Zantastic

The WordPress community is going through dramatic changes in 2025. PressConf, a new iteration on Pressnomics, is happening in April. The lead organizer, Raquel Manriquez, is stepping outside of her own comfort zones to do what needs to be done for the people in the community. In this episode, Raquel shares her inspiring journey as she transitions from her long-term role at Elegant Themes to launching her own event marketing business. Discover how she uniquely merges her passion and talent in organizing events, driven by a profound belief in fostering human connection. Raquel shares insights on organizing WordCamps, the challenges in the WordPress community, and her ambitious yet heartfelt vision for PressConf. Join us for a candid conversation about growth, bravery, and the importance of creating safe, inclusive spaces where important conversations, sometimes challenging ones, can bring greater growth and connection.

In this episode of Zantastic, Kathy shares a deeply personal and transformative journey about finding true security from within. She recounts a story from years ago at a downtown event, drawing a parallel to how insecurity impacts decision-making and life quality. Kathy dives into her own experiences, detailing how external pressures and crises led her to seek certainty outside herself, only to discover that real change comes from internal certainty. She emphasizes the importance of confronting core beliefs and the psychological impact of visualizing pain to foster change. Throughout the episode, Kathy discusses tools for finding inner security and invites listeners to reach out for guidance.

To be the leader of your life, you have to get clear -- really clear -- on who you are and why you are doing the things you do. In this episode, I look at how to get rid of the malware of your mind to get to the core of yourself, underneath the inherited beliefs, thoughts, and emotions that are running in your life. I talk about the practice of Ho'oponopono, a practice taught by my husband, Mark, for spiritual cleaning. Learn more about identifying and eliminating erroneous beliefs and thoughts to connect with your true self, enabling better decision-making and manifesting the life you desire. Negative emotions aren't something to avoid; they're mile markers that show you where you are on the path back to your true self, tracing to the beliefs, emotions, and thoughts that are creating your experience.

If things are going haywire in your organization, it's an opportunity to work on one thing: yourself. As a leader, whether a CEO of a multinational organization or an entrepreneur managing a small team, your own unconscious beliefs and even unresolved trauma can come up in your organization as an opportunity for healing. This episode underscores the importance of self-awareness and spiritual growth in becoming an effective leader. Whether you're an entrepreneur, an aspiring manager, or just looking to lead in your own life, this episode offers valuable lessons on setting direction, empowering others, and recognizing the spiritual undertones in our professional journeys.

Everything in life is sales, from managing your business to everyday interactions. Sales isn't about closing, it's about building a brand, a network, and ultimately solving problems for your customers. But if you can't meet your customers where they are, you'll never make a sale. Unfortunately, most people are in "goldfish mode" more often in the modern environment, so capturing attention, educating, and coaching your audience to the transformation of a purchase is harder than ever. In this episode of Zantastic, we delve into the essential aspects of sales and how they permeate every facet of life and business.

Confidence isn't something we're born with. And many of us don't want ego-driven self-confidence without merit. We want actual confidence based on competence. But in the journey of self-expression, content creation, and entrepreneurship, our confidence is often challenged. Learn practical tips on developing self-confidence, overcoming negative self-talk, and leveraging the power of modeling ideal behaviors through examples like Bobby Axelrod from 'Billions.' Whether you're an entrepreneur, content creator, or anyone trying to step out of their comfort zone, this episode provides valuable insights to help you manifest your inner fantastic self. Explore concepts from neurolinguistic programming and discover actionable steps to boost your confidence in every area of your life.

Public speaking can change your life, open new opportunities, and grow your business. However, most people fear standing in front of an audience, ranking their fear of public speaking higher than their fear of dying. The hardest part is getting started.

In episode 7 of Zantastic, I give tips for getting started and compelling reasons why you should. I discuss:

• The importance of connecting with your audience
• Building trust
• The power of storytelling
• Practical advice on preparing for your first speaking engagement
• Managing nerves
• Using slides effectively
• How to practice and get better with feedback

I share my personal experiences and insights to become a more confident and effective public speaker. Tune in and discover what makes you fantastic! For personalized speech coaching and a free checklist, visit zantastic.me.

Email marketing is essential for growing your business, expanding your influence, and building your audience. Understand why having your own email list is vital compared to depending solely on social media platforms. Explore tips for reviving a stagnant email list, fostering intimate and personalized connections with your audience, and the advantages of segmenting your list for targeted communication. I also cover the effectiveness of pop-ups, crafting various types of emails, and nurturing sequences for high-ticket items. Email marketing can boost sales, cultivate deeper customer relationships, and offer valuable insights into your audience.

You can create content calendars, frameworks, follow publishing guidelines, learn all of the tricks of algorithms and AI, but nothing can replace the inner wisdom, guidance, and situational awareness that comes from attuning yourself to your audience. In this episode, I talk about how to connect with your own creative impulses to find messages that resonate with audiences, how to encourage consistency and persistence, and ultimately grow your business, audience, and community to support your brand.

As content creators, technology is foundational to our ability to connect with audiences. However, in 2025, we will have endless choices regarding how we go online. In this episode, I share strategies for making technology work for you without getting bogged down in analysis paralysis. We must:- define our goals- understand our constraints- know where we're going- deliver our message effectivelyThere are several areas where people often get stuck with analysis paralysis, where making a decision sucks our time and energy, and we still don't have answers. We get focused on minutia or stuck thinking about what might happen in 5 years. Here's how to make decisions and make those decisions right and focus on movement and momentum.