Power Your Platform

Welcome back to another inspiring interview with an immigrant woman entrepreneur whose story recently led her to take the stage at TEDX Kanata.  Karla Briones is a business strategist who coaches new immigrants, BIPOC and underrepresented business owners on becoming successful entrepreneurs with scalable ventures. She’s the founder of IDEA which stands for Immigrants Developing Entrepreneurs Academy. It’s an online platform designed to educate and connect newcomers to the Canadian business ecosystem. 

Karla is a Nation’s Capital Immigrant Entrepreneur of the Year award recipient and a TEDx Speaker on the topic of immigrant entrepreneurship. She’s also a small business columnist for the Ottawa Citizen and an active part of her community. On top of all this, Karla owns three business in the Ottawa region, including Global Pet Foods Kanata and Global Pet Foods Hintonburg as well as Freshii Westboro.  

In today’s episode, Karla and I talk about the courage it takes to share our own story and the magic that happens when we do. Hearing Karla’s story today really made me think.  

After all, so many of us fail to see the magic in our own journey, and the power that comes when we share that journey with others.  I’m always grateful when women like Karla step onto new stages and have the courage to be the first one to deliver a message or to share a version of a story that other people really need to hear.  

And what’s more, when we share our own story, we’re creating meaningful connections with so many other people who can relate to what we’re speaking about and who find comfort and inspiration in the words that we share.  

Here are my Top 10 Takeaways from today’s conversation with Karla:  

1. It’s the vulnerable parts of our story that make us relatable to others.  

2. Our authentic story can remove barriers between ourselves and the audience we’re serving.  

3. When we become leaders, success is all about growing other people.  

4. We all have a different definition of success. And that’s exactly the way it should be.  

5. Never underestimate the value of your own network and how far it can take you.  

6. Always be bold enough to knock on a new door and ask for the help you need.  

7. Networking is a 2-way street. When you receive help, be sure to look for opportunities to help out someone else.  

8. Don’t discount the power of your own story; someone somewhere is waiting to hear it.  

9. It’s often the ordinary, everyday stories that make the greatest impact in the world.  

10. We can’t imagine the ripple effect that takes place when we’re bold enough to share our own story.  

Thanks so much for listening in to today’s episode. If you enjoyed this interview, please take a moment to subscribe, rate and review Power Your Platform on Apple Podcasts. When you do, we’ll be able to help us reach more women and encourage them to turn up the volume on their own stories. 

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 

PowerHER Platform web site 

Subscribe to our Story Fuel Newsletter 

Karla Briones 

TEDX Kanata Talk 

If you’ve ever struggled with getting started with your story, and wondering if it’s possible to get over all the story blockers that seem to be in your way, then today’s episode has got your name written all over it.

A few months ago, I started getting a lot of questions from my audience about how to create a story brand, and they were looking for tools that extended beyond what they could access through this podcast. And it took me a little while, but I’m excited to FINALLY deliver a solution that I think you’re going to love.

My new mini-class is called “How to Create a Story Brand” and it’s a 35-minute video that you can download once and watch as many times as you like. For those of you who need to see as well as hear training content, this min-class is a great solution since it provides plenty of visuals to accompany the teaching tools that I share inside the session.

What I think you’ll really like about this approach is that you can learn at your own pace, so you don’t need to show up at a certain place or time – it’s all about your schedule and what works for you.

PLUS, like I said, the training is only 35 minutes long – so you could literally watch it during your lunch break or at a time of day when you like to carve out a little “me time” for yourself.

So what’s actually inside the mini-class?

First, we take a look at what a story brand is and why stories are such a powerful tool when it comes to building a business. We then explore what it takes to turn our aha moments into story fuel – because after all, we all have stories to share, don’t we? The challenge is articulating those stories in a way that connects in a real way with audiences and helps us to create a brand or a business around them.

We also discuss the 3 most common story blockers for women and how we can overcome them. And finally, I share with you the secret to getting started before you’re ready. Because if there’s one thing I know, it’s that taking that FIRST STEP is the key. Once we’re in motion, the momentum follows and truly incredible things begin to happen.

Another thing I should mention is that if you’ve been wanting to get a taste of what it would be like to work with a story coach, then this mini-class is a great way to get a better feel for what it’s all about.

Because, chances are, you’re like one of the hundreds of other female speakers, leaders and entrepreneurs that I’ve worked with in the past which means you’re ready to make the next move – you’re just not exactly sure what that next step is.

So, here’s the thing: if you’re looking to create a story brand that allow you to build a business or make a social impact in the world, then this new mini-class is a great place to start.

And the first action you need to take isn’t a big one at all. All you need to do is click on the shownotes for this podcast episode or visit powerherplatform.com and click on “New Mini-Class” and download the 35-minute video.

And did I mention this mini-class is available right now for the sweet, low price of only $27? It’s basically the cost of a take-out dinner – only in this case, you’re get a healthy helping of actionable steps and mindset tools that will help guide you in sharing YOUR unique story with the world.

Because our story IS worth sharing. No matter what you may believe right now, the path that led you here to this place is for a reason – and somewhere someone is waiting to hear the story only you can share.

Together, we can make 2022 the year YOU finally decided to share your story and connect with an audience that’s waiting to hear what you have to say.

Are you ready to take real action and move in the direction of your dreams? Ok then – let’s do this!

EPISODE LINKS:

Check out the Mini-Class here! 

Women make exceptional storytellers! And here’s why:

Women are curious and curiosity drives storytelling. Storytelling is an act of exploration, whether that’s a new topic or a new plot line or a new way of communicating what it is you do inside your business. We NEED curiosity to flourish as storytellers.

Women are great collaborators. Dr. Pamela Rutledge says “stories are about collaboration and connection”. And the good news is that women are great at both! Dr. Rutledge goes on to say that when we tell stories, we’re allowing others to enter a specific part of our own human experience. And in turn, they respond and tell us about their own journey and bits of their story begin to become a part of our story and before we’re done, we’ve created a beautiful tapestry that’s interwoven with all of our individual story threads.

Women also tend to be wonderful community builders. We take the time to not only talk to our audience, but we also take the time to listen and get to know our audience. And when we do, we’re able to build better relationships with our that audience. So when we share our stories, we lay the foundation to build a community – and not just any community, but a community where people feel they truly belong. At the heart of communal storytelling is inclusion – because after all, we’re all here on earth sharing a human experience. And that experience is unpredictable and beautiful and sad and joyful all wrapped up together. It’s what we all have in common.

Women are also more empathetic. So why does empathy make us better storytellers? Because stories connect us and inspire us as human beings. And nothing does a better job of drawing people together than seeing ourselves in each other’s stories. There’s a unifying power in that. And even when our eyes can’t see what we have in common because of our upbringing and unconscious bias – our emotional intelligence can help us identify the parts of ourselves that relate to another person. And that allows us to create powerful stories that deliver a lasting impact.

Women are detail-oriented. We tend often to absorb more information and store it away in our brains until we need it. In other words, we’re keen observers. It’s just the way we’re wired – but the result is that we tend to add more detail to a story which brings it to life, adding vibrancy and depth and dimension.

And finally, women are resourceful. And our resourcefulness as women carries over into our storytelling as well. In today’s overcrowded message culture, coming up with unique and effective ways to get our story across is a talent that’s worthwhile noting. As Audrey Hepburn once famously said, “Nothing is impossible. The word itself says IM Possible!” And it’s that mindset that’s needed before we can be truly resourceful and quick to pivot and tell an old story in a new way.

When you think about it, there is absolutely NO reason why you should hide behind your brand or your business – it’s time to tell YOUR story and let the world see what they’ve been missing.

EPISODE LINKS:

Power Your Platform Facebook Group 

PowerHER Platform web site 

Subscribe to our Story Fuel Newsletter 

“Everything is Figureoutable” by Marie Forleo

Welcome back to the final podcast episode of 2021! Well, it’s been a year, hasn’t it? And while there have certainly been some silver linings, there have also been a lot of bumps in the road. No matter who you are or where you live or what you do, during the past year, there have been delays of epic proportions, interruptions to the way we’re used to getting things done, and an overall hesitancy to make any big plans in case they all get scrapped at a moment’s notice.

And I’ll admit, one of the biggest lessons I took away from this past year was to Embrace the Slow Grow.

So I thought I’d share my thoughts with you on this topic today as it relates to building your story brand and even setting goals for the year that lies ahead.

Here are three strategies I’ve adopted to help me Embrace the Slow Grow as we move into 2022.

Manage Your Expectations

When it comes to setting expectations in our business, we need to first consider where we’re getting our expectations in the first place. Are the milestones we’re aiming for realistic ones? Or are we trying to be like the latest shooting star on social media?

The thing with shooting stars is that they fade away pretty quickly once their moment has come and gone. And I don’t know about you, but I plan on shining for a good, long time before I ever fade off into the distance.

So when it comes to managing expectations in my own business, I’ve decided to give myself permission to grow at my own pace. That includes setting reasonable micro-goals and celebrating each one as I pass them. It also means setting some “to be” goals rather than just “to do” goals. In 2022, for instance, I’ve set some goals for myself to be more courageous, more creative and more consistent.

Be wise with business spending.

When times are uncertain, it makes sense to keep cash on reserve in case of an emergency. So while I definitely plan to invest in the tools and coaching that will have a high return on investment for me and my business, I’m going to be careful not to chase down the latest fads that usually carry a pretty hefty price tag. I’m a big believer that less is more and that simple businesses have just as good a chance of succeeding as businesses with all the bells and whistles. What it comes down to is this: what allows you to make an impact? And what do you need to do it?

So my challenge to you is to take a look at your own business and see where you can reduce waste or excess spending. In some cases, you might want to band together with other small business owners in your area to barter or buy in bulk together. There are so many solutions, it’s just a matter of getting creative with your spending.

Don’t Compare Yourself with Others

I learned long ago that it’s an easy trap to fall into and it’s one you’ll be stuck in forever if you don’t realize you’re there. Instead of competing, I’ll be focused on collaborating and building community. I call these joyful connections and intentional collaborations. Because honestly, that’s what’s worked best for me in the past and I believe it’s going to carry Power Your Platform into the year ahead.

There’s actually a great book written by Lucy Sheridan called “The Comparison Cure: How to Be Less Them and More You”. You can click on the shownotes for details, but Lucy helps readers go from compare and despair to Comparison Free. And that’s exactly the kind of freedom I’m looking for, how about you?

If you’d like to check out my Slow Grow Pledge for 2022, visit our free Power Your Platform Facebook group today.

Happy new year! 

EPISODE LINKS:

Take the Slow Grow Challenge 

PowerHER Platform 

As a Story Coach I get to work with the most amazing women and I’m so grateful to know each one of them.  One of the things I enjoy most about the work I do is helping women connect the dots when it comes to their own story and the impact they want to make in the world.  

In today’s episode, I’m chatting with one of my clients, Jenny Chandler, the owner of Simple Desk in Trenton, Ontario. Jenny came to me a few months ago when she was interested in launching a new brand, one that was closely connected with her personal story. I loved that conversation with Jenny today because it took me back to the very first Story Coaching session we had.  

So often when people come to me, they have a vague idea of what they want to do and what they want to say, but they’re not sure what to call it or which platform will work best for them. 

In Jenny’s case, we were able to come up with a brand name which is Girl, You Deserve More. And what’s more, we were able to map out a course of action that would take Jenny from the concept stage to the implementation stage. And I’m so excited to say that she is well on her way to becoming a powerful influence for women who are looking for more, but aren’t sure where to find it.  

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

1. Telling your story can be scary – but working with a story coach can help you get the clarity and confidence you need to get started.  

2. Be your own cheerleader – and if you need some extra reinforcement, don’t forget, your coach is always by your side.  

3. Acknowledge your fears and limiting beliefs. Keep a journal and refer back to it to see how far you’ve come.  

4. Regular coaching sessions can help you move your idea forward, even on the days when you’re feeling stuck inside your head.  

5. When we share our own life lessons with others, not only does it help someone else who is struggling, but it also reminds us of the power we have inside us.  

6. There is no limit to where you can take your life. You just need to take that first step.  

7. New opportunities will present themselves when we begin to take action.  

8. A brain dump is a great place to start and an important part of any creative process.  

9. Transformation is part of every powerful story.  

10. There is always a ripple effect that takes place when we share our own story.  

Thanks so much for listening in to today’s episode. If you're interested in learning more about story coaching, be sure to reach out to us at https://www.powerherplatform.com/. Let's chat!  

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

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

Jenny’s Book Recommendation: “Single on Purpose” by The Angry Therapist - https://tinyurl.com/2p8a8um3 

It’s a magical time of the year, there’s no doubt about it. And all this talk about gifts and giving has made me think about the gifts we give to others – and ourselves – when we share our story.

So I hope you’ll enjoying listening in today to the 3 gifts storytellers give us – and the long-lasting impact of sharing our journey with others.

If you’re not already a part of our free Power Your Platform Facebook community, I’d love for you to join us there. You can click on the shownotes for this episode to ask to join today.

But for now, let’s unwrap today’s episode and get to the good stuff.

Over the years as a storyteller, I’ve discovered is that there are at least 3 gifts that storytellers offer the world.

The first gift storytellers offer the world is the gift of connection. The truth is stories are the bridges that connect us to each other. When we hear a story, scientific research shows that our brain waves actually start to synchronize with those of the storyteller.

Not only do stories connect our brains, but they also shows us we’re not alone. When someone shares a story that we can relate to, our reaction is often, “Hey, me too!” And that reaction of seeing ourselves in someone else’s story creates empathy and understanding as well as an undeniable connection to another human being.

In many cases, as listeners or readers, we can hold up a story and actually see a reflection of our own face. Because in the end, we’re all human. And while our experiences may be different, inside we’re pretty much the same.

The second gift storytellers give us is related to the first – it’s the gift of community. So often, we walk through life believing we are the only person who has ever experienced a particular emotion or setback or defeat – when in fact, there are thousands if not millions of others who are walking a similar journey. When we share our story, we draw others to us, and that often results in the creation of a common bond or community.

A third gift storytellers give us is the gift of a more diverse and inclusive worldview. Imagine if all our stories were the same. How incredibly boring would that be? Instead, we have all followed different paths and experienced different moments during our lifetimes. We have encountered different humans and had different reactions to a wide range of events. By sharing these stories with others, we contribute to the richness of the story fabric in our own communities and around the world.

When we intentionally seek out a variety of stories and recognize that one person’s story does not represent an entire culture’s story, then we can better appreciate the individuality and uniqueness of the humans who surround us every day.

As we wrap up today, I want to give you a challenge. If you’ve been holding back on sharing your story with the world, then I hope you’ll reconsider. Because there are so many gifts that lie inside your story. And often we look at our story and we see a chaotic collection of experiences and random lessons that we’re not quite sure will come together to mean anything significant.

But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth the effort.

So whether you tackle your story on your own or you reach out to a story coach for help, I hope you’ll recognize the value inside your own story, and the potential it has to create a real impact in the world.

And the beautiful thing is that sharing our story often doesn’t cost a thing. So why not share the gift of your own story with someone else this holiday season. Because when you do, you may just find that the simple act of giving is the greatest gift of all.

EPISODE LINK:

Power Your Platform Facebook Group 

Welcome to my first ever candlelit interview! Inside today’s episode, I’ll be talking to a fun-loving woman entrepreneur who’s lighting up this holiday season in a big w Emily Prout is the owner and founder of Arrow It Forward, a handmade home fragrance business based in Gananoque, Ontario. 

Arrow It Forward specializes in creating room and linen sprays, reusable car fresheners as well as an innovative line of soy candles that are sure to bring a smile to your face.  

With creative scents like “Adulting Is Hard”, “Mom Life”, “Hot Mess” and “Ugly Christmas Sweater”, it’s not hard to see what Emily’s customers have to smile about. 

In this interview, Emily and I discuss everything from how she names her products and creates a stunning presence on social media to how she gets innovative when it comes to reaching new markets.  

Here are my Top 10 takeaways from today’s conversation:  

1. Inspiration is all around us, we just need to pay attention.  

2. Find out what sets you apart -- and pursue it with all you’ve got!  

3. Always have fun at work!  

4. You are your brand. Don’t be afraid to let your light shine!  

5. Ditch the social media rules and instead, start up a conversation with your audience.  

6. Always be on the look-out for new and innovative ways to connect with your customers.  

7. Be conscious of your time when you’re first starting out in business. Ask for help when you need it so you can spend more time in your zone of genius.  

8. Sprinkle stories about yourself throughout your social media – they’re a great way to build connections with your core audience.  

9. Partner with others to amplify your message and your brand.  

10. Remember, when you follow your passion, you’ll light up the world!  

And hey, the new year is coming – be sure to check out Emily’s newest candle which is named, “OK 2022 – You’ve got this.”  

Until next time, keep on 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

Arrow It Forward - https://www.arrowitforward.com/ 

Welcome to a special bonus episode where I’m talking about my podcast bloopers. And not just the bloopers – but the mindset that it’s taken me to move past those bloopers and keep on showing up for my audience – even when I’m afraid to fail.

The truth is that we all make mistakes. And that’s OK. In fact, it’s totally normal. And today I hope this episode helps normalize the idea that we’re flawed human beings who are just doing their best every single day. And that definitely means we’re ALL going to end up with our fair share of bloopers.

In fact, there’s a new word that one of my friends shared with me recently. And that word is FLAWSOME. Have you heard it before? F-L-A-W-S-O-M-E. Flawsome.

The word flawsome is actually made up of two words: the word flaws and the word awesome. And it describes a person who accepts themselves in spite of their flaws and knows that they are awesome even though they’re not perfect. So – there you go. I hope you’ll claim “flawsome” as your own word as your own today.

So as I look back on more than 45 episodes that I’ve shared on this podcast to date, a few glaring errors come to mind.

1. Microphone bumps.

2. My dog’s toenails clicking on the wooden floor of my office.

3. Scratchy blips when I first started out.

4. Referring to the wrong podcast numbers from time to time.

5. Mispronouncing the Japanese phrase “Ichigo Ichie” in Episode 7.

6. Attributing the quote “You had the power all along” to Dorothy and not Glinda the Good Witch of the North in Episode 43.

And so many others!

If you think you might be a perfectionist, here are 5 signs to watch for:

1. You put off making any decision when you don’t have every single step figured out.

2. You don’t tolerate mistakes in yourself or others.

3. You stay in your comfort zone, rather than risk embarrassing yourself.

4. You’re stuck on the comparison hamster wheel, constantly measuring your work against the work of others.

5. You keep second-guessing yourself.

Sound familiar? Sheryl Sandberg once said, “Done is better than perfect.” And it’s a motto I’ve come to adopt as my own.

So let yourself off the hook, sister. If you get nothing else out of this podcast today, I hope it’s the knowledge that you don’t need to get it right every time. In fact, sometimes it’s in the mistakes we make that we discover our true genius.

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 

PowerHER Platform web site 

Subscribe to our Story Fuel Newsletter 

Story of Ruth Wakefield 

In today’s episode, we’re doing something brand new. I’m so excited to be interviewing one of my Story Coaching clients, and getting her first-hand insight on what it’s like to work with a story coach.  

Julia Van Huizen is a multi-talented individual who empowers women of faith to rethink their approach to mental health, giving them permission to say “yes” to radical self-acceptance.  In this episode, Julia and I talk about where she was at when she first began working with me as a story coaching client and how her brand developed during our time together. 

She also highlights some of the limiting beliefs she struggled with before even signing up to become a story coaching client. And I think those limiting beliefs will sound very familiar to a lot of us. We’ll also get to the heart of her mission, the audience she feels called to serve, and some valuable tips for how we can ALL practice radical self--acceptance.  

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

1. The most important decision we can make is the decision to get started.  

2. We all face limiting beliefs; but seeing failure as a part of the learning process can help us overcome our fear of rejection.  

3. Knowing who our core audience is can be a game-changer when it comes to launching a successful brand.  

4. A story coach can help us dig deep and put our core message into words.  

5. We all lose momentum sometimes; when we do, it’s helpful to have someone in our corner keep us focused and moving forward.  

6. Taking consistent baby steps is just as important as making a giant leap.  

7. Creating a brand in isolation can be challenging; a story coach can be a helpful sounding board and provide fresh perspective.  

8. We empower others when we share our own story.  

9. Someday, your story could become someone else’s survival guide.  

10. We are our own harshest critics; always give yourself more grace than you feel you deserve.  

Thanks for listening in today! If you enjoyed this interview – and if you did, be sure to take a screen shot and share it to your Instagram feed – and don’t forget to tag @PowerYourPlatform and @The Gratitude Rebel when you do! We’d love to share your feedback with our followers.  

If you’re interested in learning more about story coaching, reach out to me today at www.powerherplatform.com.  

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:  

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 Gratitude Rebel - https://thegratituderebel.com/ 

In this episode, we’re going to drop in on The Good Joy Podcast where I was recently a guest. And I’ve excerpted a portion of the conversation to share with you here. I hope you’ll enjoy being a fly on the wall as Pamela Sylvan and I discuss various topics, including collaboration, confidence and the importance of listening to other people’s stories.

Here are my Top 10 Takeaways from this episode:

1. When we connect with others who aren’t like us, we become aware of our own blind spots.

2. When we’re collaborating, we’re not competing.

3. There’s enough to go around; if you succeed, it doesn’t mean I fail.

4. We can bring our own chair to the table that other people have built -- OR we can build an entirely new table and start our own conversation.

5. Mindset is one of the most important aspects of any business.

6. Our everyday language reveals our confidence level.

7. Collaboration requires that we contribute to the conversation as much as we take in other people’s ideas.

8. We need examples of strong women around us; after all, if we can see it, we can be it.

9. Diversity brings a new perspective to the way we view ourselves, the world and other people in it.

10. Paying attention to other people’s stories help us become more empathetic towards other human being sin this world.

Interested in working together? Reach out to me at powerherplatform.com today!

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:

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

Book link: "Radical Candour" - https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1250258405?ie=UTF8&tag=poweryourplat-20&camp=15121&linkCode=xm2&creativeASIN=1250258405  

The Good Joy Podcast - https://thegoodjoypodcast.com/episode/joy-of-collaboration