Power Your Platform

If you’re listening to this episode on the day it drops then we’re about to head into the May long weekend – and for Canadians at least, that means heading out of the city to open up the cottage or at the very least setting up a lawn chair in the backyard to catch a few rays. And while I’m not sure what the weather forecast will be for the long weekend, I do know we’ll all be welcoming some downtime after what has been a very long winter.

So to help you make the most of your long weekend, I wanted to share with you my Top 4 Long Weekend Reading Recommendations. Because if you’re an avid reader like me, then chances are you’re hoping to crack the cover on a great new book or download the audio version on your phone.

Book #1 - “Find Your Unicorn Space: Reclaim Your Creative Life in a Too-Busy World” by Eve Rodsky

In this book, Eve talks about the fact that creativity is not optional, it’s absolutely essential. And she backs it up with plenty of interesting stories and research. The main message of her book is that we need to clear a path to reclaim our unicorn space, and engage in fun, creative activities in the midst of our “busy’ lives. Only when we spend time in our unicorn spaces, Eve argues, will we be able to unleash our gifts and talents into the world.

Book #2 - ”Mother of Invention: How Good Ideas Get Ignored in an Economy Built for Men” by Katrine Marcal

In “Mother of Invention”, the author demonstrates how gender bias stifles the economy and holds us back, delaying innovations sometimes for hundreds of years. But, she argues, if we would get rid of our biases towards innovative ideas originating with women, we would be able to unleash the full potential of our global economy.

She points out that when society brands something as feminine – like a rolling suitcase for instance – these ideas have traditionally been seen as inferior, or less innovative, and certainly not worthy of investment or being taken seriously. And if you’re a woman entrepreneur who has ever sought out venture capital, then you know exactly what I’m talking about.

Book #3 - “LifePass: Drop Your Limits, Rise To Your Potential” by Payal Kadakia.

In this book, Payal talks about her unique approach to goalsetting that changed her life and her business. Using her four-step approach, her LifePass followers reflect on their life, identify their dreams, put themselves back in charge of their priorities and make progress towards specific, measurable goals in life and in business.

Book #4 – “The Power of Voice: A Guide to Making Yourself Heard” by Denise Woods.

In this book, Denise helps her readers articulate more clearly; gain confidence in any situation; release tension and stress; address speech issues and become more powerful speakers in the process.

If the budget is tight, be sure to look for these books at your local public library or make an effort to support local by shopping at a small bookstore near you.

Happy long weekend, everyone!

EPISODE LINKS:

Power Your Platform Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/569102257443807

PowerHER Platform Web Site - https://www.powerherplatform.com/

Subscribe to our Story Fuel Newsletter - https://www.powerherplatform.com/subscribe

In today’s episode, I’m sharing the 5 storytelling lessons I’ve learned from Julia Child over the years, as inspired by the new HBO series, “Julia”.

Lesson #1 – It’s never too late to be what you might have been. Did you know that Julia didn’t start cooking until age 32? Not only that, the cookbook that made her famous, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, wasn’t published until she was 49. Let’s embrace new opportunities with spirit and optimism no matter what age we may be.

Lesson #2 – Don’t be afraid to stand out in a crowd. As the HBO series suggests, Julia knew what it meant not to fit in from a young age. But she kept her eye on what mattered to her, and proved to herself and the entire world that standing out in the crowd can be one of the best possible ways to get noticed.

Lesson #3 - Never take no for an answer. There were many points along her story path where Julia was rejected and even ridiculed for being different from everyone else. But her strong inner sense of purpose keep Julia in the game. She knew she wanted to change the way Americans thought about eating and cooking, and so she pushed past the voices of her naysayers – even when some of those naysayers were members of her own family.

Lesson #4 - Women need to support other women. In the HBO series, Julia’s character observes, “I envision a confederacy of women, an estrogen safety net.” Throughout the show, Julia is surrounded by a group of supportive women who cheer her on, come to her defense and help her film her first pilot. The reminder is clear: when women take the time to lift up other women, we all win.

Lesson #5 - Let go of perfection and develop a keen sense of humour. In one memorable scene, Julia is filming one of her TV segments when she drops the food she’s preparing on the floor. Without missing a beat, she scoops up the dropped food off the floor and tells her audience, “Always remember: If you’re alone in the kitchen and you drop the lamb, you can always just pick it up. Who’s going to know?” It’s a worthwhile reminder the next time we drop a ball or two in our own life or business.

Bon appetit!

EPISODE LINKS:

Power Your Platform Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/569102257443807

PowerHER Platform Web Site - https://www.powerherplatform.com/

Subscribe to our Story Fuel Newsletter - https://www.powerherplatform.com/subscribe

If you’re a fan of women’s sports or hockey in general, then you’re going to love the episode that’s coming your way! My guest on the podcast today is Jackie Jarrell, a Team Canada Inline Hockey Player and two-time World Champion who has played for Canada in a total of 11 World Championships to date.

Besides racking up a trophy case full of medals and accolades, including Leading Scorer at the World Championships, she is also a Registered Kinesiologist and the owner of Gold Performance Training which provides Strength and Conditioning Coaching to over 150 athletes. And did I mention she’s a fitness consultant with the NHL Officials Academy? This girl is on fire!

In today’s episode, Jackie and I talk about hockey – obviously – but also about what it takes to be a female leader in a male-dominated field and how we can transfer the skills we’ve learned along our story path to other parts of our lives and businesses. You are not going to want to miss this conversation.

And be sure to listen in right to the end of today’s conversation when I share my Top 10 Takeaways. PLUS if you head over to our Power Your Platform Facebook group, I’ll be sharing the takeaways there as well.

There is so much I learned from Jackie today that it was hard to capture it in just 10 key takeaways! But I’ve done my best, so here they are:

1. Never underestimate the sheer power of hard work and determination.

2. Breaking barriers in male-dominated fields takes courage and hard work, but it opens the doors for so many who will follow after us.

3. Seek out opportunities to encourage others with the work you do – because you never know what kind of impact you’re going to have.

4. Stepping into new leadership positions can be uncomfortable at first, but we need to get comfortable with being uncomfortable and do it anyway.

5. We all have transferrable skills that allow us to transition from one phase of our lives to the next. Take stock of your transferrable skills and then move forward with confidence.

6. When you start something, commit to following through. Just getting started isn’t enough. We need to keep moving forward.

7. Teamwork is a skill that’s transferrable to any industry and it will help pave your way to success.

8. Ask yourself, “What do I value?” and then reflect on how you can live yorur values out in everyday life.

9. Surround yourself with people who inspire you and challenge you to move to the next level in your life and business.

10. Don’t be afraid to blaze a new trail – the journey can be long and tiring, but the view at the end of the pathway can be life-changing.

Thanks so much for listening in today! If you enjoyed today’s interview, let us know your key takeaways! And be sure to share them on social media – and when you do, remember to tag @poweryourplatform. We’d love to hear your ideas and share them with our own audiences.

Until next time, keep owning your story, following your purse and raising your voice. Because the world is waiting to hear your story.

EPISODE LINKS:

Power Your Platform Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/569102257443807

PowerHER Platform Web Site - https://www.powerherplatform.com/

Subscribe to our Story Fuel Newsletter - https://www.powerherplatform.com/subscribe

Gold Performance Training -  https://goldperformancetraining.com/

Somewhere in our lives, many of us have bought into one of three myths about being an expert – or maybe we’ve bought into all three.

Myth #1: “I’m Still Learning, So I Must Not Be an Expert”. The truth is that you don’t need another degree or another certification or another course to start serving your audience TODAY. "Procrasta-learning" as I call it, is simply a way of letting fear hold us back from doing what we’re already equipped to do. The fact is that you are ready right now to take action and put your ideas into motion.

Myth #2: “Someone Else Can Do It Better Than I Can”. The habit of comparing ourselves to others is really the mother of all self-sabotaging techniques and it will hold us back again and again from achieving our true purpose. The idea that “Someone Else Can Do it Better Than I Can” most likely comes from one of two places: either it’s an excuse, because we’re actually scared of our own success OR we actually have a specific individual in mind who we believe to be better than us in our specific area of expertise.

Two solutions I suggest: a) stop paying close attention to your competitors on social media and b) keep a journal of your progress so you can compare yourself to your own progress.

Myth #3: “Only Braggers Call Themselves Experts.” Repeat after me: it’s not bragging if it’s true. For many of us, making everyone comfortable with our level of leadership and expertise is vital in order to be accepted into the tribe and not seen as a potential threat. The fact is that our leadership and expert status are going to be resented by some. But that’s their story. Not yours. Worrying about what other people think about you and your progress is a dead weight thought that will only slow you down and will certainly drown out any plans for launching and growing a success brand or business.

When you find yourself distracted by these 3 myths, consider instead the 7 signs that you are already an expert:

1. You’re at least one or two steps ahead of someone you could help.

2. You have some sort of credibility in your field, whether that’s educational credentials or hands-on job or life experience.

3. You’ve developed a specific set of skills over time that others can benefit from.

4. You have testmonials from people you’ve helped.

5. You can demonstrate success using a certain product or approach in your own life or business.

6. Other people refer customers or clients to you.

7. You’ve made mistakes and learned from them. 

If you said yes to any of the signs I just mentioned, then I would suggest that perhaps you are more of an expert than you think you are.

Because once you begin to truly believe you’re capable of anything, it’s only a matter of time before the rest of the world believes it too.

EPISODE LINKS:

Free Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/569102257443807

PowerHER Platform web site - https://www.powerherplatform.com/

Subscribe to our Story Fuel Newsletter - https://www.powerherplatform.com/subscribe

If you’ve ever struggled with the idea of being visible and speaking your mind, then today’s episode is for you. My guest on the podcast today is Megan Hamilton of ubu Skills, a speaking, visibility and confidence coach for women and nonbinary people.

Megan has used her classical theatre training and 25+ years of performance to build a step-by-step speaking system that not only allows you to deliver incredible speeches, but also provides her clients with a framework to have difficult conversations, build their confidence and increase their visibility.

In today’s episode, we talk about where true confidence comes from and how we can take action when our brain tells us to take cover.

PLUS, we also discuss the power move that you can make today to help you put today’s content into action.

I hope you feel inspired to take action after listening to today’s interview with Megan Hamilton. Because you already have everything you need to get started. It’s up to you to take action and step outside your comfort zone.

Here are my top 10 takeaways from today’s conversation with Megan:

1. Know what lights you up. Then go ahead and make your life whatever you want it to be.

2. Know your own process for solving the challenges you face; then share it clearly and consistently with your core audience.

3. Realize that you already have the tools to be seen and heard; all you need is the confidence to step into your purpose.

4. As you move through your day, recognize and acknowledge the systems of privilege that have been established there and who benefits from them. Then go ahead and challenge the status quo.

5. The only one who can truly build your confidence is you.

6. Having conversations with others about what moves you and what upsets you is a powerful part of the process of finding your own voice. There’s a power in sharing our story with others.

7. When it comes to being visible in the world, remember it’s more about substance than polish.

8. Keep showing up, using your voice and stepping outside your comfort zone.

9. We need to acclimate once we reach a new level of success; this will allow us to pause and prepare for the next level.

10. Today’s power move is to write down the things that are holding you back from taking action on your dream. Then break down those ideas into manageable pieces and take one step every day towards your ultimate goal.

EPISODE LINKS:

Power Your Platform Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/569102257443807

PowerHER Platform web site - https://www.powerherplatform.com/

Subscribe to our Story Fuel Newsletter - https://www.powerherplatform.com/subscribe

ubu Skills - https://www.ubuskills.com/

British anthropologist Jane Goodall once made the statement that “You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” I love that quote, don’t you? It reminds me that everyone has an impact – but not everyone DECIDES what kind of impact they’re going to have. 

And I don’t know about you, but I want to choose the impact I make in the world. I want to pick up the pen in my own life’s story and leave an intentional mark on the page. And that’s why I created the Story IMPACT Framework which I speak of often with my clients and with those who are looking to create a long-lasting impression in their community and in the industry where they serve. 

So the Story IMPACT Framework is a simple 6-step process which breaks down what it takes to move from idea to impact. Because I find a lot of women I speak to want to make an impact – they’re just not sure where to start or how to grow that impact once they begin. So if that sounds familiar, then this episode is for you! 

The Story IMPACT Framework is actually built around the word IMPACT, so it’s pretty easy to remember. 

I is for Identity. Your identity is the core structure around which your story is built.  

To make this more clear, I created The Story IMPACT Wheel which has eight parts: 

1. Your Heroes 

2. Your Villains 

3. Your Proudest Moments 

4. Your Painful Moments 

5. Your Inspirations 

6. Your Values 

7. Your Challenges 

8. Your Triumphs 

To download a copy of the Story Wheel, see the links list below.

M is for Meaning. And it’s meaning that creates the distinction between our experience and our story. 

P is for the Purpose that drives us to do the work we do. 

A is for the ideal audience we share. 

C is for the challenge that we share for our audience. 

T is for transformation which is the evidence that we’ve made an impact. 

Together, let’s create an IMPACT the world can’t ignore! 

EPISODE LINKS: 

FREE download: Story Impact Wheel – https://www.powerherplatform.com/storywheel 

Power Your Platform Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/569102257443807 

PowerHER Platform web site - https://www.powerherplatform.com/ 

Story Fuel Newsletter - https://www.powerherplatform.com/subscribe

Today’s podcast is for anyone who is feeling stuck. And no matter what you do, it seems you just can’t make any real progress. Maybe you have a goal in mind or a business idea even, but it always seems like you’re spinning your wheels.

So today I want to unpack the idea of decision-making as our secret success weapon.

Because the more I’ve thought about it, the more I’ve come to accept that any forward motion we make in life requires the ability to make decisions and stick to them. In fact, studies show that the average adult makes about 35,000 decisions a day. Wow!

Those who can harness the true power of decision making are well on their way to achieving their goals and making the impact they want to make in the world.

So the more I thought about this topic, the more I came to realize there are actually four kinds of decision makers. And I want you to listen closely to determine which kind of decision maker you are.

1. The Avoider

2. The Researcher

3. The Second Guesser

4. The Action Taker

The thing to remember is that progress is absolutely impossible unless we’re taking action.

Action takers are decision makers by default. You can’t take action without making decisions. And each action you take inevitably leads to more decisions that need to be made. But the more you do it, the easier it becomes. Decision-making is like a muscle. The more you flex it, the stronger you become.

So here’s to the decision makers.

If you want to be powerful, you need to be a decision maker.

If you want to progress, you need to be a decision maker.

If you want to make an impact, you need to be a decision maker.

And I feel so strongly about this that I’m actually launching a 21-day challenge inside our free Power Your Platform Facebook group today called 21 Days of Decision Making. And in the group, we’ll be challenging you to make decisions – some small and some big – about life and business, decisions that will help move you forward and help you grow your business.

So I hope you’ll join us there after the show. To join, simply click on the shownotes for this episode or visit powerherplatform.com/community.

Because it’s time to be courageous and begin making the decisions that will help us step into the impact we’re meant to have in the world. This is your time. This is my time. This is our time.

What do you say? The decision is yours.

EPISODE LINKS:

21-Day Challenge (Free Facebook Group) - https://www.facebook.com/groups/569102257443807

PowerHER Platform web site - https://www.powerherplatform.com/

Subscribe to our Story Fuel Newsletter - https://www.powerherplatform.com/subscribe

Have you ever thought it might be nice to start a business journal, but you weren’t really sure where to start ? Or why you would even want to? If so, I’m going to share with you 6 journal prompts today that will help you to begin creating a more powerful and joyful business from the inside out.

So I’ve been keeping a business journal off and on ever since I started out as an entrepreneur. And part of the reason was that I wanted to capture the small victories I was experiencing as I was growing my business. Because I know all too well what it’s like to spend day after day worrying or trouble-shooting or losing myself in the more serious side of my business. So by creating a business journal, I knew I would be allowing myself to refocus instead on the progress I was making along the way.

And today, I want to share with you 6 journal prompts that have helped me map out my own story journey and allowed me now to look back and see how far I’ve come. Which is a pretty cool feeling.

I also realize that some people prefer to journal in the morning before their day gets started, while others like to journal at the end of the day to reflect on what has happened. And some people do both!

So I thought I’d share with you three journal prompts that would be ideal for a morning business journaling session and then 3 prompts that would be better suited for an end-of-the-day journaling session.

Three Morning Journaling Prompts:

1. The “Dress for the Way You Want to Feel” prompt

2. The “Create Your Own Successful Day Playlist prompt

3. The “Channel Your Inner Icon” prompt

Three Evening Journaling Prompts:

1. The “One Good Decision of the Day” prompt

2. The “Going Beyond My Comfort Zone” prompt

3. The “Awkward Moment of the Day Award” prompt

If you take the approach that each new day is an opportunity grow and get better, then business journal prompting is a great tool to start using or to continue using in new and innovative ways.

And hey, if you have a business journaling prompt that’s one of your favourites, I’d love to hear about it! Reach out to me at [email protected] or at @poweryourpaltform through Facebook or Instagram and let me know!

Together, let’s journal our way to success!

EPISODE LINKS:

Power Your Platform Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/569102257443807

PowerHER Platform web site - https://www.powerherplatform.com/

Subscribe to our Story Fuel Newsletter - https://www.powerherplatform.com/subscribe

Pen and Paper Co. Discount Code is POWER10. Use it at check-out at penpaperco.com.

Today I’m bringing you an interview with an amazing woman who works with high performers and entrepreneurs to help them find a healthy rhythm in their own lives.

Shyla Cash is a healing and alignment coach who’s also a wonderful friend of mind – and her focus is on helping people step into a higher state of being and doing by paying close attention to the mind-body-soul connection.

In today’s interview, Shyla and I talk about the internal and external stresses that come with being a business owner, and how healing our nervous system is often the missing link for those who have reached high levels of success in life, but who are still wrestling with chronic stress or unhealthy emotional patterns.

So buckle up, because I truly believe today’s episode is going to be a transformational experience!

Here are my Top 10 Takeaways from today’s conversation with Shyla.

1. Being in alignment with our mind, body and spirit allows us to show up more fully in the world to do what we’re meant to do and to be who we’re meant to be.

2. Even when we appear to have all our ducks in a row, we can still have chaos in our inner life.

3. Our bodies need the energy to do the work we’re called to do – so we really need to pay attention to what our bodies are saying to us on a daily basis.

4. Tuning in for just 5 minutes at three different times of the day – morning, noon and night – can help us create greater alignment that allows us to do more and be more.

5. You can’t carry the burden of your business alone. We need the support of other people in our life. So don’t be afraid to reach out for help.

6. The first step in healing your nervous system is to acknowledge where you’re at and what you need.

7. Our body does not lie to us. Pay attention to your body’s impulses and learn how to nourish yourself daily.

8. Track the patterns that are happening in your body throughout the day. And if you need to, speak to a professional about what those patterns mean.

9. Our bodies are designed to revolve stress and trauma, but our mental conditioning can try to drown out our body’s cry for help. Don’t let it.

10. Find your own rhythm and reclaim your life.

EPISODE LINKS:

Power Your Platform Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/569102257443807

PowerHER Platform web site - https://www.powerherplatform.com/

Subscribe to our Story Fuel Newsletter - https://www.powerherplatform.com/subscribe

The Heal for Real Podcast with Shyla Cash -  https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/heal-for-real/id1479482486

Learn more about Shyla’s work at www.shylacash.com.

In today’s episode, we’re going to spend some time getting to the bottom of why people stop following or paying attention to our story. 

So if you’ve noticed you’ve been losing followers or email subscribers lately, then we’ll be covering a few of the top 3 reasons why they might be leaving, and how to make them stay. 

The first reason you might be losing audience members is that they might not be your ideal audience. And hey, if you hear nothing else today, hear this: you’re not for everyone. And neither am I! 

If we try to create content that resonates with absolutely everyone, then we’re going to lose sight of the true impact we’re trying to make. Because if we’re building a truly meaningful brand that’s designed to create change in the world, then we need to have a particular audience in mind. The truth is that if someone follows you and takes in your content for a while, but then realizes it’s not the right content for them, then there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s not a personal or professional failure. In fact, it’s a success. 

Because if you’re clearly articulating who your content and paid offer are for, then when someone realizes you’re not for them, you’ve actually done them a service. PLUS don’t forget they can always be a great source of referrals for you in the future, since they know who you are and what you’re known for. 

The second reason why your audience may be shrinking is that they’re unclear about what the paid offer is. In other words, maybe you’re telling your audience a great story through your platform or visibility tools. 

And hey, that’s awesome because I’m all about story sharing, you know that. But at some point, there needs to be a call to action. In other words, when the story isn’t leading anywhere, it’s well, unfinished. And it kind of leaves the audience feeling frustrated and uncertain about what their next steps should be. Remember, if you create a need and don’t fill it, then your audience will find someone who does. And if you want to learn more about the 4-step process involved in creating a paid offer, then check out Episode 74 of this podcast. Because when people pay, they pay attention. 

The third reason why your audience might be packing up and moving on is simply because you’re not showing up consistently. You’ve heard me say this before, but it’s true. Building a brand these days is all about relationship-building. But what happens in a relationship when one partner disappears without an explanation? The communication stops. And the relationship is in limbo. 

Note: when I say that consistency is important to keep our audience hanging around, I mean that we should be showing up on our platform of choice when we say we will. So if you’ve created a blog that comes out once a week, be sure to show up there once a week. And if your newsletter is designed to provide monthly updates, then make sure to be showing up on a monthly basis. Because once you stop showing up for your audience, you audience will stop showing up for you. So these are three reasons why your audience may be walking away. If you need support in any of the areas highlighted above, don’t be shy! Reach out to me and let’s book a story coaching session today! 

EPISODE LINKS: 

Story Pro Power Pack - https://www.powerherplatform.com/storypropowerpack 

Power Your Platform Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/569102257443807 

PowerHER Platform web site - https://www.powerherplatform.com/ 

Subscribe to our Story Fuel Newsletter - https://www.powerherplatform.com/subscribe