ProprietHER the Podcast

The Super Important Business WHY

Do you ever feel unmotivated in your business? Ever want to just give up because you're hustling so hard? That can all be fixed with one thing- nailing down your WHY.

Let's talk about nailing down your business why. If this is a topic that makes you feel anxious, or if you just have no idea who your ideal client is or why exactly you want to chase this career, then this episode is for you. 

Since we're at the beginning of the podcast, I wanted to start with advice for the beginning of your business. Now don't be fooled. This topic is one that can be addressed MANY times throughout your business journey as your brand and mission evolves. 

You've probably heard people say that you need to know your business WHY. You need to know WHY you're in this specific business and trying to make a space for yourself in this competitive world. 

Now if you're anything like me, I used to DREAD this topic. I always knew I wanted to go into business but it was so hard for me to answer why? Uhhh "to make more money I guess?" " to have more time?" I mean, it sounded generic and I had no idea how to figure out why I wanted this so badly. I just knew I wanted it. 

Your WHY is what motivates you to be in your specific niche. You might see businesses post on their website "We're wedding photographers because we believe in the sanctity of marriage." Or health experts saying "We're here to serve you because we believe a healthy life is a happy life." People want to know why they should choose you as the expert and the best way for them to figure it out, is to know why you're there in the first place. 

Today, we're going to talk about why it is you do what you do. Now I know that the best of the best out there talk about their why's with such passion, clarity, and conviction, that it can seem intimidating. It honestly did for me! 

But in reality, most people really don't know why they do what they do or they know their WHY on a surface level. Today we're going to go from a surface level WHY, from thoughts on why you want to successful- to anchoring it in our heart with feelings and emotions. When you do that - there's no stopping you.

Have you ever been around kids, and notice how they always ask, "WHY?" Even from young ages, we instinctively understand that having a WHY or a motive behind an action is the most important piece of any story. It creates validation. 

As a business, knowing your why will help with two crucial things

1. Stay committed
2. Getting others on board with your business

We're going to go through both of those points today.

Simon Sinek said "People don't buy what you do or how you do it, they buy WHY you do it."

I'm going to be honest, I always struggled with my WHY. I heard COUNTLESS successful entrepreneurs mention it on all sorts of blogs, podcasts, and in courses. But I felt like I didn't know WHY I wanted to start my business, I just knew that I wanted to.

Then I invest in a business course with Dean Graziosi. In the course, they provided me with the perfect tool to uncover my WHY and I want to share it with you because it was so powerful for me and my business.

This specific exercise is going to help you to find your business WHY that will keep you committed. But here's the thing- You really have to sit down, and take the time. When you do- I promise you you're going to discover the fuel you'll need to keep moving that business forward- no matter what happens.

I want to stress one point before I walk through it with you. Not having a true, strong WHY is one of the biggest reasons why people fail in the business world. Really let that sink in. Lacking in your WHY, means you're lacking clarity in your business. Your WHY, is completely tied in with your mission. If you don't have a strong mission- what do you have? Your WHY is so much deeper than what you think. If your WHY is "to make more money," that's great, but that's not going to keep you committed when things get tough- which they will.

Having a clear WHY, or purpose, or mission, is on its way to becoming the number one thing that will set your business apart from the rest. Businesses with a strong defined purpose have better customer engagement, connect deeper with customers, and fuel their bottom line. It's crucial to the success of your business.

Now let's dive in. This exercise is called 7 Levels Deep. I can tell you this method is tried and true! Since working through the 7 levels, my why has never been more clear and my drive to push through and continue the work I'm doing has never been stronger! 

The first question is this: Why is it important for you to become successful? I want you to write down your answer, or if you can't write it down, think about it and say it out loud if possible! WHY is it important?

When you have your answer- we're going to turn it into the next question! So when I did this exercise, I answered by saying "It's important for me to become successful so that I can create a community and scale my business."

Question number two would then be "Why is it important for you to create a community and scale your business?"

Do you see what I did there? I took the answer from the first question, and turned it into the second question.  This whole exercise is asking why you wanted your previous answer and why it's important to you. You're going to do this 7 times! Yes. 7. That's why it's called 7 levels deep. It is the magic number. I'm going to be honest- this gets hard and you're going to have to dig really deep. The point of the process is the more you ask why from the previous answer, the more you'll get out of your head and get more into your heart. Digging deep is going to be how you find out your real WHY which will fuel you through any problem you're going to face. 

When you're having a bad day- you're not going to be thinking of your surface WHY like "i want to create a community and scale my business" -that's not enough to drive you on a bad day. It's not enough to get you out of bed when you're not feeling the best. What will get you out of bed, what will help you break through the barriers, what will allow you to never stop, is knowing your final 3 in the 7 levels deep.

When I learned this exercise in my business class from Dean Graziosi, he talked about how he cried his first time completing the exercise. Like I said, you really have to dig deep and get to the core of who you are. You might even have to work through childhood experiences to understand why you want this better or different life now. Again, it's personal,and It's definitely for you. However, if it works with your brand, don't be afraid to share it! The WHY you figured out from going 7 levels deep, is the why that is going to help you stay committed. I can't tell you how many people I know who started a business, but gave up as soon as the waters got a little deep. Want to know why? Because they didn't have a strong why. They didn't have a strong enough reason to push through when the going got tough. 

You can find the worksheet for the 7 Levels Deep exercise here.

Now I want to dive into another aspect of knowing your WHY, because we also want to find out why you've decided on a certain niche, because this is what's going to help get your ideal clients on board with your business.

So in the beginning of this episode, we talked about how knowing your why will help with two crucial things

1. Staying committed- and we talked about this with the 7 level deep exercise. Those deep, core reasons will be what keeps you moving forward when the going gets tough.
2. Getting others on board with your business- which we're going to talk about now.

Do you ever feel like people don't take your business seriously? Maybe even your closest network like family and friends views it as more of a "hobby" then as a career. 

Maybe more than your closest network, you don't feel like your following takes you seriously. This is where knowing your business WHY can help you.

Let's talk about your passions. There are so many businesses out there right? It's honestly amazing how we can turn a passion into something that helps us keep the lights on, but what people want to know is why you started that business. Why is that niche your passion. 

With so many businesses out there, customers want to feel like they're supporting a cause, not just buying a product. Make sure your following knows that you love what you do. When they know that, and they see how much you love what you do, they'll be more confident that you have the best product or offer the best service, and they'll want to support your enthusiasm with their business.

So why are you in your niche? This ties in with finding your story. What happened in your life that made you passionate about what your business is? Mine was my grandmother and upbringing, maybe yours was how you went to the library for a free jelery making class and it was so fun it hooked you! You loved expressing yourself through your art, and it made you feel XYZ.

Write down WHY your niche is your passion. Figure out why you started on this specific path, and share the heck out of it. Tell people your story. Tell them why you're not only in business, but why they should work with you over someone else. Sharing your story will help your ideal clients relate with you and will help create that relationship all business owners need to create that know-like-trust factor. 

The key to harnessing passion is understanding your why. Why did you become a fitness coach? Was it because you lost 50lb and learned how a healthy lifestyle correlated to a happy life? Then that's your why and that's the story you need to share the heck out of with your clients. 

To wrap it up let's go over three action items we can do today to move the needle forward:

1. Action step #1: Complete the 7 levels deep exercise. ACTUALLY WRITE IT DOWN! Don't skip this friends- you're only cheating yourself. And for the sake of transparency, I want to share this took me a long time to fill out. So don't be afraid to start and come  back to it if you have to!
2. Action Step #2: Write down the story of how you got into your niche and why it's your passion. 
3. Action Step #3: Share the story you wrote down from action step number two on social media with a picture of you where people can actually see your face. Use this to start building genuine connections. 

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Struggling with Imposter Syndrome? Let's Squash it.

Are you having an identity crisis? Do you feel like a fake when you so "oh I'm a _(enter your business profession here)__" Is it hard for you to even say that? If you're getting imposter syndrome- it's so natural and I feel it all the time! And if you feel it, it's really just a sign that you're stepping into this new season of life.

We're going to talk about the all too common feeling of Imposter Sydrome. Do you ever feel like you don't belong in your industry? Do you feel unqualified, unsure of where to start, or just afraid of failure? 

That "I have no business doing this" feeling is real and common. 

Imposter syndrome can be debilitating. It can lead to a bad case of analysis paralysis and as business owners- that's the last thing we want to have happen. We don't want something to stop our momentum. 

So we all know what imposter syndrome is but I want to say that it affects everyone differently. We all experience it in different ways, based on our different personalities. 

Maybe you're a perfectionist who can't enjoy her success because she's always thinking she could've done better, maybe you're an over achiever and need external validation instead of feeling content with getting your own stamp of approval, maybe you're someone who wants to appear as though everything comes quick and easy for you and if it takes you a little bit longer to master something you feel stupid and incapable, maybe You're the independent you feels like a failure when she has to ask for help, or maybe you're someone loves being seen as an expert, but is always scared that you're never going to appear experienced enough or knowledgeable enough (spoiler, that's me).

Imposter Syndrome affects us all differently but there are things we can do to squash it. And that's what we're going to dive into now.

Tip number 1.) Utilize your support system. This is different for everyone. It could be your husband or boyfriend, it could be your mom or dad, or it could be your bestie. Nominate someone in your close circle to be your cheerleader. Find someone who is going to give you permission to take the leap and start this new chapter. A lot of times with imposter syndrome, we're worried what others will think right? So find someone close to you who will cheer you on, build you up, tell you how proud they are of you, and essentially, fill your confidence tank up so you have the fuel to keep going.

Now maybe you don't have a business yet. Maybe you just have an idea, but you're unclear on how to take action. Maybe you're thinking "I'm not a qualified business owner," and that's whats fueling that imposter syndrome to slow your game. I still want you to find a support system, or an accountability partner. Here's the thing- in today's world, we put so much pressure on titles as an indicator of success. When someone asks you the dreaded "what do you do for a living," we hate admitting that we're "figuring it out", or that we have an idea we're pursing, or heck! We even hate admitting that we're doing anything creative or entrepreneurial at all! Society likes short, quick, and easy to digest labels. We feel the need to give quick polished answers because if we don't, we have to explain and see people question what we're doing, or question our potential success. 

Tip number 2.) Embrace Where You Are. The more you embrace where you're at, rather than envying or worrying about where you are not, you'll grow. I want you be thinking "I DON'T know how to run a business- but I'm not going to worry about" I want you to just be putting one foot in front of the other, show up online daily, and see what happens. I recently heard some awesome advice from Jenna Kutcher during my business group that I wish I had heard when I first started! She said that in her beginning, she unfollowed all people in her industry because she found herself constantly comparing herself to them and found herself feeling "less than." WHO ELSE CAN RELATE TO THAT!? I know I can! And sometimes when we focus too much on what others are doing, especially if they're where we want to end up, we can try replicating what they do or have and then we're not being true to ourselves. So stop focusing on what you don't know, and focus on what you have the ability to do right now. Put your blinders on and keep yourself focused on who you can reach, serve, and impact right where you are. Give yourself the permission to be successful and understand that you don't have to be qualified or certified to make a difference in someone's life! Don't worry about having the perfect plan, just let it go, and start where you are. 

Tip number 3. Get to learnin'! When you feel like a fraud, instead of trying to hide or fake it until you make it- embrace it. Now I know that sounds weird. But I want you to admit that you're unsure or inexperienced and then go find out about it! Or have someone teach you about whatever it is you're pursuing. If you want to get from point A to point B, something's got to give. Your best thinking and tactics got you to where you are right now. So if you want to GET to point B, you're going to need help. So go seek that help. Find a mentor, take a course, listen to podcasts, read, do whatever it is that will educate you in your new niche. People are going to respect you for owning where you are and seeking the wisdom of others. Bonus points if you share what you're learning when you're learning it! People LOVE feeling like they're along for a journey and a part of the process, so don't be afraid to share!

Tip number 4. Prepare Yourself for all Outcomes.  The best business advice I ever read was to be prepared to fail and don't be afraid to fail. Now I'm not telling you to be negative and expect the failure, I'm telling you to prepare for it. Let's put it this way: if you don't prepare for it, and you launch something that is a total flop- You're going to feel like life just sucker punched you in the face. BUT when you prepare for it, you're equipping yourself to be able to respond, absorb the blow, and then pivot. You're going to recover faster if you prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Failure is apart of life, it's how we respond to failure that counts.

Tip number 5 Do the Work. Listen. There is no easy button in the entrepreneurial world. If there were, we'd ALLLL be pushing it. If you really want to stop feeling like you don't belong, then it's time to roll up your sleeves, dig your heels in, and do the hard work. It's hard when we see our role models in this space being so successful, and we just want to be there with them. We don't have the patience to build up a strong business foundation because we just want to be to our end goal, or point B already. But hear me when I say- People are rewarded in public because they practiced and worked their BUTT off in private. The stuff that we do in private- that's the messy stuff. That's the stuff that a lot of people don't share. It's the nights where we cry because we're not seeing the growth we wanted to. What might look glamorous and easy to someone now, doesn't mean they didn't start right where you did- at the beginning. You have to dig in, do the work, learn the hard way, ask questions, fail, and get up and try again. 

Imposter syndrome won't go away just because you do something impressive- it'll go away when you press in and work hard. When you do the work, show up everyday, take action day after day, you'll not only see results in your business, but you're going to start becoming more and more confident because you'll be seeing all of the work you've put in. 

Do your best, start where you are and remain committed. 

To wrap it up let's go over three action items we can do today to move the needle forward:

1. Action step #1: Choose who you're going to nominate as your accountability partner! Let them know that you need them to build you up and encourage you. TELL THEM HOW YOU'RE FEELING so that they can best support you. Ask them to check in on you, or just be a "vitural" support but liking all your posts, commenting on them, and sharing them!
2. Action Step #2: Write down one thing that you can do right now to serve the audience you already have. Maybe it's sharing your story and how you're starting this new  business journey, maybe it's being real and talking about how you've been suffering from imposter syndrome lately and see who else in your audience relates to those feelings, maybe it's offering some specific tips from within your new niche. Pick one thing, and share it with your following today. 
3. Action Step #3: Figure out what educational resource you're going to dive into to become more knowledge on your new journey. I believe in doing some sort of personal or business development for 30 minutes every day. Subscribe to this podcast to help you with business tactics, buy a book that will help you, take a course in your specific niche- pick an educational resource and start committing to fueling your mind for 30 minutes a day. *Side note- this doesn't have to take extra time out of your day! I love podcasts because you can listen while doing laundry, driving, getting ready, etc. So there should be no excuses!

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How to Nail Down Your Ideal Client

Do you struggle with getting engagement on your profile? Do you struggle with getting people to not only buy what you're selling, but getting them to follow you in the first place? Well my friend, there's a way to fix this. It's narrowing down your ideal client. Often times in business, we want to try to reach as many people as possible, because we think that will allow us to maximize our potential income and business growth. But here's the deal- the more you try to be for everyone, the more you're actually for no one. Marketing is just as much about repelling people as it is attracting people. I KNOW it's scary. I know you hear that word repel and you cringe and feel a jolt of anxiety run through you. You're probably thinking "I can't REPEL people, I NEED people, because I need to make money to keep the lights on." But let me tell you a little secret- the riches are in the niches my friend. And with that, let's dive in.

If you're anything like me, this topic is one that I struggled with for a long time. I could just never figure out HOW to nail down my ideal client. Even once I had her in my mind, I didn't really know how to use that knowledge to move the needle forward in my business. Once I learned how to nail down my ideal client and speak to her, things really started changing for me!

So let's start from square one. 

Now we all have things we're good at right, they're our business "superpowers" if you will. Knowledge and experience that's unique to us. Our superpowers are what help us nail down our niche. It's like how I realized newborn photography isn't for me, and I landed on my niche of wedding photography. Weddings were much more for me because I was raised in a family full of strong marriages and loved everything to do with love. It was something I was passionate about whereas anything else, I had zero excitement for. 

The first thing you're going to need to know is what you're good at doing that allows you to serve a specific niche in your business. Remember, marketing is just as much about attracting the people you want, as it is repelling the people you don't want.  So who are the people you want to serve. What niche is it that excites you? Again, my example was realizing wedding photography was my talent and goal, whereas all other kinds of photography like newborns and families had me feeling like I'd rather go back to my desk job. My goal was to ATTRACT wedding clients and REPEL all other clients. For you it could be bridal makeup versus prom/event makeup. It could be creating hand lettered signs for home decor over escort cards at a wedding. You need to find your niche.

Knowing your niche is only the first step. After you know your niche, you need to decide what your ideal client in that niche looks like. So for me, I narrowed down my superpowers to wedding photography. Knowing that was my superpower, my ideal client would be a bride. However, not ALL brides are my ideal client. I had to think about what my ideal bride was like, and then market to her specifically. 

The more narrow and specific you are with outlining your ideal client, the more likely you're going to be able to "catch" them.

Let's create your ideal client. How old are they? What do they do? What do they want? Work through these questions to really nail down who your ideal client is so you can start focusing on them.

1.) What are your ideal client's top 3 pain points. 

2.) What are your ideal client's top 3 desires.

3.) Who are their role models & who do they follow?

4.) What social platform are they most active on?

5.) Where do they go to learn new things and get information?

6.) Where would they hang out in real life?

Here's the deal, when we can nail down our ideal client, our message becomes much clearer because we know WHO we're talking to! Not only that, but when we know what they're struggling with and what they want, we can speak right to them!

Once you can visualize your ideal client, you're going to speak to her (or him) and that's it. If you're having trouble getting people to follow your business or page, it could be because you're so busy trying to be for everyone, that you're not attracting anyone. They more specific you are, the more you're going to attract someone. Do you struggle with getting people to engage on your profile? You're going to be getting tons of engagement when you're speaking directly to your client and giving them content that speaks to their heart, their fears, and their personality. 

If you're vague, without a clear mission, and all over the place dipping your toe in here and there- you're not going to see that needle moving because you're not committed to a specific kind of client. You're not digging deep enough to resonate with them. So that's what I want you to leave here thinking about today.

So to wrap it up let's go over three action items we can do today to move the needle forward:

1. Action step #1: Go back through the 6 questions and write down all your answers. Seriously. I have my paper on my ideal client on my desk. Always. Because sometimes I need to remind myself of my ideal client to stay on course!
2. Action step #2: I want you to edit your preferred social media profile and website accordingly. So think bio section, wording, colors- start applying the things that you think your ideal client is drawn to.
3. Action step #3: Start writing your captions directly to the ideal client. I don't want you to think about everyone else, I want you to focus in on your ideal client and just write like you're talking to her

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