Podcast appearances and mentions of suzy batiz

What's the most important thing we can all do to be happy? According to my guest on this episode, it's embracing the thing that made us weird as kids. 

Reflecting on Success: How to Dream Bigger with Fertile Imagination   In episode 259 of the Mom Founder Imagination Hub, host Melissa Llarena reflects on personal growth, sharing a powerful quote by former pro volleyball player Gabby Reece: 'Never let your successes be bigger than your dreams.' She draws from personal anecdotes and her book, 'Fertile Imagination: A Guide for Stretching Every Mom's Superpower for Maximum Impact,' to inspire moms to dream bigger and leverage their imagination. Shop the book this holiday season using this LINK: https://bit.ly/fertilebook   Melissa reads the introduction to her book, highlighting the importance of energy, enthusiasm, and imagination in achieving greater dreams, and encourages listeners to reflect on their past successes and envision even bigger goals for 2025.   00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 02:17 Reflecting on Success and Effort 05:47 Pursuing Bigger Dreams 09:05 Introduction to 'Fertile Imagination' 10:07 Reading the Book Introduction 15:03 Stages of Rediscovering Imagination 25:06 Final Thoughts and Encouragement Want to be a guest of the Mom Founder Imagination Hub podcast?  Sign-up HERE to get on the list if you are interested in bringing your story, insights, or wisdom to the podcast. Or, use this link if you prefer (both go to the same place): https://witty-thinker-2643.kit.com/ba49a6d870 – I cannot guarantee that you'll be a guest however I do refer to this list every quarter to determine who would be a good fit. Share this episode with one female leader today who wants to dream bigger than her successes and needs to find her own way to gather the energy necessary in 2025 to do exactly this! About Melissa Llarena Melissa is a bestselling author (learn more on www.fertileideas.com), imagination coach behind the Fertile Imagination to Networking Success Group Coaching Program, consultant, speaker, contributor to ForbesWomen articles that have garnered 4 million-plus views, and the podcast host of the Mom Founder Imagination Hub. Featured guests include GaryVee, Beth Comstock, Suzy Batiz, David Meltzer, and hundreds of other unconventional thinkers. Melissa has been featured in the WSJ, Business Insider, Fox Business, CNN Money, The Huffington Post, and other publications. She holds a psychology degree from NYU, an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, and a Transformational Coaching Academy certificate and is training to become a meditation practitioner. Melissa lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and three sons (one singleton and a set of identical twins). Connect with Melissa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissallarena/ Supporting Resources: Email Melissa: melissa.llarena [at] gmail.com Podcast: Mom Founder Imagination Hub: https://www.melissallarena.com/podcast/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissallarena/ Or, grab for free your copy of the “From Contact to Connection: The Mompreneur's Go-First Networking & Follow Up Playbook”: https://witty-thinker-2643.ck.page/21e52edb87  Transcript   Welcome to episode  259 of the mom founder imagination hub. This is your host, Melissa Lorena. So today's episode is really a reflection on a quote, a life update, and a reading of the introduction of my book, fertile imagination. I think as we draw near to the 1st of January in a month, I wanted to just kind of do a little bit of self reflection because I Do not even believe in January one goals and resolutions. Instead, I believe in making a decision today. Now this moment, even if everything doesn't seem comfy. So I was listening this weekend to a podcast by Gabby Reese, who clearly is very, very like myself. She's over six feet tall. She was a supermodel in her heyday. She's an. Athlete, volleyball pro player, you know, kind of like the opposite of who I was and who I am. I am like five feet tall, last kid to be picked at the gym for any team sport and athlete and pro is not in my vernacular, but I do like the word vernacular. So I was a bit more of a, um, cerebral entity, I guess you could say.  And when I was listening to her podcast, which is really about, you know, making sure that you're optimizing for your health, when you are either a perimenopausal, menopausal, et cetera, I really grabbed onto a quote that she said, she actually says over and over in her house. And by the way, her house is not just like Gabby Reese and some random. guy and three girls. No, her house is Gabby Reese, pro volleyball player and layered Hamilton because he is an ultra surfer, extreme athlete himself. And I'm sure probably towering over Gabby Reese. So, all right, let's get to the quote that is constantly articulated in their home.  Never let your successes be bigger than your dreams. When Gabby Reese shared that, I really swallowed quite hard because I thought to myself, the amount of fricking effort that I have had to put in order to make my successes Come true  have been fricking extraordinary. And you probably feel the same way. If you are into success, accomplishing, having some source of significance. So in my mind, I. Immediately went to, as an example, pursuing business school. Now I was not, am not, and will never be a quant person. I'm not into like math Excel. I think if you've been around for a little bit on this podcast, you know, that I have a disdain for Microsoft Excel. Um, but you know, whatever I honor those who use it. The whole point is I think I had like five or six cavities in my business school experience because of the number of granola bars that I was chewing on in order to get through working through all of that quant work in such a competitive environment. I certainly gained weight because that's what happens when you're just Eating granola bars, but then on top of that, like it was extraordinary of the effort that I had to put forth in order to complete my degree. And I had to complete my degree. I didn't see this as a nice to have, could I stretch it, et cetera, et cetera. No, I was on a scholarship and like, I needed to fix what I had kind of created, which was this desire and need to fix Feel more fully baked and get my degree. All of that to say, I was like, Holy cow. I didn't have three kids back then. And that was a shit ton of effort. So here's Gabby Reese saying never let your successes be bigger than your dreams.  Wow.  I literally have my book right next to me and I'm thinking to myself, holy mother of guacamole. It took two years for me to write fertile imagination, a guide for stretching every mom's superpower for maximum impact. I would say that is my more recent success. It took two years and it's so interesting because I started it in Australia while we were there for about three and a half years and finished it here in Austin, Texas. And I will say that if getting my business school degree, um, resulted in five to six cavities, trust me, my dentist can certainly show you the receipts for that. Then getting my book definitely done as a self. Published author from the beginning to the end that actually led me to the eye doctor, physical therapist, and God knows what else I had to go through in order to fix what I had to do. Sort of created, which was some issues because I was looking at the screen for way too long at the tail end, trying to finish my book with copy editing, um, being kind of put up against the wall to figure out what needed to get done as soon as possible within a short period of time and in a very unpredictable way. So, okay. It seems to me that for me personally, I don't know about for yourself and you might want to really give this a thought, but like for you, like think about your very last success, like for real, think about the amount of effort that it took in order for you to accomplish that success. Okay. Take a big, deep breath. Now, Can you imagine something that is bigger to pursue or to become in 2025? And right now I'm recording this on December two, and I wanted to just be mindful of the fact that I get that January one is that time and we're like, Oh, all of a sudden I never was, but I can actually become this person on January two, but I want you to just. Think through your prior successes. I really want you to dig deep and really figure out for yourself, what did it take? What sacrifices did you have to make? What is it that you had to say no to in order to say yes to your self and your ambitions? And here's what I know to be true with regards to any success I have had.  The unfortunate thing is that the world doesn't stop when I, all of a sudden, write down a goal. Instead, the world keeps worlding, for lack of a better word choice, and basically stuff happens in your favor and some stuff happens in a way that makes your goals harder to achieve. And the idea is you have to keep going, no matter what, whether you're in that up or you're in that down. So now as you consider the fact that your successes have to be, um, smaller than your dreams. Oh my gosh. So. Like where's this extra effort and energy going to come from? Like, that's a question I ask myself all the time because yeah, I'm a morning person this morning. I was singing from West side story. I feel pretty because I was just feeling happy today, but, but I know for a fact, when it comes down to executing on some of my ambitions, like. It's not glamorous. Like right now I was like, okay, let me create a landing page. Holy cow. Now I have to go onto this platform and relearn it because I did not have a landing page done in some time. And that is where you get some sort of resistance, right? That's where you kind of feel like, ah, crap, this dream doesn't feel so exciting anymore. Anyway. So I want to leave you with this thought. Because I want this to be brief. So my book, fertile imagination, the entire concept is about figuring out where you are going to find that energy, where you are going to get that life force, where you are going to get that spirit, that enthusiasm, that excitement to actually execute on your dreams, which as Gabby Reese said, should be bigger than your successes. And it's like, holy cow, maybe Maybe it's just these like, you know, strivers in us that kind of intimidate ourselves. But man, if I have to have more energy than I've had in the past, I feel like I myself need to reread what I wrote in my book, fertile imagination. And so I want to leave you with that. I'm going to go ahead.  and read to you the introduction of my book, fertile imagination in the show notes, you can absolutely purchase your copy for yourself or a friend. Here's that link in case you're not looking at your device. It's B I T dot L Y. forward slash fertile book and you could go ahead and purchase a copy of fertile imagination right there that'll be in the show notes again it's it's a bitly link so bit. ly forward slash fertile book  but right now i want to just read this to us i want to read this to us because this is a A really great starting point. If your  dreams have to be bigger than your successes and you're trying to figure out how the heck you're going to get the energy, enthusiasm and motivation to execute on these dreams in 2025. So here we go. Just think about this, like reading rainbow, but you know, I'm not LeVar. So here we go. Lessons in an imagination superpower from my podcast guests and me. And this is again, just the introduction. So I do invite you to purchase the book fertile imagination. The link will be in the show notes. It's also on Amazon as well. Whoever thought mom jeans would be in style again, you know, the ones They seem to rise up to your armpits when I see them on young childless girls. I squint to see if I can imagine them looking remotely cool on me. My Puerto Rican ass would fill the entire real estate of their extra long height from crotch to above my navel area. I'm not yet convinced this will look flattering. Can I pull it off? My waist is small, especially for someone who has three kids. I'm still curious if I could make mom jeans look un mom like.  I just never imagined that moms could set trends for anyone without kids. I have filled the past 11 years with a mental game to see how un mom like and sometimes un Melissa like I can design my life. I wanted to reframe what I'd seen or been told a mom should do. What about all of the other identities I had before becoming a parent? Was I relegated to burying them along with my, my placenta back in 2011? By the way, that was a powerful placenta. I had identical twins in 2013 and they were sharing one placenta.  This is the thing.  My  so funny. I go ahead and I decided to skip my  desire to not act like a mom is making for a magnificent life. It's enhanced my family's experiences and expanded what they think is possible too. As I reflect on the crazy things I've done and continue to do, I'm feeling kind of confident that perhaps I can work it in mom jeans, even if it's only in my imagination, seemingly mine has gotten quite. Fertile, a sense of wonder, access to wisdom, limitless energy, a willingness to dream and a playful spirit culminating in bursts of daily fulfillment. This book, fertile imagination is for moms who want them back. Maybe it's been a while since you felt like you were back. bursting out of your skin with hope and expectancy with your own ambitions. If this is the case, then I have great news for you. You are in the right place. This book is for moms who refuse to buy into the BS that being a mom means stomping on their personal ambitions, unless they are directly tied to the happiness of their kids. Once you relied on your dreams and big ambitions to feel alive, your dreams may have been your life. Force. Heck, your dreams may have made you bounce out of bed without an alarm clock. This book is for you. If you feel you have lost the greatest parts of your before kids life,  if this is where you are today, then I want to help you transform from feeling limited by your inherited motherhood scripts, quote unquote, to being excited and thrilled by life. Imagine feeling as Jack up in a good way for yourself as you do when your least athletic kid scores a goal at soccer one glorious Saturday.  You deserve to feel that wide eyed, hopeful, and tickled hot pink about the possibilities. This is the book I needed when I paired motherhood with entrepreneurship 11 years ago. I think it's been 13 now. In my case, I was so desperate to hang on. My pre mom dreams and desires that I determinedly set out to discover what I could do, even if that meant bringing my kid squarely attached to my nipple to a prospective client meeting. I'll save that story for later. I'm convinced moms may have just misplaced these things along with their house keys. Chances are you can find them by retracing your steps. The best way to achieve this is to engage an imagination, your own, the ones around you. Or your kids  in new, unexpected, yet practical ways, ways that fit for us moms, whose minds are full of internal dialogue and need a spark to untangle what matters most. Since 2011, as a coach to many moms, untangling what matters most has meant helping them decipher decipher what other people expected of them and what they really wanted for themselves. Once this knot is smoothed out. It becomes possible for my clients to focus on best how best to use their distinguishable gifts for maximum impact.  This clarity inspires my clients to then share their ideas with other people. As I reflected on the specific ways that worked for me, along with the key lessons I tailored into my life, I uncovered my signature method of coaching, both myself and others, my imagination to impact method, which includes three stages into which I've divided this book. You can follow them sequentially or skip ahead. Let's walk through the three stages to rediscover and fuel your imagination. Quick Pause. The reason why I wanted to read the introduction of my book right now is because when I heard Gabby Reese say that quote, never let your successes be bigger than your dreams. And I noticed the gap of like, how the heck am I going to get the energy to dream bigger than my prior successes?  This is the first idea I had. I was like, you know what?  I wrote about this in fertile imagination and fertile imagination itself. The book is one of my greatest successes personally, as someone who struggled with writing early on. So again, I just want to invite you to truly, truly, truly reflect on your successes, but that I want you to feel like you have a tool, your fertile imagination to help you dream Even fricking bigger in 2025. So let's get cracking. Let's get through the three stages that you need to rediscover and feel your fertile imagination, because you know what your fertile imagination is your superpower, dear mama, it absolutely is. And it's mine as well. And this is a reminder to myself too. So here we go. A fertile imagination can cast a powerful and compelling vision that will drive you to turn it into your reality, even if it's never been imagined as possible for mothers before. It produces fertile ideas whose impact can transcend generations. This superpower is versatile. It has revitalized flat out tired moms to enable them to tandem nurse twins for one year. Yeah, that was me. It has come up with unexpected strategies that have helped creative entrepreneurs bounce back, and it has helped generate visionary ideas to sustain the pace necessary to lead massive global efforts. The route to your fertile imagination can be found by First, focusing on ways to reawaken your imagination, which takes building awareness of why it's been missing or more like hibernating along with why it might not want to wake up. If fertile imagination requires a favorable environment to sprout its best ideas, you'll want to set your internal environment in particular  for the greatest benefit. possible harvest.  Second, once you've revived your original playdate, your fertile imagination, you will want to play with your imagination. You'll have ample opportunities to engage it, it in novel and unexpected ways to uncover what you'd like to experience more of in your life. The key is to plant several seeds in the best environment possible to see which show signs of the greatest growth. In this case, growth includes feeling positive emotions, including excitement and presence, essentially experiencing what your kids feel when they are playing. You know, what's really interesting as I'm reading this, I'm like, holy cow, this is biblical, A, B, and it's aligned with some frameworks that I am playing with right now.  Anyways, I digress. The third stage is to stretch your imagination. And here's what I know to be true. So I'm kind of getting outside of this copy, but what I know to be true is that as a mom, you might feel stretched from a mental bandwidth perspective. That is not at all what I'm doing, but I am playing with that concept. When I say stretch your imagination, what I'm saying here is that kind of like silly putty. Like I want you to really stretch it out and help it almost take new shapes. And the way to do that is by sharing your ideas with other people in that way. You can absolutely reshape whatever idea you might have to make it fit. Some sort of greater purpose and really help you create a maximum impact. And this is what it takes to stretch your imagination. This takes learning how to creatively gather the support of others so that you can make the biggest possible difference with your ideas. Imagine making a bigger mark on the world than you ever thought possible.  Let's go back to Gabby Reese's quote. Never let your successes be bigger than your dreams. There are seasons of motherhood.  Amen, sister. You may feel as if you've fallen behind your ambitions during busy ones. This is why it's important to find ways or get tools so you can sprint toward your dreams during the steadier mom life moments. And I want you to really think that through because  Right now, you know, they, they coined December, Maycember, and it's really busy right now for moms. So this might not be your moment, but maybe when the kids go back to school in 2025, maybe that is the right time. Now your fertile imagination to get back into the introduction has its best shot at impacting future generations. If you commit to experiencing all three stages to maximize your own impact. You want your kids to achieve greatness on their terms. The best path is to learn how to use your photo imagination to achieve greatness on your terms. First,  want to see what that looks like  within each stage to help you tap into the power of your imagination. I'm going to share some stories with you. You can expect to hear about my outrageous adventures, the result of unleashing my imagination and going for it. Some are the opposite of anyone's expectations of a mom with three school age boys. I've also included surprising stories from my podcast. I have been producing mom founder imagination hub since 2017. It's a place where I. I'm going to explore with my guests, a whole range of wellbeing topics aimed at supporting entrepreneurial moms who want to get more out of life. I have interviewed incredible people whose adventures and achievements were enabled by their chutzpah and very fertile imaginations. I'm going to tell you more about how I started my podcast as you read on, but as expected or as unexpected as it may sound, I believe. I believe us moms can learn a lot about achieving personal fulfillment and happiness from people who are not moms, not from our country of origin, outside of our socioeconomic group and completely unfamiliar with our situation. I'm never going to suggest that non moms, that non moms get a say on how you should be a mom. My intention behind including non moms is to challenge you to set aside the baggage that came with taking on your mom identity and talk about.  How to go to the edges of what is possible. The idea is for you to get buck naked. It should be okay for a mom to step away from the expectations of society, culture, and conventional thinking. I want to help you have the best shot at teaching your fullest or reaching your fullest capacity on this planet.  Whew,  we're almost there, my beautiful listeners. Some of my personal accomplishments since becoming a mom were never on my menu of options based on what I was told. If I'm being honest, which I don't even know why I wrote that because I don't like that phrase. I've done some things that may be found on the kids menu. And that is true. You may never want to emulate some of my podcast guests and become a New York Times bestselling children's illustrator or make the Forbes list of self made female millionaires, but their stories will inspire you if you let them. I wanted to just add that a thorough imagination is a resource. You will see how others have harnessed its power. As a mom, can't you use all the resources you can get? I can. I have curated these stories because I am able to relate to them. I learned from them. And if you keep an open mind, I promise you will too. None are telling you how to mother. Instead, you will see a fuller picture of how people are finding their own way. own fulfillment and happiness in their lives. The only tool you'll need is your superpower, your fertile imagination. The permission I'm gifting you is this. Use it to propel you towards your dreams. You will uncover why as a mom, you should give yourself the permission to use a superpower. You can jump into any chapter that you might need at the moment. So I'm talking about my book and the way that it's organized and how you do not have to read it end to end. This book was written for moms who can appreciate that reading an entire book in one uninterrupted, cozy sitting is as rare as finding two 100 sheet, wide ruled, red covered composition notebooks at Walmart in New York. A week before school begins. If you're having a I can't go to the bathroom without company kind of day then just read some journal questions to get your engines going. Meditate on them even if you don't have the time to read the chapter. You can also download the imagination warm ups i. e. journal prompts right here fertileideas. com. The idea is this, just like those crystals you can buy at stores when you look at my chapters see if anyone calls to your attention. Start there. You truly can choose your own adventure. I trust that you will know what you need when you need it and be able to make this wisdom your own. However, if you're a nerd like me, then read it sequentially,  meditate and journal using the questions at the end of each chapter, then take a dive in, then take a dive, implement that chapter's one key idea consistently for one week. You might be an active reader like me.  Break out the highlighters and stickers make it a thing in my life The ideas in this book lifted me another mom up and they can do the same for you It's time to use your fertile imagination to really make a difference Back to the quote never let your successes be bigger than your dreams. I am so excited for whatever is going to  Open up for you This upcoming year, I wanted to just have this episode to be about you, your dreams, and really reflecting on your last three greatest successes. Because guess what? That is the bar that you set for yourself, and it's time to jump Higher. Thank you. So go ahead to the show notes, wherever you're listening to this on this device and go ahead and shop the book, fertile imagination, a guide for stretching every mom's superpower for maximum impact. Thank you so much for my listeners. And again, if you have any questions whatsoever, I'm going to put my email address in the show notes as well.  If you are open or interested in being a guest on this podcast, I do accept guests. Absolutely. Go ahead to the URL where you'll see an opportunity to add your name to the wait list. And yeah, you are amazing. And Hey, what are you going to dream in 2025? Definitely. Let me know. Again, my email will be in the show notes.

Get ready for a mini masterclass on creating the life of your dreams, leading from a heart centered space, and building regenerative businesses that make a real difference in the world with Suzy Batiz! Suzy is such an inspirational speaker and business leader. She's the founder of multiple brands including PooPourri & Supernatural. In this live episode recorded at Foundermade in LA I got to chat with Suzy on all things regenerative business and I can't wait for you all to hear this inspiring conversation. Key Takeaways: Leading from a heart-centered space in business How Regenerative business goes beyond sustainability to create positive impact. Creating clean products that work better than toxic alternatives is crucial. Why personal development is key to creating success in both life and business challenges and transformations Sustainable living should be about gaining benefits, not sacrificing quality. Connect with Suzy HERE. Shop Supernatural and Pourri. Check out Suzy's AliveOS course. Connect with Glo Eco HERE. Connect with Kat HERE.

Melissa Llarena is a bestselling author, imagination coach behind the Fertile Imagination to Networking Success Group Coaching Program, consultant, speaker, and contributor to ForbesWomen articles that have garnered over 4 million views. She is also the podcast host of the Mom Founder Imagination Hub, featuring guests like GaryVee, Beth Comstock, Suzy Batiz, David Meltzer, and hundreds of other unconventional thinkers. Melissa has been featured in the WSJ, Business Insider, Fox Business, CNN Money, The Huffington Post, and other publications. Melissa holds a psychology degree from NYU, an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, and a Transformational Coaching Academy certificate, and is training to become a meditation practitioner. Melissa resides in Austin, Texas, with her husband and three sons (one singleton and a set of identical twins). Key Moments [03:54] Coaches busy moms in entrepreneurship, manages motherhood. [07:32] Energy is essential for ideas to succeed. [11:56] Helping individuals communicate and sell their worth. [14:01] Queens accent readied me for motherhood. [18:07] Podcast sharing health scare, recovery inspiration story. [20:12] Boss suspects job hunting due to poor performance. [24:16] Embrace global diversity; learn from shared challenges. Find Melissa Online https://www.fertileideas.com Shop the book: https://bit.ly/fertilebook https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mom-founder-imagination-hub/id1308269140 https://open.spotify.com/show/46kFcz6gZSy4oYnCXBAr85 https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissallarena/ https://bit.ly/imagineaplan If you're enjoying Entrepreneur's Enigma, please give us a review on the podcast directory of your choice. We're on all of them and these reviews really help others find the show. GoodPods: https://gmwd.us/goodpods iTunes: https://gmwd.us/itunes Podchaser: https://gmwd.us/podchaser Also, if you're getting value from the show and want to buy me a coffee, go to the show notes to get the link to get me a coffee to keep me awake, while I work on bringing you more great episodes to your ears. →  https://gmwd.us/buy-me-a-coffee Follow Seth Online: Seth | Digital Marketer (@s3th.me) • Instagram: Instagram.com/s3th.me Seth Goldstein | LinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/in/sethmgoldstein Seth On Mastodon: https://socl.bz/@seth Seth's Marketing Junto Newsletter: https://MarketingJunto.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a female entrepreneur with a child or children, you're juggling many roles, but what happens when life throws an unexpected emotional curveball? Whether it's a breakup, the loss of a loved one, uncertainty, or even receiving tough news about someone close to you, the weight of emotional pain can feel overwhelming. And yet, your business still demands your attention. In this episode, we're discussing how to balance emotional challenges with the need to keep performing, sharing practical strategies and an inspiring case study of a woman who faced emotional hardship and found a way to keep going. This is a direct and to the point minisode with precisely the next steps you can take today to feel better tomorrow. This minisode is brought to you by my anti-burnout 30-day productivity resource for mompreneurs! Grab it today before I put it behind a sales wall soon because it THAT's good: https://bit.ly/imagineaplan Greater context on the resource: let me help you figure out what to do next especially if you just burned yourself to the ground and currently feel stuck or unclear or what to do next. Take my Profitable Relationships Action Tracker and Planner today. It's free and a great mom-friendly planner! It links your vision to daily actions, helping you stay focused and energized as you build profitable relationships. Set yourself up for a successful year and an even bigger one ahead! It also sees to it that you replenish your energy to prevent burnout. ($97 value, helps avoid a $2,400 trip to the ER from exhaustion) - https://bit.ly/imagineaplan Share this episode with one female founder today who is facing an emotionally tough moment yet has a big meeting or opportunity that she's been working towards and as they say "the show must go on" for her and for the wellness of her family too. Episodes referred to here include: https://www.melissallarena.com/unrealistic-expectations-and-the-power-of-word-of-mom-marketing-with-three-wishes-ceo-margaret-wishingrad-episode-181/? About Melissa Llarena Melissa is a bestselling author (learn more on www.fertileideas.com), imagination coach behind the Fertile Imagination to Networking Success Group Coaching Program, consultant, speaker, contributor to ForbesWomen articles that have garnered 4 million-plus views, and the podcast host of the Mom Founder Imagination Hub. Featured guests include GaryVee, Beth Comstock, Suzy Batiz, David Meltzer, and hundreds of other unconventional thinkers. Melissa has been featured in the WSJ, Business Insider, Fox Business, CNN Money, The Huffington Post, and other publications. She holds a psychology degree from NYU, an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, and a Transformational Coaching Academy certificate and is training to become a meditation practitioner. Melissa lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and three sons (one singleton and a set of identical twins). Connect with Melissa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissallarena/

Have you ever felt like your family or friends don't take your business seriously because you work from home? Do you hear comments like, “Oh, she can do it—she doesn't really work,” even though you're running a full-time business? If you're craving reassurance and validation, this episode is for you. We're diving into the unique challenges female entrepreneurs especially moms face when others dismiss their work, and how to reclaim your confidence and sense of worth as a business owner. This is a direct and to the point minisode with precisely the next steps you can take today to feel better tomorrow. This minisode is brought to you by my anti-burnout 30-day productivity resource for mompreneurs! Grab it today before I put it behind a sales wall soon because it THAT's good: https://bit.ly/imagineaplan Greater context on the resource: let me help you figure out what to do next especially if you just burned yourself to the ground and currently feel stuck or unclear or what to do next. Take my Profitable Relationships Action Tracker and Planner today. It's free and a great mom-friendly planner! It links your vision to daily actions, helping you stay focused and energized as you build profitable relationships. Set yourself up for a successful year and an even bigger one ahead! It also sees to it that you replenish your energy to prevent burnout. ($97 value, helps avoid a $2,400 trip to the ER from exhaustion) - https://bit.ly/imagineaplan Share this episode with one female founder today who no longer wants to wait for other people to make her feel like she's running a real business and instead wants to reassure herself. About Melissa Llarena Melissa is a bestselling author (learn more on www.fertileideas.com), imagination coach behind the Fertile Imagination to Networking Success Group Coaching Program, consultant, speaker, contributor to ForbesWomen articles that have garnered 4 million-plus views, and the podcast host of the Mom Founder Imagination Hub. Featured guests include GaryVee, Beth Comstock, Suzy Batiz, David Meltzer, and hundreds of other unconventional thinkers. Melissa has been featured in the WSJ, Business Insider, Fox Business, CNN Money, The Huffington Post, and other publications. She holds a psychology degree from NYU, an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, and a Transformational Coaching Academy certificate and is training to become a meditation practitioner. Melissa lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and three sons (one singleton and a set of identical twins). Connect with Melissa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissallarena/  

If you've ever experienced the heartbreak of disappointing numbers after pouring your heart into a campaign, you're not alone. Whether it's low sales, unbooked appointments, or an epic fail, every entrepreneur faces setbacks. In this episode, we're focusing on how to rebuild confidence and motivation by connecting with other female entrepreneurs who've faced similar failure and emerged stronger. This is a direct and to the point minisode with precisely the next steps you can take today to feel better tomorrow. This minisode is brought to you by my anti-burnout 30-day productivity resource for mompreneurs! Grab it today before I put it behind a sales wall soon because it THAT's good: https://bit.ly/imagineaplan Greater context on the resource: let me help you figure out what to do next especially if you just burned yourself to the ground and currently feel stuck or unclear or what to do next. Take my Profitable Relationships Action Tracker and Planner today. It's free and a great mom-friendly planner! It links your vision to daily actions, helping you stay focused and energized as you build profitable relationships. Set yourself up for a successful year and an even bigger one ahead! It also sees to it that you replenish your energy to prevent burnout. ($97 value, helps avoid a $2,400 trip to the ER from exhaustion) - https://bit.ly/imagineaplan Share this episode with one female founder today whos need the motivation to get back up after a fall. Together, we can create a space where failure is just a stepping stone to success! Episodes referred to here include: https://www.melissallarena.com/suzybatiz-shares-the-wisdom-the-cherishes-for-giving-her-the-freedom-and-ability-to-trust-herself-and-accept-whatever-comes-her-wa-episode-67/? About Melissa Llarena Melissa is a bestselling author (learn more on www.fertileideas.com), imagination coach behind the Fertile Imagination to Networking Success Group Coaching Program, consultant, speaker, contributor to ForbesWomen articles that have garnered 4 million-plus views, and the podcast host of the Mom Founder Imagination Hub. Featured guests include GaryVee, Beth Comstock, Suzy Batiz, David Meltzer, and hundreds of other unconventional thinkers. Melissa has been featured in the WSJ, Business Insider, Fox Business, CNN Money, The Huffington Post, and other publications. She holds a psychology degree from NYU, an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, and a Transformational Coaching Academy certificate and is training to become a meditation practitioner. Melissa lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and three sons (one singleton and a set of identical twins). Connect with Melissa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissallarena/

CEO and Founder of Poo Pourri, Suzy Batiz, chats with Jenn and Jackie about reinventing herself and creating a multi million dollar product at middle age.She explains how losing everything has led her to success now.Plus, she challenges Jen and Jackie to face their fear at a coffee shop.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CEO and Founder of Poo Pourri, Suzy Batiz, chats with Jenn and Jackie about reinventing herself and creating a multi million dollar product at middle age.She explains how losing everything has led her to success now.Plus, she challenges Jen and Jackie to face their fear at a coffee shop.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CEO and Founder of Poo Pourri, Suzy Batiz, chats with Jenn and Jackie about reinventing herself and creating a multi million dollar product at middle age.She explains how losing everything has led her to success now.Plus, she challenges Jen and Jackie to face their fear at a coffee shop.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CEO and Founder of Poo Pourri, Suzy Batiz, chats with Jenn and Jackie about reinventing herself and creating a multi million dollar product at middle age.She explains how losing everything has led her to success now.Plus, she challenges Jen and Jackie to face their fear at a coffee shop.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This October 31 marks the one-year anniversary of my book, and I'm celebrating by sharing a curated list of my favorite podcast appearances! I've chosen episodes where the hosts' perspectives, personalities, and generosity truly shone. With so many podcasts out there, it's a challenge to find ones that are both genuinely helpful and uplifting. If I'm serving up a celebration, it's going to be as satisfying as the best birthday cake. Join me as I revisit standout moments, including the time a host knew my book so well it made me question my own words, the episode where I shared my birth story, and another where I reveal how I've personally taught my sons about the importance of global networking. Discover how you can use your imagination to tell your own story and feel truly worthy!   In this episode, you will hear:   My book Fertile Imagination turns ONE on Halloween, and I'm celebrating by sharing all the juicy details from my podcast tour!

We need to do a better job at resourcing ourselves, especially if you've decided that you have an unwavering commitment to see your business and family-life vision through! It's not an easy feat to disrupt industries, create your own, or parent multiple kids. It can be chaotic, even on a good day! That's why this week we're diving into the secrets of how to make it all work—yep, all of it! Do you wonder how you can be a boss at work and a rockstar mom at home and still have time to chase those big, audacious dreams? Well, wonder no more!   I'm bringing you an exclusive mashup featuring two powerhouse mompreneurs, Zibby Owens (mom of 4) and Liz Tenety (mom of 5), who are going to spill the beans on balancing business, babies, and everything in between. You ought to know that I have 3 sons with identical twins in that mix, so I know a thing or two about chaos and what it takes to be in business—I've been here for 13 years! Trust me, you don't want to miss their golden nuggets of wisdom, and I'll be chiming in with some of my own wild stories (hello, diaper blowout during a sales pitch?!)   So, grab your coffee, pop in those earbuds, and let's get inspired to stretch our imaginations and turn those crazy ideas into reality! Ready? Let's go! In this episode, you will hear: How to use your mom skills like humility, adaptability, and patience to dominate the business world.  Infusing your work life with playful strategies that help you manage stress and overwhelm like a boss.  Master the art of profitable relationship-building with techniques that are both strategic and authentic. Say goodbye to awkward networking events! Get tools to navigate those pesky insecurities and show up with confidence in every business conversation. Learn to make bold asks and communicate fearlessly to achieve your wildest business goals.  This episode is brought to you Fertile Imagination to Networking Success by my LIVE 9-week group coaching immersive program on becoming a powerful strategic networker using the Imagination to Impact and Income Method™ to connect with the right people, lead the right conversations, and swing open the right doors to success. The DOORS are officially open! But hurry, the DOORS close on September 27th at 5pm CST. I want to be sure you do not miss out on this opportunity and for that reason I invite you to send me a DM today and ask me anything about the opportunity to enroll today. Send me a DM today: https://www.instagram.com/melissallarena/ to ask me anything before the doors officially close. Happy to hop on a quick 15-minute call too so DM me and I'll send you a link for us to talk. Otherwise, head on to www.melissallarena.com/network  Imagine this in only 9 weeks, you could: Build profitable relationships and exceed your growth goals. Gain access to opportunities, boost your confidence for bolder asks, and raise prices. Feel energized by a fresh approach to relationships that taps into your imagination—the source of joy and fresh ideas. Navigate impostor syndrome, reignite your creativity, meet mom obligations, and achieve your best year ever with a focused plan. Approach your year-end goals with a mindset that leverages your advantages as a mom—letting your kids keep you grounded and present while inspiring you with their growth mindset. How? By enrolling in the Fertile Imagination to Networking Success Program for Mom Founders! This game-changing experience which you can enroll in right HERE https://www.melissallarena.com/network/ by September 27th at 5pm CST will show you how to: Transform your networking approach with 9 weeks of live coaching to implement the Imagination to Impact to Income Method™ for genuine connections without gatekeepers. Access an on-demand curriculum with research-based, cross-industry insights covering who to network with, how to find them, and how to create your networking calendar for higher-impact relationships. Experience a one-on-one role-playing session using storytelling to differentiate your business (and yourself), and receive expert feedback on communications for momentum. Revitalize your leadership skills by integrating the strengths you gain from being a mom with diverse modalities and tools that leverage the art of play. Use techniques such as meditations to get your creative juices flowing, boost productivity, and increase your energy. Connect with a community of like-minded mom founders for support and accountability, keeping your standards high and your vision strong. Journal your progress in a workbook to track your improved ability to tackle impostor syndrome and create a visionary leader roadmap to increase confidence. To ensure your long-term success, I've also included additional opportunities to apply these new networking skills by providing you with... Lifetime Access to the on-demand curriculum: Take the guesswork out of networking and refresh your strategy whenever needed. (you can teach this to your kids too!) Two months access to an Alumni online community of like-minded mom founders (priceless value; one contact can turn into a life-changing opportunity!) Two tickets to attend four virtual Quarterly Impact Appreciation Mixers focused on continued education in networking so that you can continue to deepen relationships. And this time only you will also get instant access to three exclusive bonuses that can help you make time for building profitable relationships, making bigger asks to get more, and attracting the right people with resources—so you can connect while you sleep. Get it off your plate!: Reclaim hours each week to easily fit relationship building into your life for business growth. Bolder Communication Strategies Toolkit: Step into a bolder persona and make bolder asks to optimize every interaction. Brush Up Your LinkedIn Profile: Unlock massive networking success by making your LinkedIn profile work harder for you.   I know this sounds too good to be true so don't take my word for it, listen to what others have said about my method. Visit the website: https://www.melissallarena.com/network/ About Melissa Llarena   Melissa is a bestselling author (learn more on www.fertileideas.com), imagination coach behind the Fertile Imagination to Networking Success Group Coaching Program, consultant, speaker, contributor to ForbesWomen articles that have garnered 4 million-plus views, and the podcast host of the Mom Founder Imagination Hub. Featured guests include GaryVee, Beth Comstock, Suzy Batiz, David Meltzer, and hundreds of other unconventional thinkers. Melissa has been featured in the WSJ, Business Insider, Fox Business, CNN Money, The Huffington Post, and other publications. She holds a psychology degree from NYU, an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, and a Transformational Coaching Academy certificate and is training to become a meditation practitioner. Melissa lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and three sons (one singleton and a set of identical twins).   Quotes, that can change your perspective: “We need to do a better job of resourcing ourselves. We have almost everything that we need right under our noses." - Melissa Llarena "The idea is to leap to your goals and make big strides, not get there at a snail's pace." - Melissa Llarena "I feel like I lead as a mom, and I feel like it has only made me a better leader, and they don't talk about that at business school at all." - Zibby Owens "Being humble. 100%. The superpower is the ability to constantly learn" - Zibby Owens   “It is about energy, it is about time, it is about money, and all those things kind of intersect and just encouraging people to use their creativity.” - Liz Tenety….on how being a business leader helped her lead her family "What if hanging out with your kids can be part of your competitive advantage, a business strategy, so that you can come up with a better business idea or something more innovative, certainly something that is simpler to describe." - Melissa Llarena “I think it is so important to bring the whole of you to the table because, because as a mom with a business, that is your competitive advantage.” - Melissa Llarena SHARE this episode and unleash your imagination, tap into your superpowers, and build a successful business while being an amazing mom. Join the conversation with other mom founders and learn how to achieve your goals with confidence and support!

Hey there, amazing moms and dream chasers! This week, I opened up about my journey as a mom and entrepreneur, and I can't wait for you to dive in. We're chatting about why keeping your energy and momentum high is key, especially as we near the year's end. I'll share my go-to tips for handling the distractions and pressures that come with balancing mom life and business. Plus, get ready for some savvy strategies to craft a year-end networking plan that helps you build valuable connections without zapping your energy. From my quest to become a top Amazon bestseller to my dream interviews with big names like Gary Vaynerchuk and Suzy Batiz, I'm here to prove that you can totally chase your dreams while still rocking your mom role. Don't miss out on this fun and insightful episode! Plus, discover Never-Before-Shared Secrets I've Used to Help Moms Like You Tailor Success to Your Business and Family! Join My FREE LIVE Masterclass on September 23, and also 24th exclusively for Mom Business Owners—Sign Up Today!" Master Your Year-End Networking: Build Profitable Relationships For Business Growth in 30 Days Without Burnout: https://www.melissallarena.com/masterclass/   In this episode, you will hear:   How to keep your unique essence of both a mom and business leader while going after those big entrepreneurial goals. The real talk on the hurdles we face and how to tackle them. Why staying pumped and on track is a game-changer for hitting your goals. Tips for building awesome relationships without draining your energy and avoiding burnout. How to ditch those self-doubts and own your business superpowers. Why having a clear picture of your goals is crucial for both business and personal success. How to stay healthy and happy while juggling motherhood and entrepreneurship. The power of community and collaboration among moms in business.   We're halfway through September, and if the thought of the months ahead is draining your energy, stick with me—I'm going to show you how to stay energized and finish this year strong. Avoiding burnout is the name of the game and I have found a solid way that is rarely discussed. What if I told you that profitable networking is not just another task on your to-do list, but actually the most energy-efficient way to grow your business and finish the year strong? Hey, everyone! Before we dive in, as promised all the details about my masterclass are here—in the show notes. If you're ready to take action now, just head over to www.melissallarena.com/masterclass to sign up. But first, a message from our sponsors i.e.  This episode is brought to you by: Master Your Year-End Networking: Build Profitable Relationships For Business Growth in 30 Days Without Burnout: https://www.melissallarena.com/masterclass/ A LIVE one-hour masterclass for visionary mom business owners: Close the year strong with the proven "Imagination to Impact to Income Method™" to manage time, energy, and stay focused through gatekeeper-free networking.

Feeling overwhelmed by the constant juggle of running a business and raising kids? You're not alone! Today, we're diving into something that every mom entrepreneur can relate to—overwhelm. If you've ever felt like the to-do list just keeps growing, this episode is for you. I'm sharing my personal strategy for nipping that overwhelm in the bud by tapping into something we often overlook—playfulness.   We'll take a look at how taking a moment to laugh at a funny video or doing something light-hearted isn't just procrastination—it's a quick and effective reset. These playful breaks can recharge us, making it easier to tackle the day's challenges with a fresh perspective.   Plus, I'll explore how we can learn from the natural playfulness of our kids. They're experts at finding joy in the little things, and by embracing their spirit, we can create a happier, less stressful environment for ourselves and our families.   Finally, I give a sneak peek into my upcoming masterclass called: How to Craft a Focused Year-End Networking Strategy to Build Profitable Relationships in 30 Days Without Draining Your Mom Energy designed specifically for mom founders. P.S. the name was tweaked to Year-End Networking: Build Profitable Relationships For Business Growth in 30 Days Without Burnout It's all about building profitable relationships and crushing those year-end goals, complete with a 30-day action planner to keep you on track and burnout free!   So, if you're ready to bring more joy and creativity into your life and business, this episode is for you! In this episode, you will hear:   Acknowledging overwhelm, especially during busy times like the fall season. Utilizing children's natural playfulness to reduce overwhelm and boost happiness. Why cross-pollination (borrowing ideas from unrelated fields) is a game-changer. The benefits of play in business, including reducing anxiety and fostering calmness.. Challenges of maintaining momentum as a mom entrepreneur and overcoming imposter syndrome.   If you're feeling overwhelmed and stretched, join in my free LIVE masterclass called: How to Craft a Focused Year-End Networking Strategy to Build Profitable Relationships in 30 Days Without Draining Your Mom Energy. Sign-up HERE: https://www.melissallarena.com/masterclass/ Get ready to learn a proven strategy that can help you regain control and create lasting change! First a confession, I've always dreamed of a photoshoot with my three sons. Picture this: I'm in an ultra-stretchy dress, and each of my boys is tugging at the material in different directions, making me look like a splattered wad of gum on the floor. It's a funny way of highlighting the real struggle of being pulled in so many directions. Your kids need you, your business needs you—especially when you're aiming for growth. It can feel overwhelming, right? So, I asked myself: What's one thing I could do well, on my own schedule, while working from home? For me, it's focusing on building the right profitable relationships using my Imagination to Impact to Income Method™. That's what I'm sharing in my masterclass, How to Craft a Focused Year-End Networking Strategy to Build Profitable Relationships in 30 Days Without Draining Your Mom Energy. Early in my business, I found an energy-efficient path to boost credibility, expand reach, and earn more income. Building profitable relationships proved more reliable than ads. Reimagining my company vision as an energy resource led to my Imagination to Impact to Income Method™. This method starts with our imagination, an untapped energy source for adults. Our kids know it well. I've used it to become a #1 bestseller, secure podcast guests like GaryVee and Suzy Batiz, garner media (WSJ, etc.), and achieve five-figure months. These wins required my energy and being a mom. Join my free masterclass, How to Craft a Focused Year-End Networking Strategy to Build Profitable Relationships in 30 Days Without Draining Your Mom Energy. Get a roadmap to capture busy contacts' attention, navigate impostor syndrome, and unlock energy inspired by your mission and kids! In this masterclass, I'll guide you through: ·         Reimagining your company vision to reignite your passion, helping you surpass your 2024 goals and savor the holidays with the energy you deserve. ·         Discovering a clear focus for relationship-building in your business, so you can channel your energy into strategies with lasting impact, beyond fleeting social media posts. ·         Proactively addressing impostor syndrome, empowering you to overcome self-doubt and conserve your energy for what truly matters. Click here to grab your spot. In future episodes, I'll share how using your imagination for a focused, profitable networking strategy can energize you. Sign up to get an immediate sneak peek into one of my top energy-boosting secrets (the secret to my pep) with a downloadable workbook sent straight to your inbox. Sending you energy, -Melissa P.S. Show up LIVE to my free class and you will get a BONUS 30-Day Profitable Networking Action Plan and Tracker that connects your vision to daily actions! It's a smart, actionable, and mom-friendly planner to map out your 30-day networking activities to keep you focused on the right things. It also sees to it that you replenish your energy to prevent burnout. EXTRA bonus for showing up LIVE is that you will be entered into a drawing to be a podcast guest on the Mom Founder Imagination Hub. Quotes, that can change your perspective: “Our children are imagination experts in residence. Why not learn from these wonderful individuals who are right there on how they are able to visualize completely random things?” “If you are in a moment of a lot of stress and a lot of steps and a lot of moving parts to anything in your life as a mom in business, then it is really important for you to take a step back every once in a while.” “Adopting a playful spirit is a tool for you so that you can use it, and you have people around you, i.e., humans that are kids, who are really great at it. So why not leverage their expertise so that you can get farther?”  “I encourage you also to just imagine for yourself: what would be possible if you could do anything that you wanted to do without having to struggle with overwhelm?” SHARE this episode and reignite the joy of play and creativity to conquer overwhelm. Let's empower our fellow mom entrepreneurs to embrace play and confidently manage stress.

Ever wonder why networking events feature few mothers starting businesses? I have been thinking about this for the past 13 years and am ready to explain why it is so important to me. Often feeling like the lone mother in the room, I started to wonder why more amazing mother entrepreneurs weren't out there networking?   Here's what I've heard: "The kids are getting ready for bed, and happy hours are as sleazy as a meat market," is what I've overheard.

Ever feel like you're running at full capacity and still not getting everything done? We've all been there! This back-to-school season will also come with new things to consider adding to your already full plate. If you've had a business for more than three years, you know it's coming… opportunities to fill up your calendar with new trainings, activities for the kids, and business trips to plan and close out your year. Given this common fall flurry of evaluations and additions to your already full plate, I wanted to share with you my personal filter system. There are three things that I have been asking myself over the last 13 years that have helped me decide for myself based on my priorities: what to participate in, purchase, or remove from my plate. There are so many examples. However, before I share my three filters for evaluating what to add to my plate or remove, I want to give you one heck of an opportunity today that ends on Monday, August 12, 2024, at 5 p.m. CST. You have a chance to enter to win a guest spot on this podcast! Sign up for my newsletter, and you will be entered! Imagine being a guest on the Mom Founder Imagination Hub, sharing your story, and inspiring thousands of fellow mompreneurs. This week, I'm offering you a chance to win a spot on my podcast! All you have to do is visit www.fertileideas.com and sign up for my newsletter between today and the next six days. By signing up, you'll not only stay updated with the latest tips and strategies to grow your business, but you'll also be entered into a drawing for a guest spot on my show. There are a host of sections where you can sign-up on my website from the networking playbook, to grabbing a chapter of my book fertile imagination, or taking 5 minutes if you are stuck to take the quiz. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to elevate your brand and reach a wider audience. I'll announce the lucky winner in next week's episode. So head over to www.fertileideas.com right now and sign up.  Rules apply: listen to the episode for those rules to win. Let's jump into this episode. Today, I share a personal story from my book Fertile Imagination about the time I invested in Tony Robbins' Business Mastery live event. It was a big investment—$10K for five days, plus travel to Florida and time away from my three kids. But the chance to feel reinvigorated was worth it, so I jumped on the early bird discount. I'm diving into the idea of having a "full plate" and how, as mom founders, we can navigate the flood of opportunities that come our way. I'll share three key filters – alignment, better way, and transferability which I use to decide whether to take on new opportunities, even when things feel overwhelming. So, before you say, 'I have too much on my plate,' consider these filters. It might not be about adding more, but about replacing what doesn't align with your current goals with something that does. Tune in to hear how these filters can help you make informed decisions, prioritize what's important, and grow both personally and professionally. Whether you're navigating a busy schedule or looking to seize new opportunities, these insights are here to help you thrive! In this episode, you will hear: How you can enter a drawing to be a podcast guest on the Mom Founder Imagination Hub i.e. sign-up for any of the free resources on www.fertileideas.com by August 12th, 2024 by 5pm CST to be eligible to win this drawing. Winners will be emailed. Listen to details today. You can be my next podcast guest! Mom founders you want visibility. Enter the contest by simply signing up for anything on www.fertileideas.com  Using specific filters to evaluate new personal and professional growth opportunities, such as urgency, alignment, and growth potential. How to periodically reassess what's on your plate to ensure it reflects your current priorities and goals. Ideas on creatively rearranging commitments to manage time zones and deadlines effectively which requires expansive thinking i.e. your imagination. Ways to see whether new business growth strategies can enhance your current methods and whether they are justified to go on your plate. The key to determining if learning a new skill is worthwhile especially if you have lots of other options available to you i.e. are there key skills that are higher value like networking? An easy decision-making framework Melissa has used over the last 13-years to determine whether to invest in a particular course, community, or event when her plate has been busy i.e. three kids, global relocations, and life. Imagine being a guest on the Mom Founder Imagination Hub, sharing your story, and inspiring thousands of fellow mompreneurs. This week, I'm offering you a chance to win a spot on my podcast! All you have to do is visit www.fertileideas.com and sign up for my newsletter between today and the next six days. By signing up, you'll not only stay updated with the latest tips and strategies to grow your business, but you'll also be entered into a drawing for a guest spot on my show. There are a host of sections where you can sign-up on my website from the networking playbook, to grabbing a chapter of my book fertile imagination, or taking 5 minutes if you are stuck to take the quiz. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to elevate your brand and reach a wider audience. I'll announce the lucky winner in next week's episode. So head over to www.fertileideas.com right now and sign up.    About Melissa Llarena   I'm a bestselling author (learn more on www.fertileideas.com), imagination coach behind the Fertile Imagination to Networking Success Group Coaching Program, consultant, speaker, contributor to ForbesWomen articles that have garnered 4 million-plus views, and the podcast host of the Mom Founder Imagination Hub. Featured guests include GaryVee, Beth Comstock, Suzy Batiz, David Meltzer, and hundreds of other unconventional thinkers. Melissa has been featured in the WSJ, Business Insider, Fox Business, CNN Money, The Huffington Post, and other publications. She holds a psychology degree from NYU, an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, and a Transformational Coaching Academy certificate and is training to become a meditation practitioner. Melissa lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and three sons (one singleton and a set of identical twins).   Quotes, that can change your perspective: "Networking is so transferable and it is not going away and it is how deals are done." -Melissa Llarena "Your capability is constant. But how much of it you use depends upon who you think you really are." - Tony Robbins "I know that you're going to have a lot on your plate. This is not going to change. There are ways however to reimagine what gets to be on your plate and what doesn't." - Melissa Llarena "I don't want you to miss out on an opportunity that makes sense just because you have a lot on your plate. THIS is where you can use your superpower --- your fertile imagination." - Melissa Llarena   SHARE this episode and head over to fertileideas.com and sign up for our newsletter within the next six days. You'll gain access to valuable insights, a chance to participate in our raffle, and the opportunity to be featured on the podcast. Don't miss out—act now to unlock your next big opportunity! Supporting Resources: Schedule a free call to see if Fertile Imagination to Networking Success my signature program is the right fit: https://www.melissallarena.com/sessions/ Podcast: Mom Founder Imagination Hub: https://www.melissallarena.com/podcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MelissaLlarena/ Or, grab for free your copy of the “From Contact to Connection: The Mompreneur's Go-First Networking & Follow Up Playbook”: https://witty-thinker-2643.ck.page/21e52edb87  Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to my podcast for new moms who are entrepreneurs, founders, and creators?  I'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet.  I'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast for writer moms.   

Hey there, welcome back to another episode of the Mom Founder Imagination Hub podcast! Today, we're diving into three super common mistakes that mom founders often make when they're reaching out to prospective investors, partners, alliances or even internal sponsors of their business ideas. Trust me, these are totally avoidable! So, let me tell you about this one mom founder I know. She had this amazing idea for a TV show, but when she pitched it, she made a few missteps that could have been easily avoided. First off, she didn't really understand who the decision maker was. Big no-no! It's so important to know who you're talking to and what makes them tick.  Next, she didn't take the time to figure out what actually mattered to the person she was pitching to. You gotta know what their priorities are! And finally, she didn't contextualize her pitch. You can't just throw your idea out there without showing how it fits into the bigger picture i.e. how does your solution fit into your target audience's portfolio or performance goals. Being a mom founder comes with unique challenges, especially when balancing entrepreneurship and family life. I understand completely. That's why I'm here to provide practical advice and support to ensure your next pitch gets you to the bargaining table (vs. is ignored).! In this episode, you will hear: Understanding the decision maker and contextualizing the pitch  Unique challenges faced by mom founders in balancing entrepreneurship and family life Challenges of navigating family life while pursuing entrepreneurship Failure to consider the perspective of the person being pitched to Lack of understanding of what matters to the person being pitched to Contextualizing the pitch to fit the specific industry or sector Need for thorough research and due diligence before reaching out to potential partners or investors Thoughtful and strategic communication in building successful business relationships In the car driving? Pause this episode and write this down. Book a free consult with Melissa this week. Go to www.melissallarena.com/sessions. Let's role-play one conversation you intend to have this week. You are a founder with a baked idea and you are currently in the pitching process whether it's for investment dollars or after you've gotten investment dollars and now you are on the hook for speeding up your business development efforts! You can tell me who I should be in this role-play, and I'll tell you what red flags I hear and whether a VIP day is right for you. Here's what you can expect during your VIP day and I want to be transparent. Spots for my VIP Days are extremely limited. I'm offering just 3 spots this month, and after that, this opportunity may never come around again. This is your chance to fast-track your connections and propel your business forward in just 3 hours.   Here's what you can expect: Tailored Strategy Session: Before the VIP Networking Day, you'll receive a simple questionnaire. This prework is designed to optimize our time together, ensuring every minute counts. We'll dive deep into your business goals, target investors, potential podcast guests/partners, or media contacts, and current networking challenges, setting the stage for maximum productivity. Real-Time Guidance: Once we're live on Zoom, it's all about action. Together, we'll roll up our sleeves and dive into the heart of networking. I won't just talk strategy; we'll implement it in real-time. Using the insights gathered from your prework, we'll identify and reach out to potential investors, podcast guests/partners, or media giants on the spot. You'll witness firsthand how to craft compelling outreach messages and make meaningful connections that matter. Strategic Outreach: Cold outreach can be daunting, but not anymore. With my guidance, you'll confidently reach out to potential investors, podcast guests, or media contacts during our session. Whether it's through email, LinkedIn, or other channels, you'll have a clear plan of action and the confidence to execute it in real-time. Follow-Up Mastery: The conversation doesn't end with the initial outreach. I'll equip you with a follow-up strategy designed to nurture relationships and keep investors, podcast guests/partners, or media contacts engaged. From timely follow-up emails to strategic touchpoints, you'll have all the tools you need to move prospects closer to funding, secure podcast appearances, or establish relationships with influential media personalities. By the end of our VIP Networking Day, you'll feel empowered, energized, and ready to conquer the world of networking. Say goodbye to wasted time and missed opportunities. With our tailored approach, you'll unlock the door to funding success, captivating podcast episodes, or media exposure and propel your business forward. Because this is SO important and so easy to fix….the elevator pitch itself…for starters…..I want you to sign up for the 30-minute complimentary session before you step out there and start pitching yourself to anyone…..let me give you quick tips that can be the difference between getting to pitch your idea or being totally shut out and ignored…..so go to www.melissallarena.com/sessions today....the VIP day are limited and may not be right for you right now but the free sessions are available today…no reason not to share your pitch with me.   About Melissa Llarena   I'm a bestselling author (learn more on www.fertileideas.com), imagination coach behind the Fertile Imagination to Networking Success Group Coaching Program, consultant, speaker, contributor to ForbesWomen articles that have garnered 4 million-plus views, and the podcast host of the Mom Founder Imagination Hub. Featured guests include GaryVee, Beth Comstock, Suzy Batiz, David Meltzer, and hundreds of other unconventional thinkers. Melissa has been featured in the WSJ, Business Insider, Fox Business, CNN Money, The Huffington Post, and other publications. She holds a psychology degree from NYU, an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, and a Transformational Coaching Academy certificate and is training to become a meditation practitioner. Melissa lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and three sons (one singleton and a set of identical twins).   Quotes, that can change your perspective:   “First impressions happen one time, and yes, you can totally turn it around, but you're a mom founder. The time you spent making that first impression, the guts it took to put yourself out there, is something that you're now going to have to work up to yet again.” “When it comes to being a mom founder or being a mom with a business, it is urgent that you really, really stay sharp in terms of coming up with unexpected or new or shortcut ways to reach out to everyone and anyone.” “If you want to do business on your own terms as you have opted to as a mom founder, you don't want to not be yourself when you're doing business. That was part of the purpose of owning your own thing along with solving a challenge, being mission-driven, and heart-centered.” “I know the effort it takes to think through a product, I know the effort it takes to see a product market fit, and I know the effort it's going to take to implement whatever it is that you promise to the people on your list.” SHARE this episode and elevate your business! Master effective networking and pitching by avoiding common mistakes and adopting personalized communication strategies. Make a lasting impression and build meaningful connections and start transforming your pitch today! Supporting Resources:   Schedule a free call to see if Fertile Imagination to Networking Success my signature program is the right fit: https://www.melissallarena.com/sessions/ Podcast: Mom Founder Imagination Hub: https://www.melissallarena.com/podcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MelissaLlarena/ Or, grab for free your copy of the “From Contact to Connection: The Mompreneur's Go-First Networking & Follow Up Playbook”: https://witty-thinker-2643.ck.page/21e52edb87  Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to my podcast for new moms who are entrepreneurs, founders, and creators?  I'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet.  I'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast for writer moms.  TRANSCRIPT 00:00:00 Melissa: First impressions happen one time. And yes, you can totally turn around, but you're a Mom Founder. And what distinguishes you versus someone that might not have kids is the fact that that time you spent in making that first impression, the guts it took to put yourself out there, that is something that you're now gonna have to work up to yet again. And it is way harder to constantly fall down and get back up, fall down and get back up when you're navigating family life in parallel. 00:00:39 Melissa: Welcome to the Mom Founder Imagination Hub, your weekly podcast to inspire you to dream bigger. Plan out how you're going to get to that next level in business, find the energy to keep going, and make sure your creative juices are flowing so that this way you get what you really want rather than having to settle. Get ready to discover how mom founders have reimagined entrepreneurship and motherhood.  00:01:01 Melissa: Ever wonder how they do it? Tune in to find out and stretch yourself by also learning from diverse entrepreneurs who might not be moms, but who have lessons you can tailor about how you can disrupt industries and step way outside of your comfort zone. I believe every mom's superpower is her imagination. In this podcast, I'm going to give you the mindset, methods and tools to unleash yours. Sounds good? Then keep listening. 00:01:32 Melissa: Hey there, it's Melissa Llarena, your host of the Mom Founder Imagination Hub. So we're gonna tackle today three avoidable mistakes that often mom founders make right when they begin to outreach their network or talk to complete strangers so that their business can grow. So three avoidable mistakes. Let me share a story first.  00:01:57 Melissa: I had a wonderful conversation the other day with a mom who was so psyched about this TV show that she wants to put out into the world. And she has an outreach list of organizations and different individuals in those organizations that she wants to pitch her idea to. So she's thinking companies like Lego, companies like Hasbro, you get the drip. And here's the thing. She was so excited about her elevator pitch. I mean, she was just so ready to roll with it, and I wanted to hear it. 00:02:32 Melissa: So of course, she went ahead, she memorized it, and I can tell that she spent probably hours upon hours really refining it with her peers. And she said it, and then I kind of felt these like internal crickets. And that brings me to today's episode. I don't want you to make the same mistakes that this super excited, well-intentioned Mom Founder made. 00:03:00 Melissa: The mistake was the following. Once I heard her pitch, I was like, okay, first of all, who was I supposed to be? Like there's some key questions that as you are putting yourself out there, pitching your business idea to potential investors or partners, that you've got to ask yourself. And if you don't actually think about what you're going to say and whether or not is going to resonate with the other person, then you've completely failed. So that was point number one. 00:03:32 Melissa: Who was I supposed to be? I had no idea. I was just listening to the pitch and I was like, wow. My hair felt like wind was blowing, but it was kind of like hot air because I wasn't sure what I was supposed to prioritize in terms of the information that she shared. The other question was, okay, so now that I'm this person in her case, marketing director, let's imagine, then what do you perceive to be so important to me? And in terms of the pitch that this person shared, I didn't really catch that. I wasn't able to discern what she perceived to be important to me.  00:04:08 Melissa: Some other questions. Why would I, someone working for an organization, want to bring on or support a TV show that's not addictive? Now, this was super specific to the sort of content that she had worked really hard on. However, you have to understand, there might be one or two words in your pitch to an investor or a partner that simply don't make sense given that person's key performance indicators. I would want a TV show that's addictive so that this way kids watch it over and over again.  00:04:46 Melissa: But again, if you hadn't done your homework prior to pitching, you might miss that point. And here's something else that came up when her and I were on a 30-minute complimentary session where I was listening to her pitch, this idea. So what problem are you trying to solve in my company? And I think that is something that we often do not think or consider prior to working on our super fancy put together pitches. It is so contextual. And that's why we are here today.  00:05:20 Melissa: So the three avoidable mistakes that you will want to be mindful of if you are pitching a business idea to an organization or to someone that you admire, begin in this very, very clear manner. Know the decision maker. That's one of the three mistakes. So I originally began sharing a bit about the questions I was asking myself after she shared her pitch and I shared with her and I helped guide her. 00:05:51 Melissa: But at the same time, that is the most important thing. You might think to yourself that, okay, my product is amazing, my service is compelling, but at the end of the day, you're talking to a human being that has a filter that is quite precise. Now, if you've pitched an organization, and you have considered an investor profile as like your go-to, who am I pitching sort of document. That's amazing. It's a start, but every single human being with whom you interact is going to have a completely different set of priorities. And you want to be mindful of that.  00:06:32 Melissa: So you want to really know what are the job titles that you're going to encounter pertaining to this pitch? What's common. For example, is this someone that's going to be in a job for two years, 10 years, or six months? You can tell really depending on the functional area of expertise, there's some functions like marketing where the timeframe is really low. What might that mean? That might mean that whatever outcome or whatever sort of impact you intend to make has to be in the very near short term. All of this is to be considered in your pitch. And all of this is to be considered as you go through an outreach networking list.  00:07:15 Melissa: Now, I might be calling it networking. You might call it biz dev. You might call it sales, looking for strategic partnerships. I really see it as one in the same. Why is that? Because you want to find someone with whom you're almost going the same way. It's almost like a hitchhiker. Not to say you do that and that is not safe, but let's just imagine that you're there and you're on a highway. Think locally, wherever you might be, and you're heading in one direction. You're heading north. You want to be sure that you figure out who else is heading north. You would not want to get into a car and start chatting with the driver and saying, oh, hey, why are we going south? I want to go north. That is a lot of effort.  00:08:05 Melissa: So what does that mean? That means that you have to know the person that you are reaching out to on that long list that you probably spent hours trying to put together as a Mom Founder, which i.e. is time away from the kids. And you want to be sure that you're both going in the same direction and you are speaking their language. That brings me to the third big mistake I have noticed when it comes to going through a list of contacts that you would like to pitch your business idea, whether it is for funding or it might be for media placement.  00:08:40 Melissa: It's really interchangeable in terms of the people that you are going to reach out to. But at the end of the day, every single person has something that matters to them that might not be so obvious to you, especially. And this is what I've noticed so much because these are the mom founders that I have partnered with through these years. It's folks that are entering a brand new market, folks that for them, maybe you know, their background was working in one sector, and this is a new sector. 00:09:11 Melissa: So what does that mean? That means that you have to understand what matters to that person and what matters in that market. And what does that mean? That means that if you're talking to someone in procurement, they have a different set of words that they use to quantify success versus if you're talking to someone in finance, versus if you're talking to someone that is at a different level.  00:09:37 Melissa:  So I think it's really important that not just knowing who the decision maker is and actually looking up whether it's LinkedIn, and that's just surface level. There's a lot more research that needs to go into this if you're going through a list where you're asking for thousands of dollars or millions of dollars in investment, but asking at least, let me look at their career background to have a good sense of how they might approach this particular project. Right?  00:10:07 Melissa: Okay, so knowing the decision maker, the second mistake is not understanding what matters to that person. And it could really rely on their functional area of expertise. Again, you're the mom founder, you're an expert in your product or service. However, here's the thing, the person that you're talking to, they have a lot of priorities and they have a lot of different ways of calling success and you need to speak the same language. Otherwise it is like straight up a tower of babble situation. 00:10:37 Melissa: And you do not want that because we all know what happened. Things crumbled and things did not go so well. Okay, so again, what does this person really care about? Right, so knowing what really matters, what do they care about? What is it that they actually call what they care about? So that is mistake number two. 00:10:58 Melissa: So these are the three mistakes that I want you to avoid. And I'll get to number three. When you have a list of contacts that you're going through because you just came up with an invention or you have a business solution or offering that you are ready for funding or to get funding, right? Okay, so mistake number three, contextualizing your pitch. So back to the first story.  00:11:22 Melissa: So there I was listening to this beautiful pitch. I mean, we're talking about perfection. The words were exciting. Everything that she said was compelling to the right person in the right context. However, this person didn't have the expertise of a particular industry. So as you go through your list of contacts and you're there pitching your idea to different organizations or people, there's different things that are going on in different sectors. 00:11:55 Melissa: For example, let's just imagine that you are pitching to one sector and in that sector, you have no idea that this concept that your TV show would not be addictive is absolutely not going to work and not at all the key to success when right now you have a lot of people who's attention is disparate, right? Is in a lot of different places. So here you are saying that, yeah, they're gonna get like one hit of my TV show and that'll be enough and it won't be addictive. Meanwhile, let's imagine as an industry, you need to get people to keep coming back because that is how you organize your ad campaigns with your advertisers, then it's not gonna lay quite right.  00:12:46 Melissa: Okay, so let me get to the point as clearly as possible. Here's the third mistake, so contextualizing your pitch. I wanna share something with you that I learned back in advertising. So I used to work in ad agencies. This was now at least 13 years ago. And I remember working on the IBM account, working on the SAP account, and I remember being told back then, you need to know more about what's happening and what's important to IBM and the tech space than your clients. Same thing with SAP. 00:13:18 Melissa: What does that mean to you, a Mom Founder who has this glorious list that you want to go through but you don't want to burn because you just spent so much time figuring out who the right people might be to shepherd your idea in a big organization. So what does that mean? That means that you need to understand if you need to understand what the drivers are in that sector. You need to understand if there's like new competitors that are just really eroding or just really eating into a market share. You need to also understand how to contextualize what it is that you're offering in the context of their existing portfolio of offerings.  00:14:03 Melissa: Okay, so I said a lot there. There's a lot that needs to happen before you start calling people. I totally get that you might have an investor profile. I get that you have partners that believe so much in your product that they've desired and they've worked for free till this point. But you're going to waste your time, waste your effort and your energy. And I know as a Mom Founder, particularly, you don't got a lot of energy if you do not do this due diligence to a point where at nauseam, you know more about someone's business than they might. 00:14:41 Melissa: However, back to my advertising days, you don't want to show up as arrogant because we always would say, you know more about your business than we do. But that wasn't always the case if I'm being really honest about it. And in your situation, if you're looking to really make a great impression on an organization because you want to partner with them, again, you both have to be going in the same direction. You need to totally understand who you're talking to in terms of how long they're going to be there, how you might want to angle the value that you bring to the table and where you fit in terms of the context of their portfolio. 00:15:20 Melissa: But at the same time you just want to be sure that you have done your homework to a point where again you feel confident and competent that working with you is gonna leave them better off than not working with you in whatever capacity that might be and It takes a lot of practice and I wanted to just kind of go to the very top, your elevator pitch might not be enough. It might not be what is necessary. Every single person that you're talking to, it might completely throw someone off because they'll think that you're talking into some sort of recording, especially if you've recorded it. 00:15:57 Melissa: So you want to be sure that you also bring some stories because oftentimes those resonate a lot more than just statistics and having the right leadership team in place, which I tend to hear a lot. Okay, so here's the story. So risks of not doing your homework. This is personal in the sense that as a podcaster, I'm sure you can imagine how many times I am pitched in terms of podcast guests. And the other day I was looking in my inbox and I noticed someone was pitching me. They were a PR professional so they should have known better. However in terms of time budget, etc., they provided a very generic pitch.  00:16:43 Melissa: So imagine in your situation, right? Again, back to you being a Mom Founder, having a list, having finite time and energy, having spent so much effort upfront, trying to figure out who you're gonna reach out to, but not having done enough effort in terms of researching the three things that I shared with you in terms of the actual people that you're talking to, what actually matters to them, and then also how you fit in the context of like a company's portfolio as an example, and why partnering with you is better than not.  00:17:19 Melissa: Let's imagine this, with this person, this PR person, she was pitching me, again, this is the Mom Founder Imagination Hub podcast. She was pitching me a guy, which 100% I have had men on this podcast, like James Altucher, Gary Vee, et cetera. But she was pitching me a guy that was really all about financial market solutions, having nothing to do with entrepreneurship. And I was just like, what the heck is this? Like, is this even for me? Like you don't want to be that person that emails someone a pitch or jumps on the phone, I know old school, but hey, it still works, and you completely are talking, but the person on the other side is like, why are you calling me?  00:18:08 Melissa: So that is what was happening to me. And that story basically wants to just like reaffirm in you the fact that don't waste your time by not knowing who you're reaching out to at the individual level. And I know it takes a lot of work, a lot of effort. But here's the thing, if you don't do it, this is what happens. All that money, right? And if you think about your time as money, is wasted in terms of the effort that you put to just creating that outreach list. That's one.  00:18:41 Melissa: Here's the other thing, you're gonna burn a bridge because it's going to show that you're not as thoughtful as you truly are. And if you're a Mom Founder, one thing I know about the ones I've worked with, like you are so thoughtful. I mean, when it comes to like the logistics of your family and how you went about, you know, doing market research for your product or figuring out market product fit, I know you're thoughtful. So you wanna be sure that that reputation precedes you, right?  So again, you've gotta do that extra research. You wanna be sure that you are resonating with the person. So you don't want to burn through that contact list if you don't have to. 00:19:21 Melissa: Here's the other idea. Let's imagine that you make that mistake, kind of like that PR agency, right? That was sending me a very random podcast guest proposal. You're gonna have to then, if you're really interested in partnering with a Lego or with a Hasbro, et cetera, you're gonna have to then go back and do some triage. And it's not always possible to like resurrect from some blow paw like that. 00:19:44 Melissa: So I wanna just say, here's the other thing. First impressions happen one time. And yes, you can totally turn around, but you're a Mom Founder. And what distinguishes you versus someone that might not have kids is the fact that that time you spent in making that first impression, the guts it took to put yourself out there, that is something that you're now gonna have to like work up to yet again. And it is way harder to constantly fall down and get back up, fall down and get back up when you're navigating family life in parallel. Just this morning to give you an example.  00:20:27 Melissa: So I have all these podcast episode recordings today. And my son then says to me at 5:00 AM, mind you, mom, I think I have a fever. And I looked at him and I was like, please do not have a fever. That's just like one of the ups and downs. We'll call that a down that is so natural to you that other people might not experience, but your business has to keep going on. So, you know, we have finite energy and finite abilities to get back down and get back up, figure out new ways, different patterns, right? Use our imagination and try other or alternative paths forward. 00:21:08 Melissa: If you've got to do the same thing for being a mom as you do an entrepreneurship, you've got to be sure that you are somehow preventing all of that struggle where you can. You need to be a sane mom. That's what I'm saying. So again, this is avoidable. That's why I have it in this episode. And I really hope that you take it to heart because there's so much that's at stake. If you don't actually consider those three mistakes that I share.  00:21:40 Melissa: So I don't wanna leave you hanging. I think this is so important. I wanna be of service to you because I think that it takes so much guts to just like leave your job, for example, or start a business, especially as a mom. It also is absolutely beautiful that you want to do something that's mission driven. Those are the moms that I work with and I help in terms of really navigating networking and building relationships so that you're in the right rooms, having the right conversations, getting the money that your business idea deserves, that I wanna do this for you. So hear me out.  00:22:17 Melissa: Okay, now let's just imagine that you are in a car right now, so you're driving. So what I will have you do is absolutely bookmark this conversation, but write this down when you have an opportunity in the event that you're on the move. So I offer something called a VIP day. It's a three-hour Zoom session during which time we are going to work through your contact list. But here's the thing. It's even better than that. 00:22:45 Melissa: Not only are we going to work through your contact list, but prior to jumping on Zoom, I'm going to give you some homework that's going to help you thoughtfully not just put together that contact list, but approach your research so that this way you can avoid these three mistakes. I'm also going to make sure that as you approach the different people during our time, that three-hour Zoom time frame, that you're leading with what is going to resonate the most based on a number of criteria that for me and in use with my clients have worked in the past. 00:23:24 Melissa: I mean, it's so predictable in terms of some of the priorities that people actually have, but it's not always obvious on LinkedIn because sometimes people are not that upfront in terms of their agendas. And I'm not using that in a negative way, but I'm sure you get what I'm saying. So there's other sources of research that I will share with you also on that three hours Zoom session. It's a VIP day. Also, it's really about making sure that we have woken up your imagination. That is the name of this podcast. And I stand on that.  00:23:58 Melissa: When it comes to being a Mom Founder or being a mom with a business, it is urgent that you really, really stay sharp in terms of coming up with unexpected or new or shortcut ways to reach out to everyone and anyone. And again, relationships is absolutely critical when it comes to building your business and making sure that your message gets out to as many human beings as possible. So you wanna be sure that you're doing it from a place of expansive thinking. You're doing it from a place of, okay, this person is gonna expect me to reach out to them on, as an example, Instagram, but I'm gonna come in through this side door, right? Which has worked for me and my clients as well. 00:24:44 Melissa: So let me share an example. I had a client that actually wanted to reach out to insurance companies. And it was really interesting because this was completely new to her. She owns a nonprofit. And so she reached out to an insurance company and she was baffled that the person on the other side of the email got back to her almost like in an hour, okay? He got back to her in an hour. Why was that? It was because she realized that this person would be, A, in a position of power.  00:25:13 Melissa: So people do want to be helpful. So you want to make sure you're asking the right people who can help you. But then at the same time, her email was personal. It resonated, and it was thoughtful. It was in alignment with what's important to an insurance organization. And she had to do some research in order to uncover precisely what that was in this market. Sorry to say, but sometimes different times of the year, different things are important and different trends will influence whether or not what was important, you know, last trend is in season this trend.  00:25:45 Melissa: So again, there's a lot that needs to happen, but we can cover that during the three hours together over Zoom. Here's what else happens during that three hour session, the VIP session with me for Mom Founders. So you and I are gonna roll up our sleeves. Like literally, if I have long sleeves, or metaphorically, if I do not, we're going to actually start emailing and reaching out to people live because I need to see, like, what do your subject lines actually say? Are they generic or compelling? How is it that you're positioning what you intend behind the conversation with that contact, right?  00:26:20 Melissa: So it's about authenticity, but it's also about being direct and infusing your personality. Because if you wanna do business on your own terms, as you have opted to as a mom founder, you don't want to not be yourself when you're doing business. Like that was part of the purpose of owning your own thing, along with solving a challenge, along with being mission driven and heart centered and wanting to see impact in the slice of the world that matters to you. 00:26:51 Melissa: So here we go. Call for you to reach out to me so I can help you so that you do not make those mistakes. You do not burn through a list of contacts if you have a business idea or already a business in market that you want to get funding for, or you want to leverage some sort of strategic partnership, be sure that you take advantage of this. And it is the following. So I do have those VIP days, but this offer right now is for free. 00:27:20 Melissa: Go to melissallarena.com/sessions. You will have an opportunity to apply for a 30-minute complimentary session, during which time I'm going to help you by role playing and hearing what you have to offer in terms of your business pitch, in terms of your origin story, in terms of what you intend out of a conversation with a decision maker, right? All pertaining to your business. So go ahead to melissallarena.com/sessions. There is an application and here's the reason why an application is going to be absolutely helpful to you.  00:28:02 Melissa: When you start to put pen to paper or technically type out your answers in the application, you also start to clarify what you need to happen in terms of the people that you wanna talk to, in terms of your very best next steps. And in terms of your own business, putting pen to paper has been the absolute life-giving solution for me when it comes to ironing out my thoughts. And it's better for you to do that on my application than to do it in front of someone that can give you money.  00:28:38 Melissa: So go ahead, melisallarena.com/sessions, and you will see the link here. What I invite you to really consider is, okay, bring forth your story, bring with you your idea in terms of the investor profile. Be sure that you tell me who I'm supposed to be. I want you to know also what is going to be important to me and how whatever it is that you've got is going to help me and fix in my existing portfolio. So have that already in mind, be prepared. It is going to be a great session. And that is for free. That is 30-minute session for free.  00:29:20 Melissa: At that time, at the very end, after you have your answers, I will absolutely invite you to join me during one of the VIP sessions. Those VIP sessions, I only do three spots every single month. I'm sure you can understand as a mom with kids yourself, what I do is really, really important in terms of helping moms specifically as flexibly as possible. So it could be an evening time or a weekend time or chunk of time. And for me, three hours each month is what I can do in terms of VIP days.  00:29:58 Melissa: You get to choose if it's the right fit, I get to choose if you're the right fit and I can help you and we will take it from there. So I'm really excited about these VIP sessions, but more than that, I wanna hear from you and I don't want you to make a mistake in terms of burning through a contact list. I know the effort it takes to think through a product. I know the effort it takes to see a product market fit. And I know the effort it's going to take to implement whatever it is that you promise to the people on your list.  00:30:29 Melissa: So be sure that you take advantage of the 30-minute session with me. It is complimentary. You'll have the link here. It'll also be in the show notes if you are just listening to this conversation. And then we could certainly talk about whether a VIP day is the right next step for you. No strings attached. You are very welcome to attend a 30-minute session with me. I want to be sure that we avoid as many mistakes as possible when it comes to working through an outreach list. I want you to have so much success.  00:31:03 Melissa: And until Tuesday, let me know what you got out of this conversation, you are more than welcome to leave some comments. If you're watching this on YouTube, you're also welcome to share this with a friend, because here's the thing, Mom Founders know other Mom Founders. And if anyone is interested in actually pitching investors or securing strategic partnerships with people in different organizations or different organizations, you want to be sure that they have the greatest odds of success.  00:31:31 Melissa: So go ahead and share this episode. It's also in audio. And if you're interested in that 30-minute consult, it is available to you. And no strings attached, as I mentioned. So thank you for this conversation. And thank you. Until next Tuesday, go ahead and subscribe. Follow me officially, because next Tuesday, we're going to go through an actual interview with an investor. Stay tuned. Signing off, Melissa Llarena.

How to network with confidence for mom founders..... ever been disappointed in yourself that you missed an opportunity to talk to someone you admire or to put yourself out there and introduce yourself to a major investor or prospective client?  If you said yes, then this is the episode for you! Come this fall, are you going to be ready to do this with confidence, or are you at risk of disappointing yourself because you didn't feel ready or didn't do everything you could when you had the opportunity? If you do not want to feel in-ept as a former client told me, she originally felt then this is the episode for you!   I had cold feet myself when I first saw Shelly Lazarus and Beth Comstock however... I knew what to do once I was in front of GaryVee. I rehearsed my stories, questions, and asked. There was prework, follow-through, and strategy. No PR team, no big following, no former c-suite position. I knew how to work with my impostor syndrome.    What was different? What did I do that produced different results in me? How did I build my own confidence to have the guts to perform when the time came? How do you get your podcast guests? This is the number one question I'm asked by podcasters who know how hard it is to land a guest like GaryVee, much less as your tenth guest! The second question I get often came most recently from a client in the fitness industry who asked: how did you have the confidence to interview GaryVee? My answer to both is my three-step method.   In this episode, you will hear: Importance of shifting from transactional to genuine connections. How genuine connections lead to more meaningful and lasting relationships. Understanding your goals and the value you bring to the table. Building relationships based on genuine interest and mutual benefit. Research and rehearsal to build confidence. My Imagination to Impact to Income Method ™ gives me a reliable process to identify who to talk to, where to find them, and what to do once we connect.  It helped my client like yourself go from feeling intimidated to talking to people like GaryVee, Beth Comstock, Suzy Batiz, Zibby Owens to saying hi to them and pitching your ideas without hesitation. The method is your step-by-step solution to networking anxiety. When you join now as a member of the five mom founders this summer I will be offering an exclusive one-on-one session role-playing their biggest encounter! I'll look for their elevator pitch, see if their stories would resonate with their contact, and even help them with their delivery!  You want to look confident around confident people.    This unexpected approach to networking will change your life just like it has for this doting parent in North Carolina  “At the core of it, for me, it was about re-building and projecting confidence. I doubted myself. This program was critical to re-build my confidence and realize that I was not doing the right things to stand out. With this confidence, rejection has not been an issue, and now I am looking at opportunities without any hesitation.  Melissa knows how to motivate people to make those things happen. I will continue building my brand and networking.  This new habit will allow me to continue growing and reaching my potential.” -J. Hernandez, Artificial Intelligence at Sales Factory    Inside of Fertile Imagination to Networking Success you get access to:  • 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 an exclusive bonus for the first five mom founders only which is a guide on how to boost your productivity as a solopreneur and/or delegate or farm out things in your business so you can easily fit this into your summer calendar.    Click HERE to schedule a 30-minute call with me to learn more about Fertile Imagination to Networking Success for Mom Founders and jump in on this exclusive summer offer for the first five mom founders. Join this cohort now and get your productivity bonus and your free role-playing private session when you are in. Class starts very soon and will be capped this summer to only 5 mom founders. About Melissa Llarena I'm a bestselling author (learn more on www.fertileideas.com), imagination coach behind the Fertile Imagination to Networking Success Group Coaching Program, consultant, speaker, contributor to ForbesWomen articles that have garnered 4 million-plus views, and the podcast host of the Mom Founder Imagination Hub. Featured guests include GaryVee, Beth Comstock, Suzy Batiz, David Meltzer, and hundreds of other unconventional thinkers. Melissa has been featured in the WSJ, Business Insider, Fox Business, CNN Money, The Huffington Post, and other publications. She holds a psychology degree from NYU, an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, and a Transformational Coaching Academy certificate and is training to become a meditation practitioner. Melissa lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and three sons (one singleton and a set of identical twins). Quotes, that can change your perspective: “Intention matters. If you feel shaky on your intention, if you are faking that you intend to have this person on your podcast, to ask this person to invest in your business, if you feel like it's transactional, it is not gonna work. You're gonna flop, it's gonna come through and your insecurities are gonna catch you. And chances are you're not gonna say what you had originally intended to say. So your intention matters.”  “I was in an elevator with Shelly Lazarus... I was not the most confident person in the entire building. It was something that I eventually learned and I came up with a method that I teach my clients to also use in their lives so that this way, they network with a lot more confidence than that example right there."  “When I started going outside of my comfort zone, it was something that I had to make a very deliberate choice on doing, and doing a lot, and doing it in parallel with feeling the butterflies in my stomach. It was also something that I had to feel ready before I opened my mouth.” - -Melissa Llarena   SHARE this episode with your fellow mom founders and anyone looking to transform their networking skills! Learn how to move from a nervous novice to confidently connecting with influential figures and make networking a natural, effortless habit! Supporting Resources: Schedule a free call to see if Fertile Imagination to Networking Success my signature program is the right fit: https://www.melissallarena.com/sessions/ Podcast: Mom Founder Imagination Hub: https://www.melissallarena.com/podcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MelissaLlarena/ Or, grab for free your copy of the “From Contact to Connection: The Mompreneur's Go-First Networking & Follow Up Playbook”: https://witty-thinker-2643.ck.page/21e52edb87  Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to my podcast for new moms who are entrepreneurs, founders, and creators?  I'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet.  I'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast for writer moms.

Struggling to stay motivated and keep your business on track during the summer? Discover how you can transform these months into a powerhouse of productivity and growth. Join us as we dive into actionable strategies tailored for mom founders, ensuring you hit the ground running this fall. Don't let another summer slip by—tune in now to learn how to leverage this time for maximum business impact. Let's connect if this resonates with you: https://www.instagram.com/melissallarena/ And if this opportunity is what you need this summer then… Join My Exclusive Summer Group Coaching Program for Mom Founders This summer, I'm inviting five dedicated mom founders to join me in my exclusive group coaching program, Fertile Imagination to Networking Success. This program is designed to help you develop a clear, actionable plan to grow your business. You'll know exactly what to do and how to do it, ensuring you're on the right track for success. What's Unique About This Opportunity? Only the first five mom founders who join me will get access to an incredible range of bonuses, making this a truly exclusive and transformative experience. Exclusive Bonuses for the First Five Enrollees: Private Session 1 for Implementation: A 45-minute session where we'll develop a ready-to-go networking strategy for the fall. You won't feel lonely in this; we'll work side by side to plan and execute your strategy. Private Session 2 for Elevator Pitch: Overcome nerves and anxiety with a private session focused on perfecting your elevator pitch and confidently introducing yourself to new contacts. 30% Discount: For the first five mom founders, a special discount on the program fee. Productivity Resource Guide: Tools to help you take tasks off your plate, allowing you to focus more on valuable networking activities. Podcast Guest Spot: Be a guest on my podcast, you'll be in great company given awesome my prior guests like Gary Vaynerchuk, Beth Comstock, and Suzy Batiz. This will instantly boost your credibility and visibility. Program Details Fertile Imagination to Networking Success is a comprehensive nine-week program that requires just three hours per week, two of which can be accessed on demand. Here's what you get: Live Networking, Coaching, and Community: Nine weeks of live sessions focused on building a supportive community and providing actionable networking strategies. Value-Packed On-Demand Curriculum: Topics include overcoming imposter syndrome, identifying and connecting with key contacts, and planning your fall and winter 2024 networking calendar. Lifetime Access: Access to my proven Imagination to Impact to Income method, tools for seamless networking, and resources tailored specifically for mom founders. Specialized Tools and Resources: Including meditations and strategies to manage mom guilt and overwhelm, ensuring you stay focused and motivated. Why This Program is Perfect for Mom Founders As a mom founder myself, I understand the unique challenges you face. This program is designed to fit into your busy life, providing practical, executable steps to ensure you're ready to hit the ground running come fall. Success Stories Hear from one of my former clients, Lily Ibarra, CFO of a Fortune 500 financial services firm: "With Melissa, people will find an open forum to air their concerns and receive very clear guidance on how to prepare themselves with confidence. Know that her method really works." How to Join Ready to take your business to the next level? Here's how to get started: Visit melissallarena.com/sessions Fill out the application to ensure it's the right fit. Schedule a conversation with me this month to secure your spot. Remember, only the first five mom founders will receive the exclusive bonuses, including the 30% discount, productivity resource, two private sessions, and the podcast guest spot. Don't miss this opportunity to grow your business and make meaningful connections. Visit www.melissallarena.com/sessions and apply now! Thank you, and I look forward to helping you achieve your business goals this summer. Until next Tuesday, check the show notes for more details and links to sign up.

What's your calling? Ever thought you might be called to something more? What if your calling is waiting to be answered today? This could be the most inconvenient time for a calling to come your way, yet it can also be the perfect time for you to rise up and show up for yourself and others. If this resonates with you, then this is the episode you won't want to miss. Join us as we dive into a conversation with Michelle Valiukenas, a mom founder who answered her calling and created an incredible impact through The Colette Louise Tisdahl Foundation. I'm thrilled to introduce you to Michelle Valiukenas, an extraordinary mom founder whose journey and accomplishments are nothing short of inspiring. Michelle is the founder of The Colette Louise Tisdahl Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to improving outcomes in pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, and infancy, as well as supporting grieving families through financial assistance, education, and advocacy. But this episode is about more than just Michelle's impressive achievements. It's about you and the unique calling in your life. My intention for this conversation is to encourage you to answer that calling, to find the courage and inspiration to pursue your purpose just as Michelle has. Throughout our discussion, which feels as much like a mentorship session as it does an interview, you'll hear the powerful story behind The Colette Louise Tisdahl Foundation and the critical needs it addresses—needs that often go unmet by insurance, social workers, and government organizations. Michelle's story is a poignant reminder that the problems you see and the passions you hold might be signs pointing you toward your own calling. You might think that someone else is already tackling the issues that matter to you, but as Michelle's experience shows, there are gaps that only you can fill. This episode is your sign to step up and make a difference. So, let's dive in and explore how you can answer the calling in your life, just as Michelle has. Let's talk about your calling. https://www.instagram.com/melissallarena/ This episode is brought to you by Fertile Imagination to Networking Success: a LIVE 9-week group coaching masterclass designed to fast-track your connections with the right people to elevate your business. Before we continue today's conversation with today's guest Michelle, a participant of the Fertile Imagination to Networking Success for Mom Founders program I want to ask you a question.   Are you a visionary mom founder who knows that she needs to get better at networking because the growth of her business depends on it? Has feeling awkward, or uncomfortable ever gotten in your way from putting yourself in the right rooms and stepping forward to talk to the right people who can cut you a huge check that can change the trajectory of your business and take your business to its rightful next level? This is an exclusive call for 5 mom founders to join FI to Networking Success this summer. By dedicating just 3 hours a week, you'll be prepared to hit the ground running this fall. You'll get better at networking, identify the right connections to propel your business forward with clarity, and develop a mom-friendly strategy that works regardless of your kids' needs. My proven three-step method—Imagination to Impact to Income—will help you confidently and competently put yourself out there, ensuring you stay connected to your business and dreams in a manageable way, even as you spend more time with your kids this summer. You can have both. But here's the catch—you need to act fast. If improving your networking and selling skills is a priority, now is the time. This transformative program is available at a 30% discount for those who join my June cohort. To secure your spot, we must talk in May. If you wait until June, the investment level will increase and spots may be filled. Will I offer this program again? Not in this way and not with these exclusive add-ons: An intimate, five-participant cohort of mission-driven mom founders. This means personalized access to me, similar to a VIP one-on-one mentorship, which could be valued at 10X the investment level of this group coaching program. As an added bonus, you will be featured and heavily advertised as a guest on my podcast, Unimaginable Wellness, alongside trailblazers like Suzy Batiz, Asha Curran, and Beth Comstock. For a limited time, you'll have direct access to me for personalized feedback on your outreach efforts—an invaluable opportunity to accelerate your progress and maximize your results. Exclusive to securing your spot in May for June, you'll receive a midpoint private session. This working session will focus on executing your outreach plan—it's about immersion and action. Move quickly to take advantage of this unique opportunity and transform your business while nurturing your family. Secure your 15-minute program details call today! Book a 15-minute call HERE:  https://go.oncehub.com/ClientSessionMelissaLlarena Let me know if you have questions about the program via email Melissa[.]Llarena [at] gmail.com Official bio Michelle Valiukenas, once described as a "social worker trapped in the body of an attorney," began her career representing domestic and sexual assault victims in litigation. After a decade, she was called in another direction after losing her second baby, Colette.  She remains the proud mom of two angel babies, Sweet Pea and Colette, and her only living child, her son, Elliott Miguel. Michelle now runs The Colette Louise Tisdahl Foundation, which she founded to improve outcomes in pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, and through infancy as well as support grieving families through financial assistance, education, and advocacy. Since its launch in 2018, the foundation has helped over 2,300 families and distributed more than $1.5 million in grants.  Their ability to give is dependent on the generosity of donors, partners, and supporters and any help is always appreciated. A writer, speaker, and advocate, Michelle addresses topics like infertility, pregnancy loss, and parenting after loss. She advocates for reproductive rights, health equity, infertility awareness, and the needs of families.  At home, she enjoys relaxing with her son, husband Mark, and their dog, Nemo. Links: Donate: www.colettelouise.com FB: https://www.facebook.com/colettetisdahl IG: https://www.instagram.com/colettelouisetisdahl/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellevaliukenastisdahl/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheTisdahl You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbanq9_1LEX6hoxGeLGU3Zg Transcript: So let's start with. With you. So Michelle, share with us, share with the listeners who you are and a bit about your organization and really, really let us know like what makes your organization distinguishable versus other organizations in this space. Absolutely. Well, thank you. So I'm Michelle. I'm a mom of three. I have two angel babies, Sweetpea and Colette, and an almost four year old who I think has the energy of all three of them. And our road to parenthood was It was tough. We struggled with infertility. I've only ever gotten pregnant via IBF and we lost our first pregnancy and then with our second, our daughter Collette made it past the scary first trimester and when I was 21 weeks pregnant, I was hospitalized with severe preeclampsia. And told you'll be here until you deliver. And so just talk about the world sort of just coming to a pause and thinking, what is it, what are we going to do? And once I was hospitalized, I was in the hospital about a day or two, it occurred to me how blessed and how lucky I was that we could actually afford. to handle this hospitalization and what was likely going to be a NICU stay. And I also realized in that same vein is that I knew I was definitely the minority that could do that. And so I remember turning to my husband and saying, we need to do something about this, all of that. And he, he turned to me and he said, please, for the love of God, could you please just worry about yourself once? And I said, well, that's not really what I do. Who are you married? What are you talking about? But really it just sort of stayed with me and throughout the whole process it kept coming back to me in my head. Ultimately I was in the hospital just over three weeks and then the doctors recommended delivery. So Collette was born at 24 weeks and five days and went straight to the NICU. And we spent nine days in the NICU before she died and I always call it she gained her angel wings.  In that whole process, going through NICU and seeing the whole, the toll it takes on parents, right? And I was being told by doctors and nurses, and I was hearing doctors and nurses tell other parents, you might want to save your leave time, go back to work now, and save your leave time for when baby comes home. And I had a very difficult  postpartum recovery, and I couldn't imagine. I was in no shape to go back to work. There was absolutely no way that I could have gone back to work. And Just thinking about that and thinking how much time they were losing with their kids and not being participating. And so all of those kinds of things just kind of sort of making this idea and this thought process  to provide financial assistance for families. And when I got out, so I had worked in nonprofits my whole life, and when I got out, I had always sworn.  I would never, ever, ever, ever, ever start my own nonprofit. And so funny things never say never. And so I thought somebody else was doing this. And what I found was I'm still to the state. I don't see that anybody is touching the pregnancy part in terms of financial assistance. And that to me was very important.  So organizations were hitting NICU or law and or loss.  But nobody was helping pregnancy. There were very specific locations, so it might be a certain state, a certain county, certain hospital. And there was very formulaic, this is what we provide, are these things.  And so I was looking at it and I was thinking, first of all, On the location idea,  I've always been a proponent of health equity and fairness, and I thought why should it mean that, like, just because I deliver at a certain hospital, I can get financial assistance, but if I deliver at another hospital, I can't. So that was very much a thought process. The fact that pregnancy wasn't included, and I felt like that was a big piece of not only our story, but of a lot of people's stories, right? And, and it's just kind of. Makes sense. If you're helping in pregnancy, you have less there's less chance of long NICU hospitalizations and less chance of loss.  And so doing that. And then I didn't want to be very formulaic. I wanted to know for me, it's always like every family is different and has different needs. And so I really wanted something that would  Allow us to look at each application, each family independently and adjust what we were doing based on their need. And so we launched on CLED's due date, so September 7th of 2018, and it's just been amazing to see the, the takeoff and the need that is happening. So we are. Right now we have helped over 2, 300 families. We've hit all 50 States and we've given away a little over 1. 5 million. And it's just been crazy. And we're not, we're not meeting the need. I mean, the need is so great. And so many people just really find themselves in these situations that become crises. And that there's no planning for a lot of these.   So I was curious, that thought somebody else is doing this, somebody else must be paying attention to this cause. I think that's something that happens oftentimes when, when we feel like, okay, there's a little bit of media coverage, as they say, like maternity leave, paternity leave, like these topics are like spoken of, right? Like in media, social media and all of that. And so it's, it's very easy. For us to assume, well, someone else must be handling that. There must be someone who's the advocate of this message and this cause. And so my question to you is the following. So in your world, right? Like where does the book stop? So like certain organizations are handling. What sort of expenses, and then where do you like close the gap or meet the need that is not being fulfilled by those entities or other entities?  Right. Great question. So I think one of the biggest things is that there's a cap on services. So there's organizations that, for example, will give to families that qualify under their guidelines, they will give 100 gift card. And that could be gas, that could be food, that kind of thing. And that's great. And we still, we have a lot of our families who have also requested that help or received that help, depending on how it is.  And so that's something, again, like the pregnancies piece is not a problem. Being taken into, into account,  some organizations, they have X amount of dollars and they give them out where we're very fiscally responsible about how we're giving them out throughout the year, but there are some organizations that might get X amount of dollars. And then once that's up, they're done until the next budget cycle. And so not loving that where we're not  stuck to. A certain dollar amount, we're not stuck to what people might need. And we've been very adaptable to what our families need. We didn't think about just because it wasn't something that really factored into our experience, but we didn't think about the cost of transportation and that being a really big request and that remains our number one, number two request. And it makes sense because we have found that our average family is traveling 62 miles one way to the NICU. And so that's a. Huge cost that adds up really, really quickly, right? And that's the average. I mean, we've had people who are driving, driving 200, 300 miles to do, to get to the NICU. And so I think we've been very much like, let's hear from families. Let's see what they need. We also spent a lot of time talking with social workers to say, what are the things coming up? But really it's trying to get a little bit of support so that a family could it. Do a pregnancy bedrest or limitations that they can be seen their babies as much as they can, that they can do the memorialization of their loss. And so it's really been, I mean, we sit and we review every single application and really read it and, and really try to find where it is that we can help.  And what are the things that we can do that gets  Things accomplished. And I think that that's really unique. We, we don't have formulaic anything. I mean, we look at it. There are things we've never covered that will come up. So for example, I'm thinking of,  we had a girl who was 16, had a baby in the NICU and what she had told her social worker, her biggest fear was that she was sort of stuck in this cycle. Her mom had gotten pregnant very young with her. Her grandmother had gotten very pregnant with her mother. And neither of them had finished high school. And so for her. She was like, I want to do better for my, for my child. And so she said, I would like to finish my high school degree. And so they worked with us and the hospital was able to find a laptop that she could use to do online school while she was sick. at the NICU, so with her baby, being able to do that. And we helped with her tuition to finish that degree. And so it's not in the grand scheme of things, like it's not necessarily that her being able to do this meant her baby did better, but it also meant she was starting something and, and doing something and breaking a cycle, which I think is a huge issue. And so those are the things that we want to hear about too. All of those like unique one off things. Situations that may only happen to one family ever and really taking the time to look at those.   Okay. So again, on that thread, right? Somebody else is doing this because I think, like, let's say like watching TV and seeing current events and seeing things on TV and we're kind of like stuck in our own lives, right? We're like, okay, well, I have food. I have water. I have resources as an example. And I imagine a lot of the listeners might feel really, really confused. Blessed and also just like, not in the same state of needing donations, right? In order to get through a really rough and emotionally trying moment. So, okay. Along that thread of somebody else is doing this. It sounds to me, Michelle, that. Somebody else was not going to help that girl  feel a sense of accomplishment and then carry that, that positive feeling and emotional state as she was with her NICU baby, like, and babies Feel us like they know, right? Like they know if mommy is okay, like they can tag. So, okay. So somebody else was not doing that in terms of tuition for this one person. So same idea. Why don't you share a couple of other instances that might not feel so obvious to someone that's never been in that situation, but would like to help you, especially Mother's Day just passed. And obviously. We don't really need just one day to be celebrated and respected. This should be like annual all the time forever. So, okay, what's another thing that somebody else was not doing, but through the foundation, you guys were doing and you guys are a lean team. I just want to say that right now. Like when, when, when we're saying when Michelle is saying like somebody else is doing this, it's like legit, like a. Family in a house with a child, with a bunch of energy and trying to do something that's so amazing. Right. So go ahead. Give us another, another moment. Yeah, I think  we've done things like a family who has lost a baby and maybe was able to come up with the money for a cremation, but might just have ashes in a box and don't have them in a really pretty urn. Right. And, and it's not that urns are super expensive, but. If a family has been through a lot and may not be able to afford the 400, the 500 that an earn could be. So those are things on the last thing as well. Sometimes we have families who, again, they've, they've had something covered. It might be that.  Their particular community has a, has a program, has a plan. Sometimes funeral homes just donate the whole thing and they, they like recoup the expenses,  things like that. But then they want memorial jewelry. They want something that they can hold onto their baby as they go forward. And especially in really early pregnancy losses, they don't get the, they don't get the funerals and services and things like that. And so that might be the only way that they can really remember their baby and remember what that means. And so some people will sort of look at it and say, why are you covering jewelry? And what we know is that that's.  That's not just a piece of jewelry, right? This is not, this is something that is really important and that reminds people. I mean, you talked about Mother's Day and I think anybody who has ever lost  from the earliest pregnancy all the way through an infant knows that a lot of people, especially the earlier in the pregnancy that it is,  don't really look at people like moms and dads. And so that's something that I think is saying. Even if the world doesn't see me, that I know and I'm recognizing my motherhood, my fatherhood,  and I think that's really important to do. On NICU, it's been, sometimes it's medical equipment that they're sent home with that insurance doesn't cover. So it might be the,  I'm trying to think, it's like there's an oxygen concentrator that a lot of babies are sent home with that they might need and it could be a couple hundred dollars and insurance doesn't cover that or they're deductible. And so we're helping with those kinds of situations because we don't want kids going back to the NICU. We don't want parents  Because they have no other option, skipping doctor recommended steps and things like that because they can't have another option. Helping with  post NICU, right? So sometimes we have a family who has already been discharged, but when I talked about the distance, Of a NICU that also means that once they go home, they have a distance of doctor's appointments and they may have a lot depending on NICU babies can, can run the whole spectrum of things. Right. And so if they have to see multiple doctors pretty regularly and they're doing that drive,  we want to help with those situations.  We want to help when they go, if they have to go back to the hospital, which is always terrible, but some, we will do that too. We've had. Family is where baby is sent home, but then needs heart surgery or some sort of surgery and they need to be older and weigh more and be a little bit healthier. So they'll go home for six months and then come back and then the costs are the same, but they're not NICU, they're in a different situation. And for us, we use NICU, but very, very adapted kind of things of what that really means.  And I think that that's really important. Anything in the pregnancy sphere can be childcare. If you think of a stay at home mom who hasn't really needed to use childcare and then is put on bed rest, any parents, anybody who's been around toddlers and kids knows bed rest with children around that's not happening. Right. And so is it childcare so that the pregnant person can. Actually have some bed rest or in situations where they can't lift a lot with that child care help doing that, all of those kinds of things that just I think are so useful and so helpful. We had, we had a story of a woman who, and luckily her doctor was really responsive. She was missing. She was a high risk pregnancy and she had to be going to weekly visits pretty early in the pregnancy. Okay. And the doctor started noticing that she would miss appointments last minute and cancel last minute or not show up or show up an hour late, all this. And luckily the doctor reached out to a social worker and said, I don't know what's going on, but something clearly is happening. And so the social worker reached out and it turned out she didn't have reliable transportation. She was relying on not a great public trans,  not a really great public transportation option or relying on friends and family for rides. And that wasn't. Reliable. And so we were able to set her up so that she was using, she could use lift rides that were charged to our account to go to and from prenatal visits. Right. And so, you know, you look at that and you think she ended up giving birth to, I think the baby was either full term or very close to full term. So baby was in the hospital a couple of days and then released. Right. And did her going to regular prenatal appointments help that? Absolutely. Absolutely. And so I think it's really just being gracious and understanding. And I think that one of the things that also separates us from a lot of places is we've been through all three of these stages. And so we know, and we can think of things. I mean, we're talking about the distance of NICU. Colette was in a NICU that was, 10 to 15 minutes from our house and that felt so far for us and that we actually looked into do we get an Airbnb right here? The reason why we didn't was because the way that the hospital is set up, there was hotel options was still going to be like a five minute drive and things like that. And so we ultimately were like, well, we'd rather be in our comfort in our home  if we're already going to have this. But if there had been a hotel across the street, We would have been in that  and that was very something. So when you start adding up long distances where people can't go every day, can't, they're going once a week or whatever, that's really difficult. That's really something else. So  this episode is brought to you by Fertile Imagination to Networking Success, a live masterclass designed to fast track your connections with the right people to elevate your business. Before we continue today's conversation with our guest, Michelle, a participant of the fertile imagination to networking success program, I want to ask you a question. Are you a visionary mom founder? We're hearing Michelle's story and she has a huge vision and a huge ask. But do you also have a big mission that you want to fulfill in this one divine life? If it is the case for you, here's the question. Has not being able to network with confidence, with poise, with intention ever gotten in your way? Do you feel like not feeling that networking comes naturally for you, or maybe it's this feeling awkward about talking to strangers, or maybe you put your foot in your mouth, or you just don't know what to say or how to start, has that ever gotten in the way of the growth of your business? Does the growth of your business actually depend on building relationships that are mutually beneficial with other people, people who you do not yet know. If that is the case, then this is a call for five mom founders only. I want you and I to have a conversation about this if this is pulling at your heart if networking is something that you need to get better at five mom founders this summer will be partnering together to help one another get better at networking and the best part it'll be this summer. It'll only require three hours a week on your terms and time so that this way come this September, you can hit the ground running, totally running. So you get better at networking. If you participate in fertile imagination to networking success, you'll be able to identify the right connections to propel your business forward in the fall. with clarity and you would have already developed a mom friendly strategy that works regardless of what your kids need. My proven three step method that Michelle knows intimately at this point, the imagination, To impact to income method will help you get way better at networking just in time for the fall. And it's going to help you be more confident and feel more connected. Competent about putting yourself out there so that you can do it a lot more in the fall so that this way you are going to stay connected over the summer with your business so that come in the fall, you will not feel like a fish out of the water. You will not feel like it's been a little bit. You're a little rusty when it comes to being a professional and engaging with people. You know why? Because over the summer as one of the five mom founders who can participate in my group coaching experience, you will have an opportunity to To work on your story, you will have an opportunity to understand how you need to plan out the rest of your year as it relates to your networking activities. You will have clarity in terms of what needs to happen in the fall. So that this way, regardless of where you are in terms of your annual goals, you can exceed them. So that this way, if you feel behind on what you have been able to accomplish the beginning of this year, you can accelerate, put the foot on the gas and talk to people who already know what you need to do in order to improve your business outcomes. So here's something that I wanted to share with you. I would love to have a conversation with you. If this is resonating, if you know that networking is something that you have got to get good at. And there is no time like the summer when business might be a little slower, when you might be able to have more time to yourself as opposed to supporting clients so that this way you can do all the work it takes in order to feel completely ready in the fall by way of networking. So here's something that is so important. I am only bringing on five mom founders this summer.  Is huge. This is going to be unlike any other time in my life. I wanna tell you exactly why you will want to talk to me on a 15 minute call on Zoom about. How networking can help your business grow exponentially, immediately. So you will want to reach out to me this month of May because only if you and I speak this May and only if you participate in my cohort this summer, Will you have access to these bonuses, these extras, these never again coming your way opportunities in terms of being part of Fertile Imagination to Networking Success, the program that Michelle, the guest on today's episode, participated in and has gotten success from. Here we go. So only now this program, this nine week program that is virtual, that will only need three hours of your time each week. And really two hours are on your time, wherever you are in the world. It's on demand. One hour will be with me and a group of four other like minded, intense, wonderful women who also want to learn how to network. But here's the thing. So this program is available only this time at a 30 percent discount for those who joined my June cohort and there will only be five spots. That is it. And that is why it is important to speak now in May in order to secure your spot so that this way you get guaranteed that spot in June. If you wait beyond June to speak with me about this group coaching program, the investment level is going to increase and the spots are not guaranteed whatsoever. Now will I offer this program again? Not in this way, not with these exclusive add ons. Let me explain. Here are the add ons that will never come your way again. If you do not have a conversation with me, this may pertaining to participating in the virtual imagination to networking success. group coaching program, which is virtual. Okay. Never again, exclusive to the first five mom founders who participate in this program this June exclusive. So five people will be in this cohort. It is going to be intimate. It is practically personalized access to me. Very similar to a VIP one on one mentorship experience over the course of nine weeks. And that could have been valued at least 10 X the investment level. So I want to just say that is huge. This investment level, this level of access for me to answer your questions so that you are totally unstoppable in the fall will not happen again. It will only happen for these five mom founders at this 30 percent discounted rate. If that, this might actually be more than a 30 percent discounted rate at this moment. Also exclusive to joining me as the group of five, this June month. Also, you will be featured and heavily advertised as a guest on my  podcast, unimaginable wellness, this right here and this platform. There are trailblazers who are also featured like Susie Batiste,  who invests in different businesses like Asha Karan, who. I mean, has spread generosity throughout the world. People like Beth Comstock, the former CMO of GE, who's on the board of different organizations. You will absolutely be in the scene in the same Light in terms of these icons, because you will have an opportunity to be on my podcast and I will feature you and your story like no one's business that is not coming for anyone beyond the five mom founders this June, that is exclusive, that is, that is worth the price of entry period. Also, for a limited time, only if you participate in June at this discounted rate of 30%, only in June, will you have personalized feedback from me on your outreach efforts? What does that mean? If you have to go and write an email to the chief procurement officer of L'Oreal, I will hold your hand and I will, I will help you write exactly the right words. I will help you ensure that that person gets back to you. That is how high touch this very specific program will be in June only. Also by securing your spot and talking to me in May so that you are one of the five mom founders in this cohort. You will also receive a midpoint private session. This working session is going to focus on executing your outreach plan. It's about immersion and action. It is about getting this done. There is just no way under the sun. I want any mom to feel left behind or behind on her ambitions. I am in it to win it with you first five mom founders. We must talk in May about one of five spots in June. Again, you're going to want to move very quickly to learn further details about fertile imagination to networking success, a group coaching program that will launch in June. Michelle already went through it. You can hear her story. You can witness how I would coach you. If you were a participant in this group, And you could also have a sense for the fact that Michelle got a lot more than she imagined. Not only has it been favorable in terms of her business, in terms of her boldness, in terms of how she's going out and talking to people that can absolutely change the course of her non profit,  Also, she realizes, appreciates, and does not feel any longer conflicted about spending time with her son playing, because now the reframe is that that is in support of your imagination, the skill that you need in order to innovate in your business, in order to thrive. Talk to people in order to have a conversation. That's going to be fruitful for everyone. And in order for you to achieve what is on your heart. So my question to you again is, are you a visionary mom founder? If you are, let's talk, just head on over to the link in my show notes. If you are listening to this on a drive, on a run. And then go ahead and write my email address. It is melissa.  larina at gmail. com m e l i s s a dot l l a r e n a at gmail. com. I could've given you my business email, but I wanted to give you one that was 100 percent straight to me. And this has to be done in May so that you can be guaranteed one of five spots in June so that you can absolutely have the answers that you need real time practically so that you can be part of an intimate group of women who want to be and bring the best of themselves to both of their worlds. Being a mom and being a business owner as well. You can have it all this summer. This program is truly, truly, truly flexible because it was built for mom founders. That is precisely what I have been for 12 years, and I am honored to support and serve you on your journey. So go ahead, reach out to me, look in the show notes. I will put a direct link to my calendar for 15 minutes also. That's an alternative. So it's quite simple to get in touch with me. Email me or schedule the 15 minute. I appreciate either approach and my Instagram account is also always in the show notes. So. Either way you slice it, I'm available for it. And there's not much time. It is like May 16 today, the day that I am recording this. So please be aware that as I speak to people first come first serve, these exclusives are exclusive. If you and I speak in May and you don't, you join in the June cohort. Okay. So a little bit more information. What. is inside fertile imagination for networking success. I want to just share with you a bit more so you will know how to initiate the right conversations with the right people who can take your business to the next level fastest. So you're going to have your own signed paperback copy of my bestseller fertile imagination so that this way you can transcend the limitations of your current ceiling and unlock your most expansive thinking. That is really important when you're a mom founder. And you've got a lot of things that change. Okay. You will also Have access to weekly on demand training videos that will empower you with the imagination to impact to income method. What does this mean? You will have a step by step system to elevate your company and personal vision. You will know how to pinpoint your primary focus for maximum business impact. You will know how to increase your energy and productivity. You will know how to innovate. You will know, you will know how to navigate imposter syndrome, refine your leadership narrative and strategize networking efforts, right? Tailored to your business, tailored to your stage of motherhood. That is huge. I have not seen that anywhere in my entire life, which is why I wanted to create it. Then in terms of time with me, with the other members of this cohort, this very special cohort that will be happening in June, you will have an opportunity to join us nine times and ask us anything in terms of what you've got going on. We will be doing some role playing or hot seat sessions. We will be able to help you really regain your weekly focus. Every single week is a different week. And so we are there for it because It's like minded women, and you will have lifetime access to these resources and implementation tools very specifically so that you can turbocharge your networking efforts come this fall, the rest of the year, the rest of your life, please be aware this program is one where it is live in the sense that every week. I will help you every week you have a question. Something is getting in your way from the growth of your business or achieving a networking win. I will help you if you have anything that has held you in the past from investing in yourself. I invite you to consider this an investment in your legacy. This is not an investment in yourself alone. This is an investment in the legacy of you and your family. When I think about my podcast and the skills that I've used and how I have used my imagination to impact to income method, this has helped me build a treasure trove or treasure box of contacts and humans and beautiful people that can not only help me right now, and I can help of course, but can then help my children and my children's children going forward. This is not about me. The program is not about you. This is an investment in your legacy. So let's go and have that conversation. 15 minutes and the link is available for you. Enjoy the rest of the conversation.  Yeah. I mean, what I'm hearing you say, Michelle, is that. What distinguishes your organization versus the big name organizations that I'm sure a lot of people have heard of that are in a similar space, maybe not specifically pregnancy, but kind of thereabouts, is that the dollars that are donated to Your organization are going to actually get through to a patient or a parent. And then on top of that, there's something very distinguishable, which is the simple fact that  a lot of people have lost touch. With what other people who are emotionally incapable of expressing what they need, they've lost touch of what someone actually needs, like only, only someone like yourself and your family, Michelle could read an application and say, you know what, no, this person is asking for a piece of jewelry with their child's name, birthday, whatever it might be, not because they just want to be flashy, but because they Because this is like the emotional connection that they get to have, like literally just softly on top of their heart. You know what I mean? Like, I don't know that someone who hasn't been through it would read an application in the same way. And I also don't imagine that a big organization that has been around is going to be as sensitive because it's, it's a reality, right? So different organizations have different. KPIs and they have different commitments that they have to make to different people. But this organization is, is so grassroots. It's so real and it's been already impactful across the 50 states over a million dollars. I mean, what's the exact number I want to be sure just  over 1. 5.  Yeah. Yeah. Operating out of your home while you're looking at your child and your husband is. Your support. So I think, I think there's a lot to be said in terms of getting to know your organization, getting to know you and really supporting you. And I want, I want to just ask you something that's like, so, so bold. I mean, like we're talking like. I don't even know another planet, right? Kind of bold. So let's just imagine, let's imagine that there is someone listening to this conversation right now. And this person has, they got their tax money back, let's say, right? So they got like some thousands of dollars back from taxes and they themselves Maybe they're a rainbow baby, right? Or maybe, or maybe they have suffered some sort of a loss or have some reason to kind of want to support moms. Like what would be like that magic wand check that you would want that person to consider cutting and give it 30 days? Yeah, so I will tell you my, my goal right now is by the end of 2024 is to raise an additional 50, 000. The reason for that amount is we are budgeted right now to be fiscally responsible. We are budgeted, we give away 5, 000 every week and the need is far out far exceeding what we're giving out. We are always looking and so like any extra dollars that we can do, we are always trying to do a little bit more. Then that, but that's what we can responsibly know. We do. 50, 000 would allow us to go up to 6, 000 a week, which means that every week we would be helping between one and two more families. So our average giver give right now is about 500 a family.  We do have up to a thousand with some families who just really need a lot more assistance And so it would really end up being probably a hundred more families next year that we could help And so that's that's really my goal So if anybody wants to write a fifty thousand dollar check today I would absolutely adore it and I would then be able to spend the rest of the year Perhaps just maybe getting we can get to 200 families, right? So that's really what I would say, but I think You On the donation piece, and I, and I really, this is something we've really worked hard for is we have worked with certain donors and they cover our overhead costs. And like Melissa said, we are very lean organization is mostly me. My husband helps me review applications just to see, I brought on an assistant to finally help me who works 20 hours a week. So we are very, very lean organization, but we have worked with donors. And so we have a couple of donors who cover our overhead. Expenses. And so every donation that comes in goes directly to the financial assistance program and directly to a family. So I, for me, that's always something I have looked at at other organizations. And I think there's some really big organizations that if you did, if you looked at. They are giving your, your donations going 50 percent to marketing or to anything like that. And that was something I wanted to be really clear that that was not our goal with raising money. Our goal was to help a lot, as many families as we could. And so it's going directly. 100 percent of that is going to a family in need.  Perfect. Perfect. And so then I just wanted to slice that number up a bit because I know that someone listening might be like 50, 000. Oh my God, from my personal family budget. But no, let's think creatively, right? Let's use our imagination. So. What would be some other ways that someone can help who is listening to this conversation? And let me just like, start with this one idea. First of all, for the most part, if you work for an employer, they have a matching system, so that's an option available to you. So let's just imagine 25 is like, Not possible. So let's just say whatever the half of 25 is work was possible, right? Let's just imagine. Then you would ask your employer to have the other half. And again, I'm just thinking very big. That's one way, but something that you shared with me as a result of being in my group coaching program was this idea of using your birthday and how that was really, really helpful. So why don't you explain that? Cause that might be.  An alternative for people  listening, right? Yeah, we found the birthday really started on on Facebook and that you could have fundraisers for your birthday that your friends and family could donate to and that they would do it through Facebook. They would get tax receipts. Yeah, that way. And so it was a really good way. And so what we found was that families and friends who are doing that we're having pretty good success rates and right. And it could be anywhere from 100 to 100 up to it's really dependent on what the person would want us. That is a goal and much sort of promoting they want to do of that.  Really, we were finding that that was a great way. I think, especially, I mean, as all of us get older, right, I don't want a lot of stuff. And so I would prefer that somebody donate, you know, those funds to a cause I would really believe in. Like, I would prefer those kinds of, Things. And so I think that's a great way to tell people, like, don't, don't spend your money on a gift for me. I don't need a gift. Could you instead donate to a cause I really believe in? And I think a lot of people are willing to do that and really willing to say, okay, that's great. One of the things, I mean, just today, my mom and her birthday is in October. So she's already thinking ahead that far. She said, I'd like to go to dinner with the family and then anything that you would have spent on me, I would like to be donated to the foundation. And that's a really, it's a really beautiful way to do things. And it's a really great way to just sort of say, I'm going to do it. And that a lot of people, I think we all can. Generally afford from  time anywhere from 25 to 50 if, and that's saying you don't really have a lot of money, a lot of wiggle room in your budget.  And so if you have good friends who would spend that amount of money on you to take you for dinner or for for drinks or something like that, or who would give you a gift saying instead, okay, don't don't do that and donate to a cause that I really believe in. And so that we have found is really been a huge. Like way that people can, can take advantage of, and it doesn't just have to be birthdays. It can be, I have a friend of mine from college who had twins in the NICU and she always promised that if everything worked out and they came home, that she would do a donation every year on their birthday. And so she does it for her kids birthdays. Right. And so I think it's just really great ways to,  to kind of continue that. And   Yeah, absolutely. And so before we close, just because you have a t shirt and I know that you have merchandise that is also in light of this organization, what does your t shirt say? It's a blue shirt for anyone listening  to the audio. And then it says mama of an angel. And so. Yeah. And we have all of the, like we have of angel and of NICU warrior. We have mom, dad, grandma, grandpa,  siblings. So my son wears often wear a brother of an angel shirt for NICU or NICU babies. We have onesies all the way up through kids shirts so that they themselves are NICU warriors. And then even in adult sizes, we have that as well.  We have an IVF line that we have recently come out with. Yeah. For something that is really at risk and, and really trying to be challenged in a lot of different ways. So again, it's IVF baby all the way up through adult t shirts, IVF mom, dad, all of that. Yeah.  And then,  Oh, and then we also just added, I was like, I knew there was another  area, but we just also added at a recommendation of a social worker we work with who said, I don't have personal experience, but I really want to root for people. So we now have an advocate line. So it's NICU advocate, IVF advocate, and loss advocate. And so really just trying to, I think, Okay. And you said this one time was like a t shirts, not just a t shirt. And I think that's really important when I wear this shirt and I have a NICU warrior and I have an IVF advocate and all of those things, when I wear this, I feel closer to Colette and, and it's also something that. My joke is always, I talk about a lot of taboo topics, right? When I wear these, I'm also telling other people like it's okay. And you are not alone. You're not the only other person. And it's so interesting how I get such great feedback where people will come up to me and say, well, I also have an angel baby or my sister. Lost a child or anything like that. And I think that's a really great just connection way to know that you're not alone and to know that other people are experiencing that and talking about it. So yes. And the proceeds go to our financial assistance program as well. So  perfect, Michelle. So let's just give everyone a sense of where they can go to learn more about you and the organization. So website, social handles, what are they?  Yeah. So it's Colette one L two T's Louise. com is our website on Facebook. We're Colette Tisdall T I S D A H L on Instagram. It's Colette Louise Tisdall on Twitter, which is my, my personal favorite. It's the Tisdall and, and then we're on YouTube, LinkedIn, and just really Google us. We come up and you can kind of check out all the different things.  Thank you, Michelle. So I wanted to just close by saying the following because I think it really, it, it, it's important that, and this needs to be said period, but this idea that somebody else is doing this or somebody else must be doing this, or somebody might be paying attention to this topic is, is so like, that's a really dangerous thought. It's a really, really dangerous thought, and I think we have evidence of that in our surroundings and the world at these, at this time, and I think it's also, it's also something that needs to be really, really, you need to sit with this idea that, guess what? What if it's you? What if it's you who is supposed to be the advocate of that cause? What if it's you that's supposed to solve that challenge? What if it's you that's supposed to open your mouth, use your loud voice and amplify someone else who is no longer here on this earth? What if it's you? And I'm saying that to Listeners, I'm saying that to myself, I'm saying that to Michelle, like, I think it's really, really unfortunate that oftentimes when we see things, it's almost like we're desensitized, and we look the other way, like, oh, they must not be talking to me, there must be someone else handling this, that's super powerful. Here's the reality, oftentimes, there just is not. There, there really is not, there is not. And so I invite anyone that's listening more than anything else. There might be something on your heart. There might be a message that you want to share that you are thinking to yourself. Nah, they, I couldn't possibly make a dent in that world or, or someone else must be handling that. And I want you to just. Really thoughtfully sit with that, even meditate and consider the idea that maybe somebody else is not handling it and that somebody else is actually supposed to be you. And so I want to just end right there. Thank you so much, Michelle. And, and all of your links, you're welcome. And all of your links are going to be in the show notes. So if you're listening to this. Just look at the device at the bottom, look in the description and you'll see all these links at the same time. Michelle is super, super approachable. So if you want to know what's the best way for you to donate money to the organization, reach out to her. Would Instagram be the preferred place to kind of just send you a DM? That's totally  fine. Any of the social media, any of that, like I said, we're really lean. So I'm, I'm checking all of those. There's no, nobody else is doing that. So, yes,  it is definitely a very lean team. So thank you again, Michelle and anyone that's listening. If this really caught your attention, if you want to be that somebody else for this organization, do not hesitate and reach out to Michelle, or if you want to reach out to me, cause we're already hanging out on Instagram and I could reach out to Michelle, I'm happy to be the conduit. So thank you again, everyone. And until next Tuesday. I never do this, but I wanted to just share a conversation between Michelle and myself pertaining to her very specific experience in the Fertile Imagination to Networking Success group coaching program. Certainly, if you have any questions pertaining to being one of my Five mom founders this summer. So that this way in the fall, you are as confident and competent as Michelle is in distinguishing her organization versus anyone else. And the confidence that she had to reach out to the first IVF baby. If you want some of that confidence by this fall, go ahead and send me an email. Melissa dot Lorena at gmail. com or sign up for 15 minutes with me on my calendar. You can see all this information in the show notes right on your device. All right. Enjoy the conversation. It is really raw and candid, and I hope that it really answers any questions pertaining to what it would be like to partner with me and to have me as a mentor, I would love to have the conversation and I'd be honored to support you and your company.  All righty, so Michelle wanted to have an understanding like when you were first or not even like what were you thinking at the time that you and I spoke pertaining to the program, like what were you trying to accomplish? How did you feel before deciding to go for fertile imagination to networking success? Right.  I had really reached kind of a turning point in my work. I spent the first few years just getting the word out so we could get applicants and families to apply. And I did a lot of work on that. And, and now it was shifting to really trying to fundraise and grow our program. And so, you know, I knew that that wasn't necessarily my strongest suit,  I can go find community and tell people about resources all day long, right? And I can do that. And that was like a very, although it took a lot of work, I was very easy for me to come up with. But now to flip it, it's, it's hard. And I'm not great at, I'm not great at it. Asking for money, and I'm not great at all these things, and I knew I had to do it, and I knew I had to network, and I knew I had to do everything, and it was also coming at a point where we really closed ourselves off during COVID, and that was because we were expecting a baby, and then we had a baby, and we didn't have a vaccine for him until he was almost two, and so we were really protective of him, and so not only had it been that I Was much more of an introvert and that a lot of those kind of crowds and everything stress me out and I had to really prepare for it and be on top of it. But then we had had this like long hibernation where hadn't done any of it. So it's kind of a skill that wasn't my best skill and then it was rusty. So I think that's really where I was at. I think the program came along and I just thought to me, it felt like one of those things that  I thought would really help me a lot. And that. It would feel like one of those things, if I didn't do it, I would regret it. And so that was really,  that was my thinking and how I was feeling going into it.   That's so interesting. What, what made you think that if you didn't go into it at that moment, you would regret it? What, what kind of went into that? I think it was just, I didn't even really know where to start. And I think I just. I needed somebody who would work with me to develop a better plan. I needed some of that, like outside motivation that I wasn't, that I was lacking because it's hard when you're doing this day in and day out, especially when you are on your own, largely, it's hard to know, am I doing things the right way? Is this, what is this? And so. I think in talking with you, I was like, this is somebody who's going to push me out of my comfort zone. And I need that right now. And I wasn't getting that.  In any other way, really, I was getting it sort of informally here and there, but it wasn't getting somebody who's going to like, be like, no, let's push you out of this comfort zone and everything. And so I really just wanted that. And I, and I knew I needed that. And so that was really where I thought if I Don't do this program.  I don't know how I'm going to find somebody who's going to do that. And I don't know that I have it in me right now to do it for myself and really push myself.   So before starting the program, what sort of doubts or uncertainties did you have about joining and then how did you overcome them?  Yeah, I think it was,  I think doubts are just, it's hard for me to invest in myself and hard for me to like, kind of take that step back.  That time to say I'm working on myself, but it does have another goal. And also it, we should be invested in ourselves. And so I think that was really one of my biggest doubts.  I didn't feel like in some other programs and things that I've looked at, I felt like I don't really know that this is going to be successful. I more felt like really, I was like this. I was like, Melissa is going to kick my butt a little bit and, and get me out of my comfort zone. And  that was what I needed. And I knew that that's what I needed. So I think that was really where the, kind of the doubts settled it. Like, yes, they were there when I first started, they were still there a little bit. And then I think it was very quickly, it was like, Oh yeah, no, no, this is really what I needed was I needed that push. Yeah, and you know what? I think it's interesting. So your background like you're like a JD Like weren't you like were you a trial attorney? I was yeah okay, can I just put context here because the the assumption would be that a trial attorney would be like Crazy intense, totally like gunhole, super loud. I'm just kind of curious, like, like this was not you then, or was it simply because of all the emotions or what was it that?  Yeah. Yeah. I think it was definitely the emotions. I think I was never super aggressive. I knew how to like turn it on for the little bit of the case, but I wasn't really super aggressive outside of court. And so I think it was kind of like, I didn't have that same platform of saying like, okay, in here, in this context, this is what I have to do. I didn't feel that same way. I think it was definitely the emotions, right? It's really, it's really hard in fundraising because I think there's this part of me that's like, what do you mean? You're not going to give money to my daughter. And I think that's a really hard position to be in where it's like. I have to separate that out and understand that it's, it's not the same emotional thing for most people who are going to encounter it. And so I think I needed that. I think it was also just tired, right? Like, I think fundraising is really tough.  I think there was some things of growing up and just culturally is like,  you're not supposed to ask other people for money, right? It's supposed to be, stay within the family, all of that. So I think it's a very foreign concept to me  to ask for money and ask, And really ask for help. I mean, I think that that's something that was tough for me. Right.  And so I think all of those things kind of Combined into this point where  it was hard for me to, to, to do it and to think of how to do it. And fundraising is known for taking a really long time to come to fruition. And I was exhausted  and, and I didn't know how to start. And that was the really big thing. So.   So then what aspect, what aspects of the program set it apart from other experiences and how did those differences contribute to your success? I   mean, I think the first thing is I had never really seen a program that fully integrated the fact of being a mom and what that took,  as well as your work. And so I think it was just this, I was like, this quote always thinks of me as like, you're supposed to, in the same age, you're supposed to work like you don't have a kid and you're supposed to parent like you don't have a job, right? And that's not the reality. Right. They're both hand in hand, things that happen with your child affect work and things that happen with work affect your child. And so kind of that tug and pull, what I always liked was that you were very forthcoming of like, this is you working within all of your obligations and all of the things that are going to pull with, pull at you. And you were going to have to adjust things as, as it goes on. And so I think that was one of the biggest things that felt like  Dad was saying,  you want to be the best mom you can possibly be, and you also want to do the best job you can possibly do, and that is going to ebb and flow on both ends, depending on, you know, needs and what's going on, and that's okay. And then how can we do this? And so one of the things that I think was really good That I really appreciated always was  how being with your kids was like a way to sort of work on your imagination and to sort of play with life and, and see it through their eyes. And that to me was really helpful because I think there was a lot of, if I, if I did all this stuff with my son, that was great. But then I was also thinking about all the stuff that I didn't do and vice versa. And so I think it was just very much  being able to say like, Even spending time with our children, we are developing ourselves and, and really thinking and playing it out of it and getting out of our own heads, which I think was like one of the biggest  benefits to the program was I was forced to get out of my own head, which is a dangerous place to stay in and, um.  Yeah, I would agree I said that to myself yesterday. I was like get out of your head What is it in your head you're dead or something like that? Okay, so then the other question would be Okay, so is there a particular aspect of the program? So something specific that exceeded your expectations or significantly contributed to your growth and success   I think the strategies of networking, not just being when you show up to an event, but doing a lot of the pre work,  I just had never really thought of it. And I had looked at networking, uh, In the terms of like, you show up to this event. It's super awkward. Maybe you meet a few good people, but then there's not really a great,  it's just awkward. And it's, you know, weird to do it. And instead to convert that into making some context saying, Hey, I'm going to be here at this. Let's connect all of that removed a lot of that awkwardness. And then I think that also, cool. The other thing was, like, helped with  how do we follow up afterwards? I think it was so much easier when you had had some pre conversations to then do the follow up of you had a little bit of a dialogue already going into it, and then you had the dialogue at an event, and then you had afterwards, and so it was much more seamless, and for me, who has some of that inner dialogue and that imposter syndrome, everything, it then put me in a space where people We're already connecting with me and it wasn't me going in cold to an event and not knowing anybody not Having any sort of connection with anybody and I think that was a big difference, too  Yeah, people were trying to give you hugs, which I'm not saying that we could promise hugs at all networking events, but  They go. Wow, it's a really it's pretty intense. Okay, so then let's talk about results or achievements that you're most proud of Proud of. So how do you see them impacting your future endeavors?   I mean, I have been making contacts and reaching out to people that I never would have thought to reach out to. And so we had had some success probably last year and a little bit before that with Some of the doctors that were from the hospital we delivered at and just being very gracious and very, we had a big fundraiser and the neonatologists were all coming up to me independently and saying like, we know, like how much good you're doing for our families. And that was huge, but I didn't really know how to like, start that connection, right? Like that connection started because we had been at that hospital. We had all these great relationships with social workers and they like helped us with all of that. But it didn't, I didn't really know how to do it. And instead it was like, okay, so how do you capitalize on those, you know, strategies for how you're on showing up on LinkedIn strategies for who you're looking to connect with and getting past sort of that. I mean, there's a lot of noise in this area and getting past that noise to say, okay, let's start thinking about who is the strategic person. To connect with  and who is, and then also like defining our, our goals and setting them out and saying that I had never felt like I could say, this is my goal and not sound like I was. Being too salesy and instead saying, like, this is my goal and like, I want to work with people who believe in this mission to get me to that goal.   So what would you say is like the boldest thing you said or did throughout our time together?   So I will say that, so Elizabeth Carr, who is the first IVF baby born in the U. S., I have followed her on LinkedIn, and she's very much an advocate for reproductive rights, and  we started an IVF line after the decision in Alabama, and all that we really wanted, I think one of the ways that we're going to combat this is for all of us to start telling our stories, and how IVF has helped us grow our families, I think that that's huge, and that's One of the first things that we can really do and so  it just so happened that during infertility awareness week, which was about a month ago She posted something and orange is the color for infertility awareness And she said every year I remind myself that I don't have a lot of orange and I always mean to buy more orange And I don't and I just commented and said I would love to send you A t shirt that says IVF baby in adult sizes, and we have them in orange, and so

Show notes: https://www.tamihackbarth.com/blog/episode-224 I have been meeting with tons of interesting women doing amazing work in the world, taking a class on branding, preparing for a couple of speaking events and handling some big parenting challenges. In other words, I am ready for a little R&R this weekend for Mother's Day.  So many have told me lately that all they want for Mother's Day is some silence and solitude, perhaps a meal they don't have to think about or clean up after.  Me too! So that's what I requested from my family. I will also be reading by a pool and swimming. Nice way to spend a Sunday if you ask me. So excited to share my interview with Melissa Llarena. We talked about how our imagination is the secret weapon to getting the life and career you want. I love how her mind thinks! Melissa's creativity, imagination and determination have helped her connect with some of the biggest thought leaders. Melissa Llarena is a bestselling author, imagination coach, consultant, speaker, contributor to ForbesWomen articles that have garnered 4 million-plus views.   Melissa is also the host of Unimaginable Wellness, the podcast for entrepreneurs, founders, and creators who are moms. Featured guests include Gary Vee, Beth Comstock, Suzy Batiz, David Meltzer, Jordan Harbinger, Kanika Chadda Gupta, Angela Middleton MBE (i.e., Member of the British Empire), Ken Honda, and hundreds of other unconventional thinkers. Melissa has been featured in the WSJ, Business Insider, Fox Business, CNN Money, The Huffington Post, and other publications. She holds a psychology degree from NYU, an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, and a Transformational Coaching Academy certificate. She is also training to become a meditation practitioner.  Melissa lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and three sons (one singleton and a set of identical twins). 

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.

Suzy Batiz filed for bankruptcy twice before inventing a toilet spray that made her one of America's richest self-made entrepreneurs. In a conversation with ForbesWomen editor Maggie McGrath, Batiz dishes on her strategy--and the future of her company.Stay ConnectedForbes newsletters: https://newsletters.editorial.forbes.comForbes on Facebook: http://fb.com/forbesForbes Video on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/forbesForbes Video on Instagram: http://instagram.com/forbesMore From Forbes: http://forbes.comForbes covers the intersection of entrepreneurship, wealth, technology, business and lifestyle with a focus on people and success.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

An idea - whether it's a business, a book, or a brand isn't just an object. It's a living dynamic organism that has come to us, and us alone, for a reason. This beautiful thing chose us to flow through and co-create with us, and that's a vision that needs no one's approval to bloom.   It's a completely different way of doing business, yes, but it is a more sustainable approach.   Resonance is two energy waves coming together - a Source-given match between creator and creation. That's why the most resonant businesses come from within. Our body's wisdom will always tell us what's resonant and what's dissonant. We need to have courage to honor whatever's happening inside our body, regardless of what the external thinks.   It's a powerful practice, not just for being, playing and loving, but also for creating things that never stop regenerating. For Suzy Batiz, this model was a huge aspect behind Poo~Pourri. How did this idea come to her? How did she overcome the need for approval? How do we take this lesson from her and learn to trust our body's wisdom (and actually listen to it)?   In this episode, we're delighted to be joined by Suzy. She shares the journey she's taken, and why resonance should always be an ingredient in our creative process.   Having the courage to honor whatever's happening inside your body regardless of what the external thinks about it. That's the practice. -Suzy Batiz   Three Things You'll Learn In This Episode    -The idea has its own desires  When built on resonance, the essence of our creation naturally amplifies out. What's the danger in taking an outside-in approach?   -Warning: logic can be faulty Our brains are powerful creation machines but why is the body more reliable?   -Mind the override  What happens when we ignore the resonant voice inside us in favor of making everyone else comfortable?   Guest Bio    Suzy Batiz is an entrepreneur and the founder of Poo~Pourri. She has been featured by leading publications including Forbes, CNBC, Fast Company and Entrepreneur. She has been named one of Forbes' Richest Self-Made Women in America (2019), EY's Entrepreneur of the Year (2017), Conscious Company's World Changing Women (2019), EarthX's Community Leader of the Year (2019) and is WBENC (Women Owned) certified business owner. Suzy has also been interviewed for Leaders Create Leaders, Modern Hero, Marie Forleo's Marie TV and has given presentations for Conscious Capitalism, Google, HustleCon, SXSW, Create & Cultivate & the In goop Health summit. For more information, go to https://www.suzybatiz.com/ and https://www.poopourri.com/.

Welcome to Episode  211. It's 2024. So now you've got to hit the ground running. You've got to go towards your ambitions and everything seems to be in sync. And I want you to feel energized. We all do. I am so on your side and I'm thrilled that you're here to celebrate 2024. So this conversation is with Meryl Cook and she is a creative person whom I admire. She's a writer, an author herself, and she does something called hooking. Now get your mind out of the gutter. It has to do with yarn and creating beautiful designs. What a wonderful woman and conversation that might be best enjoyed with a mom friend. That was a hint because we'll get into some thoughts on making more mom friends and what to look for in them too. Ultimately, think about this episode as a helpful reminder for 2024. What if you had mom friends that were ahead of you? And what if you had a handful that also reminded you that you get to play too? That is what Meryl and I talked about in this conversation. This is the last chat in my series that involved my book launch of Fertile Imagination. It was maybe like one of my first IGTV lives with a mom who was ahead of me. Also an empty nester. And what I love about the conversation is that 2024, you may have not considered it, but what if it's the year that you make friends? 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 What if it's the year that you find a group of women who emboldened you and inspire you and give you the inspiration that you need to actually go after what is on your heart? On that note, I wanted to share a review from an empty nester who is also ahead of me in her motherhood journey. So Meryl Cook, as I mentioned before, is ahead of me in her motherhood journey. All her quote-unquote kids are out of the house. And the same is true of this Amazon reviewer, Kathleen Ryan. So Kathleen Ryan is someone who worked at Ogilvy & Mather and has had an amazing career that I completely admire and Kathleen is a great-grandmother right now. This is what she says about fertile imagination, my debut book for moms who want to rediscover their imagination, especially this year in 2024. This is your year, like legitimately if you choose it to be, she says, fertile imagination is a virtual powerhouse of real-life scenarios that will help any woman. Moms, especially navigate today's workplace. I wish I had been gifted this kind of access to smart women back in the seventies when I was raising my boys as a single mom. I wanted to point that out because Kathy Ryan also shared with me the idea that now that we have access to technology, we can be always on 24/7. It's like an extra hurdle that working moms have to really overcome. How can you take back your time? How can you hold sacred time? And it's something that I hadn't thought about until Kathy Ryan actually told me over text. And that's the value of having moms who are ahead of you. They have a really good appreciation for what they were able to accomplish, but they wish they had greater support. And I think it helps us in the modern time right now within any season of motherhood that you're in, to reconsider what's necessary and what's superfluous. So I hope you enjoy the conversation with Meryl Cook. It had to do with the book launch for imagination and it's about celebrating, right? So January 2, if you got through the holidays unscathed, if you got through. Everything that needed to happen, like, why don't you celebrate? Why don't you do a spa day? Why don't you throw yourself a dance party? Right. And that's what Meryl Cook and I talk about this idea that oftentimes as moms, we don't celebrate. So again, there are benefits to having moms that are ahead of you in your season of motherhood and 2024 might be the year of friends. It might be the year of friends. It might be the year of Mom friends who are ahead of you. So I appreciate you both Kathleen Ryan for leaving your Amazon review and also Meryl Cook for reminding me that it is important to celebrate. And I suggest that you do the same too. Okay. Enjoy the conversation. Thank you. So how's your day been going?  Ah, it's been going. I feel like I have, it's overwhelming with the support that I've gotten from people. And it's interesting because maybe for other people also like taking compliments feels weird and different. So when people tell me that they're proud of me for having this book out in the world, I feel so, it's like unusual. You know, yes. Good for you. I really think it's just soak it up and enjoy it. It's, it's a fabulous way that you've launched and I'm so pleased that, that you called on so many different people to help you. And, and I mean, that's what being a mom is about, right? Is, it calling on your tribe and saying, can you help me? I need to do this. Yeah. Yeah, it's wonderful, wonderful. And so one of the questions I wanted to ask you, Melissa, because I've just started my new podcast called Renegade Conversations, and I started out with a really great cast of people, but now I'm searching around for other people, and I wonder,  how did you get so many really really top-notch people on your podcast. What, what was your, what was your magic that you did? Do you know what my magic is? It's it's being very authentic and sincere. You can actually, you will be surprised. Like for example, now, as you go on your own sort of audio journey or visual journey, cause I've seen some Instagram too, you will be surprised that. Individuals whom you might feel are hard to reach are not as difficult to reach if you approach them from a place of sincerity. So if you want to have a deep conversation on your channel and you want to talk about something that is truthfully, On your heart, like it really matters to you. Then someone like Suzy Batiz, who was a founder of Poo~pourri, or David Meltzer an entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Like they're willing to have a conversation with you. And I think it's for a couple of reasons. Like, I honestly think, first of all, they must think to themselves, well, if this person has the guts to ask, there's gotta be something about her, that's a little different. And then the second side of it is. These individuals are approached so often with people who have agendas. So you are refreshing if you truthfully want to have a deep conversation, but you're very refreshing. When I interviewed Susie Batiste, for example, Who's in my book, fertile imagination. I approached her from the position where I knew her background. Like I knew that she had family members who had mental illnesses. And then my mom has a mental illness. And I also saw that she really cared about spirituality and the universe and all of that. And for me, it wasn't a leap really to approach her and say, Hey, I've been looking at you on this channel and that channel. And I feel like we're vibing similarly. May I approach you? Yeah. No. So. That's the key. Sincerity. Cool. I've been doing that and that's been working for me so far. A few people are a bit hard to reach and hard to get past, their managers, for example, or, their media people. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's the funny thing. That's the funny thing, Meryl. I actually don't ever approach, the managers or PR people. Like, that's a nice, that's a nice consideration and I'll respect it if it's a requirement, but I talk to them actually like individually.  And so I think that makes the difference because when I was putting together the book, there were so many approvals that I had to get. And ultimately, some of the individuals that are in the book, you can literally reach out to them one on one and they'll get your approval or whatever. But for other individuals, you have to be more strategic. It's like who was the audio guy behind this person who I physically saw at the comedy club? Like that's how I got James Altucher's approval. Like I had to really be like sleuth work, you know? And so you got somebody to give you an introduction then basically is how you did that.  No, I showed up to his comedy club is how I did that. Awesome. Good.  I've been doing some similar things. Yeah. Yeah. So it's a lot of fun. Actually, I really enjoy it. So I was so excited to see you putting your opening your book video and all those kinds of things because I think that's I think that As women, as mothers, especially, we need to celebrate these, these milestones, right? We need to because they are a big deal. And, I think often, what we do is rush from one hurdle to the next hurdle to the next hurdle. So we accomplish something and we don't take time to really have fun. And so today you're, you're doing your big launch and I hope tomorrow you're just going to celebrate and say, hey, what did I do? And really, really take time to acknowledge the hard work that's gone into this launch. I mean, you've, you've been on this for months now, right? Even before, as the book was going to the printer, you were already planning your launch. So that, that's really. Really impressive. Thank you. I, it's funny because I, I was thinking about how a lot of typical book launches, like you go to a bookshop and you're signing stuff, selling the books. And I thought to myself, I was like, honestly, for me as a mom, a slumber party where no one's invited, would be the best book launch party for me. It's like, can I just like sleep? Like, is that like on the table? And, and it's like, like, I get it. Like I get wanting to like to spend time with other people and make it a big party and celebration. But I also get to be able to use my fertile imagination and think about how I want to truly celebrate. Like I want to celebrate online with women from around the world who have different viewpoints and I want to do it and I want to be home to then take my three little boys trick or treating. Wondering about that because yes, you do have to go trick or treating tonight, and uh, but you're on the West Coast, right? So you have a bit of time Austin, okay the middle of the U.S. Yeah. Okay. Wonderful. That's great. And so what's been your biggest surprise about today?  well  For me, I guess it's like, I thought, I thought that things would be a little bit more like real-time from a technology perspective, but apparently they're not, there's like a lot of lag in terms of the world of Amazon. So that's more like, but it's, what do you call it? a rookie kind of thing. Right. I just bought one thing and I got another in terms. You know what it is too, in terms of seeing people reshare the stories that I put out there and like share with their community about me and the book, and then also like the reviews. So honestly, for me, it's like the reaction of everybody. And, and I see it so visually, visually for me, it feels like people are like, like hugging me like, like virtually we are. That's so cool. Wonderful. Oh, wonderful. Do you have any new, stats yet? Or is Amazon still calculating everything that's where we get tricky. That's right. Could you believe it? Like static, static. So how it's like as someone, like when you're in the thick of it and you're like in a launch or whatever, you always have obviously like two paths, either be like what deflated or forget it, but, but, but, and for me, I'm just like, I don't know what's happening on the logistics end and all of that, but I'm going to keep going. When I was giving birth and I gave birth to the identical twins, like there was all this, like a SWAT team in the room looking at me, right? Like a miracle or something. And, and I'm giving birth and I'm like, ultimately everybody was telling me, Oh, push all this or that. And like, who was in charge? Me, it was just me. And so it's like, okay, the same thing with a book. It's like, I have to keep up my energy. I have to keep up the faith. I have to keep this up because ultimately here's what I know for sure. Like you, you have a book, you have books, plural, like. You had them inside of you. You had books inside of you. And do you know how many people say that and don't do it? So for me, like that in and of itself, it's an accomplishment. It's a huge accomplishment. It's really huge. And what will be really nice is five years from now when you find your book is still selling. People are still benefiting from it. That's a really big deal. And your book is the type of book that will be evergreen. It's not something that's going to go out of style. It's the kind of advice that all mums need. Yeah, I think, I think you're going to be five years from now, we're going to be having this conversation saying,  Oh, I'm still selling on Amazon. And here's where I sell most of my books and it'll be awesome. So my son was just on Keegan is one of my boys. He said, Hi Mom. I'm just about to leave for work.  How cute. He lives in Vancouver. He's a tattoo artist. So.  How cool is that?  That's what I love, Meryl. I love, I love being around moms who are at different stages of motherhood. I think it's so important. Yeah. It's important to have intergenerational friends, especially among mothers. When I first moved to the Northwest Territories, my son was just on Keegan was three weeks old and the nurse at the nursing station said, the best thing you can do is to make fun. Make friends with a woman who has kids in school who has sort of been through the early kids stage and has some advice to give you and it was really good advice. Yeah, I think it's important for sure, for sure. Yeah, nice, nice. So, is there anything else you'd like me to ask you? Is there anything else? I don't know how our times are, we have about four minutes left. No, I think right now, It's funny because you and I were talking about the title of the book. Yeah. I think you did a great job. Thank you. I remember. So that's something that's kind of like the backstory, right? The amount of pressure that I felt to come up with like the world's best title was something that I couldn't even like. Put my finger on it like it's that it's like that last thing that matters the most and it's like, oh great but yeah, I remember when you and I were brainstorming and you were sharing your opinion and you like the fact that it had something about playful and it was like play playback no playbook and playful Yeah, right Yes. Do you think that more than one meaning to and yeah, and that it's um,  yeah. And so that idea of playfulness, I'm just curious about your stage of motherhood. However, you define that for yourself. How have you remained?  I think I have not only remained playful, I've become more playful. My kids are all launched. The youngest is 30 now and mostly doesn't live in our house. The occasional weekend he lives with us still. I would say that I take more time to be playful and to make sure, for example, that I work on my art every day, no matter what else I'm doing, I'm crazy, crazy busy. If I don't take time for my art or I don't take time to play. I noticed that I started to make mistakes. I start to kind of fall apart. And when I make time for play, it regenerates me and gives me the enthusiasm and the energy to keep going forward. So. Yeah, so I'm more playful,  see, and that's something that I think as, as a mom who has three little boys who are nine, nine, and 12, it's like, I see them play and in the book, I even talk about how, like, my husband is like, he'll go straight for like the chess set. Meanwhile, for me, if I see the chess set, I will pick up everything from the floor on the way to the chess set, and then I'll forget that I intended to play. It's like adding a to-do, right, in your list? I was actually writing about that this morning. I just published a blog on creativity and midlife and beyond and, and, and I was exactly like that. I would, I would always do all my chores before I would do my creative process. What I discovered is, is that The chores are never done,  and they're never all done, so it was more important to really take the time to play and to do the creative process, and that would help me to get more done in the end, but I think as women, we're so conditioned to taking care of everything else and everyone else, and we think of our creative process as frivolous, or as something that's kind of stuff for the day. A nice thing, but, but maybe we won't get to it. And, I think that for me, having had breast cancer, I realized that I really need to focus on myself. And, I think that young moms also need that, I wish that I hadn't waited until I had a big health scare to focus on myself and to make time to play because I think in general, I mean, my husband is, is a very. He's a good father, he does a lot around the house, but he's, he doesn't, he doesn't think twice about lying back on the couch if he's tired. He'll get things done, but whereas I'm like 30 at night, then I'll sit down. And so I'm, I've really worked on that in the last eight years to, uh, to work on, okay, now's the time to do work, and now's the time to just let the dishes sit there or let, let something else sit there because it never will be done and, uh, yeah, we need to play as mothers. Yeah.  No, I think so as well. And I think you reminded me. So one chapter in the book is exactly what you're saying. And it's basically this DJ  who is in her fifties DJ yo Mama Esther. And she had also felt like. She was focused on helping everyone be happy and she was losing sight of her own happiness. And so she had her health scare and her daughter also had a health scare when she was a little girl, but ultimately like the message in the book, I have a chapter. Dedicated to this is that it's like your body doesn't know why you're neglecting it. Like neglect is neglect. And you've got to be really mindful as moms. And I would say if there were a way to help us prioritize ourselves, I think, I think the art of playing might be the answer. Like our kids want to, they want to, I  mean, maybe not your son since they're adults, but Oh, I don't know. I think they still play. They have their hobbies, they have the things that they love to do and they prioritize them. Some, someone is saying, uh, make time for what matters most. Your relationships, your tribe of people, that's the prize of life. Yeah. I think that that's true, but you have to include yourself in that tribe. So make time for what matters most, including me. Right? Mm-Hmm. Yeah. Absolutely. Absolutely. Cool. Thank you so much. I wanted to tell people that the book is available today. The link in my bio, and I would be honored if anyone in your community, Meryl actually got the book and got enjoyment out of it and felt that sense of play. Excellent. Well, I'm, I'm sure that people will take a good look at it and I would highly recommend it. So. Thank you so much. Have an awesome one. I appreciate you. Let us know, let us know how the stats go when they finally tell you what they are.  Thank you. Thank you again. Thank you, Melissa. Bye. Merrill is so amazing and a big shout out to my Canadians, honestly. The book is available to you as well. You could absolutely get it in Kindle format and you could go on Amazon. And purchase the book as well. If you have already purchased Fertile Imagination, I would invite you to write a two to three-sentence Amazon review today. Here's why there are about 3 million moms who are logging into Amazon every single day around the world. I surmise, that they are shopping. And right now they're getting recommendations in their shopping cart. That could be things like lipsticks, or it could be things like sneakers, or it could be things like. Tie detergent. What if instead, Amazon noticed that Fertile Imagination was getting all these reviews and put it as a recommended product for them to imagine being recommended, being recommended that you go after your dreams? Imagine if someone told you, you know what, there's this book out there for imagination that I think you will like to, that can actually take what's in your heart and bring it out live. To whatever market you so desire. That's what we want more of. Like, I would love to see shopping carts filled with a fertile imagination and then filled with whatever tools are necessary to execute whatever dream you have in your heart. That's what I want to see more of in 2024. And I need your help in order to do that. The more reviews we get on Amazon.com, the more likely 3 million moms every single day will see Fertile Imagination, my debut book. Online is available to them and for them and that is so important every single day. That's 3 million missed opportunities. It is not yet really buzzing with Amazon reviews. Thank you so much for choosing unimaginable wellness, and this is going to be the year of friends, the year of seeking friends who support you so that you don't feel lonely so that you don't feel overwhelmed and unable to ask for help. I want all of that for you for 2024. Happy New Year. Thank you so much again for all of your support for shopping, and fertile imagination for activating the ideas for making sure that you're reawakening. Reawakening, playing with, and stretching your imagination for maximum impact. Thank you so much.  ​ 

Another year around the sun! It is the Winter Solstice which means it is time for our sixth annual "Best Of" episode of 3 Books. 3 Books began ​back in 2018​ with a simple goal of counting down the 1000 most formative books in the world ... 3 books at a time. We wanted this show to help all of us read more and read better and we wanted to do that by being different -- with a lunar-based schedule and a deep intention of being an ‘intrinsically-motivated journey' with no ads, sponsors, commercials, or interruptions. We started collecting ​values​ like: "No book shame, no book guilt", "Humans are the best algorithm", and "You are what you eat and you are what you read." Over the years this journey has been a warm ray of sun in my life. I hope it's felt the same for you. My goal with the “Best Of” is to reflect on the year by picking a snippet from every Chapter and Bookmark that helps us pause and ponder. You'll hear (or re-hear) wisdom from our chats with ​Steve Toltz​, ​Timothy Goodman​, ​Johann Hari​, ​Tank Sinatra​, ​Suzy Batiz​, ​Martellus Bennett​, ​Chefs Osama and Houssam​, ​Jully Black​, ​Lenore Skenazy​, ​Heather McGowan​, ​Sahil Bloom​, ​Ralph Nader​, and J. Drew Lanham (his interview is coming out on December 26th!!) Thank you for sharing time with me and our incredible warm-hearted community of 3 Bookers around the world. I hope this (lengthy!) Best Of can keep you company on a long drive, late-night walk, or over some quiet moments through the holidays. Let's stop and reflect and then keep enjoying the ride. Listen now at 3books.co/chapters/best-of-2023 --- Leave us a voicemail. Your message may be included in a future chapter: 1-833-READ-A-LOT.   Sign up to receive podcast updates here: https://www.3books.co/3mail  3 Books is a completely insane and totally epic 15-year-long quest to uncover and discuss the 1000 most formative books in the world. Each chapter discusses the 3 most formative books of one of the world's most inspiring people. Sample guests include: Brené Brown, David Sedaris, Malcolm Gladwell, Angie Thomas, Cheryl Strayed, Rich Roll, Soyoung the Variety Store Owner, Derek the Hype Man, Kevin the Bookseller, Vishwas the Uber Driver, Roxane Gay, David Mitchell, Vivek Murthy, Mark Manson, Seth Godin, Judy Blume and Quentin Tarantino. 3 Books is published on the lunar calendar with each of the 333 chapters dropped on the exact minute of every single full moon all the way up to April 26, 2040. 3 Books is an Apple "Best Of" award-winning show and is 100% non-profit with no ads, no sponsors, no commercials, and no interruptions. 3 Books has 3 clubs including the End of the Podcast Club, the Cover to Cover Club, and the Secret Club, which operates entirely through the mail and is only accessible by calling 1-833-READ-A-LOT. Each chapter is hosted by Neil Pasricha, New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Awesome, The Happiness Equation, Two-Minute Mornings, etc. For more info check out: https://www.3books.co

In today's episode, I speak with the incredible and intuitive entrepreneur, Suzy Batiz, Founder of Poo-Pourri, Supernatural and creator of a $500+ million empire. In our conversation, we discuss topics such as: the balance of the universe, the duality between good and evil, creative potential, using your business as a vehicle for your own transcendence and transformation, and stuck energy in the body.We also explored owning the depths of darkness within you, wealth as an internal state, abundance, trusting the flow of life and to be accountable for one's actions, the power of authenticity and the dynamic nature of businesses as living organisms.Connect with Flynn:Ways That I Can Help YouInstagramTikTokConnect with Suzy:SuzyBatiz.comAliveWithSuzy.comSupernatural.comSubmit your written reviews to THIS form to be entered into a giveaway to win a 30 min session with me! We'll pull 1 winner at the end of the month.

Today is LAUNCH DAY.  Fertile Imagination: A Guide for Stretching Every Mom's Superpower for Maximum Impact is available on Amazon and ready for you to shop at 10 am EST today! https://amzn.to/3F6AgMu Join me today from now until 6 pm EST for an exciting launch day celebration! Together, we can make a powerful statement to the world that moms matter and that we have the power to pursue our dreams on our own terms. To kickstart this movement, I'm offering a special one-day-only sale of the Kindle format of the book for just 99 cents! Even if you're in the US and don't have a Kindle device, you can still gift this amazing deal to a friend. Let's make today a game-changing moment and show the world the impact we can create.  I'll be on Instagram today if you have book questions: https://www.instagram.com/melissallarena/ Today, from 10 am to 6 pm EST, is the perfect time to join me in the exclusive one-day-only sale of the Kindle format of "Fertile Imagination" on Amazon for just 99 cents. During this limited window, we have the opportunity to propel this book up the ranks and make it a best-seller, reaching more moms who are ready to embark on their own journey of rediscovering their imaginations. The higher the ranks, the greater the impact. Let's seize this moment and empower fellow moms to embrace their creativity! You can use the link to the book on Amazon that is in the show notes to make finding the book easier. Amazon: Fertile Imagination: A Guide for Stretching Every Mom's Superpower for Maximum Impact https://amzn.to/3F6AgMu After two years of hard work, "Fertile Imagination: A Guide for Stretching Every Mom's Superpower for Maximum Impact" is finally available on Amazon in Kindle format for just 99 cents, but only for today! This book is a valuable resource for moms, empowering them to harness the incredible superpower of their imagination. Just imagine the possibilities if each of us used our fertile imagination to envision a world filled with the things we'd like to see more of. Let's dive into this extraordinary journey together! What do you want to see in the world?  Do you want to see cleaner communities? Do you want to see exuberant kids? Do you want to see your company on the Nasdaq? Do you want to see your book on a bookshelf? Do you want to see your tech invention out in the world? Do you want to see generosity spread around the world? Do you want to see more Latina podcasters? Do you want to see cost-effective childcare? Do you want to see literacy rates go up? Do you want to see a 3hr:30 minute race time in a marathon? Do you want to see better solutions for humans with different abilities? Do you want to see more money in your bank? Do you want to see real flexible working conditions? Do you want to see moms in boardrooms? Do you want to see your movie on the screen? What do you want to see? Here's my one vision: millions of moms using their potent superpower. We have the tools we need to fuel and sustain this effort toward making a maximum impact at home and around the world. Fertile Imagination breaks it down to exactly what you need to rediscover your imagination in three steps from awakening your imagination, playing with your imagination, to stretching your imagination. A fertile imagination can cast a powerful and compelling vision that will drive you to turn it into your reality even if it's never been imagined as possible for mothers before.  In this book, I feature my entrepreneurial + mom of 3 insights along with those of 25 highly imaginative guests culminating with the CEO of GivingTuesday Asha Curran as a case study of using a fertile imagination to its maximum. Imagine having access to practical insights you can tailor and I help you reimagine from… Suzy Batiz, Inventor of Poo~Pourri – self-trust Beth Comstock former General Electric CMO – permission to be weird Lisa Messenger Australia's Entrepreneur's Entrepreneur,- impostor syndrome as an asset James Altucher, WSJ best-selling Author of Choose Yourself – making the energy Martha Hennessey, Former New Hampshire Senator and House Member – phasing your dreams Phaidra Knight, Rugby Hall of Famer – exploring your craft from different angles  David Meltzer, Philanthropist and Entrepreneur- being unafraid to change your mind and ask for help Breeja Larson, Gold medalist, London 2012 Olympics-make your inner child proud David Roberts, NY Times Children's Book illustrator of Questioneers series Asha Curran CEO of GivingTuesday, and others One of the great advantages is that you can always have this valuable wisdom at your disposal. By purchasing the Kindle version of the book, it becomes yours forever, allowing you to read it at your own pace. Additionally, you can share this book with a friend, engaging in discussions about the ideas presented or supporting each other's growth. With U.S. Kindle sharing, there is no need for a separate device, making it even more convenient. I want to leave you with this – how do you know this book is worth the effort of shopping it today and reading it when you'd like given that you have finite time and energy? Why is this a must-read for you regardless of what season you are in as a mom even if you are in the thick of it….this is relevant to you and important….especially if If you have ever gone through the day and wondered to yourself: what did I accomplish today….yeah the days are long but the years are short…same is true on our end…use the same lens to see yourself….30s, 40s, 50s the decades pass by….it's about being intentional and the book can help If you are doing or have done the work to heal….the body keeps score, meditation practitioner, opening wound after wound….it's a lot of work and this book does not feel like work…but it's getting in there and empowering you If you admire other people for their creativity and WISH you had their talent….it's very much like The Artist Way by Julia Cameron for moms who lost their ability to dream big…who want to rediscover their imaginations If you feel left behind and like “chicken liver” If you seek reassurance that you've got this If you feel like you've been in skills and talent purgatory waiting for the perfect time when schools don't shut down due to floods, when kids don't stay home sick, when childcare doesn't fall apart…it's about moving forward alongside that too….taking a dream and making progress…every season of motherhood If you've ever asked yourself these questions: Why do I want more? What about my big ideas? When do I get to play? Where can I find the energy? Who else is going for it and getting it done? How can I stay relevant and keep growing? What if I don't want to wait until my kids are grown? What is this book? It's for the little girl in your heart who is relying on you not to fall apart nor give up on her dreams What is this book not?  It's not a parenting book. It's not a self-parenting book. It's not just for moms with kids at home.  It's for a mom who refuses to let go of why she existed in the first place before she ever had a child….to make a difference, to believe in herself, and to use all of her inner resources no matter what to experience her fullest expression of life and on her terms! It's for a warrior of a mom…. On this Halloween, I want you to treat yourself to something special. You deserve it for all the love and care you pour into your family's happiness, especially during holidays like today. Take a moment for yourself and shop the Kindle format of "Fertile Imagination" between 10 am and 3 pm EST. This book is not only a gift for you but also a wonderful present to share with a friend if you're in the US. Embrace this opportunity to indulge in some well-deserved self-care and enjoy the magic of this day. It's only $0.99 TODAY. Let me know you believe in moms realizing and living out their dreams side-by-side with their children by getting your copy today. Next step: Go to Amazon at 10 am EST to 3pm EST….to make your 99-cent purchase to show your support ….. The 99-cent purchase is like a vote for moms who want to dream big and need a roadmap....I know a lot of moms can use this resource... https://amzn.to/3F6AgMu  I'm SO excited!!!!!!! Warrior moms let's do this!!!!!! PPS: I'll be on Instagram today. https://www.instagram.com/melissallarena/ You are welcome to join me and ask me ANYTHING. I'll be in a series of interviews all about Fertile Imagination from the world's most talented and gorgeous moms in business and many of whom wrote their own books for moms.  Share this episode today…..consider this our rally call today! Fertile Imagination…. About Melissa Melissa Llarena is an author, imagination coach, consultant, speaker, and contributor to ForbesWomen articles that have garnered 4 million + views. She is also the host of Unimaginable Wellness, the podcast for entrepreneurs, founders, and creators who are also moms. Featured guests include GaryVee and Beth Comstock. Melissa holds a psychology degree from New York University, an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, and a Transformational Coaching Academy certificate. She is training to become a meditation practitioner. Melissa lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and three sons. Follow @melissallarena Links Fertile Imagination: A Guide for Stretching Every Mom's Superpower for Maximum Impact: https://amzn.to/3F6AgMu Melissa on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissallarena/

“HOLY SH&%!” is what Suzy Batiz, the founder of Poo~Pourri and supernatural, says while reflecting on her journey of liberation from a lifetime of oppression, convention and conformity using radical transformational and pattern-breaking thinking. Transformation is the common thread that runs throughout Suzy's life and her companies, whether she's transforming literal crap into a pleasant-smelling experience with Poo~Pourri or people's lives with her growing personal brand. Suzy is a revolutionary explorer of infinite potential in the playground of life who loves to inspire others and bring them along for the ride.

In this episode, I'll reveal the backstory of my participation in Fast Fall Women. But first, what was I thinking? I went from no one knowing about my experiences being raised by a mom with manic depression – to today, the world being able to hear one of my most vulnerable moments for $18.95.  Here's the truth: Today marks a milestone for me as a published author in a book that features these writing goddesses: Amy Tan, Jane Smiley, Caroline Leavitt, Bobbie Ann Mason, Honor Moore, Darien Hsu Gee, Ilene Beckerman, Lynn Peril as well as new writers like myself. It's a big deal and this is why you should tune into today's episode especially if you've ever wanted to tell your story (or feel scared to).  Imagine harnessing the whimsical power of your childhood imagination and translating it into the real world as a mompreneur. That's the journey I've been on, and in this episode, I share the heart and soul of it all. Listen in as I explore how motherhood can transform your relationship with your imagination and how you can navigate through the ups and downs of life using this powerful tool.  In today's episode, you will also hear the backstory to Fertile Imagination: my own book coming out on October 31, 2023. Prefaces tend to be overlooked but mine left an impression on other moms who are looking for more bubble wrap to protect their sanity, so I figured I'd share it with you. It took courage to tell this story, and I hope it resonates with you, giving you the strength to face your own high stakes and standards. Let's connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissallarena/. Send me a “hi” DM on Instagram letting me know you caught this week's episode. I'd love to know who is listening. In this episode, you will hear these ideas expressed: What does it feel like to be published? How did Melissa pitch her story, Imagine It Forward? Why Melissa wrote the book, Fertile Imagination When imagination can come in handy: Harnessing the power of childhood imagination in motherhood and entrepreneurship Is imagining too big possible? What it takes to write a book for two years without losing hope… Growing up with a single mom with manic depression Relying on imagination as a child  How imagination helps navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship and motherhood The journey of writing a book, how the vision sustained through massive life changes, and the reawakening of imagination SHARE this episode with a mom founder, entrepreneur, or creator who wants to pursue bigger dreams for herself and needs a guide with on-the-ground experience. Similar episodes: https://www.melissallarena.com/what-gina-barreca-has-to-say-about-feminism-humor-and-power-episode-119/  https://www.melissallarena.com/you-can-learn-how-to-play-again-try-this-moms-episode-147/  Supporting Resources: Fertile Imagination Waitlist: https://www.melissallarena.com/waitlist/  Fast Fallen Women: https://www.amazon.com/Fast-Fallen-Women-Essays-NonFiction/dp/1954907788/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=fast+fallen+women&qid=1693938711&sprefix=fast+falln%2Caps%2C237&sr=8-3  Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to my podcast for new moms who are entrepreneurs, founders, and creators?  I'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet.  I'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast for writer moms.  This episode is brought to you by Fertile Imagination A Guide for Stretching Every Mom's Superpower for Maximum Impact  – available for purchase on October 31, 2023! Get on the waitlist - www.melissallarena.com/waitlist today. My debut non-fiction book for moms like you! Fertile Imagination is the jet engine you need to go after what you really, really want. You don't have to give up your dreams, shrink them, or hide them to be a great mom anymore! There's flexibility in how you pursue anything—your role, your lifestyle, and your personal and professional goals. The ceiling on what you go after is waiting to be shattered. It's time to see and seize what's beyond your gaze. Let's bridge your childhood daydreams with your grown-up realities. Imagine skipping with your kids across any path—you, surpassing your milestones while your kids are reaching theirs. There's only one superpower versatile enough to stretch your thinking beyond what's been done before: a Fertile Imagination. It's the perfect kryptonite for impostor syndrome and feeling stuck when it's alert!  In Fertile Imagination, you will awaken your sleeping source of creative solutions. If you can wake up a toddler or a groggy middle schooler, then together with the stories in this book—featuring 25 guests from my podcast Unimaginable Wellness, proven tools, and personal anecdotes—we will wake up your former playmate: your imagination!  Dive in if you've ever asked yourself: Why do I want more? What about my big ideas? When do I get to play?  Where can I find the energy? Who else is going for it and getting it done? How can I stay relevant and keep growing? What if I don't want to wait until my kids are gone? Praise For Fertile Imagination Get on the waitlist - www.melissallarena.com/waitlist today. Book participants/podcast guests “Melissa is an inspiring display of tenacity and motivation. Whenever you're feeling stuck, peruse Melissa's thoughtfully compiled tips and exercises and you'll be creating magic in no time.” – Suzy Batiz, Chief Executive and Visionary Officer, ~Pourri, The Makers of Poo~Pourri, supernatural, Alive OS® “Melissa's words are authentic and important. She is a great listener and now shares reality-based strategies for imagining your own imperfect, fulfilling life.” – Martha Hennessey, Former New Hampshire State Senator / House of Representative “This is the book for a mom who wants a second jet engine to embark on her own journey from thinking she will have to wait another lifetime to dream big to knowing she can take steps right now to uncover and do what she would find more fulfilling at this life stage. Melissa writes both intimately and conversationally about topics that many moms around the world can relate to (some dads too). She invites the reader into a personal and deep journey about topics that are crucially important to uncover what would make a mom truly happy to work on...even after the kids are in bed. It was an honor and a pleasure to speak with her for an interview, which she has included excerpts of in this book, too!” - Ken Honda, Japan's bestselling zen millionaire, author of Happy Money: The Japanese Art of Making Peace with Your Money Moms like us with big dreams and school-age kids: For moms like me, the pandemic was an opportunity to re-evaluate and course-correct things in our lives we weren't thrilled with. Coming out of this period, sluggish yet motivated, so many of us can use this book to help us wake up! If you're looking to refresh, reenergize, and yes, reimagine a better version of your life, this book is for you. I loved the hilarious, yet poignant stories about motherhood today and the window into the world of those who've gone for it – and did it. - Macollvie Neel, Brooklyn, NY “The words: imagination, play and fun are not the usual things we as mothers think of when wondering how to get a grip back on our career and I believe it provides a really fresh take and lots of food for thought for mothers reading it. Its tone is so energetic and fresh!” – Alejandra Molina, Coach, Miami, Florida “Melissa is a mom of three with big dreams who tells it like it is. She draws on her own experiences and the experiences of professionals she's interviewed for her podcast to reflect on the plight of the mother. How do women conform to or challenge the traditional “mom script”? If you're a mom, what can you do to break the “cultural glass ceiling” to be yourself and a great parent, all without having to force yourself into a mom mold that doesn't fit you? Melissa is like a great friend, honest and wise and funny, telling you about her life and asking you to reflect on yours. This book is a great purchase for moms in every stage of life.” – Maureen Turner Carey, Librarian, Austin, Texas “In her book, Melissa shows us that motherhood does not have to be a pause or an end to your pre-child self. With guidance from her podcast guests, she encourages us to think big, find what lights us up, think big, and move towards our goals with the steps that fit the reality of our lives as they are today. In doing so we honor and inspire our child(ren), and our own inner child.” – Katherine Howell, Administrator in a Museum, Queens, NY  

Let's connect on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/melissallarena/ Send me a “hi” DM on Insta letting me know you caught this week's episode. I'd love to know who is listening. Welcome to episode 194. Do you have a great business idea stuck in your head? What if getting it out of your head would put $30K in your pocket? Why would anyone procrastinate on executing such an idea? Meet Carin today's live coaching session participant.  This is her situation and yet she has been procrastinating launching her $30K idea. Does this sound familiar? The conversation started with this $30K challenge yet as is often the case for moms in business specifically there is often more going on in the background that is affecting our sanity. So what might be the root cause of Carin's hesitation to release her idea into the world and just stating selling it?  Tune in to find out!  You'll hear how  through candid and brutally honest coaching questions I uncovered that her procrastinating the launch of this idea was just a symptom of something much bigger: she is actually a hesitant to let go of her old life ( she's in the middle of an incomplete divorce). So it turns out, the issue is not really the offer, the credentials, or the details of binging her offer to the world. Sound familiar? Tune in. if this episode resonates with you as a mom in business then sign-up for a free break-through session with me. This is the link for my calendar: https://www.melissallarena.com/sessions/ Carin Cooper is a coach who helps women who are agonizing about their jobs and leaving their kids how to create income from home. She has worked hard on deprogramming herself from feeling like she is not enough. She has worked on her money story and hired a mentor who has a framework for creating a new coaching offer. You will hear how self-aware Carin is regarding the world of coaching. Use this coaching session, to see if the areas of your own life where you might require a therapist instead of a coach.  I'm sharing this conversation because the truth is that not every business challenge can be fixed on the surface. No number of affirmations, marketing funnel hacks, or shifts in money stories are going to change you when you are in the middle of a personal life tragedy like a divorce. So consider this episode a good gauge of where a coach's expertise may be insufficient. In this episode, you will hear these ideas expressed: ●      How to know when procrastinating is just a symptom vs. the real issue in business stagnation ●      Accepting change vs. resisting it; what can this look like for moms with a lot on their minds ●      Signs that you are avoiding a bigger emotional issue by investing in temporary business fixes ●      The fear of big life changes and getting back up ●      Investing in coaching vs. when you might need to invest in therapy ●      What questions might you need to answer to get to the bottom of your procrastinating? ●      How to address pain beyond the surface when coaches are not helping ●      What it sounds like when coaching is not the answer SHARE this episode with a mom founder, entrepreneur, or creator who is procrastinating launching a new offer. Similar episodes: https://www.melissallarena.com/carolines-path-from-law-to-art-embracing-art-amid-societal-pressures-episode-191/ https://www.melissallarena.com/serin-is-not-writing-her-memoir-due-to-a-fear-of-judgment-episode-193/ https://www.melissallarena.com/you-can-learn-how-to-play-again-try-this-moms-episode-147/ Supporting Resources: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caren.s.cooper?mibextid=D4KYlr Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to my podcast for new moms who are entrepreneurs, founders, and creators?  I'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet.   I'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast for writer moms. This episode is brought to you by Fertile Imagination A Guide for Stretching Every Mom's Superpower for Maximum Impact  – available for purchase on October 31, 2023! Get on the waitlist - www.melissallarena.com/waitlist today. My debut non-fiction book for moms like you! Fertile Imagination is the jet engine you need to go after what you really, really want. You don't have to give up your dreams, shrink them, or hide them to be a great mom anymore! There's flexibility in how you pursue anything—your role, your lifestyle, and your personal and professional goals. The ceiling on what you go after is waiting to be shattered. It's time to see and seize what's beyond your gaze. Let's bridge your childhood daydreams with your grown-up realities. Imagine skipping with your kids across any path—you, surpassing your milestones while your kids are reaching theirs. There's only one superpower versatile enough to stretch your thinking beyond what's been done before: a Fertile Imagination. It's the perfect kryptonite for impostor syndrome and feeling stuck when it's alert! In Fertile Imagination, you will awaken your sleeping source of creative solutions. If you can wake up a toddler or a groggy middle schooler, then together with the stories in this book—featuring 25 guests from my podcast Unimaginable Wellness, proven tools, and personal anecdotes—we will wake up your former playmate: your imagination! Dive in if you've ever asked yourself: ·       Why do I want more? ·       What about my big ideas? ·       When do I get to play? ·       Where can I find the energy? ·       Who else is going for it and getting it done? ·       How can I stay relevant and keep growing? ·       What if I don't want to wait until my kids are gone?   Praise For Fertile Imagination Get on the waitlist - www.melissallarena.com/waitlist today.   Book participants/podcast guests   “Melissa is an inspiring display of tenacity and motivation. Whenever you're feeling stuck, peruse Melissa's thoughtfully compiled tips and exercises and you'll be creating magic in no time.” – Suzy Batiz, Chief Executive and Visionary Officer, ~Pourri, The Makers of Poo~Pourri, supernatural, Alive OS® “Melissa's words are authentic and important. She is a great listener and now shares reality-based strategies for imagining your own imperfect, fulfilling life.” – Martha Hennessey, Former New Hampshire State Senator / House of Representative “This is the book for a mom who wants a second jet engine to embark on her own journey from thinking she will have to wait another lifetime to dream big to knowing she can take steps right now to uncover and do what she would find more fulfilling at this life stage. Melissa writes both intimately and conversationally about topics that many moms around the world can relate to (some dads too). She invites the reader into a personal and deep journey about topics that are crucially important to uncover what would make a mom truly happy to work on...even after the kids are in bed. It was an honor and a pleasure to speak with her for an interview, which she has included excerpts of in this book, too!” - Ken Honda, Japan's bestselling zen millionaire, author of Happy Money: The Japanese Art of Making Peace with Your Money Moms like us with big dreams and school-age kids: For moms like me, the pandemic was an opportunity to re-evaluate and course-correct things in our lives we weren't thrilled with. Coming out of this period, sluggish yet motivated, so many of us can use this book to help us wake up! If you're looking to refresh, reenergize, and yes, reimagine a better version of your life, this book is for you. I loved the hilarious, yet poignant stories about motherhood today and the window into the world of those who've gone for it – and did it. - Macollvie Neel, Brooklyn, NY “The words: imagination, play and fun are not the usual things we as mothers think of when wondering how to get a grip back on our career and I believe it provides a really fresh take and lots of food for thought for mothers reading it. Its tone is so energetic and fresh!” – Alejandra Molina, Coach, Miami, Florida “Melissa is a mom of three with big dreams who tells it like it is. She draws on her own experiences and the experiences of professionals she's interviewed for her podcast to reflect on the plight of the mother. How do women conform to or challenge the traditional “mom script”? If you're a mom, what can you do to break the “cultural glass ceiling” to be yourself and a great parent, all without having to force yourself into a mom mold that doesn't fit you? Melissa is like a great friend, honest and wise and funny, telling you about her life and asking you to reflect on yours. This book is a great purchase for moms in every stage of life.” – Maureen Turner Carey, Librarian, Austin, Texas “In her book, Melissa shows us that motherhood does not have to be a pause or an end to your pre-child self. With guidance from her podcast guests, she encourages us to think big, find what lights us up, think big, and move towards our goals with the steps that fit the reality of our lives as they are today. In doing so we honor and inspire our child(ren), and our own inner child.” – Katherine Howell, Administrator in a Museum, Queens, NY

DM me to talk about the fear of judgment. Is it real to you too? https://www.instagram.com/melissallarena/ Have you ever felt trapped within your own survival story? This week, we walk through this very journey with Serin, a mother and author who finds herself entangled in the chains of her past. As we traverse the winding path of her life, we uncover the deep-seated fears that have held her back from achieving her full potential as a mom and writer. Diving into the heart of her narrative, we delve into the impact of early childhood trauma and explore the powerful role of self-sabotage in Serin's life. Together, we shed light on the tangible tools and lessons that can aid her quest for progress and growth. This is a live coaching session where I coach Serin, an author with one daughter who is holding on to an old story that is getting in the way of writing her book, a memoir. Sound familiar?  She has done a lot of work to fight that story of survival but she still finds herself using it as the reason why she is not earning at her full potential nor making progress in writing her memoir. A lot came up related to early childhood trauma, which I have to say is often behind self-sabotage, impostor syndrome, and playing very small. Will Serin hold on tightly to her story or will she let it go after 40 years?  Time to find out – and if this episode resonates with your situation as a mom in business then sign up for a free breakthrough session with me: https://www.melissallarena.com/sessions/  This episode is brought to you by Fertile Imagination: A Guide For Stretching Every Mom's Superpower For Maximum Impact – My book that will be available on October 2023. I believe that every mom has a fertile imagination. It's your superpower. You can learn how to use it and once you do it is then that you can create the impact and income you know you should be earning!  My book is for a mom who says YES to this question: Could you use a second jet engine to go on a playful journey to deliver on your dreams? It's filled with self-reflected questions, hilarious stories, and podcast examples of the use of a fertile imagination. Get on the waitlist - www.melissallarena.com/waitlist today! About Serin Serin was a Fortune 500 business executive who launched over 25 well-known brands, some are household names. Twelve years ago, she moved to Boulder, Colorado, and discovered her spiritual gifts as a medium and intuitive healer. When she's not healing, she's a mama to a budding young artist and a wife to a sculptor. Today, Serin teaches people to harness their instincts and to be truly at home with themselves. Her belief: the world is more beautiful when we can be who we want to be. Her best-selling book, U Empath You, helps women tap into their inner wisdom and learn how to manage their energy for the better. Let Serin's story inspire you to break free from the chains of your past and harness the power within you to create and share your unique narrative. Remember, your journey toward healing, progress, and empowerment is a significant one, not just for you, but for future generations as well. So, stay resilient, keep writing, and continue creating. Your story matters. In this episode, you will hear these ideas expressed: How to let go of a trauma story? Is it possible or is it like an irreparable mold? Self-compassion can be the answer to changing a story Imagine this: If you let go of a story then who could you be? The fear of dropping a story that's no longer serving you Using what you as a mom would tell your kids for yourself is one coaching approach displayed Is there a way to push yourself to write and can you give yourself the certainty that you are safe enough to write the truth? Mother-daughter dynamics and what if your mom was a narcissist  What are new strategies for overriding your story so that you can write? Navigating being judged for your work and how to trust yourself enough to know how to handle it So who are you really living a full life for and expressing your artistry? Overcoming deep-seated fears and self-sabotage The impact of early childhood trauma on Serin's life The role of self-love in reshaping our life narratives and breaking free from survival stories The importance of self-approval and trust in oneself for healing  Overcoming fear of judgment and embracing one's true potential  SHARE this episode with a mom founder, entrepreneur, or creator who is stuck for fear of judgment of her work. Similar episodes: https://www.melissallarena.com/carolines-path-from-law-to-art-embracing-art-amid-societal-pressures-episode-191/  https://www.melissallarena.com/you-can-learn-how-to-play-again-try-this-moms-episode-147/  Supporting Resources: https://www.serinsilva.com  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/serin.silva.coach/?hl=en  X: https://twitter.com/SNSilva5  Free 30-minute intuitive session - visit www.serinsilva.com  https://www.facebook.com/kismetenergies  Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to my podcast for new moms who are entrepreneurs, founders, and creators?  I'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet.  I'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast for writer moms.  Book Launch October 2023! Join the Collective Of Moms Who Seek More Imaginative Solutions For Maximum Impact While Inspiring Their Kids To Do The Same Introducing: Fertile Imagination: A Guide For Stretching Every Mom's Superpower for Maximum Impact – Get on the list and grab your FREE Chapter today: https://www.melissallarena.com/waitlist/  Join the waitlist for Fertile Imagination to be the first to See the book cover and vote on your favorite Get a sneak peek at the behind-the-scenes book-writing process  Join my Imagination to Impact 21-Day challenge first to bring my three-stage method of reawakening your imagination, playing with your imagination, and stretching your imagination to your daily life and see what using your fertile imagination can look like and how this can turn around your relationship with your kids too Learn first-hand about playful and fun book launch events (online and offline) Snag a FREE chapter today and start your journey towards becoming the fun parent through a series of imagination warm-ups created for the most ambitious moms who feel like they lost a big piece of themselves (along with their placentas – literally or figuratively) Praise For Fertile Imagination Book participants/podcast guests “Melissa is an inspiring display of tenacity and motivation. Whenever you're feeling stuck, peruse Melissa's thoughtfully compiled tips and exercises and you'll be creating magic in no time.” – Suzy Batiz, Chief Executive and Visionary Officer, ~Pourri, The Makers of Poo~Pourri, supernatural, Alive OS® “Melissa's words are authentic and important. She is a great listener and now shares reality-based strategies for imagining your own imperfect, fulfilling life.” – Martha Hennessey, Former New Hampshire State Senator / House of Representative “This is the book for a mom who wants a second jet engine to embark on her own journey from thinking she will have to wait another lifetime to dream big to know she can take steps right now to uncover and do what she would find more fulfilling at this life stage. Melissa writes both intimately and conversationally about topics that many moms around the world can relate to (some dads too). She invites the reader into a personal and deep journey about topics that are crucially important to uncover what would make a mom truly happy to work on...even after the kids are in bed. It was an honor and a pleasure to speak with her for an interview, which she has included excerpts of in this book, too!” - Ken Honda, Japan's bestselling zen millionaire, author of Happy Money: The Japanese Art of Making Peace with Your Money Moms like us with big dreams and school-age kids: For moms like me, the pandemic was an opportunity to re-evaluate and course-correct things in our lives we weren't thrilled with. Coming out of this period, sluggish yet motivated, so many of us can use this book to help us wake up! If you're looking to refresh, reenergize, and yes, reimagine a better version of your life, this book is for you. I loved the hilarious, yet poignant stories about motherhood today and the window into the world of those who've gone for it – and did it. - Macollvie Neel, Brooklyn, NY “The words: imagination, play, and fun are not the usual things we as mothers think of when wondering how to get a grip back on our career and I believe it provides a really fresh take and lots of food for thought for mothers reading it. Its tone is so energetic and fresh!” – Alejandra Molina, Coach, Miami, Florida “Melissa is a mom of three with big dreams who tells it like it is. She draws on her own experiences and the experiences of professionals she's interviewed for her podcast to reflect on the plight of the mother. How do women conform to or challenge the traditional “mom script”? If you're a mom, what can you do to break the “cultural glass ceiling” to be yourself and a great parent, all without having to force yourself into a mom mold that doesn't fit you? Melissa is like a great friend, honest and wise and funny, telling you about her life and asking you to reflect on yours. This book is a great purchase for moms in every stage of life.” – Maureen Turner Carey, Librarian, Austin, Texas “In her book, Melissa shows us that motherhood does not have to be a pause or an end to your pre-child self. With guidance from her podcast guests, she encourages us to think big, find what lights us up, think big, and move towards our goals with the steps that fit the reality of our lives as they are today. In doing so we honor and inspire our child(ren), and our own inner child.” – Katherine Dzierzynski, Museum Group Sales, Forest Hills, NY  

Let's DM: https://www.instagram.com/melissallarena/ Welcome to episode 192, this is a live coaching session where I coach Sandrine a web designer who is struggling with imposter syndrome. She was spending a lot of time creating social media assets when we spoke yet her former clients all came from referrals – is she going to meet her income goal this month or is that use of her time really a clue that she is procrastinating due to imposter syndrome? Time to find out and if this episode resonates with your situation as a mom in business then sign-up for a free break-through session with me. The link is in the show notes: https://www.melissallarena.com/sessions/   This episode is brought to you by Fertile Imagination: A Guide For Stretching Every Mom's Superpower For Maximum Impact – My book that will be available on October 2023. I believe that every mom has a fertile imagination. It's your superpower. You can learn how to use it and once you do it is then that you can create the impact and income you know you should be earning! My book is for a mom who says YES to this question: Could you use a second jet engine to go on a playful journey to deliver on your dreams?   It's filled with self-reflected questions, hilarious stories, and podcast examples of the use of a fertile imagination.   Get on the waitlist - www.melissallarena.com/waitlist today.   About Sandrine Sandrine is a Showit Web Designer who craft websites that demand to be noticed for unapologetic creatives and brands looking to stand above the crowd. She started her web design business years ago after discovering her healthy obsession for design, strategy, and getting that brand color palate. Sandrine feels like she's livin' the good life and she want to help others fall in love with their business all over again. And to show them just how easy a website building process can be (their words not hers).   In this episode, you will hear these ideas expressed: ●      How to get out of your head and not focus on other people's work ●      Am I good enough? Am I credible enough? We discussed both ●      What clues are there that you might be held back by impostor syndrome? ●      How do you know if your prices are too low? ●      Is research sometimes a way to procrastinate? Is this a clue of impostor syndrome ●      What might you need to believe to ask for referrals or help in your own business? See Sandrine's answers/ ●      What else might you focus on that distinguishes you in your field….to feel less insecure about your skills? ●      A flavor of Melissa's sales coaching for solopreneurs who are the face of their business is on display during this LIVE coaching session ●      Writing your own definition of success – have you? ●      What would it take for you to overcome your imposter syndrome? Book a call with Melissa to find out. ●      How can you be comfortable doing things that are uncomfortable?     SHARE this episode with a mom founder, entrepreneur, or creator who is stuck and not really going for impact and income in her business that you know she deserves because of impostor syndrome.   Similar episodes: https://www.melissallarena.com/carolines-path-from-law-to-art-embracing-art-amid-societal-pressures-episode-191/ https://www.melissallarena.com/you-can-learn-how-to-play-again-try-this-moms-episode-147/ Supporting Resources: · Your Websitehttps://sandrinesdesignco.com/ · Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/sandrinesdesignco/  Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to my podcast for new moms who are entrepreneurs, founders, and creators?  I'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet. I'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast for writer moms. Book Launch October 2023! Join the Collective Of Moms Who Seek More Imaginative Solutions For Maximum Impact While Inspiring Their Kids To Do The Same Introducing: Fertile Imagination: A Guide For Stretching Every Mom's Superpower for Maximum Impact – Get on the list anf grab your FREE Chapter today: https://www.melissallarena.com/waitlist/ Join the waitlist for Fertile Imagination to be the first to See the book cover and vote on your favorite Get a sneak peek at the behind-the-scenes book-writing process Join my Imagination to Impact 21-Day challenge first to bring my three-stage method of reawakening your imagination, playing with your imagination, and stretching your imagination to your daily life and see what using your fertile imagination can look like and how this can turnaround your relationship with your kids too Learn first-hand about playful and fun book launch events (online and offline) Snag a FREE chapter today and start your journey towards becoming the fun parent through a series of imagination warm-ups created for the most ambitious moms who feel like they lost a big piece of themselves (along with their placentas – literally or figuratively) Praise For Fertile Imagination Book participants/podcast guests   “Melissa is an inspiring display of tenacity and motivation. Whenever you're feeling stuck, peruse Melissa's thoughtfully compiled tips and exercises and you'll be creating magic in no time.” – Suzy Batiz, Chief Executive and Visionary Officer, ~Pourri, The Makers of Poo~Pourri, supernatural, Alive OS®   “Melissa's words are authentic and important. She is a great listener and now shares reality-based strategies for imagining your own imperfect, fulfilling life.” – Martha Hennessey, Former New Hampshire State Senator / House of Representative   “This is the book for a mom who wants a second jet engine to embark on her own journey from thinking she will have to wait another lifetime to dream big to knowing she can take steps right now to uncover and do what she would find more fulfilling at this life stage. Melissa writes both intimately and conversationally about topics that many moms around the world can relate to (some dads too). She invites the reader into a personal and deep journey about topics that are crucially important to uncover what would make a mom truly happy to work on...even after the kids are in bed. It was an honor and a pleasure to speak with her for an interview, which she has included excerpts of in this book, too!” - Ken Honda, Japan's bestselling zen millionaire, author of Happy Money: The Japanese Art of Making Peace with Your Money Moms like us with big dreams and school-age kids: For moms like me, the pandemic was an opportunity to re-evaluate and course-correct things in our lives we weren't thrilled with. Coming out of this period, sluggish yet motivated, so many of us can use this book to help us wake up! If you're looking to refresh, reenergize, and yes, reimagine a better version of your life, this book is for you. I loved the hilarious, yet poignant stories about motherhood today and the window into the world of those who've gone for it – and did it. - Macollvie Neel, Brooklyn, NY “The words: imagination, play and fun are not the usual things we as mothers think of when wondering how to get a grip back on our career and I believe it provides a really fresh take and lots of food for thought for mothers reading it. Its tone is so energetic and fresh!” – Alejandra Molina, Coach in Miami, Florida “Melissa is a mom of three with big dreams who tells it like it is. She draws on her own experiences and the experiences of professionals she's interviewed for her podcast to reflect on the plight of the mother. How do women conform to or challenge the traditional “mom script”? If you're a mom, what can you do to break the “cultural glass ceiling” to be yourself and a great parent, all without having to force yourself into a mom mold that doesn't fit you? Melissa is like a great friend, honest and wise and funny, telling you about her life and asking you to reflect on yours. This book is a great purchase for moms in every stage of life.” – Maureen Turner Carey, Librarian, Austin, Texas “In her book, Melissa shows us that motherhood does not have to be a pause or an end to your pre-child self. With guidance from her podcast guests, she encourages us to think big, find what lights us up, think big, and move towards our goals with the steps that fit the reality of our lives as they are today. In doing so we honor and inspire our child(ren), and our own inner child.” – Katherine Howell, a Museum Administrator, Queens, NY        

This is a live coaching session with a creative mom who has entrepreneurial ambitions to write and sing music. She has two young kids at home and works part-time as an attorney. She recently turned forty and does not want to squander this season of her life. Take this opportunity to see what a coaching session with me sounds like and if you are a creative mom with entrepreneurial goals that you are not hitting because you are stuck in an old story about who you should be as a mom with a business (less risky, less playful, less ambitious) then sign-up for a free breakthrough session with me. The link is in the show notes: https://www.melissallarena.com/sessions/ This episode is brought to you by Fertile Imagination: A Guide For Stretching Every Mom's Superpower For Maximum Impact – www.melissallarena.com/waitlist today. About Caroline Caroline writes music about what it's like, as a mom and an artist. She sought coaching to muster the courage to redefine myself outside of society's expectations (and my own expectations) in order to find something truer. Caroline also shares the realities of juggling multiple roles - as an artist, a mother, and a professional. She talks about the courage and vulnerability it takes to follow a passion project, despite the hurdles life throws at you. In her journey of expanding her life possibilities and navigating the joys of parenting, Caroline's story serves as a testament to the power of passion and resilience. Be prepared to journey with us through a narrative of self-rediscovery, resilience, and embracing your true identity with Caroline.   In this episode, you will hear these ideas expressed: Turning 40 is a reckoning point when you take a look at your life and make different choices moving forward. Why might a mom with two young kids but the means to focus on her artistic interests NOT move forward? What if you don't have anything to lose too? What beliefs might be stopping you? What if being ridiculous and following your passion lit you up as a mom? Is being an excited mom worth following a creative adventure? Choosing a path where you feel respected. What do you need to hear to feel respected and accepted by others based on your choices? How to get over other people's perceptions and approaching challenges from a position of power  Seeing jealousy as a sign that you may be interested in a topic or creative adventure – in comes Taylor Swift Making a pivot into a creative adventure: What would it look like to actually be an artist? What would a weekend look like? Not until you take yourself seriously will others take you seriously Get to that place of how you want to feel to drive your goals and specific steps forward What if no one else takes interest? How can you let go of needing that acceptance? The idea of 'three chords and the truth' in music, and the importance of feeling acknowledged and accepted for our decisions Owning her identity as an artist, practical and societal concerns, family's reaction, and motivation to create her passion project How the support of those closest to us can show us the respect we need to pursue our passions SHARE this episode with a mom founder, entrepreneur, or creator for whom a fear of judgment or not feeling accepted might be getting in her way of an incredible creative entrepreneurial adventure. Similar episodes: The Risks And Consequences Of Taking On A Supporting Role In Your Mom Life, Episode 182 https://www.melissallarena.com/you-can-learn-how-to-play-again-try-this-moms-episode-147/ Supporting Resources: www.maudlinhousewife.com https://www.instagram.com/maudlinhousewife/ Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to my podcast for new moms who are entrepreneurs, founders, and creators?  I'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet.  I'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast for writer moms.  Book Launch October 2023! Join the Collective Of Moms Who Seek More Imaginative Solutions For Maximum Impact While Inspiring Their Kids To Do The Same Introducing: Fertile Imagination: A Guide For Stretching Every Mom's Superpower for Maximum Impact – Get on the list and grab your FREE Chapter today: https://www.melissallarena.com/waitlist/ Join the waitlist for Fertile Imagination to be the first to See the book cover and vote on your favorite Get a sneak peek at the behind-the-scenes book-writing process  Join my Imagination to Impact 5-Day challenge first to bring my three-stage method of reawakening your imagination, playing with your imagination, and stretching your imagination to your daily life and see what using your fertile imagination can look like and how this can turn around your relationship with your kids too Learn first-hand about playful and fun book launch events (online and offline) Snag a FREE chapter today and start your journey towards becoming the fun parent through a series of imagination warm-ups created for the most ambitious moms who feel like they lost a big piece of themselves (along with their placentas – literally or figuratively) Praise For Fertile Imagination Book participants/podcast guests “Melissa is an inspiring display of tenacity and motivation. Whenever you're feeling stuck, peruse Melissa's thoughtfully compiled tips and exercises and you'll be creating magic in no time.” – Suzy Batiz, Chief Executive and Visionary Officer, ~Pourri, The Makers of Poo~Pourri, supernatural, Alive OS® “Melissa's words are authentic and important. She is a great listener and now shares reality-based strategies for imagining your own imperfect, fulfilling life.” – Martha Hennessey, Former New Hampshire State Senator / House of Representative “This is the book for a mom who wants a second jet engine to embark on her own journey from thinking she will have to wait another lifetime to dream big to know she can take steps right now to uncover and do what she would find more fulfilling at this life stage. Melissa writes both intimately and conversationally about topics that many moms around the world can relate to (some dads too). She invites the reader into a personal and deep journey about topics that are crucially important to uncover what would make a mom truly happy to work on...even after the kids are in bed. It was an honor and a pleasure to speak with her for an interview, which she has included excerpts of in this book, too!” - Ken Honda, Japan's bestselling zen millionaire, author of Happy Money: The Japanese Art of Making Peace with Your Money “The words: imagination, play, and fun are not the usual things we as mothers think of when wondering how to get a grip back on our career and I believe it provides a really fresh take and lots of food for thought for mothers reading it. Its tone is so energetic and fresh!” – Alejandra Molina, Coach, Miami, Florida “Melissa is a mom of three with big dreams who tells it like it is. She draws on her own experiences and the experiences of professionals she's interviewed for her podcast to reflect on the plight of the mother. How do women conform to or challenge the traditional “mom script”? If you're a mom, what can you do to break the “cultural glass ceiling” to be yourself and a great parent, all without having to force yourself into a mom mold that doesn't fit you? Melissa is like a great friend, honest and wise and funny, telling you about her life and asking you to reflect on yours. This book is a great purchase for moms in every stage of life.” – Maureen Turner Carey, Librarian, Austin, Texas “In her book, Melissa shows us that motherhood does not have to be a pause or an end to your pre-child self. With guidance from her podcast guests, she encourages us to think big, find what lights us up, think big, and move towards our goals with the steps that fit the reality of our lives as they are today. In doing so we honor and inspire our child(ren), and our own inner child.” – Katherine Howell, Museum Administrator, Queens, NY

Sometimes life throws us significant curveballs and we're left with no choice but to start over. This can feel devastating, but according to today's Get Yourself Optimized guest, Suzy Batiz, when everything falls apart it provides an excellent opportunity to start with a clean slate. Assess where you've been and where you want to go — the only way is up.  Suzy is the founder and creator of extremely successful companies that are worth nine figures. Suzy, and her empire, are propelled by transformation. Her product, Poo-Pourri, transforms the bathroom in a heavenly-smelling sanctuary and she's transformed the household cleaning industry with the non-toxic, aromatherapy magic of her products. Suzy's growing portfolio of ALIVE OS™ courses allows people to fully experience life. Tune into the episode for inspirational life insights! The show notes, including the transcript and checklist for this episode, are at marketingspeak.com/409.  

In this conversation, we will discuss why representation matters especially for children, how you can expand the perspective of someone as a mom or in other ways by being the first person in any category to use your special voice and get a look at what asking for precisely what you want is a good thing and how that contributed to the children's book Your Special Voice.  Temi Adamolekun is the author of Your Special Voice. This empowering board book inspires young readers to use their own special voices to make a difference in the world. If you want to make a difference,  but you don't know where to start  Begin by searching way deep down  to find what's in your heart Whether your voice shines through singing, drawing, or dancing—whether it's soft or loud, kind or proud—everyone has a voice that can effect change. This empowering and heartfelt message is conveyed through a beautiful, lyrical rhyme that will encourage even the youngest readers to think about what's important to them. Temi is from Nigeria, grew up in England, and now lives in San Francisco with her husband and son. Temi runs her own communications agency and is an active and vocal member of her community. She has written essays on topics such as anti-racist parenting and the importance of Black protagonists in children's books. She is an avid reader who has dreamed of writing books for children for a long time, and she is delighted to have made that dream come true. This conversation not only provides a deeper understanding of the importance of representation in children's books but also encourages us to leverage the power of our unique voices to create a significant impact in our lives and those around us. Tune in to be part of this compelling conversation. In this episode, you will hear these ideas expressed: The difference between those who achieve and who don't is…. Why done is better than perfect Do moms really not have time to read? How Temi - a voracious reader - keeps it up The reason why it's sometimes easier to focus on other people's wants How did she partner up with an illustrator who met her specific criteria…a black woman with Nigerian roots? And how to ask for what you really want. What Nigerian cultural nuances were at play whilst writing the book or partnering with a fellow Nigerian on the topic of using your voice as a woman The superpower of bringing cross-cultural perspectives, UK, US, and Nigeria Why representation matters in children's board books The courage to use your voice: Does your special voice need to be loud? Is whispering impactful? Exactly how does Temi run a business and mother a son and still stop her workday in time for dinner? Inspiring courage to share, and teaching her son the publication process How did writing this book affect her son? What's now possible and normal for him? A Simon & Schuster published mom is now his normal…. Sharing unique voices takes courage and can have a positive impact. How Temi's book, “Your Special Voice” encourages children to use their unique voices, emphasizing the importance of boundaries and structure SHARE this episode with a mom founder, entrepreneur, or creator who is seeking a children's book to read that celebrates the diverse and inclusive voices of many children.  Similar episodes: David Roberts, New York Times Best-Selling Illustrator, Talks About Imagination, Following Our Children's Lead, and the Importance of Constructive Feedback, Episode 18 https://www.melissallarena.com/david-roberts-talks-about-imagination-following-our-childrens-lead-and-feedback/ Jane Egerton-Idehen, Nigerian-based STEM Advocate & IT Executive, Speaks About Gender Equality in the Workplace and How to Discover and Use Your Voice, Episode 38 https://www.melissallarena.com/jane-egerton-idehen-speaks-about-gender-equality-in-the-workplace-and-how-to-discover-and-use-your-voice-episode-38/ Supporting Resources: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Your-Special-Voice/Temi-Adamolekun/9781665912280#:~:text=About%20The%20Book,a%20difference%20in%20the%20world.&text=Whether%20your%20voice%20shines%20through,voice%20that%20can%20effect%20change. https://www.instagram.com/tigertemi/ Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to my podcast for new moms who are entrepreneurs, founders, and creators?  I'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet.  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unimaginable-wellness-for-new-moms-who-are-founders/id1308269140?app=podcast&mt=2 I'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast for writer moms.  Book Launch Fall 2023! Join the Collective Of Moms Who Seek More Imaginative Solutions For Maximum Impact While Inspiring Their Kids To Do The Same Introducing: Fertile Imagination: A Guide For Stretching Every Mom's Superpower for Maximum Impact – Get on the list and grab your FREE Chapter today: https://www.melissallarena.com/waitlist  Join the waitlist for Fertile Imagination to be the first to See the book cover and vote on your favorite Get a sneak peek at the behind-the-scenes book-writing process Join my FREE Imagination to Impact 21-Day challenge first to bring my three-stage method of reawakening your imagination, playing with your imagination, and stretching your imagination to your daily life and see what using your fertile imagination can look like and how this can build self-confidence in your elementary to tween-aged kids too - https://fertileideas.com Learn first-hand about playful and fun book launch events (online and offline) Snag a FREE chapter today and start your journey towards becoming the fun parent through a series of imagination warm-ups created for the most ambitious moms who feel like they lost a big piece of themselves (along with their placentas – literally or figuratively) - for the FREE chapter go to: http://www.melissallarena.com/waitlist Praise For Fertile Imagination Both book participants and podcast guests are featured below Melissa is an inspiring display of tenacity and motivation. Whenever you're feeling stuck, peruse Melissa's thoughtfully compiled tips and exercises and you'll be creating magic in no time.” – Suzy Batiz, Chief Executive and Visionary Officer, ~Pourri, The Makers of Poo~Pourri, supernatural, Alive OS®. “Melissa's words are authentic and important. She is a great listener and now shares reality-based strategies for imagining your own imperfect, fulfilling life.” – Martha Hennessey, Former New Hampshire State Senator / House of Representative “This is the book for a mom who wants a second jet engine to embark on her own journey from thinking she will have to wait another lifetime to dream big to knowing she can take steps right now to uncover and do what she would find more fulfilling at this life stage. Melissa writes both intimately and conversationally about topics that many moms around the world can relate to (some dads too). She invites the reader into a personal and deep journey about topics that are crucially important to uncover what would make a mom truly happy to work on...even after the kids are in bed. It was an honor and a pleasure to speak with her for an interview, which she has included excerpts of in this book, too!” - Ken Honda, Japan's best-selling zen millionaire, author of Happy Money: The Japanese Art of Making Peace with Your Money Moms like us with big dreams and school-age kids: For moms like me, the pandemic was an opportunity to re-evaluate and course-correct things in our lives we weren't thrilled with. Coming out of this period, sluggish yet motivated, so many of us can use this book to help us wake up! If you're looking to refresh, reenergize, and yes, reimagine a better version of your life, this book is for you. I loved the hilarious, yet poignant stories about motherhood today and the window into the world of those who've gone for it – and did it. - Macollvie Neel, Brooklyn, NY “The words: imagination, play and fun are not the usual things we as mothers think of when wondering how to get a grip back on our career and I believe it provides a really fresh take and lots of food for thought for mothers reading it. Its tone is so energetic and fresh!” – Alejandra Molina, Coach, Miami, Florida “Melissa is a mom of three with big dreams who tells it like it is. She draws on her own experiences and the experiences of professionals she's interviewed for her podcast to reflect on the plight of the mother. How do women conform to or challenge the traditional “mom script”? If you're a mom, what can you do to break the “cultural glass ceiling” to be yourself and a great parent, all without having to force yourself into a mom mold that doesn't fit you? Melissa is like a great friend, honest and wise and funny, telling you about her life and asking you to reflect on yours. This book is a great purchase for moms in every stage of life.” – Maureen Turner Carey, Librarian, Austin, Texas “In her book, Melissa shows us that motherhood does not have to be a pause or an end to your pre-child self. With guidance from her podcast guests, she encourages us to think big, find what lights us up, think big, and move towards our goals with the steps that fit the reality of our lives as they are today. In doing so we honor and inspire our child(ren), and our own inner child.” – Katherine Howell, Museum Administrator, Queens, NY  

In this episode of Flourish or Fold, I had the pleasure of interviewing Suzy Batiz, the founder of Poo-Pourri, and Alive OS. Our conversation was a deep dive into the importance of accepting life's dualities, the power of resonance and dissonance, and the transformative potential of fear.We discuss the importance of accepting pain and suffering in life while Suzy shares her personal journey of rediscovering acceptance and the impact it has had on her. We talk about how being in resonance brings increased energy and well-being and the interconnectedness of personal and professional life as well as the importance of trusting intuition. Suzy then goes on to explore the concept of productive perseverance and the need to address beliefs and opposing forces in manifestation. We end our discussion by discussing the significance of embracing fear and the role it plays in growth and transformation.Thank you so much to Suzy Batiz for joining us on Flourish or Fold. You can visit Suzy at: https://suzybatiz.com/  and https://alivewithsuzy.com/Here are some highlights of the episode to look forward to:The challenge of finding resonance [00:04:02]: Suzy discusses her course on creating aliveness and finding resonance in life, including her personal experience of feeling alive in different locations.The impact of resonance and dissonance [00:06:10]: Suzy shares how she learned about resonance and dissonance from Dr. Bruce Lipton and how it has influenced her life and interactions with others.Challenges as opportunities for growth [00:08:53]: Suzy reflects on the idea that challenges are necessary for transformation and growth, using examples from nature and personal experiences.The struggle and challenge of life [00:10:48]: Wediscuss the ups and downs of life, the pain of challenges, and the potential for growth and transformation.Learning from bankruptcy and depression [00:11:55]: We explore personal experiences with bankruptcy, depression, and the realization of what truly matters in life.The power of positive thinking and inspired action [00:21:09]: Discussion on the importance of combining positive thinking, intention, and action to move forward in times of crisis.Shifting beliefs and manifesting [00:22:18]: Exploration of the need to shift beliefs and do inner work to align with intentions and manifest desired outcomes.Productive perseverance and acceptance [00:25:05]: Exploration of the concept of productive perseverance and the importance of acceptance in shifting reality and overcoming fear.Embracing fear and using it as a tool for growth [00:39:39]: Suzy emphasizes the importance of embracing fear and using it as a way to expand and explore new possibilities in life.Importance of Accepting Pain [00:44:42]: Suzy reflects on the missed opportunities in life by trying to change and bypass pain, emphasizing the need to accept and go through pain to access joy and happiness.Being Happy in the Mud [00:46:50]: Suzy discusses the idea of finding happiness and growth in challenging and difficult situations, using the analogy of a lotus flower growing in the mud.

Ever wonder how a mom of four can juggle being a successful entrepreneur, author and still maintain her calm? Jenna Hermans, author of “Chaos to Calm: Five Ways Busy Parents Can Break Free from Overwhelm,” spills her secrets and takes us through her journey of becoming an entrepreneur, managing her energy and time, and how she inspires others to chase their dreams while keeping the balance of life intact. She even shares a real-life example of maintaining calm amidst the chaos of a messy situation with her teenager. Jenna Hermans is living proof that you can create a life of calm within chaos and overwhelm. She uses her bachelor's degree in psychology, master's degree in organizational management, and over fifteen years of Human Resources experience to build strong teams, both at work and at home. Jenna takes an intentional and inclusive approach to help individuals and teams implement tools that put organization and systems around their busy lives that infuse calm and more joy, helping them go from Chaos to Calm. Listen as Jenna unpacks her methods for staying present and appreciating the moment before reacting, essential tools for any busy parent. She shares an example of managing a messy situation with her teenage son and how she was able to remain calm and grounded in the moment. We also discuss how to balance relationships that enhance our calmness and the impact our actions have on those around us. In this episode, you will hear these ideas expressed: How to choose calm over chaos when creating a book Ways a family achieves a calm life with four kids, a business, zero childcare or family around Can you filter out relationships using the Chaos to Calm thinking Jenna brings in her book? Making friends when you are new in a city Finding support when you are working on a creative project and what to say to let friends know Picking yourself inspires other moms pick themselves, Jenna offers examples How to build a system to set out to do something YOU want to do even in the thick of it as a parent What if you read the book and walk into a chocolate mess of a kitchen with kids playing but lots to clean up? What's another way to look at this through the filter of calm? How to find calm in chaos if it's impossible to pause life Engaging with listeners and offering feedback Taking a moment to think before reacting How to choose relationships that enhance your calmness Your actions are also impacting those around you! SHARE this episode with a mom founder, entrepreneur, or creator who seeks to restore or create more calm this season in your family's life. Similar episodes: The Risks And Consequences Of Taking On A Supporting Role In Your Mom Life, Episode 182 https://www.melissallarena.com/the-risks-and-consequences-of-taking-on-a-supporting-role-in-your-mom-life-episode-182/   Join the 21-day Imagination to Impact Challenge to uncover your next big idea and your kids' interests along the way (Mom Summer Camp Series), Episode 186 https://www.melissallarena.com/join-the-21-day-imagination-to-impact-challenge-uncover-your-next-idea-your-school-aged-childs-interests-episode-186/ Supporting Resources: https://jennahermans.com/  https://www.instagram.com/jennazhermans/  Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to my podcast for new moms who are entrepreneurs, founders, and creators?  I'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet.  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unimaginable-wellness-for-new-moms-who-are-founders/id1308269140?app=podcast&mt=2  I'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast for writer moms.  Book Launch Fall 2023! Join the Collective Of Moms Who Seek More Imaginative Solutions For Maximum Impact While Inspiring Their Kids To Do The Same Introducing: Fertile Imagination: A Guide For Stretching Every Mom's Superpower for Maximum Impact – Get on the list and grab your FREE Chapter today: https://www.melissallarena.com/waitlist   Join the waitlist for Fertile Imagination to be the first to See the book cover and vote on your favorite Get a sneak peek at the behind-the-scenes book-writing process Join my Imagination to Impact 21-Day challenge first to bring my three-stage method of reawakening your imagination, playing with your imagination, and stretching your imagination to your daily life and see what using your fertile imagination can look like and how this can turn around your relationship with your kids too - https://fertileideas.com  Learn first-hand about playful and fun book launch events (online and offline) Snag a FREE chapter today and start your journey towards becoming the fun parent through a series of imagination warm-ups created for the most ambitious moms who feel like they lost a big piece of themselves (along with their placentas – literally or figuratively) - for the FREE chapter go to: http://www.melissallarena.com/waitlist Praise For Fertile Imagination Both book participants and podcast guests are featured below Melissa is an inspiring display of tenacity and motivation. Whenever you're feeling stuck, peruse Melissa's thoughtfully compiled tips and exercises and you'll be creating magic in no time.” – Suzy Batiz, Chief Executive and Visionary Officer, ~Pourri, The Makers of Poo~Pourri, supernatural, Alive OS®. “Melissa's words are authentic and important. She is a great listener and now shares reality-based strategies for imagining your own imperfect, fulfilling life.” – Martha Hennessey, Former New Hampshire State Senator / House of Representative “This is the book for a mom who wants a second jet engine to embark on her own journey from thinking she will have to wait another lifetime to dream big to knowing she can take steps right now to uncover and do what she would find more fulfilling at this life stage. Melissa writes both intimately and conversationally about topics that many moms around the world can relate to (some dads too). She invites the reader into a personal and deep journey about topics that are crucially important to uncover what would make a mom truly happy to work on...even after the kids are in bed. It was an honor and a pleasure to speak with her for an interview, which she has included excerpts of in this book, too!” - Ken Honda, Japan's best selling zen millionaire, author of Happy Money: The Japanese Art of Making Peace with Your Money Moms like us with big dreams and school-age kids: For moms like me, the pandemic was an opportunity to re-evaluate and course-correct things in our lives we weren't thrilled with. Coming out of this period, sluggish yet motivated, so many of us can use this book to help us wake up! If you're looking to refresh, reenergize, and yes, reimagine a better version of your life, this book is for you. I loved the hilarious, yet poignant stories about motherhood today and the window into the world of those who've gone for it – and did it. - Macollvie Neel, Brooklyn, NY “The words: imagination, play and fun are not the usual things we as mothers think of when wondering how to get a grip back on our career and I believe it provides a really fresh take and lots of food for thought for mothers reading it. Its tone is so energetic and fresh!” – Alejandra Molina, Coach, Miami, Florida “Melissa is a mom of three with big dreams who tells it like it is. She draws on her own experiences and the experiences of professionals she's interviewed for her podcast to reflect on the plight of the mother. How do women conform to or challenge the traditional “mom script”? If you're a mom, what can you do to break the “cultural glass ceiling” to be yourself and a great parent, all without having to force yourself into a mom mold that doesn't fit you? Melissa is like a great friend, honest and wise and funny, telling you about her life and asking you to reflect on yours. This book is a great purchase for moms in every stage of life.” – Maureen Turner Carey, Librarian, Austin, Texas “In her book, Melissa shows us that motherhood does not have to be a pause or an end to your pre-child self. With guidance from her podcast guests, she encourages us to think big, find what lights us up, think big, and move towards our goals with the steps that fit the reality of our lives as they are today. In doing so we honor and inspire our child(ren), and our own inner child.” – Katherine Dzierzynski, Museum Group Sales, Forest Hills, NY   

Suzy Batiz almost didn't get to realize her creative potential. She nearly committed suicide at a young age and struggled with herself for years. But she was able to overcome those hardships, and eventually she found massive success as an entrepreneur. Listen to her story of how she nurtured her curiosity as a child into the super power that it is today! Subscribe for ad-free interviews and bonus episodes https://plus.acast.com/s/the-unmistakable-creative-podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You left a conventional career to create your own entrepreneurial path. It's part of your goal to be around and stay flexible enough to be present with your kids and to raise them yourself as the primary caregiver.   So you are at this crossroads at the beginning of your freelancing, coaching, and services business and you've been bombarded with things to do.   Your mental load today would require more than a Tonka truck to unload and in the Fall your kids will be in school full-time. However, even then your kids are on your mind and obviously in your heart. So how are you going to do this? Where do you start?   Is there a way to avoid the mom guilt? Are there boundaries you can build now to put your best ideas out there without imploded from overwhelm? Will you have to miss sleep to squeeze in your hopes and dreams?   Do you have more questions about how to approach your entrepreneurial journey and mom life than answers?   Remember, missing out on your kid's school-age journey is NOT why you intended when you left a conventional career.   In comes, the 21-day imagination to impact challenge.   Sign-up: https://www.melissallarena.com/fertileideas   *It's free this summer of 2023.   It's specifically, for you if you have a school-aged child or kids all the way through middle school. A mom who wants to get ahead of the pull of the world to build big, fast, and continuously. It's for you if you rather secure your emotional well-being and that of your family along the way to your dreams. Imagine that? You pursuing your best ideas and tightening the bond between you and your kids. Imagine you working on your dreams side-by-side with your kids.   As a coach for over 12 years, I can't say I've seen any such challenge where I could BOTH clarify my next business offer or service and engage with my three sons who are 9,9, and 12 (yes, one year I birthed identical twins) in a meaningful way. NONE.   So I created my own because I launched my business 12 years ago with my firstborn strapped to my chest. I left advertising for the flexibility to watch my son(s) grow. The key to my success has been through the use of my fertile imagination. Watch this space for my book coming out in October! Throughout the last decade, I've been able to teach them entrepreneurial skills along the way and navigate my mental health along the way. In this challenge, you will immerse yourself in the same experiences that I leveraged to truly integrate my life and work in a sustainable way. I want the same for EVERY mom, especially you.   Sign-up for free this summer for the 21-day imagination to impact challenge to discover your next big idea and uncover your child's interests along the way through a series of mini-adventures proven to reawaken, play with, and stretch your family's fertile imagination.   Sign-up: https://www.melissallarena.com/fertileideas   This 21-day imagination-to-impact challenge is inspired by my upcoming book entitled: Fertile Imagination: A Guide for Stretching Every Mom's Superpower for Maximum Impact - you do not need to have read the book to benefit from this challenge today...because I'll email you daily exercises, meditations, and explanations every day that will be so easy a fourth-grader can follow along (and in some instances, they'll be asked to).   This challenge is designed to help you:   -Rediscover who you are and reconnect with your fertile imagination to begin applying tools from the book   -Explore how you want to use your newfound playmate to make an impact based on how you want to feel and of course market opportunities.   -Stretch your thinking about what's possible in life by joining forces with your little imagination experts at home so they can tap into their undiscovered interests too.   Sign-up: https://www.melissallarena.com/fertileideas   Join this challenge if you:    -Want to lay the groundwork for a coaching, freelancing, creator online business that takes into account your school-age child(ren)'s needs   -Rather avoid mom guilt or feeling anxious about the childcare costs that can pile up while building your business because I'll teach you some things that can be done BEST with them by your side   -Want a guide who gets your priorities to uncover one fertile entrepreneurial idea (a fertile idea is a big idea that can grow along with your family's ever-changing needs)   -Wish to use your entrepreneurial journey as a path to teaching your kids key lessons and also expanding what's possible for them   -Want to create opportunities to see the wonder in your kid's eyes as they explore their interests and watch you explore yours   -Brighten up the mood of your house with playfulness which is a page straight from my book   Most importantly, you'll also want to join the Imagination to Impact 21-Day Challenge (valued at $49, yours for free for now) to reawaken, play with, and stretch your imagination to uncover your next big fertile idea. This is where to start to experience first-hand what using your fertile imagination can look like in your daily life with your kids.   Sign-up: https://www.melissallarena.com/fertileideas   Who is your Imagination Guide?   Hi there! I'm Melissa Llarena. I'd love to be your guide. Yes, I have oodles of credentials: a psychology degree from NYU, an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, a Transformational Coaching Academy certificate, and my upcoming certification as a meditation practitioner. HOWEVER, my imagination grew out of a need to survive as a daughter to a single mom with Manic Depression and a choice to thrive and pursue impossible dreams when I became a mom. As a mom who now lives in Austin, TX with her husband and three sons (identical twins in that mix), I thought I lost my imagination! Yet, I hadn't. It was just hibernating until I enlisted my sons to help me wake it up. It turns out their experts. Did you realize that? You have master imagination experts under your nose! You might even be cleaning their nose! This 21-day challenge is a series of doable mom and child adventures that I personally went on with my three sons, where I reconnected with my fertile imagination "my ultimate business advantage and so can you!   Share this episode with a new entrepreneur, creator, or founder who has school-age kids (5 through middle school) and wants to be a mom first and a business owner second without missing these early precious years but still positioning her new business to make a maximum impact with her skills.    Subscribe and Review   Have you subscribed to my podcast for new moms who are entrepreneurs, founders, and creators?  I'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet.    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unimaginable-wellness-for-new-moms-who-are-founders/id1308269140?app=podcast&mt=2   I'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast for writer moms.    Book Launch Fall 2023! Join the Collective Of Moms Who Seek More Imaginative Solutions For Maximum Impact While Inspiring Their Kids To Do The Same   Introducing: Fertile Imagination: A Guide For Stretching Every Mom's Superpower for Maximum Impact – Get on the list and grab your FREE Chapter today: https://www.melissallarena.com/waitlist   Join the waitlist for Fertile Imagination to be the first to   See the book cover and vote on your favorite Get a sneak peek at the behind-the-scenes book-writing process Join my Imagination to Impact 21-Day challenge first to bring my three-stage method of reawakening your imagination, playing with your imagination, and stretching your imagination to your daily life and see what using your fertile imagination can look like and how this can turn around your relationship with your kids too – https://witty-thinker-2643.ck.page/b887cf40e2 Learn first-hand about playful and fun book launch events (online and offline) Snag a FREE chapter today and start your journey towards becoming the fun parent through a series of imagination warm-ups created for the most ambitious moms who feel like they lost a big piece of themselves (along with their placentas – literally or figuratively) – for the FREE chapter go to: http://www.melissallarena.com/waitlist Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to my podcast for new moms who are entrepreneurs, founders, and creators?  I'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet.  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unimaginable-wellness-for-new-moms-who-are-founders/id1308269140?app=podcast&mt=2   I'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast for writer moms.  Book Launch Fall 2023! Join the Collective Of Moms Who Seek More Imaginative Solutions For Maximum Impact While Inspiring Their Kids To Do The Same Introducing: Fertile Imagination: A Guide For Stretching Every Mom's Superpower for Maximum Impact – Get on the list and grab your FREE Chapter today: https://www.melissallarena.com/waitlist  Join the waitlist for Fertile Imagination to be the first to See the book cover and vote on your favorite Get a sneak peek at the behind-the-scenes book-writing process Join my Imagination to Impact 21-Day challenge first to bring my three-stage method of reawakening your imagination, playing with your imagination, and stretching your imagination to your daily life and see what using your fertile imagination can look like and how this can turn around your relationship with your kids too – https://witty-thinker-2643.ck.page/b887cf40e2 Learn first-hand about playful and fun book launch events (online and offline) Snag a FREE chapter today and start your journey towards becoming the fun parent through a series of imagination warm-ups created for the most ambitious moms who feel like they lost a big piece of themselves (along with their placentas – literally or figuratively) – for the FREE chapter go to: http://www.melissallarena.com/waitlist Praise For Fertile Imagination Both book participants and podcast guests are featured below Melissa is an inspiring display of tenacity and motivation. Whenever you're feeling stuck, peruse Melissa's thoughtfully compiled tips and exercises and you'll be creating magic in no time.” – Suzy Batiz, Chief Executive and Visionary Officer, ~Pourri, The Makers of Poo~Pourri, supernatural, Alive OS®. “Melissa's words are authentic and important. She is a great listener and now shares reality-based strategies for imagining your own imperfect, fulfilling life.” – Martha Hennessey, Former New Hampshire State Senator / House of Representative “This is the book for a mom who wants a second jet engine to embark on her own journey from thinking she will have to wait another lifetime to dream big to knowing she can take steps right now to uncover and do what she would find more fulfilling at this life stage. Melissa writes both intimately and conversationally about topics that many moms around the world can relate to (some dads too). She invites the reader into a personal and deep journey about topics that are crucially important to uncover what would make a mom truly happy to work on…even after the kids are in bed. It was an honor and a pleasure to speak with her for an interview, which she has included excerpts of in this book, too!” – Ken Honda, Japan's best selling zen millionaire, author of Happy Money: The Japanese Art of Making Peace with Your Money Moms like us with big dreams and school-age kids: For moms like me, the pandemic was an opportunity to re-evaluate and course-correct things in our lives we weren't thrilled with. Coming out of this period, sluggish yet motivated, so many of us can use this book to help us wake up! If you're looking to refresh, reenergize, and yes, reimagine a better version of your life, this book is for you. I loved the hilarious, yet poignant stories about motherhood today and the window into the world of those who've gone for it – and did it. – Macollvie Neel, Brooklyn, NY “The words: imagination, play and fun are not the usual things we as mothers think of when wondering how to get a grip back on our career and I believe it provides a really fresh take and lots of food for thought for mothers reading it. Its tone is so energetic and fresh!” – Alejandra Molina, Coach, Miami, Florida “Melissa is a mom of three with big dreams who tells it like it is. She draws on her own experiences and the experiences of professionals she's interviewed for her podcast to reflect on the plight of the mother. How do women conform to or challenge the traditional “mom script”? If you're a mom, what can you do to break the “cultural glass ceiling” to be yourself and a great parent, all without having to force yourself into a mom mold that doesn't fit you? Melissa is like a great friend, honest and wise and funny, telling you about her life and asking you to reflect on yours. This book is a great purchase for moms in every stage of life.” – Maureen Turner Carey, Librarian, Austin, Texas “In her book, Melissa shows us that motherhood does not have to be a pause or an end to your pre-child self. With guidance from her podcast guests, she encourages us to think big, find what lights us up, think big, and move towards our goals with the steps that fit the reality of our lives as they are today. In doing so we honor and inspire our child(ren), and our own inner child.” – Katherine Dzierzynski, Museum Group Sales, Forest Hills, NY 

Lauren reinvents herself at 50 and now pursues her dream of teaching others how to cook easily and entertain effortlessly. She inspires others to follow their passions no matter what their age. Lauren is a Culinary Influencer who has a passion for creating – expressed through her original content, recipes, photography, and storytelling. Her authenticity shows through her voice, as she genuinely enjoys engaging with her audience. Lauren teaches cooking classes and hosts private dinners in her home. She also works with select brands to build awareness by bringing the human element and a face to the brand. She creates content and shares it on her established social networks and in-person events to bring awareness and, ultimately, brand insistence. She's worked with companies such as Wustof, Sprouts, Hexclad, ThermoPro, Belfonte, Wisconsin Cheese, and many others. Lauren Lane is a contributor to the FOX4 morning show and has recently appeared on the new Netflix cooking competition Easy Bake Battle. Lauren Lane's inspiring journey from the corporate world to the culinary world serves as a reminder that it's never too late to pursue your passion and take charge of your life. By embracing adversity, prioritizing yourself, and implementing practical tips for efficient cooking, you can create a happier and more fulfilling life for yourself and your loved ones! In this episode, you will hear these ideas expressed: Transitioning from a 25-year corporate career to becoming an entrepreneur and influencer at age 50. Seeing adversity as a sign – find your calling What can you do for hours that perhaps others wouldn't be happy about? Listening to others…like really listening One-pot meals save time, cost, and sanity in the kitchen. Time-saving and cost-saving tips for buying fresh fruits (ex. soaking berries in water and vinegar to make them last longer.) Discovering one's true calling through conversations with loved ones and recognizing passions Being a lifelong learner and addressing financial and security concerns in order to make a bold career move Prioritizing oneself as a mom can positively impact the family. Reducing food waste and creating special memories through one-pot meals, elevating store-bought goods, and using leftovers creatively Setting timers and having a signature dish to improve cooking skills and create lasting memories for children Embracing adversity and listening to those who know us well in order to find our true calling. SHARE this episode with a mom founder, entrepreneur, or creator who seeks greater simplicity in your cooking for her family this summer and beyond. Similar episodes: The Risks And Consequences Of Taking On A Supporting Role In Your Mom Life, Episode 182 https://www.melissallarena.com/the-risks-and-consequences-of-taking-on-a-supporting-role-in-your-mom-life-episode-182/  How To Maximize Your Energy To Feel Healthy And Unleash Your Potential With Funny Lady Caroline Power An International ‘Anti-Diet' Culture Dietitian and Hypnotherapist, Episode 59 https://www.melissallarena.com/feel-energy-to-feel-health-caroline-power-episode-59/  Supporting Resources: https://www.lauren-lane.com/  Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to my podcast for new moms who are entrepreneurs, founders, and creators?  I'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet.  I'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast for writer moms.  https://www.melissallarena.com/lauren-lane-shares-summer-cooking-tips-to-save-time-reduce-food-waste-and-create-special-memories-episode-185/ Book Launch Fall 2023! Join the Collective Of Moms Who Seek More Imaginative Solutions For Maximum Impact While Inspiring Their Kids To Do The Same Introducing: Fertile Imagination: A Guide For Stretching Every Mom's Superpower for Maximum Impact – Get on the list and grab your FREE Chapter today: https://www.melissallarena.com/waitlist  Join the waitlist for Fertile Imagination to be the first to See the book cover and vote on your favorite Get a sneak peek at the behind-the-scenes book-writing process Join my Imagination to Impact 21-Day challenge first to bring my three-stage method of reawakening your imagination, playing with your imagination, and stretching your imagination to your daily life and see what using your fertile imagination can look like and how this can turn around your relationship with your kids too - https://witty-thinker-2643.ck.page/b887cf40e2 Learn first-hand about playful and fun book launch events (online and offline) Snag a FREE chapter today and start your journey towards becoming the fun parent through a series of imagination warm-ups created for the most ambitious moms who feel like they lost a big piece of themselves (along with their placentas – literally or figuratively) - for the FREE chapter go to: http://www.melissallarena.com/waitlist Praise For Fertile Imagination from both book participants and podcast guests Melissa is an inspiring display of tenacity and motivation. Whenever you're feeling stuck, peruse Melissa's thoughtfully compiled tips and exercises and you'll be creating magic in no time.” – Suzy Batiz, Chief Executive and Visionary Officer, ~Pourri, The Makers of Poo~Pourri, supernatural, Alive OS®. “Melissa's words are authentic and important. She is a great listener and now shares reality-based strategies for imagining your own imperfect, fulfilling life.” – Martha Hennessey, Former New Hampshire State Senator / House of Representative “This is the book for a mom who wants a second jet engine to embark on her own journey from thinking she will have to wait another lifetime to dream big to knowing she can take steps right now to uncover and do what she would find more fulfilling at this life stage. Melissa writes both intimately and conversationally about topics that many moms around the world can relate to (some dads too). She invites the reader into a personal and deep journey about topics that are crucially important to uncover what would make a mom truly happy to work on...even after the kids are in bed. It was an honor and a pleasure to speak with her for an interview, which she has included excerpts of in this book, too!” - Ken Honda, Japan's best selling zen millionaire, author of Happy Money: The Japanese Art of Making Peace with Your Money Moms like us with big dreams and school-age kids: For moms like me, the pandemic was an opportunity to re-evaluate and course-correct things in our lives we weren't thrilled with. Coming out of this period, sluggish yet motivated, so many of us can use this book to help us wake up! If you're looking to refresh, reenergize, and yes, reimagine a better version of your life, this book is for you. I loved the hilarious, yet poignant stories about motherhood today and the window into the world of those who've gone for it – and did it. - Macollvie Neel, Brooklyn, NY “The words: imagination, play and fun are not the usual things we as mothers think of when wondering how to get a grip back on our career and I believe it provides a really fresh take and lots of food for thought for mothers reading it. Its tone is so energetic and fresh!” – Alejandra Molina, Coach, Miami, Florida “Melissa is a mom of three with big dreams who tells it like it is. She draws on her own experiences and the experiences of professionals she's interviewed for her podcast to reflect on the plight of the mother. How do women conform to or challenge the traditional “mom script”? If you're a mom, what can you do to break the “cultural glass ceiling” to be yourself and a great parent, all without having to force yourself into a mom mold that doesn't fit you? Melissa is like a great friend, honest and wise and funny, telling you about her life and asking you to reflect on yours. This book is a great purchase for moms in every stage of life.” – Maureen Turner Carey, Librarian, Austin, Texas “In her book, Melissa shows us that motherhood does not have to be a pause or an end to your pre-child self. With guidance from her podcast guests, she encourages us to think big, find what lights us up, think big, and move towards our goals with the steps that fit the reality of our lives as they are today. In doing so we honor and inspire our child(ren), and our own inner child.” – Katherine Dzierzynski, Museum Group Sales, Forest Hills, NY 

What if YOU were the best teacher or coach to teach your kids THE life skills they'll need to become resilient, emotionally intelligent, or even better at advocating for themselves? What if... I believe that our kids can handle more than we can even imagine. Way more. Did you hear about the kids lost in the Amazon who fended for themselves and survived?  That's such an outlier situation and it's SO scary for me to imagine but what it did remind me is: our kids can be resilient and tougher than the obstacles life will present in front of them. Hasn't this been the case for you? You've been through some stuff yet here you are reading this and tuning into Unimaginable Wellness. There's something in you that helped you rise up or beyond several obstacles so why not teach your kids how to do the same this summer season? That's what I'm doing this summer....because I've got lessons and stuff to teach...you do too! This summer why not impart some of your skills intentionally to your kid/s? This week's episode is very simply the use of my own fertile imagination. A fertile imagination is a mindset that sits at the cross-section of who you had to be when you birthed or waited for your bub, the rebellious teen you, and your inner child with gigantic ideas about what her life could be like. I'm writing a book about this mindset that you may want to learn more about HERE... https://www.melissallarena.com/waitlist/ Now on to this week's episode.... I will be spending a good amount of time with my three sons. My identical twins are nine and my eldest is twelve. We could work on a ton of things this summer. Math is one key topic we can focus on. Personally, I was not very strong in math so I'd have to outsource that. We could focus on building teamwork skills. I've enrolled my kids in sports camps and again for those experiences I wouldn't make for a great coach. Not sure if you are like me but I was picked last for gym sports teams.  This brings me to this summer season. There are emotional fortitude sort of lessons that I am best suited to teach and in this week's episode, I decided to reveal a bit about what I'll be covering this summer with my kids. In this episode you'll hear: -how I'll be taking my kids to fun places and using them as training grounds to up their resiliency etc. -what you can try to teach your kids during this summer or another break (age-appropriate ideas) -where we are with these mini-challenges thus far ($7.49 saved thus far) -why you might have been selected as the mom of your kids (if you've got a skill then chances are your kids will need to learn it to fully thrive and that's why you are their mom) SHARE this episode with a mom founder, entrepreneur, or creator who seeks summer ideas to take full advantage of a summer at home spent with the kids. Similar episodes: Romper Room Style: Your Very Own Chapter Read of Fertile Imagination, Episode 147 https://www.melissallarena.com/you-can-learn-how-to-play-again-try-this-moms-episode-147/  Welcome To Motherhood: Going From Playing The Lead To The Supporting Role In Your Life, Episode 182 / The Risks and Consequences of Taking On A Supporting Role In Your Mom Life https://www.melissallarena.com/the-risks-and-consequences-of-taking-on-a-supporting-role-in-your-mom-life-episode-182/ Follow and Review: We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Book Launch Fall 2023! Join the Collective Of Moms Who Seek More Imaginative Solutions For Maximum Impact While Inspiring Their Kids To Do The Same Introducing: Fertile Imagination: A Guide For Stretching Every Mom's Superpower for Maximum Impact – Get on the list and grab your FREE Chapter today: Join the WAITLIST https://www.melissallarena.com/waitlist/ for Fertile Imagination to be the first to See the book cover and vote on your favorite Get a sneak peek at the behind-the-scenes book-writing process Join my Imagination to Impact 21-Day challenge first to bring my three-stage method of reawakening your imagination, playing with your imagination, and stretching your imagination to your daily life and see what using your fertile imagination can look like and how this can turnaround your relationship with your kids too Learn first-hand about playful and fun book launch events (online and offline) Snag a FREE chapter today and start your journey towards becoming the fun parent through a series of imagination warm-ups created for the most ambitious moms who feel like they lost a big piece of themselves (along with their placentas – literally or figuratively) Praise For Fertile Imagination https://www.melissallarena.com/waitlist/ Book participants/podcast guests “Melissa is an inspiring display of tenacity and motivation. Whenever you're feeling stuck, peruse Melissa's thoughtfully compiled tips and exercises and you'll be creating magic in no time.” – Suzy Batiz, Chief Executive and Visionary Officer, ~Pourri, The Makers of Poo~Pourri, supernatural, Alive OS® “Melissa's words are authentic and important. She is a great listener and now shares reality-based strategies for imagining your own imperfect, fulfilling life.” – Martha Hennessey, Former New Hampshire State Senator / House of Representative “This is the book for a mom who wants a second jet engine to embark on her own journey from thinking she will have to wait another lifetime to dream big to knowing she can take steps right now to uncover and do what she would find more fulfilling at this life stage. Melissa writes both intimately and conversationally about topics that many moms around the world can relate to (some dads too). She invites the reader into a personal and deep journey about topics that are crucially important to uncover what would make a mom truly happy to work on...even after the kids are in bed. It was an honor and a pleasure to speak with her for an interview, which she has included excerpts of in this book, too!” - Ken Honda, Japan's bestselling zen millionaire, author of Happy Money: The Japanese Art of Making Peace with Your Money Moms like us with big dreams and school-age kids: For moms like me, the pandemic was an opportunity to re-evaluate and course-correct things in our lives we weren't thrilled with. Coming out of this period, sluggish yet motivated, so many of us can use this book to help us wake up! If you're looking to refresh, reenergize, and yes, reimagine a better version of your life, this book is for you. I loved the hilarious, yet poignant stories about motherhood today and the window into the world of those who've gone for it – and did it. - Macollvie Neel, Brooklyn, NY “The words: imagination, play and fun are not the usual things we as mothers think of when wondering how to get a grip back on our career and I believe it provides a really fresh take and lots of food for thought for mothers reading it. Its tone is so energetic and fresh!” – Alejandra Molina, Coach, Miami, Florida “Melissa is a mom of three with big dreams who tells it like it is. She draws on her own experiences and the experiences of professionals she's interviewed for her podcast to reflect on the plight of the mother. How do women conform to or challenge the traditional “mom script”? If you're a mom, what can you do to break the “cultural glass ceiling” to be yourself and a great parent, all without having to force yourself into a mom mold that doesn't fit you? Melissa is like a great friend, honest and wise and funny, telling you about her life and asking you to reflect on yours. This book is a great purchase for moms in every stage of life.” – Maureen Turner Carey, Librarian, Austin, Texas “In her book, Melissa shows us that motherhood does not have to be a pause or an end to your pre-child self. With guidance from her podcast guests, she encourages us to think big, find what lights us up, think big, and move towards our goals with the steps that fit the reality of our lives as they are today. In doing so we honor and inspire our child(ren), and our own inner child.” – Katherine Dzierzynski, Museum Group Sales, Forest Hills, NY

This is episode 182. What if playing a supporting role in your own life is the single biggest mistake you can make as a mom? What if you will only be happy, fulfilled, and feel like the best mom possible if you took a chance on your own ambitions? What if taking a chance means that you will have to find a way to start playing the lead role in your life? What if your mental health and emotional well-being rely on making this mindset shift?? Let's talk about a very common change in perspective among moms. We begin by playing the lead in our lives to then becoming a mom and feeling like we can now only play a supporting role. Ever feel like your life had to stop when every else's gets to keep going or soaring? This was the memo I got when I joined the mom club twelve years ago. It's also why I decided to write my book….Fertile Imagination: A Guide for Stretching Every Mom's Superpower for Maximum Impact - get your free chapter: www.melissallarena.com/waitlist   Big ideas discussed in this episode   Insight: you go from playing the lead in your life to playing a supporting role   Personal - You dreamt about where you'd travel, live, and work someday to no longer dreaming Clients - You imagined making a difference in your field but you are not using your hard-earned degree Mom friends - You were a marketing rock star yet it's been years since you had a glamorous job   Consequences of this insight   You put a lot of pressure on your kids to perform because they reflect you   You make painful sacrifices and never stop because you are emotionally invested in your kids to their detriment (at times)   Nothing to pull you / medications/weight gain – You are not feeling inspired or motivated nor pulled to run after a big dream at all….there's a life energy that's been sucked out of you   Ramifications of ignoring this idea and why people ignore it   Moms are lonely – they might be surrounded by kid(s) but they are not engaging in rich conversations with moms who will be honest about their thoughts on motherhood   Moms are depressed because sometimes other moms shame them into thinking they should be appreciative   Moms are less valuable than billionaires…why do we have lists of the world's billionaires out there put on a pedestal but barely know our mom neighbors? Easy to count? You can count the number of kids a mom has. You can see the moms who produced the most high school graduates. I think we can find a way to quantify this too IF we used our fertile imagination.   The truth of what I've immersed myself in over the last twelve years to inspire ME has mostly come from "unmoms" or those without kids or who are not moms   My mentors have been men who have had supportive wives who are caring for the children. This is not to say there are no examples however I'm not drawn to them because I was taught to listen when a man spoke. Men are our leaders. Men know the way. They know how to overcome challenges. All of this comes from the cultural ceilings I was taught as a Latina even as one raised by Latinos born in NY. Side note: this is covered in my book too. What's not being said is how their wives/girlfriends/partners feel about their own life accomplishments. The other thing I've never heard was how did other moms with big dreams get them while they were in the thick of it? I was told to wait until kindergarten but screw that I can't just put a plug into my ambition. These guys below didn't have to...   Tim Ferriss Tom Bilyeu Rich Roll Tony Robbins Rich Roll Jesse Itzler GaryVee James Altucher Other resources I've devoured over the last decade include:   Business books and case studies Coaching courses focused on mindset Meditation courses   And what I realized was missing from those conversations   Kids or being the primary caregiver of kids Thoughts on what it's like to feel misunderstood as a mom with big dreams The handling of our "mom" unique mental bandwidth-emotional burdens Interruptions and what it takes to not have the stop you Life seasons Default parenting Mom scripts   All of these things were missing. I had to figure this out on my own during my twelve-year entrepreneurial/motherhood journey and now because of this book, you can skip some steps.   My bigger ambition today is also that I want this podcast and my services to serve entrepreneurial moms by including   Inspiration, ideas, and a sense of playfulness   A modular approach to feeling accomplished (because as moms there are seasons)   The future as I wish to see it   Mom goes to dance class with daughter Mom has a teen document her day with a drone   What this future requires out of you and moms as a collective are:   Seeing yourself as worthy of understanding your capabilities Learning how to use this gift of a fertile imagination and constantly seek ways to sharpen this tool Using the reality of a situation to your advantage Unleashing the potential moms have when we use our superpower for ourselves Exposing your kids to your life's ups and downs when pursuing big dreams to really pass along resiliency to them Engaging in new spheres personal and professional so your kids witness how you approach new situations and find your tribe Encouraging your kids to own their worth by doing the same for yourself either by building a business or side hustle that makes an impact If this future sounds like one you want to endorse, learn more about, or help me pull off then here's how: go to www.melissallarena.com/waitlist I want to invite you to come along with me on my journey to getting this book out to every mom. SHARE this episode with a mom founder, entrepreneur, or creator, who is a mom who wants to learn how to use their superpower of a fertile imagination to go back to playing the lead role in their lives and teach their kids to do the same too Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to my podcast for new moms who are entrepreneurs, founders, and creators?  I'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet. I'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast for writer moms. DOWNLOAD FIVE JOURNAL PROMPTS + A WACKY TRUE STORY FROM MY UPCOMING BOOK: Fertile Imagination: A Guide To Stretch A Mom's Superpower For Maximum Impact https://www.melissallarena.com/waitlist/ “Melissa is an inspiring display of tenacity and motivation. Whenever you're feeling stuck, peruse Melissa's thoughtfully compiled tips and exercises and you'll be creating magic in no time.” – Suzy Batiz, Chief Executive and Visionary Officer, ~Pourri, The Makers of Poo~Pourri, supernatural, Alive OS® WHAT YOU GET: In this chapter, you will SEE what bringing a sense of curiosity, playfulness, and a willingness to dream for yourself can do for both you and your family. You'll also have the opportunity to answer five key questions that will help you unlock ways you can rewrite your "mom scripts" so that you can cultivate a sense of playfulness every single day! REVIEWS: For moms like me, the pandemic was an opportunity to re-evaluate and course-correct things in our lives we weren't thrilled with. Coming out of this period, sluggish yet motivated, so many of us can use this book to help us wake up! If you're looking to refresh, reenergize, and yes, reimagine a better version of your life, this book is for you. I loved the hilarious, yet poignant stories about motherhood today and the window into the world of those who've gone for it – and did it. - Macollvie Neel, Brooklyn, NY This chapter is about getting in touch with your creative, playful, imaginative side. The part of yourself that perhaps felt freer before you became a parent, before you chose your identity and had a lot of responsibilities weighing you down. In helping you get in touch with your more playful, creative self, it not only helps you on a path toward greater happiness and fulfillment, but it also helps you to feel more fulfilled as a parent. – Mom/PR The words: imagination, play and fun are not the usual things we as mothers think of when wondering how to get a grip back on our career and I believe it provides a really fresh take and lots of food for thought for mothers reading it. I think that the tone is so energetic and fresh that it is why I would pick it up. – Latina Mom/Positive Psychology Coach Melissa is a mom of three with big dreams who tells it like it is. She draws on her own experiences and the experiences of professionals she's interviewed for her podcast to reflect on the plight of the mother. How do women conform to or challenge the traditional “mom script”? If you're a mom, what can you do to break the “cultural glass ceiling” to be yourself and a great parent, all without having to force yourself into a mom mold that doesn't fit you? Melissa is like a great friend, honest and wise and funny, telling you about her life and asking you to reflect on yours. This book is a great purchase for moms in every stage of life. – Aspiring Novelist, Librarian, Mom To Two Kiddos In her book, Melissa shows us that motherhood does not have to be a pause or an end of your pre-child self. With guidance from her podcast guests, she encourages us to think big, find what lights us up, think big, and move towards our goals with the steps that fit the reality of our lives as they are today. In doing so we honor and inspire our child(ren), and our own inner child. – Single Mom To A 12-Year Old Boy

Are you curious about how other businesses are scaling and expanding while balancing family life? Look no further than Margaret Wishingrad, CEO and Co-Founder of Three Wishes, a cereal company that is taking the industry by storm. As a mother of two young children, Margaret knows firsthand the challenges of being a working mom, but she also relishes in the fulfillment that comes from her work. Margaret shares her story and offers valuable insights into how she balances it all. She tackles the unrealistic expectations placed on moms and entrepreneurs, highlighting the importance of prioritizing what matters most. While she acknowledges the power of delegation, Margaret emphasizes the need for control and the satisfaction that comes from taking charge. Margaret Wishingrad is a mother of two, the daughter of immigrants, and the Founder and CEO of Three Wishes, a healthy-while-delicious breakfast that's unique in the cereal aisle for its nutrient-dense ingredients. Margaret has grown Three Wishes from conception to a national brand, with retailers including Whole Foods, Sprouts, Erewhon, and many more in addition to a strong DTC arm. Before founding Three Wishes, Margaret was Chief of Staff at BigEyedWish, an ad agency where she worked with Fortune 100 seed-round startup businesses. After welcoming her first son, Ellis, Margaret realized the white space in the market for a nutritional cereal she wanted to feed her son. Perhaps the most intriguing part of our conversation with Margaret is her approach to marketing. Instead of relying on traditional advertising methods, Margaret leverages the power of word-of-mouth marketing. She shares her secrets for creating buzz around her products and explains how she harnesses the power of satisfied customers to spread the word about Three Wishes. Don't miss this engaging conversation with a successful entrepreneur and busy mom who knows the value of hard work, delegation, and the power of word-of-mouth marketing.  In this episode, you will hear these ideas expressed: What's it like to build a business and be in the thick of it as a mom to young kids? Uncover the story behind how Margaret got into the cereal space Growing a business, during the pandemic, and having a second kid – how did Margaret get through this with her husband? The key to business success is….being nimble Staying open-minded and taking a plunge is important How do you reorganize yourself when your family grows? The key to moving on is accepting defeat…but it's okay Delegation is inescapable with kids Unrealistic expectations for moms and also for entrepreneurs It's not a balance and being okay that someone will miss out takes getting used to Felt like she lost herself but she felt most fulfilled through work so she partnered with her husband What brings you an obscene amount of fulfillment? How to use the power of word of mouth for a family brand? Send to moms coldly Understand where my superpower is and use it to gather insights from mom groups online Three wishes: health, three wishes as a household brand, and encouragement for listeners SHARE this episode with a mom founder, entrepreneur, or creator, who is a mom who wants to understand how other moms integrate their work and life without going insane or compromising their wellness Similar episodes: How to avoid daily distractions to focus on your business growth (Work-Life Integration), Episode 180 https://www.melissallarena.com/why-sometimes-house-projects-win-over-work-projects-work-life-integration-series-episode-180/ Fix Summer Overwhelm For Moms In Business (Work-Life Integration Series), Episode 179 https://www.melissallarena.com/fix-summer-overwhelm-for-moms-in-business-work-life-integration-series-episode-179/ Supporting Resources: https://threewishescereal.com/  https://www.instagram.com/threewishes/  Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to my podcast for new moms who are entrepreneurs, founders, and creators?  I'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet.  I'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast for writer moms.  DOWNLOAD FIVE JOURNAL PROMPTS + A WACKY TRUE STORY FROM MY UPCOMING BOOK: Fertile Imagination: an unexpected and playful guide for using every mom's superpower to create exciting opportunities for impact https://www.melissallarena.com/waitlist/  “Melissa is an inspiring display of tenacity and motivation. Whenever you're feeling stuck, peruse Melissa's thoughtfully compiled tips and exercises and you'll be creating magic in no time.” – Suzy Batiz, Chief Executive and Visionary Officer, ~Pourri, The Makers of Poo~Pourri, supernatural, Alive OS® “Melissa's words are authentic and important. She is a great listener and now shares reality-based strategies for imagining your own imperfect, fulfilling life.” – Martha Hennessey, Former New Hampshire State Senator / House of Representative WHAT YOU GET: In this chapter, you will SEE what bringing a sense of curiosity, playfulness, and a willingness to dream for yourself can do for both you and your family. You'll also have the opportunity to answer five key questions that will help you unlock ways you can rewrite your "mom scripts" so that you can cultivate a sense of playfulness every single day! REVIEWS: For moms like me, the pandemic was an opportunity to re-evaluate and course-correct things in our lives we weren't thrilled with. Coming out of this period, sluggish yet motivated, so many of us can use this book to help us wake up! If you're looking to refresh, reenergize, and yes, reimagine a better version of your life, this book is for you. I loved the hilarious, yet poignant stories about motherhood today and the window into the world of those who've gone for it – and did it. - Macollvie Neel, Brooklyn, NY This chapter is about getting in touch with your creative, playful, imaginative side. The part of yourself that perhaps felt freer before you became a parent, before you chose your identity and had a lot of responsibilities weighing you down. In helping you get in touch with your more playful, creative self, it not only helps you on a path toward greater happiness and fulfillment, but it also helps you to feel more fulfilled as a parent. – Mom/PR The words: imagination, play and fun are not the usual things we as mothers think of when wondering how to get a grip back on our career and I believe it provides a really fresh take and lots of food for thought for mothers reading it. I think that the tone is so energetic and fresh that it is why I would pick it up. – Latina Mom/Positive Psychology Coach Melissa is a mom of three with big dreams who tells it like it is. She draws on her own experiences and the experiences of professionals she's interviewed for her podcast to reflect on the plight of the mother. How do women conform to or challenge the traditional “mom script”? If you're a mom, what can you do to break the “cultural glass ceiling” to be yourself and a great parent, all without having to force yourself into a mom mold that doesn't fit you? Melissa is like a great friend, honest and wise and funny, telling you about her life and asking you to reflect on yours. This book is a great purchase for moms in every stage of life. – Aspiring Novelist, Librarian, Mom To Two Kiddos In her book, Melissa shows us that motherhood does not have to be a pause or an end to your pre-child self. With guidance from her podcast guests, she encourages us to think big, find what lights us up, think big, and move towards our goals with the steps that fit the reality of our lives as they are today. In doing so we honor and inspire our child(ren), and our own inner child. – Single Mom To A 12-Year Old Boy

This is a special Mother's Day episode because it includes the kind of gift that a lot of us working moms would LOVE. If you're on a career pause right now, consider the fact that this might be the perfect opportunity to uncover what might be next for you. In this episode, we talk about networking and why so few of us prioritize such a business-critical task. Then we discuss taking a pause in your career and why that needs to be on your resume.  Altogether, we go through what work-life integration is and why it might feel so hard in traditional business relationship-building settings. We then turn to an online/offline community that is creating the space we need to be both moms and professionals without feeling as if we have to hide half of who we are.  I want to give you as a listener a coupon code for 75 off of a HeyMama membership to get this coupon code just DM me @melissallarena or email me Melissa@melissallarena.com Amri Kebbler is a mom of two from New York and the visionary behind the 2014 launch of HeyMama, one of the first membership communities in the marketplace for working moms. For the past eight years, she has led the community focus by spearheading the membership team and all event programming. A born connector, Amri has used her innate talents for creativity and curation to bring together an energetic team dedicated to building meaningful connections and collaborations with mothers at every stage of their personal and professional lives. Prior to founding HeyMama, she spent more than ten years creating content for major publications like Glamour Magazine and Cosmopolitan as an editor and stylist. The AdWeek Trailblazer has also appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Forbes, Entrepreneur, on the Today Show, and she has graced the cover of Parents Magazine. Throughout all her innovative endeavors, Amri seeks to use empathy and spirituality to spread happiness and joy by helping other mothers develop their self-worth. Moms are warriors. There's nothing that we will not do for our kids. And that's why we need to feel whole and feel good about who we are, what we're doing, and how we are contributing to the world, whether by raising an amazing human being or by being a powerful people-leader.  In this episode, you will hear these ideas expressed: About HeyMama an omnichannel community for working moms Leveraging a career pause to also uncover opportunities The need for the community during tough moments (i.e. along the infertility journey and otherwise) What entrepreneurship is really like vs. what you might think if you've never been an entrepreneur Why don't working moms prioritize networking? What relationships are working moms seeking? The key to facilitating vulnerable conversations online How to reenter the workforce and why your confidence matters The importance of motherhood on the resume Important things to explain on a resume if you have a gap Bringing your kids into everything you do is wonderful Examples of partnerships between moms were highlighted The difference between moms and men when it comes to networking The stigma of choosing to stay at home The importance of networking and work-life integration SHARE this episode with a mom founder, entrepreneur, or creator who is a mom who wants to understand how other moms figure out how to integrate her work and life instead of keeping them separate. Similar episodes: How Ex-Corporate Mom Jo Dodd Went From Leaving Corporate America to Living in Jotopia, Episode 123 https://www.melissallarena.com/how-ex-corporate-mom-jo-dodd-went-from-leaving-corporate-america-to-living-in-jotopia-episode-123/  Find Your Purpose Besides Being A Mom (This Is An Open Call For 50 Moms To Become Beta Readers Too), Episode 148 https://www.melissallarena.com/find-your-purpose-besides-being-a-mom-this-is-an-open-call-for-50-moms-to-become-beta-readers-too-episode-148/  Supporting Resources: https://www.instagram.com/amrikibbler/  https://www.amrikibbler.com/ https://www.heymama.co/  https://www.instagram.com/heymamaco/  https://www.linkedin.com/company/heymama/  https://www.facebook.com/heymamaco  Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to my podcast for new moms who are entrepreneurs, founders, and creators?  I'd love for you to subscribe if you haven't yet.  I'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast for writer moms.  DOWNLOAD FIVE JOURNAL PROMPTS + A WACKY TRUE STORY FROM MY UPCOMING BOOK: Fertile Imagination: A Guide For Stretching Every Mom's Superpower for Maximum Impact  https://www.melissallarena.com/waitlist/  “Melissa is an inspiring display of tenacity and motivation. Whenever you're feeling stuck, peruse Melissa's thoughtfully compiled tips and exercises and you'll be creating magic in no time.” – Suzy Batiz, Chief Executive and Visionary Officer, ~Pourri, The Makers of Poo~Pourri, supernatural, Alive OS® WHAT YOU GET: In this chapter, you will SEE what bringing a sense of curiosity, playfulness, and a willingness to dream for yourself can do for both you and your family. You'll also have the opportunity to answer five key questions that will help you unlock ways you can rewrite your "mom scripts" so that you can cultivate a sense of playfulness every single day! REVIEWS: For moms like me, the pandemic was an opportunity to re-evaluate and course-correct things in our lives we weren't thrilled with. Coming out of this period, sluggish yet motivated, so many of us can use this book to help us wake up! If you're looking to refresh, reenergize, and yes, reimagine a better version of your life, this book is for you. I loved the hilarious, yet poignant stories about motherhood today and the window into the world of those who've gone for it – and did it. - Macollvie Neel, Brooklyn, NY This chapter is about getting in touch with your creative, playful, imaginative side. The part of yourself that perhaps felt freer before you became a parent, before you chose your identity and had a lot of responsibilities weighing you down. In helping you get in touch with your more playful, creative self, it not only helps you on a path toward greater happiness and fulfillment, but it also helps you to feel more fulfilled as a parent. – Mom/PR The words: imagination, play and fun are not the usual things we as mothers think of when wondering how to get a grip back on our career and I believe it provides a really fresh take and lots of food for thought for mothers reading it. I think that the tone is so energetic and fresh that it is why I would pick it up. – Latina Mom/Positive Psychology Coach Melissa is a mom of three with big dreams who tells it like it is. She draws on her own experiences and the experiences of professionals she's interviewed for her podcast to reflect on the plight of the mother. How do women conform to or challenge the traditional “mom script”? If you're a mom, what can you do to break the “cultural glass ceiling” to be yourself and a great parent, all without having to force yourself into a mom mold that doesn't fit you? Melissa is like a great friend, honest and wise and funny, telling you about her life and asking you to reflect on yours. This book is a great purchase for moms in every stage of life. – Aspiring Novelist, Librarian, Mom To Two Kiddos In her book, Melissa shows us that motherhood does not have to be a pause or an end to your pre-child self. With guidance from her podcast guests, she encourages us to think big, find what lights us up, think big, and move towards our goals with the steps that fit the reality of our lives as they are today. In doing so we honor and inspire our child(ren), and our own inner child. – Single Mom To A 12-Year Old Boy

Listen to the full episode at 3books.co/chapters/123

“Do you realize what you've done? You've taken the smell out of shit!” Suzy Batiz says this is what her husband Hector said — shocked! amazed! — when he realized the strange essential oil spray she'd been obsessively working on late into the night for nine straight months really and actually … worked. Today Suzy is founder of billion-dollar-valued Poo-Pourri and supernatural. But the endless topline superlatives surrounding her — EY Entrepreneur of the Year, ranked #240 on Forbes “Richest Self-Made” Woman list just above Serena Williams — actually mask the more startling, complex, inspiring story underneath. Sure, there's no denying the wealth — after all, we did this interview in the 15,000 square foot church she lives in — but Suzy isn't motivated by money. Never has been! She's motivated by freedom, by energy, by making, by love — and by leading and sharing a life of inspiration. I flew down to Dallas, Texas and sat with my friend Suzy Batiz to understand how exactly she navigated a lifetime of poverty, abuse, depression, divorces, bankruptcies, and suicide attempts in order to — bit by bit, step by step — manifest a life full of exploration, transformation, and abundance. Led by her curiosity, gumption, and an “I gotta get out” energy she reveals hard-fought lessons in personal growth, unicorn-building entrepreneurial advice, and deeply resonant nuggets of life-changing wisdom — much of which she's never shared before. I think you will take away a tremendous amount from this conversation. And, for those feeling stuck, trapped, or helpless — there are many jungle vines hanging here to help you get out. Freedom is possible. Suzy will share a few ways to find it. We discuss: the art of cold-calling, agency in abuse, finding angels, the problem with antidepressants, deuterium depleted water, the trinity of transformation, 4 questions to break free of destructive thinking, ayahuasca voices, what entrepreneurs need to remember, Suzy Batiz's 3 most formative books, and much, much, much more…    You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://www.3books.co/chapters/123 Leave us a voicemail. Your message may be included in a future chapter: 1-833-READ-A-LOT.   Sign up to receive podcast updates here: https://www.3books.co/email-list  3 Books is a completely insane and totally epic 15-year-long quest to uncover and discuss the 1000 most formative books in the world. Each chapter discusses the 3 most formative books of one of the world's most inspiring people. Sample guests include: Brené Brown, David Sedaris, Malcolm Gladwell, Angie Thomas, Cheryl Strayed, Rich Roll, Soyoung the Variety Store Owner, Derek the Hype Man, Kevin the Bookseller, Vishwas the Uber Driver, Roxane Gay, David Mitchell, Vivek Murthy, Mark Manson, Seth Godin, Judy Blume and Quentin Tarantino. 3 Books is published on the lunar calendar with each of the 333 chapters dropped on the exact minute of every single new moon and every single full moon all the way up to 5:21 am on September 1, 2031. 3 Books is an Apple "Best Of" award-winning show and is 100% non-profit with no ads, no sponsors, no commercials, and no interruptions. 3 Books has 3 clubs including the End of the Podcast Club, the Cover to Cover Club, and the Secret Club, which operates entirely through the mail and is only accessible by calling 1-833-READ-A-LOT. Each chapter is hosted by Neil Pasricha, New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Awesome, The Happiness Equation, Two-Minute Mornings, etc. For more info check out: https://www.3books.co

If there's one thing Suzy Batiz knows, it's the power of radical transformation. She's a powerhouse entrepreneur that has turned transformational ideas into multi-million dollar businesses such as Poo~Pourri and supernatural. She's since stepped into a role as spiritual leader, and she talks about how it felt to embrace that and open up to it in her business and life. She also talks about evolving past your comfort zone, taking radical responsibility, and confronting your shame. It's always great spending time with Suzy, and our hope is that her spirit activates something within yours.Morning Microdose is a podcast curated by Krista Williams and Lindsey Simcik, the hosts and founders of Almost 30, a global community, brand, and top rated podcast.With curated clips from the Almost 30 podcast, Morning Mircodose will set the tone for your day, so you can feel inspired through thought provoking conversations…all in digestible episodes that are less than 10 minutes.Wake up with Krista and Lindsey, both literally and spiritually, Monday-Friday.If you enjoyed this conversation, listen to the full episode here.

In this episode, I'm speaking with entrepreneur and CEO Suzy Batiz, founder of the brands Poo-Pourri and supernatural. We discuss Suzy's inspiring story and healing journey through trauma, her path to becoming one of the most successful self-made female founders, lessons stemmed from both career and personal highs & lows, and how shifting her energetic focus helped reshape her values. We also discuss how she's channeled her experiences into her passion for coaching and mentoring in order to help others harness an abundance mindset in order to achieve their goals.   Take Cymbiotika's quiz to find the best supplements for your health goals — Use code BLONDE at checkout on cymbiotika.com to get 15% off your first purchase or create a custom bundle for up to 45% off!   Get Origins gift sets today, available at Origins.com.   The Blonde Files Podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try and save 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/files and get on your way to being your best self.   Visit Clare at www.clare.com/BLONDE to get started and receive 10% off your order.    Save 15% off sitewide when you go to JustThriveHealth.com and use code: BLONDE at checkout.      Shop K18's leave-in molecular repair hair mask at Sephora and sephora.com.     Produced by Dear Media.