Package Your Genius Personal Branding Podcast

[Ep. 33] When the holidays are...hard. Dealing with the sadness that can come with the season

http://www.amandamillerlittlejohn.com/podcast Therapist in residence Dr. Reisha Moxley joins Amanda as a co-host on this episode of Package Your Genius.
Amanda and Reisha discuss the difficult feelings that can come up during the holiday season, how to deal with sadness, dissolved relationships and friendships, what to do with feelings of discouragement when you haven't reached your goals and processing the sense of loss after the death of a loved one.
This is an emotional episode - grab your tissue!

[Ep. 32] Do the work

http://www.amandamillerlittlejohn.com/podcast Are you doing the work for the applause? Or are you out here trying to make an impact?
How many times have you looked over your shoulder just to see who was there waiting to pat you on the back? Or, when was the last time that you checked your podcast stats (guilty!) or website stats and got discouraged when the numbers weren't where you thought they should be?
If you have ever found yourself in this situation, this podcast is for you.
As a creative, a coach, an artist, a healer, an expert with information to share, it's only natural to look to your audience in an effort to uncover if you're on the right track with your content, or if your brand is resonating. But at a certain point it's important to let go of the need for applause, unhook from the expectation of praise and simply DO THE WORK.
You never know who is watching you silently. You're probably unwittingly inspiring someone right now!
And, after all, if there is still work to be done, there is still a difference to be made, no matter how small.
NEW! You can now visit http://www.amandamillerlittlejohn.com/podcast and record your questions for the podcast! Record your voice memo for a chance to have your question answered and to be featured on the next episode of Package Your Genius.

[Ep. 31] Are you prioritizing connection?

[Ep. 31] Are you prioritizing connection? by Amanda Miller Littlejohn : Personal Branding Coach and PR Strategist

[Ep. 30] Turn your homemade beauty product into an EMPIRE with Gwen Jimmere, CEO of Naturalicious

Have you ever wondered what it takes to turn your homemade product into a product line, then a full-fledged company? Gwen Jimmere was a new mom with a big idea who did just that. When she set out to simplify her hair care routine, add valuable hours back to her schedule and decrease the ingredients in her beauty regimen, she stumbled upon a product that would quickly become a household favorite for natural hair enthusiasts everywhere. Her young company is nearing the 7-figure revenue mark in only a few years time.
We talked to Gwen about what it takes to take your products from the kitchen table to the shelves of Whole Foods stores around the world.
About Gwen
The first black woman to hold a patent for a natural hair care product, winner of the 2014 Black Enterprise Elevator Pitch Competition, and named one of Hello Beautiful's 30 Under 30 Entrepreneurial Mavens, Gwen Jimmere is a frequent keynote speaker and highly requested panelist on business and entrepreneurship.
As the founder and CEO of NATURALICIOUS (http://www.naturalicious.net), she has grown her beauty industry startup into one of the fastest growing hair care companies in the U.S. NATURALICIOUS is the first company to develop an all-natural, patented hair care system that does the work of 13 products in only 4 simple steps, and is proven and guaranteed to take you from wash to style in less than an hour. The line is sold in select Whole Foods stores, all Mustard Seed Market locations and other fine retailers and boutiques across the U.S., Indonesia and Trinidad.
Prior to beginning NATURALICIOUS, Gwen held the position of Global Digital Marketing Manager at Ford Motor Company, overseeing and executing the big three automaker's digital marketing strategy. Later, she went to work for Uniworld, one of the world's largest multicultural advertising firms, where she spearheaded digital strategies for a client list that includes Ford, Home Depot, the U.S. Marines, Marriott Hotels, 3 Musketeers, and many more.

[Ep. 29] What do you have the CREDIBILITY to teach?

It's important that you're building your personal brand on a strong foundation. But it's easy to look at what others are doing and click "copy - paste". But if you try to build your brand around someone else's expertise and not your own, it's going to be tough going.
What do you have the credibility to share?
What do you have the credibility to coach others through?
What do you have the credibility to teach?
If you've successfully and repeatedly helped others to do something (lose weight, make more money, land media), you have the credibility to teach that thing.
If you yourself have successful and repeatedly done something (raised your credit score, gotten out of debt, bought real estate, built a website), you have the credibility to teach that thing.
Even if you think that what you know isn't "sexy" there are people out there who need clarity around what YOU provide. So focus on finding and sharing THAT versus doing what you see others do whether you have the credibility to do it too or not.

[Ep. 28] You are not your situation

http://www.amandamillerlittlejohn.com/podcast
Warning: personal story ahead.
The year I started my business was one of the hardest years of my entire life.
It was the year that I became a mother and despite the joys of motherhood, my personal life was a mess.
You see, all of these major life events just so happened to coincide with the Great Recession of 2008-2009 and the economy was crumbling around me. Not only was my reporting job eliminated, but my husband was laid off in that same time span. Add a newborn baby to the mix and you can quickly see how that got real stressful, real fast.
I remember feeling embarrassed, humbled, defeated, depressed.
It felt like all of the odds were stacked against me. They were stacked against this frightened, new young family that was struggling to get off the ground.
But somehow, some way we made it out of that year. We not only survived, but we began to thrive on the other side. Before we made it out though, there were a few times that I distinctly came to recognize "rock bottom".
We had not only hit it, but we had set up camp. We had moved in.
Having to ask for help to keep our household afloat was the worst. That was a feeling I had never felt before.
But despite how bad things got, I somehow had the fortitude to understand that we were bigger than our situation. And this simple truth fortified me during the worst of it.
If you are at rock bottom, or are still operating from a "rock bottom mentality" you'll want to keep this one big lesson I learned from all of that in mind.

[Ep. 27] How to move past self-doubt, stop holding back and start PLAYING BIG

http://www.amandamillerlittlejohn.com/podcast Are you constantly held back by fear? Crippled by self-doubt? Have you been more loyal to your fears than to your dreams?
It may be time for you start PLAYING BIG.
In today's episode, I had the absolute privilege of interviewing women's leadership expert and bestselling author Tara Mohr who wrote the book Playing Big.
I discovered Tara's ideas while listening to the Harvard Business Review's podcast where she shared her ideas on the topic of the inner critic. I was immediately drawn into her thoughts and looked her up online. When I found her book, I devoured it over the span of several days.
She joins me to talk all things Playing Big - her research covers the inner critic, the inner mentor, slaying self doubt, ways we hide from our greatness and how to make big leaps. If you repeatedly find yourself unable to move forward because you're too afraid to make a move - despite the reality that you're talented, gifted, and successful - it's time for you to start playing big.
About Tara Mohr
Tara Mohr is an expert on women’s leadership and well-being. She helps women play bigger in sharing their voices and bringing forward their ideas in work and in life. Her book Playing Big: Practical Wisdom for Women Who Want to Speak Up, Create, and Lead, was named a best book of the year by Apple’s iBooks and is now out in paperback. In the book, she shares her pioneering model for making the journey from playing small–being held back by fear and self-doubt–to playing big, taking bold action to pursue what you see as your callings. Tara is the creator of the Playing Big leadership program for women, which now has more than 1,000 graduates from around the world, and creator of the global Playing Big Facilitators Training for coaches, therapists, leadership development professionals and other practitioners supporting women in their personal and professional growth.
A Coaches Training Institute-certified coach with an MBA from Stanford University and an undergraduate degree in English literature from Yale, Tara takes a unique approach that blends inner work and practical skills training. Her work has been featured on national media from theNew York Times to Today Show to Harvard Business Review, and has captivated women from all walks of life including Maria Shriver, Jillian Michaels and Elizabeth Gilbert.
Related Links:
Tara Mohr's Website - http://www.taramohr.com
Tara's book, Playing Big - http://www.taramohr.com/book/
The Playing Big Leadership Program - http://playingbig.taramohr.com

[Ep. 26] How to move past FEAR so you can pursue your BIG DREAMS with Dr. Reisha Moxley

http://www.amandamillerlittlejohn.com/podcast What do you do when you've identified your genius, decided to package it but somehow find yourself derailed by your fears? Unfortunately, this is something that I see often with people that I talk to in my capacity as a personal branding coach.
Before you can move into your brand and be who you want to be, you have to slay your internal dragons and push past the fear that holds you back.
Think about it:
What is stopping you from releasing that innovative new product?
Why haven't you hit upload on the debut episode of your new and engaging podcast?
How are you consistently coming up with amazing ideas but never turning them into reality?
FEAR.
But how do you move past it and get into action? To help you and other overcome this internal hurdle, I interviewed my childhood friend and counseling guru for a spirited, lively and hilarious conversation about what it takes to move past your fears, from the perspective of a mental health professional and therapist who sees patients on a daily basis.
I had the pleasure of interviewing my childhood friend for a spirited, lively and hilarious conversation about what it takes to move past your fears, from the perspective of a mental health professional and therapist who sees patients on a daily basis.
About Dr. Reisha Moxley, Ph.D.
Dr. Reisha Moxley received her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Georgia. She earned her M.Ed. in Human Development Counseling from Vanderbilt University in 2008 before working in several clinical settings including community mental health and university counseling centers as well as public and charter schools.
Dr. Moxley has also coordinated forensic psychological assessment services for the Georgia Division of Family and Children’s Services. Prior to joining the clinical team at the Johns Hopkins University Counseling Center (JHU CC) as a Staff Psychologist, Dr. Moxley completed her pre-doctoral internship at the JHU CC in 2015.
Dr. Moxley’s therapeutic approach is primarily influenced by multicultural and feminist perspectives. Her clinical and research interests include the multicultural training and development of mental health clinicians as well as other social justice and diversity related issues.

[Ep. 25] How to uncover the genius that's good enough to sell

http://www.amandamillerlittlejohn.com/podcast You may know the FORMAT that you want your genius to take, but how do you know WHAT your most compelling content/knowledge/or idea is? In this episode, I help you figure out what you know that is valuable enough to package.
If you're ready to finally package your genius, but you can't decide which genius to package, this episode is for you!
If you missed my Memorial Day Sale, as my gift to you and THANK YOU for listening to this podcast, enjoy a free 90 Minute Course on "How to Create a Signature Product that Monetizes Your Personal Brand" when you purchase The Branding Box. The link is still good, so check it out the deal at http://www.amandamillerlittlejohn.com/memorial-day/ - I will shut it down when we deplete my inventory.

[Ep. 24] How to grow your business when you hate managing people with Dr. Keith Stephenson

http://www.amandamillerlittlejohn.com/podcast As you grow your personal brand and it evolves into a bona fide business, you will undoubtedly experience a few growing pains. You'll need to work with people in order to get more done and move beyond the one-woman show. But if you're like many creatives and have mainly been a producer, artist or technician, assuming the role of manager may give you pause.
For a long time, I thought that I simply didn't have that manager gene. I knew I produced good work, but management was beyond me. I didn't have the patience for it. I didn't have the experience. Navigating conflict, following up on missed deadlines, managing conflict? No thanks. I'll just stick to doing my work, please.
But as I began to attract more clients and projects and had to work with others, I realized how much of a necessary piece of this equation management skills are. Not only did I need to know WHAT to do, but I also needed to be able to effectively communicate to my team members, conduct crucial conversations and keep our projects on track.
As I've had conversations with business owners and corporate leaders alike, the theme of management has been one that has emerged repeatedly. You cannot ascend in business or the workplace until you master your people skills. You can't rise within the ranks or grow your revenue until you can effectively manage and work with people.
Today's guest is an expert in just that. Dr. Keith Stephenson is a leadership consultant and former school principal who turned around a number of poor-performing schools. Think of Morgan Freeman's character "Joe Clark" in the movie Lean on Me, but without the yelling.
The author of The Principal's Cyle, Dr. Stephenson has identified a number of parallels between schools and organizations, and has an almost magic formula for turning around toxic, unproductive work environments. He's been in the trenches, managed large and small teams, and figured out what it takes to fine-tune a work environment so that it runs most efficiently.
Dr. Stephenson has personally empowered me with a number of leadership nuggets that helped me shed that "I'm not a manager" mindset. And the ideas he shared with me began to work for me immediately, once I put them into place.
I have been so empowered by his tips that I have shared them in many of my own entrepreneurial circles because the information is practical and it works! If you've struggled with growing your business or ascending in your career, you'll want to take notes on how to become a better manager, even if you hate managing people.
Dr. Keith Stephenson can be found online at http://www.ksleadership.com and on twitter http://twitter.com/keiththeleader