PURPOSESCAPING with Amanda Miller Littlejohn

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 to successfully do that most people haven't. And this is not to say that no one has ever done it before, but at least the majority of people you interact with can't claim to have done the same thing.
 
I don't know if you do this, but I pay close attention to any marketing that speaks to me and encourages me to pull out my credit card. I'm on a lot of different email lists, so whenever someone is able to break through the noise, I try to dissect what made their offer so appealing to me. I got an email today that made me think twice about signing up on the spot, and I've also recently participated in a workshop series that I wouldn't have expected me to buy, if I were on the other side marketing to me, so what gives.
 
This morning, I got an email from Dorie Clark about landing your book deal. I was intrigued because I'm obsessed with the publishing industry right now, and Dorie is a well-respected author and thinker in the personal branding space. She's published a number of books through Portfolio Penguin, and she's putting together a workshop to talk through the book proposal process as well as how to land an agent. She's even invited her editor at Penguin to attend and is hosting a VIP dinner with a book agent.
 
For anyone who has aspirations of playing in that world - or even to understand the process from the vantage point of someone who has successfully navigated it - this event is very attractive. I didn't pull my credit card out immediately, but I thought it over because Portfolio Penguin has published a number of my favorite authors including Shane Snow, Ryan Holiday and Jenny Blake. Their authors seem to have this fraternity - they regularly invite one another on each other's platforms, interview one another for podcasts, mention each other in their newsletters, etc. It's definitely a circle worthy of tapping into if you like the type of books they write.
 
But I'm also interested in the pull back the curtain aspect of the book proposals. Dorie mentioned she'd share her failed proposals as well as the ones that won her the deal, introduce participants to her editor at Penguin and set up a VIP dinner with a literary agent. If ever there were a fact-finding mission for the publishing process, this is it!
 
So for you, the first follow up question to help you get even more clear on the genius you have access to right now is - What process have you successfully navigated? Can you pull back the curtain on your steps?
 
 
A second event I went to recently was hosted by Farnoosh Torabi and Susie Moore. They did a PR workshop where they invited about 12 or so NYC journalists to speak to attendees and break down what they're looking for in their pitches.
 
Even though I sell PR and do it successfully, I was interested in this event for two reasons: first, I struggle brainstorming my own PR ideas and ways to package what I do for the media. It's like the dentist who can't clean his own teeth or the cobbler with no shoes - sometimes it's hard to do what you do for others for yourself. So the chance to have other people brainstorm angles for me was exciting.
 
Secondly, I wasn't familiar with any of the journalists who were scheduled to attend. And while I'm in DC, New York is the center of media and you never can make too many media contacts. With the format of the event as it was, I knew we'd get a chance to rub shoulders and get to know them in an informal setting, which we did.
 
Most people including me would not have pegged me - a PR person - for a potential attendee for this workshop. But the way the event was packaged spoke to me - the idea of working on my pitches, hearing feedback and adding 10-12 new contacts to my list was exciting. The opportunity to meet these new journalists though was the closer.
 
Which brings me to my second focusing question - What hard to get to people do you have access to? Who might want to know them, and how can you create an opportunity for them to connect?
 
An interesting thing about both of these potential events - they found something the've already successfully done, and the promised to walk you through a process. Then they brought in hard to access people - national media journalists, book agents, book editors - so you can hear straight from the horse's mouth and possibly make a connection.
 
A lot of people get hung up on what track record they need to have in order to be credible to others. But the results are all the credibility you need.
 
The book workshop isn't about writing a New York Times Bestseller. It's simply about writing a book proposal and landing a book deal with a mainstream publisher.
 
The PR event isn't promising you a spot on the Today Show, but it does lay out the steps someone took to do that, and gives you the access to potentially make that happen.
 
What process are you looking over in your day to day work? What major feat have you accomplished the others may want to learn?
 
It could be as simple as losing a certain amount of weight in 90 days, or getting a baby to sleep through the night by the time they're 8 weeks old.
 
We're all sitting on genius processes that others would pay handsomely for. So think through your past results and your current network and let me know what you come up with.
 
 
 
 

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 way I'd originally planned to reach them.
 
So for example, my husband took another job that increased our household income and that wasn't how I thought our household earnings would grow when I made out that list. I am on track to double my annual revenue, but I thought it was mainly going to be through my group programs. Instead, I've had a number of unexpected corporate invitations come up that have helped close that gap.
 
In terms of the vacations, I wanted to take two domestic and two international trips some solo and some with my family. For some of my goals I see them through the lens of my household, so at this point I've already taken two international trips, my husband went on a delegation to Mexico, and we traveled domestically with the boys for spring break. We're planning one more summer trip with them before school starts back. But two of the international trips came out of the blue. He was invited to be a part of the delegation 10 days before the trip. The Italy trip as I've mentioned before happened because a friend was coming here for a conference and asked me on a whim if I just happened to be available.
 
Another goal was to double my podcast downloads from last year. Originally I divided that annual number by 12 to get an idea of how many downloads I needed to get each month, then I divided that number by 4 to see how many downloads I'd need to reach with each weekly episode. Around March, I realized I was consistently falling short by a few thousand downloads each month. My initial strategy was to show up consistently every week, switch podcast hosts and get the podcast up on Spotify and Google Play. Those definitely helped, but I hadn't quite hit the number I wanted, so I was thinking about stepping up the marketing, maybe doing ads. Then I met Heather Chauvin and heard about her daily podcast challenge and thought it would be a fun thing to try for a month. I had no thoughts on how doing the challenge would effect my downloads - I honestly didn't even consider what would happen, but to my surprise, doing this daily challenge has essentially caught me up so to speak in terms of where I should be at the halfway point of the year. So I've already hit last year's numbers 6 months in - but it's only because of the podcast challenge, that only occurred to me at the end of May.
 
For my goal of increasing book sales, I assumed I would initiate social media ads to begin driving traffic to the book. But I didn't anticipate bulk book orders from companies I had no prior relationship with getting me to that goal. So I'm on track with the book sales too, but again not in the way I originally expected to be.
 
I thought that was interesting to note how all of these goals are in play even though I couldn't see it happening. So since it looks like what I'm doing is working, I have four tips for you to use as you set out to reach your goals.
 
1. Write down your goals. I don't know what the science is, but it works. Even if you don't think through your plan to reach your goals write them down. Put them out there. They're now in your brain even when you're not thinking about them intentionally.
 
2. Don't get discouraged if you haven't reached your goal on an incremental timeline. Especially if your goal involves a quantity like my doubled revenue, doubled podcast downloads and 4 trips. You may need only one client to double your revenue. You could have one influencer share your podcast and allow you to meet that goal in one week. You could take a month off and get your four trips in. Being rigid in your thinking can make you blind to what's actually happening.
 
3. Be open to meeting your goal in a way you didn't expect. It won't always look like how you imagine it. There are many streets that lead to the same place. Just because I am not going to double my revenue through my group programs doesn't mean I'm not going to double my revenue at all. There are corporate sources that have shown up unexpectedly that are helping me close that goal gap. I had no idea any of those would pan out 6 months ago. Don't limit yourself with what you know - we don't know everything.
 
4. Review the goals periodically. Stay acquainted with them. Bring your intentional brain to the goals. My next level is going to be envisioning myself reaching my goals each day so I can get them out of that subconscious part of my brain and in the forefront so I can use them.
 
What about you? How are you doing with your goals for the year? Are you on track to reach them? Do you need to play around with a new strategy if you're not on track? Did you have any goals for the year? I'd be curious to know how the year is shaping up for you.

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 would be in town to cover the kids, that I wouldn't be out of town speaking, and that I wouldn't miss anything major. But I remember saying "count me in" as I hung up the phone with her, checked my calendar, checked in with my husband, and looked into the price of flights.
 
I said yes because the opportunity resonated so deeply with me, and spoke directly to what I'd already verbalized. When the opportunity to have an adventure and get some travel in presented itself it spoke to me on a soul level.
 
Now reflecting back on the week that just passed, I'm in awe of the opportunity to step away from my routine and get refocused and re-energized on the opportunity that is my life. While seeing some of the places I've always wanted to see, and experiencing Europe as a person of means (not a broke college student) has been powerful, it has also made me reflect on why I don't say yes more often.
 
I love the process of travel because it allows you to get some distance from your day to day. When you're not in the thick of things, you can get the perspective that you're too close to observe when you're in the weeds of your life and business. My friend and I were reflecting on the year that has passed, and while I'm so proud of the things I've been able to make happen in the last 12 months, I had to call myself out on not tackling one big specific goal.
 
About a year and a half ago, I helped my son publish his first book, and he's gone on to publish two other titles. The process of helping him allowed me to see very clearly where I was falling short on my own goal to write and publish a book, so in packaging his genius I got a clear confirmation that it was time for me to finally write Package Your Genius and get it out into the world. I poured my heart and soul into the project and spent the first half of the year writing and editing the book and published it in early fall. I promoted it on social media and did a moderate amount of press, but nothing crazy. I put it out there, got a good response and felt good about checking that book off the list. Because if you know anything about me, you know I have about 3 other books currently in the queue. So this was just the first.
 
But something started tugging at my heart shortly after I published the book. And that was this bigger vision of publishing other people's books - not ghost writing the books and assisting them with the process. But being a full on publisher focused on amplifying marginalized voices, especially women of color who want to write non-fiction books tied to their professional expertise. So I had this big insight, then I did nothing.
 
I did what we do when we're staring our big dream in the face. I talked myself out of it. I told myself that to do what I really want to do - launch a boutique publishing imprint - would be impossible. Who would I publish? How would the process work? How would the marketing and distribution work? Where would I find authors? What about all of the parts of the process that aren't my expertise - the legal, creative, artwork? How would royalties work? What about author advances? Would people pay for this process, like a coaching program? Or would I take on their projects for a slice of the future revenue potential?
 
So many questions hit me and I got bogged down in the details. Paralysis settled in. I didn't move. Instead I mentally pushed this dream to the back of my dream drawer, and locked it tight.
 
But the funny thing about an opportunity when it is YOUR opportunity? It will come back and find you - haunt you even - when you're least expecting it. It will find its way out of that locked drawer and back to the forefront of your mind, because once you think it, verbalize, and let's not even think about what happens when you write it down - it's in the ether.
 
Like me writing the words adventure and travel down on my vision board, but taking no intentional steps to book a trip, and then a friend proposing the perfect remedy to my rut, the same thing happened with my kernel of an idea around publishing.
 
No less than a month after I verbalized wanting to publish others, a friend mentioned how she'd love to write a book, but had no idea where to start. Then a client mentioned how having a book would be a great way to build more leverage at her speaking engagements, but she needed to sit down and think through how to make it work. Then while in Florida speaking at a conference, I randomly ran into an alum of PYGA. She mentioned that ever since her cohort wrapped up she's been thinking about how she can make her book happen, but she knows she can't do it alone.
 
Three separate confirmations from three separate people showing me a pathway to do what I already said I wanted to do.
 
And would you believe I still wasn't convinced? That's what I've been exploring this week in Italy.
 
Why am I fighting against what I already claimed?
It It just about fear?
Not believing it can work?
It could totally not work.
But it totally COULD work.
 
When you think about traditional publishers - Random House and Penguin all started somewhere, likely with one person or a small team of people that had a vision. They had to start somewhere. Maybe where I am right now is where it starts.
 
If this trip has taught me nothing else, it is that I can't lose when I say yes to the opportunity I already put out there. Why can't my publishing imprint be my next thing?
 
But whether it is my next thing or not, I'm not willing to waste any more time languishing in indecision. What about you? How much more time will you spend overthinking? How many more times will you pass on the opportunity to do what we truly want?
 
When confirmation presents itself, just say yes. And see what happens. You never know, it just might work.

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, on the other hand, don’t find the day to day mundane. They keep projects going.
 
They enjoy long relationships sustained and developed over time. Maintainers get excited by open ended arrangements; they prefer a commitment as short term projects scare them.
 
Maintainers’ best work often comes out over time once they have had a chance to ‘warm up’.
 
Maintainers also don’t mind keeping up what someone else created or first put in place. They often work through relationship - the longer you know and work with them, the deeper and richer the experience gets.
 
Which type do you resonate with?
 
 

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 same questions, or you get the same requests for advice from different sources. 
We talked about how capsule projects can help you establish your brand and allow you to offer a "level one" body of knowledge to people who are new to your ideas.
We dove into the difference of being an activator vs a maintainer, and which type we each identify with personally.
Finally, we discussed how your path to purpose may be waiting for you to create something of your own. 
Thank you for being a part of Package Your Genius!
Eternally grateful,
-aml

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 grief, in the wake of my father's death. Although I can't recall anything I said that day, whatever I said was enough to catch the attention of new clients, and win the respect of corporate sponsors.
If you're nervous about putting yourself out there, may I remind you, you've already done the work.
Lean on your muscle memory - your hard-won expertise - and don't put pressure on yourself to know everything and be brilliant in the moment. You can access the lessons you've learned along the way whenever you need them. They're there for you.
 

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 some time on this trip making a list of traits I wish I embodied. Then I'm going to sign up for one thing in each category so I can be on the road to being who I really want to be.
Feel free to hold me to it.

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 work..."
 
***
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.

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 media exposure for your personal brand, check out Maximum Exposure my PR mastermind for established personal brands, and apply to join us for our next cycle.

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.