The Robyn Graham Show a Podcast for Christian Women - Become Calm, Confident, and Consistent

Here's a secret: if you are going to invest time and money in marketing, you must have a brand.  Confused?  Let's take a deeper look at branding versus marketing.

Branding Versus Marketing

You need a brand, everyone says.

Marketing is a must, everyone says.

So, which do you do?  Which one do you spend your time, money and energy on?

If you are feeling your heart skip a beat at the thought of spending money on marketing, stop right there!

I am going to share the difference between branding and marketing and help you discover the steps you need to take to not only get the word out about your business, but also attract more clients.

Branding

Branding is about crafting and telling a story.   The story of your business and of you as the CEO of your business.

You are what differentiates your business from any other in your niche or area of expertise.  I've said it before.   You have gifts that no one else has.  There may be a thousand other people in your niche or area of expertise, but only you have the unique gifts that are meant to serve the specific people you are here to solve problems for.

Branding is:

• Who you are
• Your why
• Differentiation
• Positioning
• Mission Statement
• Personality
• Creating a perception
• Core values, visions and passions
• A strategy

Marketing

Marketing is communicating your story and spreading the message of what you do and the problem you uniquely solve for your ideal audience.

Think of Marketing as:

• Communication
• SEO
• Content Marketing
• Social Media
• Print campaigns
• TV
• Radio
• Pay per click marketing
• Influencer marketing
• Podcasts

Which Comes First?

Branding!  Your brand is at the core of your marketing and must come first.  Therefore, without a brand you don’t have anything to market.

This is where clarity comes into play.   You must be clear on what you do and who you serve to create your brand in a way that builds an emotional connection and becomes recognizable and memorable.

Your brand and the emotional connection with your audience is what will keep your customers coming back and referring you.

Likewise, it’s important to remember, that you must build the know like and trust factor first.   Without trust built through your branding efforts, your marketing efforts will fall short.

Long-Term Differences in Branding Versus Marketing Branding Stays the Same

Branding will always be the same.   It will always be about positioning your business and differentiating it.  Creating perception and building connections.   Emotional connections that result in relationships that convert to clients.

You may make changes in your brand, but your brand will always include your core values, visions and passions.   Branding is who you are.

Marketing Changes with Trends

Marketing is communicating who you are and attracting your ideal audience.   It is trendy and will change as the industry changes.  For example, think about how social media has shifted the marketing paradigm. There are so many opportunities for free marketing using social media, however, you must have content that connects for them to be effective.  That content is your personality infused into your business, which is your brand.

You might be wondering if you can achieve success by marketing without building a clear, cohesive and consistent brand.   The answer is yes, but you will achieve a much higher level of success if you have a brand.  That success will have greater longevity as well because your audience will trust you and want to return to you.

As I mentioned earlier, your brand is the infusion of your personality into your business.  Therefore, your brand is how you build an emotional connection with your ideal audience and develop the know like and trust factor.

Above all, you must realize that you can market all you want, but if you don’t build relationships and attract your audience through the know like and trust factor, you aren’t going to achieve as much success.

In conclusion, let's recap priorities for your brand marketing strategy.

 Recap of Priorities:

1. Absolute clarity around your brand and brand messaging
2. Infuse your personality into your business and create a brand
3. Differentiate yourself
4. Create compelling, cohesive and consistent content for your brand messaging
5. Build an online presence
6. Begin marketing efforts
7. Continue to build relationships
8. Provide invaluable customer service
9. Nurture your audience
10. Continue marketing efforts
11. Savor the success

Connect with Me

Learn more about your host, Robyn Graham, click HERE.

To learn about The Brand Marketing Insider by Robyn Graham, click HERE.

Book a Brand Marketing Strategy Session HERE.

Ask Me Anything HERE.

Connect with me, Robyn Graham:

Website | Instagram | LinkedIN | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Pinterest

 

 

Here's a secret: if you are going to invest time and money in marketing, you must have a brand. Confused? Let's take a deeper look at branding versus marketing. Branding Versus Marketing You need a brand, everyone says. Marketing is a must, everyone says. So, which do you do? Which one do you spend your time, money and energy on? If you are feeling your heart skip a beat at the thought of spending money on marketing, stop right there! I am going to share the difference between branding and marketing and help you discover the steps you need to take to not only get the word out about your business, but also attract more clients. Branding Branding is about crafting and telling a story. The story of your business and of you as the CEO of your business. You are what differentiates your business from any other in your niche or area of expertise. I've said it before. You have gifts that no one else has. There may be a thousand other people in your niche or area of expertise, but only you have the unique gifts that are meant to serve the specific people you are here to solve problems for. Branding is: Who you are Your why Differentiation Positioning Mission Statement Personality Creating a perception Core values, visions and passions A strategy Marketing Marketing is communicating your story and spreading the message of what you do and the problem you uniquely solve for your ideal audience. Think of Marketing as: Communication SEO Content Marketing Social Media Print campaigns TV Radio Pay per click marketing Influencer marketing Podcasts Which Comes First? Branding! Your brand is at the core of your marketing and must come first. Therefore, without a brand you don't have anything to market. This is where clarity comes into play. You must be clear on what you do and who you serve to create your brand in a way that builds an emotional connection and becomes recognizable and memorable. Your brand and the emotional connection with your audience is what will keep your customers coming back and referring you. Likewise, it's important to remember, that you must build the know like and trust factor first. Without trust built through your branding efforts, your marketing efforts will fall short. Long-Term Differences in Branding Versus Marketing Branding Stays the Same Branding will always be the same. It will always be about positioning your business and differentiating it. Creating perception and building connections. Emotional connections that result in relationships that convert to clients. You may make changes in your brand, but your brand will always include your core values, visions and passions. Branding is who you are. Marketing Changes with Trends Marketing is communicating who you are and attracting your ideal audience. It is trendy and will change as the industry changes. For example, think about how social media has shifted the marketing paradigm. There are so many opportunities for free marketing using social media, however, you must have content that connects for them to be effective. That content is your personality infused into your business, which is your brand. You might be wondering if you can achieve success by marketing without building a clear, cohesive and consistent brand. The answer is yes, but you will achieve a much higher level of success if you have a brand. That success will have greater longevity as well because your audience will trust you and want to return to you. As I mentioned earlier, your brand is the infusion of your personality into your business. Therefore, your brand is how you build an emotional connection with your ideal audience and develop the know like and trust factor. Above all, you must realize that you can market all you want, but if you don't build relationships and attract your audience through the know like and trust factor, you aren't going to achieve as much success. In conclusion, let's recap priorities for your brand marketing strategy. Recap of Priorities: Absolute clarity around your brand and brand messaging Infuse your personality into your business and create a brand Differentiate yourself Create compelling, cohesive and consistent content for your brand messaging Build an online presence Begin marketing efforts Continue to build relationships Provide invaluable customer service Nurture your audience Continue marketing efforts Savor the success Connect with Me Learn more about your host, Robyn Graham, click HERE. To learn about The Brand Marketing Insider by Robyn Graham, click HERE. Book a Brand Marketing Strategy Session HERE. Ask Me Anything HERE. Connect with me, Robyn Graham: Website | Instagram | LinkedIN | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Pinterest

The Hustle Mindset

Stefanie Gass is a coach who believes in doing less and making more.   She doesn’t believe in the hustle mindset.  Similarly, she believes that doing ads and spending thousands of dollars isn’t the key to success.  Success comes from speaking directly to your audience and providing value from a place of service.   

Stefanie is the host of the Mompreneur Mastermind Show.   If you go back to Episode 5 of the podcast you can learn more about Stefanie and her journey from corporate executive to networking marketing success to online entrepreneur. 

The Struggle is Real

Many entrepreneurs struggle with discovering how to grow a business, to get more followers, and to get more people to resonate with their content . They try so hard to no avail.  Showing up everywhere, pouring out their hearts and it’s so much with little benefit.

You Can’t Do It All

The truth is that in order to be seen and heard as an entrepreneur, you have to stop doing everything and pick one thing.  Choose to speak to one person, your ideal avatar.  Have extraordinary clarity on who that is and make sure your message is clear and directed to your avatar.

Keep the Focus

Likewise, instead falling into the hustle mindset of talking to everyone everywhere, start solving your avatar’s problems for free, in one place.   And then, don’t look up.   Just serve and solve the problem over and over again for six months to a year.

Pour out free information over and over again and don’t get distracted by all of the shiny tactics that you hear about and see on social media.

If you do this in your business, Stefanie “almost” guarantees you’ll have success.   When you follow this process, you will find success and make revenue.

The important thing is not to be influenced by what other people are doing.  The hustle mindset will lure you into trying to do what everyone else is doing.  Don't fall for it.

If you spend time getting to know your audience, you will be able to figure out what they need and be able to create exactly what they need.

Validation

The validation of your gifts and how you can help your audience is between you and God.  Don’t look at what others are doing, focus on how you can help the people who you are meant to serve.  Speak your truth and pour content out into the world and look down to focus on creating and listening to the feedback.

1. Look down instead of up.
2. Put your gifts out into the world.
3. Look at your analytics. Where is your traction.  You only need your audience to tell you what’s working.   You don’t need feedback from external sources.
4. Long form content is key. You want to be on the platforms that you own, not social media.
5. Serve and give value for free.

The More You Give, The More You’re Blessed

Remember, the more you give the more you are blessed.   You can't give too much away to grow a business.  When we help, and give and serve, God gives us everything we need.  At times when we aren’t serving, we aren’t coming from a place of good intention.

Steps to be seen and heard over the next year

1. Have absolute clarity.
2. Know who you are serving and how you serve them.
3. Identify your avatar's problems.
4. Know how you can solve the problems for your audience.
5. Have long form content: podcast, blog, YouTube and repurpose the content.
6. Content should educate your audience and solve problems for her (for free).
7. Use SEO and trigger words for podcasts and blog posts.
8. Facebook group – drive traffic to a tight knit group so that your audience feels seen and heard.
9. Make money – if your audience loves all the free information, then teach them how to do it through online courses.

Don’t look up and focus on your gifts and how you can serve and you will grow a brand and business so much faster.   Start with your gifts, your abilities that you feel at peace with instead of looking at what other people are doing.   Get in line with what God wants in your business and you’ll find success.   Let the external sources slide.  They will not help you grow.

To learn more about Stefanie Gass:

Podcast: bit.ly/themompreneurmastermindshow

Website: stefaniegass.com

IG: @stefaniegass

Community: bit.ly/successsupportgroup

Is Podcasting Right for You? Free Quiz and 10 Steps to Podcasting webinar: podcastquiz.gr8.com

To learn more about Podcast Pro University and to purchase the class go to:

http://www.stefaniegass.com/robyn.html.

Learn more about your host, Robyn Graham, click HERE.

To learn about The Brand Marketing Insider by Robyn Graham, click HERE.

Book a Brand Strategy Clarity and Confidence Session HERE.

Ask Me Anything HERE

Join the Brand Marketing Insider Private Facebook Group HERE.

Connect with me, Robyn Graham:

Website | Instagram | LinkedIN | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Pinterest

 

The Hustle Mindset Stefanie Gass is a coach who believes in doing less and making more. She doesn't believe in the hustle mindset. Similarly, she believes that doing ads and spending thousands of dollars isn't the key to success. Success comes from speaking directly to your audience and providing value from a place of service. Stefanie is the host of the Mompreneur Mastermind Show. If you go back to Episode 5 of the podcast you can learn more about Stefanie and her journey from corporate executive to networking marketing success to online entrepreneur. The Struggle is Real Many entrepreneurs struggle with discovering how to grow a business, to get more followers, and to get more people to resonate with their content . They try so hard to no avail. Showing up everywhere, pouring out their hearts and it's so much with little benefit. You Can't Do It All The truth is that in order to be seen and heard as an entrepreneur, you have to stop doing everything and pick one thing. Choose to speak to one person, your ideal avatar. Have extraordinary clarity on who that is and make sure your message is clear and directed to your avatar. Keep the Focus Likewise, instead falling into the hustle mindset of talking to everyone everywhere, start solving your avatar's problems for free, in one place. And then, don't look up. Just serve and solve the problem over and over again for six months to a year. Pour out free information over and over again and don't get distracted by all of the shiny tactics that you hear about and see on social media. If you do this in your business, Stefanie "almost" guarantees you'll have success. When you follow this process, you will find success and make revenue. The important thing is not to be influenced by what other people are doing. The hustle mindset will lure you into trying to do what everyone else is doing. Don't fall for it. If you spend time getting to know your audience, you will be able to figure out what they need and be able to create exactly what they need. Validation The validation of your gifts and how you can help your audience is between you and God. Don't look at what others are doing, focus on how you can help the people who you are meant to serve. Speak your truth and pour content out into the world and look down to focus on creating and listening to the feedback. Look down instead of up. Put your gifts out into the world. Look at your analytics. Where is your traction. You only need your audience to tell you what's working. You don't need feedback from external sources. Long form content is key. You want to be on the platforms that you own, not social media. Serve and give value for free. The More You Give, The More You're Blessed Remember, the more you give the more you are blessed. You can't give too much away to grow a business. When we help, and give and serve, God gives us everything we need. At times when we aren't serving, we aren't coming from a place of good intention. Steps to be seen and heard over the next year Have absolute clarity. Know who you are serving and how you serve them. Identify your avatar's problems. Know how you can solve the problems for your audience. Have long form content: podcast, blog, YouTube and repurpose the content. Content should educate your audience and solve problems for her (for free). Use SEO and trigger words for podcasts and blog posts. Facebook group – drive traffic to a tight knit group so that your audience feels seen and heard. Make money – if your audience loves all the free information, then teach them how to do it through online courses. Don't look up and focus on your gifts and how you can serve and you will grow a brand and business so much faster. Start with your gifts, your abilities that you feel at peace with instead of looking at what other people are doing. Get in line with what God wants in your business and you'll find success. Let the external sources slide. They will not help you grow. To learn more about Stefanie Gass: Podcast: bit.ly/themompreneurmastermindshow Website: stefaniegass.com IG: @stefaniegass Community: bit.ly/successsupportgroup Is Podcasting Right for You? Free Quiz and 10 Steps to Podcasting webinar: podcastquiz.gr8.com To learn more about Podcast Pro University and to purchase the class go to: http://www.stefaniegass.com/robyn.html. Learn more about your host, Robyn Graham, click HERE. To learn about The Brand Marketing Insider by Robyn Graham, click HERE. Book a Brand Strategy Clarity and Confidence Session HERE. Ask Me Anything HERE Join the Brand Marketing Insider Private Facebook Group HERE. Connect with me, Robyn Graham: Website | Instagram | LinkedIN | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Pinterest

As Bryan was working as a photographer, he realized he was spending a lot of time going back and forth from system to system in order to accomplish tasks and repeating the same tasks over and over again.   He saw a need for process mapping and an all- inclusive management program.   A system that would streamline his business.  Sprout Studio was the result of Bryan’s need to solve a problem and streamline his business.

About Bryan

Bryan Caporicci is an award-winning wedding and portrait photographer based out of Fonthill, Canada. In 2014, he was awarded his Masters of Photographic Arts (MPA) designation by the Professional Photographers of Canada (PPOC), making him one of the youngest Canadian photographers to receive this level of achievement.

Bryan is the host of the Business of Photography Podcast with over 2 million downloads. He teaches at workshops across North America, including industry-leading conventions and conferences such as WPPI, Shutterfest and Canada Photo Convention. Bryan is also the CEO and Founder of Sprout Studio.

Become a Problem Solver

The best solutions often come from being in the trenches.   When things aren’t working, we identify the problem and can find a solution.  There is no better way to become a problem solver.

Outsourcing

It’s important to realize when we are not an expert at something and hire the people who are experts to do that task for us.   For example, attorneys, accountants, bookkeepers.  Surrounding yourself with a tribe of experts who excel in areas you don’t excel at is key for overall success in entrepreneurship.

Marcus Buckingham in The StandOut Assessment goes through the example of we are taught our whole lives to focus on what we aren’t good at to become better.   As entrepreneurs, play to your strengths and do more of, and outsource the things we aren’t good at.

Process Mapping

Think about where your time is best spent in your business.   Is it worthwhile to do all of the activities you are presently doing?

Having processes in place could mean you can spend more time on your business for creating more revenue, or it could mean having more time to spend on yourself and with your family.  Being able to enjoy the fruits of your labor and take better care of yourself is so important.

Start with looking at anything in your business that you do more than once and pass those items through this list of filters.

• Does this need to be done?
• Am I the best person to be doing this?
• Can I automate this to be as hands free as possible?
• How can I streamline this: templates, scripts, etc.?
• Systemize action items when in a place of clarity.

Have your Process Documented as a Contingency Plan

In The EMyth Revisited, Michael E. Gerber, writes about the importance of process documentation for business owners.   If you hire someone or in the event you are not able to be present in your business, you need to have your processes mapped out.  Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are important for maintaining efficient workflows.

It also helps to have your processes mapped out and have a second set of eyes review them.   As Donald Miller says in Building a Story Brand, assuming can make us ignorant.  Don’t assume your process is perfect.  Someone else may see a better way.

Solving Problems

If you want to solve a problem, you have to get creative to find the solution.  Tap into available resources and the humans you know who can help you.  Your network and community are invaluable.

Learn more about and connect with Bryan:

Website: www.getsproutstudio.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/getsproutstudio

Instagram: www.isntagram.com/getsproutstudio

Instagram: www.instagram.com/bcapphoto

Podcast: The Business of Photography

About the Host

Learn more about your host, Robyn Graham, click HERE.

To learn about The Brand Marketing Insider by Robyn Graham, click HERE.

Book a Brand Marketing Strategy Session HERE.

Ask Me Anything HERE.

Connect with me, Robyn Graham:

Website | Instagram | LinkedIN | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Pinterest

As Bryan was working as a photographer, he realized he was spending a lot of time going back and forth from system to system in order to accomplish tasks and repeating the same tasks over and over again. He saw a need for process mapping and an all- inclusive management program. A system that would streamline his business. Sprout Studio was the result of Bryan's need to solve a problem and streamline his business. About Bryan Bryan Caporicci is an award-winning wedding and portrait photographer based out of Fonthill, Canada. In 2014, he was awarded his Masters of Photographic Arts (MPA) designation by the Professional Photographers of Canada (PPOC), making him one of the youngest Canadian photographers to receive this level of achievement. Bryan is the host of the Business of Photography Podcast with over 2 million downloads. He teaches at workshops across North America, including industry-leading conventions and conferences such as WPPI, Shutterfest and Canada Photo Convention. Bryan is also the CEO and Founder of Sprout Studio. Become a Problem Solver The best solutions often come from being in the trenches. When things aren't working, we identify the problem and can find a solution. There is no better way to become a problem solver. Outsourcing It's important to realize when we are not an expert at something and hire the people who are experts to do that task for us. For example, attorneys, accountants, bookkeepers. Surrounding yourself with a tribe of experts who excel in areas you don't excel at is key for overall success in entrepreneurship. Marcus Buckingham in The StandOut Assessment goes through the example of we are taught our whole lives to focus on what we aren't good at to become better. As entrepreneurs, play to your strengths and do more of, and outsource the things we aren't good at. Process Mapping Think about where your time is best spent in your business. Is it worthwhile to do all of the activities you are presently doing? Having processes in place could mean you can spend more time on your business for creating more revenue, or it could mean having more time to spend on yourself and with your family. Being able to enjoy the fruits of your labor and take better care of yourself is so important. Start with looking at anything in your business that you do more than once and pass those items through this list of filters. Does this need to be done? Am I the best person to be doing this? Can I automate this to be as hands free as possible? How can I streamline this: templates, scripts, etc.? Systemize action items when in a place of clarity. Have your Process Documented as a Contingency Plan In The EMyth Revisited, Michael E. Gerber, writes about the importance of process documentation for business owners. If you hire someone or in the event you are not able to be present in your business, you need to have your processes mapped out. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are important for maintaining efficient workflows. It also helps to have your processes mapped out and have a second set of eyes review them. As Donald Miller says in Building a Story Brand, assuming can make us ignorant. Don't assume your process is perfect. Someone else may see a better way. Solving Problems If you want to solve a problem, you have to get creative to find the solution. Tap into available resources and the humans you know who can help you. Your network and community are invaluable. Learn more about and connect with Bryan: Website: www.getsproutstudio.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/getsproutstudio Instagram: www.isntagram.com/getsproutstudio Instagram: www.instagram.com/bcapphoto Podcast: The Business of Photography About the Host Learn more about your host, Robyn Graham, click HERE. To learn about The Brand Marketing Insider by Robyn Graham, click HERE. Book a Brand Marketing Strategy Session HERE. Ask Me Anything HERE. Connect with me, Robyn Graham: Website | Instagram | LinkedIN | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Pinterest

Julie Hale Maschhoff is a former first grade teacher and college professor.  She is the author of “Golden Fruit: Living the Fruit of The Spirit through the Best Times of Your Life” and “But Now I See: Finding God’s Plan for Your Life.”  Her journey is remarkable.  She’s one of my heroes and a true inspiration.

Julie has Usher’s Syndrome.  Usher’s Syndrome is a rare recessive genetic disease that causes severe hearing and visual impairment.  This diagnosis didn’t stop Julie.  After her diagnosis she went on to achieve her doctorate degree.

Finding Peace

Julie shared how she’s found peace by finding God’s purpose for her.   After retiring, she thought about what she could do, and writing was the answer.  She wrote her first book and submitted it to a publisher, and they accepted it right away.  At that point she knew that she was on the right path, following God’s will for her and she found a sense of peace.

In this episode Julie shares inspiring insight on how we can find our purpose and follow God’s plan for our lives, as entrepreneurs and personally, and find peace.

“God sends people and situations we can learn from.” – Julie Maschhoff

Humor

Julie believes strongly that we have to laugh at ourselves.  Life is too sad and heavy to not laugh.

Starting a Business

If you want to start a business, you have to try it.   If it doesn’t work out, or if you don’t feel at peace, then you might not be on the right path.   Pivot.  Change directions.  Sit with prayer and see what door God opens for you.   Leave the door open.   Don’t close it, put yourself out there and see what other opportunities God puts in our path.

When you try something and it doesn’t work or you don’t have peace with it, that’s a sign that it isn’t meant to be.   But you have to try things.   If God wants you to do something, you will find peace when doing it.

Fruits of the Spirit

If you want peace, follow the fruits of the Spirit.  Peace and joy are things we are missing in our society today.   Julie wrote her first book because she was depressed and wanted to find joy.

The Fruits of The Spirit

Joy

Peace

Patience

Kindness

Goodness

Faithfulness

Gentleness

Self-Control

We often look for peace in the wrong places.  If we don’t put in effort or take action, we don’t find peace.

When we are depressed, find someone you can help.  Get out of your own skin and find a way of living with the people around you by serving them.

The more we display these traits in our lives the more blessings we will receive in our lives.  If people are kind and civil and exhibit human decency life can be so rewarding.

Stop, Look and Listen

As humans we think we have all the answers but whatever the situation, we have to stop, pray about it.  We have to stop!  Stop and ponder.  Live with patience.

After stopping, it’s time to look around.  Look around and see what’s there, what opportunities is God putting in our path?  What doors is he closing?  What doors is he opening?

We also need to listen, something we don’t do for each other enough.   Instead of listening we start thinking about what we are going to say next.  Instead, stop doing and wondering and listen.

God often uses other people to speak to us for Him.   If we aren’t taking time to listen and instead jumping in to answer for someone or moving on to the next topic, we will miss an opportunity to hear God’s plan for us.

God sends people and situations we can learn from.  Thus, we need to stop, look and listen.

The Angels Among Us

There are angles among us.   God uses angels to communicate his plan for us.  If you pay attention to the world around you, to the people around you, and stop to pay attention, you’ll see them.  You’ll hear them.

Be Brave

Each one of us must be brave enough to advocate for herself and never be afraid to follow her dreams.   We have to encourage our girls to be strong and brave.  Girls need to realize that they can take care of themselves and know that no partner is going to complete them, that they have to complete themselves.  It’s important to teach girls to advocate for themselves.  Girls need to like themselves first.

Be brave, advocate for yourself and follow your dreams!

Learn more and connect with Julie

Website:  www.jjhale50.com

Email: [email protected]

Learn more about your host, Robyn Graham, click HERE.

To learn about The Brand Marketing Insider by Robyn Graham, click HERE.

Book a Brand Marketing Strategy Session HERE.

Ask Me Anything HERE.

Join the Brand Marketing Insider Private Facebook Group HERE.

Connect with me, Robyn Graham:

Website | Instagram | LinkedIN | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Pinterest

 

 

 

 

Julie Hale Maschhoff is a former first grade teacher and college professor. She is the author of "Golden Fruit: Living the Fruit of The Spirit through the Best Times of Your Life" and "But Now I See: Finding God's Plan for Your Life." Her journey is remarkable. She's one of my heroes and a true inspiration. Julie has Usher's Syndrome. Usher's Syndrome is a rare recessive genetic disease that causes severe hearing and visual impairment. This diagnosis didn't stop Julie. After her diagnosis she went on to achieve her doctorate degree. Finding Peace Julie shared how she's found peace by finding God's purpose for her. After retiring, she thought about what she could do, and writing was the answer. She wrote her first book and submitted it to a publisher, and they accepted it right away. At that point she knew that she was on the right path, following God's will for her and she found a sense of peace. In this episode Julie shares inspiring insight on how we can find our purpose and follow God's plan for our lives, as entrepreneurs and personally, and find peace. "God sends people and situations we can learn from." – Julie Maschhoff Humor Julie believes strongly that we have to laugh at ourselves. Life is too sad and heavy to not laugh. Starting a Business If you want to start a business, you have to try it. If it doesn't work out, or if you don't feel at peace, then you might not be on the right path. Pivot. Change directions. Sit with prayer and see what door God opens for you. Leave the door open. Don't close it, put yourself out there and see what other opportunities God puts in our path. When you try something and it doesn't work or you don't have peace with it, that's a sign that it isn't meant to be. But you have to try things. If God wants you to do something, you will find peace when doing it. Fruits of the Spirit If you want peace, follow the fruits of the Spirit. Peace and joy are things we are missing in our society today. Julie wrote her first book because she was depressed and wanted to find joy. The Fruits of The Spirit Joy Peace Patience Kindness Goodness Faithfulness Gentleness Self-Control We often look for peace in the wrong places. If we don't put in effort or take action, we don't find peace. When we are depressed, find someone you can help. Get out of your own skin and find a way of living with the people around you by serving them. The more we display these traits in our lives the more blessings we will receive in our lives. If people are kind and civil and exhibit human decency life can be so rewarding. Stop, Look and Listen As humans we think we have all the answers but whatever the situation, we have to stop, pray about it. We have to stop! Stop and ponder. Live with patience. After stopping, it's time to look around. Look around and see what's there, what opportunities is God putting in our path? What doors is he closing? What doors is he opening? We also need to listen, something we don't do for each other enough. Instead of listening we start thinking about what we are going to say next. Instead, stop doing and wondering and listen. God often uses other people to speak to us for Him. If we aren't taking time to listen and instead jumping in to answer for someone or moving on to the next topic, we will miss an opportunity to hear God's plan for us. God sends people and situations we can learn from. Thus, we need to stop, look and listen. The Angels Among Us There are angles among us. God uses angels to communicate his plan for us. If you pay attention to the world around you, to the people around you, and stop to pay attention, you'll see them. You'll hear them. Be Brave Each one of us must be brave enough to advocate for herself and never be afraid to follow her dreams. We have to encourage our girls to be strong and brave. Girls need to realize that they can take care of themselves and know that no partner is going to complete them, that they have to complete themselves. It's important to teach girls to advocate for themselves. Girls need to like themselves first. Be brave, advocate for yourself and follow your dreams! Learn more and connect with Julie Website: www.jjhale50.com Email: [email protected] Learn more about your host, Robyn Graham, click HERE. To learn about The Brand Marketing Insider by Robyn Graham, click HERE. Book a Brand Marketing Strategy Session HERE. Ask Me Anything HERE. Join the Brand Marketing Insider Private Facebook Group HERE. Connect with me, Robyn Graham: Website | Instagram | LinkedIN | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Pinterest

What is stress?

When the person perceives that the demands on them exceeds their resources.   There is also a secondary definition which is the emotional, mental or physical strain or tension.

How do we recognize stress?

Stress shows up differently for each of us, but most commonly it presents as irritability.   It can also show up as depression and anxiety.  There are also physical signs, headaches, migraines, stomach aches, heart attacks.

The first sign though is going into that irritability, and exhaustion.  When we experience stressor after stressor, and don’t process them, we have a breakdown or blow up.

We’ve been trained to ignore our emotions, to feel them later, but not now.   When those instances come up, we go back to the mindset of pick yourself up by the bootstraps and go forward.

Start feeling emotions and let them pass through.

Recognizing the Physical Signs of Stress

An exercise that works is to help identify how stress physically affects you is to look in the mirror and say something to yourself that you know will cause stress.   Feel the emotion.  Where do you feel it, where does it show up in your body?

Then, do the same exercise, but say something pleasant and kind to yourself.

It’s important to know the difference between the good feelings of excited and the feelings of stress.

Think of it as a mind body connection exercise.

Stress is unique for everyone.

What is burnout and how can we prevent it?

Burnout can show up in a variety of ways but the most common is irritation and exhaustion.   To the point of “I hate everything, I can’t do this anymore, I don’t have the energy for this any more.”

When in burnout, everything feels to hard and so heavy.

Burnout requires a different set of tools than stress.   We can’t prevent it at this time.  People who experience burnout often get sick.   Burnout takes a lot more time and energy to overcome than recognizing and alleviating stress.

If we take the pickup by the bootstraps approach to managing stress, we’ll end up in burnout.

About Carlee

 

The First Phase

Her real story started at the age of 12.   At that time her mother dated a man who was abusive.    He broke into their home and shot and killed her mom’s new boyfriend and her mother.   Her mother was not expected to survive, but she did.

While her mother made a full recovery, Carlee struggled with PTSD for years.   She didn’t tell anyone because she didn’t want to bother her family.   When she finally did open up, people only asked her to try the latest mainstream resolutions.

For ten years she struggled with this and nothing worked to move her to a place of joy.   This is when Carlee ended up in a state of burnout.

Her second phase began when she discovered that there is no one-size fits all approach to stress management.

The Second Phase

Carlee recognized that she was ready to give up and wanted to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to get the help they need so that they don’t get to the point Carlee got to.   This is how the Stress Less Company began.

Exercises for Stress Management

Carlee tried anything and everything.   At the time, creativity and drawing was what released her from the burnout mindset.

Creative Stress Reduction

Creative stress reduction is any activity that gets us out of fight, flight, or freeze mode to a state of play or flow.

People make poor decisions when in a state of stress.   The first step to get to what is going on, is to get out of the fight, flight or freeze mode.

One of the most common things Carlee experiences when working with entrepreneurs is that they go to fight or flight and assume that people are not going to hire them, they are ghosting them, etc.    It’s important to take a step back and reach out to follow-up instead of ruining a relationship.

How to Find Your Creative Activity for Reducing Stress

Once you have identified your creative activity, you can identify and recognize the stressors.   We have to identify the triggers to avoid them or handle them going forward.

Start with a list of one hundred items that you love doing.   It can be anything.   No editing.

It can be wine, yoga, hanky-panky, cookies.  Anything goes.   If you get stuck, go back to your childhood and think about what you loved as a child.

Then, ask yourself these four questions.

1. Would this item put myself or someone else in harms-way? If the answer is yes, it gets scratched off the list.
2. Is this item in my resources? Do I have enough money, do I have enough time, do I have enough social resources to make this happen?
3. Does this item have the potential to trigger me? Cross it off the list if it does.
4. How healthy is it?  Meaning, if I did this item every time I am stressed out would it be healthy? If not, cross it off.

What we left out are the items that are accessible and healthy for us to explore.  Circle the items that really excite you and start taking action on those items and not whether or not they help you or not.  If they don’t help, abandon them.

There may be items that help with different stress responses.  For example, if you are more excited, reading a good story might be best, but if you are angry, a kick boxing class might be best.

Take the time to do this.  Maybe start with ten items if you don’t have a lot of time.   But if you do a hundred, then you are done, and you don’t have to do the exercise again.

We waste a lot of time when we are in a stress state.   If we do this exercise and find our creative stress reducer, we’ll actually have more time because we’ll be able to focus more.  A lot of creative stress reducers only take ten minutes.    And that is all it takes to get into the play or flow state and be able to focus again.

Learn more about Carlee and connect with her

 

Website: www.thestresslessco.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestresslessco/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thestresslessco/

Free stress evaluation: www.thestresslessco.com/apply

 

Learn more about your host, Robyn Graham, click HERE.

To learn about The Brand Marketing Insider by Robyn Graham, click HERE.

Book a Brand Marketing Strategy Session HERE.

Ask Me Anything HERE.

Connect with me, Robyn Graham:

Website | Instagram | LinkedIN | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Pinterest

 

What is stress? When the person perceives that the demands on them exceeds their resources. There is also a secondary definition which is the emotional, mental or physical strain or tension. How do we recognize stress? Stress shows up differently for each of us, but most commonly it presents as irritability. It can also show up as depression and anxiety. There are also physical signs, headaches, migraines, stomach aches, heart attacks. The first sign though is going into that irritability, and exhaustion. When we experience stressor after stressor, and don't process them, we have a breakdown or blow up. We've been trained to ignore our emotions, to feel them later, but not now. When those instances come up, we go back to the mindset of pick yourself up by the bootstraps and go forward. Start feeling emotions and let them pass through. Recognizing the Physical Signs of Stress An exercise that works is to help identify how stress physically affects you is to look in the mirror and say something to yourself that you know will cause stress. Feel the emotion. Where do you feel it, where does it show up in your body? Then, do the same exercise, but say something pleasant and kind to yourself. It's important to know the difference between the good feelings of excited and the feelings of stress. Think of it as a mind body connection exercise. Stress is unique for everyone. What is burnout and how can we prevent it? Burnout can show up in a variety of ways but the most common is irritation and exhaustion. To the point of "I hate everything, I can't do this anymore, I don't have the energy for this any more." When in burnout, everything feels to hard and so heavy. Burnout requires a different set of tools than stress. We can't prevent it at this time. People who experience burnout often get sick. Burnout takes a lot more time and energy to overcome than recognizing and alleviating stress. If we take the pickup by the bootstraps approach to managing stress, we'll end up in burnout. About Carlee The First Phase Her real story started at the age of 12. At that time her mother dated a man who was abusive. He broke into their home and shot and killed her mom's new boyfriend and her mother. Her mother was not expected to survive, but she did. While her mother made a full recovery, Carlee struggled with PTSD for years. She didn't tell anyone because she didn't want to bother her family. When she finally did open up, people only asked her to try the latest mainstream resolutions. For ten years she struggled with this and nothing worked to move her to a place of joy. This is when Carlee ended up in a state of burnout. Her second phase began when she discovered that there is no one-size fits all approach to stress management. The Second Phase Carlee recognized that she was ready to give up and wanted to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to get the help they need so that they don't get to the point Carlee got to. This is how the Stress Less Company began. Exercises for Stress Management Carlee tried anything and everything. At the time, creativity and drawing was what released her from the burnout mindset. Creative Stress Reduction Creative stress reduction is any activity that gets us out of fight, flight, or freeze mode to a state of play or flow. People make poor decisions when in a state of stress. The first step to get to what is going on, is to get out of the fight, flight or freeze mode. One of the most common things Carlee experiences when working with entrepreneurs is that they go to fight or flight and assume that people are not going to hire them, they are ghosting them, etc. It's important to take a step back and reach out to follow-up instead of ruining a relationship. How to Find Your Creative Activity for Reducing Stress Once you have identified your creative activity, you can identify and recognize the stressors. We have to identify the triggers to avoid them or handle them going forward. Start with a list of one hundred items that you love doing. It can be anything. No editing. It can be wine, yoga, hanky-panky, cookies. Anything goes. If you get stuck, go back to your childhood and think about what you loved as a child. Then, ask yourself these four questions. Would this item put myself or someone else in harms-way? If the answer is yes, it gets scratched off the list. Is this item in my resources? Do I have enough money, do I have enough time, do I have enough social resources to make this happen? Does this item have the potential to trigger me? Cross it off the list if it does. How healthy is it? Meaning, if I did this item every time I am stressed out would it be healthy? If not, cross it off. What we left out are the items that are accessible and healthy for us to explore. Circle the items that really excite you and start taking action on those items and not whether or not they help you or not. If they don't help, abandon them. There may be items that help with different stress responses. For example, if you are more excited, reading a good story might be best, but if you are angry, a kick boxing class might be best. Take the time to do this. Maybe start with ten items if you don't have a lot of time. But if you do a hundred, then you are done, and you don't have to do the exercise again. We waste a lot of time when we are in a stress state. If we do this exercise and find our creative stress reducer, we'll actually have more time because we'll be able to focus more. A lot of creative stress reducers only take ten minutes. And that is all it takes to get into the play or flow state and be able to focus again. Learn more about Carlee and connect with her Website: www.thestresslessco.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestresslessco/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thestresslessco/ Free stress evaluation: www.thestresslessco.com/apply Learn more about your host, Robyn Graham, click HERE. To learn about The Brand Marketing Insider by Robyn Graham, click HERE. Book a Brand Marketing Strategy Session HERE. Ask Me Anything HERE. Connect with me, Robyn Graham: Website | Instagram | LinkedIN | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Pinterest