Support is Sexy

Mitzi Miller has been focused on choosing happy since she was a little girl. If whatever it was didn't seem like it would make her happy, she walked away. But as an adult, with a high powered editor-in-chief position at a magazine she long admired, she was unhappy, felt stuck and was making herself seriously ill. As an 18-year liver transplant survivor, Mitzi's body was beginning to succumb to the stress of her job and reject her organ. Even though she had known for some time that this position was no longer for her -- and she had had great conversations with a friend about a future in television -- she was trapped by the "golden handcuffs." Thanks to a determined doctor and a lonely Thanksgiving, she finally released herself and made the leap.

Today, Mitzi -- who is also author of five books, including The Vow, which was made into a TV movie for Lifetime -- is Head of Development for Rainforest Entertainment, and she's co-executive producing a new series for BET airing this fall called The Yard. She lives in LA, she loves the work she does, she is healthy, she is happy. And as she shares in this episode, she wants you to know that you can walk away and be okay.

On this episode, you'll learn:

When it's time to remove the golden handcuffs.Difference between being exhausted from working hard and being joyless.How chance encounters can change everything.How to know when you're coming to the end of a part of your journey.The value of having people around you who are making courageous decisions all the time.Doors open, but only if you open your mouth.Don't take on someone else's baggage before you make a leap. (You'll have plenty of your own.)People underestimate what stress can do to your body.

Thank you for listening! And hey, if you love it, click here to leave us a Rating & Review!

Show notes, links, contacts and resources for this episode may be found at http://elaynefluker.com/podcast/

FOLLOW SUPPORT IS SEXY

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | MASTERMIND

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You've seen her on The View, Today show, E! and more, she was the first woman of color to be beauty director of Seventeen magazine, has graced the pages of many others and has been a host on the red carpet at the Grammy's, the Oscars and more. Her clients include P&G, Cover Girl and Walmart, and she is a style ambassador for brands like InStyle. But what's grand about Tai Beauchamp is how grounded she is and how committed she remains to empowering young women with love and style. And you will experience all of that in this conversation with her.

Raised in Newark, New Jersey, and greatly influenced by her beloved grandmother, Tai has created a business, Tai Life Media, that marries social impact, marketing and style for several initiatives, such as My Black is Beautiful. In 2015, Tai launched her fashion, beauty and lifestyle web site, TheTaiLife.com, that is another avenue for her to reach young women. With all that she has accomplished, and with more in the works such as a new TV show (stay tuned!), Tai reveals in this episode the not-so-glamorous parts of her journey, the moments that are sometimes lonely and the empowering epiphany she had around support.

On this episode you'll learn:

The importance of being open to signals from the Universe.Recognize your calling, when start to open up and happen -- listen.The benefits of having a partner in business and in life.The importance of keeping some things off social media.The importance of showing up every time.Utilizing your platform to have social impact.Realize when it's time to cut the fat.Why you don't have to be superwoman.Know when to make room for a partnership.

Thank you for listening! And hey, if you love it, click here to leave us a Rating & Review on iTunes!

Show notes, links, contacts and resources for this episode may be found at http://elaynefluker.com/podcast/

[Music: "Someone Else's Memories" by Revolution Void]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 2015, Fila Antwine's job was making her sick -- literally. She was stressed every Sunday night and was often brought to tears just thinking about going to work on Monday. Doctors diagnosed her with IBS, likely caused by the stress. Eventually, she had enough, so she quit, and that's when her real work began.

Today, Fila owns a relationship and life coaching business where she empowers and instructs women on how to practice self care, heal from hurtful experiences of the past and have loving, healthy relationships. She is the author of two books -- Strengthening Her Essence and the children's book Curiously Coiled -- and has appeared as an expert on television and in outlets, such as The Wall Street Journal, the NY Post and MSN.com. It is work that is deeply important to her -- as she openly shares in this episode -- being a woman who has personally experienced sexual abuse and abandonment as a child, and who, today, brings her lived experiences to the work with she does with other women. Listen to hear how Fila moved through the traumas of her childhood, and how you can use your experiences -- and even your pain -- to create a business that serves and nourishes you as much as it does your clients.

On this episode you'll learn:

The importance of having spiritual staminaWhy you must develop a healing practice of your own.Knowing when to stop, shut everything down and take care of yourself.That you don't move past your experiences, you move through them.How to ensure you're taking a holistic approach to your business to make it successful.How to determine if you need to adjust your messaging or your program to reach your clients.The importance of transparency in your relationshipsWhy you are the sun, and if you're not ok, your universe suffers

Thank you for listening! And hey, if you love it, click here to leave us a Rating & Review on iTunes!

Show notes, links, contacts and resources for this episode may be found at http://elaynefluker.com/podcast/

FOLLOW SUPPORT IS SEXY

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | MASTERMIND

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Shoe designer Jessica Perdomo is not only an example of resilience and determination ("I can't tell you how many stores I got kicked out of," she says), she is also an example of someone who is not afraid to take inspired action. Or maybe, at times, she is afraid, but she does it anyway, and this makes her courageous as hell!

Jessica is the founder of the incredibly gorgeous footwear line, J.J. Gray, which features riding boots and oxfords made exclusively by a family of third generation artisans in the south of Spain. She launched the line with just $800 in 2014 (just enough to cover legal fees for her business), and has since received coveted mentions in fashion biz powerhouse publications, such as Vogue and Footwear News. Raised without many resources by her Dominican grandparents in Queens after her mother passed away, Jessica started working at age 13, and hasn't stopped since. But it's the story of the shoe -- both at the early start of her career and as the spark that ignited her business -- that has been pivotal in her journey.

What I love most about Jessica from the moment I first spoke with her is her grit and authenticity, not only in how she is building her business, but in how she is clearly creating a space for herself and for other young people who may have grown up in tough situations and never been exposed to the possibilities of entrepreneurship. Jessica says she plans to change that. I believe her. I believe you will, too.

On this episode, you'll learn:

Thoughts become things.Your past does not define your future.The importance of heeding the signs the universe sends your way.Why it's a good idea to test your market -- even if you start with family and friends."If you can't control your emotions, you can't control your money." (Jessica's favorite quote from Warren Buffet.)Know when you're onto something, and take inspired action!How getting press coverage doesn't necessarily move the needle for your business.How trunk shows and boldly knocking on doors (even when not invited) can be crucial to your business as a designer.

Thank you for listening! And hey, if you love it, click here to leave us a Rating & Review on iTunes!

Show notes, links, contacts and resources for this episode may be found at http://elaynefluker.com/podcast/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For Michelle Burford, a New York Times bestselling ghostwriter and collaborator, the journey from growing up in a tight-knit family in Phoenix, Arizona, to a small magazine publishing company in Colorado Springs, to walking the halls of Essence, to sipping cocktails with Oprah was all a result of something her mother taught her: Be excellent, and never cut corners.

In this epic (and I mean epic) episode, choc full of "aha moments" and powerful insights about life and the publishing industry, Michelle shares the winding course she took to doing the work she now loves and is passionate about—which is capturing the compelling life stories of celebrities and public figures like Gabrielle Douglas, Michelle Knight and Amy Purdy, and turning them into top-selling books. Listen to this episode to hear how Michelle embodies hustle, heart, grace and not being afraid to let folks see you sweat!

On this episode you'll learn:

Why, everyday, you should push yourself to do one brave thing.The importance of doing a good job on what's right in front of you.How to make powerful, authentic connections.Why sometimes it's about knowing what is not working and that what you are doing is notHow your peers can be your best mentors.What you should do when you have the wind at your back.Learn how to capture your magic.Stop playing it cool and let them see you sweat.Don't be afraid to take a second look at things.Even when you don't know the answer, know that the answer is NOT "I don't know."

Show notes, links, contacts and resources for this episode may be found at http://elaynefluker.com/podcast/

Thank you for listening! And hey, if you love it, click here to leave us a Rating & Review on iTunes!

FOLLOW SUPPORT IS SEXY

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | MASTERMIND

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Connie DaSilva is all about making women feel good inside and out. In 2012, after frustrations with not being able to find the perfect plant-based skincare products and an impromptu brainstorming session with her closest friends, Connie launched her natural skincare line, Whole Clarity (which, by the way, has the best natural deodorant and a coconut pulling oil that I swear by). Now, the homemade line is a frequent top seller on Amazon. This summer, Connie launched her latest venture, Headgame Pro, which is a sexy new coaching program that helps women master their game (and fully embrace their sexual confidence) in bed and beyond!

In this episode, along with insightful tips on how to launch your beauty products and sell successfully on Amazon, Connie shares her own experiences as a headgame pro and a sensual masseuse – so, if you're listening to this on speaker around little ones, maybe put your earbuds in. :)

On this episode you'll learn:

Share your ideas with the world and the support will show upWhen you have ideas, write them down, and share them powerfullyMaking the most out of selling on Amazon.com – what you need to know and what Connie wishes she knewDon't ask why something is happening, ask, "How am I going to make it work?"Ask empowering questionsIf people are getting your ideas, consider how you're presenting them.

Show notes, links, contacts and resources for this episode may be found at http://elaynefluker.com/podcast/

Thank you for listening! And hey, if you love it, click here to leave us a Rating & Review on iTunes!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jennifer Love is the CEO of One More Woman -- a fast-track, high-performance, educational and advisory community helping women entrepreneurs take the stress out of the money equation so they can effectively raise, make, manage and give money. As a serial entrepreneur with 17 years of experience, Jennifer has consulted with and helped companies raise more than $100 million, including one client that have landed a deal worth $600,000 on the hit TV show Shark Tank. Her ongoing mission? To help increase the number women entrepreneurs in the world create and effectively manage businesses that have at least $1 million in revenue or more in a year. How? By helping 20 million women over the next 10 years to get access to capital, learn how to scale their businesses, and know how to confidently walk into any room of potential investors--no matter who's in that room--and own it while knowing their self worth.

Jennifer also talks the importance of owning your gift and your purpose -- that thing that keeps calling you or presenting itself to you. For her, it was about the need for her to step up and support women on their entrepreneurial journey. Listen to this episode for more great insight from Jennifer on embracing your power, and getting support for your business.

On this episode you'll learn:

How to handle it when investors cross the line (insults, sexual harassment and more).Why it's one thing to believe you can do it or what you're pitching, but it's another to fully feel it.The strategy of using "Yes, and..." when faced with questions from investors about your business.Why, as women, we underestimate our abilities, and we need to say, "Yes, I can do this," more often.How to turn what others see as failure into a lesson that helps get you where you want to go.How to find inspiration in unexpected places.

Show notes, links, contacts and resources for this episode may be found at http://elaynefluker.com/podcast/

Thank you for listening! And hey, if you love it, click here to leave us a Rating & Review on iTunes!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

By age 25, Tanya Alvarez's first business, Blink Ads, generated more than $1 million in revenue within the first year, and she was already thinking about launching her next ventures. She went on to successfully launch two other companies – Spokesmoms and La Cosmopolatina -- but even with that success, the Miami native, who had already worked at four startups by then, said that comparison mode made her think she still hadn't done enough, and she began to consider how much time and commitment it would take to continue to grow her businesses, and whether or not she wanted to sacrifice her personal life to achieve that.

In this conversation, Tanya openly shares how she made tough decisions, and walked away from her businesses, to create the life she wanted, how she set aside ego to truly see what kind of business would fuel her. Now Tanya is committed to helping other entrepreneurs reach their highest through her new company OwnersUp, which is an online accountability platform for entrepreneurs.

And guess what, Tanya schooled me on the importance of having a support network even for your dating life, people who hold you accountable for swiping right when your default (and fear) would usually cause you to swipe left. *Mind blown

On this episode you'll learn:

Knowing whether you're driven by what you want or by egoWhy you should always test things out before you use technologyThe power of niching down and serving your audience in ways others are notThinking of ways to have big impact by starting smallThe importance of higher listeningHow comparison mode can skew your judgmentThe benefits of looking for someone you can partner withWhy you need champions and someone to encourage you out of your comfort zoneShow notes, links, contacts and resources for this episode may be found at http://elaynefluker.com/podcast/

Thank you for listening! And hey, if you love it, please leave us a review and share with your friends!

[Music: "Someone Else's Memories" by Revolution Void]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cheryl Gentry and her event management company, Glow Media -- which has been in business for 18 years strong -- has planned conferences, events and summits around the world with some of the most prestigious clients. But during a recent event, as her team scrambled to work around glitch-y apps they were using to get things organized, Cheryl had an epiphany: there needed to be one tool that allowed planners to access and sync everything they needed, especially on the day of the event when things are the most hectic. On that day, Cheryl's new event management product, OnSite Planner, was born – sort of!

Always practical, resourceful and thorough, Cheryl did her research on the market and decided to raise funds for the development of the tool via Kickstarter – and that's where the fun began…sort of. :)

Here, Cheryl shares the honest ins and outs of crowdfunding, how to crush it on Kickstarter and the ways she's scaling her business.

On the episode you'll learn:

Top 3 tips for a successful Kickstarter campaignWhat works and what doesn't when it comes to crowdfundingWhy launching a new product could be an important extension of your businessThe importance of enrolling people in your vision and your missionThe difference between PR and event management

Show notes, links, contacts and resources for this episode may be found at http://elaynefluker.com/podcast/

Thank you for listening! And hey, if you love it, please leave us a review and share with your friends!

[Music: "Someone Else's Memories" by Revolution Void]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sian Morson is a tech superstar, and yet one of the most grounded people you'll ever meet. Sian is founder of the tech company Kollective mobile, which develops apps and web sites for brands. She speaks and lectures at major technology conferences, such as SXSW, she has been featured in Forbes, Wall Street Journal, Ebony and on NPR, and she has been named one of the top women in tech to follow on Twitter. In 2014, Sian launched her latest app, called Cast Beauty, which recommends personalized beauty products based on the weather and your skin and hair type. She's all about supporting other women, especially in her field, and making sure we have a space at the table when it comes to the future of technology.

On the episode you'll learn:

The importance of travel and exploration – personally and in your businessChanges in the mobile tech industry.3 Tips for launching a successful app.When it may be best to fire your clientsWhat being in business teaches you about patternsShow notes, links, contacts and resources for this episode may be found at http://elaynefluker.com/podcast/

Thank you for listening! And hey, if you love it, please leave us a review and share with your friends!

[Music: "Someone Else's Memories" by Revolution Void]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices