We all face adversity from time to time and it can be a real downer! It has taken me some time, but I have learned to turn my adversity into motivation!

My 19-year-old son, Jace, is an intern at D2 Branding this summer and he had his friend come with him one day. They are fresh out of high school and learning how a digital marketing agency works. At the end of the day, his friend said to me, "You mean you don't do any of the work?" It made me laugh because he thought I was a genius creating websites, running TikTok accounts, doing photography, graphic design, digital ads and video production. I had to share with him that I don't do any of that, but I have an amazing team that are experts in each area that do the work. I am not sure if he thought I was stupid or a genius at that point, but it made me think about business owners out there that are trying to do it all. You will never scale and grow if you are the one doing the work!

I did all of the work in the beginning and I quickly realized that I could only have a handful of clients because I was exhausted working 12 hour days. I knew I couldn't sustain that for long, so I started hiring a great team that could execute way better than I ever could! 

Find out why leaders should avoid doing work and how D2 Branding has been able to scale on the latest episode of the DO IT MY WAY Podcast!

I recently hired a sales rep and we spent a day cold calling local businesses, which is walking in without having an appointment or knowing who to talk to. It reminded me that you can never stop cold calling! Remember people have to get to know you, like you and trust you to buy. You have to start somewhere! We talked to 15 different business owners and had at least five that acted interested and wanted more information. Sales is a numbers game! The more you call on, the more you close.

Tulsa-based digital creator, Teresa Forehand, started her career as a physician’s assistant and loved her job until she had a baby and realized her priorities were changing. She began sharing her workouts online and documenting her journey while growing a large following on Instagram. She eventually left her PA job, and now is a mom of three little ones and a full-time digital creator known for creating “20-minute meals.” She shares how she navigates being a full-time working mom, overcoming adversity when her husband suffered a severe brain injury, and how she built an online community of over 150k loyal, raving fans. Her story is inspiring and shows us how you can do it all and be successful too!

Someone asks you to speak as an expert in your industry but you would rather die than get in front of a group. I know you are probably thinking no, but the next time you get asked, you need to say YES! It is a great way to get your personal brand out there and be seen as the expert in your industry. You can also get sales leads added to your list.

I understand your hesitation, the first time I got asked to speak, I didn’t realize how hard it would be until I tried it. I have spent years in sales, so I thought it was going to be easy for me like a sales call, but I was wrong!

It’s just like anything else, practice makes perfect! On this episode of the DO IT MY WAY Podcast, I share the most important steps you can take to prepare for a speaking engagement.

The first thing you need to do is know your audience! Who is in the crowd? What is the biggest problem you can solve for them? Are they potential clients? Potential referrals? What value can you add to their life so they see you as the expert in your industry?

Find out the other steps by listening now!

We took the DO IT MY WAY Podcast on the road to my alma mater, Oklahoma State University, to chat with the university’s first female President, Dr. Kayse Shrum! She started as a pediatrician, became Dean of the medical school at OSU, and now is the President! Not to mention a wife and mother to SIX KIDS! She has set an incredible example for young girls and showed them that they can do anything they set their mind to. I am so excited for you to hear her amazing story! 

Find out why a personal brand can be the X Factor that separates you from your competition! All you need is your skills, experience and personality to create a personal brand that will elevate your business!

Tina Parkhill is a community leader who has been recognized for her amazing contributions in community service and business. She’s been recognized as ‘Woman of Distinction’ and ‘Volunteer of the Year,’ and ‘Fastest Growing Company,’ just to name a few. Tina shares with us her story of leaving the corporate world to become an entrepreneur, while prioritizing serving the Tulsa community along the way. Find out why she thinks networking is critical to becoming successful!