Empire Building

Today we talk about an often overlooked but very important sales technique, the follow-up. So often, the focus of sales training is on finding new leads, but if you make it a habit to follow up on those leads, you’re going to have more business than you’ve ever dreamed of. The stronger your routine, the more tangible your results. Lock in today’s five effective ways to nurture leads:

1. Find the prospect’s motivation
2. Educate prospects on what you’re selling
3. Understand that it takes time
4. Maintain ongoing contact using systems
5. Provide long-term value and contribution

Connect on Instagram:

• Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevp
• Vija Williams: @viavija
• Sarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsoji
• Wendy Papasan: @wendypapasan

Empire Building is a production of Crate Media

We get it, you hate writing copy and the thought of having to write something about yourself? Cringe. It can be intimidating, and knowing it’s something we have to do can be draining before we even put pen to paper.

And yet it’s arguably the most important thing you’ll ever write! It’s the best way to make an impression online and can affect everything from your credibility to who’ll hire you, even things like converting leads and being offered speaking opportunities. 

Today, we share ten killer tips for writing a bio that does you justice. Where to put it, writing to your audience, and even outsourcing – listen and learn how to craft a bio that’ll blow people away.

Connect on Instagram:

• Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevp
• Vija Williams: @viavija
• Sarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsoji
• Wendy Papasan: @wendypapasan

Empire Building is a production of Crate Media

Truly, there’s a lot to be thankful for this year! Fresh off of the news of Sara Blakely breaking the billion-dollar glass ceiling for females, and with a somewhat-normal Thanksgiving holiday coming up, we spend this episode highlighting the amazing women who have inspired us in our lives.

Some of our inspirations:

• Sara Blakely
• Ree Drummond
• Oprah Winfrey
• Brené Brown

Connect on Instagram:

• Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevp
• Vija Williams: @viavija
• Sarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsoji
• Wendy Papasan: @wendypapasan

Empire Building is a production of Crate Media

We both have the unique experience of working with our mom. Today, we’re taking time to get into the pros, the cons, and the things we wish we’d known when we first started this great family working arrangement.

There are some amazing upsides and wins to working with family. Most importantly, nobody will ever have your back more than family will. At the same time, no one is more willing to point out where you’re going astray, which can shorten the time it takes to get the right answer. There’s a unique sense of comradery and loyalty that comes with family empire building. If you get it right, it can be so rewarding.

On the other hand, when big business meets big life, things can get messy. Family can get under your skin in ways that no one else can. Mixing the wrong ingredients and attitudes can be a damaging recipe for stress. Plus, you see them outside of work which can make it feel like the job never ends.

It’s worth finding ways to overcome these problems, though, because the pre-existing chemistry and knack for collaboration among family members can be a huge benefit to your business.

Listen to find out how you can make it work for you.

Connect on Instagram:

• Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevp
• Sarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsoji

Empire Building is a production of Crate Media

Carissa Acker swore she’d never be a realtor. Now, she’s a force to be reckoned with in the industry, founding Real Estate by Design as a mainstay in the top 1% of North Texas real estate groups.

She’s overcome a lot in the last few years, even before COVID came to town. In this episode, we discuss the profound mindset shifts that helped her get to the other side of serious health issues, and the death of her sister, on the way to becoming an even brighter and more successful version of herself. She also talks about what drives her to keep building her empire, her family and traveling the world – with some incredible travel stories included.

Please note: This episode contains frank discussion about suicide, depression, and related topics.

Resources:

• Real Estate by Design Group
• @carissa_acker

Connect on Instagram:

• Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevp
• Vija Williams: @viavija
• Sarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsoji
• Wendy Papasan: @wendypapasan

Empire Building is a production of Crate Media

This is the sixth and final episode of our series covering The Six Personal Perspectives, and we’ve saved the last for something that ties all of the others together: accountability. Once we remove limiting beliefs, there are still going to be things that happen in our life – and while you can’t control this, you can control how you respond to it. Accountability is incredibly freeing if you learn to embrace it. We’re going to share five ways you can hold yourself accountable.

1. Seek reality
2. Acknowledge reality
3. Own reality & be empowered by it
4. Find the solutions
5. Get on with it

Connect on Instagram:

• Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevp
• Vija Williams: @viavija
• Sarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsoji
• Wendy Papasan: @wendypapasan

Empire Building is a production of Crate Media

We’re still tingling on a high from our inaugural Her Best Life event: an incredibly expansive conference focused on curating your best life and the process of getting there. It’s unbelievable what magic unfolds when you create a container for 300 businesswomen to shine. We reflect on everything we learned, from leadership, loneliness, and trauma, to wealth building, and financial freedom, and discuss how these insights can inspire your own evolution. 

Connect on Instagram:

• Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevp
• Vija Williams: @viavija
• Sarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsoji
• Wendy Papasan: @wendypapasan

Empire Building is a production of Crate Media

When you see the successes of other empire builders, you don’t get a true glimpse at the principles behind their success. There are some that are fundamental to success in business and in life. We see their effects, but it can be hard to identify where they come from. 

Continuing our series on The Six Personal Perspectives, we’re going to talk about “moving from E to P,” or going from being entrepreneurial to being purposeful. When you’re first starting your business, you’re likely doing what comes naturally to you. You can grow a good-sized company that way, but eventually you’ll hit a ceiling because that can only get you so far. Moving from entrepreneurial to purposeful means moving beyond what comes naturally, and being purposeful about stepping outside your comfort zone or surrounding yourself with people that possess the abilities that you do not.

We’re going break down five ways you can go from E to P in any part of your business or life:

• Having focus
• Creating strategies and actions
• Following the model
• Creating systems
• Being accountable

Connect on Instagram:

• Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevp
• Vija Williams: @viavija
• Sarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsoji
• Wendy Papasan: @wendypapasan

Empire Building is a production of Crate Media

The 80/20 Principle (also known as the Pareto Principle) states that 20% of your efforts yield 80% of your results, while 80% of your efforts only make up the remaining 20% of your results. You see this balance reflected all over the world in almost any area. And while the numbers aren’t always exact, the idea is always present: things in life are not distributed equally.

We explore how this principle plays out in life, finding the 20% of activities that produce 80% of your results, and how you can leverage it in your work and life to focus on the actions that matter most.

Connect on Instagram:

• Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevp
• Vija Williams: @viavija
• Sarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsoji
• Wendy Papasan: @wendypapasan

Empire Building is a production of Crate Media

If you’re listening to this podcast, chances are you either are – or want to be – a high-level achiever.

We’ve found that there are six foundational principles that the highest achievers each possess. Gary Keller calls them The Six Personal Perspectives. These six things can have a massive impact on lives, so we’re dedicating an entire series of episodes to them, starting with “committing to mastery.”

This habit is foundational to all the rest because it means making a commitment to becoming a master of oneself. To truly lead others, you must know how to lead yourself.

The three components of self-mastery are:

• Knowing your goals
• Knowing your strengths and weaknesses
• Using your strengths and hiring for your weaknesses

Resources:

• Goal Setting Retreat: the1thing.com/setmygoals
• CliftonStrengths: https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/home.aspx

Connect on Instagram:

• Seychelle Van Poole: @seychellevp
• Vija Williams: @viavija
• Sarah Reynolds: @sarahreynoldsoji
• Wendy Papasan: @wendypapasan

Empire Building is a production of Crate Media