PURPOSESCAPING with Amanda Miller Littlejohn

[Ep. 9] How to get AMAZING client testimonials

http://www.amandamillerlittlejohn.com/episode9
Social proof is one of the best ways to communicate your value to your clients.
But most people don't even bother to get testimonials from their clients and when they do, those testimonials are lackluster at best.
What gives? How can you ensure that the testimonial your client writes is an accurate reflection of you and your work?
Here are a 5 tips for getting the types of client testimonials and recommendations that will not only make you SHINE, but will also SELL your services.

[Ep. 8] 10 Online Tools You Need to Grow and Monetize Your Personal Brand Platform

www.amandamillerlittlejohn.com/episode8
I got tremendous response from episode 7 from those of you when are looking for was to grow and get more done in less time. But was I work with clients who are building their personal brands and transitioning from a very limited online presence to making the internet one of their primary vehicles for marketing, I realized that I needed to cover the basics.
Once you decide to market yourself, build a customer base and sell online you're going to need a number of tools to deliver content and collect money. Building your brand is great and all, but if you want to grow your platform and be able to actually monetize your expertise, you need a few of these tools preferably from the start.
Here are 10 Types of Tools You need to Grow and Monetize Your Personal Brand as a Platform.
1. Calendar Scheduling Tool
2. Social Media Scheduling Tool
3. Online Collaborating Tool
4. Conference Call + Call Recording Tool
5. Webinar/Online Teaching Tool
6. Mailing List Management and Distribution Tool
7. Invoicing and Accounting Tool
8. Online Payment Gateway
9. Form Builder
10. Digital Product Delivery
Bonuses - Hosting Service - home base for your website
This episode was brought to you by The Branding Box - the home study system designed to help you define your purpose, clarify your marketable message and promote your expertise. Learn more at www.amandamillerlittlejohn.com/box
Podcast production courtesy of www.theadamsreport.com

[Ep. 7] How to hack your schedule and accomplish 10x more with "task batching" and "theming"

http://www.amandamillerlittlejohn.com/podcast
Who doesn't want to get more hours back in their day? In today's episode I discuss how you can get more done in the time you already have.
People always ask me how I get so much done. Well I'm only productive because I compartmentalize my time, a habit I picked up when my children were very young and I was growing my business while working from home.
I have used batching and theming to hack my schedule and grow my business even when I had very limited time. Batching and theming are perfect for those of you who are still working 9-5 and need to figure out how to build your brand on the side. Batching and theming are also great for newbie entrepreneurs who struggle to effectively organize their time now that they have it all to themselves.
In today's episode I share what batching and theming are as well as the 4 ways you can use them to get a handle on your schedule:
1. Identify what tasks you're always doing and try to isolate those tasks into themes
2. Assign your themes/categories to a day - it's fine to double up on a day. For example it's totally fine to focus on business development on Monday Mornings, and networking on Monday afternoons.
3. Put your task categories on your calendar - make an appointment with yourself and block off your time!
4. Keep your appointments with yourself. Be disciplined and find your rhythm which will take a few weeks to get it right but once you find the rhythm that works, you'll thank me!
Get accountability if you need it - do you have a friend who is building his/her business while working full-time? Do you know another small business owner who just started out? Why not sync your calendars 1-2x each week so you can get more done together? You could meet at a coffee shop or one of your office spaces with the singular goal of getting things done in one category.
This episode was brought to you by The Branding Box - the home study system designed to help you define your purpose, clarify your marketable message and promote your expertise. Learn more at http://www.amandamillerlittlejohn.com/box
Podcast production courtesy of the ever talented Audrey Adams - http://www.theadamsreport.com

[Ep. 6] Is modesty hurting my brand?

http://www.amandamillerlittlejohn.com
Recently, my friend, photographer and Branding Box client Natarsha Wright shared an interview on a local women's site about me. I thought the interview turned out pretty well, particularly one of the sections.
In it, I shared my thoughts on modesty - and how the misguided idea that self-promotion is shameful and (false) modesty is virtuous has reached epidemic proportions. This is a concept that I've been pondering for several months now, as I'm in personal branding it's my job to help my clients see themselves clearly, step out of the shadows and boldly proclaim their gifts.
From the interview:
"What good is clarity if you’re not willing to put yourself out there? I like to tell people that there is no shame in self-promotion – because if you don’t tell the world what you’re about, how will they know? I’ve noticed that especially among women, there is a growing epidemic of modesty [that is hindering career growth] – the world is infected with it.
It pains me when I meet an amazing, accomplished, inspiring woman who is hiding behind her boss or hiding behind modesty – not sharing her brand of amazing with the world. At the end of the day it’s a net loss for women because if we don’t step up to talk about what we are doing and how we’re making it all happen, the women leaders of tomorrow are missing out on an entire generation of role models. Just think if every unnecessarily modest woman that you know was intentional about building her personal branding platform by speaking, writing articles and getting the word out there – just imagine how much more inspired and empowered we as women would be?
By having other women who aren’t afraid to own their brilliance, package their genius and share their unique contribution with the world, collectively we’d be infinitely more powerful."
What about you? Do you suffer from modesty? If so, what do you think it has it cost you in your career or business?
*editing by Audrey Adams, The Adams Report

[Ep. 5] How comparing yourself to others is killing your momentum

http://www.amandamillerlittlejohn.com/podcast
Comparison will kill you.
It's so tempting to look someone else's success and beat yourself up for not reaching the same milestones they did on the same exact timeline. But if you took a moment to peel back the layers of their situation, you'd likely see that they had a much different path, access to different resources, the sheer luck of good timing, or a myriad of other advantages along the way.
And if you took a second moment to examine the layers of your OWN story, you'd be able to see the unique set of advantages, challenges and experiences that all conspired to create the perfect storm that is YOU.
The creativity born from limited resources. The hopefulness of youth, not yet jaded by experience. The strength, grit and determination that can only come from coming through a series of tough situations.
But when you compare, you miss the moments of your journey and deny yourself the full rewards of your story.
THERE IS NO TEMPLATE TO THIS. Let others do them as you continue to do YOU - with your own unique set of tools, on your own timeline, in your own way.

[Ep. 4] How to Be a More Productive Creative

http://www.amandamillerlittlejohn.com
In this episode of the Package Your Genius podcast, I examine the subtle ways we procrastinate our way out of creative productivity. I share how you can produce more as a creative person, by changing your daily habits.
I personally NEVER feel like I am creating enough. While I produce a fair amount, I've always thought there were volumes of books and other creative works in me. I marvel at prolific published writers like personal development expert Brian Tracy and leadership guru John Maxwell who write several books each year.
My greatest fear is to die before I get everything I was sent here to say - out. Can you relate?
I don't know what those authors use to keep themselves so productive, but I definitely think that we could take a page from my six-year-old's book: if you're a creator, stop consuming and start creating.
What do you consume in lieu of creating? What are some of your top distractions?
I'm excited to share this week's podcast* where I discuss how sneaky and distracting consuming can be, why it's sometimes hard to tell whether you're creating or just consuming, and I offer some practical guidance on how to get more of your creative work out into the world.
http://www.amandamillerlittlejohn.com/get-more-done-be-more-creative/

[Ep. 3] How to get your goals BACK ON TRACK

http://www.amandamillerlittlejohn.com
This week marked back to school for my tribe!
Taking my boys Logan and Connor to school after a summer hiatus was an incredible shift of pace, but exciting because I also get caught up in the “back to school” concept – any excuse to overindulge in new journals and professional art pens? Count me in!
But instead of just looking forward to fall spiced chai lattes and turtleneck sweaters, I’m making plans to harness the energy of the season.
Kids aren’t the only ones who are allowed to take advantage of that back to school fresh start, business owners and anyone who is building a brand can use this natural turning point and change of seasons to get focused. The fourth and final quarter of the year is just around the corner after all.
What can you do to set yourself up for success in these final months of the year? What are you doing to close 2015 out strong?
Don’t wait until December 15 to scramble to make something happen before the year is fully over.
You’ve got the time to do something NOW, so make a plan to make some real things happen before it’s time to turn the page on 2015.

[Ep. 2] Are your gifts working towards your purpose?

http://www.amandamillerlittlejohn.com
There’s a misconception about talents – that the more you have, the better off you are.
I’ve heard from people who feel like they have few true talents, and would give anything to have more. But what I don’t think they realize is that having many talents can be almost as frustrating as having none at all.
And here’s why:
Smart people, observing your gifts, will always find a way to utilize you.
There will rarely be a shortage of opportunity when you add value to others and are a joy to be around. Challenges arise when (not if, but when) you find yourself with more opportunities than you have time for, and you have to start making decisions about what to do vs. what not to pursue.
It can be difficult to feel like you’re making the right choice, especially when your decision has long-term implications.
Sometimes the questions don’t have long-range implications but will still impact your life over the next week – whether you should volunteer this semester at your child’s school, accept the unpaid speaking invitation, or respond to a request for you to participate in a tele summit.
But often times the stakes are higher. Should you take that new job offer in another state, or try to climb the ranks where you are? Should you commit to a new lucrative consulting project, and give up all time for your personal creative pursuits?
Sometimes it’s hard to know. And unfortunately our gifts don’t come with a timeline and an instruction manual.
When you’re talented, it’s SO important to understand what YOU want to do. If you’re not clear on the direction you want your career to take, others will steer your ship (and talents) towards their own benefit.
If you’re not clear on your purpose and how each opportunity falls in line with your goals, you will eventually wake up one day having done a whole lot of meaningful things that may have meant nothing to you.

[Ep. 1] How to Build Your Personal Brand + Meet Amanda Miller Littlejohn

Get to know Amanda Miller Littlejohn through this January 28, 2015 interview on Sirius XM Business Radio powered by The Wharton School.
In this interview, Wharton's Director of Lifelong Learning Laura Zarrow interviews Amanda on her personal story for Women @ Work.