Beyond Influential

Offering “free work” is popular advice given to entrepreneurs as a way to grow their businesses and a hot topic as the market for freelancers, service based industries, and the gig economy grows. The real question is: Does it actually make sense for you and your business?

You hear the major success stories about people who did free work and it changed everything, but what you don’t hear about is that for each success story, there are countless more that didn’t work out. 

Here’s the truth about free work (and what social media advice conveniently leaves out): free work isn’t actually “free” - and it needs to be done the right way for it to pay off. In general, I’m not a huge fan of working for free, but if you do choose to provide free work, you definitely need a plan in place before you start. On this week’s episode of Beyond Influential, I dig into the strategy you need if you are considering working for free so you can do it the right way.

On Episode 91, I cover:

• When free work actually makes sense for your brand and business
• The most important questions to ask yourself before you provide (or offer!) free work
• How to strategize your offer to make sure you benefit
• The essential steps to take after you provide free work
• How to make sure you get the most out of your time, effort, and energy.
• And more!

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If I could recommend one episode of Beyond Influential that could change your life  - it’s this one. 

Mindset and personal development themes come up a lot in my content and teaching. Ultimately, my mission is to help you create a life you love through leveraging what’s unique about you and the online space - and what most people don’t realize is that personal branding is a mental game more than anything else. 

Which is why I’m so excited to introduce you to this week’s guest, Dr. Joan Rosenberg.

My brother, Jordan, who is currently finishing up his doctorate in psychology, is not someone who gets easily excited about things - so when he told me I needed to know about Dr. Rosenberg, read her book, and interview her… I listened. And he was right.

Dr. Rosenberg is a bestselling author, speaker, and educator with decades of experience as a licensed psychologist specializing in personal development, particularly the topic of confidence and how to develop it. She has dedicated her entire career to giving you the emotional and mental tools you need to make sure you are able to move through any issues you might face and live an authentic life you love.

To say that she is qualified on the themes we cover in this week’s episode of Beyond Influential would be a gross understatement. We cover a lot of important topics, including why people tend to avoid unpleasant or uncomfortable emotions (and why this is detrimental), ending the comparison game, learning to accept compliments, good habits for starting and ending your day, the basis of intuition, how to help children develop healthy ways of dealing with strong emotions, and so much more. This episode is really jam-packed with actionable take-aways, so don’t miss out on a chance to take in tips that can improve your life today!

On today’s episode, we cover:

• The three components of confidence
• Overcoming imposter syndrome
• Finding your inner "ski-dude" (you’ll want to hear this one - it’s a useful and easy-to-remember piece of advice!)
• The #1, most-important thing you can do for your life
• How to foster a safe and positive environment for others
• And so much more

Dr. Rosenberg's book, 90 Seconds to a Life You Love: How to Master Your Difficult Feelings to Cultivate Lasting Confidence, Resilience, and Authenticity - get it in hardcover, paperback, or Kindle!

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*Full disclosure: The links to the book are affiliate links that take you to Amazon.com. I will be compensated (at no extra cost to you) should you choose to purchase it. Thank you in advance (I appreciate you!) and please note that the prices change and vary over time due to Amazon marketplace changes.

My inbox is littered with them and so are my DM’s and my social feeds. I know for a fact you’ve cringed before deleting more than a few of them...

The spammy hard sell. People directly asking you to give up your time, money, and attention for a product, service, or whatever with no relationship to you and with no context on what you need or want. 

Being pitched the wrong way is exactly why most people avoid anything having to do with “sales,” but the simple fact is: You need to be able to sell no matter what you do. Even if you never make a cold call in your life, you are in a sales business - whether you’re selling a product or service, pitching yourself as a guest on a podcast, or applying for a job. 

Sales is a life skill. 

The good news: there IS a way to hard sell that gets you what you want AND provides value without making anyone feel gross… and it does NOT need to be hard to do. 

In today’s episode, I talk:

• Why sales strategy is unavoidable;
• Biggest hard-selling mistakes to avoid;
• The 2 essential factors to every successful sale;
• 5 tips for creating the ultimate sales pitch (that even YOU can’t say no to!);
• How to personalize a pitch and get the “yes!!”;
• The Law of Reciprocity;
• Plus so much more!

This may be a spoiler alert, but one of the best ways to succeed with any kind of sales pitch is to be incredibly CLEAR on who you are, what you offer, who needs it and why. Need help with that? Join the waitlist for the Clarity Course, coming soon!

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Maybe it’s from growing up in LA, but I’ve always been obsessed with the latest in pop culture and celebrity gossip (I’m from Calabasas - hello Kardashians!). Running a business is hard work, so it just makes sense to me to have a healthy dose of light, juicy, guilty pleasures to indulge in every now and then to unwind and turn off for a moment.

Which is why it was pretty damn fun to have the infamous Millennial Entertainment Journalist and host of the You Can’t Sit With Me Podcast (check out her episode with me here), Diana Espir, as my guest on today’s Beyond Influential - a say-what-she-thinks badass who has just as many insider scoops on the world of podcasting and entertainment production as she does the latest airing of Vanderpump Rules.

Not only is Diana fiercely unapologetic about what it’s really like behind the scenes in the entertainment industry, but also incredibly insightful on everything from PR that works in today’s media-obsessed age, to her personal process on managing a booming podcast, and top tips to breaking past the “media training” plastic of a Red Carpet interview.

Her specialty really is embracing no bullsh*t authenticity, and today we’re going to talk all about how being true to you - even if that “you” is a reality TV star - is your best advocate in business and life.

Trust me, you guys. This is one episode you do not want to miss (and honestly, it is just sooooo LA... I’m in love).

• Advice on achieving an authentic & genuine Red Carpet interview;
• Editing tips & why breaking out of the predictable status quo is so essential for fresh, consumable content;
• All about “Media Training”, & the difference between doing something & owning it;
• Diana’s podcasting process, editing resources, favorite equipment, & interview strategies;
• What gossip is shareable & what should remain private in the entertainment industry, plus the difference between critiquing with humor vs. bullying;
• How much time Diana spends on marketing her podcast, editing audio, choosing keywords/titles, booking guests, planning interviews, creating social media graphics, & writing blog content;
• Diana’s approach towards brand sponsorships & pitches;
• Plus so much more!

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My episode on the You Can't Sit With Me Podcast

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There’s a new trend spreading across pretty much every social media platform right now - Instagram especially - and unfortunately, it’s not pretty. I call it “inauthentic authenticity,” and you’ve definitely seen it before (and maybe even experienced it firsthand!).

Social media tends to take swings from overly curated to showing the more “raw and real” side of things, which is there has become this trend of curating vulnerability and relatability for “likes.” I love true vulnerability and when you can see behind the scenes - we’re all just looking to make connections in our day-to-day to feel like we’re not alone, so when someone gets down to your level or humanizes themselves, it’s incredibly powerful in marketing, influence, and just generally making an impact.

Enter the “inauthentic authenticity” players who pander to the “vulnerability market” by faking “relatability” as a way to boost their engagement and stay relevant. And unfortunately, a lot of people do this by putting others down (sadly, a majority of them women) who spend energy tearing each other down for being “too curated” or “too perfect”, rather than loving on and encouraging each other to do what feels right for YOU.

I keep seeing it in my feed more and more frequently - and so does my best friend and fellow boss babe, Danielle Prahl, and we are honestly fed. up. with. it. and had to discuss!

Because, you guys… I don’t care if you’re a full-face-of-makeup-fashionista or an all-natural-all-day-sweatpants-wearer, people are always going to judge you for your appearance - so why not say “f*ck it” and own who you are?

It’s your life, your body, and your business; you get to decide your own choices, so to hell with anyone else who says differently. As long as you’re staying true to who you are and what makes you happy, you will find success, you will find a tribe to support you, and you will do great things.

I guarantee it.

So, in case you’ve been called out lately for not living your life according to someone else’s standards, feeling like you need to dim your light to not outshine others, or generally don’t fit in…

Danielle and I give you permission in this episode to dust yourself off, give the finger to the haters, and go be the badass self you are - however you choose to express that.

Tune in for practical advice on:

• Owning your unique style, personality, brand, & voice as what makes your business (not breaks it);
• How to deal with trolls, haters, online bullies, & gender stereotypes;
• Why women especially need to support & encourage one another, now more than ever;
• How to build a tribe of like-minded friends, peers, followers, & clients around you without compromising your values;
• How to spot Inauthentic Authenticity (& avoiding falling into its trap!);
• Plus so much more!

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#86 How to Start Setting Boundaries in Your Business with Danielle Prahl

#85 Realistic Online Business Expectations With Danielle Prahl

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There’s a pattern I’ve seen over and over again that has huge consequences in today’s entrepreneurial world: our educational system and traditional workplaces groom people to be “employees” and not leaders and business owners. 

Not that there’s anything wrong with serving others; when it comes to business, true service - no matter who you are or what you sell - is the one ingredient you can’t do without. However, this “employee culture” traps us in an endless cycle of people-pleasing and putting others’ needs above our own.

In the professional world specifically, there’s a widely held belief (whether you’re a business owner or not), it’s all about whatever the client (or boss, or manager…) wants, whenever the client wants it, and we deliver above and beyond - no matter how many late nights we cram in, or what it costs us in the end.  

A bad client is still money in your pocket, right? 

Wrong - and I’m telling you why in today’s episode of Beyond Influential.

Joining me yet again for  Episode #86 is the fabulous Danielle Prahl, and together we talk all about establishing boundaries in your business and personal life, breaking bad habits, the myth of work-life balance, and saying goodbye to the “employee” culture to truly embrace the mindset of a CEO.

We share the strategic changes we’ve made that have not only allowed us to build successful businesses, but also given us the space to love what we do (which leads to even more and faster business growth!).

Today, we dig into:

• Boundaries: Why they are hard to set (and why I had never had them!)
• How to serve your clients well, without compromising your values, sanity, or time;
• The #1 solution to burnout and how to deal with problem clients;
• Finding that perfect work-life balance;
• Being the CEO: The mindset needed to make more money with less work, while getting the results you want from people;
• Why money, successes, and what you’re doing in your business shouldn’t be a taboo subject;
• Tips on organizing your weekly schedule - tracking your time, focus, and mood, before learning to prioritize on what gets results; and
• How to be self-aware of your emotions, needs, and triggers to set the right boundaries in your business and personal life.

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#85 Realistic Online Business Expectations With Danielle Prahl

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Online business expert (and my bff) Danielle and I are back at it again in this latest episode, and to be honest, I don’t think there’s ever a time we meet up to chat for a bit and don’t end up masterminding together. We were having a conversation and after only a couple of minutes I realized, “Hey, we should probably be recording this…” and I’m glad that I did!

Together we unpacked (okay, maybe ranted a little..) the behind the scenes of what it takes to run an online business - realistic expectations, an in-depth look at the intricate process of creating passive income, and what it actually takes to launch new products.

• Real-life conversion rates, ad spend, outsourcing, and the time it takes to build a “sellable” audience;
• Whether or not passive income is a viable modern day business solution;
• How to deal with haters, maintaining reasonable expectations, and why you should never stop studying your own industry (no matter your level of expertise!);
• How often you should be creating content, the type of content to post, and how to be unique in a commoditized market;
• Why it’s important to quantify your expertise with tangible results - whether your own, or results you’ve achieved for the businesses of others and more!

If you’ve been wanting an honest insider look at how the average person can start developing their own streams of passive income, complete with the mindset needed for a thriving business? This episode is for you.

For more from Brittany & Danielle:

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#79 How Personal Relationships Affect Your Brand & Business with Brittany Krystle & Danielle Prahl

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One of the things I love about the business world is that there’s always a deep dive to be had into what’s going on behind the scenes - there are always “people behind the people.” Nobody succeeds in business alone, and it’s often those people and processes that are critical to executing the vision. 

Enter Arielle Levy, our guest for today’s Beyond Influential. Arielle is a talented artist with an incredible eye for detail and aesthetics who works expertly behind the lens to bring top influencers’ visions to life. 

Arielle is an Influencer Photographer & Brand Content Creator for lifestyle, fashion, and beauty bloggers throughout San Diego, and you’ve likely saved her photos as inspo for your own brand  (think Skinny Confidential’s Lauryn Evarts).

In this episode, not only does Arielle give us the scoop on how she transitioned to her dream job as a photographer (including her pricing experiments, the value of niching down, and the Instagram hashtag hacks that brought in her ideal clients), but also her best photography secrets - from location and posing tips, to flat lay photography, and the exact editing apps and resources she herself uses!

Arielle brought the value in this episode! Whether you’re an entrepreneur on the market for a photographer, an influencer looking for some picture perfect tips, or a professional photographer yourself seeking to learn from the best, this is one episode you won’t want to miss.

• Pricing strategies to attract your ideal client;
• Hashtags and marketing through Instagram;
• The value in niching down;
• How to style your profile feed attractively and take the perfect flat-lay;
• Ideal lightings, poses, locations, and content that sells;
• Arielle’s client process, biggest struggles, and how she manages a hectic schedule;
• Favorite editing apps, resources, and strategies;
• And more!

I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again: content is powerful. The fastest, simplest, and most effective way to attract an audience, give proof to your credibility, and flex your creative muscles is content creation, and it’s a must in every business – regardless of niche.

There’s a lot of different ways I create content: ranging from blog posts, to social media, to the emails I send out to my mailing list, but my favorite way to create long-form content is through my podcast, Beyond Influential. Not only do I love recording episodes, but the business benefits have been additionally rewarding, which is why I’ve decided to dedicate an entire episode to it.

Podcasting has become increasingly popular which means more and more people have been asking me questions about starting one and how to build their podcast brand the right way. This episode answers some of the most common questions I get, as well as a glimpse behind the scenes of how I approach my podcast strategy.

In this episode, I cover:

• How to identify the right guests for your podcast niche 
• How to appropriately pitch the guests you want & how to pitch yourself as a podcast guest (in a way that makes them want to say yes!)
• The 3 Laws to Podcasting (and branding!)
• How to grow a podcast community when you’re just getting started (& after you start growing!)
• The importance of consistent content and how to prepare for when life gets in the way
• The biggest mistake I’ve ever made while podcasting (and how I got over it!).

What’s an “expert”? Who is an “expert”? When can you call yourself an “expert”? 

The word expert can be a trigger word for many people… some people embrace it, some people shy away from using it… which means we have to talk about it!

This week I share:

• My definition of “expert” 
• When I felt comfortable calling myself an expert
• How to know when you’re an expert
• How to grow your expertise if you aren’t an expert yet & more!