PURPOSESCAPING with Amanda Miller Littlejohn

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 reminder of that - before you go making up stories about why you can't do or have what you want, ask yourself if you've cast your net as wide as possible.
If the answer is no, think outside of the box you've put yourself in.
 
 

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 for this opportunity. And keep referring back to it. When you find yourself overthinking your next move, or succumbing to anxiety, picture yourself doing everything on that list.
 
As I mentioned in the episode:
 
Congratulations to PYG Academy Maximum Exposure's Amber Cabral who was featured in Fast Company today! Check out the article - and please share:
Fast Company - I've Trained 5,000 Leaders. Here's how 1-Day Diversity Trainings Are Not Enough
My gift to you - save $$$ on my signature personal branding toolkit the Branding Box with the secret code you heard on the podcast. Enter the code after clicking checkout at www.thebrandingbox.com 

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 you doing as a young person when you were told you were doing the most? Or maybe your experiences are more recent, and others think you go overboard at work, in your marriage, or in your parenting.
Whatever gets you side-eyes from the world may be a clue to your brand magic. Instead of dialing that part of yourself down, try turning it up. 
Let me know what happens.
 
As Mentioned in the Episode
Package Your Genius: 5 Steps to Build Your Personal Brand is available on Amazon. Get it.
The Package Your Genius Companion Personal Branding Workbook - a book full of introspective prompts - is there too. Grab yours now.
 

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 :)

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 why you can't do, go, or be what you desire most? 

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.

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 emotional and life experiences by the very virtue of my own experiences.
 
But when things are bad, they're real bad, and for many years I paid a high price of my brain chemistry. I  struggled with the shame of trying to hide my depression from new friends and colleagues. It cost me relationships and new experiences I may have otherwise had, had I not been so guarded.
 
Fortunately, in recent years and with the help of gifted therapists I've learned how to take better care of myself and my gift so I don't struggle so much. I've zeroed in on my triggers as well as some of my non-negotiables so I can cultivate personal peace and live in a space of joy.
 
I've  shared how my physical health has come into focus in recent months as I better understand how important it is for me to safeguard my physical vessel if I want to effectively access my gift.
 
Taking care of my mental health is just as important.
 
So for today's episode, I wanted to have a conversation with a young woman who reminds me a lot of myself 10 years ago - ambitious, coming into her own and making a name for herself in the media world while also managing her anxiety and depression. I wanted to bring her on the podcast to shed light on the inner workings of high achievement and to share the lessons she has to teach us because she is wise beyond her years.
 
Our guest today is Dominique B. Fluker. 
 
About Dominique:
 
Dedication, passion, curiosity. 
 
Dominique B. Fluker is a content strategist, writer, and Senior Account Executive at Max Borges Agency specializing in influencer relations and launching effective and impactful social programming for Cricket Wireless and AT&T. Her deep ability to understand analytics and metrics has allowed her to be successful in leveraging audience insights to drive impactful content to specific audiences across digital platforms. Through her work in public relations, social media strategy and content development, Dominique has successfully amplified the online presence of the following brands: TIDAL, Air New Zealand, Microsoft Pulse, Israel Ministry of Tourism, Taylor Morrison, Senseo, WeWork, and more. 
 
In addition to her work as a content and social strategist, Dominique has a budding writing career. In 2018 she embarked on her writing journey with ForbesWomen and ESSENCE Magazine. Within an 11-month time span, Dominique strategized to bring 30 stories to life that are centered in millennial based entrepreneurship, specifically highlighting women of color. In August of 2018, she was elevated to Senior Contributor at Forbes and invited to speak on the “Standing Out From The Pack” panel at Forbes HQ which highlighted her articles and decision to profile millennial women of color entrepreneurs in business and the arts. 
 
Dominique is passionate about telling stories of other dynamic millennial women and helping brands explore the interconnectivity of culture and communication through social media to garner awareness and to create an impact.
 
Dominique received a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts, from Sarah Lawrence College in 2014 and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
 
 
Find Dominique Online
You can find Dominique online at werquedominique.com and @werque_dominique on Instagram.
You can check out her Forbes stories and profiles of amazing women at Dominique Fluker x Forbes.
 
 
MY HAND-PICKED MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES
 
MENTAL HEALTH INFORMATION, TOOLKITS, AND RESOURCES
 
NAMI - National Alliance on Mental Illness - Learn More
 
MY ALL-TIME FAVORITE THERAPIST
 
Dr. Reisha Moxley is a therapist based in Atlanta, Georgia and a personal friend. Conversations with Dr. Moxley have been life-changing for me. She helped me in so many ways from seeing the depth of my own imposter syndrome to helping me develop a new approach to anxiety by giving me a mantra - "you've already done the work" among other powerful tools. She is an integral part of our Package Your Genius Academy where she hosts sessions for our students as a performance coach. And she also works with patients privately - you can find her on LinkedIn.
 
Listen to our podcast interviews 
PYG 37 - How to Push Past Imposter Syndrome and Claim the Full Power of Your Gift
PYG 35 - The Gift and the Curse of the High Achieving Mindset
PYG 26 - How to Move Past Fear and Step into Your Big Dream
 
MENTAL HEALTH GENIUSES TO FOLLOW ON TWITTER
 
Dr. Thema (@DrThema) - I first heard her on Redefining Wealth with Patrice Washington on episode titled Stop Suffering in Silence. Definitely listen to that episode and check out her daily Twitter ministry, which is incredible.
 
Dr. Steven Brownlow (@sgbrownlow) - He's the founder of Adept Psychology also offers bite-sized nuggets of therapy every single day. I found him on episode 18 of Therapy Chat - Can Therapists Really Change the World? Follow him own Twitter to open your mind up to new perspectives.
 
 
MENTAL HEALTH PODCASTS I LOVE
 
Therapy for Black Girls Podcast with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford who also has a directory of therapists if you're looking for an African-American therapist. This priceless directory has over 1,000 therapists listed.
 
Therapy Chat Podcast with Laura Reagan, LCSW-C is one of my favorites as Laura brings on experts from a variety of mental health specialties to share their expertise.
 
A few of my very favorite episodes:
 
148 - Effects of Childhood Traumatic Stress on Physical & Mental Health
111 - Relationships and Childhood Emotional Neglect
092 - The Emotionally Absent Mother & The Effects of Childhood Emotional Neglect
 
Mom is in Control Podcast with Heather Chauvin
This is not a mental health podcast per se, but Heather talks about many of the issues that parenting brings up - like anxiety, sense of control, loss of self and how your children can trigger the unhealed parts of yourself.
 
A few of my favorite episodes:
453 - How to Overcome Emotional Triggers
445 - Sustainable Motherhood
443 - How Your Child Triggers You is a Deeper Healing Opportunity

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 and fundraising for my 10 year old's trip to China. So on the side of running my business, I was doing the most with all the extra-curricular stuff for the kids.
 
Once spring 2018 rolled around, I was spent.
 
I didn't have enough to give to another group. I wanted to, but I couldn't. And I realized that the way I was running my program could be improved so that it took less out of me. Long story short, I spent the next 12 months making changes.
 
I wrote and published the book that became a feeder for my programs, finally got a membership site set up to house the content for my programs, hired a business coach to help me re-structure my business model, started outlining the Maximum Exposure program, and started identifying coaches who could support me there.
 
Now a year later, life is no less busy, but I have a book out in the world and two group programs that are running pretty seamlessly.
 
In my gratitude for this big shift, I also gained insight into my own power to change things in my life - my power to make things different if I don't like how they are.
 
The same is true for you.
 
You and I? We are not broken people destined to stay broken. We are powerful.
 
You have the power to do something to shift your energy and move toward the life you see for yourself, toward the person you most want to be.
 
So much of your life is scheduled and dictated by your responsibilities, we often forget the degree of agency we have as people living in a modern society.
 
We have the choice to change our diets, change our relationships, change the information we consume at any given time.
 
We have the power to change who we surround ourselves with, what we listen to or discard, what we do moving forward. We have the power to change our habits.
 
Because we all have agency which is defined as the capacity, condition, or state of acting or of exerting power.
 
Newton said it all in his first law of motion which states that an object at rest will remain at rest unless acted on by an external force.
 
What outside force will you introduce to your life?
 
What small or big thing will you change?
 
So again - you have agency which is defined as the capacity, condition, or state of acting or of exerting power.
 
And when you exert your power, you create momentum, which is defined as strength or force gained by motion or by a series of events.
 
I recently wrapped up one cohort of Package Your Genius Academy and we were reflecting on the lessons learned during the academy, what changed for us, what surprised us.
 
One of my students mentioned that she joined the academy because she felt stuck in her career. But what later surfaced was that she was stuck in other areas of her life, too.
 
But she dug in. She started doing assignments, pushing herself out of her comfort zone. Because she did the work - even though she wasn't always sure what the work was adding up to - she began to unlock her own personal power. While she wasn't sure the exact steps she wanted to take in her career, she liked the feelings she derived from being in motion instead of being STUCK.
 
She submitted herself to speak at a conference, which she'd never done before. (She killed it by the way). She launched a podcast and started sharing her ideas on her industry.
 
She reported back to our group that the act of moving in one area of her life made the rest of her life seem too static. It was like she could see the rest of her life clearly. Where she'd felt stuck in her relationships and even on household projects, she had renewed energy to tackle them.
 
That's what happens when you realize your own agency - the power to act - and your agency unlocks momentum. You don't know where it's going.
 
You may start speaking up in your personal life and unexpectedly see it spill over into your career.
 
You may launch a new podcast and suddenly find that you have more to talk about with your kids.
 
You might put yourself out there to pitch new clients, and find going out on first dates isn't so intimidating anymore.
 
It's all connected.
 
So I urge you - first be grateful. If you're in a funk, try making a list of the things for which you're grateful. It's powerful.
 
Then make a list of things you've made happen. Now, if you've been in a funk and don't feel like you've made anything happen in a while, reflect back on when you were your most powerful self.
 
What did you make happen then?
 
Sometimes we just need a good reminder of who we are. It's easy to forget.
 
 
***
 
Are you managing your own PR efforts?  One of the hardest things about doing your own PR is coming up with new pitch ideas, fresh story angles AND knowing how to craft that message to the press. It’s time-consuming and easy to put off if you’re not intentional about it.
 
That's why we created Maximum Exposure - a one of a kind program designed to help industry experts land the media exposure their BIG IDEAS deserve.   Apply to join - bit.ly/MEMastermind
 

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 months. It started out as a respiratory infection I got from one of my kids, and a persistent cough which cleared up right at the start of one of the most severe allergy seasons I've ever experienced. So just as I was recovering from the respiratory stuff, the pollen begins to spread and fill the air, which triggered my spring allergies and brought the cough and everything back. So I got on a regimen of asthma meds, which seems to be doing the trick.
 
But in the midst of being sick, I have had to face off with my own limitations, and the limitations that have a way of getting our attention when we're taking our bodies and our gifts for granted.
 
Being sick brought to light how much I do, how much I rely on breathing to do what I do, and how much I take all of that for granted. At one point I sat down to record a podcast, and I couldn't because I didn't have enough air to speak! I hosted a small retreat for my academy students, and I found myself wanting to speak passionately, but had to pace myself.
 
Limitations. How humbling they can be.
 
I realized that if I can't do the things that energize me, life is lame! Not to say that it's not worth living, but it certainly loses a lot of its luster.
 
What is life if I can't speak and share, if I can't write and express myself? 
 
By not tending to my health, by not showing up to use my gifts when I can, I realized that I've been taking my gift - which I can't access without my health - for granted.
 
I've been taking the simple ability to breathe deeply and share passionately for granted.
 
I've been taking the ability to write and share from my heart for granted.
 
And to some degree I know it's because both of those things come so naturally to me, they take minimal effort. That's WHY I take them for granted, but that's also why I have to STOP taking it for granted. Because that which both ENERGIZES me and that thing that is EFFORTLESS is my gift. 
 
What ENERGIZES you and is EFFORTLESS to you?
 
The other thing I've been obsessed with has been the idea that everything we do has to be a runaway smash hit to be worth doing.
 
I spoke to my brilliant friend who launched a podcast that he absolutely LOVES - and it's brilliant. But because it hasn't completely taken off yet, he starts, stops, and questions - Why am I doing this, again?
 
I hadn't seen any new episodes in a while so I asked him about it. He informed me that he'd asked around to a few colleagues to get feedback on it, and because they didn't really understand what he was trying to do, they made less than helpful suggestions (I'm paraphrasing, I wasn't there) that basically led to him NOT pursuing the project anymore, EVEN THOUGH it brought him tremendous joy and satisfaction.
 
He was still figuring out the messaging, the audience, the promotion - but he was figuring it out. And because it hadn't become a runaway success yet by podcasting standards, he abandoned this project despite the joy it brought him to produce.
 
So my question to him was - after I told him to stop looking for permission and validation that this is a bad idea, because that's a pretty standard move when you're standing in the vulnerability of launching something new -  in response to his sentiment "Why am I even doing this?" 
 
When did 'because I like to, because I enjoy it, because it makes me happy' become not enough of a justification to do something?
 
Why can't joy be enough to sustain us as we build, grow, and get there - wherever 'there' is?
 
And this speaks to a larger point about building your brand and monetizing your passion which assumes some level of commercial success - enough people like what you're doing to listen, read, buy, use - and that audience creates a pathway to create success by the world's standards.
 
But everything we do doesn't have to fit neatly into the monetization formula.
 
And trust me, I teach people to package their genius and monetize what they already know everyday - if that's what they want to do. But if that's NOT what you want to do - if you just want to do what you love for the joy of it, that is perfectly okay.
 
If you just want to do what you love for the joy of it, that is perfectly okay.
 
I watched Brene Brown's Netflix special and one of the things she said that struck me was this:
 
"Just do the joyful thing for the hell of it, just choose joy. Sometimes just choose the thing that seems frivolous and fun and has no ROI or payoff or upside. Just do the joyful thing."
 
YES!
 
Now, you may have to keep your day job to support the practicalities of living on planet Earth, but if you find something you enjoy, don't put so much pressure on it to win.
 
Having something that brings you joy IS winning.
 
It doesn't necessarily have to bring you joy AND support you financially, too.
 
So remember:
1) Don't take your gifts or your health (which you need to access your gifts) for granted
 
2) What both ENERGIZES you and feels EFFORTLESS to you? That may just be your gift...
 
3) There are many levels of success between zero and smash hit, just because something doesn't perform at the top of the charts, become a NYTimes Bestseller, an iTunes Top 10 Podcast, earn $1M in the first 6 months - doesn't mean it's not worth doing.
 
4) Just do the joyful thing.
 
***
 
 
As always, Package Your Genius: 5 Steps to Build Your Most Powerful Personal Brand is available on Amazon
Package Your Genius Personal Branding Companion Workbook is available on Amazon
If you want a tangible toolkit full of fun worksheets and exercises to help you get clear on your personal brand, check out The Branding Box.

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't say it just once, as my husband says, you have to be a broken record. You have to tell them, then tell them again.
 
 
So how do you make it so that people have heard of you?
 
First, you have to own that you have something to share, something that is valuable to others, something the more people need. This is actually the mindset work that many people have to do first especially when they work in corporate america because corporate will have you thinking you're nowhere near as good as you actually are. But that's another story. So that's the first step. You have to own the fact that you're good, your skills are solid, and your work adds enough value to others that more people should know about it.
 
Second, you have to publicly declare you're available because you can't sell a secret. So that could mean making a post about your new venture on social media. That could mean making an announcement at an industry meeting or speaking engagement. That could even mean making a list of targets and then reaching out to them one by one. But if you do reach out to people individually, you still need to have something public-facing that declares what you do like an updated LinkedIn profile or website you can link to.
 
Last you have to keep telling people. Over and over again. Repeatedly.
 
And here's where resistance typically shows up for most people even if they managed to get past steps one and two: You may start telling yourself you're 'bothering people' or 'getting on people's nerves' or people are 'tired of hearing about' whatever you have to share.
 
And if you manage to share it and no one responds, or no one reaches out, you might mistake your audience's silence for indifference. You may even mistake their silence for disinterest.
 
Listen, I know as well as anyone how nerve-racking it can be to put things out and hear nothing. It can really mess with your mind after you've mustered up the courage to announce that you do this thing and then hear nothing.
 
It's tempting to think people aren't interested, but the reality is, they likely didn't hear about it, or if they did hear about it, they need time to process.
 
But the silence can be deafening, and that part become a mental game. So you have to push yourself to keep putting it out there, you have to give it a chance to actually work.
 
So this doesn't mean you mention your service once, and if it doesn't yield a slew of new clients, you stop, beat yourself up for having the nerve to put yourself out there, and vow to never mention it again.
 
This means saying it again a few more times that way, switching your medium to social, to phone, to handwritten notes until you find the way that works for you.
 
And then keep doing it.
 
Tell people about what you do at least twice a week, because if you don't tell them, how you can expect them to find out? And if you don't remind them, how can you expect them to remember?
 
Whatever your medium of choice is - however you most successfully connect with your tribe - put that on your calendar so you get a reminder. Did I connect this week? My husband always talks about my long posts on LinkedIn or my email newsletters 'missives' - he says 'I haven't seen one of your missives in a while!" so that means I know I need to send one out.
 
Whatever your version of a missive is, maybe it's an Instagram story, maybe it's a thank you note, maybe it's a Twitter rant - be intentional about doing it. Don't leave it to chance.
 
Put yourself in your audience's shoes - we are all so incredibly busy. Think about the last time someone had the solution to your big problem but you needed time to mull it over, to think it through, to make up your mind. Then your life got in the way - you got busy, you meant to sign up but you have a deadline to meet, or had to go do something for your kids, or got tired and needed a nap! You're busy, and the people who need you are busy too.
 
So give them some grace. Don't be too good to repeat yourself.
 
No one gets upset when you remind them about something good.
 
***
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.
I'm excited to work with a few more high achievers who have a track record of professional success and need help framing their story, articulating their value to the clients who need them, and becoming more visible through media and speaking.
If you:
have had some success in one area, but want to make a shift and do something you’ve never done before,
don’t know how to clearly describe what you do, package who you are, or sell yourself to others, or
have had on the job successes and are often praised for your work but now want to translate that into more consulting opportunities, apply here.
 
As always, Package Your Genius: 5 Steps to Build Your Most Powerful Personal Brand is available on Amazon
Package Your Genius Personal Branding Companion Workbook is available on Amazon