Power Your Platform

Are you ready to have a little bit of fun? I hope so, because in today’s episode, we’re talking about Joyful Storytelling.

Studies show that people who have fun at work are healthier, more inspired, more satisfied with their work and – oh yeah – more productive. They’re also a whole lot nicer to be around!

Recently,  I started paying more attention to my own workday routines to see how much fun I was having on the job. And as I’ve gotten better at making room for fun in my workday, my storytelling has become more… joyful!

Why is joyful storytelling important? I believe that if you’re going to convince someone to check out the work you’re doing and maybe even become a paying customer – then they’re going to need a little convincing. Remember, you’re probably not the only one who’s offering whatever it is you’re selling. So the story surrounding your product or service is really important.

And if the story you’re telling comes across as desperate or uncertain or fearful even, then that’s not going to inspire someone to invest in what you’re putting out into the world.

Here are 3 fun ways I infuse more joy into my day, to help ensure my storytelling is equally joyful and connects more deeply with my core audience.

The first fun strategy is to look for the laughter. Experts tell us that when we laugh, we actually recalibrate our brains to focus and concentrate more fully on our work. As a result, laughter can actually improve our productivity. Who knew!?

What are the things that make you laugh? How can you invite more of that type of activity into your day? It could be as simple as a phone call with a hilarious friend over the lunch hour or watching a 5 minute comedy clip. Maybe it’s just laughing at your pet’s crazy antics if you work from home. Whatever works for you, build in some time for laughter!

The second strategy is to find your tribe. Loneliness can lead to some dark days if we’re not careful. I think we all realize by now that when left alone with our own negative thoughts, we can do some real damage to our own self-esteem AND the way we think about our business. This negative vibe can actually STOP us from sharing our story and lead us to withdraw completely from interacting with our core audience. Or, if we do put out content, it tends to be less exciting a little more negative in tone.

But when we come together with others who share similar goals and values, then we can draw strength from the group. Actress Kate Hudson once said, “The more we connect, they more content and happy we feel.” And that feeling of contentment and happiness inevitably leads to a more joyful sharing of our own business story with the world around us.

The third way we can brighten our business story is by prioritizing play and creativity. Because here’s the thing: when we make room for play and creativity in our workday, we make room for better problem-solving, more innovation and overall better business results.

One woman I know only writes in purple ink! I like to build dance breaks into my day or time to play with my dog.

So go ahead and get creative today – and remember, it’s a practice, so the more you do it, the easier it will get to step into your creative flow when you need it most.

EPISODE LINKS:

The Joyful Storyteller Checklist - https://www.powerherplatform.com/joyful

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

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

When was the last time you took a good look in your closet and asked yourself: how do these clothes actually make me feel? If you’ve never thought about the impact of fashion psychology on your personal and professional story, then today’s episode is for you!

My guest on the podcast today is Visual Identity Coach Rebecca Rowe. Rebecca’s story path has led her from New York City and Paris, France to the fashion runways of Vancouver and Toronto. Today, she helps women understand themselves better, build habits they love, and create a wardrobe to tell the world who they are without having to speak.

In today’s episode, Rebecca and I talk about how to make bold fashion choices that make us look and feel our best, as well as the connection between confidence and risk-taking. PLUS we also talk about the pros and cons of having a product-based business versus a service-based business.

Here are my Top 10 takeaways from today’s interview.

1. The psychology of clothing is the study of how fashion makes us feel and how we think about ourselves.

2. At some point, most – if not all – women struggle with feeling like they’re good enough. But the truth is, we are everything we need to be, just the way we are.

3. Reconsidering negative labels attached to women culture is important if we’re going to reclaim our confidence and step into the powerful lives we were meant to lead.

4. Visual identity is all about how we want people to see us – from the clothes we wear to the way we carry ourselves when we walk into a room.

5. Finding a coach or a group of women who will listen to our fears about the future is empowering – because when we do, we discover we’re not alone.

6. Self-acceptance is the key to unlocking our next confidence level.

7. Clothing is a tool that helps us build a more confident image, and become the woman we were always meant to be.

8. When you’re feeling discouraged, get up and put on clothes that make you feel bold and confident – then watch how your day changes.

9. When you like who you are when you look in the mirror, you begin to stop caring so much about the opinion of everyone else.

10. When we own the way we look and who we are, it gives permission to others to do the same.

Until next time, remember to own your story, follow your purpose and raise your voice – because the world is waiting to hear your story!

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

Rebecca Rowe - https://rebeccarowe.ca/

In today’s episode, I’m unearthing 3 tried and true strategies to help you cultivate new contacts and grow your business network.

Every business owner I talk to these days has a common challenge: and that is to grow their audience.

For me, an audience is made up of people who are interested in what you’re doing and the message you have to share. Ideally, these audience members have goals and values that closely align with your own approach to life and doing business. Some of your audience members may be current customers and clients while others could be considered FUTURE customers and clients.

So how do we do this? How can we grow an audience that’s filled with people who know, like and trust us enough to pay attention to our message and respond, whether that’s through online engagement or by making referrals or by becoming a paying customer themselves.

To answer this question, I’ve put together 3 storytelling strategies that can help you cultivate connections, nurture leads and convert your audience into paying customers.

The first strategy is to lay the groundwork.

You need to get your hands dirty, and digging out the core message of what you want to share with the world, who you want to share it with and why. Because there are a lot of people out there who are selling the same type of thing you are, whether it’s web site design or productivity coaching or aromatherapy or just about anything. The question is: what makes YOU different from everyone else?

Remember, if your ideal audience sees themselves reflected in the messaging of your social media posts or email subject lines, for instance, then they’re more likely to pay attention and click to learn more.

The second strategy is to plant the right story seeds.

Once we know what we do, why we do it and who we’re doing it for, it’s time to grow our audiene by planting the right story seeds.

Story seeds are important, because what we plant is what will grow. And I’m no green thumb, but I know for sure that when you plant an avocado seed, you don’t get a rose bush.

So we want to be sure we’re planting seeds that will lead to the right results for our customers AND grow our business at the same time. So we’re looking to plant ideas and solutions that motivate our target customer not only to take action, but to follow up with us to learn more once they do.

By planting story after story that directly speaks to our ideal customer’s pain point and shows her what’s possible, we’re able to take her from overwhelmed to overcomer. And if we can demonstrate that transformation by giving her example after example through authentic and truthful storytelling, then our brand message becomes so much more powerful.

The third strategy is to frequently water our audience with plenty of fresh content.

I’m a big believer in showing up consistently for your audience. Because you need to serve your existing audience well, before you can ever attract NEW audience members. If you’re offering fresh and relevant content that engages and excites your existing audience, people are going to SHARE that content with others. And when they do, audience growth is inevitable.

Thanks for listening in today!

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

Hey there, Story Sister and Happy April Fool’s Day! If you’re listening to this episode on the day that it drops, it’s April 1st and here in Canada at least, that means it’s a day for playing pranks and generally fooling around.

So in today’s episode, I actually want to help you make some smart moves when it comes to creating your paid products or services for your ideal audience. Because many of us end up playing the fool when we ignore the simple 4-step process it takes to get us on the right track, rather feeling like we just got pranked and wasted a lot of time and money.

The first step is to build your audience BEFORE you’re ready to launch your paid offer. This is vital. The worst position to put yourself in is to launch a paid offer to an empty room, because you haven’t taken the time to build an interested audience.

Think of it is like digging a well before you’re thirsty. Because when you’re in desperate need of a drink of water, you want to make sure that well has already been dug and it’s full of delicious, fresh water – rather than being faced with the arduous task of picking up a shovel and starting to dig when you’re already dry and parched.

In building your audience, I would suggest starting a conversation around these key pain points and offering free support to move your ideal audience into the right frame of mind. Because once someone recognizes they have a need and they’re in the right mindset, they’re much more likely to hit that purchase button.

The second step is to pay attention to what your audience is saying.

This is why it’s so vital to have an audience. A smart move would be to create a product or a service that directly addresses your audience’s situation and even uses the words and phrases that THEY’VE shared with you through your social media engagement.

And remember, your audience won’t offer you feedback unless you ask for it. So ask for their input often.

The third step is to focus your time and energy on the things your audience is asking for.

Based on the feedback I’ve gathered from my core customers over time, I’ve focused my efforts – at least for now – one my one-on-one coaching services. And that paid offer is going really well. In addition to my coaching services, I’ve also offered mini-classes and masterclasses on various topics. But each time, the paid product is in response to my audience’s needs.

The fourth and final step in the process then is to continuously monitor customer satisfaction and tweak your paid offer over time.

Deciding on an initial paid offer and putting it out there is only the beginning. Chances are, you’ll continue to refine your paid products and services over time. One reason for this is that your audience is always evolving, and it’s important to keep pace with how they’re changing whenever you can.

When you follow this 4-step process, you’ll find that you’re making smart moves and no longer fooling around. Because you mean business and it’s time the world knows it too.

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

Today on the Power Your Platform Podcast, I’m chatting with Jennifer Baker, a marketing consultant and email marketing expert who’s helped hundreds of clients launch and grow their own email list.

In today’s show, Jennifer and I chat about how to get started when it comes to email marketing PLUS how you can create relevant content for your audience that leads to list growth over time.

We’ll also address the issue of email subject lines and get to the bottom of the mind block that’s holding so many women back from clicking the publish button on their first newsletter.

Here are my Top 10 Takeaways from my interview with Jennifer Baker.

1. When building an email list from scratch, be sure to do it the legal way. Follow CASL legislation or the anti-spam legislation in your own region of the world.

2. One of the biggest challenges to overcome when launching that first email newsletter is mindset. And yes, we all face it!

3. Email subscribers are much more likely to be converted into paying customers than social media followers for the simple reason that they’re paying better attention.

4. If you don’t have an email list, start one today!

5. When creating content for your newsletter think value. How can you enrich someone’s life or business with the content you’re sending out on a regular basis?

6. Consistency is key when it comes to email marketing. However often you decide to share your newsletter, show up regularly with quality content and your email list is sure to grow.

7. It’s better to have a smaller email list comprised of interested people than a huge email list of unengaged subscribers.

8. Clean up your email list at least once a year to help keep it healthy and improve your open rates.

9. Keep your email content simple. Include a call to action and remember to always add value.

10. Tie your email content back to your paid offer. This will allow you to more easily convert your subscribers into paying customers.

If you enjoyed today’s interview, we’d love to hear YOUR key takeaways! Reach out to us at @poweryourplatform on Facebook or Instagram or send us a note at powerherplatform.com/contact. We’d love to hear from you!

Until next time, keep owning your story, following your purpose 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

Jennifer Baker Consulting - https://jenniferbakerconsulting.com/

Jennifer’s Lead Magnet - https://mailchi.mp/1fedf14e5c92/free-ebook

For today’s Q&A Session, I’ve chosen to focus on 3 questions asked by our audience. The questions we’re covering today are common to so many of us – so I’m excited to share my thoughts with you today!

Question 1: “I find streamlining the main goal of my business to be a difficult process. What I want to do isn’t what is in demand of my time and services. How do I make this transition?” ~ Asked by Kathy

Success in business comes when we match what we love to do and what we’re really good at with someone who really needs that product or service AND is willing to pay for it.

Have you heard of the Japanese concept of Ikigai (“reason for being”)? This concept is comprised of four parts: What You Love, What You’re Good At, What the World Needs and What You Can Be Paid For.

According to the Ikigai model, when what you love intersects with what you’re good at and what the world needs and what you can be paid for, there’s a true “reason for being”. In this case, a reason for being in business.

Here are the 5 steps I would follow to find your Ikigai:

1. Decide what you love to do.

2. Double-check that you have the skills to do it.

3. Identify the solution you’re providing and the problem you’re solving.

4. Be clear about who your product or service is for.

5. Determine a fair price point and make your paid offer.

P.S. Don’t forget to have FUN!

Question #2: “I feel like I can do more, be more effective and build a strategy. I want to do more, I’m just not sure where to start. I'm so busy but I have so many ideas.” ~ Asked by Peggy

Like Peggy, I think a lot of us feel like we could always be doing “more”? The thing to remember is that we don’t necessarily have to spend our time and energy on MORE things. We need to focus on the RIGHT things.

And this is especially true when it comes to marketing.

My recommendation is to clearly identify your ideal audience and focus on the key marketing tools that will move the dial for them specifically. In other words, it’s not about reaching everyone – it’s about reaching the right one.

And once you know your ideal client really well, it makes decisions a lot easier when it comes to which marketing tools to use and how often and even what the content should look like.

Question #3: “I have the entrepreneurial itch. But having two small kids makes it difficult for me to even get my regular paying job done. How do you fill your soul and create the content you want to make on the side when you have a full-time job, two kids and a career to manage?” ~ Asked by Steph

Timing is everything. Life happens in seasons, and the busy, hands-on mom stage can be overwhelming at the best of times.

Here are 3 ways to build your business even if you’re in a busy stage of life.

1. Learn continuously, whether that’s through books, articles, podcasts or other resources.

2. Hone your skills as they relate to the business you want to launch.

3. Build your network and be engaged with those who are a part for it.

Thanks for the questions, 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

Have you ever considered the possibility that you might be missing out on an entire audience for your brand or your business simply because you’re hanging out in your own cultural comfort zone?

If this thought has never occurred to you before, then today’s interview with special guest Elizabeth Hesp may just be a game-changer.

Elizabeth is a specialist when it comes to Cultural Intelligence. She’s also a certfied Career Transitions, Entrepreneurship and Leadership Coach. So if you’re wondering how your own cultural lens shapes your business and the way you move through the world, then stick around. Because today’s conversation is going to shine a spotlight on the way culture weaves its way through our personal stories, and has a profound impact on every aspect of our lives and business – whether we realize it or not.

Here are my Top 10 Takeaways from today’s interview with Elizabeth Hesp:

1. Culture plays a foundational role in the building of our own identity, as individuals and as businesses.

2. Storytelling is pivotal to building our cultural and personal identity.

3. When we share our stories, we create cultures of belonging wherever we go.

4. Your vibe attracts our tribe – so don’t be afraid to be yourself.

5. Turn your cultural lens inwards and recognize how your own biases and perspectives consistently shape your outlook on the world.

6. Self-awareness is the first step towards embracing cultural intelligence.

7. When we’re open to learning, we invite diversity into the room.

8. We need to be ready ask questions and to say “I don’t know” when stepping into new cultural situations.

9. Vulnerability is always a welcome trait when exploring a new culture.

10. We need to push ourselves outside of our comfort zone in order to forge new cultural experiences and lasting relationships.

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

Elizabeth Hesp Coaching & Consulting - https://elizabethhespcoaching.com  

I’m dropping by today with a BONUS episode in celebration of World Storytelling Day! 

World Storytelling Day has been celebrated each year on March 20th ever since 2001. It all started in Sweden and later spread to the other Scandinavian countries before travelling to Canada in 2003, to France in 2004 and then to countries worldwide by 2005. 

Today, World Storytelling Day is celebrated right around the globe. 

So to mark this special occasion, I thought I’d share a business storytelling tool the I created just for you.  

It’s called the The Story Jar Activity and you can grab it now by visiting https://www.powerherplatform.com/storyjar. 

Once you download the file, you’ll notice that it’s a sheet containing 18 fun story prompts that have been written especially for women who are building bold story brands.  

Once you download your free file, print off the page and cut out each story prompt.  

Next, you’ll want to fold the story prompts so you can’t see what’s written on each one, and drop them into a jar.  

Congratulations, you’ve just created your own story jar! Wasn’t that easy? 

The whole point of it is to have some FUN with storytelling and to get in the habit of recalling little stories from your life or business that you can thread throughout your business, and maybe even inspire someone along the way. 

By the way, The Story Jar activity isn’t something you necessarily have to do alone. You could get together with one of your business besties – or even a whole group of your business besties! 

You could even use The Story Jar activity as a way to get the conversation flowing, whether it’s over a cup of coffee or at a larger networking event. 

All you need to do is go to https://www.powerherplatform.com/storyjar. 

The rest is up to you. 

Happy World Storytelling Day! 

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 

FREE Downloadable Story Jar Activity - https://www.powerherplatform.com/storyjar

If you’ve ever wondered how Story Coaching works, then today’s episode is for you.

I’m a big believer that storytelling is at the heart of every successful brand, and when I first started my business, I found there were so many women around me who I could tell were really struggling in this area.

The truth is that storytelling can help grow your audience. And that’s a pretty exciting thing to consider. Because we all have a story to tell, whether that’s a personal or a professional one.

The first thing I should mention is that not all storytellers are at the same stage. Over time, I’ve found my clients generally fit into one of three categories:

1. Story Starters – need clarity and confidence

2. Story Builders – need vision and visibility

3. Story Pros – need innovation and income

Something to remember today: our experiences are not our story. Our experiences are what we live through. Our story is how we interpret and those experiences and present them to the rest of the world.

So part of my job as a Story Coach is to create this distinction and help my clients uncover the gold inside their story.

At the heart of it all, Story Coaching is about helping my clients overcome the obstacles that are standing in their way, and providing them with the support they need to know they’re not alone on their journey.

A Story Coach can be an accountability partner, a cheerleader, a sounding board, and of course, I also love to share plenty of ideas for growing your audience and creating new income opportunities.

So I hope this overview has helped you out a bit today. Because I know there are a lot of types of coaches out there and we all have our specialty.

When it comes to Story Coaching, let’s recap what we’ve covered today:

First, my core audience is women leaders, speakers and entrepreneurs and my brand promise is to help them amplify their voices by helping them build purpose-driven platforms.

In general, my clients tend to be Story Starters, Story Builders or Story Pros.

The good news is that no matter what storytelling stage you fall into, there’s always a way to move forward.

So if you’re feeling stuck or you just need of some support and accountability, then reach out to me today! I’d love to hear your story and help you get it in front of the right audience.

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

Storytelling Quiz - https://www.powerherplatform.com/quiz

FREE Story Starter Power Pack – https://www.powerherplatform.com/storystarterpowerpack

FREE Story Builder Power Pack – https://www.powerherplatform.com/storybuilderpowerpack

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

Clients mentioned in this podcast:

Emberglow Creative – www.instagram.com/emberglowcreative

Girl, You Deserve More Podcast - https://player.fm/series/girl-you-deserve-more