself. You have to put yourself out there when that happens, and make sure you're heard. She says she's also lucky in having a male business partner who'll turn the conversation back to her when he feels she's being ignored or minimized as a woman and an expert. (Justine, 18:45) Maria doesn't think there's much of a glass ceiling these days in manufactured home communities. She said that female park management is becoming more common and there are fewer barriers than ever. (Maria, 19:57) Max credits Kathryn with being key to building their own company to where they've been able to take it. Without his wife's involvement, he felt that he would be a solo broker with maybe one employee, but she's been able to help them grow it far beyond that point with her organizational and management skills.(Max, 23:56) Max specifically credits Kathryn with being much better at managing people than he is. (Max, 24:45) To Max's question regarding the most important lessons learned while in the manufactured housing industry, Maria responded that patience is required. That's necessary because change is constant, and there's always something new to learn. (Maria, 25:53) Justine observed that the industry is constantly evolving to stay ahead of changing economics or cultural changes. For example, when the economy is on a downswing, park operators will offer more in the way of home rentals rather than sales. It's critical to be able to evolve with the industry because that's how to stay profitably in business and survive the changes. (Justine, 26:44) Maria thinks one advantage women might have is their sense of flexibility. They really can change with the times and adapt to changing conditions. (Maria, 28:57) Kathryn is pleasantly surprised at how gorgeous today's manufactured homes are. It's not like the stereotype at all. (Kathryn, 29:27) On the subject of business role models for women, Maria said that Leslie Gooch and Paula Reeves are among the industry insiders who made the greatest impression on her, but that there were many others as well. These included bankers, association insiders, and too many others to mention. She also name-dropped Justine in this category. (Maria, 30:33) Justine mentioned Maria as one of her mentors through her activism in the associations and her ability as a “connector,” someone who can bring people together and inspire networking. She's also done a lot to provide home ownership lending for community residents. Justine is also impressed with the leadership of WAMH and how they've encouraged women in the business. (Justine, 31:48) Justine is also impressed with Dr. Vrnka Boykin as a role model for women in business leadership. She addresses such topics as work-life balance for women. (Justine, 33:15) Kathryn takes inspiration from Brene Brown, a speaker and influencer from outside of the industry. Brown speaks in a communication style. Kathryn also sees Sara Blakely, the Spanx founder, as a role model. Max's final question was on trends or developments that might shape the future of the industry for women. Justine mentioned the increased number of women buying and operating communities. She thinks that, as this happens, women will create more of a focus on creating clean, safe, affordable housing rather than just maximizing the bottom line. (Justine, 35:03) Maria felt that need to do more in the way of getting the word out on the high quality of the manufactured homes available today. Home ownership is the American Dream. And it really is readily available through manufactured homes. (Maria, 36:44) WAMH is an organization run by women, but not exclusively for women. Men are members, too. Today the organization has about 400 members. (Justine, (Justine, 40:27) WAMH has had a variety of educational classes for members on subjects as diverse as trends in technology and automation to pet screening. The goal is to educate park owners on the latest trends and developments in the industry. (Maria, 41:35) The Mobile Home Park Broker sees plenty of opportunity for men and women in the industry. Please call Max Baker at The MHP Broker, (678) 932-0200 and we'll help you find a qualified buyer and an optimal sale price.You can also drop us a line at info@themhpbroker.com. Power Quotes in This Episode: “...you;re working with people's livelihoods, right? I mean, if you make a mistake for the business, you've got employees and clients and all sorts of people that you have to answer to. So yeah, being able to put a plan in place is very important.” (Justine, 11:07) “I think there really isn't a glass ceiling any longer for women in this industry if they are strong business women that are ready to jump in and be assertive and get to know everyone.” (Maria, 19:57) “I think (manufactured housing) isa fantastic solution for affordable housing, and it surprises me that it doesn't get more attention…I have learned that the homes are absolutely gorgeous.” (Kathryn, 29:27) “I think women will continue to have the thought process of advancing the industry forward, making sure it's clean, safe, affordable housing for families, and things like that.” (Justine, 35:03)  

On McKay's 50th podcast episode, he talks about the importance of staying in your lane, and opens this week by introducing the story of Sarah Blakely, the creator of SPANX. He talks about her unhappiness as a fax machine saleswoman and her perseverance in the industry. Only after dedicating herself to her position did she serendipitously find success in the hosiery business. McKay notes that, although dedicating yourself to your craft in the face of unhappiness is no easy feat, giving yourself fully or staying in your lane is the most surefire method to achieve success. He goes on to recall the story of Dirk Nowitzki, the starting center for the Dallas Mavericks. McKay remembers the moment when Dirk turned down high offers at other teams and chose to stay with Dallas - a prime example of staying in your lane. He didn't forego his path for the sake of money, but stayed true to his goal. McKay concludes this episode by reminding us all that there is huge value in being loyal to others, to your calling, to your values, and that you will find you can travel faster, make more progress and feel better about who you are when you stay in your lane with confidence.The Finer Details of This Episode: Sarah Blakely's journey to create SPANXFinding serendipitous successThe importance of giving yourself fullyDirk Nowitzki's loyalty to the Dallas MavericksWhy imitation never worksWhy one should avoid worrying about othersFocusing on yourself Quotes: “You see too often in life, we don't stay in our lane. We think things are better doing what someone else is doing or want to shift strategy, because things are temporarily hard or something else seems a little more inviting.”“You develop skills and meet people that can likely change the course of your life. And on it goes.”“Give your full commitment to your relationship even though things aren't perfect.”“There is depth in anything you give yourself to fully.”“Staying in your lane is more than being focused, committed, or loyal. It also means you give yourself to what you were called to do.”“Stick to your lane until the time is right to add a boat or camper, and until then, smile.”“Now I've known people who are very good at staying in their lane in life. They just have this way about them. They're not worried about other people. They're not obsessed with what other people do wrong. They're just confident and observant and patient and comfortable with who they are.”“Next time you're tempted to be nosy or out of your lane, or critical of someone else or wanting to direct their life, say to yourself, ‘I've resigned from that job.'”“Every second you spend driving someone else's car is not spent driving yours.”Links: Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen

Have you ever wondered when you stopped dreaming big? In this episode, Shauna Lynn explores the power of dreaming beyond limits and the barriers that hold us back. From childhood imagination to adult aspirations, Shauna Lynn unpacks how societal norms and personal doubts can shrink our goals. She shares her own journey of taking bold steps—like launching a home staging business and speaking on international stages.Join the conversation as Shauna Lynn dives into practical strategies to identify and overcome limiting beliefs, set actionable goals, and embrace community support. Whether you're pursuing a lifelong dream or searching for inspiration to start, this episode will leave you ready to take meaningful steps toward a future that's bigger than you imagined.[00:02] Introduction: Why Dreaming Big Matters[05:15] Breaking Comfort Zones: Building a Bold Vision[15:40] Overcoming Doubts: Identifying Limiting Beliefs[25:30] Taking Action: Steps Toward Your Big Dreams[35:45] Final Thoughts: Pursue Goals Without Losing YourselfResources:Set up a free Introductory Business Planning Session with Shauna Lynn: AboutShaunaLynn.com/planLearn more about the show: AboutShaunaLynn.com/podcastSet up a call with Shauna Lynn: aboutshaunalynn.com/coachmeLearn more about Rusty Osborne - https://thecoachrusty.ac-page.com/negative-mindset-method-2Learn more about Sarah Blakely: https://www.instagram.com/sarablakely/?hl=en

Send us a textWhat if the key to unlocking your fullest potential lies in a tiny shift in how you view challenges? Discover the transformative power of adopting a growth mindset, as we unravel the groundbreaking work of psychologist Carol Dweck. Join me, Anthony, on the Gentleman's Journey podcast, where I promise you'll gain insights into how changing your perspective on challenges and abilities can empower you to achieve your wildest dreams. From overcoming fear of failure to embracing the gift of the word "yet," we discuss practical strategies that will help you identify and transition your current mindset towards one that celebrates growth and development.We'll explore the science behind the growth mindset, focusing on neuroplasticity and inspiring success stories from NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo and Spanx founder Sarah Blakely. Learn how these icons turned their weaknesses into strengths and reframed failures as opportunities for growth. With actionable strategies on reframing failure and focusing on effort over outcomes, this episode will arm you with the tools needed to foster a mindset that thrives on persistence and resilience. Whether you're an executive, athlete, or entrepreneur, this journey towards potential and growth is one you won't want to miss."True mastery is found in the details. The way you handle the little things defines the way you handle everything."

In this lively episode of Western Fashion Behind the Scenes, Ashley Jackson interviews Shantelle Girard, the dynamic founder of Rancher Hat Bar, a rapidly expanding Western lifestyle brand. Shantelle shares her inspiring journey from crafting custom hats at her kitchen table to building a nationally recognized brand with seven locations and a devoted following. What began as a vintage camper turned traveling hat bar has evolved into brick-and-mortar stores across the U.S., including Folsom, Scottsdale, Denver, Waco, Dallas, and soon Nashville in early 2025. She also envisions Rancher Hat Bar as a global brand, with aspirations to expand internationally, starting with Canada. Shantelle emphasizes Rancher's commitment to blending fashion-forward designs with respect for Western roots, a reflection of her upbringing split between rural and urban influences. Her early memories of crafting jewelry on her family's turquoise-rich property in New Mexico and her teenage experiences at Country Thunder music festivals ignited her passion for Western fashion. Managing rapid growth hasn't been without challenges, from navigating state-specific regulations to running a business with a 50-member team, including operations, marketing, events, and retail staff. Shantelle credits her success to her team's dedication and her relentless focus on brand development, drawing inspiration from other female entrepreneurs like Sarah Blakely and Kimes Ranch founders. Her leadership style fosters collaboration, empowering women to thrive in a traditionally male-dominated industry. Listeners will love Shantelle's candid insights into the highs and hurdles of building a Western empire, her vision of Rancher Hat Bar as synonymous with cowboy hat customization, and her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs: stay driven, embrace challenges, and keep evolving. This episode celebrates the intersection of hard work, creativity, and community in the Western lifestyle space. Key Highlights: Shantelle's Journey: Began crafting custom hats at her kitchen table before launching Rancher Hat Bar in January 2023. Innovated the “traveling hat bar” concept using a vintage camper trailer, creating an interactive and vibrant customer experience. Opened the first Rancher Hat Bar store in Folsom, CA, followed by six more locations, including Scottsdale, Denver, Waco, Dallas, and upcoming Nashville (opening February 2025). Expansion Goals: Vision to have 15 locations by the end of 2025, with an international expansion starting in Canada (Calgary Rodeo is a key target). Challenges & Growth: Overcame hurdles in expansion, including state laws, permits, and operational complexities. Shantelle is highly hands-on, leading a team of over 50 employees, including an office team managing marketing, social media, events, and warehouse operations. Inspiration & Superpower: Passionate about brand development, having successfully built Rancher Hat Bar into a nationally recognized name in under two years. Influenced by trailblazing women like Sara Blakely and inspired by other Western industry entrepreneurs like Kimes Ranch. Personal Story: Grew up blending Western and modern influences, with deep ties to the Western lifestyle through family roots in turquoise mining and New Mexico ranch life. Shantelle's entrepreneurial spirit stems from a lineage of hardworking innovators, including her grandmother, Arizona's first female skateboard shop owner. Advice for Listeners: Stay persistent despite obstacles; each challenge is an opportunity to grow. Build a strong team that matches your energy and drive. Focus on creating a brand experience that resonates with customers while staying authentic to your roots. Guest: Shantelle Girard Website: rancherhatbar.com Social Media: @RancherHatBar Host: Ashley Jackson Instagram: www.instagram.com/thebootbabe YouTube: The Boot Babes & Western Fashion BTS

Rate this podcast with just one click Executives are finally beginning to understand the power of participating in digital channels.“What if I mess up?” “Why would anyone want to hear from ME?”Those WERE the common excuses until about five years ago when the trend lines changes and it was more common for executive leaders to BE on social media than not. Still, most sound like cheerleaders for their company don't they? We aren't REALLY getting to know them, just where they work and a less-than-subtle message about why we should support or even patronize their organization. How to help them sound more authentic? More real? Maybe there is a way.Listen For 08:12 Playing it Safe: Executives “Dipping Toes” in Social Media09:11 Frank Cooper's LinkedIn Masterclass10:30 Sarah Blakely's Authentic Instagram Approach14:05 Injecting Personality Into Executive Communication15:42 Connecting Through Emotion, Humor, and Value22:20 The Professional-Authentic Balance for Executives23:18 Crafting a Narrative Framework for Digital Success24:35 Answer to Last Episode's Question From Guest Dr Karen Hills PrudenGuest: Jess JensenWebsite | email| LinkedIn | XStories and Strategies WebsiteConnect with usLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | ThreadsRequest a transcript of this episodeSupport the show

Keith discusses the paradox of falling home prices and rents in Austin, Texas, despite it being the fastest-growing city. He highlights the over-supply of apartments, with new towers next to old bungalows, and notes that apartment rents are down, while single-family home rents are up. He also explores societal attitudes towards wealth, noting the double standard of admiring celebrities while vilifying entrepreneurs like Jeff Bezos. The over-supply of apartments has slowed down rent growth, affecting single-family home rents. Wage growth has outpaced inflation, potentially boosting rents. Millennials are increasingly renting due to the inability to afford homes.  Show Notes: GetRichEducation.com/530 For access to properties or free help with a GRE Investment Coach, start here: GREmarketplace.com GRE Free Investment Coaching:GREmarketplace.com/Coach Get mortgage loans for investment property: RidgeLendingGroup.com or call 855-74-RIDGE  or e-mail: info@RidgeLendingGroup.com Invest with Freedom Family Investments.  You get paid first: Text FAMILY to 66866 For advertising inquiries, visit: GetRichEducation.com/ad Will you please leave a review for the show? I'd be grateful. Search “how to leave an Apple Podcasts review” Best Financial Education: GetRichEducation.com Get our wealth-building newsletter free— text ‘GRE' to 66866 Our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/c/GetRichEducation Follow us on Instagram: @getricheducation Complete episode transcript:   Automatically Transcribed With Otter.ai  Keith Weinhold  0:01   Welcome to GRE I'm your host. Keith Weinhold, I just walked one of America's most interesting real estate streets. I'll tell you what I saw then what it takes to get rents to increase in the US more real estate investing content, then it's about jealousy and envy. Why we hate Amazon founder Jeff Bezos for his wealth, yet love performers like LeBron James and Taylor Swift for theirs. It's a case study on wealth, entrepreneurship and celebrity today on get rich education.   Speaker 1  0:39   Since 2014 the powerful get rich education podcast has created more passive income for people than nearly any other show in the world. This show teaches you how to earn strong returns from passive real estate investing in the best markets without losing your time being a flipper or landlord. Show Host Keith Weinhold writes for both Forbes and Rich Dad advisors, and delivers a new show every week since 2014 there's been millions of listener downloads of 188 world nations. He has a list show guests include top selling personal finance author Robert Kiyosaki. Get rich education can be heard on every podcast platform, plus it has its own dedicated Apple and Android listener phone apps build wealth on the go with the get rich education podcast. Sign up now for the get rich education podcast or visit getricheducation.com.   Corey Coates  1:25   You're listening to the show that has created more financial freedom than nearly any show in the world. This is get rich education.   Keith Weinhold  1:41   Welcome to GRE from sinking spring Pennsylvania to Manitou Springs, Colorado and across 488 nations worldwide. I'm Keith Weinhold, and you are inside episode 530 of the GRE podcast. What's the minimum wage? I don't even know. Around here, we don't talk about how to live below your means, but grow your means, and you're gonna learn how to earn maximum wage. Austin, Texas is the fastest growing city in America. I've got some really interesting real estate observations for you, since I walked it two weeks ago and well, touring the Texas State Capitol Building was cool. And then on Austin's Sixth Street, I hadn't seen that much beer pong since college, but you know, rainy street, R A, I N, E Y, just south of the downtown, near the river, that was Austin's interesting Real Estate Street, the fastest growing city in the United States has falling home prices and falling rents. What a paradox that is in the fastest growing city. I mean, how do you balance that weirdness? Yes, the census tells us that Austin is the fastest growing and even as a gentrified hipster Haven with murals on the walls, street corners, there food trucks, coffee shops. You know the coffee shops that make you feel like you're in an indie film. It doesn't matter. They simply built too much there in Austin. So all of that that cannot compete with classic supply versus demand dynamics, old fashioned Milton Friedman stuff. And really, what I saw in both San Antonio and Austin is emblematic of the new apartment supply surge. What's going on on rainy street? I mean, that's what I call America's apartment over supply ground zero. Cranes are in the air all over the place. They're building 500 foot apartment towers right across the street from one story bungalows there on Rainey Street. It's a weird scene. Well, the apartments, they're going to be vacant for a while, and part of the weird scene is that there are outdoor live country music acts on the east side of rainy street, and they're playing out of these old one story bungalows converted to bars. It just feels like they're going to be raised and knocked over anytime and then country music, that's something that you associate with, like cows grazing within a mile of you. But that is not going on here, so these huge, new, shiny glass and steel apartment towers are right across the street from it. So it's this weird cultural mix of both country flare and urbanism in Austin and now there were also some clubs with DJs playing. There something more modern. I mean, like 20 year old R and B songs that everyone knows the words to by artists like Usher and Akon. Remember. Or a con or Ja Rule. Remember Ja Rule? Maybe they were playing Jay Z and ice cube too. But, you know, maybe shabu Z would have made more sense on that scene. In any case, it is an unusual scenario there in Austin. So a lively place, a growing place, but apartment buildings got out ahead of the growth. And yes, it all comes back to supply versus demand. Yep, that age old rivalry between what we've got and what we want now broadly, America has an overall lack of housing supply and the under building that is the most prevalent in northern states. And of course, under building, what that does is it increases the number of buyer bids on the few available properties. Well, in turn, that pushes up their home prices faster than the rest of the nation. Now the states with the most appreciation, they generally have the least new housing inventory being built. And of course, conversely, states with the highest available housing supply have the slowest home price appreciation. Austin is ground zero for that. So with the eclectic rainy street there, it's really representative of how you have some cities that are over built with apartments. You have a lot of apartment completions, but not very many new starts of apartments like I mentioned before. No, in fact, let's zoom out nationally. Here. Apartment list tells us that apartment rents are really flat. In fact, they're down seven tenths of 1% over the past year, available single family homes? Well, they're in more scarce supply than apartments, and the CoreLogic single family rent index tells us that their rents are up 2% annually. All right, something that completely makes sense for a change. The overbuild of apartments has slowed down their rent growth even more. But here's the thing, the overbuilding of apartments that's actually slowed down the rent growth in single family homes somewhat. And you might think that those two things aren't related, apartment rents and single family rents, but they're a little related. Just say a tenant they might ideally want a single family home, but there just aren't many of them out there for rent nationally. So then if a good new apartment is substantially cheaper, well, some proportion are going to accept an apartment as an alternative, and that's one reason that single family rent growth is just a modest 2% rather than a more normal 4% or so that you might see as a historic average. But yeah, I mean, really, the story is all these apartment completions, where a lot of them are going to be vacant for a while in some cities now, long term, apartments are going to be fine. I'm totally confident of that the demographic demand for apartments is going to be there because our population is growing and because there aren't many new apartment starts. So really that means over the next couple years, apartment supply versus demand is going to come more back into balance, while we could keep having this ongoing deficiency, though over for the single family rental homes. Perhaps the best thing that you and I can have happen to increase real estate profitability is to get rents up. So let's take a look at that. Let's look at the prospects for getting rents up in, just say, the next year or two. And there is a real bright spot here for that, and that is the fact that wages have outpaced inflation every single month for almost two years now, yes, wages and incomes are up those higher wages and higher incomes can therefore afford higher rents. And like with a lot of things in economics, it moves slowly, and there is a lag effect. And this is, you know, it's really how it usually works when there is a wave of inflation. What happens is, first, inflation outpaces wage growth, and now that we've come down off the big inflation wave, we're in the era where it has flipped, and now wage growth outstrips inflation. Well, the most recent stats, they tell us that America now has 4.6% wage growth and just 2.6% CPI inflation growth. Now is wage growth higher than the real diminished purchasing power of the dollar, not just the stated CPI inflation, because you got to remember, CPI is only the level that the government is willing to admit to, but in a sense, who cares? Because look, as a real estate investor, while your principal and interest payment stays fixed every month and inflation can't touch it, we know that wage growth is up 4.6% and that's the part that really. Matters. So if that means that you can get a 4.6% rent growth in the near future, after some lag effects settle in, well that might increase the annual cash flow, the money you feel in your pocket, say, 7% or 9% annually. So this wage growth trend, it portends really well for rent growth, ultimately flowing through to your cash flow growth. So we know that home price appreciation is amazing and has been amazing for us, investors, leverage and all of that, but there expects to be more upward pressure on rents, and that is led by robust wage growth. That is really happening now, and workers are demanding the wage growth to cope with higher consumer prices. Now, when it comes to the prospect of more home price growth, let's listen in to Shark Tank shark Barbara Corcoran, she recently talked about what would make home price growth go ballistic, as she puts it. This was her on Fox Business Channel with Neil cabotto. It's about three minutes in length, and then I'll be back to comment.   Speaker 2  11:08   Barbara Corcoran. Now the Corcoran Group founder, Shark Tank aficionado, much, much more brilliant read of real estate too, Barbara, great to have you. A lot I'm throwing at you, Barbara, and you always handle it, definitely. But first off, on the rate environment right now, between all these headlines and everything, rates have been backing up. And, you know, we just saw a 30 year fixed rate mortgage. It's up to 6.84% from 6.78% last week. That was before the market rate run up. So how do you view the environment right now for lending?   Speaker 3  11:43   Well, I think what we're losing right now we desperately need is more first time buyers. Less than 24% of the people buying now are first time buyers at an all time low. So rates have been bouncing around a while. Now, 6 to 7% so people are confused. They don't have big expectations. They're no longer waiting for a tremendous rate drop. If that happens, got it would be incredible for the market. But in the last year, or pardon me, in the last month alone, we have sold three and a half percent more houses despite what's going on in the interest rates. But the first time buyers aren't much a piece of that.   Speaker 2  12:16   You know, I notice as well us existing home sales, like you say, up 3.4% October. It's the first year over year gain I think we've seen in better part of three years. So what was going on there? Because that surprised me.   Speaker 3  12:30   Well, it doesn't surprise me because there's more houses on the market, so there were 25% more choices for the buyer coming out into the market and looking and on top of that, the buyers themselves have gotten accustomed to the rates being what they are, and they just got tired of waiting. But I am wondering if we'll ever see a 5% number, because anything with the 5% in front of it is going to make this market go ballistic. But right now, you're already seeing the signs. In the last month.   Speaker 2  12:59   You know, you've reminded me in the past that sometimes it's psychological. A lot of folks, and a lot of them look at that 7% handle on a fixed rate mortgage get close to or over that it could tax this recovery or whatever you want to recourse call it. But what do you say.   Speaker 3  13:13   well if it went higher? Of course, it would slow down the whole market. Would slow down the whole economy. It would slow down all the support services for the housing market, it would be a terrible thing, but I don't think people are thinking it's going to go much up, if you really listen to the experts. That could happen. But I don't think you're going to see interest rates above 7% again. I'm hoping that it's going to go and hover around six, or even go lower.   Speaker 2  13:36   All right. Well, you have a better track record a lot of those so called experts. I'm going to go with you, Barbara. But you know, the one thing that is out there, the worry is that Donald Trump, say what you will, of him, he has aggressive plans to spur the economy, you know, the tariff thing, the talk that, you know, he is going to pour a lot into tax cuts that could juice the economy so much so that some worry it's going to, you know, get prices going higher. We don't know for how long or how much, but that that that will be the inevitable consequence of what he's offering. Do you agree with that?   Speaker 3  14:06   I do agree with that. I think inflation is on everybody's mind, and I think it's risky, so I think we're going to find out. I guess it's like a horse race. We'll see what happens.   Keith Weinhold  14:15   Yeah, Barbara thinks mortgage rates in the fives. I guess under six then that would make the market go nuts and really push up prices. She reiterated how first time home buying is at an all time low, that proportion of the first time homebuyers are down, down, down, keeping those people as renters. So we've got the Trump bump and still an inflationary bump behind higher and higher real estate prices going into next year, most likely. But I mean, now you've really got to be selective and filter the kind of information that you listen to and put credence in what. We just had a presidential election a month ago, and people love to speculate about the future and what they think say tariffs are going to mean for inflation and then what that's going to do to interest rates. And you know, all that stuff is just notoriously difficult to predict. It is really tough. I mean, look, I've attended two prominent economic and real estate conferences the last few months, and there are some good insights at meetings like that. But here's the thing you've got to keep in mind, everyone has an opinion, and no one knows the future. George Bernard Shaw's got a great quote. He said, If all the economists were laid end to end, they would never reach a conclusion. So I mean, we're still going to talk inflation and interest rates here on the show, because their effect on your economic life is profound, but guessing about where they're going to go, especially interest rates, that is almost an exercise in futility. There are some things that we know will almost surely affect you. I mean, I'm talking about something like demographics that is more predictable, or the benefit of leverage, where, if you have too much equity in your properties, you can do something about that right now, and that way, what you do is you actually create your future, instead of guessing and speculating about what it might be. Or say you can create your future. You can learn about a program like you know when the opportunity Zone program came out a while ago, or a new tax incentive program for real estate investors. These are things you can do. You can sink your teeth into them with what you have right now, the resources, the toolkit that you have right now, and actually do something about and one thing that we do know is that increasingly, millennials cannot afford to buy a house, and you know, it just basically means that their future is poorer. They have to live with other people into their 30s. Instead of forming a family, they don't have kids. The marriage rate takes a hit. I mean, these numbers have collapsed since the 1980s the home ownership rate among them has gone from about 50% down to 30% so millennials and Gen Z ers too, they know that their future is really shaky and it's concerning. So you have this same cohort, people in their 30s doing two jobs, taking on three jobs, some of them balancing four jobs. They don't want to do that. They don't want to work 12 hour days, six days a week, while they're trying to pay down their college loans. They're doing it because they have to. They can't form a down payment for a home. The average millennial is 3637 years old. And their parents, and my parents, they're all baby boomers. And, you know, they Baby Boomers were the richest generation that we've ever seen. So what we've got going on here now is the first generation that will not be as rich as their parents, and that's really strange. We're all used to this sort of human progress. I mean, if your parents were middle class people, and you're less well off than them, or your tenant is well, then what does that mean? Well, it means that you're gonna be renting for a while. See this demographic stuff. This is really happening. There is no speculation here, and it's why I want you to set up your investor life to provide rental property to others. It's a smart place to be positioned. In fact, a lot of media agrees. Yahoo Finance just published an article titled, rental home investors are poised to benefit. It basically details why rental properties are going to be next year's attractive option for would be home buyers. This month, analysts at Raymond James and Associates, they say that they see mortgage rates remaining higher for longer given the outcome of the election, again, no one can really predict mortgage rates. But anyway, they reiterated their outperform ratings. That's the rating that they gave it out perform on these two companies, American homes for rent and invitation homes. And they're these institutional homebuyers, they do the build to rent space, and they noted Raymond James that is noted that we are increasingly confident in the longer term outlook for single family rental fundamentals and the industry's growth prospects. That's the end of their quote. So that's what the analysts of financial planning firm. Raymond James and Associates, had to say. And suffice to say, there is a lot of positive momentum for rental property, especially in the single family space coming up next. Why we hate Jeff Bezos for his wealth, but love performers like Harry Styles, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa and Olivia Rodrigo, despite their wealth.    Hey, check out all of our real estate investing resources at get rich education.com. It's the home per our podcast, this very show that you're listening to right now. Also videos, blogs, how to get our newsletter. Be sure you're doing that. Connections with our recommended real estate service providers, a way for you to contact us over there, and also how you can connect with our completely free, yes, truly free, real estate investment coaching, all of that and more. Is it get rich education.com. I'm Keith Weinhold. More next you're listening to get rich education.    Oh, geez, the national average bank account pays less than 1% on your savings, so your bank is getting rich off of you. You've got to earn way more, or else you're losing your hard earned cash to inflation. Let the liquidity fund help you put your money to work with minimum risk, your cash generates up to a 10% return and compounds year in and year out. Instead of earning less than 1% in your bank account, the minimum investment is just 25k you keep getting paid until you decide you want your money back. Their decade plus track record proves they've always paid their investors 100% in full and on time. And you know how I'd know, because I'm an investor in this myself, earn 10% like me and GRE listeners are text FAMILY to 66866, to learn about Freedom Family Investments, liquidity fund on your journey to financial freedom through passive income. Text FAMILY to 66866.   Hey, you can get your mortgage loans at the same place where I get mine at Ridge lending group NMLS, 42056, they provided our listeners with more loans than any provider in the entire nation, because they specialize in income properties. They help you build a long term plan for growing your real estate empire with leverage. You can start your pre qualification and chat with President Caeli Ridge personally. Start Now while it's on your mind at Ridge lendinggroup.com That's ridgelendinggroup.com   Dolf Deroos  22:48   this is the king of commercial real estate, Dolph de Roos. Listen to get rich education with Keith Weinhold, and don't quit your Daydream.   Keith Weinhold  23:08   Welcome back to get rich Education. I'm your host. Keith Weinhold, a Taylor Swift loving friend recently said the weirdest thing to me, I don't buy from Amazon. I hate Jeff Bezos. He doesn't need any more money. Yeah, that's what they said that struck me as so odd. Well, Taylor Swift is a billionaire with a B and a net worth of $1.6 billion and going up. And you know, we're doing this everywhere in society. Why do we vilify wealthy entrepreneurs like Bezos yet glorify wealthy actors and athletes and singers like Taylor Swift? Let's look into this, because I've actually got some answers for why so many people apply this double standard to wealthy celebrities and well known people. And I know I've mentioned to you before that Taylor Swift and I were actually born in the same hometown of Reading, Pennsylvania, West Reading, actually vilifying business people yet glorifying performers. That seems to transcend, you know, any of these celebrity personality or character flaws. So let's put all that stuff aside that's distracting, that devolves and gets us off topic. Let's just focus on the wealth part and the resentment of that wealth, because often it's not that people dislike Bezos for say, the decline of small retail though there is that for any of his personal traits, but specifically they hate his wealth, but by the way, yet they have an Amazon account. Well. As a society, we just love celebrities despite their wealth, if they're stage performers like Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa, Olivia Rodrigo, Harry Styles, LeBron James. I mean, we applaud Stephen Curry's three pointers and show a otani's home runs when Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts got a $255 million contract extension. We loved it. Fans plastered their walls with his poster, but yet, at the same time, while people are doing that, society often disparages successful entrepreneurs and business owners for their wealth, like Bezos or Barbara Corcoran, who we heard from earlier, or Spanx founder, Sarah Blakely, so I analyze why society does this, so let's see what we can learn from it. And I should add, of course, that like with most anything, you can find some exceptions out there, some outliers. I mean, Warren Buffet's net worth is over 100 billion and yet seems like everyone wants to sit around a campfire and listen to his sage investing wisdom, and some athletes are despised, for sure. And then there's a guy like Ryan Reynolds who kind of spans both worlds and lives his best life in Hollywood and in business, but really our emotional divide. It begins with the primordial human senses of jealousy and envy. And, you know, there's a cartoon floating around out there, and the cartoon has just two frames. In the first frame, it shows a guy standing in front of the room with a crowd of people that he's speaking to, and he asks, Who hates the rich? And everyone in the crowd has their hand up raised high. Everyone hates the rich. And then the second frame of the cartoon shows the same scene, and the guy in the front of the room is saying, Now, who wants to be rich? And yeah, everyone's got their hand raised up again. So let's be realistic. Ask most people that resent the wealthy, all right, what income do you think you'd need to be to be considered rich yourself? Oh, maybe they would answer say, five times as much as I make it now. Oh, yeah. Well, I bet if right after that, you offered them a 5x pay raise for the same job, they would take it, but yet they resent the wealthy, even though 5x would make them wealthy. Now there's a component of optics here, too. You, with your own eyes, get to see Taylor Swift perform at a concert. Her work is visible. It's satisfying. You might be emotionally moved by that. And from all accounts, Taylor does put in a ton of work to perform that well, sing that well, and put in the physical endurance of these three plus hour concerts. That really is amazing. I don't denigrate her for owning a Dassault Falcon private jet like she does. I mean, I don't disparage any wealthy person for wealth alone. I think deep down in your heart, it's where a lot of people want to be. Robert Downey, Jr. He performs his we'll call it his magnum opus, on screen as Iron Man Tony Stark in Marvel movies, and he's been paid up to $600 million for that role across many movies, but yet, you know, we find that satisfying, which is weird. I mean, Taylor Swift, she is herself, but actors like Robert Downey Jr actually pretend to be someone else. So we praise an actor like Robert Downey Jr, and he's best known for pretending to be someone else, but yet we despise say, Apple's leader Tim Cook, for his wealth. Why in the heck would that be I mean, how do you justify that? Well, it's because Tim Cook's performances aren't visible. It's optics. You didn't get to see the process of how Bezos revolutionized Amazon's 24 hour delivery to your doorstep or drone delivery. What bezels is doing on a computer is not exactly a spectator sport. Okay, we don't get to see the work that Apple Steve Jobs did for our iPhone, or what Tim Cook does for our iPhone or iPad or MacBook. So therefore it's less satisfying because it wasn't visible. And yet, Tim Cook's highest endeavor, it's less glamorous than that of an actor. And yet Tim Cook completely acts like himself. For all ways I can tell, unlike an actor and Tim Cook, he really shapes the world that you and I live in today. I mean, he has definitely influenced your life more than some fictitious superhero has. There's also an element of imitation here, and this is really important, because look, you and I really for all intents and purposes, we cannot be like Taylor Swift or LeBron James. But you know what we can be a little like Jeff Bezos or Tim Cook, at some point in your life, you get real and you tell yourself that you cannot be like Lebron James. You cannot sprout to be six foot nine and be the all time leader in NBA point scored, you're not going to be like Taylor Swift. And had the highest grossing musical tour of all time with more than 7 million tickets sold. Now you couldn't sell any tickets to people that would want to see you sing. I sure couldn't. But see, you can be a successful entrepreneur. You just have to do, and when you have to do, and you know you could do those things. See, this means that you and I don't have any cop out. So sometimes we refute an entrepreneur success to try to let ourselves off the hook from actually doing you know, I think it's human nature to sort of protect our ego and tell ourselves, ah, I can't be like them. But that's false, because being wealthy is a choice, something I actually didn't believe when I was younger. If you wanted to you, yes, not some other listener, but you could have a successful business and perhaps even parlay your success into being a yacht owner, you could actually be that now, yacht owner, that's not some goal of mine. But see, instead of resenting a yacht owner, you can be inspired by that success. You don't have to launch a space company and fly people to Mars. You can do something here on earth. You can own a successful e commerce company, or rent out cars to people, or provide what people truly need and righteously serve a lot of people with housing. As a real estate investor, you can do all those things, even if it's just 1% of the level that Bezos does with E commerce, even if it's 1/10 of 1% see, you can get a piece of that. This is similar to how popular culture denigrates landlords and yet over sympathizes with tenants. Sometimes the tenant is right, but the landlord is often not some mega corporation. They're usually a mom and pop investor that took on risk and took out a mortgage loan to provide property for a complete stranger. Now let's say that you achieve what we'll call success, quote, unquote, success as a real estate entrepreneur, because you just added your 20th rental unit, right? You had 19, as soon as you go to 20, then is that the right level at which you're supposed to start being denigrated? But up to that point, it was okay. I mean, see, this can sound a little silly. In fact, just last week, at the New Orleans investment conference, I met a GRE listener and investor, Jenny from Indiana. She actually owns 19 rental units. They're mostly single family rentals. All right. Well, is it okay to own 19? But then she should start being resented once she adds her 20th property and serves that many people, that doesn't make any sense, and neither does resenting Bezos, I mean, he grew up in challenging conditions with a 17 year old mother and An alcoholic father. Bezos worked, innovated, took risks, raised money. His Guiding Light at Amazon has been an ethical three words, serve the customer. That's a good thing. He came from disadvantaged conditions to serve the customer. And the good news here is that you can do this too. You don't need to have a certain body type or an IQ. Serve the tenant, serve the market. I mean, I have seen successful entrepreneurs that are overweight, short, old, young, tall, female, male, even dyslexic, and they have all crushed it in business among the world's 8 billion people. You yourself see life in a way that no one else sees it. So at some point you learn that you really can't sing like Taylor Swift, or jump over a car like LeBron, or be as funny as. Meet bargatsi, but you can be you, and that's enough, but you have to do and, oh yeah, not give up every time things get tough, but nobody's stopping you. An entrepreneur is a crazy person who risks their own money for freedom, rather than exchanging their freedom for money, you took the leap critics stand on the sidelines when they're disparaged only because they're wealthy. It says more about the critic than it says about you, the successful entrepreneur and real estate investor. So instead, you can ask yourself the question, what is stopping me from creating my own version of that success? We misdirect our emotions when we vilify entrepreneurs and glorify stage performers merely based on what's more visible, more emotional and more imitative, rather than the Creator of the products and services that put real value in your life. So don't be ashamed of applying yourself and using your ingenuity in your strategy, in your careful risk taking for earning more income for yourself. We shouldn't disparage Bezos, LeBron, Taylor Swift or Dua Lipa for the wealth, because it is the same kind of success that we all wish that we could have.    coming up in future weeks on the show here we're getting closer to the end of the year where I will reveal get rich education's home price appreciation forecast for next year right here on the show. And I'm gonna give you an exact percentage national home price appreciation number. You're gonna know what to expect. I've done that for you for a few years here now I think this is gonna be the fourth year in a row where I'm doing it. It's sort of becoming a tradition, but coming up before that here on the show, I've shared with you how you know it's usually going to take you five years or more to go from your day job to financial freedom through real estate investing, but we've had some nice appreciation the last few years, and some GRE listeners are doing it faster than five years pretty soon, here, I'm gonna have a conversation with the GRE listener that applied principles that he heard here on the show, and he quit his job for real estate in just three years, he's gonna be here with me and tell you how he did it. Thanks for listening.   Hey, go ahead andtell a friend about the show here, take a screenshot and post it on your social media. I really appreciate you sharing the GRE Podcast with your friends and others until next week, I'm your host. Keith Weinhold, Don't Quit Your Daydream.   Speaker 4  37:56   Nothing on this show should be considered specific, personal or professional advice, please consult an appropriate tax, legal, real estate, financial or business professional for individualized advice. Opinions of guests are their own. Information is not guaranteed. All investment strategies have the potential for profit or loss. The host is operating on behalf of get rich Education LLC, exclusively.   Keith Weinhold  38:24   The preceding program was brought to you by your home for wealth, building, getricheducation.com.

Text the show!Have you ever considered the profound impact that choosing between high-ticket and low-ticket business models could have on your entrepreneurial journey? From the elevated profit margins and personalized client relationships of high-ticket models like one-on-one coaching to the broad scalability and accessibility of low-ticket offerings such as digital courses, Victoria dissects the advantages and challenges each model presents. Drawing from her own experiences with BrandWell, she illuminates how aligning your business approach with your personal lifestyle and market demands can play a pivotal role in your success.Discover how low-ticket offers can serve as a gateway for clients to engage with higher-value services, despite the inherent challenges of maintaining personal connection and brand development. With real-world examples, including the inspiring journey of Sarah Blakely and Spanx, Victoria delves into the nuances of strategically pricing your offerings and committing to client success, regardless of the ticket size.Lastly, she reflects on the importance of being true to oneself when deciding between high and low-ticket strategies. Aligning your business model with your personality and lifestyle can be key, especially as life stages shift and priorities evolve. Whether you favor the personal fulfillment of high-touch client interactions or crave the flexibility and reach of low-ticket scalability, this episode offers valuable insights to guide you through these strategic choices. Tune in to gain fresh perspectives on shaping a business model that resonates with your unique entrepreneurial spirit.Links Mentioned in Today's Episode:Listen to Previous Episodes with Gwen Tinsley:109: The Psychology of Selling ft. My Personal Sales Coach, Gwen Tinsley132: 10 Myths You've Been Told About Selling That Are Hurting Your Business and Your Confidence ft. My Sales CoachEnroll in The Branding Business School TODAY! For show notes, head to www.thebrandingbusinessschool.com/thepodcast/ Show notes for episodes 1-91 can be found at www.brandwelldesigns.com/thepodcast/ Follow BrandWell on Instagram. Follow The Branding Business School on Instagram. Save 50% off your first year of Honeybook using this link! Save 50% off your first year of Flodesk using this link! Get $30 off your first month of Nuuly using this link! Get up to $150 off your first box of Factor Meals using this link!

In Episode 125, Melissa Kellogg Lueck, founder of the Avanti Business Academy for Women, shares insights gathered from six iconic millionaire and billionaire women entrepreneurs: Sarah Blakely, Oprah Winfrey, Jamie Kern Lima, Sandra Yancey, Taylor Swift, and Beyoncé. Melissa highlights key success habits from each of these women, from reframing failure to owning your confidence and self-worth. This episode is packed with empowering wisdom and real-life lessons on resilience, creativity, and building a purpose-driven brand that aligns with your highest self. Join us as Melissa interprets and celebrates the habits that have helped these extraordinary women make their mark on the world. Timestamps: 00:45 — Intro: Melissa's inspiration for this episode, drawing from women she admires02:30 — Lessons from Sarah Blakely: Reframing failure as learning07:15 — Oprah Winfrey: Harnessing self-awareness and intuition in business13:00 — Jamie Kern Lima: Perseverance in the face of rejection19:45 — Sandra Yancey: The power of community and building strong support networks24:30 — Taylor Swift: Embracing creativity and uniqueness28:50 — Beyoncé: Personal power, confidence, and the drive for excellence34:00 — Wrap-up: How you can apply these success habits in your own business journey --- Stay Connected:

In this episode, we dive deep into the essential steps that can set you on the path to becoming a millionaire and achieving financial freedom in just six months. Discover proven strategies that can transform your financial landscape, starting with the importance of investing in yourself—whether it's through education, skills development, or personal growth.   We'll explore how starting a side hustle can create additional income streams, and how to leverage debt wisely to fuel your investments rather than hinder your progress. Embracing minimalism will help you focus on what truly matters, allowing you to allocate more resources toward your financial goals. Plus, learn how automating your savings can streamline your journey to wealth and ensure you're consistently working toward your objectives without the stress of manual tracking.   We'll also introduce you to the 'Profit First' system, a revolutionary approach to managing your money that prioritizes profit and ensures your business remains financially healthy. Real estate investment is another key topic, as we discuss strategies for getting started in this lucrative field. Mastering sales techniques is crucial for success in any venture, and we'll provide tips to enhance your selling skills.   Tracking your net worth is an essential practice that helps you stay accountable and motivated, while overcoming the fear of failure will empower you to take risks and seize opportunities.   To inspire you along the way, we'll feature insights from successful visionaries like Sarah Blakely, Bill Gates, Sam Walton, Elon Musk, Mark Cuban, and Howard Schultz. They share actionable advice and concrete steps that have helped them build their wealth, demonstrating that with the right mindset and strategies, anyone can achieve their financial dreams. Join us for this transformative episode and take the first steps toward your millionaire journey! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Rising Tide Leadership Podcast, Scott and Dr. Michael David Morales (Mo) explore the importance of understanding and leveraging leadership traits. They use the metaphor of Bilbo Baggins' journey to illustrate how unlikely heroes can emerge as leaders. The conversation emphasizes self-awareness, aligning personal traits with organizational goals, and the significance of empathy and influence in leadership. Through stories of notable leaders like Satya Nadella and Sarah Blakely, they highlight how personal experiences shape leadership styles and the need for continuous growth and adaptation in leadership roles.

**„Ich habe gelernt, dass man auch aus den peinlichsten Momenten noch was lernen kann. **You can do it!** • Finde Deine erste Kund:in in 30 Tagen mit Instagram: [Jetzt loslegen!](https://shop.femschool.de/easy-insta-sales/) • Verwandle deine Selbstständigkeit in ein Vollzeiteinkommen: [Komme in die Mastermind!](https://go.femschool.de/esm) • Bleibe motiviert – jeden Tag: [Abonniere unseren Newsletter](https://go.femschool.de/newsletter) • Folge uns auf Instagram: [@FEMschool](https://www.instagram.com/femschool) **Man muss nur durchhalten und das Beste daraus machen – oder es wenigstens später im Fernsehen zeigen.“ - Anke Engelke** Let's Face it: ein Business aufbauen, in die Sichtbarkeit gehen - das fühlt sich oft unangenehm an, manchmal sogar peinlich. Cringe auf Neudeutsch. Doch um wirklich erfolgreich zu sein, müssen wir durch diesen 'Cringe Mountain' hindurch. Nicht nur ich habe einige Cringe Momente erlebt, sondern auch Beyoncé, Sarah Blakely und Jessica Alba. Heute geht's darum wie „peinlich sein“ Dich nicht aufhält und Du lernst den Cringe Mountain zu besteigen, vom Peinlichen zum Coolen: Wie das Unbequeme dich erfolgreich macht **Themen:** - Warum „Peinlichsein“ zum Business-Aufbau gehört - Cringe als Wachstumsbeschleuniger - Erfolgsbeispiele: Beyoncé, Sarah Blakely und Jessica Alba - Vom Peinlichen zum Coolen: Der Weg über Cringe Mountain - Mut zur Sichtbarkeit: Trotz Cringe erfolgreich werden - Selbstbewusstsein stärken durch Authentizität - Wie Unbequemes Dich zum Erfolg führt Wenn dir diese Episode gefallen hat, abonniere unseren Podcast, hinterlasse eine Bewertung und teile ihn mit deinen Freundinnen. Besuche [FEMschool](https://go.femschool.de/) für weitere Ressourcen und folge uns auf Instagram für tägliche Inspirationen und Tipps [@FEMschool](https://www.instagram.com/femschool). [Impressum](https://femschool.de/impressum/)

What if the thing you're most afraid of—failure—is actually the one thing standing between you and the success you're working toward? In today's episode of the Limitless Podcast, Deanna breaks down how your fear of mistakes might be keeping you stuck, and why embracing failure could unlock the treasure you've been searching for. She shares personal stories from her journey, a powerful lesson from Spanx founder Sarah Blakely, and real-life examples of how the biggest breakthroughs often come after things go wrong.Curious? You should be. You're just one mistake away from discovering something incredible.-If you're ready to transform how you approach selling, don't miss my upcoming masterclass, Sales Synergy, happening September 17th-19th. It's time to dive deep into understanding the energetic side of sales! Click Here To Register-Connect with me! Instagram: @deannaherrinLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deanna-herrin/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedeannaherrinWebsite: http://www.deannaherrin.net

You know when you tell yourself you're not doing something anymore, and then a week later you find yourself unconsciously in the process of doing just that?  A few weeks ago, Mel found herself in just that loop. She set herself the challenge to shop her closet and not the stores, and yet when Sarah Blakely dropped her new Sneex, she caught herself adding to cart.   In this episode of Uncensored Money, Lawsie and Mel talk about the strain on our willpower that our phones have on us daily, and the habits we can create that can help give that willpower a break. Books and resources mentioned in this episode My Financial Adulting Plan If you're on insta, come play over at @MelBrowne.Money and make sure you're signed up to Mel's Money Musings for more tips, tricks and ideas on how to best work with your money. Finally, if you love this episode please make sure you subscribe and leave us a review.

"When we learn to view failure as that stepping stone rather than a setback, that is when we open ourselves to new possibilities, launching us even closer to our purpose. Notable Moments 03:06 Where Creativity Became Disconnected 08:11 Redefine What Creativity Means to You. 10:47 Revisit Childhood Passions 13:52 Embrace Your Curiosity About the Unknown 18:12 Take Risks and Celebrate Failure 22:09 Surround Yourself with Creative People 25:07 Create a Daily Creative Practice 28:24 Reflect on Your Journey and Celebrate Your Wins Episode Recommendations Order the Journal: Spark of the Day Order the Amazon Bestseller Leadership Fusion Lee Kitchen on One Spark Stories Mike Brennan on One Spark Stories Matthew Miller on One Spark Stories Connect with the Host About Katie Connect with Katie on LinkedIn Follow Katie on Instagram Follow the Podcast Instagram  Struggling to find your creative spark? This one's for you.  In this episode, I'll share 7 powerful ways to ignite your creativity and become more aligned with your purpose.  This episode is packed with stories of incredible guests like Matthew Miller, Mike Brennan, and Lee Kitchen as well as stories of ever-curious creatives such as Sarah Blakely and Marie Kondo. Their journeys offer profound insights into how passions often lead to life's most fulfilling paths. Don't miss out on this fantastic episode designed to empower you to take bold steps toward your dreams. Tune in, get inspired, and let's ignite that creative spark together.  Listen now on all major podcast platforms. And as always, let's connect, share our burning platforms, and embrace the journey of creativity and purpose Ready to ignite your inner creative genius? Then take a listen now. 

Summary The conversation covers various topics including the appeal of unsexy jobs, the rise and fall of trends, and the potential downfall of companies like Tesla and Netflix. The hosts discuss the need to rebrand and market unsexy jobs to make them more appealing to younger generations. They also highlight the importance of timing and cultural relevance in the success of trends. The conversation concludes with shoutouts to the beverage company Water Drop, the alternative retailer Canify, and the shoe line Sneaks by Sarah Blakely. Keywords: unsexy jobs, appeal, rebranding, marketing, trends, timing, cultural relevance, downfall, Tesla, Netflix, Water Drop, Canify, Sneaks Takeaways Unsexy jobs can be made more appealing through rebranding and marketing efforts. Timing and cultural relevance play a significant role in the success of trends. Companies like Tesla and Netflix may face challenges and potential downfall due to intense competition and changing market dynamics. Shoutouts to Water Drop, Canify, and Sneaks for their innovative approaches in their respective industries. Sound Bites "Let's rebrand it, right? Let's call it hydro technician, let's call it that." "I think Netflix is going to fail." "I'm going blank, man. I just went total blank." Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Discussion on Unsexy Jobs 10:14 The Rise and Fall of Trends 13:30 The Changing Job Landscape 21:39 Making Unsexy Jobs More Appealing 29:19 The Potential Downfall of Companies 36:23 Shoutouts to Water Drop, Canify, and Sneaks 40:28 Conclusion and Farewell

What makes a story unforgettable, and how can leaders harness this power to inspire and connect? In this special mashup episode of "Leadership is Changing," host Denis Gianoutsos revisits impactful conversations with Peter Hopwood and Heather Osgood. Peter uncovers how storytelling can build trust and drive meaningful change in leadership, while Heather shares her journey of scaling a business with authenticity and the importance of dreaming big.This episode offers practical insights and inspiration for enhancing your leadership through storytelling. Tune in to unlock your leadership potential.EP308: The Power of Storytelling in Leadership with Peter HopwoodThe Essence of Storytelling: Peter breaks down storytelling into moments of emotion combined with a lesson, explaining how this simple yet powerful formula can captivate and inspire.Building Deep Connections: Discover how sharing personal and relatable stories can strengthen bonds within teams and with clients, creating a lasting impact.Practical Tips for Leaders: Peter offers actionable strategies for leaders to integrate storytelling into their daily practices, enhancing their ability to lead and influence.EP311: Authentic Leadership and Big Dreams with Heather OsgoodSarah Blakely's Inspirational Leadership: Heather shares how Spanx founder Sarah Blakely's authentic and caring leadership style is a model for nurturing and rewarding teams.Scaling with Integrity: Learn about Heather's challenges in scaling her business and how authenticity and care for her team were critical to her success.Dreaming Big: Heather discusses the importance of pushing beyond perceived limits, especially as a female entrepreneur, and how dreaming big can drive significant achievements.Key Quotes:“Leadership is changing, and so must the way we connect with our teams and audiences.” - Peter Hopwood “Dream a bigger dream; don't limit yourself to what you think you can accomplish.” - Heather OsgoodThe 10 Ways to Lead in Today's World - FREE Executive Guide Download https://crm.leadingchangepartners.com/10-ways-to-lead Connect with Denis:Email: denis@leadingchangepartners.comWebsite: www.LeadingChangePartners.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/denisgianoutsos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisgianoutsos/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipischanging/ YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DenisGianoutsos

In this dynamic episode, Lesley Logan sits down with Nick Hiter, a multi-talented entrepreneur and host of the Hitstreak podcast, to discuss the transformative power of personal branding. Dive into how Nick strategically expands his business ventures, the significance of clear communication, and the importance of personal branding in today's digital age. Whether you're looking to start your journey or refine your existing strategies, this episode offers actionable insights to help you 'be it till you see it.'If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at beit@lesleylogan.co. And as always, if you're enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe.In this episode you will learn about:How to organically grow your business by addressing its needs.The significance of fundamentals in scaling your ventures.The role of personal branding in achieving long-term success.Effective strategies for digital marketing and audience engagement.How to reframe challenges as growth opportunities.The impact of gratitude on personal and professional life.Techniques for visualizing success and setting measurable goals.Episode References/Links:Nick Hiter's InstagramNick Hiter's YouTubeNick Hiter's WebsiteWork with NickNick Hiter's LinkedInHitstreak PodcastLesley Logan's Episode on HitstreakMonday.com Project Management ToolDaniella Mastek Young EpisodeWayne GretzkyDerek JeterGuest Bio:Nick Hiter is the founder of Team Hiter, a business enterprise focused on helping entrepreneurs drive growth. In his role as the Executive Vice President at RAC Financial, he oversees strategic partnerships for a leading 8-figure payment processing company. His work supports a network of 100+ strategic partners supporting major brands such as Planet Hollywood, Brio, and Buca di Beppo to name a few. As a thought leader on entrepreneurship himself, Nick's insights have been featured in major media such as CBS, NBC, FOX, The New York Times, and Yahoo to name a few. In addition, as the host of The Hitstreak podcast, he talks weekly with top performers to break down their playbook to success so his audience of over 200 thousand can get to that next level too. Nick is also the voice of SiriusXM's “Y'allternative” radio station! In his prior company, Nick launched over 150 insurance agencies that generated 100 million dollars in just over 5 years. His latest venture, dubbed “The Hitlab”, is focused on creating a physical space for thought leaders to come together, share, and distribute breakthrough ideas at scale. Beyond business, Nick is a husband to Rhiannon, and father to Ethan and Ansleigh. Nick is a former pro athlete and gives back regularly to local philanthropic organizations in the Nashville area.  If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox. DEALS! Check out all our Preferred Vendors & Special Deals from Clair Sparrow, Sensate, Lyfefuel BeeKeeper's Naturals, Sauna Space, HigherDose, AG1 and ToeSox Be in the know with all the workshops at OPCBe It Till You See It Podcast SurveyBe a part of Lesley's Pilates MentorshipFREE Ditching Busy Webinar  Resources:Watch the Be It Till You See It podcast on YouTube!Lesley Logan websiteBe It Till You See It PodcastOnline Pilates Classes by Lesley LoganOnline Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan on YouTubeProfitable Pilates Follow Us on Social Media:InstagramFacebookLinkedIn  Episode Transcript:Nick Hiter 0:00  When I build a business, I build a business with the exit in mind. All right. So I'm not going to die doing that business. Hopefully, I retire or I sell that business or I hand it to a next generation or something like that. So when I start a business, how am I going to exit it? Just like when I programmed the GPS. I got a program, the final destination in for it to work backwards and give me a route and so on and so forth. Starting with the end of the business in mind, my personal brand is something that I keep until the day that I die. I might not keep the business. That's why it's called a personal brand, not a business brand.Lesley Logan 0:31  Welcome to the Be It Till You See It podcast where we talk about taking messy action, knowing that perfect is boring. I'm Lesley Logan, Pilates instructor and fitness business coach. I've trained thousands of people around the world and the number one thing I see stopping people from achieving anything is self-doubt. My friends, action brings clarity and it's the antidote to fear. Each week, my guest will bring bold, executable, intrinsic and targeted steps that you can use to put yourself first and Be It Till You See It. It's a practice, not a perfect. Let's get started. Lesley Logan 1:12  All right, Be It babe. Get ready for an unstoppable interview. I promise you you're going to want to hit rewind, you're going to want to write some of these things down. Your mood is going to shift, and your opinion about how able you are and control of what happens around you in your day, and then what you're building is about to shift. Nick Hiter is our guest today and he is just a force and energetic human who has a lot of amazingness going on, and it's because he's very intentional. And you're gonna hear that theme throughout this interview. I got to meet him in person when I was on the Hitstreak podcast, so make sure you listen to our interview. It was one of my favorite interviews to ever do. I had, he asked me the best questions. So definitely was one of those fun experiences. You're like, this is something I want to remember, and I will, because if you watch his show on YouTube, you'll also see like it is to the end, everything he does is with intentionality and like really amazing quality. So you are going to be impressed with the production effort that goes into his podcast and his intentionality in the guests that he has. He said, some amazing guests on that podcast. So make sure you check out Hitstreak and then also enjoy this interview. I want to hear what your takeaways are. Truly send them in, tag the Be It Pod, tag Nick Hiter and let us know. And then, as always, share with a friend so we change people's lives, right? How we do that? So without further ado, here is Nick. Lesley Logan 2:30  All right, be it babe. Get ready. This is going to be an energetic conversation. I can already tell you right now I have been in the presence of our guest today in real life, and I'm telling you like I always thought I had a positivity of above a 10 and energy that's pretty close to it most the time. And this person showed me that you can go even higher than that. So Nick Hiter is our guest today. Can you tell everyone who you are and what you rock at, Nick?Nick Hiter 2:51  Man, I am a man of faith. I'm a husband, I'm a father, I'm a businessman with a podcast. You know what I'm saying. So we're very blessed. Long story short, my wife and I own an insurance agency that owns equity and a few other insurance agencies today. We own a merchant processing company. I'm the voice of a SiriusXM radio station. We own a set of studios and creative agency here in Nashville, Tennessee, and a whole bunch of affiliate partnerships and programs and whatnot. And I'm the host of the Hitstreak podcast, which you've been a guest on.Lesley Logan 3:24  Yes, I have. You guys can go listen to that episode right now. Actually, after you're done listening to this one, you'll go listen to that one, of course. Nick Hiter 3:24  That's right. Lesley Logan 3:24  It was an amazing conversation. So I really hope you all enjoy it. So Nick, okay, first thing everyone's going to want to know is, how on earth do you have the time to do all those things? Or have you had nine lives like that is impressive and also requires a lot of time. And you have a family, you have a partner like there's a lot that you're also invested in that's a priority. So how did you get there?Nick Hiter 3:51  Everything that we do, the insurance agency was the first thing that we kind of had, and then everything else that we've gotten into was a necessity of the original agency. So it was like we were going to hire somebody to do that or we just started our own thing to serve the previous entity, right? So all the things that we're involved in serve everything else that we do. So whenever we start something new, it's usually because something else we already have needs it. You know what I'm saying? Lesley Logan 4:17  That's really amazing. Thank you for sharing that, because I think a lot of people will see what you're doing or what I'm doing, and they'll go, I'll use myself as an example. I have an on demand Pilates membership. I have a podcast. We do retreats. So then someone looks at that and goes, I need all those things. And what they don't realize is, first I had a studio, then I started traveling, so I needed to have an on demand thing. And then because people wanted to spend time with who lived in other places, we did the retreat. So like, each thing we created was because of a need, like you said, What is your advice for the person who sees the finished project or where we're at and thinks they need to start all those things at one time, versus, like, how we've done it?Nick Hiter 4:55  The same way that you were educated as a child, like you got kindergarten curriculum in kindergarten, not eighth grade. You know what I'm saying? So a buddy of mine named Marcus Whitney told me, he said, "Don't mistake my chapter 20 for your chapter one. Lesley Logan 5:08  Yeah. Yeah. We, like, people like to do that. They really do.Nick Hiter 5:12  Absolutely. When I watch Michael Jordan play basketball, I wanted to play like he did, but I hadn't done the work that he had done and learned what he had learned to be able to make the decisions that he makes on the fly, knowing how to work out, how to practice, how to grow, and then how to execute in a game, right? So there's a lot of experience required to get good at anything.Lesley Logan 5:29  Yeah, I know. And that's also like you're an athlete, like those fundamentals are the things that people think are boring. They want to skip over. They want to do the thing that's fancy. And especially because of social media, most people put the fancy stuff out because that's the stuff that looks good. That's the stuff that like, gets the likes, or gets the comments. I recently posted myself just doing footwork on a Reformer, which, you might remember from when you did Pilates. It's pretty boring. It's just lying down, doing squats, basically. But it is such a fundamental exercise that leads you to anything you want to do, and also gives so much information. And a lot of people like to skip that fundamental stuff. What are some of the fundamentals that you like really found have helped you grow your businesses the way that they have? Nick Hiter 6:08  First of all, to scale or grow anything, it's going to hurt. It's why they call them growing pains. All right. It's never easy. It's usually uncharted territory, even if you have knowledge and things from somebody else. But you always got to have something that you can measure the growth by or the lack of. Okay. So you got to have things that you can measure just like losing weight. Do you think you would have finished school if you had to go for 13 years but you didn't know where you were at? Like, you didn't know, it wasn't broken up into 13 grades. I wouldn't have, after, like, a couple years, I'd have been like, Mom, Dad, like, when does this end? Where are we at? Like, when you're a kid on a road trip, are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there? Yeah, you got to have something to measure your success or lack thereof. Again, everything that we got into served the need of something else. Okay? So whenever you're building things, and then you're going to need more people, when you're adding new things, right? Because you just grew. So obviously, if I was at capacity and we launched another product, launched another company, or whatever it may be, even a new department, it's going to require people, and that leads you to communication, right? So the best in the world, in anything, can clearly communicate, all right? And communication has to go two directions. Derek Jeter said that loyalty, trust and communication going one way is stupid. All right, so it's got to go both directions and then through that communication, you have to be able to clearly delegate, and you have to be able to clearly automate. In the world that we live in today with technology, if you're not using automation and you're not good at it, you're probably getting beat by somebody that is.Lesley Logan 7:30  Yeah, oh my gosh, the delegation automation is so hard for especially if you're not used to it. I know when I hired my first assistant, I kept asking her, do you think you could? Would it be? Would you be able to? And she's like, it's my job to just do what you're asking, and if I can't do it, I'll tell you. And I was like, oh, she trained me how to delegate real quick. Because I was like, oh, okay, so she'll just, she'll tell me if she can't do it. And that's how I've always operated. So now, anybody who works for me, I'm like, if I give you something that you don't, I don't give you enough time for you need to tell me. Otherwise, that's when I want, this is how we're gonna go, because it's communication, but with automation, there's so many tools now and free tools like it used to be so expensive to automate things, and now, like my husband's Monday boards scare a lot of people, but they are amazing for our business, because I love, at each year, going back to measuring, Monday tells us this is how many things you automated this year. This is how many minutes or hours or, like, months you've saved because of automations. Like, it's so amazing. Going back to communication, you are really amazing at personal branding and digital marketing, and that is forms of communication. Nick Hiter 6:45  Absolutely. Lesley Logan 7:31  Can you tell me how you got into that? What's your favorite part about doing that? Nick Hiter 7:40  In a previous life, when my wife and I were in a management group with three other friends of mine and we owned restaurants and nightclubs, in Nashville back then, if you weren't the best promoter, you lost. It wasn't just open the doors and people flood in. Back then, you actually had to be good. You had to market and attract people. All right? So we learned a lot about marketing. That was the timing of that was right when Facebook, Myspace had already come and gone, Facebook and Instagram and those other platforms were on the rise and becoming more and more prevalent. So like, we learned the value of those really quick. And then when we got into the world of insurance, they did not value that at all. They did not value social media. There was a lot due to compliance issues and a whole bunch of other great reasons. That just wasn't a space where insurance agents were leveraging those platforms to grow. So when we got in there, we had a head start on everybody, and we just used that. We dove right in with it, went all in with it, and created something that we were very proud of. And all we did was market one message over and over again, which was another win for the client, who's next. So when it comes to personal branding, digital marketing, first of all, when I build a business, I build a business with the exit in mind, all right, so I'm not going to die doing that business. Hopefully I retire, or I sell that business, or I hand it to a next generation, or something like that. So when I start a business, how am I going to exit it just like when I program the GPS, I got to program the final destination in, bring it to work backwards and give me a route, and so on and so forth. Starting with the end of the business in mind, my personal brand is something that I keep until the day that I die. I might not keep the business. That's why it's called a personal brand, not a business brand. I'm a big believer in build a personal brand first, and you can launch businesses with that personal brand, and that's what my wife and I have been very blessed to do. Lesley Logan 10:19  Okay. I do love that, because there's been a lot of amazing businesses where a personal brand has come out of it, like Spanx, for example, it was known and then Sarah Blakely, but that is difficult nowadays to get a business launched into a huge space. Like there's so much noise, there's it really is, like, who has the most ad money can really dive through? So to go back to the personal brand, just in case anyone listening isn't really understanding the difference between a personal brand and business brand, can you just go like, a little more layman's terms, just for them, and then can you tell me more about, like, developing your personal brand, what that was like.Nick Hiter 10:53  So, your personal brand is your reputation online. Okay, online. We all know a lot of people, but how many people do we actually interact with on a daily basis, versus my Instagram account reaches millions every 30 days. Okay, so, like, I can't touch that many people in person. So online, it's a much greater net if you're fishing, it's a way bigger cobweb when you're casting out. Again, the personal brand is your reputation online or what you've accomplished to date, and how many people know about it? And again, you can cast a way bigger net online than you can in person. So with the personal brand, that's why it's so important. And I want to kind of preface that question with this your personal brand. Treat it like its own entity. That's the biggest mistake people make, is they want to build a personal brand. They might even hire our agency, and then, like life happens, they run into problems in their business. They run into problems at home, and the personal brand is the first thing to take a back seat. And it's a commitment. You wouldn't do that to your business. You wouldn't do that to your family, I hope. You wouldn't do that to your kids. Put your personal brand on a level of importance that's the same as those other things, because again, the personal brand is yours, man, and it took me years to build our first seven or eight figure company, and then once we had an established personal brand of a certain size, we can launch them almost at will to the right market, or as long as the company or brand that we're the one to launch from our personal brand is in alliance with that. So your personal brand, you have an audience. Are you growing that audience? Is your audience shrinking? Are you feeding that audience? What are you providing for that audience to keep them coming back for more?Lesley Logan 12:20  Yeah, I think it's really amazing. I want to highlight, like, doesn't get put on the waste on the wayside. And also, like, you can take people with you on those obstacles with a personal brand that you cannot with a business brand. Like, your business (inaudible), you're not gonna go, oh, another failed launch today. That's not so great. But you can take people on the journey of, like, what it's like to try out new things and learn from them. And with my personal brand, I've always been very open with my health struggles. Because one, I had no one to help me, and I was like, seeking out this information myself. And I was like, if I'm going through 10 years of stomach issues, there's probably other people going through stomach issues as well. So how can I help them in a way that's like, I'm not going outside of my scope, but I can be like, at least a cheerleader, like, just keep going. And now, as I'm 41 what I found is most of the women who listen to the show, most of them who follow me, most of them who want to take class with me, they're over 40 as well, and so being able to share the journeys I'm on, like, hey, here are the things I'm doing to keep the energy up that I have when I was 30, now, because it's harder now. So I think that's what's so fun about a personal brand and correct like you don't have to have tons of followers, you guys to reach a lot of people. It's kind of amazing. If you're putting stuff out there that people want to share, and it's your rep, it's like that. It's quoted to you, and it's really amazing. And whenever we put together a new product, it does better than a business doing a similar thing, because we have so much trust built in with what we're doing. When I was in Nashville last when we saw you, I spoke at the Soho House, and there was two other businesses there, one who works with over $100 million a year in ads on social medias as an agency, and then this other person, who was the fifth hire for Rent the Runway, and he's done a million other things that are amazing, right? So here I am, the small business owner, and I blew their minds, because we actually sell things where you have to wait four months for it. Happens all the time. When we have a new product, we allow people on that journey, and it's because so they asked me, like, how are you doing that? Because we have to like. how do you get people to wait? And I said, because they're on the journey with me. They trust me. They know what I'm building. They know how many hours I spent on it. They know what they're going to get, and they know it's going to be four months and they're getting this thing. And the guy looked at me, he's like, that would never work for my clients. And I'm like, that's because your clients don't want to build a reputation with their customers. They don't want a relationship with them. I want a relationship. That's what a personal brand really does well. So what did you do in building yours? Was that something you started out with years ago, or something that you when you started your nightclubs, or is that something a bit more recent?Nick Hiter 14:43  Well, again, it's what you've accomplished, and how many people know about it. So we've all accomplished certain things in life, and so for me, I played professional sports, so that was something that separated me from a lot of people, which that was leverage that I could use that to get in other doors, to get conversations happening with people, whatever it may be. And because of that success, and a lot of people knew about it, in a game that is, at least up until recently, it's been known as America's pastime, it was just a very important thing. But again, the personal brand, like it's its own product. Every company had a founder, and that founder created that company which had a story. So what we're seeing today is people are selling stuff on freaking TikTok, a shop that, like, you can't even like, how secure is that thing? Like, anybody can buy and be a brand and sell anything these days. And what you're finding is that gives a lot of power to the small business owner. So the small business owner can reach as many people as the large ones can. The gates are down. The fences are down. So the founder story, I think, is incredibly important. I think that people, as a matter of fact, we learned at brand (inaudible), I think 58% of people are buying from, are at least shopping first from an entity that has a personal brand tied to the product or the story. So again, all the things that we use as consumers, we have favorite restaurants, favorite stores, favorite products. Why are they our favorites? All right? And then why can't we use that same knowledge to turn right around and be that for somebody else? Okay? So as consumers, I don't think we're very smart a lot of the times. I think we've been programmed to a certain degree, and I think that we're just running those programs and we're not actually like thinking why and how to make them better? Does that make sense? Lesley Logan 16:17  Yeah, no, it really does. It shocks me when people don't really understand cookies on their phone and on their devices. I use them to help me. Brad makes fun of me. My husband makes money because I, like, will intentionally click on an ad that I want to get served later on. Because I'm like, I'm not ready to buy that thing right now, but I don't want to forget this thing. And instead of, like, writing down what I want, I'm like, nope, I'll just let that hit me up later. And I intentionally, I use the algorithm to serve me what I want. I'm always looking for positive stuff, and then I'm always telling it what I want to buy, so it serves me those things. But a lot of people are like, just taking things as they come, not really having that discernment.Nick Hiter 16:51  You're taking responsibility. How many people don't do social media? They just blame the algorithm. What is the algorithm exactly that you're blaming? And first of all, how do you take ownership of it. That's the only way you can fix it. If you place blame, you give somebody else ownership, which means you've removed yourself from being a part of the solution. Last time I checked, the people that solve the most problems make the most money. So you're either a victim or a survivor and they look and smell a lot like a quitter versus a finisher. Okay. God hides the gifts and the things finished. And the end of something is the beginning of something else. And if you quit, you don't get the end. You don't get the gift. Okay. And no matter what storm you're in, dude, it runs out of rain. Lesley Logan 17:31  Yeah. Oh my gosh. You guys, everyone could just hit rewind on that. That was really brilliant. That was really amazing. Nick Hiter 17:35  Thank you. Lesley Logan 17:36  Yeah, I think a lot of people see an obstacle as a sign that they're not supposed to do something. Oh, my posts aren't they're not landing. So I'm not good at this. I'm not supposed to be doing this. And this is a sign I'm not supposed to do it. It's just the obstacle that you have to get over because you need the muscle, you need the feedback, you need to learn this lesson so that where you're going you are prepared for the next thing. Nick Hiter 17:55  Yeah, everybody that's considered successful, or they get paid well to do whatever it is they do. They're good at it. Okay, so think about it. There's companies that spend six or seven figures a month on their digital marketing, and you spend $400 and you don't know a lot, and the company that you hired, you really don't know why you hired them, other than boy, I sure hope they nail this for me. But again, as consumers, we shop places based on information that we've gathered about that entity or that business or that product. But then, when it comes to this type of stuff, we hire stuff. We hire companies or agencies. We just cross our fingers and go like, I hope they get it right. Like, how do you know if you hired the right person? How do you know if you hired the right agency? What are you measuring and how long does it take for them to get you those results? Did you ask those questions? Are expectations being managed? I have clients myself that'll spend 9, 10, 12 grand over a couple months, which ain't a lot, and they feel like, man, I should be making millions by now. I'm like, well, if that's all it took, then why would anybody spend a million dollars on a Super Bowl ad? If that's all it took to make millions. Just, hey, man, throw six grand at this little company on Instagram, and they're going to make you millions. Nobody would do anything else. So it's just, it's those expectations.Lesley Logan 19:06  Yeah, you know, I love those questions. You gave out. We hired someone. Oh, from an agency, and it was for our YouTube channel. And I definitely thought I did the research. I asked the questions, because we've hired companies before, when we first started our business, and definitely didn't ask those questions. We didn't really know what to ask. So I felt like I asked it. They set the expectations of like, this is what our goal is for your channel, and this is what we've done for other channels and da, da, da. And within five months, everything was awesome. And within five months, I'm like, this is I'm looking at, even if we compound what growth we've had, we're not going to get to the goal you set. We're certainly not going to get to the realistic goal I set. What are we doing here? We have a year-long contract. We have time to rectify the ship. Let's go. And two months later, things hadn't changed. So I continued to raise like, here are my concerns. Here is this thing. And so I laughed, because when we got to the point where we could renew the contract, I was like, are you even asking me? I have been telling you specifically what I'm looking for based on what you told me, based on what you sold me, and now I love that you raised your rates. I love that everyone should raise the rates every year. It's great, but you're raising rates, and you didn't even get me, there was, you didn't even give me 10% of the results we talked about. So you have some work to do, but it's not going to be on me, and it's my fault for allowing us to do a year-long contract. Next time, I'll probably want to do something different so we can have a way out if it's not working the way we expected. And so you also can ask all the questions, and it cannot, it still not go the way you want, and you don't have to get met. I'm not going to blame her. I have to take responsibility. What did I miss? What did I not, what did I not ask? Where was I not super clear on what I expected? And so the next time I know better. And the truth is, like we did learn a lot, our channel grew tremendously, just not to the point that it even paid for what we were paying for them. So it's not all bad. Nothing is all bad. I think we get to learn from it. You talk about the personal brand is so important. So, reputation online. With digital marketing, a lot of people, you said it already, like people like, pay an agency and then they hope and pray. I think a lot of people don't understand what digital marketing is. And like, how a lot of people that we coach, they'll post like, come take my class. And I'm not gonna lie, guys, on the day that we're recording this, I did a post which I have to do for this tour. We launched a tour, and it's basically like tour's happening. Here's what it is. The only people gonna get excited about that, people who know what the tour is. So I'll have other digital marketing I have to do later that actually explains things and educates and inspires and does all this stuff. But what is the difference between a digital marketing strategy where people just post, buy my stuff, come take my class, and one that actually grows a business?Nick Hiter 21:40  First of all, like I heard one time, the riches are in the niches. Okay, so that what that means to me is specificity, like, it's specific, okay, so let's use, like a neurosurgeon. Would you go to that person for sports rehab? That's not their specialty, right? So digital marketing is massive. Let's just talk about how you compare it to, like money, because we were having a big accounting meeting this morning. So on a business, there's revenue and there's expenses. You take revenue, you subtract expenses, whatever is left, and you want to grow that number, week over week, day over day, shift over shift, month over month, year over year, well, over here. Well, then you've got access to lines of credit. So what's that mean? There's accessible lines of credit, and then are you paying principal or interest when you take out money on those lines of credit. Same thing with credit cards, except credit cards, now you have rewards that you can manage. So like even with your growing, your money on your revenue, on your business. But how are you using cash in cash out lines of credit and then credit cards, which are another form of lines of credit, but again, they have rewards versus bank lines of credit or homeowners lines of credits and stuff. They're different. So it's understanding how you win in each space. It's like, you don't hire a company that's great at YouTube, and it's a bit like, man, why aren't you going to my Instagram? Okay? So again, what are you hiring for? And you have to market to a lot of people–vegetarian, see the steakhouse commercial on TV. It happens, you know what I mean? But like, even if you're going to advertise on a network, you're going to pick like the right network based on the right audience, based on the right demographic of who's watching it at that time, there's all this information that is used to make these decisions, but we don't always use those. A lot of times we're just scratching the surface, and again, that's where you're crossing your fingers. How do you know you hired the right company? How do you know you hired the right company? And you got to have things that you can measure. And before I hire anybody, I like to have those on the front end. All right, it's a year-long contract. After 90 days, how do I know if we're on track? After 150 days how do I know if we're on track? You know what I mean? 3-6-9-12 months down the road, 30 days later, how do I know if we're on track? And what can I do differently? And the moment you say, the moment you place blame on somebody else, subconsciously, you're telling yourself they're the only ones that can fix that problem. Everything's Nick's fault, I promise. Because it's the only way I can fix it. It has to be my fault, because that's the only way I can take ownership to fix it. So even when I hire people, if they're not hitting the measurements that I want, it's my fault, because then I'm going to go to them and say, what can we do to fix this, versus just, what can you do? What are you going to do to fix this? You have to ask that question too. When you say we, there's their part and there's my part, and if I did my part and they didn't do their part, now, we part ways.Lesley Logan 24:16  Yeah, yeah. And I think also it's even possible to do your part for them to do their part, and it still not be the right parts. And you have to, and those are the hardest times to part ways, because it's like, it's, you know, we're either missing another part or we're not the right parts for this project. And we have to.Nick Hiter 24:33  And that's based on the relationship. If I met my wife, who is the lady who is my wife today, and we got married tomorrow, like there's not a lot of research or knowledge that we've gained about each other, so we're going to find out a lot later. There's a certain amount of due diligence that's required on all parties to make sure they're a good fit for both. And as a vendor that people hire, it's important to me that I am the right vendor, so I'm always encouraging them to do the right research, and then I'm again, Everything's my fault. The company chose me and I wasn't the right person. It's my fault. I didn't do enough due diligence on the front end, you know what I'm saying? So again, communication, everything goes two directions. Lesley Logan 25:07  Yeah, we interviewed Daniella Mestyanek Young, who survived a cult, and we were talking about, because I have communities, and I was like, yeah, I'm always trying to make sure I don't have a cult. Like, I'm always, always trying to make sure I'm not creating a cult, because I don't want to, I don't want to be a cult leader. That's a lot of pressure and the answer, like anyone could leave at anytime time, is not the same, because that's true of most cults. But I said to her, I said, no, we're pretty clear. If we're not the right fit for you, because there are some people who want coaching from me, and they're like, well, I want you like, I'm not going to do the work for you. You have to actually come to me before you create the problem. Ideally be great before you. I've had people like, I signed this contract, and now I'm like, oh, I can't help you now, you've got to get a lawyer. This is beyond my coaching business, so I'm trying, we try really hard to be as the vendor. Like, here's what we're really good at. What do you need? Okay, we can't do that, but we can do this. And if that's what you want help on, we'll do that. And if that's not, it's totally okay. And I think that's really important, because for everyone listening, because it is hard to say no to money, it's hard to say no just and also you could be like, well, I can talk about that. Like, I could help them. Yeah, but it's not the thing that you want to be helping them with, and it's not the thing that you're the best to help them with. And like you said, it the riches are in the niches. You'll have more energy, you'll have more growth if you're helping people, the thing that you're most able to do. And so I think that's a really important message that you gave us. It's like, make sure that you, the person who was doing the thing is also the right fit for the person buying or hiring the thing. Nick Hiter 26:31  I love using plays on words too, to change people's paradigm or their perspective, meaning like using the word cult. You know, well, cult is the root word of culture. I think we would all agree. We'd want a great culture, which is the form of some form of a cult. Even Bruce Lee said, "The words that you say to yourself are so powerful because letters, when you do something to them form a word, you spell them. So when you use words, you're casting a spell on your own mind, right? Just based on the roots of those words. Communication, well, isn't that a form of community? You know what I mean? The words that we use all the time. Brad taught me a really valuable lesson one time, because I was always told, be humble, be kind. The Bible says, be humble to the Lord, but nobody else. Because if you look up the definition of humble, it's actually low thought or opinion of oneself. I was always told, be humble, dude. Do I really want to have low opinion of myself. No, I'll be humble to the Lord, but that's the only person. That's the only thing. You know what I mean. So we use all these words all the time, and actually don't know what they mean.Lesley Logan 27:30  Yeah, I know. And the thing is, you guys can ask, you can ask your phone really easily. So just yesterday, my husband and I were talking, I used the word titrate and he goes, titrate. I'm like, well, it means people can titrate, they can actually add or take out based on what they need. And he looked up the actual definition. It was mostly like, for medication. I was like, it works at this particular instance as well. But yeah, it's important look them up.Nick Hiter 27:55  When you use the word humble, if me and you have different definitions of that word, we're not actually saying talking about the same thing, you know? So I was given a keynote one time. We were talking about mindset, right? When mindset became a word everybody used it all the time. So I'm talking about mindset. And I just happened to look out over the crowd, and I was like, I just got this vibe, like there was like, 15 different looks coming back at me, which means there's 15 different opinions out there. So I was like, guys, what's the definition of mindset? I asked eight people and got eight different definitions. So we were actually talking about eight different things and didn't even know it. Even though we were communicating, the communication wasn't happening. Lesley Logan 28:32  The impact was not of the intention. There's this amazing show on Netflix I love to watch. It's called Physique 100, Physique, yeah, Physical: 100 and it's a Korean show, and they take 100 people in Korea, and they do this physical competition, and it's a see who is the best physique, right? And there's these guys who can lift cars, and there's also, like, a rock climber, and there's someone who does, like mountain climbing, like fire stuff, and then they put it through challenges, and obviously different physiques do better at different challenges. But it was so funny because the translation, since it's Korean, they're translating and people are saying, you have the best physique. I like your physique. And it was so weird because in English translation, it's a little superficial, and especially at the time it was coming out with body positivity, I was like, this is not going to land well, I think they should have translated this just a little bit differently, because this exact translation is not how we use the word, and so it still did okay, but I think you're correct, like, we have to know what the thing be on the same page of a definition. And that's also like, when you go back to the marketing and your personal branding, like you're talking about communications, like making sure that you are using that where the words that your audience, that you're trying to serve is that's how they use those words. It's the words that they use. So that way they really feel like you're communicating with them. Nick Hiter 29:47  In the world of sports, some of the greatest coaches, when they're talking about these things, like you can watch coach prime Deion Sanders in their classroom, they show a lot of footage of that, and literally, like on the screen behind him will be a word with the definition that they're talking about. So he's making sure that his entire team is talking about the exact same thing. They wear a uniform. Well, what's the definition of uniform? It's the same, right? So that's what teams do. Going back to the world of baseball, which may or may not resonate with your audience, but like Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, were two of the best to ever do it, all right? One guy hit almost just shy of 700 home runs and one guy hit a few 100, okay, but one guy won six championships and one guy won one so who's the better of the two? Derek Jeter would say, well, I am. They'd say, well, he hit almost 700 home runs and you hit 250 or whatever it is. He'd say, you didn't ask who was the best home run hitter. You said who was the best player and the best players win the most games, win the most championships, right? That's how you gage. Is that a track star? Well, they won the most gold records, so they're the best that ever was. So again, when you're even asking, who's the best player, what are you making those decisions off of? What are you measuring? Lesley Logan 30:52  Yeah. Feel like that's the theme here. Like, what are we measuring? And I think something that I try really hard with this podcast, with each person who's listening, be it till you see it is acting as if the thing, person, goal you want to have is happening right now, because that changes how you show up. But then you also need to know how to measure that. Is it happening? Otherwise it is going to school for 13 years. I'm wondering when you graduate now, I completely understand why we have random graduations. You graduate from kindergarten, then a few years later, sixth grade, then eighth grade, they keep helping you out. This has been amazing. I want to know what you're excited about right now, like, what's coming up for you? Because you know you're someone who doesn't sit still. You are constantly challenging yourself. It's proof, I'm based on just like, how you've talked about what it is that you've grown and what you do here. So what are you excited about that's coming up?Nick Hiter 31:38  As a man of faith, it's crazy how just things are put in front of you. We've been very aggressive for the past few years in growth, in business revenue, helping people hope all those things and like, all of a sudden, my news feed, just out of the blue, got flooded with, like, I have a daughter at home, she just turned three. It wasn't that long ago I was holding her and like, gratefulness is what I'm most excited about in the fact that, like, what's been put on my news feed is parents with their infants that just got heart transplants, or literally, like five days before my son left me, you know. And one of my clients I just found out didn't even know this, that as a parent, he had lost a child before, so all of a sudden, I looked around and realized how great I have it. And that took a lot of, that removed a lot of the frustration that I've been feeling, because I want to grow faster and realize that, like all right, all this is happening for reasons, it comes with a great responsibility, and it all starts with gratefulness. You can't have a bad day if you're grateful. A bad day and a good day is a choice. Okay, stuff's always going to happen, but how you react to it, or how you respond to it, that's what makes the good or the bad day. Okay, are you grateful for the problem or not? And if you're grateful for the problem, you're grateful for the solution. And man, it was a great day. So for me, I'm most excited about the gratitude that I'm going to be allowed to have and share with other people. Lesley Logan 33:09  Yeah, I actually think that's really, especially as someone who likes to move fast, and it can also be harder when you have a team. Yes, you can move fast, but also it's it you go farther with a team, that's what they say. You move fast, go alone, go far, have people with you. And so there has to be a different measurement, and that's something that I've been really I had a coach recently say he's like in the last six years, I missed every goal I've ever set for this business, and I'm the most successful I've ever been. And he said, if you're hitting every goal, you're not setting, your goals high enough, and really should be asking yourself, like, am I acting like the person who could have hit that goal as the team acting like that? And if so, then it was a success, and we can measure that based on these things that improved. And it's so easy, you know, I have had listeners and people we coach who go, I'm not hitting these numbers that I wanted to hit. I'm just like, I'm not good at this. And it's like, you're not good at this. We set a goal that was going to challenge you. You got really close. That doesn't, it's not failure, like there's improvement there. And if we had it hit, it like we didn't, we probably could have set the goal a little higher. I love the way you said that, because we do have a choice of whether we see it as good or bad. We have a channel in our coaching group. It's called, I need a moment. And you're allowed to, like, have a moment and just blurt it out. But there is a rule, and what I love is that our members uphold this rule. If I'm not in there, if you don't immediately go to the wins channel and share a win, people are like, this is terrible, but you got to post a win. It has to be right now. Can't be later today. Has to be right now, because if you have time to bitch, you have time to win. So they're very on top of it, and it's so fun, because now what people do is they just go to the win channel and they go, all right, I was going to have a moment, but I'm actually seeing that losing this client is the greatest thing ever, because I didn't want to work at 9am and so, you know, it's really, it really is a choice, and so thank you for reminding us. We're gonna take a brief break and then we're gonna find out where people can find you, follow you or work with you. Lesley Logan 35:06  All right. Nick, where do you like to hang out? What's your favorite socials? How can people connect with you more?Nick Hiter 35:10  YouTube and Instagram are the two that we're focused on the most, just because I feel like that's where we're having the most impact right now. And honestly, my son is kicking my tail on YouTube. Like, holy cow, he found his little niche, and he is freaking crushing. I'm talking like he's grown 14,000 subscribers in 90 days. Lesley Logan 35:28  Wow. That is impressive. I love YouTube. I love my viewers on YouTube. I love even the ones that say where it thanks me. They're my favorite.Nick Hiter 35:36  Man. YouTube hasn't always been the biggest Nick Hiter fan, so we're working on changing that, taking responsibility and fixing that, and we've brought on some new team members that are going to focus on that, which we're really excited about. But Instagram is great. Everything's @NickHiter. My website's at nickhiter.com you can get to everything from nickhiter.com even if you're interested in booking for a Keynote or booking me on a podcast appearance like this, or anything else. nickhiter.com, all my socials are @NickHiter.Lesley Logan 36:01  Perfect. Love that. And you guys, his podcast is called Hitstreak, so you can listen to it wherever you listen to this one, unless you're on the OPC app to listen to this one. You'll have to go to your podcast. Listen to a different one. Okay, you have actually given us a lot of nuggets, some great gems. I'm really excited for this, but just in case people need some not too long, didn't listen, but just an action they can take from today, what is something bold, executable, intrinsic or targeted that they can do to be it till they see it?Nick Hiter 36:30  To be it till you see it, Wayne Gretzky said, you win the game before you ever step out on the ice. Okay? So, like, life's an offensive sport, you don't win the championship by accident. You chose, okay? You chose that that was the goal you wanted, and then you did the required work, and then a lot of things had to happen. And if everything went right, you became the champion, right? But if you didn't win the championship this year, assuming it's sports and you're not aging out, then you know what you need to work on to improve to win next year. Okay? That's life, man. Life's an offensive sport. And what you're saying to yourself, again, going back to that Bruce Lee thing, you're casting spells on yourself with the words that you say. In my town, the most common greeting we need is, how are you doing? Right? So they say, Nick, how you doing? I'm unstoppable. I said it to you when I got here today.Nick Hiter 36:34  Totally I was like, I love that. Nick Hiter 36:38  Everytime I do that for two reasons. One, I've said it enough times that I actually believe it. Okay. So again, everything takes repetition, and two, people remember it, because most common response is, I'm good. Well, guess what? That's all you're going to be. That's all you're going to be. You know what I mean? So to be it till you see it, like Brad told me about the power of visualization. Some people call it manifestation. First of all, if you're going to visualize, visualize with a partner, find somebody that's going the same place you're going, because you get there twice as fast, all right. But Brad said, Nick, what kind of house you want to move into next? A big one? Well, he's like, what does that even mean? Big is a reference. It's different to everybody else. How about you say this big house. And this is the wall that my TV is going to go on, and this is the chair I'm going to sit in when I watch that TV. He's like, do you want to own a jet? Well, what's the logo that's going to be on the seats of the jet? He's like, that is being it till you see it. That's visualization, right? So, like, everything you do has got to be on purpose. And the difference between a major league pitcher and a little league pitcher is the size target they can hit. Okay? So the more specific you are with your targets or your goals, the better chances you have to hit them. Lesley Logan 38:18  Oh, I love this. You guys, it is so accurate, my brick-and-mortar studio in LA that I have only for two years. And that is absolutely wonderful, I visualized. I said, that is where my, I looked at the window of the building, I said, that's my studio right there, and it wasn't available when I walked by. Month later, I kept going, that's my studio. Just every time I walked by, I just picture my studio being there. One day, I opened up searching like for rental space, commercial rental space and it was available. And I was like, that's my spot. And when Covid happened, we visualized this house. Brad and I sat down together, and it wasn't like, we're gonna get a house. It was like, how many bedrooms? What are in those but what is each bedroom being used for? Where in Vegas is it at? And so exactly when the real estate agent sent us this house, I was like, that's the house. We like, we didn't even have a car when we moved to Vegas. We, like, rented a car, drove here. We're like, we're buying, this is the house we're buying. And we celebrate that four years ago this week. So the more sense of you are things really do happen. Nick, you're amazing. This is a wonderful conversation. I'm so jazzed up because of you. And like I said in your podcast, like you took my energy levels and positive another level, you just did it again. So thank you so much. Y'all. How are you going to use these tips in your life? Please let Nick and I know. Tag us both. Share this with a friend who needs to hear it. Maybe you've got a friend who, like needs to remind themselves that they're unstoppable, or maybe they're trying to figure out their personal brand. You can just send this to them. You don't have to even remember the things. You can just go here listen to this, because that is how we change people's lives, and also, when you change people's lives around you, your life changes too. We'll all get to work together. So thank you all so much, and until next time, be it till you see it. Lesley Logan 39:49  That's all I got for this episode of the Be It Till You See It Podcast. One thing that would help both myself and future listeners is for you to rate the show and leave a review and follow or subscribe for free wherever you listen to your podcast. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over at the Be It Pod on Instagram. I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us and others Be It Till You See It. Have an awesome day. Be It Till You See It is a production of The Bloom Podcast Network. If you want to leave us a message or a question that we might read on another episode, you can text us at +1-310-905-5534 or send a DM on Instagram @BeItPod. Brad Crowell 40:32  It's written, filmed, and recorded by your host, Lesley Logan, and me, Brad Crowell. Lesley Logan 40:37  It is transcribed, produced and edited by the epic team at Disenyo.co. Brad Crowell 40:41  Our theme music is by Ali at Apex Production Music and our branding by designer and artist, Gianfranco Cioffi. Lesley Logan 40:48  Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals. Brad Crowell 40:52  Also to Angelina Herico for adding all of our content to our website. And finally to Meridith Root for keeping us all on point and on time.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/be-it-till-you-see-it/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

What are THOSE!? Oenone shares some troubling news about the return of heeled trainers... Once we spiritually recovered, we dived into Chappell Roan's frustration at "creepy" fans, to investigate what exactly do celebs owe us. Should we feel offended, or commend her for setting a boundary? We also speak about our favourite 30-something marketing hot-mess, Emily, who is still in Paris. Why do people hate her? And finally Beth wrote an opinion piece about moving out of London and in with her parents, and it pushed A LOT of people's buttons online. We debrief on why the conversation around living in London and renting is so charged.Head over to our Instagram and TikTok pages @everythingiscontentpod for memes, discussions and chats - we'd love to know what you think! Have you subscribed? We would love it if you did!—COLIN WALSH: KalaKASUO ISHIGURO: The Remains of the Day VOGUE: Spanx founder Sarah Blakely wants you to run in (sneaker) heelsINTERVIEW MAGAZINE: Charli XCX Tells Us What's Really Going On Down ThereCHAPPELL ROANTHE GUARDIAN: Emily in Paris: this whirlwind of nonsense is basically a story told with dolls by a childINEWS: At 31, I'm moving in with my parents – I feel a failure but it's the right choiceHOLLYWOOD REPORTER: Sydney Sweeney on Fame, Hollywood Fakery and the Pressure of Paying the Billshttps://www.arts-emergency.org/—Follow us on Instagram:@everythingiscontentpod @beth_mccoll @ruchira_sharma@oenone Photography: Rebecca Need-Meenar Artwork: Joe Gardner Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you listened to the FULL EPISODE yet?"I wrote my own patent. I went to Barnes and Noble and bought a book called Patents and Trademarks and I wrote the patent myself." -Sarah BlakelySarah Blakely's journey from door-to-door fax machine saleswoman to billionaire entrepreneur is nothing short of extraordinary. Feeling trapped in a soul-crushing job, she took a leap of faith that would change the shape of the undergarment industry forever. With just $5,000 and an idea born from cutting the feet out of her pantyhose, Blakely persevered through countless rejections, writing her own patent and driving across state lines to find a manufacturer willing to take a chance on her "crazy idea". Her relentless determination and outside-the-box thinking not only led to the creation of Spanx but revolutionized how women feel about their bodies.From choosing the perfect brand name to navigating the male-dominated business world, Blakely's story is filled with unexpected twists, hilarious mishaps, and powerful lessons on resilience. She shares intimate details of her struggle to be taken seriously, including how she convinced manufacturers to give her a chance and the strategic thinking behind the now-iconic Spanx name. This episode is a masterclass in entrepreneurship, showcasing how creativity, grit, and a willingness to take risks can turn a simple idea into a global phenomenon. Don't miss this opportunity to hear from one of the most inspiring self-made female billionaires of our time.Sign up for the Greatness newsletter!

For this episode, Yvonne focuses on mindset, demonstrating in real-time how to turn a potential letdown into something positive that takes you closer to manifesting your dreams. She explains how to overcome doubt, reframe negative thoughts, use gratitude, and keep your vibe up when things are not going as smoothly as you had hoped. Controversially, she also explains why manifestation is not for everyone. KEY TAKEAWAYS We are all human, so it is only natural for doubts to creep in. When that happens, the right mindset will keep you on track. Anyone can learn mindset skills. You need to work on it every day. Stop telling yourself everything is so hard; you are pulling yourself down. Instead, frame everything with gratefulness e.g. “parenting is so hard” becomes “I am so lucky to be a parent.” You have to flip the script. Things will not change overnight, big manifesters like Jim Carey and Sarah Blakely took years to achieve everything they were visualising and manifesting. Pay attention to the signs. Kick fear and doubt to the kerb. The moment they creep in use your mindset skills to show them the door. BEST MOMENTS ‘A positive mindset is a skill. ´ ‘You have to be a little bit ballsy if you're trying to manifest your dream life.' ‘You need to shut down the voice.' ‘You will never manifest your dream life if you keep talking yourself out of it.' VALUABLE RESOURCES Website: pausepenny.com Instagram: @yvonnetchrakian_manifest @pause.penny LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonne-tchrakian-64257619/ HOST BIO Yvonne started her career as a corporate lawyer for one of Ireland's top law firms. After the loss of a baby during pregnancy, Yvonne founded Pause. Penny - which was created to inspire people to manifest their dream lives. She is also a mom of four. Yvonne is a serial manifester, manifesting everything from her dream jobs (yes, multiple), her soulmate, dream house and even her twins! Podcast Description This podcast is all about manifesting your dream life. Interviews with incredible entrepreneurs who are using manifestation to create successful businesses and solo episodes on how to start manifesting everything you desire. Yvonne teaches you 7 simple steps to manifesting your dream life, shares her own personal manifestation stories and gives practical advice on how to make manifestation a lifestyle. Tune in and I guarantee you will be manifesting your dreams!

In this episode of the Purpose, Profits, and Pixie Dust podcast, host Lindsay Dollinger discusses how to turn setbacks into opportunities for growth and success. Inspired by a fellow podcast, Lindsay delves into how life's setbacks are intertwined with business challenges. She emphasizes the importance of mindset, resilience, and proactive strategies. Along with sharing her personal experiences of overcoming setbacks like a severe ankle injury and a failed business launch, Lindsay highlights the stories of well-known entrepreneurs including Sarah Blakely, JK Rowling, and Walt Disney to inspire listeners. The episode also includes practical steps for reframing mindset and important reminders to never let negative situations define you. Listeners are encouraged to apply to the freshly revamped Confident and Ambitious Mastermind (CAM 2.0) for further guidance and support in taking their business to new heights. 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview 01:24 Mastermind Program Announcement 03:19 Turning Setbacks into Successes 05:07 Personal Setbacks and Mindset 07:20 Reframing Your Mindset 17:28 Business Setbacks and Lessons Learned 28:13 Famous Setbacks to Success Stories 34:19 Final Thoughts and Actionable Steps Join the Confident and Ambitious Mastermind: https://www.lindsaydollinger.com/mastermind Sign up for the Magical Business and Empowerment Retreat here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/magical-business-empowerment-retreat-for-women-registration-862079070707?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm_campaign=postpublish&utm_medium=sparkpost&utm_source=email Connect with Lindsay: https://www.lindsaydollinger.com Join the Purpose, Profits, and Pixie Dust CEO Society for just $22 a month: https://www.lindsaydollinger.com/offers/vepQmVhq Get 10% off your order at https://www.bellablingshop.com with code PODCAST Tag @purposeandpixiedust on IG when you listen and share the show! Please subscribe to the show and leave a quick review! Appreciate you!

In this captivating episode of the Moonshots Podcast, hosts Mike and Mark dive deep into the inspiring journey of Sarah Blakely, the visionary founder of Spanx. Blakely's story is a testament to the power of perseverance, innovation, and self-belief. Join us as we explore how her drive and determination transformed a simple idea into a multi-million dollar brand that revolutionized the shapewear industry.LinksHow Sara Blakely Became Successful With 5 Surprising LessonsBecome a Moonshot MemberWatch this episode on YouTubeIntroduction: The episode kicks off with an engaging introduction to Sarah Blakely's remarkable journey. From her humble beginnings to becoming a trailblazing entrepreneur, Blakely's story is both motivational and insightful. The clip "Authentic Success" (2m55) sets the stage by highlighting Blakely's authentic approach to success and her unwavering drive to create the Spanx brand.Frustration as a Catalyst In the clip "Setting Intentions" (2m04), we delve into the pivotal moment of frustration that sparked Blakely's entrepreneurial journey. As a dissatisfied customer, she identified a gap in the market and set out to create a solution. This segment emphasizes the importance of turning personal challenges into opportunities and setting clear intentions to achieve your goals.Redefining Failure One of the most profound lessons from Blakely's journey is her unique perspective on failure. In "Redefine Failure" (1m35), she shares invaluable advice instilled by her father about taking risks and embracing failure. This mindset has been a cornerstone of her success, allowing her to navigate setbacks with resilience and determination.Embracing the Unknown, The episode concludes with the clip "Embrace Not Knowing" (1m35), where Blakely leaves us with a thought-provoking message on tackling problems from new angles. Her willingness to embrace uncertainty and think outside the box has been instrumental in her success, inspiring listeners to adopt a similar approach in their own lives.About Sarah Blakely Sarah Blakely is an American businesswoman who founded Spanx, a multi-million dollar undergarment company that revolutionized the shapewear industry. Born in Clearwater, Florida, Blakely's journey from selling fax machines to becoming a self-made billionaire is a testament to her perseverance and innovative spirit. Despite initial setbacks, including failing the LSAT twice, Blakely's determination led her to develop a prototype for footless pantyhose, securing deals with major retailers like Neiman Marcus. Her story exemplifies the power of self-belief and the impact of turning obstacles into opportunities. In addition to her business success, Blakely is known for her philanthropic efforts through the Sara Blakely Foundation, which empowers women through education and entrepreneurship.LinksHow Sara Blakely Became Successful With 5 Surprising LessonsBecome a Moonshot MemberWatch this episode on YouTubeAbout Moonshots Podcast: The Moonshots Podcast is your go-to source for unleashing the best possible version of yourself. Hosts Mike and Mark delve into the secrets of success by dissecting the mindset and daily habits of the world's greatest superstars, thinkers, and entrepreneurs. Join them as they learn out loud, exploring behind the scenes to discover actionable insights that can be applied to your life. Thanks to our monthly supporters 孤鸿 月影 Fabian Jasper Verkaart Ron Margy Diana Bastianelli Andy Pilara ola Fred Fox Austin Hammatt Zachary Phillips Antonio Candia Mike Leigh Cooper Daniela Wedemeier Corey LaMonica Smitty Laura KE Denise findlay Krzysztof Diana Bastianelli James Springle Nimalen Sivapalan Roar Nikolay Ytre-Eide Stef Roger von Holdt Jette Haswell Marco Silva venkata reddy Dirk Breitsameter Ingram Casey Nicoara Talpes rahul grover Evert van de Plassche Ravi Govender Craig Lindsay Steve Woollard Lasse Brurok Deborah Spahr Barbara Samoela Christian Jo Hatchard Kalman Cseh Berg De Bleecker Paul Acquaah MrBonjour Sid Liza Goetz Konnor Ah kuoi Marjan Modara Dietmar Baur I Tripped Nils Weigelt Bob Nolley ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

The World Values Problem Solvers Hi everyone, Carl Gould here with your #70secondCEO. Just a little over a one minute investment every day for a lifetime of results.  The world values problem solvers, right? And you can agree with his style or his politics or whatever. But if you think about it, what has this guy done, right? When he started PayPal, he figured out a way to have a non-bank take credit cards. We all complained about banks are hard to work with. He created a non-bank to take payments and set up that system, right?  He wants to go to Mars, right? So one of the things that he had to figure out is we need to be able to send a rocket out there and have it come back here and be able to reuse it. He figured it out. You know, wants to solve part of our climate worries, all right? So we have to figure out how to have an electric car go down the road reliably and all that.  And he's done it, right? If you look at the Tesla car, minus the truck, because the truck is pretty out there. It's pretty cool. His cars don't, if you were to say, if you were to put another label on them and say that's a Honda or whatever, they're not the flashiest cars in the world.  They're not the prettiest cars in the world. But why do we value him so much? Because he solved the problems, right? Jeff Bezos solves problems.  Bill Gates solves problems.  Sarah Blakely solves problems, you know? And that's what we want. And now what we need, not just want, but what we need from the younger generation is we need their experience. Like and follow this podcast so you can learn more. My name is Carl Gould and this has been your #70secondCEO.

Shawn D. Nelson is the founder and CEO of Lovesac, repeatedly recognized as the fastest growing furniture brand in the US for over a decade. Lovesac is publicly traded on Nasdaq, ticker “LOVE,” and is projected to exceed $1 Billion in annual sales over the next few years leveraging its rapidly growing fleet of more than 270 Lovesac branded retail locations. From humble beginnings, Shawn founded Lovesac in 1998, making Sacs by hand for neighbors and friends while in college. He graduated from the University of Utah in 2001 with a BA in Mandarin Chinese before opening Lovesac's first retail location in his hometown of Salt Lake City shortly after graduation. In 2005 Shawn won a million-dollar investment from Richard Branson on his prime time hit reality TV show, The Rebel Billionaire, and was named acting President of Virgin Worldwide for a time. Shawn later achieved his Master's degree in Strategic Design and Management at the world famous Parsons, The New School for Design in New York City and continued on as an instructor there for a few years teaching courses on Sustainable Business Models, Leadership, and Innovation. Shawn now holds over 50 issued patents across multiple product categories with dozens more pending. The majority of Lovesac's sales today are driven by the ever-expanding product platform called “Sactionals,” the world's most versatile couch and myriad Sactionals product extensions including embedded technology. Shawn's recent book, “Let Me Save You 25 Years,” celebrates Lovesac's colorful history, and the many “mistakes, miracles, and lessons” learned along the way. Shawn lives in St. George, Utah with his wife, Tiffany, and their 4 kids, 2 cats, and 1 crazy dog. In This Conversation We Discuss:[00:42] Intro[01:35] A business idea right at home[03:05] Learning from direct customer feedback[04:13] Taking the last gamble and it worked[06:21] From side hustle to full-time business[07:22] Managing first store and franchising[08:16] Leveraging TV fame for VC investment[09:04] Competing in Branson's reality show[10:12] Staying grounded amidst financial highs and lows[11:00] Electric Eye: your true Shopify expert [11:56] Plan and DO something[13:31] Playing along the journey[15:09] Resilience through COVID and other setbacks[16:47] Patience is key to long-term growth[17:42] Defining your own success and timeline[19:27] Sharing 25 years of mistakes and miracles[21:01] Knowing when to pivot and when to persist[22:53] Thriving in uncertainty as an entrepreneur[24:13] Big outcomes require hard decisions[25:21] Get inspired with Shawn and Lovesac's journeyResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeModern couches, sactionals and bean bags lovesac.com/Follow Shawn D. Nelson linkedin.com/in/shawndnelson/Schedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectIf you're enjoying the show, we'd love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

Ever wonder what it takes to build and sell a tech company for millions without venture capital? Well, we've got the inside story straight from the source!Today I'm chatting with Sharon Gillenwater, a trailblazing entrepreneur who did just that - she built and sold her tech company (Boardroom Insiders) for a cool $25 million, all without relying on VC funding! She is the author of Scaling with Soul, which chronicles how she built, scaled, and sold her company.Sharon's not your typical tech founder - in fact, she didn't even have a technical background when she started her company. But she proved that you don't need to be a coder to succeed in the startup world. Sharon shares her unconventional entrepreneurial journey, the challenges she faced as a woman in tech, and the surprising advantage of being an "older" entrepreneur.We'll also get the scoop on Sharon's viral TikTok fame, the truth about VC funding (hint: you don't always need it!), and her mission to democratize entrepreneurship and create more respectful workplaces.Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or just curious about the wild world of tech startups, you don't want to miss this episode. Sharon's story is proof that you can absolutely make it big in this industry, even if you don't fit the mold, so tune in!. "You don't have to be a Mark Zuckerberg to be an entrepreneur. Or a Sarah Blakely. You can be a Sharon Gillenwater and make all your retirement money and have a great retirement. And you don't have to take venture capital." - Sharon GillenwaterIn This Episode:-How Sharon built and sold a $25m tech company without venture capital-How to overcome self-doubt and insecurity as an entrepreneur-Women's experience in entrepreneurship in the 80s-The downside of venture capital funding for founders-How to identify business opportunities-Employee care strategies and the importance of a positive work culture-Employment challenges in the tech industry-Sharon's TikTok fame and content creation journey-Navigating business exits after venture capital fundingAnd much more!Resources:-Scaling With Soul: How I Built & Sold a $25 Million Tech Company Without Being an A**hole - https://www.amazon.com/Scaling-Soul-Million-Company-Without/dp/1964377013 Connect with Sharon Gillenwater:-Website: https://www.sharonkgillenwater.com/ -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharonkgillenwater/-TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sharonkgillenwater -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonkgillenwater/Connect with Maureen Clough:-Instagram: @itgetslateearly - https://www.instagram.com/itgetslateearly/-YouTube: @itgetslateearly -

In this enlightening episode, we delve into the unique perspectives of stay-at-home moms (SAHMs) and working moms. Our special guest, Sharon Macey, host of the Mom to More™ podcast, shares her journey from being a SAHM for 20 years to reinventing herself professionally. This conversation offers working moms a chance to understand the other side of the coin and see that no matter the path chosen, there's no missing out or falling behind. This episode is perfect for you if you wish to uncover the profound wisdom that moms—both working and stay-at-home—can impart to each other to enrich their motherhood experiences. Do you want to ask me or this week's guest a question? Send in your question today: https://www.instagram.com/melissallarena/ Key Points: Understanding Different Mom Experiences: Gain insights into the stay-at-home mom experience from Sharon Macey. Learn how SAHMs navigate daily challenges and find fulfillment, providing a broader perspective that can enhance your own parenting journey. No Right or Wrong Path: Discover how both SAHMs and working moms face unique but equally valid challenges and rewards. Sharon's story highlights that choosing either path is about finding what works best for you and your family, without fear of missing out or being left behind. Shared Wisdom for a Balanced Summer: Learn practical tips from Sharon on how to make the most of your summer with your kids. Whether you're a working mom or considering a shift, this conversation provides strategies for balancing enriching activities for your children with personal growth and career aspirations. Actionable Takeaways: Embrace a new perspective by understanding the experiences of stay-at-home moms. Find reassurance in knowing that whether you work or stay home, you're making the right choice for your family. Implement shared tips to create a summer that is fulfilling and productive for both you and your kids. Join us for this insightful conversation with Sharon Macey, and discover how understanding different mom experiences can enrich your own parenting journey and help you make the most of your mom summer. Listen now and gain a fresh perspective on motherhood! Official bio: Sharon Macey is a content creator, blogger, speaker and host of the Mom to MORE podcast. A real "mother of reinvention", Sharon created Mom To MORE™, a podcast and community for women rediscovering themselves beyond motherhood. Sharon enjoyed a successful career as an award-winning copywriter and marketer before proudly embracing the role of stay-at-home-mom. During the years of raising her 3 kids, she realized while doing all of the expected mom things, she had developed a wealth of skills that served as the foundation for her own personal reinvention.  Sharon knows that moms of any age can use their talents, wisdom and unique gifts to create their empowering and fulfilling next chapters in life. Sharon holds a BA in advertising from the University of Texas at Austin and a Digital Marketing Strategies certification from the Kellogg School of Management. She competes in Latin ballroom dance and lives the empty-nest life in Connecticut with her husband and comedic dog, Comet. In this episode, I shared a resource you can use today to initiate conversations with anyone! Grab it this week and let me help you take the first step to building a powerful network that can help you grow your business (and even connect with other moms too). Links: Podcast: https://apple.co/46XAhPB Website: https://www.momtomore.com/ From Contact to Connection: The Mompreneur's Go-First Networking & Follow Up Playbook Download my step by step networking and follow-up process, as well as out-of-the-box proven ways to build relationships with the busiest of influencers, prospective podcast guests, and mentors! WARNING: this is for ambitious AF moms with growing businesses. AND BONUS: 30-second elevator pitch template included! The free playbook helps you: -Write an elevator pitch that will be memorable and distinguish you from everyone else. -Improve your networking skills, especially if you're a mom founder who can't go out and leave it to chance that she'll meet the business investor, mentor, or partner of her dreams. -Learn how to become a better networker without feeling like a fish out of water. -Write your emails to introduce yourself to strangers without overthinking how to begin an email or how to prove in the email that speaking with you will be worth their time. -Push beyond the fear that often holds you back, thinking "Oh, I can't do that" or "Who am I to approach that person?" -Think strategically about your outreach goals by considering why you want to talk to specific people, along with what you need to know so you don't get caught out there feeling like a deer in headlights without the right words to say. -Think ahead about how you intend to make it worth their time and how you can use your platform to feature them as an expert, among other things. -Calm your networking jitters beforehand by guiding you on how to research the event and its attendees before heading out. -Gain fresh ideas for follow-ups that will feel good to you and the recipient, instead of just emailing the person over and over again. -Use a timeframe to conduct your networking or outreach efforts so they become a habit. -And includes email templates galore! Meanwhile, this episode is brought to you by the Fertile Imagination to Networking Success for Mom Founders Program: A LIVE 9-week group coaching masterclass to fast-track making connections with the right people to take your business to the next level. What's included in this program: 9 weeks of live networking coaching and community Value-packed on demand curriculum on everything from navigating impostor syndrome to who to network with, how to find them, what to say, and on planning your fall and winter 2024 networking calendar focused on your business growth goal. 3 hours/ weekly investment this summer (2 whenever or wherever you wish) to hit the ground running in the fall and feel ahead for a change Lifetime access to tools and resources built for mom founders including meditations and unexpected ways to let go of mom guilt and overwhelm Exclusive opportunity for the first five mom founder participants including a multimedia podcast guest feature, two private bonus sessions, and a 30% discounted investment Special extras: Daily Wins Workbook, Impostor Syndrome Journaling, and Networking Email Templates and More I'm also offering exclusive bonuses for the first five mom founders only which is a guide on how to boost your productivity as a solopreneur so you can easily fit this into your summer calendar, two private one-on-one (to implement networking outreach, to role-play your elevator pitch), and a 30% discount. Where do you want to be 9-weeks from now? There are two options you can feel excited, intentional, and prepared to hit the ground running in the fall ready to pitch, connect, or partner with absolutely anyone who can help your business skyrocket into next year or you can play smaller, stay stuck in the same day-to-day monotony of business hiding from the people and places where the better opportunities can be created? You are bold. You are the type of founder who will do anything for your clients! It's time to do this for yourself! Treat yourself the same you have committed to treat others. Go for option 1. Bold you! Believe in yourself as much as you believe in others! Imagine if you believed in yourself as much as you believed in your kids! You'd knock yourself out of every and any park! The fastest way to get to option 1 is by investing in Fertile Imagination to Networking Success today. Sign-up now for the 15-minute call for the details and summer start date--> https://www.melissallarena.com/sessions/ Let's talk here so that you won't miss out on all of the bonus exclusive to this round of five mom founders. If you have questions email me melissa [at] melissallarena.com TRANSCRIPT: What if stay at home moms and working moms got together and helped one another and imparted some really useful wisdom that could help us each be better moms? That is what this conversation is about. I have here quite the special guest, Sharon Macey. She's the host of the Mom to More™ podcast. She's the mother of reinvention.   Former stay at home mom for almost 20 years, Sharon intimately understands the journey of motherhood, its joys, challenges, and the inevitable question moms all ask themselves. Is this all there is? And what's next for me? These moments of introspection led Sharon to her own aha moment and inspired the creation of her podcast, a podcast and community dedicated to supporting women rediscovering themselves after motherhood.   In this episode, we'll Sharon and I talk about what is it that we should be doing and can be doing with our kids during these summer breaks. And so I thought that Sharon would have a wonderful perspective seeing that she had about 20 summers with her children as a stay at home mom. And I think asking a friend with that experience is absolutely invaluable.   Also discussed in this conversation was a chapter of my book, fertile imagination. So in my book, I share how as working moms, we might want to phase out our approach to business building. Or just the way that we tackle our goals. And so I wanted to get Sharon's perspective pertaining to her life as a stay at home mom for the last 20 years.   And I wanted to see kind of like the other side of things. I wanted to know if she had been building out her interests in phases as a stay at home mom. And so that was something that we talked about as well as this very unique and very cool concept, which is that She was plugged into the community of advertising as a stay at home mom, so although she may have not been, you know, working for an agency at the time, her mom friends in agencies and friends in general would still reach out to Sharon.   As she may have been, you know, driving a child from hockey practice to back home. And that continuation of building those relationships, even when you are not working, per se, or looking for a job, I thought is such a wonderful example to share on this episode. So truly enjoy the conversation. If this really adds value and helps you reimagine what this summer could look like, having spent some valuable time with your kids, but also still plugged into your interests, then share this conversation with your mom bestie in particular.   And I want to challenge you. If you're a working mom, share this with a stay at home mom. And if you're a stay at home mom, share it with a working mom. I promise that we have more in common than we could possibly imagine. So please share this episode. And now for the wonderful conversation with Sharon Macey.   Amazing. Sharon Macey, thank you so much for being on Unimaginable Wellness. How are you? I am great. My friend. How are you? I'm really excited about this. I'm really excited about you. I'm excited that you're in a library. Oh my gosh. Do you know internet problems today? So we're in a library with this heinous yellow background behind me.   So But you know what, Sharon, this is emblematic of making it all work, making what lemon sorbet out of lemons. Here's the best part. I love libraries. So you're actually in like my Haven, right? So your library, fun fact, when I was living in new Canaan, we were very library envious. of people in Westport, right?   And so you are in a really great library looking at what a river or something. So yes, yeah. Overlooking I'm not overlooking a river, but yes, this library is overlooking a river. Yeah. So shout out to libraries. You guys are saving graces, especially if the internet ever conks out. And, and also for those mom friendly rooms, right?   With all those beautiful children books and such. So Sharon, I am so excited to have you here and we can absolutely launch into the regularly scheduled conversation. So Sharon, let me just paint the picture here, right? So. A lot of us want to spend more time with our kids, especially when we're in school break during the summer.   But the, the challenge is if we have our own businesses, if we're working moms, is that at this point we already feel behind, like behind on life, behind on our to dos, on our dreams. And so this idea that, okay, kids are out and we want to spend time with them. It just feels Card, and it feels like something that  might take us away from building the skills necessary to like make progress on our business.   So I would love you to help us all better understand how time spent with kids. For example, maybe thinking about your years as a stay at home mom, 20 years or so, how did that better prepare you? For when it was your turn or time to launch your own platform or business, like help us rationalize, like, okay.   Time spent with my kid is going to help me for when I'm back at it in the fall.  100%. I love that question, Melissa. Thank you.  The beauty of having been a stay at home mom, at least for me, and I realize that is a privilege to be able to spend that time, is that I realized later that everything you do as a stay at home mom builds a skill set and Or superpowers, whatever you want to call it, that will help you manifest, create, be whatever it is you want to be in your future.   Or if you are trying to get this done while your kids are, maybe your kids have finally entered kindergarten or elementary school and you do have a little more time. In your day, you've got more daylight,  it will help you build those skills. And so every moment that you're with your kids, you're learning so many things and we blow these off, right?   You think about how you act in an emergency, the leadership roles, the, the infinite questions in your ability to multitask and be a communicator and a negotiator and we'll throw in Dr. Mom, cause we've all been there. You have these innate abilities to do so many things and all of those skills are going to inform you.   They will help you get to whatever your next chapter or what I like to call my podcast, your more is going to be. And so I, I, I sort of challenged moms to say, think about all the things that you do, write them down. I mean, think about all the parties you've done. You're an event planner. Think about nonprofits that you've raised money for.   You are developing a skill set that is rich and varied and marketable, and those will take you far. I have to share something with you. A lot of moms that I've partnered with, mom founders, have told me that following up after going to networking events tends to be hard,  awkward, and a lot of them really don't know how to do it. I completely agree, and I think, as I think about time with my child or my children, I also think about the fact, and what I'm hearing you say, Sharon, is that I could almost, like, reframe it, right? If, if I'm feeling that, That complexity of the decision, the fact that it is time that I'm not going to be working on my business, quote unquote.   So one reframe that I'm hearing is that maybe the summer season, maybe these breaks, quote unquote, are like opportunities for me to work on like my soft Skills, right? So soft skills as a leader is certainly something that if you're a business owner, like a solopreneur, like myself, like you tend to forget the fact that you too need like a development plan as well in terms of your leadership skills.   So maybe time with your child can be time spent focusing on some key soft skills, and maybe it's something you do together. A hundred percent. And this, I think this time with the kids, summer is fun. It's creative. It's imaginative. It is, it's sort of where you can try to give your brain a bit of a mental break because the kids are on break and listen, your kid may go to camp.   So you'll have a little more time there.  Just, I'd say really enjoy that time. And, and drill down on all of these life experiences and see what comes up from there because it's not wasted time at all. It's incredibly valuable time. Absolutely. And, and I mentioned that because I remember when I was coaching a client, she had spent one morning going to some sort of science museum with her son and her husband, and in the back of her mind, she was like, But I should be really working on building my business.   But then she got back to the whole point of like, but wait, like, why did I actually build my business? It was to have the flexibility to be with my child. And so I think all of it can be rationalized. If you need that rationalization, just so that this way you feel great and actually present when you are with your child.   So I love what you said there, Sharon. So let me, let me ask you something because here's the thing that's super cool. So when I've interviewed people, not everyone has like checked out my book, fertile imagination, but you have it in your hand. And so I think it's, it's amazing. So I want to just reference it and get your thoughts on this idea.   Yeah in the book In the book Thank you so much In the book sharon. I reference a working mom who I admire so so so much martha hennessey who's Like a rock star and she's like a grandmother at this stage, too And she told me before I became a mom that I would never regret the time I spent with my kids It was really hard to think about Think that through because I was not yet a mom, but now I like I get it, right?   Cause a lot of us, for example, especially if you're a working mom, you only have these like windows of time, right? Of mom exclusive time. So here's my question, Martha, I mentioned in my book, she worked on her professional dreams. In phases while being a mom, right? And so my question to you, because you were a stay at home mom for 20 years, like, did you, on the other side of this coin, explore your interests in phases during your stay at home mom time?   Ooh, interesting question, my friend. So  I didn't think that I did at the time, but in retrospect, I I absolutely did, because I realized everything I was doing with my kids, all of the information I was absorbing and the knowledge that I was learning and the skills that I was honing, all of those things helped me eventually get to where I am right now with mom to more with the podcast and the community for women rediscovering themselves beyond motherhood.   And what was interesting, Melissa was when I was a stay at home mom, it was a little more black and white then. Right. I've got a, got a couple of years on you. It was a little more black and white, and it was either you were working or you are not. And  I had some freelance clients. My background is advertising and marketing.   I'm a writer. So I did have some freelance clients for a while until I had too many kids and then they outnumbered me and I was overwhelmed,  but. What I, what I tried to do is keep my fingers in the things that I like to do. I, my friends know that I'm creative. I would have friends who were working, who would call me up and say, need a headline.   I need an idea. Talk to me about whatever. And so  during those years, as  I had in the back of my head, I knew that There was a lot of questioning inside of me going, well, is this all there is? And what do I want to do when my kids grow up, which definitely led me into my mom to more chapter. And then during the pandemic, I was able to go back to school, which really helped to launch a couple of things, which then ultimately led in into what I was doing.   So I. Definitely different phases, although I might not have been as aware of it at the moment when things were happening, but in retrospect, when you really look at that pool of experiences and knowledge and highs and lows and disasters and successes, everything sort of helped me to get to where I am right now.   It's so interesting how originally I'm gonna this is actually something I've never told anyone. So like, I remember when I was first pregnant, me and my husband, okay, this was before becoming parents. Well, I guess I was with my first born in me, but I remember. We got all analytical about what we wanted our firstborn to be.   We literally started writing down, like, we want them to know all these languages. We want them to be, pick a word, kind, ambitious, whatever. Like we were almost like scientifically writing out like the recipe that we wanted to then bake. And, and so it's interesting because obviously that was like, To shreds because reality, you become a mom, but what I'm hearing from you is that maybe we don't need to be so like, I don't know, methodological about how we want to approach our lives.   Maybe things will happen. Events will happen. Situations will present themselves that in hindsight, we can then connect the dots and make something out of them that. Helps us feel fulfilled, you know, and so again, we were not creating our child, but we're manifesting his personality. So this was, this was beyond manifesting.   We're like two MBAs. We got Excel on this whole thing. And, and honestly, I had no time for Excel that first year. But the whole idea is that there's, there might be something else at play that really just helps guide us in, in a logical way that we will only know after the fact, right? So 20 years later, it makes sense that your friends in the creative feels, we're still asking you for your insights and wisdom.   It makes sense that maybe now at this stage, Sharon, and I don't know if this is true. Maybe you also like reached out to them and ask them about your mom to more stage. Maybe there's, there's some sort of, right.  Exchange there. So how did that work? Like at this point, at this stage, I'm just curious, like, did you plug back into those former friends, former colleagues, people who knew you when?   Absolutely. And, and a lot of that, they've just been in my life. Throughout the continuum, right? They never left. And I feel blessed to know as many people as I do in as many different stages of life that they're in. And so knowing that I have people that I can connect Reach out to and connect with, or sometimes reconnect with, has been incredibly powerful.   And I've found moms from my podcast, from,  from knowing, from people that I've known for a long time and realizing things that they have done in their life. And I think also  you have to, like in your book, Melissa, you have to allow for those moments of creativity and those moments of imagination and those moments of, I'm just going to go with the flow and see where it takes me.   And. Oftentimes, when you have these unexpected moments that were unex, these unexpected moments, you learn so much about you, about  something that you love to do, about something that you think you might want to look into in the future. So I just say, Like what you said in the book, allow your imagination to be and be able to take chances.   And I, and I think that's also something that I'm, I'm actually really comfortable doing. I don't know why, but I'm cool with taking chances. I feel like I started the podcast before I was really ready, although I had done a lot of research and I was as ready as I was going to be at that moment. But was it perfect?   God, no, you just, sometimes you just jump in and you do something because you know that you have something that needs to get out and it's going to resonate and you just need to do it. So that's kind of sort of where I'm, I'm coming from about that. Yeah. And I love that. I love that. I love how there was this continuing this continuity, I guess you could say of relationships.   It's like, I noticed that in terms of circles. So like, you know, where I have lived and where I live now, like there's a lot of moms who might not be a purist. Stay at home mom because right now I would say the lines are blurry to your point Especially with the advent of hybrid work and just working from home It's like like I do everything at home But so does my husband which is really interesting and he's not a stay at home dad, right?   So I I love how you  Stayed connected to people that were still in the work of of commerce right at the time and how and I also love how they respect you so much for your talent and skills, even though maybe at that moment, you may have been literally like driving someone to hockey practice or something.   Right? Like, And yes, yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. Right. You know, for mom, some, sometimes some of your most creative ideas happen behind the wheel of your car. Yeah, that's, that's very true. Actually, Sarah Blakely, by the way, just today on Instagram did a reel on how she used to feel. Fake a commute so that she could come up with her best ideas while driving nowhere, like around the same sort of set of blocks in Georgia.   But that being said, it just supports what you just said, Sharon. Yeah. Driving, showering, all of these moments where you're not thinking about a campaign or whatever, where that is when you get the tagline, right? That's when you get that soundbite. So I love that. I'm super creative. It just  moments of when you're sort of like falling asleep or maybe you wake up in the middle of the night because at a certain age, yes, everybody's waking up in the middle of the night  and oftentimes I find my brain just starts going and ideas just start popping and I have to open up my phone so I could just jot myself a note so I don't forget it.   Absolutely. Yeah. I mean, that's actually when my imagination was in full gear, like when I would put my head to the pillow and when I became a mom, because I was not putting my head to the pillow very often, that's why I felt like there was this pause on my imagination. And that's why I wrote the book so that I could rediscover my imagination and, and help moms and readers do the same for them.   And, and so let me ask you this question, cause I think I think this is really going to be common in terms of a lot of the listeners here. And I think your perspective, Sharon, would be amazing. So, okay, we have this idea that we are missing out on the lives of our kids. And And I, I am, I wonder from your perspective, when you were a stay at home, mom, did you feel like you were missing out in the world of commerce?   Like, was that ever like an inner conflict for you? Like, Oh, I'm not in the glitz and glamour of that. Things I heard this from a mom. That's a stay at home mom who was in, in communications before. That's why I'm curious about your thoughts and how you either untangled that conflict or worked through that conflict.   Cause we have it on the other side. We feel like we're missing out on the lives of our kids working mom. So I'm just curious your thoughts. Yeah, it's really interesting. You mentioned that because I absolutely felt that I was missing out, but. At that moment in my life, I had my it was a joint decision with my husband and myself that I had decided to step back and focus on the kids because they were only young ones and also recognizing that I had the privilege of being a stay at home mom.   But I would advise. Moms who are home to stay connected. And it's so much easier now than when my kids were younger, right? Having come back from, you know, the mom 2. 0 summit, so many women are really engaged in a, in a part time way. They've got younger kids, they're content creators that didn't exist when, when my kids were younger.   And so I'd say. My advice would be stay connected to the things that you love, the things that resonate with you, anything in your form or career, stay in touch with the people that you worked with.  You can take an online class, you can meet up with other like minded moms, and I know that there are, are groups all over the country of women who, Our home who are gathering together and they're talking about how do they stay relevant?   How do they stay informed? How do they stay with their fingers sort of still in the pie of their former careers? So then when they have the opportunity to be able to go back to what they did or interestingly, maybe start something totally new that they had no idea that they were going to do, that they feel that there was still that connection.   I'd say for the moms who are working and they're feeling like they're missing out with their kids, that, that is, is maybe not PC. That's, that's obviously a choice that you have. Now, I will also say, That there are women who have to work and I respect the hell out of them for doing two really incredibly hard jobs at the same time, raising kids, having to make that decision to put them in daycare or have someone in the family look at them so you can go make a living.   And that is, that is an incredibly hard journey. And I applaud all those moms who do that. And. And so they're not missing out because it's really interesting. Melissa, from the kids perspective,  my kids would say to me, we can't imagine having a mom who wasn't at home. But I know other women who were working and their kids have said to them, we can't imagine having a mom who wasn't working.   And so kids will glean.  Information and and experiences from how they lived and that will inform I think who they're going to become. So I think both sides of the coin are valid and true and real and they happen every day. And I think we just really have to embrace where we are able to be at this moment in time  while we are embracing our kids and just trying to take every moment that we gain from them and grow from it and love it.   I would agree. And I think, as I think about some of the clients that I've had who, who technically have a choice, that's, that's the part that's kind of interesting. And everybody has to decide for themselves, like what it is that they want out of their one precious life. Right. But, but some of the, uh, Some of the individuals who do have a lot of choice and, and opt to be very ambitious in terms of their careers, even when their kids are only going to be five, one time or 10, one time there's the other side of it is that you poured in so many years, a lot of times before becoming a mom, right?   So there's so many people that I've gone to school. School with, for example, that before they became a mom, which a lot of people now become moms later in life, they poured in decades to go up the ladder and to accomplish whatever dream was on their heart. And so it's very, very valid that that dream doesn't just go and it doesn't get thrown in the toilet with our placentas.   Again, I wonder where my placenta is. It's all. And it's really interesting, Melissa. I was just speaking with a cousin, a cousin of mine, and it's actually my cousin's daughter, and she just had a baby last fall. She's got a really big time job. And I think the pandemic really changed a lot of things. She is able to work from home  two days a week.   And so she can be with her daughter. She can work, she can take time out and, and. And have that mommy time, which is so important, but she also has this like really big job at a really world renowned firm. And so I think moms today have so many more options, so many more options than what I had when my kids were younger.   And so I, I think that's really important. I think that's terrific. You can sort of do both, right? You can have the time with your kids. You can have time at work. Sometimes they're overlapping at home. And, and it's just a whole different world in that regard, whether who's going to be a home parent, working parent.   It's, it's, it's,  there's a lot of, you know, We may want to edit this out right here. Cause I just had a senior moment.  There are, there is much more optionality that exists today than exists before.  Absolutely. Sharon. I think that people definitely can  re imagine what. A day can look like where they are present with their child, and they're also super focused on their work during another slice of, of the day.   I, I do, I do know there's, it's such a complex thing. I think having been a coach, like I appreciate also a lot of the realities, which is just one thing. Like. I still do think even though we have the option to work from home, I still do think that people that are physically based in a headquarters area might get picked for a C suite job a little more readily and easily.   Or if you show up to the office, it might convey extra commitment. And I'm not saying that's right. I'm just saying that I understand. And I appreciate the reality you. But I also understand that anyone that's listening has the opportunity at this time to really  figure out for herself what she wants.   Like, what do you want out of this life experience? Some, some listeners may. May have always thought to themselves, like, I've always wanted to be a mom. Like, like this, this being the CEO of an organization, that's for the birds. I'm being so silly right now, but like not everyone wanted that. And so for some people, I think it's just a matter of seeing the fact that if your dream was.   To be a stay at home mom and you have the opportunity to do so that is as valid and worthy and honorable as being the CEO of a billion dollar organization or whatever. And  yeah, I mean, you're representing the next generation of humans and I think the world is definitely more amenable to the whole work from home concept and we'll, we can thank the pandemic for that really.   And. There are, I think you can have more of it both ways than we could in the past. And, and the other thing that's really interesting, Melissa is what I've learned from some of the women that I've had the privilege of interviewing for my podcast is that I find that women who have spent a period of time home with their kids, they, they have become.   Far more entrepreneurial than they would have ever imagined. And so if you had said to many of the moms that I've spoken with, if someone had told you five years ago that you're gonna be doing what you're doing at this moment, they would have said, no way,  would have said, that's not me. I'm never gonna be doing that.   And so I think that just, The experience that you gain as a mom, the experience that you gained from working first and then being a mom and taking all those things that you went sort of putting it in the washer and the dryer and saying, okay, how's it going to come out on the other end? There's women have really this extraordinary entrepreneurial spirit and creativity and imagination, which leads them places they never thought they'd go.   And, and that, I mean, that's what happened to me. And I think that is just beautiful because life. Is you never know what's going to happen in life. You never know what's going to happen tomorrow. So to be able to take that creativity and move it forward, I think is a real gift and a blessing to, to have that opportunity.   Absolutely. Sharon, thank you for this. I think anyone listening is going to want to keep up with you. Keep up with Sharon. So like, where can we, yeah. So where can people find you hear more for about being a mom and, and just. Living in that moreness, like, how can we be part of your world? I love that. Living in my moreness.   Thank you for that. You can find me, well, my website is MOM2MORE, so M O M T O M O R E dot com, and on there, You'll have links to the podcast. The podcast is mom to more. It is on Apple, Spotify, YouTube for the video cast, really, wherever you do your podcast, you can find me. And on Instagram, I am at mom to more also on Facebook, also on LinkedIn.   I'm at Sharon Macey and talking about all things just from a slightly different perspective on LinkedIn that are relevant to, to moms. So I think also what's interesting for moms is.  Using your creative flow and, and, and having that idea exchange continuing on in your life, whether it's with friends who are moms, friends who are working, but that that whole sort of your creative flow, your essence, exchanging of ideas, building bridges, and, and it's something that I think is, is  helpful in helping you just sort of try to figure out what your next chapter is going to be.   Absolutely. Thank you so much, Sharon. Have an awesome one. Thank you, Melissa. Thanks. This has been great fun. What a wonderful conversation with Sharon. Here are the three things that I am going to reflect on myself and you might want to consider as well. So that this way, this summer season is A present one, and it feels completely nourishing, whether you are a stay at home mom or you're a working mom.   Point number one, there is beauty in being a stay at home mom. There are skills that you will learn that you can absolutely use now and later. And so just appreciating the beauty that there is, is my personal to do. I mean, there are moments when I am definitely very focused on my three boys, especially the summer season.   When I might lose sight of the fact that, you know what, we're out here having frozen yogurt together. How often is this going to happen? I don't know the answer to that. And so appreciating the moment and being in the beauty is absolutely something that I will take to heart. The second point is phases.   So in my book, fertile imagination, Martha Hennessy is someone who I feature. She's outstanding, had various positions in the government, and she is actually someone that I admire in terms of phasing out her professional ambitions. Sharon mentioned how moms stay at home. Moms can do the same thing. You can do the same thing.   If you are on a career pause, you can absolutely Think about what is interesting to you and start exploring this in a very like phase by phase basis. So if your children are, you know, just starting school, you could absolutely approach your love of dance. If your children are now in middle school, you can absolutely approach your love of song, whatever it is that's on your heart.   You can absolutely Think about how to experience that interest and Definitely check out my book because there's some ideas there pertaining to how you might want to Reimagine how you actually explore an interest so check out fertile imagination Third point. So this relationship between stay at home moms and working moms, I want more stay at home mom friends.   I want more working mom friends. I want us to get together and talk about the reality of our life experiences. There's so much more that we can learn from each other. than there is in terms of judging each other or even like judging ourselves. You know, I know for me, there have been moments when I've been like, okay, wait, was I supposed to be a stay at home mom?   Or was I supposed to be a, you know, working girl out in corporate America? Like there's all these thoughts that we often share, but we do not  to one another about. So we share it in terms of we're thinking it. But we're not expressing it. So what if we actually got together over a cup of coffee and we actually had these conversations?   So definitely thank you so much for listening to the conversation and until n

This episode is sponsored by: In this episode of the Thinking Big Podcast, host Sean Osborn reveals the secret weapon that visionaries like Steve Jobs and Sarah Blakely have used to revolutionize industries and build billion-dollar brands: imagination. Discover how to harness the power of your creativity and use it to create the life you've always wanted. Big Ideas: Your imagination is a superpower - the birthplace of every brilliant idea, game-changing invention, and life-altering decision. Desire is the starting point for unleashing your creative potential. Get crystal clear on what you want and what it feels like to achieve it. Visualization techniques help you build a mental blueprint for success by training your brain to look for opportunities and resources. Persistence is key when pursuing big, audacious goals. Keep moving forward, even in the face of rejection and self-doubt. Surround yourself with the right people and influences who inspire you to think big and take bold actions. Make time for your imagination to run wild by carving out space in your schedule for daydreaming, brainstorming, and exploring new ideas. How to Apply These Ideas: Set aside time each day to flex your imagination muscle. Ask yourself big, juicy questions that get your mental gears turning. Write down your wildest ideas, no matter how crazy they seem, and then pick one and take a small step towards making it a reality. Surround yourself with people and experiences that inspire you and challenge you to use your imagination. Take bold, decisive actions on your ideas, even when faced with criticism or self-doubt. Believe in yourself and your abilities, even when no one else does. By embracing the power of imagination and applying these ideas to your life, you can unlock your true potential and create a future that lights you up from the inside out. Remember, the world needs dreamers, visionaries, and creative rebels like you. So start dreaming big and taking action today!

Let's explore Walmart PPC advertising and its potential with the guidance of the incredible Destaney Wishon! In this riveting session, Carrie and Destaney take us on a comprehensive journey through the landscape of Walmart's pay-per-click platform. She contrasts Walmart's strategies with industry giants like Amazon and Google while emphasizing the unique advantages that come with Walmart's strong retail foundation. For those of you looking to break into or expand your understanding of Walmart's burgeoning online marketplace, Destaney's wisdom is an indispensable asset. Throughout our discussion, we tackle the subtle art of crafting effective advertising strategies for Walmart. We begin by casting a wide net with auto campaigns, gathering the crucial data that sharpen our approach for more targeted ad groups later on. Destaney highlights the significance of fine-tuning product listings to meet Walmart's specific guidelines, and how this can dramatically improve your search algorithm outcomes. We also peek into the untapped potential of video and sponsored brand ads on Walmart, and share expert tips on leveraging tools like Helium 10 for keyword research. The knowledge shared here is a goldmine for sellers aiming to capitalize on the low advertising costs within certain categories on Walmart's platform. As we round off this episode, we discuss the nuances of optimizing product placement and advertising strategies, drawing insights from the evolution of Walmart's auction system. Destaney provides us with actionable strategies for bid management and placement optimization that hinge on a deep understanding of data and market trends. We unpack the anticipated developments in Walmart's PPC landscape, including the possibility of introducing negative keywords in auto campaigns, and how tools like Adtomic can revolutionize sellers' PPC management. Join us for an episode packed with strategic insights that promise to elevate your advertising game on one of today's fastest-growing online retail platforms. (Time Stamps) -  In episode 554 of the Serious Sellers Podcast, Carrie and Destaney discuss: 00:00 - Walmart PPC Campaign Setup and Management 04:39 - Comparing Amazon and Walmart Advertising 07:25 - Optimizing Walmart PPC Campaigns for Beginners  15:58 - Understanding Walmart Auction System for Advertising 19:56 - Digital Shelf Advantageous for Sales 24:27 - Common Mistakes in Advertising on Walmart 25:15 - Optimizing Keywords and Advertising on Walmart 29:41 - Importance of Conversion Rate Optimization 30:39 - Walmart Wednesday PPC Insights ► Instagram: instagram.com/serioussellerspodcast ► Free Amazon Seller Chrome Extension: https://h10.me/extension ► Sign Up For Helium 10: https://h10.me/signup  (Use SSP10 To Save 10% For Life) ► Learn How To Sell on Amazon: https://h10.me/ft ► Watch The Podcasts On YouTube: youtube.com/@Helium10/videos Transcript   Carrie Miller: How should you set up your Walmart PPC campaigns, should you run automatic campaigns on Walmart, and how Adtomic can help you to better manage your Walmart PPC. This and so much more on this week's episode of Walmart Wednesday.   Bradley Sutton: How cool is that? Pretty cool, I think. We know that getting to page one on keyword search results is one of the most important goals that an Amazon seller might have. So, track your progress on the way to page one and even get historical keyword ranking information and even see sponsored ad rank placement with Keyword Tracker by Helium 10. For more information, go to h10.me/keywordtracker.   Carrie Miller: Hello everyone and welcome to another episode of this Serious Sellers podcast hosted by Helium 10. My name is Carrie and this is our Walmart Wednesday, where we talk about everything Walmart, and I'm very, very excited today because we have an amazing guest. I've actually been wanting her to come on for quite some time because I've had a lot of PPC questions and so I am so excited to have a PPC expert in here. So, we have Destaney Wishon, and so I'm going to bring her on. Hey, Destaney, how's it going?   Destaney: Hello, hello, it's going well. How are you?   Carrie Miller: Good. Thank you, I'm very, very excited, as I told you before, to have you on here. I know there's going to be a lot of questions that people are going to have, so I have a list of questions actually already that I know people have asked before and I'm going to start asking you those as well. But before we get started, just for anyone who isn't familiar with who you are, can you give a little kind of like intro background and who you are?    Destaney: Yeah, of course. So, Destaney Wishon, CEO and founder of what was formerly Better AMS and is now Better Media. We really got started in this space managing Amazon advertising for the last seven years, I think back in the old days when it was Vendor Central, Seller Central and you had like AMS and different ad types and things are a lot more simple, which is going to be probably a really fun part of today's conversation. And now we've rebranded, we're Better Media and we manage kind of all the core large retailers in the space.   Carrie Miller: The first thing is could you give us a little overview of what Walmart PPC advertising is and just how it differs from Amazon and Google, Because I know you're basically on all the platforms, so you're the best to answer this one.   Destaney: I'd like to start honestly like a little bit more zoomed out and kind of philosophical on the platforms. I think a lot of us, and probably a lot of listeners, are accustomed to Amazon running the show. Right, when you think of e-commerce, when you think of selling and brand building, you do typically think of Amazon, but a lot of people forget, like Walmart wrote that playbook they were kind of the first ones to write that playbook their largest retailer. So, everything that you see Amazon being successful when it comes to e-commerce, Walmart's already done in stores and physical retail, and I think that's really important to note because one that means from a cashflow perspective, they're in a really great position. It's not a new company trying to compete directly with Amazon. Amazon does have AWS and everything externally driving a lot of revenue for them, but from an e-commerce platform perspective, Walmart has every brand connection when it comes to the largest brands in the world, right, Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble, Nestle have been selling into Walmart for 40 years. So, that's really important to consider because it's framing how they shaped their Walmart platform and it's framing how they're hiring as well. They're hiring a bunch of ex-Amazon talent. They're not having to completely reinvent the wheel. They're basically taking everything Amazon did that was really successful, and applying it to Walmart, but with that consideration that their audience is a little bit different. Right, the audience that's typically going into Walmart is very used to the products that have always been in a Walmart shelf. Everything that you've historically bought your deodorant, your toothpaste, everything that you've grown up with is in Walmart, and that's really how we're also seeing their e-commerce platform being positioned. It's giving favoritism to historical brands that are in stores. So that's something to call it, because it's kind of what we're up against. Right, in order for Amazon to become Amazon, they need to differentiate themselves from Walmart, and they did it by opening up an amazing third party platform and allowing anyone to sell anything, because they didn't need to sell the same products as Walmart. That wouldn't have been as competitive. They needed to sell unique and new products and really grow this third party seller platform. Walmart's taking a slightly different approach. Right, they're making sure that they're starting an e-commerce platform that still gives value to their products that are in stores. So, I want to start with that, because it's shaped kind of how they ran ads Across the board. Advertising is actually really similar I would say. Walmart's taking the exact same playbook. I mean there's small differences. Amazon allows for better negating and better control, especially on the bid management level. From like a targeting perspective. Amazon's doing a lot more moving into kind of DSP and better creatives and things like that. That being said, Walmart's really where we are at five years ago with Amazon, with slight complexities, and that we have more control over placements and device type, which I think is pretty complex, and I'll pause there and see if you have any thoughts on that.   Carrie Miller: No, yeah, I think it's. For me it's been easier to start advertising on Walmart because it is kind of it is like very basic, kind of from the ground up. So, if you really want to learn advertising from the ground up it's starting to just get your feet wet with Walmart advertising, I think it's a good idea because you're going to literally see it grow from the, from the ground up. You'll be able to see all the changes and how things, um, you know, work together. So, I think it's a really good thing to get in there if you haven't yet done PPC.   Destaney: A hundred percent. When we started on Amazon I think I've been in this space for seven years now possibly it just goes by really fast it was pretty much an auto campaign that you would just let run and it would do really really well for you and you didn't have placement modifiers and you didn't really have sponsor brands or sponsor display ads. It was great, it was easy. And then you took those auto campaigns, and we were able to apply them into manual campaigns with match types and Walmart's taking that same approach. I will say I think Walmart can be. It looks a little bit more complex in my opinion. Like everyone says, advertising console user interface is terrible. But sometimes I walk into Walmart and I'm like, oh my gosh, this is too much information. I need these graphs to go somewhere else. I'm really overwhelmed logging into Walmart sometimes.   Carrie Miller: Yeah, they do give a good amount of information for sure. I guess that leads into the next question. So why do you think that someone would want to start advertising with Adtomic? Because we have Adtomic for Walmart now with Helium 10 to help you with your advertising, as opposed to just using the Walmart platform Walmart Connect.   Destaney: Yeah, I think the biggest reason is bid management is, like 100%, one of the most important parts about Amazon or Walmart and you need a bid management solution for either platform. I actually think that it's more important when it comes to Walmart strictly because they do have the search in grid and the placement modifiers and that adds complexity from a bid model perspective. If you come in and try to arbitrarily adjust all of these placements without knowing or having data, it's going to be a big pain and then tracking the follow-up of that data is a pain. So fundamentally, from a bid management perspective, it needs to be done. You have to have a bid management solution if you're advertising on either. I think the secondary aspect and this is again can be applied to both is just having a better view of your business. Like I said, I log into Walmart Connect and that initial graph that is shown. It's not intuitive, but when you're able to look at something and take away an ad and build custom reporting based off your overall business needs and I think that's a big value add from an Adtomic perspective, it's way more beneficial.   Carrie Miller: Yeah, definitely I agree, because I've used both and I felt the same way that I just needed an easier way to view what was going on, and the Adtomic platform is much better for that. So, if you do want something that's easier to figure out where things are, what keywords are working or where to place things, then Adtomic is definitely the way to go for you. So, let's get into some beginner questions then. For some beginners, how would you recommend that someone set up their PPC when they first start out? Do you think that people should do their keyword research and do exact campaigns, auto campaigns? What do you think about with Walmart and how you should get started?   Destaney: I think something that we've seen is the Walmart customer searches a little bit different than the Amazon customer. So, rather than roll over the exact strategy that you're running externally, we've actually we made this mistake as an agency, we came into our first few brands, and we tried to apply the exact strategy we did on Amazon. We copied and pasted over; we did our like. Everyone who knows us knows we do like a really granular campaign setup right One campaign, one ad group, one ASIN, five to 10 keywords. We tried that approach on Walmart, and it did not work. Like it was just it was. It was too little; everything was spread too thin. And then we heard the feedback of like hey, start with an auto campaign with all of your products in it, and we did that. And once we started collecting data, then we could start breaking things out into broader groups, and that helped us a ton Across the board. I think auto campaigns are a little bit more powerful on Walmart, which actually makes sense in my opinion. That's how Amazon started as well. Auto campaigns were a lot more powerful because it was really easy to link the products in your campaign with the products that are associated with your SEO, and then your CPCs are quite a bit lower, so it's a lot less risky. So, I think that's the biggest feedback is don't try to spread yourself too thin, group things into bigger groups and then collect data on what placements are doing best for you and segment past that.   Carrie Miller: Yeah, and just a call out with Helium 10, you can get Walmart search volume. So, with Cerebro you can find keywords. So, one of the things I did was I just did a bunch of keyword research, and I did notice that it's not necessarily the same keywords that I would use on Amazon, and so they're kind of more general, but there are some specific ones. Maybe they only have like 17 search volumes I have actually made sales on those, so if they're very, very relevant, I would still use them, even if you're like, oh, the search volume isn't very good because people are finding you in other ways too. There's Google ads and there's a bunch of other things that Walmart's doing to get people to your page. But yeah, so I would definitely advertise on those. But one of the things that was hard for me when I did an auto campaign was the fact that you can't do any negative targeting, and so I was having the most random, weird keywords popping up that I don't know how it happened, and so that is something to call out too is to keep an eye on your auto campaigns because of that situation. I don't know if you have any ideas or thoughts about that.   Destaney: One thing we've seen, and this is something that is just from auditing, not as much from kind of full management on the Amazon advertising side is you're back in keywords and the keyword research you're doing on Walmart is also really different. Walmart has different brand guidelines per category that cause a lot of specificity and nuance changes, and that's important because auto campaigns work by scanning your listings, scanning all of your keyword research that you've done and associating with the keywords that are then in that auto campaign right. So, I don't know in your specific use case, but something we've seen across the board is they'll take their exact Amazon listing and again upload it to Walmart, not realizing that there's category nuances and it's a brand-new algorithm, it's a brand new platform. They're going to be tweaking things pretty consistently. So that's something to consider that you need to make sure you're understanding the algorithm on the platform you're playing in. You need to update your listing for a Walmart customer for the Walmart algorithm, and that's going to influence your campaigns and those auto campaigns as well.   Carrie Miller: Yeah, definitely Don't copy and paste. I always say that do not copy paste.   Destaney: One thing I want to hit on, because you had a great call out there is you may see something with really low search volume, and I would 100% still bid on those terms because it's the same bidding model for the most part. It's a pay per click bidding model. So, if you bid 10 cents and no one clicks, like you're not hurting anything. So, it's not really going to hurt your advertising to put all those low volume listings on there. What's going to happen if someone does search? If only 10 people search a month? You're going to be the only one bidding and it's going to be really cheap and it's going to be a crazy profitable sell for you. So those can drive a lot of incremental volume long term.   Carrie Miller: Yeah, 100%. And you can actually on Magnet, on Helium 10, I'll take a list of all those kind of lower search volume keywords and that you can actually put them into magnet and there's an analyze keywords and it'll show you the total search volume. So, when you add it up it actually gives you a lot more exposure on Walmart. So that is one sale here, one sale here, and it adds up. So that's the way you get from, you know, one sale a day to 10 to 20 sales a day. You know something that comes up every time.   Destaney: You know something that comes up every time. Like we have this conversation of like there's no volume on Walmart, or like I listed something and there's no volume and it is dependent on category, of course. But you got to think. You know, from a grocery perspective there's a ton of volume, like we've seen, very close to similar Amazon volume in certain categories, and that's also influenced by your advertising. If there's no volume, that also means your advertising costs are probably going to be pretty low. So sometimes it's worth it to play in those spaces because you're taking a long-term bet. Again, I keep comparing it to Amazon 7 years ago, but there were a lot of people who ran into the same thing then, but then they figured out the algorithm really well and they were able to scale that out long-term. So don't compare it to Amazon. That's not a fair comparison. They're very different platforms, especially category specific.   Carrie Miller: Yeah, definitely I. Yeah there's a lot of opportunity, even just like video ads and sponsored brand ads. I noticed on bigger keywords even there's no video ads there's. I mean, you wouldn't see that on Amazon at all and so there is some really good opportunity if you really think strategically like, hey, this whole keyword, you know maybe it's a little bit more competitive, but there's no one doing a video ad, I can just go in and dominate. So, you kind of have to like, really, you just think about, you know different ways you can beat the competition with each different keyword, and you can capitalize on those sales.   Destaney: And those are huge opportunities. So, we didn't mention this in the beginning, but I'm based out of Bentonville, Arkansas, so most of my friends either work for Walmart or agency side, and Walmart for the Nestle and the Procter and Gamble's and the General Mills has always been a big player online. So, it's funny if you bid on mascara or cereal, it's going to be competitive. But to Carrie's point, if you can get into those creative opportunities, you're always going to have a competitive advantage, because for General Mills to go create a video for every single SKU is incredibly costly and then they also need to send that video through marketing and legal. So, the time it takes them to create an asset specifically for a new platform and a new ad type is 6 to 9months by the time it's briefed, created and approved. So that's where we have a huge competitive advantage. Every time a new ad types rolled out, go hop in that platform or win some traffic and market share against the big name players in the space?   Carrie Miller: Yeah, definitely, that's a really good yeah, and I forgot to mention the Bentonville. So, do you have any insight, other insight thoughts about you? Know the fact that you're in Bentonville.   Destaney: It's funny, it's such a small community in Bentonville and when I started on Amazon, everyone would be like you can't tell people you work for Amazon around here, cause it's a competitive environment. But when Walmart started becoming a bigger player in the e-commerce space, I was like from day one, like this is going to be a huge opportunity, like Walmart is. I don't want to say they're too big to fail, but Walmart has the audience. Right, everyone knows Walmart. They're the largest retailer, which means they have to have a lot of customers. They have the money, they've been in business for an incredibly long time and they're attracting the talent from Amazon. Right, it reminds me of, like software world Everyone's going to go to the big fun players in the space. So, I don't think they have to reinvent the wheel and I think they're going to make a big difference.   Carrie Miller: I agree. I agree. There's a lot of good opportunities there, so get on Walmart. If you're not, can you talk a little bit about how the auction works on Walmart and what factors determine the placement? And all that information for everyone in the audience?   Destaney: Historically the auction was quite a bit different, and it was a major red flag. It used to be an auction model where just the highest bid won. Yeah, so if you bid $12 and the second bid was $1, you weren't paying a dollar and one cent, you were paying $12. So, that made things really difficult from a bid management perspective, from a brand perspective. Walmart finally transitioned that over. It acts pretty similar to Amazon and I love this question when it comes up into the groups of like suggested bids. Why are suggested bids so high? And one thing to consider is auction models and a PPC is just buying real estate. You want to win the top placements, the highest traffic placements, which is typically the top of the page. You have to bid the highest amount. Where Walmart gets a little bit more complex, and I like to the placements on Walmart. You know, searching Grid, Buy Box, mobile Desktop. I like to relate to kind of placement modifiers on Amazon. We always start with like a clean slate, a foundation of just a bid, like let's win this placement, and then, once we start collecting data, we can start breaking out an increase in a placement or a higher bid elsewhere, and I recommend everyone do the same, like it doesn't matter if you see a read an article that says you know mobile conversion rates are much higher than desktop. I wouldn't go and make that bet. Instead, like we prefer, if you're solely focused on profitability, start with low bids and a low auction and what's going to happen is you may not get impressions in traffic and that's fine, it's still, it's not hurting you, but increase incrementally until you collect data and you can figure out your breakeven ROAS. On the flip side, if you have money to spend, start high and collect data really quick and like. A big thing I'm a huge fan of is just to always make database decisions. They give you so much data you can see your placement performance and all of your keyword performance. So, wait till you collect data and then make bid decisions based off that.   Carrie Miller: Yeah, that's really good. It's really good that you called out how clunky it was before I took my ads before the relevancy model and before the second price auction. It was actually really hard because you actually couldn't even advertise higher than you were organically ranked, so I was just stuck in these far-out places. Yeah, then literally that next month when they changed the relevancy, I went from $200 to about $800 for this product. Then I started going up and up and up and went to about $12,000 a month for just the one product because they changed these small little things in the advertising and so that's a huge call out because people who were on back then were probably frustrated. So, I want to kind of let everyone know that it's changed and it's better.   Destaney: It is changed, and I think that's also a really important call out, just like organic rank. So, algorithms, again, are driven off like two things, especially like a shopping algorithm. One they need data, right, so they need a ton of inputs in order to say, hey, yes, this product should be indexed for Chapstick. They need 300 data points saying that customers convert for Chapstick right, so volume clicks and conversions matter. I think the second big thing is every platform wants to drive sales, so we were talking about this before hopping on, but in order to improve your organic rank on any platform, you need to sell more units, and how do you sell more units? That's up to you to figure out. A lot of people say, oh, that's Walmart's job. I listed my product, now they need to sell it. It doesn't quite work that way. It's an algorithm, right, yeah? So, either you advertise on Walmart, and you start driving more units, which improves your organic rank, and as your organic rank improves, you get more visibility, which sells more units for you, or you figure out how to sell units off platform, one way or another. At the end of the day, though, like one of the biggest ranking juice factors is always going to be advertising on that platform because it's so much more precise. Like we've seen conversion rates for sponsored ads and they're incredible. So, yeah, highly recommend that.   Carrie Miller: Yeah, it's just so funny that people have a different mentality when they come on Walmart like almost, I don't know, I don't want to say entitled, but it's like they should do this for us, and they should do that. It's like amazon doesn't do that for you, amazon makes, makes you pay, yeah, so why not?   Destaney: It's kind of funny I don't know if maybe it's similar of like they're thinking about a retail store like you get your PO and then Walmart puts your product on the shelf, but at the end, and then Walmart brings in that foot traffic, I guess. But at the end of the day, you're competing against so many other products on a digital shelf yeah, competing against so many other products on a digital shelf. Yeah, a retail shelf, you can only squeeze 10 products, 10 toothpaste brands, like in that section. But a digital shelf is so much different, and you do have the opportunity to influence where you're showing up on that shelf in a really simple way, and I think that's advantageous.   Carrie Miller: Well, even going back to retail, even when you get into retail you are supposed to move it. So, I remember talking or not talking, but like listening to Sarah Blakely with Spanx and she got her stuff into Neiman Marcus, and she was having her friends go buy it. She went into the stores for Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and was selling these products herself.   Destaney: It was like they thought she was like an in-store rep, because she was just sitting there like trying to sell her products. I remember that exactly.   Carrie Miller: So. It's like you know that ownership of. I want to get these products out there. My product is amazing, I want it in front of people. And so, another person I talked to about retail, as they said, historically people were always using billboards. They were using commercial advertising if they got into Walmart. So, once they get into Walmart, they are actually, you know, responsible to get to move the product as well, but it's just a different way of doing it, and if they don't move it on the shelf in the physical stores, Walmart would take them off. So, it's, it's the same thing. So always have that mentality of how can I, what can I do to move my product on this platform. I think that's why I always think about Sarah Blakely, because you know she was not too, too good for going in there and literally working at the store all day, every day, so I love that.   Destaney: And to that point, like one, she had that scrappy mentality, which was incredible. But this is a conversation that comes up. If you cannot afford to advertise on the platform, you know, become a connector, become an influencer, start hopping on lives, start doing TikTok's and gaining that traction for yourself and then sending that traffic to your said platform. But to that point, I also think that's where we're spoiled by sponsored ad performance. Right, you've been on a keyword, someone clicks on it, and you see the results. But back in the day, it's back in the day like what? 15 years ago, yeah, you were in a national media campaign, or you paid for a billboard, and you said here's $50,000 for this billboard and all you could do is see if you saw a lift in overall sales. It was a lift test. That's what marketing was judged by. Now we have the ability to pinpoint the age, income, geographic time of click and we're spoiled by it.   Carrie Miller: It's pretty amazing. Yeah, I actually to your point about you know, if you get scrappy. I've actually seen some people you know that use Helium 10 and they're like I don't, I don't have that great of a budget, but they chose products kind of in their hobby niche. They'll go live and do demos or on YouTube. They have YouTube channels where they show how to use their product and they sell it with the links. You know they can link it to one more and amazon, and so they they're doing that and that's how they've gotten a ton of traction. So, definitely think outside the box if you're not able to, you know, invest in PPC.   Destaney: Sean Reily from DUDE Wipes is a ton of incredible content on how they started, because he, he, they had to be so scrappy that they would just like buy these really crazy like billboard placements or bid on these certain placements that they knew would get tv attention. They were going to baseball games and holding up signs like with their products names and then when the baseball aired, they would be in the background holding their signs. And it's that exact same thing of just how you get in front of people.   Carrie Miller: Yeah, it's so amazing. Yeah, so that's a good call out there. Okay, so we do have some questions here from the audience and of course Bradley has asked the first one. He said let's see, does Walmart broad phrase and exact perform similar to Amazon or does it have weird things like Amazon where broad can go super wide and exact sometimes performs?   Destaney: Performs like phrase even?  I would say they're similar. I think Amazon sponsored brands broad match is a little bit of an outsider and just the overall conversation with sponsored brands broad match we've seen go really wide lately. I have pulled all of our agency data to see if we've seen a change in conversion rate on sponsored products broad match and we haven't. So, I'm kind of like I don't want to make a huge comparison there, but I would say they're very similar.   Carrie Miller: What are some common mistakes that you see new beginners doing on, you know, with advertising or just getting on Walmart in general?   Destaney: I would say poor keyword research. We dove into this one a little bit. But to go even deeper on that, I think some people overthink keyword research and at the end of the day, it's like what would you type in to find this product? Yep, start with that. Like make a commonsense list of the top 10 keywords that you would type in, not the ones that are algorithmically showing the highest revenue, not the ones that a tool is showing you. Start with common sense keywords I'm buying mascara or Chapstick or lunchbox, right and then use the tools to expand on those, because it's twofold here. Your commonsense keywords are almost always going to be the most expensive because if you're thinking about bidding on them, so is everyone else right. But where you have a lot of opportunities, you take all of the Helium 10, long tail terms that you didn't think about right. So, if you use something again like a Chapstick, everyone's going to bid on Chapstick. But if I find this long tail of, like peppermint Chapstick for chapped lips, children, non-toxic, it's going to be such low search volume. But you have to add up hundreds of those, 50 of those, like Carrie said, and that's where you're going to get your profitability. It's still, even though it's early days, from a platform. There's a lot of big-name players that are driving up ad costs. I would say where that's where it's a little bit different from amazon, right like all of your big-name players are in stores on Walmart, they're also advertising on dot com. So, you still have to be really strategic around that keyword research you. You have to figure out, you know what terms are going to drive the most sales for you but maybe not be profitable. What terms can you get a really long tail on? That's going to drive additional volume but take a little bit more work to invest in. Not having a bid management solution is 100% number two. A lot of people don't understand bid management. I don't expect people to. It took me 3 years and probably over $30 million of spin before it became intuitive. I had to touch so many accounts in order to start figuring out the correlation of bid management, and there's a lot of simple videos on just bid formulas. But if you're not that person, if you're not going to understand algorithmically and mathematically how to build a bid solution, not a lot of us are, you need to use a tool? Your bid is the number one indicator of what your ROAS or ACOS is going to be.   Carrie Miller: Yeah, so I guess that brings you back to Adtomic. Are there any other kind of parts of Adtomic you think that are helpful for sellers?   Destaney: Custom reporting, I think, is a big one. To that point, when you're starting out and starting to build a midsize business, your focus almost changes. In the very beginning you're in everything because it's your baby. It has to be perfect. As you start scaling you realize you're spread too thin. So, you start picking up what you're best at and I think that's where a tool like Atomic really comes into play. It's 80-20. It's you know. Let's build out either custom reports so I can focus on what I need best, whether it's my tacos, whether it's my margin, whether it's my conversion rate, or even getting into, like some of your other tools, market tracker, things like that. That's where it gets really valuable. In my opinion, it's bringing back time for you as an entrepreneur. It's not going to be as perfect. Every business owner thinks they're perfect, right. You have to start letting go some of those resources because in order to have a successful brand nowadays, you have to be good at product development. You have to optimize per platform. You probably need a social presence. You need to handle forecasting and inventory. You need to handle finances in your P&L. It's insane how much goes into. It's amazing that we have the opportunity to do it from our iPhone, but it's also insane how complex it is. So, you have to start bringing in tools that maybe aren't as good, but they allow you to scale your own time.   Carrie Miller: I know I get this question a lot. Maybe somebody's advertising already and they feel like they've done a lot of things to kind of optimize. What kinds of things do you recommend for people to take their sales to the next level like? Maybe they feel like they're stagnant. Are there any kind of go-to strategies you have for Walmart where people can kind of say, hey, if I implement this, I could probably see a lift, or what should I? Which they look at that maybe people are ignoring that they should be looking at.   Destaney: I want to get into like all the fun small things of like ad type expansion and all of that, but I want to call out just conversion rate optimization first, because it's super easy to blame a lack of sales or bad performance on the thing that you least understand, which is typically advertising. It's typically PPC and just coming from the agency side, I mean we've heard it all in that regard and I think a really important call out is if someone clicked on your ad, if you look at your campaign and you see clicks, that ad did its job Because think about it as a customer, as I personally shop on Walmart, I don't go around just clicking on things that I'm not interested in buying. So, if the customer clicked, that means they were interested in it, but they landed on your listing and they decided not to buy, and your job is to decide why they didn't purchase. Is your listing not good enough? Is it not the color or the flavor that you're looking for? So, conversion rate optimization is always the thing that we say to start with. If you have a little bit of extra profit in your account and you need to invest in something, start with conversion rate optimization, because it's going to make your PPC 20 times better. And then beyond that, I would say another big thing to call out that can really influence top line sales growth is making sure you're managing your PPC not just for advertising but to grow your overall organic rank. So, creating campaigns specifically focused on improving your organic positioning on the page.   Carrie Miller: Very good. All right, and we do have a good PPC question here. Ben Tiffany said any word on when Walmart will start allowing us to create negative search terms on our auto campaigns?   Destaney: I would probably give it another quarter or end of year. Honestly, I think it's too blaring of a discrepancy to not roll out, so I'm assuming it's on the roadmap for pretty soon.   Carrie Miller: Yeah, I have heard it's on the roadmap, so I thought it would already be out. So maybe they're just taking a little more time to make sure that it works well. So yes. Yeah, that's probably what's going on here, but I think we're pretty much out of time. But thank you so much for joining us today on this Walmart Wednesday and we really appreciate your insights for PPC. We haven't really done a whole lot on PPC, so hopefully we'll be able to get you back on here at some point and do some more Walmart PPC stuff. But thanks again for joining us and to everyone else, thank you for your questions and thank you for joining us live and we will see you all again next month on Walmart Wednesday. Bye, everyone.    Destaney: Awesome. Thank you, Carrie. Bye guys.

Kendyl Campbell , a director of strategic partnerships, emphasized the importance of bridging the information gap between companies, field operations, and financials. She highlighted the potential for cost savings by integrating systems to eliminate the information gap and shared her role in creating the "Dirty Boot Show" podcast, aiming to connect the construction industry and share insights. Kendyl also expressed professional admiration for Sarah Blakely, founder of Spanx. Kendall Campbell spent many years in and around the construction industry before joining Assignar in 2020, implementing dozens of strategic enterprise accounts with complex integrations. She quickly rose through the ranks to lead the Customer Success Team in 2022 before becoming Director of Strategic Partnerships. Currently, Kendy is helping sell value across complex software ecosystems, ultimately solving the information gap between companies' field operations and financials-- selling some of our largest deals globally. Kendyl was awarded the 2022 Customer Custodian Award in North America, and she can now be heard as one of our hosts on Assignar's The Dirty Boots Show.

Ever think to yourself, "Sure, I can network with strangers confidently... as long as they go first?" Do you ever wish you had the chutzpah and perfect words to break the ice as a mompreneur, even if you're introverted? Want access to my frameworks and easy-to-use follow-up insights – the exact ones I've used to land big-name podcast interviews with people like Suzy Batiz or GaryVee? Welcome to episode 222. Bookmark this episode to learn exactly how to go first to strike a conversation with a contact and find your most authentic way to turn them into a real connection!  Free Resource: From Contact to Connection: The Go First Networking & Follow-Up Playbook for Mom Entrepreneurs SIGN-UP for playbook: https://bit.ly/hypernetworking •    Easy to follow steps to craft your networking outreach goal •    Research necessary to not ask silly questions or feel awkward •    Unconventional follow-up ideas and timing that will not come across as thirsty/   pushy •    Templates that you can tailor based on your business goals and personality •    Worksheet to uncover ways to add value to contacts and make everyone feel good  The urgency stems from the fact that many of us, as I coach moms who are entrepreneurs, have been out of the market for a while. Some of us have taken a hiatus, perhaps due to a recent child or the pandemic keeping us home and away from others. But mompreneurs are back, and we need to catch up! This can naturally lead to a dip in confidence when re-entering the scene and engaging with people who haven't experienced a similar break. Right? That's why I wanted to equip you with some language that's practically copy-and-paste ready, like Mad Libs, allowing you to tailor it to your specific outreach goals. So here is a real-life question that I got from a mom business owner. She said: I just got back into networking after a pause from having two kids. I don't have a problem talking to someone if they talk to me first? It's usually the opening, the conversation with a stranger, that isn't about the weather or something irrelevant. And then after the meeting, I want to know what to say afterwards to follow up with a give and not just "taking". Tune in for my answer to her question, which I suspect is on your mind too, if you're reading this. And while you're here, grab this free resource I made specifically for my fellow mompreneurs, founders, and creators who need to be more strategic about their networking efforts. These skills can take your business to the next level, whether you're looking to find new partners, build corporate relationships with decision-makers, secure podcast guests, or find mentors who can open doors to the right rooms – where the real conversations happen and where, if mentioned, you could transform your vision. TRANSCRIPT Now before I answer that question, I just need to ask you, like, do you have outreach goals as a business owner? Because if you don't, I think we just need to like level set right there. Here's where I'm going with this right now in my nine week group coaching program, fertile imagination in access, which is what I'm going to rename it from action. What we're going through is how to actually knock your business goals out of the ballpark, right? So let's just imagine that you want to bring in an extra 50 K and you're figuring out how to engage with the right stakeholders, be in the right rooms, have the right conversations. That is what needs to happen. You need to really be specific. Like who do you want to talk to? And to be very honest, you could absolutely use AI and get some ideas, but coming from someone who tried that pertaining to just pitching podcasts, for example. AI wasn't as helpful as I had hoped. It really is something that requires your own personal touch because you're going to have the wisdom necessary to understand how can I look through LinkedIn, for example, for precisely the person I need on my team or I need to speak to. So have an outreach goal. That's like step number one. And that is where I come in and I support mom entrepreneurs who may have never approached their business in this way, through the use of hyper networking, which I'll get into in this episode. Now let's go back to the language that this person might use in order to strike up a conversation with a complete and total stranger. So let's imagine that you are, On LinkedIn, right? So that's one way that you're conducting this outreach efforts in order to build strategic partnerships or find mentors who are light years ahead of you, not individuals where you feel like you both are in the same boat. And just kind of feeding each other information that you've gotten online. So here's one way that you might want to approach this. So as this person is sharing, she wants to get back out there. It's been some time. Step one is you need to know who you are. Like you need to realize and rebuild your confidence, right? Like, who are you to talk to person A, B, or C? So as an example, let's imagine that you wanted to get in touch with Sarah Blakely. Now, I'm not saying you have to talk to someone that is a billionaire or someone that might feel so out of reach at first. There is a way to build up your confidence to get to that level, but here's the reality of it. Someone like Sarah is getting all these inbound LinkedIn messages that are totally ridiculous. A lot of them are like copy and paste pitches, invest in my business, or, Oh, I admire you so much. Can I work for you for free? Like these are the sort of messages someone like Sarah is getting. So if you are genuine, sincere, and you honestly approach someone like Sarah, and then of course, there's other things that need to happen to get her attention. Then you will stand out. That's just like the  first step there, right? So step one, what's your intention? I think intention really matters. So before you put pen to paper or fingertip to keyboard, definitely, what is your intention, right? Are you looking for a relationship with someone like a Sarah or whoever, Whereby you really want to not just take from them, but you want to give them a sense of like either admiration, appreciation, or just like a real conversation. I know this might sound like not of value, but do you know how valuable it is to have a real conversation with someone who gets pitched all the time and you're there being yourself and you're there being your mom self? Like. I tell my clients all the time, let's imagine you wanted to engage with Warren Buffett, right? You're not a billionaire. Okay, fine. You're not Warren's cousin or nephew or son, but imagine that there was like a baby in a room. Tell me that that baby is not going to make someone like Warren Buffett giggle and tell me that just providing an opportunity for Warren to giggle is not a value. Like really, really take that in. Like someone who is pitched all the time by disingenuous people. Is actually having a real chat with someone that's like a mom who gets the struggle, who gets how hard it is to pursue her outreach goals or her business goals. So really figuring out like who you are and the value that you bring to the table upfront before typing anything is step one. And it's really hard for moms because a lot of the value that we might bring to a conversation with someone who has these financial markers of success, a lot of the value that we bring is not quantifiable. It really isn't. And so it's really on us to reimagine what actually matters in terms of like authentic human engagement. So that's the first piece of the puzzle. The second one is the following. So if you're reaching out to someone, what's really, really important, and I'm thinking LinkedIn, because that is how I helped a client just yesterday. But if you're reaching out to someone, you need to understand, like, why exactly are you reaching out to them? And we've got to cut through the bullshit, like for real, for real, for real. Why are you reaching out to that person? Okay, because if there's any sort of like hint or tint of I just want to reach out to you because I want you to give me money, like someone's going to smell that on you, even though you can't technically smell LinkedIn, but they're just going to tell like certain phrases that you might use will feel kind of like icky or weird or whatever. So you got to be really like clear on what, like why are you reaching out to this person? So let me give you an example, let's imagine that like legit, you want someone to be on your board of advisors, like strategically, that is something that you can bring to the table. If you're having a conversation with one of these very amazing human beings. It might not even be someone that's like billionaire light years ahead of you. It might be someone who just has visibility into a new sector that might help you achieve your outreach goals, i. e. your business goals. So in the case of my client just the other day, for her, she really wants to reach out to people that are in the health insurance space, right? And what was really interesting is that she has a board of advisors. She has a board of advisors and she knows that she needs someone who is a medical professional. So what is it that she did or I guided her to do? I said, okay, great. So name a health insurance company, whatever it might have been in her case, it was Kaiser Permanente. And now tell me the actual job title of the person who's a medical professional that you feel would be like the perfect bulls eye pick to serve on your board. Now, I didn't connect those dots up front, but after the fact, that's where I said we were going. Here's the thing. People like to feel special. Everybody has an ego. And if you have an opportunity to really cater to someone's ego, like let's say you have a podcast, let's say you have a blog, let's say you have a vlog, a YouTube channel, or A board of advisors, or you could like literally make it up and say, and now I have a board of advisors and a spot that's enough of a reason for someone and you to engage. Right? So that's what we did. We're like, okay, great. So let's be real specific here. So you want to have a relationship with someone at Kaiser Permanente and  you want it to be a, and it's so hard for me to say this, a neonatologist  person. Right? Right. So that's what we did. He was like, all right, let's find exactly the bullseye target that we would like to engage with. And the invitation would be to serve on the board. That's not what you say out of the gate. Instead, what you might say out of the gate is the following. So you're looking at someone's LinkedIn profile and you're saying to yourself, okay, this person, I don't want them to ignore my connection requests, right? So that means that you have to write an actual note. And that's probably obvious, but what do you put in that note? So you got to lead with something that is like about them. If you start with the, thank you for your time, happy to connect. Saw you the other day. That is so boring. I want you to connect with someone and say, Hey, I saw that you are a Neo blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Cause it's hard for me to say. And I noticed that you have spent some time in the ex care unit, right? So this is all based on. What someone writes in LinkedIn, or I noticed that you are a, and you could name the job function if you want to make it really easy on yourself. And I noticed that you went to Berkeley, which is definitely a place where women's rights was really like. Top of mind, right? So you got to make it specific. It's like, no, this person isn't like making a mistake and reaching out to me. They actually want to talk to me because I very specifically have a certain experience or I wrote something in my LinkedIn profile that this person read. So if you up front in your LinkedIn outbound first connection, say that, that's going to automatically get someone's attention, right? And then when you could say, as an example, so you're saying like, Hey, essentially you're saying I am reaching out because you are this based on your experiences in that it leads me to believe that you might be interested in a conversation pertaining to this other topic, whatever that topic is pertaining to your outreach goal. And your company vision next sentence would be something like, I felt encouraged to reach out to you because that's another way that you might want to lead. Right? And again, you're saying exactly what you're reading on LinkedIn, right? Or maybe you heard a podcast where they were on, or maybe you saw them in the media. So that's actual language you could use to strike up a conversation that has zilch to do with the weather. All right, great. So now you have this like first point of connection. And so someone accepts the connection. Then what? Here's the reality of it. Chances are, although you wrote that information in LinkedIn, that person didn't read it like with any sort of level of depth. So they might not respond to that initial like three sentences outbound. But if they connected, what I suggest you do is go on to LinkedIn, go into their contact info and specifically email them. Okay. Here's why, why do people go on LinkedIn? They're looking for business relationships. They're looking for a job right now. We're all mom entrepreneurs. So what's important is that you reach them somewhere that they're actually checking all the time, which is email. So you are going to email them. Follow up. So then the follow up might be as simple as, thank you for the connection, and you might wanna like say a little bit of what you said in that original note. The reason why I reached out to you was A, B, or CI would love to have a conversation with you. Here's my calendar. And then of course, if you wanted to, you could say, having been at the helm of my business, we've been able to do this, whatever that is, bring millions of dollars in donation or sell all these different charge keys. But what we're looking for right now is a thought leader who can add. Some sort of fresh insights in the medical community who would be interested in learning more about organization and potentially serving on our board, which has a minimal, minimal, minimal level of time requirements, right? So you might literally go ahead and start painting the picture, nothing about the weather there, right? So that might be the next step. And here's the thing you're putting your link. To your calendar what I noticed if you're not confident in making the first step from a networking perspective you tend to put extra steps in front of you and that irritates me beyond belief  like I would only put extra steps in front of me if I'm nervous like Sean was saying you're not going to Crazy, right? So if I'm talking to someone and like, I don't really, really, really want them to email me back because I'm scared, then yeah, I won't put my calendar link. I'll be like, maybe you'd like to connect with me, let me know. But if I really, really, really, really am clear on. My outreach goals, my company vision and who I really am and how I could add value irrespective of the human being I'm talking to, then I'm just going to cut to the chase because that's what you really, really want. And what I have noticed is the higher you go up in job titles and levels of seniority, the faster those individuals are to just jump on the phone and get to the point. Right? It's not about being too direct or being presumptuous. You could absolutely in that second note say, I understand you're busy and you are under no obligation to respond, but I wanted to just ask you because I felt like I had to. My mission is that important and I know that There must be  alignments or synergies. You could literally say this, like, it is okay to wear your heart on your sleeve. Again, all of this is assuming that you really want to talk to this person and you have a very specific ask in your mind. If you don't have a specific ask in your mind, this is what I suggested my client do the other day. She brainstorms a bunch of reasons, a bunch of ways that. The person she connected with, this was her follow up strategy, could actually work with her, how she could help that person, how that person can help her, and how together they're better off, let's imagine, right? Not necessarily in those words, but she had to brainstorm this, so do yourself the favor of preparing, brainstorming. On that note, I want to help you. With a great deal of specificity, I want to be sure that you have the actual language you need to have conversations with people that might intimidate you, right? And so what you will find, and you could absolutely see in the show notes, is Is a link, it is bit. ly, so bit. ly forward slash hyper networking, you can actually go to that link and you can download for free a playbook in this playbook. What I have done. Is really tried to make this like plug and play pertaining to those like first outbound connections. It is called from contact to connection. It's the mompreneurs followup playbook. And I give you my exact networking language in terms of the emails that you could send out the DMS that you could put in and even openers for cocktail parties. So you know how you're like in a cocktail party. And then people are like in these circles that seem Impenetrable. Well, you can absolutely like join in those circles. Okay. Unless you're noticing that like people are like super, super tight and like blocking you from every direction. There are ways for you to insert yourself into existing conversations. And so I've included in my playbook, a couple of ideas as well, but I don't want to overwhelm a mom entrepreneur. I just want to be sure that you have some language. That will get you from feeling intimidated to totally excited about talking to strangers because the generosity of strangers is a real thing. So go ahead and pick up the playbook. It is again called From Contact to Connection, The Mompreneur's Follow Up Playbook. You can pick it up on the link that is in the show notes, wherever it is that you're listening to this episode. Bitly, so bit.  ly forward slash hyper networking. It will be in the show notes and you can pick it up for free today and absolutely have some language that you can use and edit pertaining to your outreach goals, pertaining to your company vision for this very year so that this way you don't have to feel like people have to talk to you first. Because here's what happens. If you're the one to initiate a conversation, it puts you in a position of power. It's been said the person that actually like creates the agenda in like a networking meeting or any meeting, that's the person that's controlling where this conversation gets to go. So if you have the chutzpah, the confidence to actually go first during networking, engagements, then it is a hundred percent better for you because then you get to lead where the conversation goes. And notice, I didn't say anything here about the weather at all.  Like, let's, let's go to this other topic. So let's say that you want a little bit of help pertaining to Having a conversation in a live setting, a live setting. Again, I will have some language for you, for a mom business owner specifically, because I'm a mom. I'm an entrepreneur and I a hundred percent know what it is to be. What is, is, what is the word? I don't know why it's escaping me. Not undervalued, but like people just don't expect me. And I'm little too. People don't expect me to have the audacity to go up to like the people that are on panels or the speakers at the end of an event. So people just don't assume that I'm going to go and just like go in for the, for, for the quote unquote kill. Right. In a very positive way. So that is why I wanted to have this playbook for, for us, for mom entrepreneurs, because I'm going to tell you If you have decided to nurture a human being, Through any method, be it adoption, birth, be it as this loving and doting like auntie, like you've got, you've got guts beyond, beyond other people, like to take in like another human being and to like help them grow is one of the most courageous things. I mean, it's the most courageous things. I've ever done personally, and let me be honest, I've got to ask for that courage every single morning, right? So, for us to be held out of these right rooms, right conversations, and right contacts, I'm gonna call bullshit on that, and I want Us as mom entrepreneurs who have had to like start, stop, pause businesses to catch up and exceed outpace anyone who didn't have to step out, pause, or iterate based on growing or having a family. So that's why I want you to pick up that playbook today. Go to bit. ly forward slash hyper networking. Okay. So then now you're in a live networking event. And here's the thing, I was having this conversation with a mom who has a product. And I asked her, I was like, right now you and I are on a 15 minute zoom conversation. So you just said that you are not so into networking, which I don't know. I had to ask, I was like, well, what do we call this? Like I had reached out to her. I didn't know her. She didn't know me. And we're on zoom in my mind. I'm networking in her mind. It's connecting. And I don't see it as so different when you're in a happy hour setting or you're in a venue with a lot of people. So let's just get to that place, right? One to many networking. You're at an event. I'm thinking to myself when I went to Podfest actually in Orlando, Florida. So. For me, I get off the plane, I'm a mom, I have three kids who are at home, I gotta make this count. Like, my husband is on call for childcare, I spent a lot of money to get to Florida, and it's time away from my kids. So how can I make this count? The moment I stepped into Florida, or landed, I just started networking. I will be networking on a plane if that is okay. I have an opportunity for me and I have, I've actually gotten a podcast guest on a plane. So beyond that, let's imagine that now you're going to an event, you're there and it's like a bunch of people, it's buzzing and people have already established their like circles, right? Impenetrable circles. So what is it that I did that has nothing to do with the weather? Well, I approached a group of individuals who I thought were part of a meetup for authors. That's just what was on the schedule, so I was like, oh, maybe they're the meetup for authors. Here's where the really big point of differentiation is. I approached that group of total and complete strangers already having conversations. And I said, hi, my name is Melissa. You guys look like you're having a really interesting conversation. Is this the author meetup group? Now that was like an honest question, but thinking back, maybe I could have made that up as an excuse to start. Engaging with these humans turns out this was not the author meetup group. I could have been like bright red tail between my legs. Oh my God. Oops. I'm sorry. Bye. But I said, you know what? No, there is value in conversations with every single human being. This happened to be the group of neurodivergent podcasters. And so for me, I was like, Oh, this is really cool because I strongly believe that I can learn brand new things and apply them to my business from people who have done things differently,  especially if you think differently than me, as an example. So I was like, Oh, I'm sticking around. And then of course, I started talking to the different individuals who bring a completely fresh way of looking at the operations of business, of making marketing simple. And as I was having conversations, the group kind of like fizzled out and so it was just me and one other person who happens to be neurodivergent. And so I was just asking her questions. Be curious. It is okay. This person was also a mom. So that's a shared experience for us. But what was not shared was that she had an approach to marketing that was super, super linear. And I was like, Oh my God, this is like mana from the heavens or mana from the heavens. So I just asked for more information around that. What's the point? Here's the point. The excuse that I had was not something that was inauthentic or a lie or anything that was like, Oh, I'm here to just take information from you. The excuse was like legitimate. It was like, no, no, no. I'm literally here to talk to the author meetup group. And that's okay. And I want you to feel so confident and bold in who you are and the value you bring to the table by way of your personality, your life experiences, to have the audacity to be real. I think that is how you build the confidence to go first in a networking conversation. Again, you will want this playbook. It is in the show notes. Absolutely. Grab it immediately. So you have a better sense of the openers that you can use, whether you are online or whether you are offline, right? In this universe, it is so important to gather as much power as humanly possible. And one way is by actually Going first, you want to set the agenda. You want to establish who gets to go in your room. You want to establish where the conversation goes and how you would like to follow up. There's so much that's not within our control that as a mom entrepreneur, you have got, you have got, and I feel like repeating this a thousand times. You have got to find ways to set up. This game in a way that you're going to win, right? And this is one way, this is one way. Has this ever gone wrong? Hell yeah, it's gone wrong. Let me give you an example. I was in Australia pre pandemic. We were living there for three and a half years. And I remember. I was at an event where there was this leader of an organization that is for authors, right? I'm not going to name the organization because someone from Australia might be listening, but the CEO of this organization, I wanted to talk to her. And so I was part of the crowd and I went up to her, and I don't know if she was like on her way to the bathroom, but Who cares, right? Like as a mom, we have all held our pee. So I went up to her and she was surrounded by some other people, but who cares? Because again, I know that I have value to contribute. As an example, I have a podcast. I could have her as a guest. That's an example. And so she was trying to escape,  not just me, but like the whole crowd. But then I was like, Hey, my name is Melissa. I really love what you do. And I would love to have a conversation with you. And what she went and attempted to do was pawn me off to her assistant. So, how is this going first gone wrong? Well, because if I were to say, oh, okay, I'll talk to your assistant, then that puts me at the same level as everyone else who's trying to reach out to her. Like this person who's the actual decision maker and actual human bullseye target I wanted to talk to. To actually just suggest that I talk to her gatekeeper. You see how that takes me away from my outreach goal. Okay. So what did I do? I said, Oh no, no, that's okay. I wanted to speak to you. See, I know that takes guts. That takes, that takes confidence. And like I said, I think she was off to the bathroom, but for me, it just establishes the idea that no, if you want to talk to some, some, some person that might feel out of reach, like be clear on why you want to talk to them and why you deserve to talk to them and how it can be a positive outcome for the two of you. Okay. Be clear on those things so that you have the guts to just step through the BS that might be thrown at you. If you're trying to talk to a specific person. So, did it go wrong? It did! Like, the pandemic happened afterwards anyways, so we were all distracted, but ultimately, if I really wanted her on my podcast, I certainly would have made the ask, but once I noticed that she was also, like, more soundproofed, How can I say this? An employee, as opposed to an entrepreneur or founder. I realized that her incentives and her, her motivations might not be in alignment with my own, right? So if someone's the employee of an organization, they might not be as open to being a podcast guest on someone that they don't know, right? Cause there's a lot at stake in terms of. Stakeholders and blah, blah, blah. That's what I've noticed. But if they're a founder, if they're an entrepreneur, if they're someone that own the business, then they get the hustle. They get it. They get it and they're all for it. Okay, let me stop. Can you tell I'm like crazy excited about this? I really, really am. But what I want more than anything else is for you, mom, entrepreneur, mom, founder, mom, creator to go to my link and get the actual playbook, right? It'll include, like I said, some language that you can use and also some followup strategies as well. B I T dot L Y forward slash hyper networking. Can I just say something to be super, super honest? I suspect that some moms who have businesses already, I really suspect that, and it would be so amazing if you shared this with one mom friend who has a business, one mom friend who you believe in so much, who you think has so much to offer that might just not be comfortable making the first move in a networking conversation. So please share this episode specifically with that mom. I would be so, so, so appreciative. And thank you for listening to Unimaginable Wellness. I really do appreciate you. And damn, I believe in you so, so, so, so, so, so much. So grab the playbook. It's my free gift for being a beautiful listener and for being a mom. You're freaking courageous as heck. So absolutely enjoy the playbook.

Join the branding revolution with the illustrious Kim Rozdeba, a titan in the marketing realm, as he opens up about his personal odyssey from Vancouver Island to Toronto's corporate echelons. Kim's expertise, honed at the prestigious Ogilvy and through various in-house marketing roles, underpins an episode brimming with actionable insights for anyone eager to weave their authenticity into their professional brand. Tune in as we uncover the nuances of branding success and celebrate trailblazing women entrepreneurs who have etched their names into the annals of business history. Take a seat at the table where strategy meets storytelling, and learn how to captivate your audience by securing the coveted spot of being the first in their minds—regardless of market position. Kim regales us with tales of the titans, from the champagne virtuoso Veuve Clicquot to contemporary moguls like Sarah Blakely and Tory Burch, illustrating the indelible impact of a well-crafted brand. We then navigate the transformative journey branding has taken, from typewriters to the advent of AI, teasing insights from Kim's forthcoming book, "Loyal Nomics," which promises to be a bible for brand builders everywhere. As this episode unfolds, Kim lends his vision on the symbiotic relationship between evolving AI technologies and the perennial human touch essential in brand-building. We dissect the promise and perils of AI in creating authentic connections, pondering the implications of biases and the quest for maintaining ethical standards. Whether you're nurturing your own brand or simply intrigued by the enduring power of a compelling identity, this discussion is a treasure trove of wisdom, spurring you to rethink the essence of what makes a brand truly stand out.

Let me know your thoughts about the podcast. Thank you for listening!Unlock the paradoxical wisdom of thriving through failure with Dave Mason, as he joins me, Coach Ratner, on the Living Clarity podcast. We celebrate Dave's enlightening new book, "Hurry Up and Fail," where he illuminates the counterintuitive notion that stumbling can be a springboard to success. Discover how figures like Sarah Blakely used sheer grit to turn Spanx into a household name, and how my own aspirations during National Novel Writing Month revealed the transformative nature of creative endeavors.This episode is a treasure trove for anyone embracing risks and writing their own success stories. We'll traverse the fine line between audacity and caution, taking cues from the likes of Richard Branson's adventure-fueled risk management to the strategic preparation that saved Mrs. Goldfarb's Unreal Deli. Engage with the art of exceeding expectations, as we draw inspiration from Marie Forleo's B-School and Stephen King's perseverance. These narratives are bound to shift your perception of setbacks as we dissect the power behind pre-mortems and early warning systems that can steer any venture clear of disaster.By the end of our journey together, you'll be equipped with a new lens to view your personal and professional challenges. We wrap up with recommendations for must-listen audiobooks that promise to fuel business growth and personal transformation. With stories, insights, and strategies shared by Dave and reflected in my own experiences, this episode serves as a beacon, guiding you through the maze of trials towards triumph. So, let your curiosity lead the way and tune in to discover how to harness the unexpected rewards of failure.

An article entitled 10 High-Performance Habits that Lead to Success by Justin Su'a is noteworthy. This isn't a normal article.  It talks about 10 specific principles that, if practiced carefully, will help increase one's performance and mental toughness.  Justin Su'a is a former competitive baseball player and despite not having the physical prowess and physical ability like some other players, he was still able to gain success. His family trained him to face any adversity with a positive mindset. Their team also had a sports psychologist who spoke to the players about tools and strategies that were taught to Olympians.  The principles taught by the sports psychologist resonated with Justin and ignited a desire for him to follow the same career path. These principles not only work for sports but can be applied by people of all walks to every aspect of life.  Here are the 10 high-performance habits that lead to success:  Win the morning Do hard things Embrace feedback Learn from failure Choose your attitude Do one more Have a purpose Recommit every single day Be patient Fear no one Win the morning Winning the morning is all about starting strong. People complain they don't have enough time in the day but the truth is, there's not enough time because they're not using the time they have. Instead, they're wasting it.  All you need to do is to start the morning strong by getting up with purpose. Successful people and high-performers are able to do hard things. Sometimes one of these is to wake up early when nobody else does.  Move towards your goal by telling your body to get up, even when it wants to sleep. This is you practicing to dominate your body. If you do that over and over again, you are going to be able to train yourself to do difficult things. When you don't want to pick up the phone to make a sales call, train yourself by telling yourself to pick up the phone anyway. Make that first decision ad it will get easier. Winning the morning is important because it starts your day off with taking control. Tell yourself to do one thing and attack it.  Regardless of whether you're a night person or a morning person, your morning begins when you wake up. Wake up strong by doing it on purpose and with passion. Set up a routine, workout, eat right, fill your mind, and fill your heart.  There are two things that people often underestimate when trying to achieve greatness: How long it's going to take and how hard it's going to be. Whether you set a personal goal or a professional goal, don't underestimate how difficult it's going to be or how long it's going to take for you to achieve the goals. The danger in doing so is that you're mentally unprepared when adversity comes. When problems strike, many would-be performers pull the plug and give up. High-performers, on the other hand, have the ability to do hard things because they have acknowledged beforehand that achieving their goals may be hard. They've prepared themselves mentally and physically for the hard things.  Successful people didn't realize their achievements overnight. Many hours, days, months, and sometimes years are spent working towards their goals. They win the morning and keep going. Little things matter People tend to seek out the hard actions and don't realize the tedious detail-oriented things matter just as much. Examples are reading for on-going education and taking notes during training.  Great performers don't take these details for granted. The details that need to be executed will be different from one person to the next. The key is to find the details that apply to your success and whatever they are, do them.  Learn from failures The inability to learn from failure is the number one factor that destroys would-be performers. Many professionals from various careers and industries are afraid of failure.  It's not necessarily even the failure in itself, but their interpretation of failure. They perceive that failure means they're not good enough. These negative phrases that play over and over in someone's mind lead to feelings of failure but you can train yourself to understand these feelings don't reflect the truth of the situation. Instead of viewing failure negatively, It can be looked at as an opportunity to learn. Every successful entrepreneur has seen failure and fought against it. They overcome these adversities by using failures as a means to learn from their mistakes and get better.  Sarah Blakely, the CEO of Spanx, was asked why she's so good at her job. She attributed her success to the training that got from her father. Sarah's father would ask her, “How did you fail today and what did you learn from it?”  She grew up learning from failure. Those who are willing to learn from failure will fear it less and those who fear it less are more dangerous because they know how to use it. When you can wake up every morning, not being afraid of failure, you take the pressure off yourself.  You're able to go after your goals and take chances you might not have otherwise. You will experience failure but when you do, you'll know how to face it, learn from it, and overcome.  A laundry list of failures  Prepare yourself mentally for failure by listing all the ways you could fail. List them all no matter how simple, unlikely, or outrageous these failures could be. Once you have identified them, think of ways to respond to each of these scenarios and have a plan of action. Having a bounce-back plan gives you the confidence to take care of these potential adversities because now you know you have a course of action. This will save you from reacting emotionally and negatively when failure strikes and you will be less likely to give up.  Keeping the momentum We can start a new venture well but it takes the right traits and qualities to keep the momentum going. Typically, the problem isn't about the lack of motivation or the lack of competence.  Oftentimes, the problem lies in the size of the list.  Sometimes we have too many actions on the list and we become overwhelmed. It's important to start small. Start with one high-performance habit and when you achieve it, motivation will naturally fall into place. There are many elements to having mental toughness. The most important thing is to identify the one thing that keeps you from excelling right now and take on a new habit to defeat that mindset or situation. Hone in and develop the behaviors around that. Once you've automated that one habit, go onto the next one. It's a continuous learning process. It's continual growth and development until you become the successful person you want to become.  Do one more You can also develop mental toughness by doing something even if it's difficult to do. Your body will go where your mind takes you. The ‘do one more' principle means telling your body what you want it to do. This is one of the important habits that lead to success If a typical salesperson has a goal of talking to 10 prospects in one day, then don't be typical. Do one more. By making this decision, you've taken control.  Doing this over and over again will increase your motivation as you achieve your goals. This is one of the most powerful principles that you can develop.   High performers don't settle for average. They go up and beyond. They hit one more call, they read one more book, and they write one more email. That is the separating factor.  Fear no one Fear no one but be respectful to everyone. Treat everyone the same regardless of their social status and carry this mindset everywhere you go, regardless of who you're talking to.  Everyone is important.   Stop trying to read other people's minds because that will plant seeds of doubts in your own brain and you defeat yourself.  You're allowing other people to intimidate you because of the script you've created in your own mind. You may have a little trepidation but that's normal. Everyone feels some fear but you still have the opportunity to be courageous by acting despite the fear. Remember, anyone can be beaten.  Sponsorship Offers This episode is brought to you in part by Hubspot. With HubSpot sales hubs, your data tools and teams join a single platform to close deals and turn prospects into pipelines. Try it for yourself at hubspot.com/sales. 2.            This episode is brought to you in part by LinkedIn. Are you tired of prospective clients not responding to your emails? Sign up for a free 60-day trial of LinkedIn Sales Navigator at linkedin.com/tse. 3.            This episode is brought to you in part by the TSE Sales Foundation. Improve your connection on LinkedIn and land three or five appointments with our LinkedIn prospecting course. Go to the salesevangelist.com/linkedin. Credits As one of our podcast listeners, we value your opinion and always want to improve the quality of our show. Complete our two-minute survey here: thesalesevangelist.com/survey. We'd love for you to join us for our next episodes by tuning in on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Stitcher, or Spotify. Audio provided by Free SFX, Soundstripe, and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.

I provide initial takeaways after returning from Aspire Tour Atlanta and turn it over to Patrick Donohoe for a fresh perspective on the Hierarchy of Wealth in an interview with our colleague John Stewart, originally airing on the Perpetual Wealth Strategy podcast.   Highlights Successful entrepreneurs and business owners like Kevin O'Leary, Jesse Itzler, and Sarah Blakely are mentioned for imparting their wisdom at a particular event. Emphasis is put on consulting with a wealth strategist or financial team before making any important financial decision. The impact of past experiences and their influence on future financial decisions is talked about. The concept of single-dimensional and multi-dimensional approaches to wealth management is conversed. The concept of the hierarchy of wealth is outlined for understanding risk and return associated with various investments. The significance of keeping an emotion-free approach towards financial planning, especially in a technology-driven world, is highlighted. The importance of responsible spending and debt management as components of a good financial strategy are stressed. The universality of the principles of cash flow, protection, and wealth, and their applicability to individual goals are discussed. The hosts express their dedication to personal finance and their eagerness to educate and inspire their audience to elevate their wealth. Links and Resources from this Episode Connect with Gary Pinkerton https://www.paradigmlife.net/ gpinkerton@paradigmlife.net https://garypinkerton.com/ https://www.aspiretour.com/home https://paradigmclients.libsyn.com/2023  Review, Subscribe and Share If you like what you hear please leave a review by clicking here Make sure you're subscribed to the podcast so you get the latest episodes. Subscribe with Apple Podcasts Follow on Audible Subscribe with Listen Notes Subscribe with RSS

In this empowering episode of the Speak Like It Matters Podcast, join Csilla as she guides you through a transformative journey of self-discovery and mastery in the art of speaking. Whether you're a seasoned speaker or just starting out, this episode is designed to challenge limiting beliefs and unlock your true potential as a speaker and thought leader. Get ready to embark on a journey that will redefine your communication skills and elevate your impact!Key Takeaways:Recognizing the Speaker Within: Overcome the myth that not everyone is cut out to be a speaker. Discover how to harness your unique strengths for impactful communication.Pursuing Excellence in Speaking: Learn the importance of valuing and improving your speaking skills for both personal and professional growth.Strategic Growth as a Speaker: Be inspired by leaders like Sarah Blakely and Warren Buffet, and learn how to strategically develop your speaking abilities.Preparing for Thought Leadership Opportunities: Understand the importance of laying a solid foundation today to become a sought-after thought leader tomorrow.This episode of the Speak Like It Matters Podcast is more than just a listening experience; it's a call to action for anyone seeking to harness the power of their voice. Csilla's insights and strategies provide a clear path to not only enhancing your speaking skills but also preparing you for future opportunities in thought leadership. Don't miss this chance to transform your communication skills and make your voice heard.Download the Free Resource: Ready to dive deeper? Download "Your Ultimate Speaking Guide" and start your journey to becoming an expert speaker and thought leader. Download hereRemember, Csilla is here to guide you on this exciting journey of growth and empowerment. Your voice is not just powerful; it's essential. So, speak your truth and make it matter. Until next time, keep shining!Don't forget to connect with Csilla on social.Let's connect on IG at www.instagram.com/csillamuscanor on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/csillamuscan/

Welcome to Episode 207. In today's conversation, I actually had the wonderful opportunity to speak with Lana Ashby Rowder, the founder of LookingGlass Lifestyle, which is about styling yourself and leveraging technology in order to make this wonderful, wonderful gift of aesthetics, a possibility for every single person. I wanted to just share something before we jump in. Lana and I met at a library. It was me talking to strangers which brought us together. She helped me pick out the style that made sense for my book cover of Fertile Imagination. Cool, right? This conversation was on book launch day, and I'm sharing that with you because there was so much excitement in terms of the possibilities of this book. Also, the book managed to get to position one in the motherhood category and also number one in women in business as an Amazon bestseller.  If you love parties then please do say hi on Instagram which was where this party took place: https://www.instagram.com/melissallarena/ Shop/gift/review - Fertile Imagination: https://amzn.to/3F6AgMu TRANSCRIPT And so the conversation with Lana is very fitting as she is a woman in business and she's gone through her own career transitions, having been a nurse. before and now a business owner. So this is what I want to share with you. I want to share with you a review on Amazon for Fertile Imagination, my debut book. So the book is all about rediscovering yourself and really leveraging the power of your imagination for yourself as a mom. Oftentimes we imagine the best in everyone else. I mean, we're talking about like, we imagine the best in terms of some of our kids' teachers, in terms of our partners, in terms of are OBGYNs. And I want you to take that superpower, that amazing, unmagnificent vision you have for others, and turn it on yourself so that you can dream really, really big. So here is an Amazon review. It comes from someone named Andrew. So I just want to say that it's amazing how Andrew really gets moms. Because I resonated with his review on Amazon. He says, fertile imagination is a must-read for anyone feeling stuck in the merry-go-round of life. Ain't that the truth? I had to just interject. Using personal stories, interview excerpts, and creative exercises, Melissa inspires you to tap into your inner creativity and go after what you've always dreamed of. Even if you aren't a mom, this book will help get you unstuck when it comes to reaching your potential. I have found myself frozen sometimes when I think about what I want to accomplish and what I have yet to do. And I want to really be sure that you and I both have some sort of way to overcome those hurdles. And oftentimes you write the book that you need most. And that's why I wrote Fertile Imagination. So Andrew had an opportunity to write a review on Amazon, two to three sentences, sharing his opinion about Fertile Imagination, my book. And these reviews are so important, which is why I wanted to read it to you first because it give you a sense of whether the book is right for you or for a friend. But second, if Amazon sees that a book has a hundred Amazon reviews, It will then help market the book to new readers. And here's the deal. How amazing would that be for a mom who is purchasing holiday gifts for her family on Amazon to then get a little nudge from Amazon to see that, wow, there's this book called Fertile Imagination that could actually help me accomplish what I want to accomplish in the new year of 2024. They would have never seen it if Amazon didn't see that you wrote an Amazon review and about 3 million moms a day log into Amazon. Those are the statistics and that's a little bit of back-of-the-envelope math for you. So every single day that we are not at 100 reviews. Is a day that 3 million moms would not have seen that fertile imagination as a possibility for them too. So I really could use your help. I want to be sure that we get through that 100 Amazon reviews. So, off to the conversation with Lana. It is sensational. I absolutely love how thoughtful she was. And I also want to just give her a huge shout-out because she is looking for VCs. So if you think that Lookingglass lifestyle is an interesting opportunity for you, be sure to reach out to me via Instagram at Melissa Llarena. And now for the conversation with Lana, where we talk about speaking to your inner child. And she's a mom that has a little girl. And I wanted to just say that because I have all boys and I appreciate hearing from moms who have very different life experiences. So stay tuned for that as well.  Yeah, I want to talk about your book. So I didn't realize until today that you had been doing coaching for moms for like 12 years and that's is that what kind of got you to the point where you're like, I want to write a book on some of these stories or share some of these insights that I've learned is that what really propelled this? Yeah, 12 years of having a conversation that usually is held tightly guarded, like these secret conversations, right? Like I'm at work and I don't feel supported or I'm at work and I'm in this job and I don't know if I'm going to get to the C suite. There are all these emotions behind the scenes, especially with working moms in particular. So we have these inner conflicts that we're trying to untangle. And I even talk about that, like in the book, like it's like these knots in the back of our heads that are like impossible to unknot. And for me, I just felt like, okay, I'm having conversations with both working moms and also working dads. And that's not even a phrase, which is pretty interesting as I think about it. And they sound different. They really sound different. And I thought to myself, what if I shared a little bit of what I'm hearing from like, The guys and what I'm hearing from people that are not moms, and I empower moms to like have this like psychological flexibility with which they can create their own life experience like at home, at the office, anywhere you want to be. That's amazing. I know so many women are going to benefit from this book, moms especially. I had a similar experience. What you're talking about is when I was starting my company Looking Glass, it was like this gnawing in the back of my head that was like, there's more. There's more. Like, just try this thing. You have this idea. And like, I could not shake it no matter what I did, what I tried. And I sat on my idea for a while, but it, yeah, I think just everything you have in the book, encouraging moms to kind of, to find their purpose and stretch their imagination. That was the point that I really liked was the imagination. Like, Tapping into that what if that lets you play to your reference about Halloween this morning? Like what would you want to be when you grow up? Even if you're 40, what do you want to be?  Play like it's Halloween like you get to imagine how this can look for you. So I really love all your insights on that. Yeah, I think when you grow up and I say this as a mom who's been around the mom lights for 12 years now both in the U.S. and living abroad in Australia, what I have noticed is that there's this like, almost like kind of like, I give up. I shouldn't play. I'm too old for that. There's so much going on. I don't have time to like, introduce laughter in my life. It's all about like, do, do, do, the checklist, figuring out how much can get done in a day. And what happens is something that's really, really, Horrible for entrepreneurs, right? So as an entrepreneur, what I hear all the time is to enjoy the process. Well, how the heck am I supposed to enjoy the process? If I keep on adding even more pressure behind what needs to happen in the day. So one way to add a little bit of levity and to actually enjoy the process of motherhood of entrepreneurship, of being a partner in any other capacity. Is by finding a way to almost add a breath of fresh air to the moment. And so this is something that helps people not just with their children, like today, Halloween, like we are more playful today because our kids are dressed up and we're all having that fun with them. But like, let's say you're in like a very stressed situation, right? And right now you have a company and there are all these competitors coming into the marketplace. The best way for you to tackle any challenge, any creative challenge is to actually step away and like really daydream like Sarah Blakely, whom I'm wearing, by the way, because of your style, by the way, I have literally legit Sarah Blakely Spanx jeans on right now. She actually, yeah. Her best ideas came when she was daydreaming. Her best ideas happen when she's like playing with her four kids. This is something that is proven from a business perspective. Like I have Beth Comstock who was the former CMO of GE in my book. I interviewed her and she herself had gone to a Korean pop concert for divine inspiration for something that can add value to a manufacturing company like GE like playing can be profitable as much as it's fun and something you do with your kids. And I think that there's a lot that we need as moms. We need so many tools like our bags have everything, lipstick, mascara, but we need other tools that we can be like, all right, let me pull this out for when I don't know what to do. And your imagination is that versatile. Yeah. I like to look at kids in another way. Like I love the idea of mirroring them and thinking like, how do they play? Let's, we should also be playing like that. But one, one thing I love and  Breeja Larson talks about it in your book. Is that like, how would you speak to your inner child? And I've done this where when I wanted to launch my business or I thought I shouldn't go to that work event because my kids, my kids, my kids, I've flipped it in my head like, what would I tell my daughter? If my daughter wants to be a working mom and she wants to launch her business, would I tell my daughter, no, stay home and make spaghetti? Or would I tell her, you know what? Go out. Do that interview do that networking thing that you've been planning and just reach for the star So I've tried to shift it in my head. What advice would I give my daughter? When I'm thinking about my own decisions as a working mom.  Yeah Yeah, and and here's the thing. Let's just imagine your daughter did choose to make spaghetti we're in a situation right now where we have cellphones. So technically she could put her cell phone on a tripod, show up to that event, and show herself making spaghetti for her kids and still make a profit in whatever it is she chooses to do. Some straight-up people make spaghetti, record themselves, and make money doing so on Instagram. Right. So, we're in a world where you could actually have a situation where it's like, yes. And yes, I can show up to whatever, like a soccer game or whatever I could be present and focused. And then when the game is over on my way to the car, I could get back online, whatever needs to happen, and make those choices along the way. So I think, yeah, Breeja Larson is so kicked tush. I'm a mom, right? We can't use potty language, but she's so kicked tush. She's an Olympian swimmer for anyone who doesn't know her. And she was the one that said, basically, what about that little girl inside of you? Like, what is it going to take for you to when you're not motivated, jump into a cold pool and practice anyway? And for Breeja, it was conjuring that inner little girl. And as a mom today, it's Halloween. I want you to go back to when you were like eight years old. Like who did you dress as? Who did you want to be? What did you think you would look like or be like at this age right now? And, and how can you not let her down? And I think your imagination can help you figure out the how. Yeah, absolutely. The other thing I love about Rhea Larson is reading a book and knowing a little bit about her. She is an Olympic gold medalist in swimming with a breaststroke, and I have a daughter who does breaststroke and swims. But what I love about her is that she didn't start year-round swimming until she was much older. And so I love that too, like the mirror there for the moms, like, If you didn't start when you were 18 or in college or you took some time off or you decided to be a stay-at-home mom, it's not too late to now turn and pursue your dreams and train for something and learn a new skill and reach for the stars. So I really love, I love that part of her story. Yeah, and I think Breeja talks about it from a perspective of still being a child, technically, when she started her craft. But then there's also Theo, Theo Travers, who's in my book as well. He was the executive producer of the show Billions. He was in his 30s. And that's when he decided to go across the road, the road, go across the United States to Hollywood and like pursue writing, which at the time felt like something you would do super early in your career, not after being a TV journalist with a lot of success. Right. So I think this whole thing of, well, I should have done that when I was  18 or 20, that stops a lot of dreams from even having a chance. And so if you're. 30, 40, 50, 60, like straight up, you're the age you are period. Now we move forward. What can be done? What can you do? And maybe you can create your own category and whatever it is you want to pursue. Like there's sky's the limit with your imagination, right? Yeah. So why do you think that is? Why do you think moms in particular, come out of college, we're in college, we can do anything, and we can be anything we want to be. And then we stop, maybe we stay home for a while, we have kids, we kind of pursue more of a domestic role.  And then maybe we have these dreams. Why do you think moms kind of fall into that where they feel like they can't pursue those dreams anymore? What is it about motherhood or about being in this kind of middle life in the 30s, or 40s that kind of stops dreams from being pursued?  Yeah, it's, it's so funny because in the book, really what I share is this idea of holding yourself up to a higher standard than other people might hold you up to. And I think as a collective, as moms, there are certain excuses, and I'm just going to say the word excuses, that we've agreed are valid. And are the reasons why it's okay for us not to go after what we want. So one of the excuses might be something like I don't have the time, right? However, it's kind of funny how we might make the time to binge-watch something on Netflix But we don't have the time to go to the gym exercise blah blah blah. So it's like collectively accepting it. Just like when you're a mom, the notion I've heard is if you're a mom, then you no longer come first. Like it's no longer about you. You could take that really literally, right? And so it becomes any moment that you have to decide between your priorities and your child's, you're always going to choose yourself. Even if the consequence for your kid is not really a big deal. And I'm not talking about the serious stuff. Like you got to go to the hospital.  be on some sort of TV show. I'm talking about things like, Oh no, my kid is not going to show up with like a homemade Halloween costume today. Right. Versus man, I really want to do an Instagram live with Lana right now. So like right now, my, I know my kids are not having GMO-free snacks this second. Like they're literally at a. a theme park here in Austin that has sugar up the wazoo. Am I going to pay for it? Yes, I am. But that's what I chose for today. Right, right. Yeah, it's all a balance, right? I mean, I think to kind of play off what you're saying about the moms and the making excuses and why it's acceptable to not follow your dreams. One thing I noticed with my clients is being overwhelmed. And so they make excuses like, I don't really care what I look like, or I don't care. I'm 20 pounds heavier,, but I'm too busy to do anything about it. Or I don't care about clothes. So I don't care how I look in photos. But to me, as I've gotten to know a lot of my clients on a more personal level, and even taking this to my years as a nurse,  to me, that's just kind of a mask for overwhelm. They have this dream inside whether it's to have a new career or launch their own business or pursue. Painting, whatever it is, but the ideas of like, now that they're trying to figure out how to do it and learning it and starting something, it's just, they're so overwhelmed by all the other balls that they have in the air that they just kind of maybe say, I don't care about that. Or I used to want to do this, but like, I can't do it now because, to me, it's just an underlying feeling of they're just overwhelmed and they don't know how to act on it.  I think one of the early readers of my book was saying that really sometimes we're also intimidated by our own dreams. And so if that mom that you are saying feels overwhelmed, maybe she's overwhelmed because she assumes that pursuing this business idea, for example, like she's going to have only like her current level, like information, her current level relationships, current level skills. But in the book, what I share is that you tend to grow with your dreams. So like last year, if someone told me, Melissa, you would have to figure out how to get like the interior of your book ready and set and into like amazon.com. For example, I would have been like, oh my god I don't have my book yet, right? I would have been so scared and I didn't have certain Facebook groups that I would ask these questions to But as I've grown along with my dream as I'm executing on my dream I've been able to increase my capacity, and also figure out where I have gaps and I don't know anything. So I've been able to figure out like, who can I ask that has already accomplished what I wish to accomplish. So like that mom, to your point, like, let's say you're overwhelmed, right? You want to have, for example, beautiful holiday photos, right? And you see all these holiday photos every year that come to your house. And you like, I'm making this up, tape them to your wall. Some of us do that, right? Or you like to hold them as this beautiful, like the reflection of a perfect life. Why is it that my kids have their fingers in their nose and their picture or Tommy has a Mohawk and I'm not into that, right? Like if you feel, if you see that disconnect in the moment. All you have to do is just say to yourself, okay, wait a minute, let me just start with the one picture I really liked. Let me call that one mom and let me just ask her, like, did you have a stylist? Did you hire a photographer? Like did you tell your kids that you would take them to Disney World if they stood still? You know what I mean? Like you just ask one person. That you admire, like the result of their efforts, just like what, what did they do? And if we're more open about our dreams, even if they intimidate us or overwhelm us or our ambitions, even if they embarrass us too, that's the other thing where we, we feel that's one step forward to actually reducing overwhelm. Yeah.  So do you feel like moms, it's hard for them to be vulnerable at this point when they're talking about their own dreams and their own things for the sake of looking silly or embarrassed around other moms in the community? Or why is it that we stopped sharing the things that we're passionate about that aren't related to our family and our kids?  Yeah. So here's the thing. We all want to evolutionarily be part of a group, right? And so if a group with which you hang out with our moms who look put together, who show up at Halloween with like all the bells and whistles of Halloween stuff and, and you all of a sudden want to do your own thing. thing and be a little different, you're going to then feel like the group is no longer going to accept me. Like my mom, friends are going to think that I am, and I'm making this up, but like me with a book, for example, right? Like right now I have a book and a lot of the people that I've engaged with, they don't have a book, but they have a book inside of them, right? They have a book in their heart. And so sometimes even for me, like I might feel like okay let me not mention today's book launch day because like what if that makes them feel bad or makes them feel any sort of feelings that are not positive also what if now they don't look at me in the same way? What if now when they say I have a book in me, they feel embarrassed because I have a book outside of me? So it's really group dynamics. And it's about just like this need to feel like we're in a group of people who accept us. And if we start doing things differently than the people with whom we hang out with, we will, and this is the truth, we will notice a couple of differences. And it's all a matter of like, who do you want to be? Who do you want to be? And I think that's a question we don't take time to ask ourselves.  Yes,  absolutely. So what can we do as fellow moms when we're in these groups to maybe help women express their dreams? Or what questions can we ask? How should we be reacting when they do open up and share?  Yeah, so I would say the best thing that you can do is ask the mom a follow-up question, right? So I love asking questions, which is why in the book I have like five questions for every single chapter that a mom can reflect upon and I have questions you could answer like Five minutes by yourself for like five hours. It depends on you. And I would say, ask a mom. Okay. Wow. That's interesting. What made you want to pursue that? Like, that's a super simple question. That's interesting. What made you want to pursue that? Or another question could be, that's really cool. Tell me more. Super basic. You're just asking them to express themselves. And the beauty is having been a coach for 12 years in the capacity where I'm helping people land these like six figure corporate jobs, et cetera, is that I'm using the same skills, but for moms who are entrepreneurs and who just needs to flesh out their ambitions. And as it relates. to our Children. And I actually have a five-day challenge on my website that moms can go to. Just go to the link in my bio. But as it relates to your kids, your kids are like amazing question-askers. That's the bomb, right? Two. They also force us to be really simple with how we express our ideas, and that's key to sales as well. So if you have an idea in your heart and you tell someone the idea you could tell your kids that idea and ask them to Talk back to you and say what did you understand by that? But if you are someone in a mom group and someone says it's like a wacky idea quote unquote what you might want to do is just Ask wow, that's interesting. Tell me more and leave it at that. You don't have to put judgment or improve it or anything. Just tell me more is, is really amazing. Actually, it feels good. I think  I was going to say in the role of a mom, like having somebody else be like, tell me more and getting the opportunity to talk about like what's in your heart and not having to talk about kids and other things. And someone just genuinely showing interest in your dream and just really giving you permission and the space to like. put that out there in the universe and speak it to life and tell people like I do have this idea and You never know where that's gonna lead that may lead to them being like I know a book publisher Or I have a friend who already published a book. Let me hook you up So you mentioned this really early on when I hopped on and I think it's been so true and valuable for me It's like just speak it out there Talk to people find people at the library like you and I met to ask them what they think about this ask them just make conversations because there are so many great people out there that want to connect and want to help fellow moms. And I've been so fortunate to have a couple of mentors that have really connected the dots with me. But it just started with me having a little bit of courage to really be honest about what I wanted to do. Yeah.  And I think here's the thing, like,  again, it's about what, what's been heard before from mom circles before. So like, it's common, for example, for a mom to say, I want to be a teacher, for example, right? Because like, the summer's off and all of that stuff. It's common for a mom to say, Oh, I want to participate more heavily in like the parent-teacher groups and all of that. And I know it's uncommon to say, I want to be invested or backed by a VC within like 90 days, or I want my app to hit like 20 million downloads within X period of time. That's uncommon. And that's why for me, fertile imagination means that you have a vision that's. so big that maybe you've never seen it done by a mom before, but you've got the guts to go after it anyways. And that's the distinction. So I think it's about figuring out what's common and just letting go of that and being uncommon. And I think that's okay. It's so amazing., I read a couple of chapters. I just bought the book this morning. when it officially went on sale. But I can't wait for all moms to read this and just the reach that you're gonna have with this book. I think it's really gonna hit a lot of hearts in the mom communities and really just tap into that kind of loneliness or maybe unsureness and just really give a lot of people the courage to look inside themselves. And be honest about their dreams, and, I think your book is going to do a lot of great things. Thank you so much, Lana. This has been sensational. I think you have to become a journalist, girl. No, not at all, but I do have to run to parent-teacher conferences, but I have one more question for you. I want to know, as I have the book and I want to gift it to others for the holidays. I think it's such a great book to give to mom groups or to give to the teachers as a Christmas present. But what was your favorite chapter of the book that you wrote? For me, it was the one with Diane Bell when I was comparing winning a Sundance award to tandem nursing, my identical twins. That was my favorite because to tell that story, anyone, anyone that's attempted to nurse one baby. Yeah. Please just imagine what it's like to tandem nurse two and the award that all moms around the universe get for feeding their kids in any way that they decide is like, I mean, we need like golden whatever is out there. The Nobel Peace Prize. Let's give ourselves that. How about that?  I know. I think we don't give ourselves enough credit as moms. It's like, if we can do all these other things, why can't we be a BC-back company? Why can't we start our own? Store or jewelry line or whatever it is Like we've done amazing things and I think something happens along the way where we sell ourselves short a little bit But you're right I think looking back and being like these are great successes and I did all these things and I can do so much more Absolutely. Thank you so much. Lana. This has been amazing Congratulations. I'm so proud of you. I can't wait for everybody to read it. Good job. Thank you All right. We'll talk soon. Bye, Can I just say that the different women who interviewed me on book launch day are sensational. So I wanted just to leave you with this one point. If you feel like you would advise your child to go and take a risk or skip making a spaghetti dinner or, you know, do something for themselves when they had the option to do something for their family. And it might have not been a big deal for their family if we're honest about it. If you feel like you would have provided that suggestion, then do the same thing for yourself.  As you think about the holidays, there are so many things that you can do to make the holidays magic for your family, but why not consider doing something magical for yourself? And I want to just invite you to do that. So please help me out. Go ahead to amazon.com. Look up Fertile Imagination. I will put this in the show notes as well. And then if you're on your cell phone, you could just scroll down to write a review and write a review for Fertile Imagination. If you have yet to shop the book Fertile Imagination, then I wanna invite you to shop the book, shop the book, because it is a testament to both being a wonderful parent and also. Being totally excited by what you want to bring to the world, right? Having nothing to do with your family, but everything to do with your heart's desire. And I want us to really see more wonderful things out in the world. I think we can all use wonder right now. So I invite you to shop the book for yourself or shop the book for a mom who you believe in. You're literally telling her I believe in you by buying Fertile Imagination. So just head on over to Amazon.com shop the book and leave a review. We want to reach those 3 million a day moms shopping on Amazon so that they can see that fertile imagination is an option for them. Thank you so much and happy December.   

Let's talk about some failures today. Before we dive in, there are a few things that I want to share about failing. Whilst I don't want to fail, I'm not scared of it. I know that to grow any business is going to take a lot of failing so I'm okay with it. I think where I draw the line is not having massive fails. So I don't take huge risks. I take small risks often and if things start to work out or seem to be working out then I'll go bigger. But there are 2 people that I think about when it comes to failing. Sarah Blakely from Spanx shares the story that her dad used to ask her and her brother every day what they had failed at, because if they hadn't failed then they hadn't tried something new. Economies of fail which Steven Bartlett from Diary of a CEO talks about. He shares a story about a father and son who worked together in a big business. The father had one business and the son had the other. The son would jump on things that Steven suggested they tried and they would fail a lot but when something worked it worked so well and went so viral that it counteracted any of the failures. The father would take the suggestion, sit on it, ask a lot of people and then by the time he has decided that he might want to try it, and by then it would be too late and the opportunity would have passed. So if you're not failing at some things in your business then maybe you're not trying enough new things. haha Let's talk about one of my fails, because friend I've had a lot and I'm okay with that. One that I've been kicking myself for a while about is - a few years ago the business was booming. I had loads of clients, I was doing $50-$80k months with a few $100k months thrown in there and 2 things happened I will be sure don't happen again. I got complacent. We weren't marketing or running ads so list building slowed down and I just took things for granted that it would always be that good. Like I was riding the high and I had made it. But as we know - what goes up must come down! The 2nd thing that happened is because I had a lot of clients I had a bit of brain fail. When I was trying to create content I was thinking about my current clients and everything that I was working with them on and so when it came to creating content my brain kept telling me - no they know that - because obviously I was teaching my current clients my strategies - so I wasn't sharing content that was building new followers and new leads. There are a lot of other lessons I share in this episode to be sure to listen through to the end!   **********************   NEXT STEPS: APPLY FOR THE AMPLIFY MASTERMIND - Click here to apply (scale) BOLD BUSINESS ACADEMY - Click here to Join now (foundational) **** FREE: Simple Business Buckets training - Understand what to focus on in your business https://suzchadwick.com/simple-biz-buckets-sign-up  Masterclass - 5 powerful strategies to grow your business, brand & revenue https://suzchadwick.com/bba-masterclass-registration  **** LINKS: Website: www.suzchadwick.com  Instagram: www.instagram.com/suzchadwick  TikTok: www.tiktok.com/suzchadwick 

Rejection: What can we learn from it? THAT is the question we need to be asking, not “How can I avoid rejection?” Because we can't — failure and rejection are just parts of life. It's also a part of your journey as an artist. Rejection doesn't mean you suck. Hell, even the greats faced failure and rejection. Any time you fall down, it simply means you're showing the eff up (and learning along the way). But to reap all the benefits and lessons that come from experiencing rejection, you have to first shift your mindset.  Failure can easily knock us down, but it's how we get up that counts. And in this episode, I'll show you a few ways to do that (as someone who has experienced rejection many, many times).  Make sure to subscribe to this podcast so you don't miss a thing! And don't forget to come hang with me on Instagram @jodie_king_. Interested in being a guest on a future episode of Honest Art? Email me at amy@jodieking.com! Resources mentioned: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-alchemist-paulo-coelho/6433883  Studio Elite applications/info: https://www.jodiekingart.com/studioelite  Sarah Blakely, Inventor of Spanx: https://www.instagram.com/sarablakely/?hl=en  The Station: A Reminder to Cherish to Journey by Robert Hastings: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-station-a-reminder-to-cherish-to-journey-robert-hastings/20171318  Lao Tzu Philosophy on Habits: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/8203490-watch-your-thoughts-they-become-your-words-watch-your-words  Get Jodie's Guided Meditation for Creative Clarity: https://www.jodiekingart.com/guided-meditation  For a full list of show notes and links, check out my blog: www.jodieking.com/podcast  

The Jason & Scot Show.  Podcast about e-commerce and digital shopper marketing. Editor note: We're trying some fun new AI features for this episode. The following show notes were written by ChatGPT. We're also let AI remove all the "stop words" in our audio, and we've switched from Google to OpenAI for our audio transcription. Let us know your feedback. In this episode of the Jason and Scot show, our special guest is Sean D. Nelson, the CEO and founder of Lovesac. He shares his inspiring journey of starting the company as a beanbag business in his basement and growing it into a successful public company. Sean highlights the key moments of his entrepreneurial journey, including winning a million dollars on Richard Branson's reality TV show and navigating the ups and downs of the business. Sean has upcoming book and podcast, both entitled "Let Me Save You 25 Years: Mistakes, Miracles, and Lessons from the Lovesac Story." Sean emphasizes the importance of being a direct-to-consumer brand and how Lovesac has found sustained success by focusing on customer acquisition costs and offering a high-quality product. He discusses the concept of direct-to-consumer and shares his thoughts on its significance. Sean believes that having a differentiated product that provides value to customers is crucial, rather than simply relying on an online sales strategy. The conversation also touches on the topic of innovation and how Lovesac has been able to push the boundaries of what a furniture company can offer. Sean discusses their Stealth Tech innovation, which incorporates surround sound into their couches, as well as their commitment to creating products that are built to last and designed to evolve. Sean acknowledges the challenges of operating in physical retail and highlights the importance of their showrooms in reducing customer acquisition costs and providing a hands-on experience for customers. He also mentions their partnerships with Best Buy and Costco to expand their reach. The discussion expands to the future of retail and e-commerce, with Sean mentioning the transformative role of AI but cautioning that it takes time for movements to fully evolve. He emphasizes the importance of being patient and keeping an eye on developments in the industry. The conversation concludes with Sean expressing his long-term commitment to Lovesac and his desire to build something meaningful rather than focusing solely on personal gain. Listeners are invited to check out Sean's podcast and website, as well as his upcoming book, which will be released in January. Overall, this episode provides insights into the journey and philosophy behind Lovesac's success and offers valuable perspectives on entrepreneurship, innovation, and the future of retail. Chapters 0:00:46 Introduction and Welcome to the Show 0:08:36 The Journey of Love Sack: From Highs to Lows 0:12:05 Love Sack's Traditional IPO and Company Performance 0:15:49 The Importance of Having a Differentiated Product 0:19:49 The Value and Overhype of Market Movements 0:23:18 Sactionals: Built to Last, Designed to Evolve 0:25:56 Driving a Movement for Sustainable Consumerism 0:31:36 Innovation and the Evolution of Lovesac's Product Line 0:37:07 The Strength of Lovesac's Physical Showrooms in the DTC Landscape 0:40:03 Testing and Learning: Mobile Concierge and Shop and Shop 0:41:52 AI's transformative role in the future of technology 0:50:08 Long-Term Vision vs Quick Profit Episode 313 of the Jason & Scot show was recorded on Thursday, November 9th, 2023. Transcript Jason: [0:23] Welcome to the Jason and Scot show. This episode is being recorded on Thursday, November 9th, 2023. I'm your host, Jason "RetailGeek" Goldberg, and as usual, I'm here with your co-host, Scot Wingo. Scot: [0:37] Hey, Jason, and welcome back. Jason and Scot show listeners. Jason, we're very fortunate to have a entrepreneur on the show. I'm the entrepreneur side of our partnership. So I always really enjoy these. Introduction and Welcome to the Show [0:49] We have on the show, Sean D. Nelson. He is the CEO and founder of Lovesack. And a little birdie told me that he recently started a podcast himself. He started Love Sack as a beanbag company in his basement when he was around 18. And now it's a public company and doing relatively large revenues over 600 kind of run rate. If I look at the last quarter, I took a little glance at that. Sean, welcome to the show. Shawn : [1:13] Thank you. Thanks for having me. Great to be with you. Jason: [1:16] We are thrilled to have you, Sean. Listeners always like to kind of get the background. I'm imagining you don't have a deep background before you started Love Sack because you started it so young. But can you, like where were you in life when that brought you to start build your own product? Shawn : [1:34] Yeah, strangely, 25 years in and still running the same company I founded as my side hustle in college, which is exactly what Love Sack was. So 95, all the way back then, I made a giant not bean bag because I thought it would be funny. I literally, 10 days out of high school, got off the couch at my parents' house, having this dumb idea, like, how about a beanbag, like, me to the TV, like, the whole floor, like, huge. Drove down to the fabric store, bought some fabric, brought it home, cut it out, and then began sewing it up, broke my mom's sewing machine, neighbor finished it, took three or four weeks to try and stuff it, originally with beads, but couldn't possibly find enough, so looked around the house, I just found out my parents' camping mattresses chopped up yellow foam, you know, like those yellow slabs of foam you take camping, on a paper cutter in the basement. And eventually, I mean, foam, packing peanuts, old blankets, had this thing stuffed and started using it out and about through university, taking it camping, back of the truck, driving movies. Ended up putting it away for a couple years. And by the way, everywhere I took it, everybody wants one. Like everyone's always like, Oh my gosh, what is that thing? Where'd you get it? I was like, I'll never make another one. It was such a pain in the butt and put it away for a couple of years to go be a missionary for my church. [2:58] And came back to finish up university in 1998. And that's when I founded the company. Cause people kept bugging me to make them one. And it became my side hustle in college. And we tried to sell these things eventually beyond our friends and family and beer fest, May fest, October fest, car shows, boat shows, 10 by 10 booths, how we got started. Tried to sell them to furniture stores and they laughed at us and told us it was a dumb idea. [3:34] Eventually, at a trade show got discovered by the limited to this is like, you would not today as justice like in the malls, like little girls pink and purple fuzzy stuff for their bedrooms and, and clothing. Anyway, they ordered 12,000 little love sacks, not knowing it was me and a buddy and like a woodchipper shredding foam in the back of this furniture place. And, and that forced us to source over in Asia, which is, you know, where I had served my mission. So I speak Mandarin Chinese. There's a whole story there I won't get into it it was just kind of one thing led to another led to another week we built a factory to support that 12,000 sack order we then went out to the furniture stores who again laughed at us didn't want our $500,000. [4:19] Beanbags having completed that order wanting to keep the factory going so we finally opened our own store in a mall that didn't even want us there but finally capitulated let us in because they We had a space to fill for the holiday season, in Salt Lake City, Utah, and it just exploded. We did a good job, carpet paint, neon sign, made it look like a proper mall chain store selling giant beanbags, and it just took off. Like, it worked. People came in, flopped down, music bumpin', big screen TV, playin' movies, had a great time. There was a couch in the corner to look pretty, be part of the decor. People kept asking about the couch, And that led us to eventually, many stores later, many states later, invent Saxionals, which is our modular sofa solution, which now drives almost 90% of our sales today. So we're more a couch company by far today than we are a beanbag company. And there was a whole, listen, I'm skipping over decades of time really, but there was a whole transition where we... We went through after we invented the sectionals and solved all these problems people have with couches not only can you ship it to your house via FedEx which was hyper relevant you know for. [5:32] E-commerce and digital marketing obviously but it's watchable and changeable, and movable and it can be with you the rest of your life that that led us to a whole design philosophy that now. [5:42] Drives are innovation we think is a really cool secret sauce called design for life but. 10, 20, 50, 100, 250 locations now. We came public in 2018 on about 100 million in sales. Right around the time there was just tons of fervor in this direct consumer movement. We had farted around, we'll call it as a furniture store, selling rugs and lamps and bowls and baskets and all the obvious things along the way. And it was really when we purged all that stuff around 2015, seeing the Caspers of the world emerge and Warby Parker's and even Tesla with their showrooms. Could we adopt a more e-commerce-led model with showrooms for people to kick the tires, so to speak? And that transition is really what unlocked the lovesack that you see today and where most of our growth has come since about 2015, 16, when we made that pivot, took the company public, wrapped around that direct consumer story. So we're not a digitally native brand originally, we were actually a retailer that pivoted and became digitally led. And now we don't even operate stores in the traditional sense. We don't, we don't stock things there. You know, you don't walk out of there with your product. They're all really online sales and those showrooms are extremely powerful mechanisms for helping people make up their mind around a five or 10, $15,000. [7:06] Purchase where they want to see the thing and sit on it and, and, and see if it's everything it's cracked, it's cracked up to be online. And so we, we, we believe that we really, uh, through that arc. And then by the way, since coming public, I don't know, six, seven X, the company this year, you know, we'll, we'll be on a run rate to the analysts were a public company. So the analysts show us around, you know, it's called 700 plus in revenue and profitable, very profitable and cash generative. So we think, you know, the direct consumer game, in a lot of respects, Love Sack is one of the unlikely winners of that entire movement. Because I think at that scale, there are very, very few, what I call successful direct to consumer brands. And so we're really proud of that. And it's been a long saga, and we continue to grow and change and adapt and evolve. Jason: [8:01] It's an amazing story. And we definitely want to unpack it. But I want to go all the way back to the beginning for one second. Did that neighbor who helped finish sewing the first prototype get any equity? Shawn : [8:13] No, it was my ex-girlfriend's, mom, so about the time she exited, you know. No, it was just a friendly favor, but the truth is a lot of people helped out along the way, and a lot of people had equity or have equity in Love Sack from along the way, but look, we've been through every high, every low. Somewhere in the middle there, I skipped over it just because of brevity. Not only did I win a million dollars on TV with Richard Branson, The Journey of Love Sack: From Highs to Lows [8:38] his reality TV show on Fox Network back in 2005, if you can believe that, the rebel billionaire. But I also guided the company through a complete chapter 11 reorganization back in 2006, spearheaded by Venture Capital, which was painful and ugly and embarrassing and humiliating. So we've been through every kind of thing over these better than two decades. Scot: [9:01] Yeah, my deep dive question is, when you rented or bought the wood chipper, did you tell them you'd be throwing foam in there, or did they think you were clearing up a tree? Shawn : [9:09] Oh, that's so the original story. Yeah, the original woodchipper actually, you know, if you've ever used one in your backyard or, you know, you shove sticks into these things, that's basically what the original shredder was. And it was in the back room of this furniture factory already. They had used it back in the seventies to shred foam, but it had an electric motor, right? Instead of like, okay. Scot: [9:30] So it's okay to be inside here. Shawn : [9:32] Well, yeah, but I had to rehab it because it hadn't been used in like a decade or two because shredded foam had fallen out of favor in furniture. And then later to do that bigger order, we couldn't afford like a proper German, shredder, so we ended up driving out to farm country to find more of those same kind of shredders and actually found a hay grinder called a hay buster can shred 2000 pounds at a whack. Scot: [9:57] And that's a lot of power. Shawn : [9:59] Yeah, it's powered by a tractor. So we, you know, agricultural loan for tractor and hay grinder. I mean, crazy, crazy story in the beginning. Scot: [10:07] Yeah, as a family, you gotta figure out how to get it done, right? Whatever it takes. Shawn : [10:12] Whatever it takes. Scot: [10:13] I didn't know the Richard Branson thing, so that was interesting. Did he like, was he an active investor, or that's like one of those things where his people kind of take over and you never hear from him again? Shawn : [10:22] No, I mean, it was a weird situation. He had a reality TV show, 2004-5, The Rebel Billionaire, you know, whatever, 16 contestants. It was like The Apprentice, but not for apprentices, for entrepreneurs. So my runner-up on the show was Sarah Blakely of Spanx, gives you an idea. Scot: [10:38] Oh, okay, cool, neat. Shawn : [10:39] Yeah, yeah, so we became great friends, she and I, Richard and I. I ended up also being named President of Virgin Worldwide for a minute as part of the prize, believe it or not. So, worked with Richard, worked with all of his CEOs. Totally weird outcome. And, you know, but huge, huge blessing and a huge piece of story. And he was involved in sort of our VC round that ensued on the tail of that. Scot: [11:06] Okay, and then I think I saw that you guys were on Shark Tank, right? You were like one of those that you know, kind of one of the big success stories. Was that the OG Shark Tank or? Shawn : [11:16] No, we weren't on Shark Tank. A lot of people thought that. There was a Love Sack copycat that's on Shark Tank. Okay, and so they got... Scot: [11:23] I was confused because like Google says you were and then I was like, but then I couldn't find the episode. Jason: [11:28] There's a whole TikTok channel dedicated to Love Sack and Shark Tank and it's super weird. Shawn : [11:36] That's super, yeah, people get confused. Scot: [11:42] Yeah, yeah, super weird. Yeah. And then when you did your IPO, was it a traditional IPO or did you guys get caught up in the SPAC craziness? Shawn : [11:51] No, we did a traditional IPO back in 2018 and you know, our stock has been really volatile for lots of different reasons that, you know, COVID was crazy, but the company performance has been really solid. So we're just trucking. Love Sack's Traditional IPO and Company Performance Scot: [12:06] He, I think, was at Graham that said in the short-term it's an emotional machine, in the long-term it weighs your financials. So you got to, it's very hard, you know, I took a company public, not to the level you have. And yeah, it is, I was like, I'm not going to look at the stock, it's not going to influence me. And then suddenly everyone's like, are we making the quarter? And it's like, okay. And then suddenly it's very hard to get out of that, that short-term mindset. So congrats to you for sticking to it for so long. Shawn : [12:29] Yeah, look, I'm actually a big advocate of it, having lived inside of it now for almost six years. Scot: [12:36] Yeah, the transparency is good, you know, and I like that part of it, I think that's good for, you know, to kind of have to put out everything that you're doing, you know, it's a, the ultimate, yeah, it's like, yeah, transparency tends to be a good thing. Shawn : [12:48] I think it's the right way for companies to be governed and ran. Anyway, we could get into that if you want. Scot: [12:56] Yeah, I like the, you know, and you talked about all the other, we call them digitally native vertical brands, like the Warby's and Bonobos and all that. And yeah, a lot of them have not made it past kind of like that hundred million dollar level. And you guys have obviously, you know, six, seven X that, which is awesome. And then, you know, the big knock on Casper for a long time was as we've actually had this guy, Dan on the show, people were able to pick apart the CAC LTV and they found the average selling price was like, Jason will know these numbers, but it was like 350 and their cost to acquire a customer was 400. And they were like, you know, that obviously wasn't sustainable. So it's pretty neat that you guys have figured that out. Shawn : [13:36] Yeah. I mean, that's at the root of why obviously we've had some sustained success. And I think it's also at the root of why there are almost no other direct consumer brands making any money. End of story, full stop. And it's pretty fascinating to watch the whole thing unfold, because it really has been a movement for almost a decade. Scot: [14:01] Yeah, and I don't want to dig into the information you don't divulge publicly, so this is not a trap or anything but is it because the selection or your products, you've kind of cracked the code on Kakao TV, like what do you, and I don't want to know any methods or anything. and what do you attribute it to? Shawn : [14:18] Look, I think, let's start at the root. I think that many companies, product companies, let's start there, overlook the fact that you need a really good product. I think they pick a category and they say, oh, it could be a direct consumer brand. And the truth is, what does that even mean? Do you mean, because here's the funny thing. When I hear analysts and industry people talk about direct consumer, it has become synonymous over the last decade as it's unfolded today with e-comm. Oh, you mean you're an e-comm company and in many cases you do half of your sales through wholesale. So what does it even mean? I mean, if you want to talk about a direct consumer brand, LoveSack may be the most direct. We don't have any wholesale. I'm talking zero, and we only sell through our own channels, whether it's our website or our showrooms. And we have these partnerships, for instance, where we operate our own showrooms inside of a Best Buy or a Costco. [15:26] But you know, so this whole phrase even, direct-to-consumer, I think is really kind of silly. You mean you're a company that sells stuff online and maybe in showrooms and maybe in wholesale? So you're a company that sells stuff. So let's start with stuff. And you have to make, I think, if you want to be successful in the world, it's not a new concept. You have to have... A great product or or you have to have some other really. Hiller efficiency The Importance of Having a Differentiated Product [15:52] and i think what most have discovered it was a list again over this long decade of direction sumer evolution is that without a really differentiated product. You're just another company with a clever name lots of funding and if you throw lots of money at anything it's gonna grow. But you need to be differentiated. So Love Sack, you know, start with the giant beanbags. They were unique, especially in their day. There's tons of copycats out there now. [16:24] Sactionals are extremely unique. The problem is they photograph just like any other sectional sofa. Like if you took an image of Sactionals and an image of one of, you know, out of any competitor that sells couches, ours looks a lot like theirs. But the difference, the differences are myriad in terms of their washability, changeability, quality, and modularity, and many of those aspects, especially on the modular side, are patented at LoveSac. And so once you dig into it, you find that that's the number one driving factor, is we have a product that's truly differentiated, truly gives more value to the customer, and therefore, we can extract more from the market. It's really that simple, right? And that's at the root of why our CLV to CAC ratio it was so high and sustainable and cash-generative and profitable. And then we could go down all kinds of other paths. We could talk about our website, execution and stuff like that. And all of it needs to be there. Look, running a business is multifaceted and difficult. But at the root of it is that. Jason: [17:27] For sure. One of the things I sort of admire about your company is the original premise was not to have a particular go-to-market strategy. It was to have this great product that people wanted to have in their lives, right? And it feels to me like that, the whole quote unquote D to C movement, like this notion that before you solve any other problem, you're just gonna put a flag in the ground, like this is how you're gonna go to market, that just, it just seems silly because that may not be how the customer wants to acquire your product. Shawn : [18:00] Yeah, I think you're right. And I think that, so I think that whole movement that we're a part of, so I don't mean to like bag on the movement. I'm just an observer as well. Like I've been living in it, right? And we put, and I'm being really transparent, we put on those clothes very intentionally. [18:16] Because people that planted those flags were getting funded. People that planted those flags were being understood at the time. And these movements come. Right now, I could hold up a flag that said AI on it and go out there and raise a bunch of money and do something. And in the end, 99 out of 100 of those, flags are going to fall by the wayside after having tons of money thrown at them and Probably 1% of them will go on to you know be the next Googlers or who knows what right? But these movements come and go and and and I'm and this is what I'm saying You gotta be careful. I'm not bagging on the movement because these movements are useful these movements drive economic activity these movements drive innovation But they're often way overhyped, not as, I think, not as, so, you know, I mean, we could get into AI, you guys are, I'm sure, tracking it just like I am. What does that even mean? Oh, you mean like software? You mean like software that, that does stuff in an automated fashion? Like is that, is that, is it really that new? But it doesn't matter. It's a story that's being heard. It's a story that's being understood and it's where the momentum is. And so if you're able to wield, take advantage of these movements in the marketplace to your end, that's what, and that's exactly what LoveSack did. We put on those clothes, we took a concept that had been around for a long time, our concept. [19:42] And look, in the end, the thinking and the development and even like, let's say the web services and all the things available to that movement that The Value and Overhype of Market Movements [19:49] were spun up because of that movement, we benefited from. The money raising pricing aside, momentum, going public, whatever, all these things aside. So that's why I'm saying I think that there is value in these movements, but fundamentally, you still need to have a great business, a great product, something that's truly differentiated, because anyone with some funding can go out, buy a logo, buy a name, and look like they know what they're doing. Jason: [20:20] And yeah, for sure. And to your point, there's a, there's a funny data by going around in, in our industry this week that like over a hundred million dollars or I'm sorry, Amazon's GMV is, I'm sorry, a hundred billion dollars of Amazon's GMV is from AI. And you hear that and you're like, oh my God, that's huge. And then you find out it's product recommendation tiles that they launched in 1997. Shawn : [20:45] Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Jason: [20:47] Which, yeah. Yeah, so I do just want to like kind of wrap up this section, but put it in context. When you open that first store in a mall, like the mall competition for furniture stores was like Expressions Furniture, right? Which no one on this call would even remember probably. And then like by the time you really, after your IPO and really caught fire, you were competing directly against all these D to C companies that were expanding in malls. You were probably competing for leases. Shawn : [21:18] Yeah. Jason: [21:19] It's quite the, quite the journey. Now, Scot mentioned at the beginning of the show that you had recently started a podcast and I'm two part question. How the heck did you have time to start a podcast and tell us what the premise behind the podcast is and what you're talking about? Shawn : [21:36] Sure. Yeah. Just to comment first on what you pointed out, there is this whole strip in the malls now out there right now. But by the way, in these shopping malls that I was told were dead, you know, I could read the headlines of shopping malls are dead back in 2001 when I was opening my first shopping mall and I was forwarded those kind of emails by friends and family who were concerned. And here we are in 2023 and while these things change, they take decades to change. Meanwhile, they've evolved and you have all of these direct consumer players now and it It just cycles through, you know? What the players inside of these shopping centers happen to rotate, and I've watched it all evolve, and by the way, they're rotating again, because a lot of those players are not viable. Some of the best ones, biggest ones, you know? Like, concepts like Peloton, who I think is amazing as a concept, you know? They have their struggles, and so we watch these things evolve. In terms of, the podcast is relevant to this. Let me explain why. We had the chicken, I'm going to go, given the nature of what your podcast is, I'll give you a much broader picture than just, hey, why am I recording a podcast on my own and writing a book? [22:55] It works like this. We had the chicken before the egg. Sactionals being the chicken, we discovered, as we observed and had success with it, we believe are so successful because they are are built to last a lifetime and designed to evolve. Like those two attributes in our product are quite unique. And those two attributes underpin what we call our designed for life philosophy. Sactionals: Built to Last, Designed to Evolve [23:21] I did not found Love Sack to make products that are super sustainable, sustain hyphenable. In other words, things that actually sustain. Who's talking about that? I was just trying to survive. I made a big beanbag, people liked it. Made a couch because people were asking about couches. who has solved all these problems, observed the success, and that success was rooted in the fact that things were built to last, designed to evolve. Now that's led us to this whole philosophy that will inform our innovation on every product going forward, and it's why I'm so confident that we can continue to succeed, is because of this design philosophy that I'm sharing with you openly. Because it's one thing to say it, it's another thing to execute to it. That's the hard part. It's the execution that's the hard part, you know? Now, that said... [24:08] I'm trying to drive a movement. I believe that there are many people that are sort of aware now that we have been conned into buying too much crap. New season, new collection, the merchandising hamster wheel, new iPhone, now it's got a titanium band. Really? Everyone knows. No, it's not even hidden. It's not even like a secret. it. This whole hamster wheel called planned obsolescence that was not an accident, it's absolutely an economic strategy to lift us out of the Great Depression and onward. And it has roots all the way back to Louis XIV. What's my point? The world has just, I guess, accidentally, not so accidentally, fallen into all kinds of rhythms that are unhealthy, unsustainable, and not good for anyone, not good for the environment, not good for people, you know, we're frenetically chasing out. Now my jeans are too tight, now they're too loose, now they're too long, now they're short, now I got, now they got to show my ankles, now they got to drape over my, like, this is not an accident. This is a self-propelling machine that we have created. What's my point? I believe we can drive a movement amongst people to reject that. And I believe factionals is one of the embodiments of that. Things built to last a lifetime are designed to evolve. So that movement is actually my long-term strategy. [25:33] In the near term, I need to... One of the ways that we will reach people besides buying advertising and using it to drive a strong CLV to CAC ratio is through... I don't know, even podcasts like this is through people finding our brand, finding out about me, finding out about the company through... Whether it be me, whether it be through the goodwill of our customers, sharing this or that, the other. And so I wrote a book called Let Me Save You 25 Years. It's our clever story Driving a Movement for Sustainable Consumerism [25:59] at Love Sack. It's really great. I think it launches in January. I spun up a podcast called Let Me Save You 25 Years where I share my own entrepreneurial mistakes, miracles, and lessons of the Love Sack story. That's the subtitle of the book. That's the spirit of the podcast. I talk to successful people, some of the world's most successful entrepreneurs and successful people about these concepts. And it's not an interview podcast. We go really deep into some of these concepts. So my long-term goal ultimately, is to write another book that can help drive this consumer movement that I'm describing because I think if we can get a little bit of luck and get people thinking about these things and then eventually seeking out. Products that can do this, and just a lifestyle that is supported in the way that I'm describing. Buy better to buy less. Buy better stuff so you can buy less stuff. Well, obviously, LoveSack will benefit from that as a company that makes better stuff. And so, look, it's a long, long, long, long way around, but you asked the question, and I'm totally serious about that. Scot: [26:58] Yeah. So I'm gonna guess you're not a fan of fast fashion. Shawn : [27:03] No, I mean, that's obviously gonna be I made the topic of the book, you know? Scot: [27:06] And I'm not. Jason's a huge Xi'an fan, so you just really hurt his feelings. No, I'm just kidding. Jason: [27:11] Hey, I wore a Patagonia, a used Patagonia jacket in honor of tonight's show. What are you talking about? Shawn : [27:18] You are speaking my language, man. And look, it's not even about being a tree hugger. I think that people have a brain. And people, I think, are waking up to the idea after the iPhone 15, that holy crap, Apple probably should have been forced to innovate a long, long time ago. Biggest company on planet Earth because they sell us the same thing every year or two. Had we not allowed them to do that, they would have had to use their enormous treasure and enormous skill base to innovate into other categories and and change the world. Instead, we've allowed them to sell us the same thing every year. Scot: [28:06] That's an interesting ethos. Having built a company, about how many people are in your company at this point? Shawn : [28:12] Total about 1,500. It's about 400 at the headquarters and another 1,000 out in the field-ish. Scot: [28:19] Yeah, you're at that phase where there's people at the company that you've never really met before. And it's awkward because they always expect you to know their name and they all know your name. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So when you get a company to that scale, how do you keep innovating? And, you know, one of the ones that I really love that you guys have done is the Stealth Tech. I think that's genius because I love AV and like having a really immersive experience. And I'll let you explain what it is, but, you know, my wife hates the big black speakers that I try to put all over the house. So I think it kind of solves like six problems in one. So A, maybe let listeners know a little bit more about what we're talking about. And then be I'd love to hear like how do you guys you know it's really hard to kind of you know ideas are easy and execution is hard on execution. It's really hard to like you know nail what you're doing and you have a lot going on and then like keep innovating. How do you how do you like get the org functional that way? Shawn : [29:16] Yeah. I mean, I think number one is you have to, you have to really want it, you know, not, not just like, Hey, I want to, I want to get, I want to get more business. I want to sell more stuff. Obviously there's that. But this ethos that I just kind of unpacked for you that, that we tripped stumbled into does the design for life ethos animates this organization. Like, it is a lot of, it is very motivating to think about, holy cow, now that we know our purpose, and it's been identified, right? Inspiring humankind to buy better so they can buy, you know, everyone's like, it was purpose, purpose, purpose, and hire some consultant, you know what I mean? But for real, if you have something that's truly unique, and it's meaningful, it's not just like words on the wall, it really is motivating, it's exciting. Scot: [30:11] And you bake baked in the products have to get better too, right? Like you, that's not well, so you have to support it. Shawn : [30:17] That's exactly right. Like, yeah, like we have to make stuff that's built to last a lifetime and design to evolve, which is really hard because if it was easy, everyone would do that. And here I am telling you openly about it. Like that's what we're going to do. And I'm not afraid to tell you because most companies won't do it because it's just freaking hard. Like it's a lot easier. Like why doesn't love sack? You know, you brought up stealth tech. So Stealth Tech is full Harman Kardon surround sound, no quality sound loss audio. Perfect audio emanating from your couch through the phone through the next layer of fabric and through the decorative layer of fabric that's washable, changeable, removable, tuned down to the color of that fabric so that the audio is perfect rear, front, center, subwoofer, invisible, beautiful, because you don't see it, it looks just like a couch, and it has all that packed in there, it's radically successful. It's been, it's now a huge piece of our business. And nobody saw that coming, because what would they expect a couch company to do next? A couch beanbag company. An end table, a coffee table, a rug, a lamp, you know, decorative accessories, get into the bedroom, who knows, right? Like the obvious stuff. Scot: [31:32] Meatballs. Shawn : [31:32] And what, yeah, right? Why did we do that? We anyway, we saw the opportunity and we also invented it. So one is, Innovation and the Evolution of LoveSack's Product Line [31:40] to answer your question, a lot of play. We are constantly at our innovation lab playing. So it's not just consumer-led insights, which is a big piece of what we do, but it's also a lot of inventions. You gotta have teams to invent. You gotta have engineers. You gotta have, so you gotta support that. So there's a cost structure there. And that's why LoveSack is quite profitable, but not as profitable as it could be in the future, because we are investing in innovation. And there's a lot of heads. there's a lot of engineers, there's a lot of designers doing things. Now they're not just all running around playing, they also have a very disciplined approach to executing on innovation, like launching Stealth Tech a couple years ago, and bringing that to market, which is a heavy lift because it's our invention, it's our patents, and it was not easy for this beanbag company to get into home electronics in a real way. [32:29] We've done, I think, more than 100 million in home electronic sales and making us a pretty, a pretty big player in that space, believe it or not. Already, and I don't think most people even, you know, would think that. But we're, you know, totally serious about it. So, innovation, wrapped around an inspiring path to innovation, I think is the key. Do you have an inspiring path, or are you just trying to make more stuff? Because if I wanted all those things I mentioned, like I'm over here in Asia right now, I'm in Hong Kong. And if I wanted a whole line of living room furniture with our logo on it to make myself feel good, I could have it in four weeks. The suppliers will do it for me. They've been doing it for 30 years over here for all the biggest brands you can think of, you know? And we could give them some designs and give them some ideas and let our, I mean, it's so easy to just source stuff. I'm talking about, you know, product land. Now we're talking fashion, talking furniture, talk any category you want, the same is true. But to truly invent stuff's a lot harder. And that's why I think we've had success, that's why I think we will continue to have success. Jason: [33:35] Yeah, you know, so I am interested, I mean, obviously the product has to be the lead in solving that real problem for a customer. But I do think another helpful aspect to your business is that in order for those products to be successful, like, they have to be demonstrated somehow. Like, per your point, the catalog for the StealthTech sectional looks just like the catalog for a generic sectional. And so I'm thinking you having your own showrooms was a big advantage for being able to tell the story. And ironically, I'm not sure you opened that first showroom because you recognize that problem. It sounds like you opened that first showroom because you had no other way to get distribution. Shawn : [34:21] Oh yeah, yeah. And that's why I'm not taking any claim as some kind of marketing genius. We just kind of tried to survive in the beginning. And opening a showroom was actually a reaction to being rejected by the big furniture guys, because they didn't, you know, want our product, they didn't believe in us, whatever. They couldn't see it. And so thankfully, it went that way. And by the way, they weren't showrooms, they were stores. We were a furniture store for a decade and a half. And we did all the furniture store things. And we sold merchandise, and you pulled your car around and we loaded you up, believe it or not, or we shipped to you. And it took us a long, long time to, after copycatting all those furniture stores and hiring merchandisers and window dressers and all those kinds of things from our competition to do that stuff in our stores. [35:14] To make that pivot to the direct consumer model that we operate on today that obviously looks very prescient in today's model. Now, the reason I think we've been so successful at it is because we had those 15, 20 years to get really good at operating now 250 locations across every state, almost in the United States of America, where people are fighting and bickering and hiring and firing and touching each other, whatever it takes. The point is operating physical showrooms is not something you get good at in a day or a week or a year just because that seems like the next thing to do. We have a website, now people need to see our stuff, to your point. And that's the approach I think a lot of the direct consumer brands have taken. And I don't think that they realize how hard it is to be profitable at retail and how many pitfalls there are. Where if I want to get a little better at digital marketing, which I think we're pretty good at now, but I can hire that. I can agency that, I can platform that. And so I think that the physical side of things is really underestimated. And so thankfully, our very long haphazard history has played out in our favor in that realm. And I think it's a huge strength of ours, because by the way, now that the economy's pulling back and this and that, we're 250 locations ahead of most that are just really coming around to the marriage of physical with digital and not realizing that, You know, it's not something you can just turn on and be good at. Jason: [36:44] Yeah. And I think it's you, you rightly pointed out that like the whole landscape of DTC hasn't been particularly successful. There's not a lot of wins, but the, the people that are outperforming the average, even one thing they all have in common is they all have some kind of physical footprint to, to reduce CAC, right? So they're either have their own stores or they, they are white selling through wholesale, or they're, they're in front of customers in some way, The Strength of LoveSack's Physical Showrooms in the DTC Landscape [37:09] other than, than Facebook ads. Yeah, I, I did. I think there's a super interesting new evolution. I thought I read about though. So like Amen stores and showrooms are super complicated. People wildly underestimate how many mistakes you can, you can make owning and operating a retail store. And now, now that you seem to have that clicking, you guys are bringing the retail store to the customer's driveways. Is that true? Like talk to us about the mobile concierge. Shawn : [37:37] Yeah, so just like we're innovating in product, we're also always innovating go to market. So whether it's mobile concierge, which is a lovesack trucks, where you can, you know, from the comfort of your home, have us pull up in the driveway and show you our products, which we've which we've dabbled in, and have tested into. And we'll see, you know, where that goes. I think that that has its own just like retail has its own complications, but also more, I think, more. I guess scalable already is Shop and Shop. So our showrooms right now in shopping malls, they're only like 800 square feet. So obviously the metrics are great, right? We're selling very big ticket items out of very tiny footprints with a small staff. There's just good metrics. And I don't hide from that. That's been a big part of our success, right? So we chose a good category in that way. We chose a terrible category in the sense is that the home category has all kinds of other issues. Jason: [38:38] Not the easiest category to deliver the product. Shawn : [38:41] Yeah, I mean, there's delivery, but there's also just the cyclical nature. You couple that with the idea that, look, we are selling you something that we are intending you to have for decades. My sectionals in my home are 16 years old, some of them, made with brand new pieces, made with Stealth Tech. That's pretty cool. On the other hand, unless we give you Stealth Tech and other reasons to come back, like, you know, you've got your satchels and you've made your investment. And so look, we deal with cover. So we're innovating on product, we're innovating on go to market, shop and shop. So these thousand square foot showrooms have been very useful for us. We have 200 square foot showrooms inside of Best Buy's or Costco's, where our people are basically checking you out and allowing you to kick the tires on the product. And then look, whether you buy there or whether you go back and buy online, we don't care. We built an agnostic platform where we just want you to be in the family. So I think these are things that have evolved over time and you've got to test and learn, whether it's mobile concierge, as you described, whether it's shop and shops. And these tests and learn activities can take years to play out and really take to scale and stuff like that. And so I think in this day and age of, hey, I'm gonna go raise a ton of money and build my company to X revenue and exit for X multiple, which is I think Testing and Learning: Mobile Concierge and Shop and Shop [40:05] what drives a lot of entrepreneurial activity. [40:09] That kind of mentality just doesn't have the staying power necessary. And that's why you see so many of these brands reach a point where they have to be retooled, like some of them are going through now. And look, they've made someone rich. Sometimes these founders find ways to squeeze a bunch of money out of it, or private equity tosses the hot potato to the next guy and they make a ton of money out of it. But in the end, what's left? a brand that is at scale, doesn't make money, and can't go anywhere. So my point is you gotta have the stomach to grind it out, to spend the time, to really slow cook some of these things, and to be flexible when they don't work, and shut them down and move on to the next. And so constantly innovating on go-to-market, constantly innovating on product, and really putting in the time and energy it takes to refine concepts, you know. Scot: [41:03] I know we're running up against time, and you've obviously spent a lot of time thinking about this. I know your goal is to bring this ethos out, but if you think about retail and e-commerce, what do you think the next five years hold? You talked about AI. There's a lot of this stuff that's temporal, but anything you think that you believe is going to change the way we shop and buy, either in-store or online? Shawn : [41:29] Yeah, look, I think that it will just continue to evolve, and so I think AI is real. I think it will play a transformative role, and I think everyone's trying to figure out exactly what that is, and nobody really knows yet. I wish I could just give you a clever answer, but I think I've witnessed, AI's transformative role in the future of technology [41:53] you know, that's What's the benefit of having a 25-year perspective is it's like I was saying about shopping malls. The mall is dead, headline from 2001. TV is dead, headline from 2008. Here we are with both of them still intact. By the way, TV advertising is still a big piece of our marketing spend. I know that's kind of mind-blowing because it seems like everybody's cut the cord or gone to this extreme. And I'm just telling you, these movements take decades. And so while it's great to be ahead of a movement, you don't, unless you are trying to drive that movement, like unless you are trying to take advantage of that AI, boom, to go raise money and wave that flag or whatever. [42:40] I've found it's okay to be a laggard. It's not always beneficial to, unless you're trying to build your concept around that and take advantage of that movement itself, let the movements evolve. So I can't give you a great prediction of exactly what's going to happen. AI is important. But how, where the winners will actually be and what the effects will actually be, I think it's way too early to tell. But I do think it's important to keep your finger and keep watching and eventually, you know, to find the connection and lean into that to affect your business. You have to be a little bit patient, I think. Jason: [43:27] Yeah, well, certainly 25 years in, I think you've earned your patience creds, by the way. Shawn : [43:35] Maybe too much. Jason: [43:37] Yeah, I mean, there's pros and cons to both. Urgency can be useful in certain circumstances, but short time horizons come with a lot of problems, as you have rightly pointed out. That did lead me to one sort of thought question. And you, you referenced some of your, your CAC economics and side note, we've, we've one of the, our favorite guests on the show is this professor Dan McCarthy. Who's, who's a huge advocate for cohort analysis and customer lifetime value based businesses. And so he would be thrilled that you're on, because I know you guys disclose some of your cohort metrics in, in your financial statements, which he loves. And to me, you're in a really interesting category to do that because although your product has invented a reason for customers to come back and you've sort of turned a product into a system, it's not like a fast cycle, right? Like, and so like when you're thinking about like a time horizon for LTV, and you guys have a very good return on your CAC, but compared to most companies, your CAC still is really high, right? Like, you sell a lot of product to compensate for that. Shawn : [44:57] Yeah. Jason: [44:58] So how, like, you know, you're spending five or six hundred bucks to acquire a customer and then you're earning thousands of dollars on each of those customers. Like, was it difficult to sort of have the financial discipline to have a long enough time horizon to see those sorts of high CLVs come back for that initial customer acquisition? Shawn : [45:23] Yeah, I mean, you could call it discipline. In our case, again, it was just survival, being really transparent. You know, we were just trying to find a way to make this business work, and we weren't profitable right out of the gate. It took us many years to get better at retail, to get better at e-commerce, to have a shopping cart experience that was commensurate to the product, because that's really hard with our product. Our product is really weird and complicated. And so that's something that's overlooked with Lovesack. And I think a lot of our copycats and competitors are realizing that. You can't just use a Shopify checkout if you're going to sell something as dynamic as, let's say, factionals where, you know, you can buy a bunch of these and a bunch of those and combine them in a million different ways. How do you, how do you shopping cart that? How do you Amazon that, you know? And so, and so these are superpowers that we've developed over a long time and thankfully given it enough time to become profitable. So to answer your question about, you know, patience, I think part of it is just been our lot in life to, to be, to have patience forced on us. But secondly, real discipline around. [46:32] Our CLV and CAC metrics. So we are, we are, and have been for a long time, carefully monitoring them, tracking them, constantly innovating and refining on the marketing side, these things that I mentioned, whether TV, you know, over the top, linear, nonlinear, digital marketing with its 500 heads, you know, like I'm talking about species of digital marketing, it's such a big word, right? I have to be constantly and tirelessly refined and risk taken and stuff tried and stuff failed and all rolled it and it all rolls up into that CLV to CAC ratio that you can hope you can keep moving and then couple that with innovation so that people can come back and buy more. And so thankfully, look, we chose a category with a high ticket and that drives the lion's share. That first purchase drives the lion's share of that CLV to CAC relationship. But our long-term point of view now is not only to find other ways that we can do more of that, maybe even in other categories and adjacencies. [47:32] But also give like StealthTack, give people a reason to come back and add on. And then by the way, when they do come back, then they face the consequence of, well, what do I do with some of these things that I need to, let's say, I get StealthTack and I got to swap out two of my sides. Well, okay, the obvious answer is I don't want to throw those in the trash. We don't want them throwing them in the trash and they may not need another couch in another room. So it's leading us to services, trade in, trade up, recycle, you know, all kinds of things that will again, give us more reasons to reach out and touch that customer. And so I think that if you relentlessly pursue. [48:13] A good concept with good intentions being driven by good philosophy and purpose like I've described, it's been my experience that the universe kind of unfolds for you, but it doesn't do it overnight. And you can't just have a, at least in my experience, you can't just have a master plan and be like, we're gonna do this and then that and that. You have to iterate to it. You have to observe, you have to live some, like when we launched Stealth Tech, we just, you know, it's easy now to look back in hindsight and be like, well, of course people are gonna want to or trade in their sides or do whatever. But some of those things aren't always so apparent. And you need to plunge yourself into the pool, see what comes of it, and then react to that. And some of those reactions can take years to unfold. Like some of these services that I just described and whatnot, they'll take us years to manifest. [48:59] But the nice thing is, the core business can generate profits that will carry us to that and we'll invest some of those profits in that innovation that I'm describing. But it's like, it's just relentless, man. It's tiring. It's like you have to have the stomach to go the distance. And that's where the time horizon, look, I'm a big advocate of it. Culturally, you know, like when my whole organization knows, like the theme of our manager fest a month ago, this is where we all get together once a year, was 25 and 25 more. And I'm not kidding. Like my personal point of view, if I'm allowed to be here as a public company CEO, if I do good enough to stay in the seat, which is inherent, and that's why I love the structure. It forces you to be awesome, you know? [49:45] If I can do that, but the fact that my organization knows that I'm in for another 25, you know how grounding that is and stabilizing that is, as opposed to, man, when's Sean's gonna sell his stock and bail and go start his next company? That's what I'm supposed to do, isn't it? That's how I become a bazillionaire, isn't it? I'm not interested in that. I'm interested in building something. And I think that that, I don't know, desire is actually kind of rare these days. Long-Term Vision vs Quick Profit [50:14] I think everyone just wants to be a bazillionaire as fast as they can. Jason: [50:17] Oh, for sure. Yeah. Everybody's assuming you're going to cash out and invest in your first rocket. Shawn : [50:24] Yeah, whatever. And I think it's sad. Look, I'd love to make a ton of money, whatever. That's all great. But whatever happened to the ambition of let's build something awesome, no matter how long it takes. And that's where I'm at. Jason: [50:41] Yeah. Well, Sean, it's been an amazing run so far. This is going to be a great spot to leave it because we have used up our allotted time, but I know listeners are going to appreciate you saving them the first 25 years, and we're going to be super excited to watch what happens in the next 25. Shawn : [50:57] Thank you. Thank you. Scot: [50:59] We really appreciate it, Sean. I know you're in Hong Kong, you're in the middle of your day there, and we appreciate you coming on the show. If folks want to check out your podcast, where would you point them to? Shawn : [51:09] Yeah, wherever you love listening to podcasts, Let Me Save You 25 Years is the name. LetMeSaveYou25Years.com. You can find me on social media, Sean of Lovesack. I'm all over that and love to be connected, slide into my DMs. I mean, I love talking to customers, friends, peers, being very accessible and looking forward to building the movement. Of course, Lovesack.com. We're easy to find. Scot: [51:33] Trey Lockerbie 41 Yep. And the book's coming out in January and I assume it's going to be in all the usual places. Shawn : [51:37] Sean O'Toole 41 All the usual places. Yeah. Let Awesome. Jason: [51:45] Thanks again and until next time, happy commercing!  

Passion is the new currency, and John R. Miles explores its transformative power in this episode of Passion Struck. From the stories of Maya Angelou to Sarah Blakely, discover how passion can fuel success, innovation, and personal fulfillment. Learn how passion ignites innovation, drives success, and brings unparalleled resilience. Embark on a journey to discover the transformative power of passion and unlock the path to personal growth and lasting happiness. And in case you didn't already know it, John R. Miles (@John_R_Miles) takes your comments and questions for Momentum Friday right here every week! If you want him to answer your question, register your feedback, or tell your story on one of our upcoming weekly Momentum Friday episodes, drop us a line at momentumfriday@passionstruck.com. Now let's dive in! Full show notes and resources can be found here: https://passionstruck.com/currency-of-passion/  Why Passion is the New Currency of Success and Fulfillment In this episode, you will learn to:  Realize the vital importance of passion as the key to achieving your goals and finding true fulfillment. Discover how passion acts as the fuel that drives creative thinking, resilient problem-solving, and cutting-edge innovation. Delve into the relationship between passion and deep-seated motivation for unstoppable progress. Absorb practical tips for identifying and chasing your passions in both personal and professional life. Experience the life-changing potential of passionate dedication for personal growth and contentment. Have any questions, comments, or stories you'd like to share with us? Drop us a line at momentumfriday@passionstruck.com! Brought to you by Fabric. Go to Apply today in just 10 minutes at https://meetfabric.com/passion. Brought to you by Hello Fresh. Use code passionstruck16 to get 16 free meals, plus free shipping!” Brought to you by Indeed. Head to https://www.indeed.com/passionstruck, where you can receive a $75 credit to attract, interview, and hire in one place. Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally! Connect with John on Twitter at @John_RMiles and on Instagram at @john_R_Miles. Prefer to watch this episode: https://youtu.be/9rV-jbj0UGU  Subscribe to our main YouTube Channel Here: https://www.youtube.com/c/JohnRMiles Subscribe to our YouTube Clips Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@passionstruckclips Want to find your purpose in life? I provide my six simple steps to achieving it - passionstruck.com/5-simple-steps-to-find-your-passion-in-life/ Want to hear my best interviews from 2022? Check out episode 233 on intentional greatness and episode 234 on intentional behavior change. Learn more about John: https://johnrmiles.com/  Passion Struck is now on the AMFM247 broadcasting network every Monday and Friday from 5–6 PM. Step 1: Go to TuneIn, Apple Music (or any other app, mobile or computer) Step 2: Search for “AMFM247” Network

Sara Blakely is a self-made billionaire. She's the founder and creator of Spanx. I interviewed her in January 2017 - over 800 episodes ago! - but all of her advice (learned directly from DOING) is still impacting me today. I had to re-listen. And I hope you do too...Some people are inspirations for life. Sara is one of those people.Sara Blakely is weird. I wish I could think the way she does. I want to be weird like her.“I look at any object and try to think of any use it has other than what people had planned for it.”And then she acts on it. She sees a pair of pantyhose, cuts off the feet (why not?), and creates a multi-billion dollar company, Spanx.She sees her 9-month pregnant belly and paints a basketball on it. And then inspires hundreds of other women to do the same. Creates a book out of it, The Belly Art Project, and donates the proceeds to charity.“All my life I was taught how to deal with failure,” she told me. “My dad would ask us at the dinner table every night: how did you fail today?” HOW DID YOU FAIL TODAY?She got comfortable with failure at an age when every other kid wants to get an A+ at everything.She got comfortable embarrassing herself. For two years she tried to be a standup comedian. “I wasn't very good at it.” Practice embarrassing yourself…Ready. Fire. Aim.She got a huge order from Nieman Marcus even though she didn't have the inventory or the production ready.She said, “YES!”. Then she figured out how to get the order filled.Oprah listed Spanx as one of her “favorite things” of 2000. Oprah wanted to film her office. Sara had no office.She said, “YES!”. Then she got an office and filled it up with people.Say YES! Then make things happen. Don't argue yourself into failure.Excuses are easy. Saying “yes” and then executing is hard. Get your thinking time.“It takes me five minutes to drive to work,” she told me. “But I take 45 minutes. I use that time to think.”It's important to think. To be creative every day.This is how she comes up with non-stop ideas to expand her brand, expand her products, and work on other projects.I suspect this is the secret to how she always sees things differently. Being creative is a practice. It's not lightning from above.It's taking the long route when you could've taken the short route. Purpose = Infectious salesmanship.While I was talking to Sara she used the word “empower” several times.Spanx clothes give women more confidence. Empowers women. The Belly Art Project empowers pregnant women.It seems like there are three parts to a project that leads to mastering salesmanship.The higher purpose for it. This gets people excited.The actual product and its benefits.ExecutionCombine all three and people will get infected with your passion for your ideas. Sara was unstoppable. Don't volley.Don't engage with the people who want to argue with you. That's time wasted when you can be creative. Don't invite ego in the door.Once you've worked on your project, have passion for it, and started it, be willing to take suggestions and listen to people.Ego can kill a project and close the door on good opportunities. Be aware of your mortality.Sara was selling fax machines for five years before fully launching Spanx.She could still be selling them if she never started.If she listened to all the people who tried to dissuade her.If she became afraid of the multi-billion dollar companies that could have easily squashed her. Except they didn't. She was one person and they were billions. But they lost.We are here only this precious small amount of time. Make every moment a work of art. Make every moment move you one step forward toward your dream and purpose.Invent a new undergarment even if you have never made clothes in your life.Get 100s of women to paint their pregnant bellies and then raise money for charity with the idea.“EVERYTHING IS A CANVAS,” she told me.Which makes everyone a potential artist. What a great way to look at life.But I can't!Why not?For anything you want to do, for anything that excites you, take the time to figure out the next step. Ready. Fire. Aim.Just why not? Why not? Links and Resources:Visit her website: Spanx  The Belly Art Project and check out the book The Belly Art Project: Moms Supporting MomsEvery Mother CountsMen's SpanxFollow Sara on Instagram@sarablakelyFollow Sara on Facebook + TwitterAlso mentioned:“How To Be a No Limit Person” by Dr. Wayne DyerI interviewed Sara's husband, Jesse Itzler, about his book Living with a SEAL: 31 Days Training with the Toughest Man on the Planet------------Visit Notepd.com to read our idea lists & sign up to create your own!My new book Skip the Line is out! Make sure you get a copy wherever books are sold!Join the You Should Run for President 2.0 Facebook Group, where we discuss why you should run for President.I write about all my podcasts! Check out the full post and learn what I learned at jamesaltucher.com/podcast.------------Thank you so much for listening! If you like this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe  to “The James Altucher Show” wherever you get your podcasts: Apple PodcastsStitcheriHeart RadioSpotifyFollow me on Social Media:YouTubeTwitterFacebook