Package Your Genius Personal Branding Podcast
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Package Your Genius Personal Branding Podcast for High Achievers covering career, business and personal development
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Jun 2, 2022
PYG 164 - Branding yourself when you RESENT what you USED TO LOVE about your brand
Join me for Resonance & Relevance - my brand new storytelling workshop. Learn more and register here.
Let me be honest for a second.
I have encouraged clients to make themselves visible for YEARS. But some time ago, I began to question the point of it all.
Yes. I had to sit with the truth of how tiresome visibility actually was - even for me.
With all of the other issues in the world competing for my mental space and emotional energy, constantly courting the spotlight became exhausting.
(You can see how problematic this could be for a visibility strategist’s business model…)
At a certain point I concluded that if incessantly sharing was the key to me having a profitable business, I would have to shut my business down.
I was going to have to learn how to make my brand discoverable and compelling without creating a ton of extra work.
I was going to have to learn how to connect with those who needed my work WITHOUT creating yet another ferris wheel on which to exhaust myself.
Or else, my business as I knew it was a wrap.
Fortunately, I didn’t have to shut things down.
But I did come up with some parameters around how I show up.
And it changed how I began to advise my busy, high-achieving, often introverted clients to show up when the world around them is so uncertain.
I'm calling these parameters my "New Rules of Visibility."
In short, they are:
* RULE #1: Honor your season and your current capacity. Don't contribute to your own burnout by making yourself a slave to a social media posting schedule. You are not a machine.
* RULE #2: Quality over quantity. Seek to share in order to connect and resonate with your audience instead of sharing for sharing's sake. Share your newsworthy news.
* RULE #3: Leave long-lasting breadcrumbs. A durable trail of high-quality content can help newcomers get up to speed quickly on who you are. Social media trends like reels are fun, but long-lasting stories placed strategically will get you sooooo much more mileage as a thought leader and won't wear you out in the long run.
As you may imagine, solid storytelling is a key component of the new rules.
Instead of sharing gratuitously, we are popping up to the surface to share memorable insights that actually help others make sense of our current world.
We’re stepping into the spotlight to share the moments that create connection instead of add to the noise.
And we’re able to do it without wearing ourselves out.
🚨 Last call to join me for tomorrow at noon for my latest workshop: Resonance & Relevance - I’m so excited for it!
Whatever has changed for you during the upheaval of the last two years, it’s probably time to reintroduce yourself.
And it's time to do that in a way that takes into account the way your life, responsibilities, and perspective on your purpose has changed.
Because nothing is the same.
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May 18, 2022
PYG 163 - What happens when you have to disappear, regroup, and communicate your COMEBACK?
Sometimes, you have to disappear for a while...
It can feel oddly vulnerable to disappear from public view - whether your version of public view is social media, a public speaking circuit, or the networking rooms for your industry.
But EVERYONE disappears at some point - whether they leave a job, lose a job, have a baby, bury a parent, shutter their business, lose their motivation, or like me, succumb to burnout.
In the past two years, so many of us have had to step out of the spotlight. We’ve had to leave and return and sometimes, turn around and leave again.
A client disappeared online because he left the job industry and professional identity he’d held for nearly a decade and started a new entrepreneurial venture. He didn’t know how to share that news.
I’ve disappeared personally and candidly due to burnout, depression, and being just plain exhausted. After having a baby and tending to my older kids and trying to evade COVID, it’s been a lot. I had to take care of myself and sadly that meant I had to deprioritize coming here and sharing with you.
While circumstances among us may vary, a lot of the mental chatter we experience when going through that revolving door is universal.
On the occasion of your return, you wonder: Will people still care or be curious about what I’m up to? Are they still there? Do they even remember who I am?
And...how will I let people know that I’m BACK?
I'm hosting a new workshop called Resonance & Relevance on June 03, 2022 at 12pm EST and I hope you can join me live. This workshop is for you if you’ve been struggling to reintroduce yourself to your network after stepping away from the spotlight for whatever reason, and you want to learn a simple way to put yourself back on people's minds.
Register for Resonance & Relevance at http://www.amandamillerlittlejohn.com/classes
or on Crowdcast here.
But whether you join me or not, remember this:
It’s NEVER too late for you to make a comeback.
It's good to BE BACK. Thanks for listening.
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Dec 8, 2020
PYG 162 - How to overcome the Imposter Syndrome that's holding your brand back
Imposter syndrome is real, but there’s a fix: radical self-discovery.
Radical self-discovery isn’t just a nice to do, it’s a must-do. And it’s a must-do on a REGULAR basis if you want to step into the highest level of your purpose and live the most empowered version of your personal brand.
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Dec 2, 2020
PYG 161 - Prayer and meditation as a personal brand strategy
On today's episode, I take you behind the scenes of the morning routine that changed everything and helped me OUTGROW my goals. This new morning routine changed EVERYTHING - the consistency mixed with intention helped me outgrow my prayers in 30 days. Many thanks 🙏🏾 to Kailei Carr @kaileicarr Ash Johns @ashinspires Monique Ruffin @moniqueruffin and Jereshia Hawk @jereshiahawk
***
Welcome to December!
How are you feeling about 2020?
If you're like most of my clients, you may be thinking about what you set out to do this year, how the pandemic threw a wrench in your plans, what you managed to get done, and what you didn't accomplish.
But as I've said before - 2020 ain't over.
There's still time to squeeze some juice out of this year, and I for one have big plans to do just that.
High achievers like us don't take enough opportunities to pause, reflect, and put a plan in place for our own growth and development. It's one of the very first things we tend to deprioritize when life gets busy.
That's why taking the time to reflect, set intentions, and plan during the month of December is so essential.
Life comes at you fast, and once things pick back up in January, it will be almost impossible to find the time and mental space to make the BIG DECISIONS that will drive your progress for the year.
So if you've been on the fence, consider this your LAST CALL to 1) join the December PURPOSESCAPING Group Intensive that starts Sunday December 6, and 2) Apply for the 6-month visibility mastermind and get the December Intensive on me.
Over those fertile four weeks leading up to the new year, I’ll be coaching you using elements of the PURPOSESCAPING framework. I'll also help you to set your intentions for 2021 and strategize with you to map out a tactical/spiritual/malleable plan for your platform, visibility, and revenue for next year. And if you end up joining us for the visibility academy, you'll already have some serious momentum as we kick off sessions in January.
>> Click here to apply for the 6-Month Visibility Mastermind Click here to apply for the December Intensive Only
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Nov 25, 2020
PYG 160 - 5 Ways You're Not Monetizing Your Personal Brand (And How to Fix It In the Next 30 Days)
The end of the year is the perfect time to manifest money quickly. Many people are thinking about how they want to make changes in their lives, or may be reflecting on what they didn't accomplish this year that they need to bring back into focus.
This is where you come in.
How can you position your skillset as the solution to someone's end of year problem? How can you make yourself top of mind for those who may be ready to work with you at the top of the year?
In this episode, I share five specific ways you can monetize your personal brand fast.
Once you learn how to do this, you'll never be the same.
***
If you’ve been eyeing one of my programs, and supporting yourself feels like working closely with me, I invite you to explore the two ways we can engage.
I’m running the December PURPOSESCAPING Brand with Purpose Coaching Intensive starting December 6.
Over those fertile four weeks leading up to the new year, I’ll be sharing elements of my new PURPOSESCAPING framework as well as coaching you to set your intentions for 2021 and map out a tactical/spiritual/malleable plan for your platform, visibility, and revenue. Click here to apply for the December coaching intensive.
Here's the thing: getting clear on your intention works.
Writing your goals down works.
Sharing your goals in community with others who can hold space for you works.
Because the domino effect we set off at the end of 2019 during our last December intensive...🤯🤯🤯
Secondly, I’m wrapping up enrollment conversations for our Package Your Genius Academy Visibility Mastermind.
Behind the scenes this year, our students and clients have achieved some extraordinary wins:
• Ash unlocked her business potential, got unblocked and exceeded her 6-figure corporate advertising salary. And she did this by selling spiritual coaching services she was unsure she could sell at premium prices just one year ago. She now has a waitlist.
• Tiffany hosted her first sold-out virtual event and launched her first membership program.
• Allissa leveraged her journalism and storytelling skills to write a book on the history of mobile journalism. She landed a mainstream publishing deal and released her book to critical acclaim.
• Tamika sold over $100k in sponsorships for her first virtual event during the pandemic.
• Amber landed a mainstream book deal, 10xed her corporate client list, grew her team, and blew past her ambitious revenue goal for the year.
• Tisa buckled down and wrote the first book in a 3-book series on personal finance, and has since landed a grant that has allowed her to GIVE BACK and get the book in the hands of hundreds of first-generation college students.
While the mastermind kicks off in January, those who enroll now can join the December PURPOSESCAPING intention setting planning intensive at no additional cost. Click here to apply for the mastermind.
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Nov 19, 2020
PYG 159 - Write it down (REWIND)
Another rewind episode finds us here. This one is a bit personal, I've noticed a pattern with myself lately. I've been getting these confirmations about the things I'm doing that correspond to practices and worlds I'm not well-versed in. I heard the same message from two different people in as many days so I thought - hmm - maybe that's a podcast!
The message was - we are often affected by forces we're not even aware of.
It all goes back to clarifying what you want and putting that out there while remaining unattached to how you'll get there. That's why I chose today's episode as a fitting rewind as we move into the end of year planning or visioning season.
So many curveballs this year. And next year will likely be interesting, too. But one thing is for certain, we still need to get clear on what we want if we expect it to find its way to us. And honestly how often do you allow yourself to really immerse yourself in your big dream?
I'd like to invite you to immerse yourself in your intention for next year. If you need to get focused on what you want for your personal brand and business - join me over 4 weeks in December for the Purposescaping Brand With Purpose Intensive. We'll be getting clear on what we want to see show up in our lives but divorcing ourselves from the GPS.
Remember - the vision and roadmap rarely pop up at the same time. But what I'm learning more and more - and I'm by no means an expert in intention-setting - is the more you can embody what it is that you want from the inside out, the more inevitable will be its return to you.
So that's what December is about - embodying what we want for our personal brands - what do we want to create, what do we want to promote, what do we want to earn in the next year. Seeing it is the first step to claiming it, and once we claim it, it's ours. Enjoy this rewind.
Apply for the Brand with Purpose Intensive - Apply Now
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Nov 15, 2020
PYG 158 - From seeking to SOUGHT AFTER - How to become KNOWN (Rewind)
I’ve never done a rewind episode, before but I was reminded by how many episodes I’ve recorded (157 and counting, yay!) AND how everyone listening hasn’t necessarily been here since the beginning. And even for those of you who HAVE been here since the beginning, some episodes bear repeating, so here we are.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the intentions we set and how even when we make plans, our intentions tend to make the real difference because we never know exactly how we’ll reach our biggest goals.
If one of your intentions for the next season of your career and business is to become known in your industry so you can become sought after instead of always seeking, you need to listen to Becoming Known, a master class I taught last fall.
In it, I break down the 9 elements to becoming known in your industry so you can grow your audience, command higher fees, and reach your goals faster. Visibility is not the end goal, but it is definitely an accelerant if you want to reach your goals faster. Think about it - it’s really hard to become sought after if no one knows who you are and what you do.
If you’re seriously ready to become sought after in your next season, I invite you to apply for PYG Academy’s winter cohort. If you’re accepted and join before December, you’ll get to join our December intention setting and brand planning intensive at no additional cost!
If you're looking to go from seeking to sought after, I invite you to apply to Package Your Genius Academy. Apply Here >> Application
If you're ready to move from doing the work you CAN do to the work you were BORN to do without losing revenue or credibility, submit your application this week and we'll be in touch!
Apply to Package Your Genius Academy >> Apply Here
Apply to PURPOSESCAPING Brand with Purpose Intensive Only >> Apply Here
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Nov 3, 2020
PYG 157 - Land a mainstream BOOK DEAL to explode your personal brand
You can land a mainstream book deal during a pandemic without a huge following... 🤯🤯🤯
After working together in our PYGA Agency program this spring and summer, our longtime client and academy alum Amber Cabral, a diversity consultant and Fortune 500 trainer, landed a mainstream book deal with Wiley Press. It all happened really fast - Amber wrote the book over the summer and it will be released on November 17 in just a few weeks.
Since preorders are such a huge piece of helping books do well, we're excited to host an invitation-only master class for those who preorder the book this week. Amber will join Jeanenne Ray, acquisitions editor at Wiley Books in a conversation about mainstream publishing and what you can do to position yourself if landing a book deal as an expert is on your to-do list.
We’ll be discussing how Amber caught the attention of a major publisher this year, what publishers are looking for RIGHT NOW, and how YOU can potentially land a book deal WITHOUT a huge social media following.
If you are looking to explode your personal brand through a traditionally published book, this exclusive closed-door conversation is happening Thursday, November 5 at 2pm ET.
How can you join?
To register, you simply need to preorder Allies and Advocates, provide proof that you preordered the book in the last week, and fill in this form by Wednesday. On Thursday morning we'll send you details to access the private Zoom training.
If you’ve already preordered, please grab ANOTHER copy to gift to a friend or colleague. We want to drive as many preorders as possible before the book is released on Nov. 17!
If you’re looking to peek behind the curtains of how to land a book deal and learn how you can position YOURSELF for mainstream publishing, don’t miss this conversation!!!
On another note, if you're interested in learning some of the same strategies we've shared with Amber over the years - the ones that have helped her become a recurring expert on Fast Company, land a mainstream publishing deal, and grow her business to multiple six figures from zero figures just to name a few, understand that she started out in our 12-week visibility academy. Amber shows up and does the work - she outgrinds everyone AND she's obedient in that she implements what we tell her to do, so her results speak to that. If you're looking for that kind of transformation, I invite you to apply to Package Your Genius Academy. Apply Here >> Application
This cohort will work a little differently from previous groups.
First, I'll be infusing much of my new PURPOSESCAPING philosophy into the curriculum, so we're covering some brand new stuff!
Second, I'm committed to a six-month journey instead of three.
More time together means more opportunities to go deep with my team and I, more chances to implement, more chances to get feedback on your brand-building assignments, and more time for the lessons to crystallize.
I've noticed that when I bring dynamic groups together to embark on a journey like this, we're unstoppable.
If you're ready to move from doing the work you CAN do to the work you were BORN to do without losing revenue or credibility, submit your application this week and we'll be in touch!
That's all for now - I hope to see you in our session with the acquisitions editor at Wiley. If you're a subject matter expert, I believe there has never been a better time to put your ideas out there. It's our time. Let's go!
Links from this episode:
Apply to Package Your Genius Academy >> Apply Here
Preorder Allies and Advocates >> Preorder Here
Sign up for the Conversation with Wiley Press >> Register Here
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Oct 27, 2020
PYG 156 - Where Package Your Genius is Going...
A little update about where the Package Your Genius podcast is going...
I haven't sat down to record an episode of Package Your Genius in eight months and for that, I need to be straight up with you and offer my sincerest apologies.
When the year started, I was in a season of searching that took me a little longer than it usually takes at the beginning of a new year. I knew I was on the cusp of a season of personal and business change - I can't tell you how I knew it, but I did know it. And for that reason, I believe my spirit was stuck in quicksand.
I kept trying to put my own plan together for 2020, but every time I'd try, I'd get nowhere. It was like God was saying - "Girl, no need for a plan right now. Stay flexible. Things are about to get weird..."
Then the pandemic hit, and the year began to unravel quickly. I had just launched a high-end group program for established personal brands - AGENCY - and as we onboarded new members, news of the pandemic spread. Two weeks into the new program, my kids' school shut down and transitioned to virtual classes. My husband's corporate job also went virtual so everyone was working from home. Four weeks into the new program, several of my clients reported lost revenue due to pandemic-related cancellations.
I was devastated, terrified, unnerved - you name it. I immediately went into my default recession mental programming. If you know my story, you know that when the Great Recession of 2007-2008 hit, I was laid off from my newspaper staff writer position with a newborn baby and my husband would soon lose his job as well. While I hunkered down and started the first iteration of my PR business, I remember feeling stressed and scared the entire time. In those early months, there was a lot of hitting and a lot of missing - and with a newborn baby, there was so much pressure to succeed for survival's sake.
Fast forward to this past spring, and my default story around uncertain economic times started to play in my head. I mean, it was visceral. I could literally feel the panic of 2007-2008 just as if I were once again a first-time twenty-something mother who had just lost her job. Like many parents, I wondered if my kids would mentally be okay spending so much time indoors and if any of us would catch the virus and get sick. I grieved not getting to visit my grandmother on her 90th birthday which coincided with the kids' spring break. More in line with my conditioning though, as I watched news of rising unemployment numbers in the USA, I worried if I would be okay if my clients' businesses would be okay and if I should brace for a season of drought and struggle.
But this time, I was far removed from that 2007 2008 version of myself as a business owner who's weathered her fair share of storms and built something profitable and sustainable - something I am proud of. But that didn't keep me from feeling the physical manifestation of anxiety, and replaying my recession story both mentally and physically.
My fear froze me.
I held off on launching the programs I'd had on my calendar for 2020. I took my focus off of myself and dove into supporting my children as they navigated classes on RingCentral and Zoom. I gave all my energy to my new program clients which paid off handsomely when I witnessed them clawing back to rebuild their 2020 revenues, outline and publish their books, raise six-figure sponsorships, host sold-out virtual events, and land a traditional book deal. I plan to record either a special podcast episode or virtual training on the specific lessons I learned about building your profits via your personal brand even during a pandemic.
But anyway, a few of my new agency clients ended up leaving the program early due to their own situations regarding COVID - one, in particular, was a hospital executive who was essentially living at the hospital and putting herself at risk every day to go to work. But some of the clients we onboarded that spring stayed for the full duration of the 6-month program and can I tell you, it was our weekly calls that kept me focused and productive so much so that I need to call them by name - Thank you Tamika, Amber, Tiffany, Kimberly, Tisa, Tanya, and Susan for giving me a place to put my mental focus on the days I wanted to spiral back into my old story.
Working with these ladies through the first months of the pandemic was so eye-opening - their courage to keep showing up and continue offering their gifts to the world inspired me to keep showing up and keep offering my gifts to them. In hindsight, working with them really got me through the worst of it - at least what has been the worst of it so far.
But back to what happened with the podcast. I knew about a year ago that I needed to pivot my mission and the content for this podcast because I'd started to veer into a new direction with what I was being called to share. Even though it would literally take me 5 minutes to make a list of 20 personal branding topics that would neatly fit under the package your genius umbrella, I prefer to share what is being channeled through me and give you the downloads directly from my source.
And those how-to service pieces were not coming through, okay? You probably noticed how you started hearing a lot about nature and purpose and finding your path much more than you heard about how to write a better bio or grow your audience on LinkedIn. Which is why I believe I lost my podcast voice for eight months. Until I was ready to claim this other more "woo woo" part of myself and my voice, I thought it was better to say nothing at all.
But I'm excited to announce I have decided to step into the new season of my voice and I've launched PURPOSESCAPING, my new podcast and platform to help you go deeper with your personal brand and clear a pathway to your purpose.
PURPOSESCAPING has been in the works for a while, but I'm happy to finally have the opportunity to share it with you. So if you're interested in where I'm going with my new level of thinking, search for PURPOSESCAPING wherever you listen to your podcasts and subscribe. I've also set up an Instagram account just for that brand and it's @purposescaping so please follow along and engage with me there.
Now. What does that mean for Package Your Genius? To be honest, I am not 100% sure just yet. However, I did feel like the content I've produced here up to this point is relevant to many of you, and may be relevant to people who discover me for the first time in the future. That's why I didn't rebrand Package Your Genius to PURPOSESCAPING and essentially erase it from the internet. I wanted to let it stand here as a resource to people who still want to check out these 150+ episodes as they may be relevant to wherever you are on your journey. Because everyone won't want to come along - I'm clear that PURPOSESCAPING is not for everybody.
Will I continue to update the Package Your Genius podcast? As I see it now, I definitely won't be updating the podcast as regularly as I did before, however I still have tactical content from time to time that would probably make more sense to share here, so I may publish at least one episode or interview here per month. We'll see. I'm not putting a ton of pressure on it as PURPOSESCAPING is my major focus right now. But again, as I have tactical personal branding nuggets to share, I plan to share them with you here.
For example, next week I'm hosting one of my longtime students and clients, diversity consultant Amber Cabral in conversation with an acquisitions editor at Wiley Press. They're going to be discussing how to land a traditional book deal as an expert without a huge following, so I may come back on and share a few nuggets from that conversation. If you would like to participate in that live and hear from the book editor and about Amber's experience attracting the attention of a major publisher and landing a book deal in the middle of a pandemic, we are making that conversation a bonus to peop…
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Feb 27, 2020
PYG 155: Who's keeping you from seeing yourself clearly?
As a personal branding coach to high achievers, I have a special insight into the inner lives of many of my clients. And one unfortunate thing many of them have in common?
They don't see themselves clearly.
Their possibility and their potential for GREATNESS is often obscured by a lack of self-awareness.
So they downplay their gifts, sell themselves short, and end up overlooked for the very opportunities they seek.
Since the company we keep is important, and we base so much of our self-knowledge on what the world is mirroring back, it must have something to do with the people around us, right?
After talking to so many high achievers who don't know one another, I've spotted four sources of this blurred vision.
Here are four types of people who tend to obscure our ability to see our full potential:
1.) the opportunist
2.) the micromanager or toxic leader
3.) the person who sees us as who we used be despite our evolution
4.) the person who's unfamiliar with the territory we were born to roam
Which one resonates with you? Drop me a note online - I'd love to hear from you!
***
It's that time again. We're putting together the spring cohort of Package Your Genius Academy! If you know you don't see yourself clearly, but you're finally ready to see and step into your full potential, apply to join us. We're accepting applications for the cohort that starts March 10.
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Feb 20, 2020
PYG 154: Lead with you
This past fall, I had the pleasure of working with conscious business and brand strategist Ash Johns in Package Your Genius Academy.
Ash has quite the bio; trained in corporate advertising, she's also highly spiritual and intuitive. Her spiritual talents and passion for social equity inform her current business where she works as a psycho-spiritual coach.
Before entering PYG Academy, Ash was rightfully hesitant about money. She'd just returned to the U.S. from Bali, and her business wasn't earning enough to sustain her life back in the States.
She craved a business where she could lean into her 'woo' and package premium services with her ancestral healing work front and center.
But she feared it wasn't realistic to expect to make the same kind of money as a healer as she'd made in her six-figure corporate gig.
Ash uncovered during the three months of the academy that she could show up 100% authentically, lead with her spiritual "woo" side, and still make a lot of money.
As a matt…
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Feb 12, 2020
PYG 153: Multi-passionate is a MYTH
A common idea keeps many high achievers stuck in analysis paralysis.
It's the inability to decide on a focus area because they are admittedly 'multi-passionate.'
Every day, talented professionals fail to move their brands forward because they can't pick a direction. I've talked to many people who feel they need a separate website, distinct social media pages and brand identities for each of their passions. Let's face it - that's a lot to keep up.
In my opinion, characterizing yourself as multi-passionate is a bad idea.
For one, it dilutes your credibility, at least in the beginning. Since your audience can only digest one thing at a time, if they're coming to you for your support, your message needs to be crystal clear.
You can hear my four reframes for the multi-passionates in this episode.
***
It's that time again. We're putting together the spring cohort of Package Your Genius Academy! If working on your umbrella message or the umbrella program that can contain the multitude…
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Feb 4, 2020
PYG 152: Build on Your Foundation
Trying to figure out the next level of your brand?
As much as you may think you need to start from zero and do something completely brand new, the key may be to go back to the beginning so you can see how you've always been able to summon success.
Go back.
Back to the early days.
Back to those foundational experiences that defined you early on.
How have you been always doing what you do?
Too many of us are reinventing the wheel, thinking that "building a brand" means forging ahead into the future with no regard for the past. So we're "starting from scratch" when it comes to our audience, our offer, and even our message about who we are.
But there's information to be found when we go back to the beginning.
Reflect:
1.) Who usually reaches out to you? Who has always reached out to you? What audiences do you have traction with?
2.) Why did those people reach out? Why did they need your help?
3.) What core skills have you been using to help that audience all along?
4.) What fee…
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Jan 30, 2020
PYG 151: The Snowball Effect
Activating a project requires a different type of energy than maintaining a project.
You won't always have to work as hard to maintain something as you had to work to get it off the ground.
If like me, you're a high achiever who's grown accustomed to striving, that may feel unfamiliar to you. But at some point, after you've put in the work, understand that the work will become easy.
The trick here is to remember you've earned the ease.
You don't have to tear down what you've built to "make it hard again."
Instead, now you can reinvest your time, energy and effort into something else that means a lot to you. Now you can reinvest the energy you previously used to get this dream off the ground and put it into something even bigger.
I looked at Dave Ramsey's Debt Snowball Method and applied it to goals, our personal brands, and business projects. But you could take the concept and apply it to almost anything like your relationships, your parenting, or even your health.
***
If you'v…
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Jan 21, 2020
PYG 150: Put Yourself in Position
This past weekend, I decided to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by doing a write-a-thon with my kids.
We each have a dormant writing project that could use a little intentional time and focus - Connor has a new fiction project, Logan has a fiction/comic book project, and I have another non-fiction project in the works.
So we dedicated our weekend to writing.
All said we wrote for 6 hours 🤯 over 2 days - broken up in two 90 minute writing sprints each day. In between sprints we snacked, read our work aloud, gave each other ideas/feedback, and cheered for each other.
I always tell my clients how important community is when you’re doing something difficult or brand new.
With writing, it can be hard to stay motivated when I’m all alone, but it was surprisingly easy with a crew. When one person got stuck, we were able to feed off of whoever was flowing.
Over the two days, we wrote a combined 7,000 words. Stay tuned for updates on our writing projects. W…
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Jan 15, 2020
PYG 149: What's going on underground?
One of the biggest lessons I've learned from nature is this: the leaves and flowers of any growing plant are not visible all the time.
And the same is true for us as ambitious high achievers.
Even though we may want to be perpetually "in bloom", that's not realistic.
This time of year, it's easy to get swept away in the energy of a new year.
Fresh starts. New beginnings.
But what happens when your grand ambitions for the year have yet to surface? When your actual life doesn't match the hashtags of your favorite inspirational Instagram influencer?
You may be looking for that spring energy - evidenced by sprouting green stems and unfurling baby leaves. But in reality, that may not necessarily be where you are.
If you're currently in a growing phase where your progress isn't visible to the outside world, don't worry.
Trees may lose their leaves, but they don't die in winter. There's still a lot going on underground.
Some very big and very important things may be taking root. But…
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Dec 24, 2019
PYG 148: What would happen if you gave yourself more credit?
For high achievers, it's common for us to become immune to our accomplishments. Before the triumph of a win has settled in, we're on to the next.
After jumping a major hurdle, we've already mentally raised the bar again before our feet even touch the ground.
The danger is that doing this creates a diminished and completely false self-image. We're BOSSES in the world, yet when we diminish our accomplishments we begin to mentally see ourselves as ordinary people who have yet to do big things. But in actuality, we've done a lot more than we give ourselves credit for.
What would happen if you gave yourself more credit?
How would things be different?
How might you see yourself?
What might you have the courage to do?
Who might you have the confidence to approach?
What rooms would you be willing to walk into?
What clients would you have the gall to pitch?
It's taken me years to learn this life-changing lesson: Just because an accomplishment has become your norm, doesn't make it norm…
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Dec 17, 2019
PYG 147: Perfectionism is costing you the gift of PRACTICE
I don't know about you, but I've never gotten really good at something without a ton of practice.
And yet, when we get caught up in our perfectionism, we rob ourselves of the valuable practice that would make whatever we're contemplating, well, perfect.
When we don't put ourselves out there, we miss out on the practice of
* sharing our ideas clearly
* having sales conversations
* powerfully articulating our value
* improving our timing and presence
* understanding what our audience wants
* getting comfortable doing uncomfortable things.
Best-selling books don't magically appear. They take weeks, months, and sometimes even years of writing, refining and marketing before they reach that status.
World-class speakers all typically have a speaking horror story or two in their back pocket.
Even when you look at the best podcasters and Youtubers who garner millions of downloads and views, most started with bad lighting, unprofessional audio. But they were up to the task of p…
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Dec 8, 2019
PYG 146: The case for IMPERFECT ACTION
You don't need a perfect blueprint to lay the first stone.
And yet, as high achievers, many of us would rather wait until we have the most failproof plans before taking the smallest action.
But action, no matter how imperfect, will refine even our best plans.
I learned this (again) recently when I decided to make a pivot. I went from hosting a one-day virtual event to hosting a one-month evening intensive after thinking through the needs of my academy alumni.
But in this mindful pivot, I uncovered how I could feed two birds with one seed and my new book - The Brand with Purpose Planner - was born!
So in this case, taking imperfect action not only led me to a BETTER course of action, but it also created the residual effect of giving me the impetus to produce a book product that has been on my brand vision board list for years!
Talk about a serious ROI on taking imperfect action.
What have you been smothering with the expectations of perfection?
What ideas have you let simmer and…
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Nov 20, 2019
PYG 145: Are you being obedient to the call of your path?
If you're anything like me, you've probably had a zillion ideas that somehow 'magically' dropped into your spirit - things you somehow knew you were supposed to be doing, or chances you new you were supposed to be taking, but you couldn't explain how you knew exactly what you knew.
You may call it intuition, your inner knowing, God or the Holy Spirit. Whatever you call it, you know when you've gotten a direct download.
But acting on those downloads is another thing all together.
I've received clear downloads for years, but I haven't always been obedient about taking them and acting on them.
But last year when I decided to be obedient to one specific download, I realized that all along, my obedience had been the key to unlock a level I didn't even know was there! My obedience produced the missing puzzle piece to a specific goal that had eluded me for years.
To experiment with this concept, ask yourself:
Have you ever acted on a big goal even though you were terrified, and been sur…
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Nov 15, 2019
PYG 144: Putting your brand on the calendar
It's The Fifth and Final Day of the Brand with Purpose Challenge!
You can find Day One of the challenge, here and Day Two of the challenge here, and Day Three of the challenge here and Day Four of the challenge here.
Today, we're going to take everything we brainstormed and wrote down in the challenge workbook and use it to map out the month by month calendar for next year.
I've asked you what you will make it a priority to create next year. If you've decided to write your book or launch your conference, now ask yourself when. When is your launch date? When will the event be?
I've asked you what type of visibility you'll go after - from media and podcast interviews to speaking. When will you go after it?
I've asked you what program or service it's time for you to launch. When will you launch that new program or double down on the old?
The key word of today is WHEN.
It's one thing to brainstorm something new to create or launch, but when we don't take the time to decide when exac…
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Nov 14, 2019
PYG 143: What can you LAUNCH and SELL to generate more revenue next year
It's Day Four of the Brand with Purpose Challenge!
You can find Day One of the challenge, here and Day Two of the challenge here, and Day Three of the challenge here.
Today we're going to think through what we need to launch in the coming year to increase our revenue.
What program or service is it time for you to launch?
What is your existing audience begging you to bring forth?
What have people asked for your help with this year? Does it make sense to create a course or strategy session around it so you can offer it to your wider audience?
If you know you want to make an income leap next year, you can definitely wing it and still earn more, but you probably won't hit your goal revenue or income number if you don't plan.
What $$$ number do you want to reach? What's your plan to reach it?
Whether you're full-time in your business or still report to a 9-5, there are ways to create a revenue stream based on your expertise. You just have to find one that fits your style and schedul…
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Nov 13, 2019
PYG 142: What's your plan to increase your visibility?
It's Day Three of the Brand with Purpose Challenge!
You can find Day One of the challenge, here and Day Two of the challenge here.
Today we're going to focus on what we need to promote in the coming year to increase our visibility.
What vehicles are you using to promote yourself next year?
What times of the year will you be reaching out to media?
What conferences and events will you apply to speak?
As you've heard me say before, your expertise is likely more relevant at some parts of the year than others. For people in the coaching and transformation space, the New Year is one of the very best times of year to make a splash in the media, or to get people excited about our content.
But for those in the financial space, April around tax time in the U.S. is a strong time to have one's expertise considered for potential speaking engagements and media segments.
It's all about understanding your audience and when they'll be most interested hearing from you. When will they most need t…
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Nov 12, 2019
PYG 141: What assets do you need to create to optimize your brand?
It's Day Two of the Brand with Purpose challenge!
If you missed Day One of the challenge, listen to that episode here.
Today we're going to focus on what we need to create in the coming year to optimize our personal brand platforms.
What you are going to add to your platform?
What can you evolve?
To give you some examples from my own brand platform, in 2016 I launched the first iteration of Package Your Genius Academy group program, and it has become an anchor program in my business.
But in 2014, I launched an information product called The Branding Box that paved the way for Package Your Genius Academy and formed the basis of the curriculum I would eventually teach.
More recently, in 2018 I published the book Package Your Genius: 5 Steps to Build Your Most Powerful Personal Brand. The book has also become a pivotal piece of my brand platform as it has helped me reach new students for the academy, and attracted new paid speaking invitations.
The point is, you don't want to crea…
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Nov 11, 2019
PYG 140: Your brand needs an intentional plan for 2020
I’ve done some fun daily challenges on my podcast this year - in June and October I podcasted every day of the month.
As we approach a new year and decade, I wanted to do another daily challenge, but I wanted to do it with you.
For this podcast challenge, I’ve carved out time for us to work together over 5 days to accomplish one big goal: map out our plan for 2020.
Welcome to the 5 day Brand With Purpose Challenge!
Eek!
I’m so excited!
The mission of Brand with Purpose is simple: it’s a chance to be intentional about how we approach our platform, visibility and revenue in 2020.
No more winging it and hoping for the best.
Here’s a little preview of what’s in store over the next five days:
Day One: We're kicking off the challenge by looking back. Where have you been winning in 2019? Where can you build on that momentum in the coming year?
Day Two: Next, we’ll put a heightened focus on what you are going to do to add to or evolve your brand platform. Is it time to…
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Nov 5, 2019
PYG 139: The #1 question you need to answer if you want to convert more sales
There is a simple mistake I see often with my personal branding clients, and those who are setting out to package their genius. I've even made this mistake myself.
When it's time to finally get paid from our genius, we often start with the question "what can I sell?" instead of thinking in terms of what our potential customers need from us.
While so many people start the brainstorming process here, there's a far more customer-centric way to begin brainstorming products and services that will sell easily.
This simple shift is an easy fix, let me know if you're asking this question when you begin to brainstorm your next program.
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Nov 1, 2019
PYG 138: Are you taking advantage of your current season?
During a series of enrollment calls with potential students for my most recent cohort of Package Your Genius Academy, I heard a refrain I hear so often when speaking with people who are considering making the investment of time and financial resources.
"Maybe this can wait..."
For reasons that differ for everyone, putting ourselves first is often the last thing we think to do. Putting our own needs and pursuit of our own personal fulfillment comes in dead last after immediate work obligations, the needs of our family members, and for some, the demands of church and community.
But time waits for no man.
And while I think most of us grasp the fact that no one has "all the time in the world..." we often forget that our prime won't last forever. We won't always have the energy, the network, the health, the free time, the money....the list goes on and on, to do what we want to do now.
So how are you taking advantage of your current season?
If there's something you've been meaning to d…
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Oct 7, 2019
PYG 137: Becoming KNOWN - The 5 Essential Shifts to Unlock Your Personal Brand Authority
This is a replay of my personal branding MasterClass Becoming KNOWN - The 5 Essential Shifts to Unlock Your Personal Brand Authority.
When it comes to building your personal brand, at a certain point it becomes less about your skills and talents, and more about your comfort with putting them out there.
If you've worked in your industry for a decade or more, you're likely skilled beyond question.
You need a new set of skills to shift how others perceive you. You need a new strategy to step into your worth, and communicate that confidently to others.
You need to step into your BRAND AUTHORITY.
And this doesn't come naturally to everyone.
If you...
* have been perpetually on the fence about starting a side hustle or otherwise earning extra income from your skills
* know you aren't earning all you could at your current level of experience and expertise
* have spent your career in the background and struggle stepping into the spotlight
* have had several brilliant ideas for b…
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Oct 3, 2019
PYG 136: How brand authority can unlock your potential
When it comes to building your personal brand, at a certain point it becomes less about your skills and talents, and more about your comfort with putting them out there.
If you've worked in your industry for a decade or more, you're likely skilled beyond question.
You need a new set of skills to shift how others perceive you. You need a new strategy to step into your worth, and communicate that confidently to others.
You need to step into your BRAND AUTHORITY.
And this doesn't come naturally to everyone.
If you...
* have been perpetually on the fence about starting a side hustle or otherwise earning extra income from your skills
* know you aren't earning all you could at your current level of experience and expertise
* have spent your career in the background and struggle stepping into the spotlight
* have had several brilliant ideas for businesses, books, non-profits or creative projects in the past but haven't brought yourself to pull the trigger
* would like to step…
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Sep 30, 2019
PYG 135: When failing to reach a big goal still gets you ahead
Today marks the official end of my September podcast every day during the month challenge.
And can I tell you a secret?
I failed...spectacularly!
I missed six full days of the challenge, and since this is my second daily challenge for the year, I technically failed in comparison to the challenge I completed in June.
But even though I missed six days of the challenge, I still came out ahead in terms of listener engagement, downloads and growth as a podcast host.
Score!
Which made me think about the way we sometimes label our efforts a failure if we aren't able to meet a very specific goal. But if we set a big goal that we plan to reach over time, if we move toward that goal but don't reach the goal we set, we still likely made significant process, and there's no reason to give up the goal all together.
Progress is winning.
If you have big goals for this year, the final quarter of the year is upon us! It's the final week to submit your application for the fall cohort of Package Y…
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Sep 29, 2019
PYG 134: Generating the surplus from which you can serve
If you ever find yourself feeling too busy, too overwhelmed, or too burdened with to dos and it's standing in the way of you packaging your genius and making the impact you're meant to make on this world, you need to generate a surplus.
And while it seems counterintuitive, much of that surplus can be connected to making more time (I know, I know - you're already stretched thin) for yourself.
But this is a personal experiment I've been conducting in my life, and the results have been priceless.
Since implementing a more intentional and daily self balancing routine I have experienced:
* more clarity on my business challenges
* clarity on what is standing in my way personally
* motivation to push through on hard things
* patience and grace with myself
* perspective - understanding when I'm assigning too much or too little significance to something
* a higher tolerance for stress
* resilience
If you're too busy to package your genius, putting yourself back on the calenda…
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Sep 28, 2019
PYG 133: Why high achievers need self care the most
We hear a lot about self care - how to get it, why we need more of it, and what does or doesn't constitute it. But lately I've been made aware of the residual effects and payoff of self care - how it benefits me long after I'm in the practice of doing or getting what I need.
And it makes everything related to my ideas, my planning, my long-term thinking crystal clear.
If you struggle with overwhelm, anxiety, irritability and lack of focus, I highly recommend you thinking through the self care practice that makes the most sense for you.
And check out Dr. Thema Bryant- Davis's episode on the Homecoming Podcast about self care. Very powerful stuff.
*** As our enrollment season comes to a close, I welcome you to apply for the opportunity to work together in Package Your Genius Academy this fall! Enrollment is closing soon for the personal brand visibility academy and our PR mastermind. Visit www.packageyourgeniusacademy.com to learn more and apply.
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Sep 26, 2019
PYG 132: You Can Change Your Vehicle
I recently discovered a truth about myself I had been unable to see for years. I realized that I had been telling myself a story that simply wasn't true. While the story was rooted in my personal experience. I fail to take into account the fact that my situation has changed.I was holding on to a truth that matched a past version of me.
Can you say the same?
How many times have you decided who you are and what you can do based on who you've always been and what you've always done?
You can change.
You can change your vehicle.
You can choose a new, true, story.
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Sep 23, 2019
PYG 131: It's worth your dream to try again
Even when we fail the first time, our dreams are worth fighting for.
Package Your Genius Academy was a dream of mine that almost didn't happen. I failed launching the program the first time, but have since gone on to work with 7 cohorts - now enrolling my eighth.
One of the things I often reflect on is what might have been lost if I hadn't gotten back up and tried again. When I think of the lives that have been impacted directly by the academy, and even more importantly, the people I'll never know but who have been impacted by the students who've gone to the academy. It's a humbling thing to see the ripple effect your work can start!
LaShonda Walker is one of our PYGA ripples. She joined in May of 2019 on a quest to find deeper meaning for her work. She used her time in the academy to gain clarity on her purpose, and essentially remember who she'd always been and what she's always loved. It's an honor to see LaShonda ignited and on a new path all her own.
*** I welcome you to apply…
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Sep 21, 2019
PYG 130: How I handle exposure as an INTROVERT
Believe it or not, I'm a hardcore introvert.
Networking events are my least favorite thing right after small talk. But I realized at some point that if I wanted my business to grow, I'd have to get in front of new people. I needed a way to show strangers what I knew and what problems I solve if I ever wanted new clients to hire me.
Enter the media.
What other way can you get in front of thousands while only interacting with a handful of people to make the interview happen?
But most introverts see media as a big overwhelming proposition when in reality, there are a number of ways you can approach it.
I came up with a few media exposure personality types. Which one are you?
* The Thinker - The thinker has ideas to share and recommendations to make. They would rather share those ideas in a long form way by writing. Their dream media placement would be a New York Times op ed or an essay in the Atlantic
* The Talker - The talker loves to engage. And short snippets just won't do, t…
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Sep 20, 2019
PYG 129: Scarification and Stratification
From The Spruce.com:
Not all plant seeds are ready to sprout as soon as you put them in the soil. Some hard-shelled seeds need a bit more coaxing and some need a temperature change to trigger the end of dormancy. Scarification (cracking the hard outer shell) and stratification (fooling seeds into thinking they've been through winter) are two simple techniques that will save you a lot of frustration when starting seeds.
Stratification and scarification occur naturally when seeds stay outdoors through the cold winter.
Some seeds have outer shells that are extremely hard and don’t allow water through. This is one way a seed stays dormant in the fall and winter until growing conditions improve.
You may be upset when you look for your efforts to bear fruit and you can't see the evidence above ground. Sometimes the action is not visible, you may be in a dormant phase in preparation for your growing season.
Not all seeds are ready to sprout as soon as you put them into the soil. You ma…
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Sep 19, 2019
PYG 128: Harvest your gifts before the rains
When it comes to working the land - especially in the Southern region of the United States, this time of year is an exciting time because it marks the season of harvest.
But it can be a potentially dangerous time for the farmers who aren't quick enough to get their year's work out of the ground.
It's essentially a race against time to harvest before the winter rains when anything you've left out in the field will be rendered useless.
Unpicked fruit will be left to rot.
A fortuitous conversation with my grandmother revealed this wisdom that's native to Southerners, and I had to share it with you. The similarity between our gifts and a farmer's crops were too stark to miss.
So many people have allowed their gifts - their expertise, skills, and wisdom - to ripen for years, but have yet pick their own fruit.
Let this comparison to nature be your own cautionary tale: there comes a point when you're not growing anymore. But it may not be because you've simply reached a plateau, instead…
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Sep 17, 2019
PYG 127: Choose to choose
High achievers typically do such great work that they're often recruited for opportunities, courted by associates, even pursued by friends.
Instead of being the aggressor, it's not uncommon for them - despite all of their success - to find themselves in the passive role of waiting to be chosen.
It's what they're used to after all.
If this resonates with you, and you're not in the field you want to be in, on the career track you want to be in, or in a relationship that serves you because you were chosen but did not choose, let me be the first to tell you things can be different.
You can choose to choose.
Don't settle for what falls into your lap. Decide what you want in every area of your life, and go after it.
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Sep 16, 2019
PYG 126: Must-haves, deal breakers and multipliers
Every living thing has its own set of base level requirements for survival.
Every living thing also has its own set of factors that would make it hard to grow.
Last but not least, every living thing has certain factors that would take it to the next level and cause it to thrive, regenerate, multiply.
The same is true for us.
Each of us has our own set of must-haves, deal breakers and multipliers. A part of radical self discovery is paying attention to all three in order to get the clearest picture of ourselves and our personal recipe for success.
***
Package Your Genius: 5 Steps to Build Your Most Powerful Personal Brand has officially been in the world for a full year!
Thank you to all of you who purchased the book (or the companion workbook), left a thoughtful review, bought the book for a friend and shared this life-changing content.
I am so grateful!
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Sep 15, 2019
PYG 125: Radical Self Discovery
I was reflecting back on a few of my incredible clients and the reflection reminded me what it is I do that matters, and more importantly, WHY I do this work. As I was thinking about the simplest way to describe what I do, I realized that at the core of my work I help people remember who they are -- even if you've never truly been able to articulate your understanding of yourself, or if you knew it very clearly at another point in your life but somehow drifted away from yourself and forgot, I help you put a framework around yourself so you understand who you are, what makes you tick, what energizes you and what drains you. In some ways there is nothing more important than this. Once you get a clear understanding of who you are, you can not only make better decisions, but you can make the BEST decisions for you because you will immediately understand why something doesn't feel right. Once you get a clear understanding of who you are, you will know immediately what you have to do in orde…
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Sep 14, 2019
PYG 124: When finishing matters more than winning
As you are on the road to package your genius, and you're a high achiever who is used to always being the best, I want you to remember:
No matter where you place
sometimes just finishing the race
is a form of winning
when you're doing something new.
*** If you know you have valuable gifts inside you, but you are unclear which race you're running and where's the lane for your gifts and talents, I welcome you to apply for the opportunity to get that clarity during our visibility academy where we can work on it together. If you've been doing great work and getting results in your industry, but you want to expand your exposure, learn more about our PR mastermind and apply. Enrollment is open now for the academy and our PR mastermind. Visit www.packageyourgeniusacademy.com to learn more and apply.
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Sep 13, 2019
PYG 123: When you have to drop the ball...
Sometimes limits are in our heads, telling us we can't go any further when we have just a little bit of gas left in the take.
Other times limits are deeper, and our exhaustion is our body/mind/spirit's way of telling us we need to rest.
But the beautiful thing about life is, for most things, we get another day to try again. If you had to put down a work project, take a day off from cooking dinner for the family, or skipped a workout - you can get back on track.
Don't beat yourself up if you drop the ball.
Just pick it back up tomorrow.
*** Here are all the ways you can work with me: Join our free Facebook community where you can meet other podcast listeners and engage directly with me. Join here. Check out the book Package Your Genius: 5 Steps to Build Your Most Powerful Personal Brand if you haven't read it yet. Pick up the companion workbook - a tool I made to help you think through the questions that can help you get closer. If you need help remembering how to answer the call…
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Sep 12, 2019
PYG 122: Reframe your default
My mom retired a few years ago, and in the time since, she's been living her best life. She had a goal to see all the states in the lower 48 of USA and as of today, she's officially done it.
She left for a road trip for her birthday early last week, headed with her bestie from Tennessee to New England.
When she initially told me about the trip, I remember catching myself getting wistful. "I sure wish I could take off for ten days at my own pace to see the sights," I thought to myself. "And I sure wish I could spend that kind of quality time with my mom..."
I can't do that because of the kids, I immediately told myself. For the last decade plus, that has been my default reason whenever I get too excited about doing something or going somewhere that will take me away from the DC area. Because the kids have to get to and from school, my husband travels a lot for work so I need to make sure my calendar is clear.
But is that true, really?
At this point, my kids know how to ca…
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Sep 10, 2019
PYG 121: Op Ed Writing to Spread Your Ideas
We've been talking a lot about purpose, but I want to change the conversation and switch gears back to visibility because it's one of the reasons you're here.
In this two-part episode on op-ed writing, I share 5 questions to ask yourself to get closer to the op-ed you want to write.
In part two, we'll talk to a journalist who will share how we can reach millions of people with our words.
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Sep 9, 2019
PYG 120: Someone needs to hear it from YOU
Do you remember your favorite teacher from when you were in school? Or a teacher who could make a subject you usually didn't like come alive? Or better yet, a teacher who could break down a subject in a way that could make you understand even when others couldn't?
And they may have been saying the exact same thing or reading from the exact same textbook as all the other teachers who taught that subject, but for whatever reason you could just hear it better from them?
Well someone out there is thinking the exact same thing about you.
Someone out there needs to hear your area of expertise, but they need to hear it from you.
Even though there are already people who are saying some version of what you're saying, or doing some version of what you're doing, there are still people out there who still need to get the goods from you.
Why is that?
I can't explain it. Just like you can't explain how two cooks can follow the same recipe but turn out completely different dishes. E…
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Sep 8, 2019
PYG 119: Change your personal culture
I recently attended an organizational effectiveness training retreat for an organization I'm a member of. One of the most powerful things I learned was how easily an organization's culture can get off track, and how possible it is to get things BACK on track.
So think about an organization you're a part of, or even a relationship you have with someone to make it easier to imagine. If you have one bad interaction with someone, you may say "Oh we had a tiff," or "we didn't see eye to eye..." and you chalk it up to a misunderstanding, but the relationship isn't over.
If you have two or three bad encounters, internally you go on alert. You may start to rethink the relationship and even say "We're not in a good place..." But once you get into the four-five range with negative encounters, you're in the red zone. In the training, our facilitator said that 5x is a DECISION that this is how we will deal with each other. This is our culture.
But what I find fascinating is the same way y…
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Sep 7, 2019
PYG 118: Your martyrdom is no excuse
Harlem
BY LANGSTON HUGHES
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore—
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over—
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
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Sep 6, 2019
PYG 117: How you show up when you want to WIN
How do you show up when you come to win?
For some reason, we all know how to prioritize our work assignments, our money, our kids, even our health - but when we think of our gifts we go blank.
We get ourselves out of bed and out of the house every day, but suddenly can't figure out how to motivate ourselves to get started.
We multitask, manage multiple calendars and juggle conflicting schedules for our teams and families, but we can't figure out how to find the time to make our dreams happen.
We put together scrum boards and complex project flowcharts, but when it comes to our gifts, we can't figure out the first step to take.
But we need to attack our gifts with the same energy we bring to the places we already excel.
Look at what you're doing well, where you're winning, what you're getting right.
What are your typical patterns?
How do you show up when you're ready to win?
For example, one of the things I feel like I am getting right is cultivating my childr…
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Sep 5, 2019
PYG 116: Callings call
Why does it even matter whether or not you package your genius?
Who cares if you explore what you're meant to do?
What difference does it make if you don't share your genius with others?
Those are the questions I want to explore with you today. Because before I can make the case that you should package your genius, you should first understand what's at stake if you don't.
I believe the mandate of being human - what's written in our genetic code or whatever makes us homo sapiens vs some other species - is to find what we were put on this Earth to do. Your mandate as a human is to fulfill the assignment and complete the mission for your specific journey, your specific life.
That is what I whole-heartedly believe.
But if we're honest with ourselves, our life missions have likely been evident since childhood or adolescence. We've heard the call. But how many of us answered and chose to walk down the path our calling was leading us to?
I can remember being a student in…
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Sep 4, 2019
PYG 115: Don't waste your raw materials
If I handed you the deed to the land that contained a diamond mine, how would you feel? Maybe you'd feel excited thinking about your good fortune and your riches, but after you thought about it, would you know what to do with it? Would not knowing overwhelm you? Would it make you walk away?
No way.
You'd do some research, call an expert, and figure out what one does with a valuable diamond mine. You'd figure out who has the equipment to extract the diamond, which people had the expertise to get it out, what the process is to get it up to commercial standards, and who the best buyers are for your specific type of diamond.
You wouldn't throw up your hands and walk away just because you don't have the technical know-how to get these diamonds out of the ground, when you know they're valuable and people want them.
But that's exactly what most of us are doing with our gifts.
We've all got raw materials, but the problem is we don't know how to refine what we have, we don't have…
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Sep 3, 2019
PYG 114: Alternate Routes
Sometimes you have to take a different route to get where you're trying to go.
And while you may not like the idea of alternate routes - especially if you're a recovering perfectionist like me - you must admit, the route doesn't matter all that much.
Because if you end up still reaching your destination, who cares how you got there?
I had to learn (still learning!) to give myself grace when the journey doesn't look picture perfect.
At the end of the day, all that should matter is that I end up where I originally wanted to go - or someplace even better.
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Sep 2, 2019
PYG 113: What is it your season to do?
No season lasts forever, but in every ending there's a chance for some new beginning - if you keep your eye out for it.
Whether you're watching something come to an end, or you're ready to start a new chapter, what is it your season to do?
Meico Whitlock who I interviewed on Episode 41 - (How to harness your focus and set priorities) and Episode 63 - (How to Create a Vision for Your Life) taught me about the importance of being intentional with your time and setting finite priorities for each season.
As Meico teaches in his Mindful Techie courses and programs, once you identify your life vision and mission and set your specific goals, it's important to set no more than two priorities for any given season.
I'm excited about the intentional energy I'm putting behind my writing in this season, and I can't wait to see where that will lead. But I'm clear that it's truly time to prioritize writing after seeing a significant opening in my calendar related to my kids' school.
Again, as on…
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Sep 1, 2019
PYG 112: Your genius deserves a break
Sometimes your genius needs a break.
And you shouldn't feel bad about it.
In fact, you'll likely move further ahead, instead of falling behind as you may imagine. Rest helps you work smarter not harder - and I'm with that!
I learned this summer not to beat myself up for needing and taking rest - but to celebrate what happens to my mind, body and relationships when I take a step back and nurture myself in the way that I need.
How often do you take the break that you need to rejuvenate yourself? What's your favorite way to rest?
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Jul 12, 2019
PYG 111: What's keeping you from making a change?
Change is hard, especially if you like tradition, routine, or growing accustomed to the way things are.
Change can also be hard when it's public-facing. You have all those prying eyes to consider. What will people think? How will this change their perception of me?
But what I've learned from experience is this: when you make a big change - say your hair color, or even your job - it may register briefly to outside world, but after that, humans do what humans do.
Adapt.
While you're fretting on and on about that big change you're afraid of making, once you make it, most people will barely notice. And if they do notice, the decision you lost sleep over will likely only register for an instant.
The new you will become the current you.
And the past you will be all but forgotten.
So if the changes we're stressing ourselves out over only register for a brief moment in time, why are we putting our lives on hold, failing to make the changes that could add more fulfillment and happiness t…
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Jul 3, 2019
PYG 110: Is your lane already saturated?
I've seen a few posts recently about saturation - one post about there being too many courses. Another post about there being too many coaches. Both posts discouraging people who'd never coached or created courses to even try. Because saturation. But saturation doesn't matter when it comes to having a better solution. A more convenient solution. A more you solution. When you think about coaches and courses simply as education, it makes me wonder why no one ever asks why there are so many schools? We have public neighborhood schools, public charter schools, public magnet schools, Montessori schools, private independent schools. Co-ed schools, single sex schools. PK-12 schools. Middle school only schools. High school only schools. And let's not even get started on college options - from community, to state university to small liberal college to prestigious Ivy League. No one blinks at education options when we think of children. It's considered an unspoken truth and fact of life that chi…
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Jul 1, 2019
PYG 109: Feel behind on your goals? You can turn this year around
Today is the first day of July, the first day of Q3, and the official halfway point of the year. Since we only have six months left in 2019, if you've had time to reflect on the six months that have passed, you may be lamenting on how far you are from the goals you set in January. (Or you may have crushed your goals completely, to which I say, yay you!) But if you are nowhere near where you thought you'd be, consider this your pep talk - it's time to get back in the game. I'm here to let you know, all is not lost. Even if you were asleep from January - June, you can make up the difference with the months we have left. You simply need to revisit your goals, tweak your strategy, and decide what you're going to do differently. But first, realize you're not alone. According to U.S. News & World Report, the failure rate for New Year's resolutions is said to be about 80 percent, and most lose their resolve by mid-February. I for one am guilty of hopping off the consistency train. At the end…
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Jun 30, 2019
PYG 108: You have to sell it
Making yourself visible means nothing if you're not willing to close the deal.
And yet, I see so often high achievers who are willing to teach others what they know, but unwilling to let people know how to take the next step and pay them.
But if you want to grow your brand, increase your salary and add commas to your business revenue, you have to sell yourself.
You have to sell yourself in meetings and mid-year reviews.
You have to sell yourself to your network and potential customers.
You have to sell yourself to the viewing audience of the tv segment you're on.
You have to sell yourself from the stage.
Here are 6 things to keep in mind as you set out to sell yourself:
Decide on what you want, quantify it, write it down.
I've said before, there's power in writing your goals down. I don't know what the science is, but I can tell you that it works.
Go after what you want.
If you want 4 new clients, make a list of 10 people who may be interested in what you're doing and call t…
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Jun 29, 2019
PYG 107: Make your visibility a PRIORITY
Visibility is important, but I don't believe in visibility for visibility's sake.
Media interviews, speaking engagements and social media content have been my method of creating inbound opportunities - opportunities that come to me.
In the last few months, visibility has yielded the following:
* a bulk book order from a Fortune 100 company's subsidiary
* a semi-conductor company invited me to develop a personal branding talk, and ordered a bulk order of the book
* a devoted listener of the PYG podcast referred her mentor who joined the PYG Academy
* countless coaching clients have said "I saw you in Forbes..." or "I heard you on Sirius XM...."
* A client who saw me speak at a conference in 2015 has been a client everyday since
It's worth it. Visibility helps you avoid feast or famine so your client pipeline never dries up.
To get started with your visibility efforts, follow these three steps:
* Think about the audience that buys what you're selling. What do they watch…
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Jun 28, 2019
PYG 106: How to find and define your BIG ideas
We all know we should say something to be seen and heard, but...what?
How to find your thought leadership ideas is a topic I'm extremely passionate about, as most people are so close to their brilliance that it's hard for them to see how they can package it for other people.
Here are a few ways to know what you have to say if you're "too close" to your genius"
AGGRAVATION. Look at what irritates you or aggravates you - this could be the basis for a powerful Op ed.
SOLUTIONS. Look at the problems you solve. How can you create tactical content to help others?
CONTENT. Look at your existing content: if you speak, can you turn your deck into the basis for a book? If you write articles, can you turn them into a talk?
YOUR INSPIRATION. Look at when you first started doing what you do - what inspired you? What stories do you remember from that time?
YOUR AUDIENCE. What audience do you serve? Who was the first person representative of that audience that you remember helping?
When you'r…
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Jun 27, 2019
PYG 105: What you can learn from what comes easy to you
I've said it before - and I stand by the statement. You have to make the case for what you've done in order to get what you want now.
Simply having the epiphany that you want to use your skills differently is not enough - you need receipts to back up your claims if you want people to pay you.
But where I see most people getting stuck is they fail to look at the evidence and results they're closest to.
The unpaid work, the help you lended a friend, that time you totally helped a family member regroup, save money, or plan the vacation of a lifetime.
Most people think that if their results aren't tied to paid work, they don't count.Or if they're not tied to formal training, they don't count.
But all you need to have evidence that you can do what you're telling people you can do is a repeated pattern of success.
Whether you trained for it or came by it naturally, if people keep showing up to get a solution from you and you keep delivering, this is work you're capable of b…
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Jun 26, 2019
PYG 104: How to uncover your genius offer
In my book Package Your Genius, I break a successful personal branding process down into 5 steps - get clear on your genius, make the case for what you bring to the table, define your big ideas, make yourself visible, and last sell yourself. Today I want to dive a little more into that first step - getting clear. In terms of getting clear on your genius, I've talked a lot about following your energy and assessing what information your energy is giving you. Typically, the work we find energizing is linked to our most purposeful work - this is the internal way we can assess which path to take. The other way is looking at external factors, or what the world is mirroring back to you in the questions you hear most often or the requests for help you regularly receive. But lately I've been thinking about two other questions you can use to zero in on what you're meant to do, or at least what you can package and make money from right now. The first thing is to think about what you've been able…
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Jun 25, 2019
PYG 103: The power of writing it down
Yesterday I talked about the power of speaking your dreams into existence, and how IF you've verbalized your desires, your mind subconsciously sets you on a path to achieve the things you want to do, even if you've lost your nerve or don't feel confident.
Well looking over my written goals for 2019 has given me a window into how powerful writing your goals down can be even if you don't set out with an intentional plan.
I didn't realize it before reviewing the goals, but I'm on track to reach them.
I won't go through them all, but a few of the goals I wrote down at the beginning of the year were
1. To double my revenue
2. Take 4 vacations - 2 domestic, 2 international
3. Double my podcast downloads from last year
4. Quadruple my book sales from last year
At the halfway mark, I just happened to look at my full list of annual goals and realized that I've already accomplished a few of them in some way. The most interesting thing though was that I didn't reach the goals in the w…
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Jun 24, 2019
PYG 102: Say yes to the opportunity
If you've been listening to the podcast, you know I've been in Italy for the past week or so, and it's been an amazing trip, I've had a great time. But I was reflecting on the fact that I almost didn't come. About six weeks ago,a friend asked me to join her in Italy since she'd be traveling here for a conference. I did something I normally don't do - I didn't hesitate. I said yes.
I've been thinking about ways to get more adventure into my routine, because I've been head down grinding on behalf of my family, and my academy programs for the past two years.
Taking a vacation or traveling anywhere internationally used to be on my mind all the time, but in this new season, it has been completely off the radar for me. And funny enough, I've written the words adventure and travel in my journal and on my vision board, but haven't made the time to create any intentional plans.
So when my friend asked me if I'd like to meet her in Italy I just said yes. I had to make sure my husband wo…
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Jun 23, 2019
PYG 101: Are you an activator or a maintainer?
On episode 100, I briefly shared the concept of being an activator or a maintainer.
Understanding whether you’re an activator or maintainer can help you figure out the best way you’re called to serve others if you’ve decided to package your genius by working with people.
Do you know which one you are?
As a start, activators tend to feel very energized up front; they’re excited and often have the ability to transfer their energy to others. Activators get people unstuck and projects off the ground.
Activators can focus intensely for a pre-determined set of time, from an hour to three months to a year - as long as there's an end in sight. They appreciate knowing the starting point and ending point up front. Some are commitment-phobic.
Activators like brainstorming, getting projects off the ground, being a part of the creation process, and tend to lose patience if projects or problems linger without ever reaching a sense of completion or resolution.
Maintainers, o…
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Jun 22, 2019
PYG 100: What are you willing to create?
Drumroll please...
I've just reached a major milestone. I've recorded my 100th podcast! I'm so excited!
This podcast has evolved over the 2.5 years I've been doing it, and there have been some bumps and bruises along the way. But for the most part, I'm very happy with the journey and where I am now as a podcaster.
Thank you for being here!
On this special episode, I come to you live from the streets (literally) of Rome, Italy. I set up a podcast studio on the sidewalk, ordered cappuccinos and hit record.
I was joined by my frequent collaborator Dr. Reisha Moxley, who you may know from earlier episodes (in the 30s) when we recorded a few conversations on high achievement and psychology.
Reisha joined me again today for this retrospective - we discussed the past, present and future of my podcasting journey. She played Oprah and interviewed me about the experience of podcasting to this point.
We discussed why you should create a podcast or write a book if people keep asking you the…
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Jun 21, 2019
PYG 99: Muscle Memory
Muscle memory is defined as "the ability to reproduce a particular movement without conscious thought, acquired as a result of frequent repetition of that movement."
From Wikipedia: "When a movement is repeated over time, a long-term muscle memory is created for that task, eventually allowing it to be performed without conscious effort. This process decreases the need for attention and creates maximum efficiency within the motor and memory systems. Examples of muscle memory are found in many everyday activities that become automatic and improve with practice, such as riding a bicycle, typing on a keyboard, entering a PIN, playing a musical instrument,[1] poker,[2] martial arts or even dancing."
But beyond riding a bicycle (you never forget, right) or playing a musical instrument, there is a degree of muscle memory involved in doing the activities required to build your personal brand in a public way.
I was reminded of a time I spoke on a stage during a period of intense personal gri…
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Jun 20, 2019
PYG 98: Break through the old story
An old story - everybody has one.
Typically old stories are framed by absolutes - "I never..." or "I always..." or "I'm not someone who..."
But we have the power to change our actions, and in doing so change our stories.
I want to change the story about myself that I'm not adventurous; I don't travel. I'm broadcasting this episode from Italy where I am in the midst of an adventure - an impromptu trip sparked by a friend who was traveling here for a conference.
By booking the flight (and showing up for it) I changed my mind about myself. I am a woman who travels and has adventures - I'm not just work, work, work.
But you can change any behavior, and the associated identity that goes with it. So what do you want to change?
Pick one negative thing you say about yourself - i.e. "I'm not a person who works out..." and then book something - a training session or pilates class - that refutes that idea. )I've found that if I spend money, I'm less likely to flake out).
I'm going to spend…
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Jun 19, 2019
PYG 97: Making yourself at home on your new level
If you're a high achiever who's anything like the people I work with most often, you're always thinking about the next step, and pondering how you'll get to your next level.
You may be making gains in your career, or putting in the work to build your credibility and your personal brand in the process.
But what happens when all your hard work takes you exactly where you wanted it to, but you don't feel quite ready yet on the new level you've rightly earned?
Do you shrink or decide you can't cut it here? Or do you challenge yourself, stretch your legs out, and set out to get more comfortable?
If you've recently found yourself with a new level of client, speaking on a bigger stage, or recently promoted, things may not immediately click at first.
But give yourself some time, give yourself grace.
You're only on this new level because of all the work you put in before.
Lean on the steps you took to get to this point, and be confident in my personal mantra that "You've already done the…
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Jun 18, 2019
PYG 96: Feedback is a gift
It's not always easy to hear other people's opinions about how you can improve - let's face it, we all have egos.
But in my journey, rarely has my next level of success been on the other side of praise and flowery feedback. It typically only surfaces after I've heard something that I didn't want to hear.
Ouch.
I talk to professionals of all stripes who find themselves in one of two positions: on the one hand they may be the recipients of feedback that doesn't feel good. The delivery may have been rough. They get defensive or feel hurt.
Or on the other hand they're getting zero feedback - but clearly need it, because their career is at a standstill.
Who would you rather be?
While it's not always great to hear the ways we can improve, if we have people in our lives who are willing to level with us, that's a true gift.
It's not always easy to welcome it with open arms, but if it can help you fill in your gaps and level up, consider feedback a gift.
***
If you're looking for more…
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Jun 17, 2019
PYG 95: Turn off the work
Work hard, play hard.
Nice mantra, but I rarely live it.
In fact, I find it hard to to play hard - but working hard comes easy.
Maybe you can relate? As a high achiever especially, you may be able to get into your work groove easily, but relaxing your self to play? Not always so easy.
I'm working on being more intentional when it comes to playing hard. What's all the work for after all if I'm not able to enjoy the fruits of my labor?
***
If you're looking for more media exposure for your personal brand, check out Maximum Exposure my PR mastermind for established personal brands, and apply to join us.
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Jun 16, 2019
PYG 94: They may not say it, but they see you
So much work we do goes unnoticed and uncelebrated. It's easy to keep our heads down doing what needs to be done.
Sometimes it can feel demoralizing when others don't seem to take notice of all you do at work or at home.
I recently realized how much of my hard work is getting noticed - even when I don't feel think it is. It made me think of how much of what we do is likely more noticed than we realize...
***
If you're looking for more media exposure for your personal brand, check out Maximum Exposure my PR mastermind for established personal brands, and apply to join us in July.
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Jun 15, 2019
PYG 93: Strike while the iron is hot
While it's nice to think it's never too late to follow your dream, in reality, some dreams have a shelf life.
Whether they depend on you being youthful, a relevant technology, or your own level of personal freedom, there are periods in all of our lives when it's easier to do certain things than others.
That's why you should strike while the iron is hot. Don't wait to feel ready, don't wait to leap; if you wait too long, you may miss your moment.
As a good friend and PR expert shared with me when discussing one of my brand ideas, "the window for this opportunity will close soon...so if you want to make a mark on this issue, do it soon..."
I share the same idea with you. None of us are getting any younger. Technology changes at rapid speed. The pace of business is dizzying.
If you have an idea that is marketable now, launch it.
If you have always dreamed of living abroad and a job opportunity opens up overseas, take it.
If you have a book idea and the topic is hot right now, write…
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Jun 14, 2019
PYG 92: How building a brand library can help people find you and your ideas
I'm a collector - and have always been. You could call me a digital packrat, and I couldn't argue with you.
By that I mean, I don't let content go to waste - as much as possible, I create shareable nuggets from whatever I have to say.
No one does this better than Gary V - his entire life is content, and he approaches it as such.
But for you or me, how can we start building a brand library, and how can it help us?
For me, making sure to create content that creates a hyperlink has been key to growing my searchability over the years. If you google my name, there's a lot to find, and that's by design.
I may not have one million followers, but I have million dollar SEO.
Being searchable online helps clients find me, and has helped corporations begin the process to bring me into speak.
But it's because I don't "throw away" my best ideas on Instagram stories or Snapchat. I create a record and a library by putting them here, on the podcast or on the blog. Whenever I can, I'm looking for…
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Jun 13, 2019
PYG 91: Staying present to witness what's unfolding
While attending a women's leadership conference in California, I heard one of the presenters drop a nugget that I don't think I'll soon forget.
When addressing a room full of junior leaders, many of whom were concerned about "work-life balance" (or more fashionably, "work-life integration") she mentioned that she didn't think she or any of her fellow panelists believed they 'had it all'.
"I don't think any of us up here believes that we have it all," she said before pausing. "But then again, maybe we do..."
Have you ever considered that you already 'have it all' in this very moment - or at least all that you dreamed of one year ago, or ten years ago? Are you present to the absolute miracles that are unfolding in your personal life, at work, in your business, in your relationships?
We tend to tune out the everyday evolutions, the incremental signs of growth -while making sure not to miss that important email, or phone call or text. And in doing so, we're blind to the many miracles w…
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Jun 12, 2019
PYG 90: How to Identify Your Process
Your brand needs a process - that is if you want to monetize.
But are you aware of what your process is? Most people aren't aware of it, but we typically have a way we go about getting results for others.
If you can outline step-by-step how you make the magic so to speak, your genius will be much easier to communicate and to sell.
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Jun 11, 2019
PYG 89: Why your genius needs a process
If you're planning to monetize your personal brand - and by that I mean, you're ready to cash in on the expertise you've been unwittingly accumulating over the years, one of the very first things you'll need is a process.
And by that I don't just mean a process to sign people up for your service, or a process to accept payments while those are also important processes to have.
What I mean by a process is the actual process you take yourself through whenever you're doing what you do best.
It's easy to not even notice your personal process for results when you work within a larger organization - you may confuse your personal process with the organization's process, and the two may be very similar.
But more often than not, you bring a degree of personalization and specialization to everything you tackle, due to the fact that you are you.
Some of the benefits of having a process for your genius?
1. Your current and future clients will know what to expect
2. Having a process makes yo…
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Jun 10, 2019
PYG 88: Your humility is a liability
Too many of us err on the side of humility when it comes to crafting our personal brand messages.
But humility won't sell you.
Think about the opportunities you're up for - you're likely competing with others. And while you shouldn't view your life as a competition, to a degree it is. When you have to make the case for why you over someone else, your humility can be a liability.
Many people fear that they come off as "obnoxious" when they describe why they're the best fit. But if you're telling the truth, there's nothing obnoxious about your truth.
It is what it is.
Check out the June 10, 2019 issue of Washington Post Express for a quote by yours truly!
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Jun 9, 2019
PYG 87: Keep things in perspective - you can start again
The past 48 hours have been far from ideal.
But in retrospect, they could have been far worse.
I'm holding onto that nugget as I process the past and attempt to move forward, but quite honestly, earlier today I hit an emotional wall. It is taking some serious self-coaching to get myself back into a good headspace, and I'm not even completely there yet.
Thankfully, life has a funny way of giving you perspective when you're too wrapped up in yourself to see how inconsequential the small things really are.
What do you do when you hit an emotional or mental wall?
How do you bring yourself back?
How do you refocus yourself?
I'd love to hear how you process.
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Jun 8, 2019
PYG 86: You have a body of work
If you’ve been building your brand for any length of time, you likely have a body of work.
But are you leveraging all the work you’ve done and ideas you’ve shared up to this point?
I was reviewing one of my websites and realized I have accumulated 6 years of regular content.
Yet when people encounter me TODAY, they may only be aware of a small snapshot of what I’ve done.
I will be the first to say I could do a better job of sharing stuff from my archives to those who may have missed it the first time.
What about you?
Remember - good ideas are worth repeating.
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Jun 7, 2019
PYG 85: Stay on message when it comes to what you care about
When it comes to personal branding, most people will remember the message not the photos or logo.
When you eat, breathe ,and live what you care about the most, people take notice. They'll think of your topic and then think of you.
When you stay on message, you stay top of mind.
You don’t have to be featured in a major publication for people to understand what you’re passionate about. Your passion for what you do should ooze through you at home and at work whether you're delivering a talk on stage or making small talk with colleagues.
3 Ways to stay on message when it comes to what you care about?
* Rant about what bothers you in the industry
* Tell personal stories about what has happened to you in relation to your topic of expertise
* Let your wider network know whenever you get the chance to speak or do formal media on your topic
If people don’t understand what you do, that’s a messaging problem you can fix. My program and others are designed to ta…
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Jun 6, 2019
PYG 84: Cast a wider net before you call it quits
How many times have you formed an opinion based on one person's comment?
How many times have you made up your mind about a restaurant, a company, or a city after only having experienced it one time, or reading one bad review?
Do you tell yourself a story based on only 1-2 pieces of evidence?
And when it comes to going after clients, pitching yourself for media opportunities, or leveling up in your career - have you ever decided to give up after hearing one no?
We're all guilty of having done this at least once or twice.
But my message for you today?
Cast a wider net before you call it quits.
This is a wide and vast planet, with over 7 billion people at my last check. While you may not have been able to sell the last person you pitched on your idea, your business or yourself - you have likely not exhausted all of your options.
It's impossible to exhaust the option in most things, especially when there are new ones popping up that you may not even be aware of.
Here's your remind…
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Jun 5, 2019
PYG 83: How to stop OVERTHINKING your genius ideas when you struggle with imposter syndrome
I'm not sure if it's a high achiever thing or what, but overthinking has cost me so much as a professional. And it's directly tied to feelings of imposter syndrome.
In the past, when feelings of imposter syndrome made me anxious, I would find myself waking up in the middle of the night. If it hit me during waking hours, my stomach would turn somersaults whenever my stress point was triggered.
In recent years, I've learned a powerful reframe that I use whenever I start to veer toward anxiety. And that simple mantra?
"I've already done the work."
Shout out to my friend Dr. Reisha Moxley who gave me that excellent mantra. It's come in handy more times than I can count.
If you struggle with imposter syndrome - face it, we all feel like imposters at one point or another - try that mantra on and see how it helps you.
Then think if you're letting one failure cripple you indefinitely as I discussed in episode 80.
If you find that you are, make a list of every single reason you're ready…
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Jun 4, 2019
PYG 82: Tap into your SUPERPOWER by doing something absurd
When I was a little girl, I remember thinking I was always doing too much. In fact, the message was reinforced by the well-meaning adults in my life who I felt wanted to put me in a box.
But they probably wanted me to fit in more than anything else. And as a parent now who is in charge of shaping young people, I can relate to the instinct to want your child to fit in at all costs.
But some of us were just born to be different.
Some of us were born to stand out.
Some of us have to do the most - it's just our natural speed.
Leaning into this daily podcast challenge has helped me see that doing a little extra is my normal. And while I may not keep the daily episodes going forever, it's certainly easier to pull off than I thought it would be.
In part because, I thrive when I'm given a big challenge. I like to be stretched a little more than usual. I'm in my bag when I've got something absurd to achieve.
"Regular" doesn't keep my attention.
Reflection questions for you - what were y…
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Jun 3, 2019
PYG 81: You can CHARGE for your genius (even if you've always given it away for free)
I've noticed a funny thing on calls with friends, clients and prospects over the last few days. And that is the idea that because you're giving your skills away to friends and family, they're not worth anything in the marketplace.
And it's an easy assumption to make.
Think about it - if you routinely offer up your life-changing, career-catapulting, business-building skills to friends and family for free, you'll subconsciously get the message that your skills aren't worth anything.
So be mindful when you offer up freebies to those you love.
Help friends and family out with your gifts. But don't make the mistake of assuming that just because people don't pay they're not getting massive value from what you're serving up.
You're not fulfilling a passion or hobby - you're operating a pro bono business that is already generating value for the world.
You just haven't figured out how to extract compensation for the value you provide yet.
More on that in a future episode :)
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Jun 2, 2019
PYG 80: What story are you telling yourself?
Traumatic events of the past have a way of shaping how we approach our present, and how we plan for the future.
I was reminded of that on a coaching call earlier when a client recalled a painful memory about a business venture she abandoned years ago after receiving a single negative review.
And the negative review ended up being fake news! The client recanted shortly thereafter, but the damage had been done.
The sting of "you're not good enough" forced my client to shut down any dreams she had of pursuing the business, even after hearing that the client was actually happy with her work!
It's the subconscious mind that grabs an idea and holds on to it for dear life. It's why so many people allow a failure - real or perceived - to cripple them indefinitely.
But these are stories you're unknowingly telling yourself about why you can't do what has been put on your heart to do.
And stories are just that - stories. They're not always true.
What stories are you telling yourself about…
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Jun 1, 2019
PYG 79: When the opportunity seems too big, and you don't feel ready yet
I'm challenging myself to publish a podcast each day this month. Here goes the first episode - what to do when the opportunity seems to big, and you don't feel ready yet.
I recently had what felt like life ministering to me when I bought a new bicycle for my son.
He had aged out of his kiddie big box store bike, and I wanted to get him a new set of wheels from the bike shop.
When I ended up purchasing said new wheels, I immediately had buyer's remorse.
Because of his long legs, the salesperson had advised me to go with an adult-sized bike instead of the older youth bikes.
But when the new bike came in and we went to pick it up, I immediately felt it was too big. Knowing my child - and his reckless, careless tendencies - it felt like a recipe for disaster.
But disaster wasn't exactly what was on the menu for him. His ability to grow quickly taught me a lesson about how poised for growth we all are.
Listen in and chime in. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
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May 28, 2019
PYG 78: Safeguarding Your Mental Health as a High Achiever with Dominique Fluker
May is Mental Health Month and I've been meaning to do an episode on mental health for some time. I mainly wanted to talk about what I've experienced personally, and what I've witnessed with other high achievers.
As you know, my personal branding and coaching practice is geared towards high achievers and with that comes a unique brand of personality - typically I work with hard-driving, ambitious, super smart people who have been working hard to achieve since childhood.
While many of us are simply wired this way, I've increasingly been pondering how achievement can sometimes be more harmful than helpful, and how easily we can straddle the line between performing at the highest levels and burning ourselves out.
I have personally struggled for decades with anxiety, depression, and perfectionism; on the one hand, I believe that the unique way my brain is wired makes me a more sensitive thinker, a more eloquent writer and a more connected coach. I am able to relate with a range of…
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May 16, 2019
PYG 77: Create Your Own MOMENTUM
Today I'm here to shake you up, to wake you up, and remind you of how POWERFUL you inherently are.
And I'm only sharing with you because I've had to get myself together a time or two in recent days, so I wanted to share a practice that has been helpful to me.
Most people understand the power of gratitude - how simply making a list of ten things you're thankful for can take you from "in a funk" to "on cloud nine" in less than the time it takes you to make out the list.
Ask me how I know.
But another side effect of gratitude for me is getting a clear picture of my own power.
I was making out a gratitude list recently and was expressing my gratitude for two concurrent group programs through Package Your Genius Academy, as well as a team to support my students. Just one year ago, I checked out because I was BURNT OUT - I had run two live cohorts each year in 2016 and 2017 while still managing my one on one client work. I was getting my kids prepped to apply for new schools a…
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May 7, 2019
PYG 76: Do the Joyful Thing
Do the joyful thing and don't take your gift for granted.
I've been reflecting a lot on joy, life, our time on earth and the like - for a number of deeply personal reasons.
For one, it's been exactly one year since the sudden passing of my dear friend who was like a big sister. And as I've shared on the podcast before, hers was one of those rare friendships that comes along once in a very long while.
I pride myself on pouring into others and encouraging them to see themselves - well she poured into me, and encouraged me to see myself. She was a huge cheerleader for my writing and the work I'm doing here, so it was an unfathomable personal loss for me, and so unexpected.
I've been spending the last week or so reflecting on our friendship, thinking about her, and the gift she was to this world. Which always serves as a pressing reminder that none of us knows how long we have here on Earth.
Secondly, I've been in and out of sickness for the better part of the last two mon…
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Apr 24, 2019
PYG 75: The Number One Reason You're Not Getting Traction
You may be great at what you do - you have a phenomenal message, you do life-changing work, you're seriously a game-changer. But the reason you have yet to blow up and your business has yet to take off? No one has heard of you. You may be thinking, 'Duh, Amanda. Tell me something I don't know...' I get it. If you're here because you're interested in building your personal brand, you probably already know that you want more people to know about you. But what you may not know is this: you have more power over the fact that no one knows about you than you think. And that's because the main reason no one has heard of you is YOU WON'T TELL PEOPLE WHAT YOU DO. And if you do tell them, YOU REFUSE TO REPEAT YOURSELF. You don't have more opportunities on the table because you're not telling people you're open to working with them. You're not telling people how they can take advantage of what you have to offer. Or once you've told them one time, you're not following up by reminding them. You can…
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Apr 16, 2019
PYG 74: From Burned Out Politico to Light Worker - How to Live in Your Light with Rebecca Thompson
Applications are open for the next round of Package Your Genius Academy that starts in early May. To learn more about the program and submit your preliminary application, please visit Package Your Genius Academy.
The idea of going slow, taking baby step and waiting for permission to start is a syndrome that holds so many of us back. When you know your stuff and are a genius in your own right, your gift is likely more ready for the world than you think. It's up to you to stop overthinking it.
I'm excited to share this conversation with a powerful woman who did just that. I met this tremendous being when she was on the cusp of a major life change and she enrolled in the Package Your Genius Academy fall 2018 cohort.
Rebecca Thompson is a Clarity + Career Coach for bold, politically minded women. After losing her election for State Representative by just 6 votes on Election Day, she has made it her personal mission to help other women of color run for office and to create the life and c…
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Apr 9, 2019
PYG 73: Sometimes You Are Who You've Always Been
What's your secret sauce?
What makes you unique?
How is your approach different from that of everyone else?
What makes you, you?
When it comes time to package a message around one's personal brand, clarity on those distinguishing factors seems to be where most people struggle.
But I've found that our pivotal life moments - the moments that are forever etched in our memories - tell the story of who we really are.
Because more often than not, who we are is who we've always been.
The life moments, our first or earliest memories of feeing disappointed, torn, devastated...
Our first recollections of feeling powerful, exhilarated, energized...
Those first memories of feeling confused, furious, or that life was unfair...
What do you remember?
What sticks out to you, even now?
How did those life events change you?
***
I have a vivid memory of playing on the playground in elementary school. My elementary school was pretty racially diverse, but socially segregated. Yet somehow I al…
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Apr 2, 2019
PYG 72: How to Use Your Energy to Assess When It's Time to Pivot
Popular advice from the coaching and co-working world these days is "Do What You Love..." It's a powerful mantra - one that I believe - but it throws so many people for a loop. How can you do what you love if you've never really done it before? How can you bring your life's purpose to the forefront if you're not sure what it is?
And how can you figure out what you're supposed to be doing when you're feeling stuck, drained, or uninspired? I have a clue for you. If you're searching for work that you love, start paying attention to what LIGHTS YOU UP. Are you aware of what energizes you? What about what drains you? What people are always a joy? What people are always a pain? If you're ready to find your life's work and bring purpose front and center, first you need to assess your ENERGY. And I have a free tool to help. Get the process of inquiry my clients use to understand their energy and plan a pivot towards more fulfilling work. Download the Package Your Genius Brand Energy Assessmen…
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Mar 26, 2019
PYG 71: 5 Types of Advice Experts Can Repackage for Visibility and Revenue
Experts: stop overthinking it!
Visibility does not have to be as hard as we're making it.
After countless conversations with students, clients and friends, I wanted to establish once and for all how easy it is take what you're already doing and repurpose it for visibility and even revenue, if you're so inclined.
Regardless of where you are in the personal branding process, you can repurpose your advice - the thoughts you have and expertise you share - into more tangible ways to support infinitely scalable more people.
Want to reach more people?
Here are 5 types of advice you can repurpose:
1) 1:1 Client Sessions - Do you have coaching, consulting or strategy sessions with your clients? Do you frequently brainstorm with work colleagues one on one?
If you're frequently giving the same advice over and over again, maybe it's time for you to repurpose that into something bigger. You can repurpose the advice you've given during your 1:1 client conversations into:
* media interviews…
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Mar 12, 2019
PYG 70: How to Anticipate Seasons of Brand Growth and Make a Record of Your Expert Ideas
Spring is almost here, and in my opinion, this is the perfect time to be thinking like a planter.
If you owned a farm and were preparing for the spring planting season, what would you be doing?
Likely assessing last year's harvest to determine what worked and what didn't.
You may talk to your customers to find out which crops were most in demand, and which ones you could plant less of.
You'd be spending time making the decisions that would impact your season of growth.
The same can be true for your brand. At this point in the year, you likely know about the major speaking engagements that are on the calendar. You know about most of your major travel. If you're an entrepreneur, you have an idea of the major service or program launches happening soon or later in the fall.
How are you preparing?
Better yet, how are you planning to make a record of the success you're going to create in the upcoming growth months of the year?
I spoke with a current Package Your Genius Academy studen…
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Mar 5, 2019
PYG 69: Making Storytelling and Visibility Accessible to Combat Erasure with Dr. Allissa Richardson
Allissa Richardson, PhD is the assistant professor of Journalism at Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California. A 2016 graduate of Package Your Genius Academy, Dr. Richardson is also a pioneer in mobile journalism, and was one of the first professional journalists to teach storytelling and reporting using smartphones and mobile cameras.
Allissa trains youth to use only smartphones, MP3 players and tablets to report news. She calls her students mobile journalists, or MOJOs. At age 25, she joined the faculty of Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland. She served as coordinator of its journalism program, and launched and directed the Morgan MOJO Lab in 2010. Under her leadership, Morgan State became the first and only historically black college in the country to offer mobile journalism courses.
The National Association of Black Journalists said Richardson empowered her students around the globe “to speak truth to power using new m…
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Feb 26, 2019
PYG 68: 3 Reasons You Need Maximum Exposure, ESPECIALLY IF you're Uncomfortable Being Seen
I'm passionate about visibility, and not because I'm an attention-whore.
I'm passionate about visibility because I know how POWERFUL it can be, and what it can do for your life.
Sharing and becoming visible POSITIONS YOU AS THE EXPERT in other peoples' minds. It makes you visible to your industry and your network. You're already doing the work. Visibility enhances the perception of how valuable you are.
Sharing and becoming visible STRETCHES YOU AND DEMOLISHES YOUR OWN MENTAL WALLS. It disputes the false stories you're telling yourself about yourself. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said: "The mind once stretched by a new idea will never regain its original dimensions." Once you see yourself and are seen for who you truly are by others, you can never go back.
Sharing your message and becoming visible BRINGS YOU CLOSER TO YOURSELF because you're staying true to yourself. You're being "more loyal to your dreams than to your fears" as author Tara Mohr puts it. It seems counterintuitive to thin…
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Feb 20, 2019
PYG 67: Expect Success When You've Done the Work
I wouldn't call myself a 'workaholic', but I admit, I love my work.
I love the actual process of what I do - not just outcome. It makes me happy.
So even when results aren't immediately evident, (you mean I didn't make the NYTimes Bestseller list on the first day??? *flips over a table*) it's okay, because I honestly love the work.
The work energizes me, gives me a sense of purpose, and fills my days with meaning in a way that few other things do.
It's easy to plant seeds day after day, week after week, and month after month because - to extend the planting metaphor - I love the feeling of the earth between my fingers.
I love the process of showing up every day to nurture an idea and help it grow.
I love waking up with the sun, running to the window and surveying the land to see what small changes may have taken place overnight, while the rest of the world was sleeping.
But the downside of loving the work this way is this: it can become easy to get so used to planting, that you…
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Feb 12, 2019
PYG 66: How to Make New Goals Stick with Psychologist and Early Accountability Coach Kimi Walker
Kimi Walker is a School Psychologist who teaches how we can use tools of behavior change to make our goals stick. She is the host of the Early Accountability Podcast, and a 2017 graduate of Package Your Genius Academy.
An expert on early accountability, an educator, and a psychologist who personally changed her life by losing over 100 pounds, Kimi has learned what it takes to take new, scary actions and create an environment that encourages our new habits to stick.
With a background in school psychology Kimi regularly conducts psychological evaluations, and is the go-to person when dealing with cases that require behavior change.
The parallels between working in schools and working with adults who are trying to spark a new behavior are many. As Kimi shares during our interview, everyone responds differently to stimuli, so she works hard to assess each client and figure out what each person needs to succeed. She customizes solutions for students and coaching clients alike using her p…
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Feb 5, 2019
PYG 65: Starting Over From the Top: Using Your Personal Brand to Change the Way You Work
If you’ve done amazing work in your field and you’ve successfully ‘climbed the ladder” so to speak, eventually you may get near the top or at the top of the ladder, look around and realize that A) there’s nowhere else to climb or B) you’re not interested in limbing any further. At this point, you may decide to pivot and use your talents to do something else.
I work with a lot of burned-out corporate high achievers who have been successful in that space for years, but have finally decided to do something new - sometimes personal development centered, since we often want to heal our own wounds by helping others who were in the place we used to be.
But a common theme I’m noticing is a tendency for high achievers to adopt a mindset from the bottom of the ladder. They decide that since they’re essentially starting over and are new to coaching or running their own business or online marketing or being independent - they mentally put themselves at the bottom of this new ladd…
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