Support is Sexy

Latest Episodes:

106: Do Your Dance! How to Remember to Take A Moment for Yourself Everyday Nov 28, 2016

Show notes

This past weekend I spent time with family in Mississippi celebrating the 90th birthday of one of my cousins. And during the celebration, there was a memorable moment when she made her way to the dance floor and did her dance! At 90. She. Did. Her. Dance. As brief as it was, it was wonderful!

The moment was so much fun and, for me, such a great reminder of the importance of -- in good times and bad, when business is going well or when it isn't -- to remember to do your dance, and, as I've mentioned before, to celebrate the small wins.

On this episode I talk about the importance of remembering to do your dance and how it can help you get through those tough or stressful moments in business and in life. I even add a little music in here to get you started! :)

Have a listen and have fun!

Show notes, links, contacts and resources for this episode may be found at http://supportissexypodcast.com

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[Music:"Someone Else's Memories" by Revolution Void and "Easy" by SPCZ]

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105: Want to Shift Your Energy? Focus on Gratitude. Nov 25, 2016

Show notes

Want to shift the energy during those moments when it feel like nothing is going your way? Here's the secret: Focus on what you're grateful for in that moment. Most of us know the healing power of gratitude, how being grateful for what you already have actually fertilizes the ground for more blessings, if you will. But I understand if there are days when a "parable" is the last thing you want to hear. All you want to know is how to fix it!

Don't know if you're a believer, but I've heard many preachers talk about this notion that it's wonderful to praise God or whatever power you believe in and be grateful for the good times; but what does your prayer sound like in the hard times? What matters as much, if not more, is how much gratitude you can show in those WTF moments.

If you're a regular listener to the podcast, you know I usually ask a key question of every single guest near the end of our interview: "If you think over your life and career, and you had the chance to thank only one person whose support was critical to you personally and professionally, who would that be and what would you say?"

And usually, during that moment of reflection, most guests get choked up. We all forget to pause sometimes to say thank you and to reflect with intentional gratitude, especially with the people in our lives.

So, your challenge for today is to call -- yes CALL -- at least one person to whom you are grateful for their love and support. Thank someone who has been there for you -- this might be a family member, spouse, a friend, a former colleague or someone you don't even know personally who has had a major influence.

To give you some support and inspiration, I rounded up a few of the touching "thank yous" of some of our previous guests (listed below).

And before you have a listen, I just want to say THANK YOU to all of you for listening and supporting the Support is Sexy podcast from all around the world. It truly means so much. Thank you!

Show notes, links, contacts and resources for this episode may be found at supportissexypodcast.com.

Subscribe to Support is Sexy podcast on iTunes or on Stitcher Radio!

Thank you for listening! And hey, if you love it, please leave us a Rating & Review on iTunes!

[Music: "Someone Else's Memories" by Revolution Void and "Candlepower" by Chris Zabriskie]

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104: Stay Hungry! (How to Stay Passionate about Your Business) Nov 24, 2016

Show notes

Believe or not, I can get business inspiration (or at least podcast episode inspiration) from nearly anywhere. And today's inspiration comes courtesy of the family dog.

Pup (not pictured) shows no shame when going after something he wants, especially if that something is a treat -- he puts it all out there. What if we did the same when it came to our businesses and the things we want to create in this world. What if we stayed hungry?

How much further along might you be in your business? Would you have a better chance of attracting the partners or resources you need to make some things happen? Would the satisfaction of at least knowing that you gave it your ALL continue to fuel you?

Have a listen to 7 ways staying hungry may help move you forward in your business. It's a real treat! ;)

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[Music: "Someone Else's Memories" by Revolution Void]

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103: How to Succeed as Your Own Boss and Avoid Small Business Failure with Small Biz Lady Melinda Emerson Nov 23, 2016

Show notes

Shortly after graduating college with a degree in broadcast journalism, Melinda Emerson landed her dream job as a television producer in Philadelphia -- and, she hated it. Mean people and countless hours pushed her to eventually make a move. And that move was to become an entrepreneur.

Melinda studied as much as she could about business, going to events and joining organizations that would provide her with business insight, and then she used her experience to start a video production company called Quintessence Group with just a laptop, a fax machine and a dream in 1999. The company, and Melinda, became very successful -- topping many of the who's who in business lists -- then everything changed, again, and she made a change to figure out her next chapter. She hasn't looked back.

On this episode, Melinda talks about how she became THE small biz lady, taking heed when "the voice" tells you where to go next, key ways to avoid small business failure and how to build a megabrand that reaches three million people weekly in spite of the curve balls in business and life.

On this episode you'll learn:

The biggest mistake she made in business.What happens when you fall out of love with the business you've created.Why writing a book -- a good book -- helps position you as an expert.What to do when life and business throw you a curve ball.How to market yourself and build your brand effectively on social media.The importance of repurposing content.Why quality content always rises to the top.Smart reasons to separate your brand from your name.Top 5 reasons small business fail.And why I'm pushing her to start her own podcast. :)Subscribe to Support is Sexy podcast on iTunes or on Stitcher Radio!

Show notes, links, contacts and resources for this episode may be found at http://supportissexypodcast.com

[Music: "Someone Else's Memories" by Revolution Void]

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102: Girly Book Club Founder Erin Woodward on Building A Global Brand with 30,000 Members Nov 22, 2016

Show notes

When Erin Woodward was ten years old, she had what many may consider the experience of a lifetime: Her parents sent her away from her small town just north of Toronto to live with extended family in Bali. Since then, Erin has loved traveling the world and visited 53 countries, so when she fell in love and considered making the move to London, she didn't hesitate. But once there, she quickly realized she was missing something: Connections.

Erin decided to use the Internet to bring other likeminded women together around something she was passionate about -- books -- and The Girly Book Club was born. Since then, it has grown to 46 chapters around the world in eight countries and with more than 30,000 members. On this episode of the Support is Sexy podcast, Erin talks about creating authentic connections, managing a global team and going virtual to grow your brand.

On this episode you'll learn:

How to know when it's time to take your business seriously.When it may be time to transition from moonlighting to full-time,How to manage a global brand.How to determine team leaders who can serve as the face of your brand.The importance of creating space for authentic connections.Scaling your brand by going virtual.Her top three recent reads.One of the biggest myths about entrepreneurshipTop tips for first steps when you're creating a group or event as part of your business.The importance of modeling.

Subscribe to Support is Sexy podcast on iTunes or on Stitcher Radio!

Show notes, links, contacts and resources for this episode may be found at http://supportissexypodcast.com

[Music: "Someone Else's Memories" by Revolution Void]

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101: Mapping Out Your Next Chapter and Navigating Leadership with Dr. Karen Thomas Nov 21, 2016

Show notes

Dr. Karen Thomas has never fit in. Blame it on her third eye -- when everyone else sees blue or red, she sees purple. And while this ability may have irked her parents when she was growing up, it is what makes her an effective leader today, the ability to see what's not obvious others.

Though Dr. Thomas has a graduate degree in special events and marketing, and held an enviable position that she loved as director of marketing at Essence magazine back in the 1990s, she saw something others did not: it was time to move on. And in 1996, at the behest of the pastor of her church, she founded the Marion P. Thomas Charter School in Newark, New Jersey, in spite of the fact that she had no education experience. But Dr. Thomas saw purple. "As women...we're just limitless," she says. "I feel like, if it's something you feel in your spirit that you feel compelled to do, you feel like no one can stop you." Today, the school has grown from 60 students to 1500, and from four classrooms to four campuses.

On this episode, Dr. Thomas tells how to recognize when your next chapter makes itself known, how to keep moving when everyone else thinks your crazy, and what to do and where to turn in those moments when leadership gets lonely.

On this episode you'll learn:

The biggest challenge for running a charter school.Becoming a specialist in your category.3 things to know when starting a school.Why you have to think about your school as a business.How charter schools generate revenue.How to build a strong and balanced team.Why what got you here may not get you there.The importance of continuing to take courses to become a better leader.How to find people who can support you during those moments when leadership gets lonely.Subscribe to Support is Sexy podcast on iTunes or on Stitcher Radio!

Show notes, links, contacts and resources for this episode may be found at http://supportissexypodcast.com

[Music: "Someone Else's Memories" by Revolution Void]

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100: "Tell Me What You Need." Why You MUST Be Ready to Answer This Request Nov 18, 2016

Show notes

"Tell me what you need."

I have said it before and I will say it again, these are five of the sexiest words in the English language. There are many, but these rank high on my list. The person making this request of you, to tell them what you need, is creating space for you to fill it with your desire, your needs in the moment, the things that you think will help you to move forward.

So, if someone were to make this request of you, as it relates to your business, would you be able to fill that space? Would you have answers? Would you be able to list AT LEAST three things that would move you forward in that moment?

This is what I faced this past week during two interviews with two powerful and incredibly important women entrepreneurs: Karen Cah, CEO of ifundwomen.com, and Dr. Karen Thomas, CEO of the Marion P. Thomas Charter School in Newark, New Jersey. And in this episode (episode 100!), I talk about what happened when I was asked what I needed, and how it has shifted my thinking around just how unready I am to receive support. But that changes -- for you and for me -- starting today. It's time to GET ready to tell the world what you need.

Show notes, links, contacts and resources for this episode may be found at http://supportissexypodcast.com

Subscribe to Support is Sexy podcast on iTunes or on Stitcher Radio!

[Music: "Someone Else's Memories" by Revolution Void]

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99: Ready to Write Your Book? Learn Self-Publishing Fast with Bibliocrunch Founder Miral Sattar Nov 17, 2016

Show notes

Miral Sattar has always been an entrepreneur, launching various businesses since high school -- from creating a successful blog for South Asian women to having a t-shirt line with fun slogans for South Asian women to launching her own iPhone case business (one of the businesses she wishes she held onto). "The hustle has always been in me," the Queens, New York, native says. This passion was passed along to her from her dad, an immigrant from Pakistan who was a very successful entrepreneur and who actually questioned why Miral wanted to work from someone else after she received a degree in engineering from Columbia University.

Eventually, while working for Time she became intrigued by book publishing industry while working on her thesis for her masters degree, and created a tool that would evolve into her first business as an entrepreneur, Bibliocrunch. Bibliocrunch is a platform that connects self-publishing authors with professionals they need to produce their book. Today the platform has more than 17,000 authors and more than 1200 professionals. More recently, Miral has also launched an education platform, learnselfpublishingfast.com.

On this episode, Miral talks to Support is Sexy podcast about what you need to know before you self publish, why 40% of Amazon's bestseller list is made up of self-published authors, how to learn what you need to know fast and why books have become the new business card.

On this episode you'll learn:

Important lessons Miral learned from her dad about entrepreneurship.What she makes sure she does before every launch.How self publishing has evolved in the past five years.Why some authors choose self publishing over traditional.Myths about self publishing.First three steps to take to self publish your book.The sweet spot as far as pricing for your self published book.The biggest mistakes self publishers make.Why that five-star review really matters and the best ways to get them.

BONUS OFFER

Tweet @bibliocrunch and tell them you heard about them on the #SupportisSexy for a discount code for courses on Learnselfpublishingfast.com!

Show notes, links, contacts and resources for this episode may be found at http://supportissexypodcast.com

Thank you for listening! And hey, if you love it, click here to leave us a Rating & Review on iTunes!

Subscribe to Support is Sexy podcast on iTunes or on Stitcher Radio!

[Music: "Someone Else's Memories" by Revolution Void]

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98: Get Money: Top Tips for Crowdfunding Your Business with ifundwomen Founder Karen Cahn Nov 16, 2016

Show notes

Karen Cahn, a native of Canton, Massachusetts, has always believed in women building their own thing, living on their own terms and having their own money no matter what -- even when working for another company. Karen, who has worked ever since she was 13, took a job very early in her career at Google and spent 10 years at the Internet giant, working with YouTube, leading strategy in video and becoming an intrapreneur by launching a business within the business -- the Branded Entertainment Group -- which let her know that, yep, she could be a badass entrepreneur.

Today, Karen has launched two businesses, is financially secure and is clearer than ever that money buys freedom, and now she is creating spaces (and businesses) where other women can realize that freedom as well. Through her latest venture, ifundwomen.com, which is the first crowdfunding platform exclusively for women, Karen offers women entrepreneurs and creatives a way to not only get their businesses financed, but to get vital support -- directly from Karen and her team -- in other important ways that will help them move forward, such as video production and accountability.

On this episode of the Support is Sexy podcast, Karen talks to us about why women still lag significantly behind when it comes to funding (despite the fact that we are launching more businesses than ever), how to get of our own way, and her unwavering mission to support the female economy.

On this episode, you'll learn...

Myths about crowdfunding.5 questions you need to ask yourself for your project.Why crowdfunding is a great way to test your project and see if there's a business there.Why it's all about FFFs.What the confidence gap for women is and how Karen is working to close it.Why men don't have the confidence gap.How to know when someone is NOT going to invest in your business or project.Why we need to stop apologizing and people pleasing.Being aware of how you process feedback.How you do yourself a disservice if you don't share your idea with other people out of fear of stealing it.How the recent US election has refueled her passion.

Show notes, links, contacts and resources for this episode may be found at http://supportissexypodcast.com

Thank you for listening! And hey, if you love it, please leave us a Rating & Review on iTunes!

Subscribe to Support is Sexy podcast on iTunes or on Stitcher Radio!

[Music: "Someone Else's Memories" by Revolution Void]

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97: Set Up Your Business to Flourish and Thrive with Jewelry Designer Tracy Matthews Nov 15, 2016

Show notes

Tracy Matthews considers herself a "natural hustler," comes from a long line of entrepreneurs and feels like entrepreneurship has always been in her blood. In fact, the idea of working for someone else kinda makes her cringe. But creating something? She can't get enough! In 1998 -- while still in her twenties -- Tracy created a top jewelry line, Tracy Matthews Designs, that became a beloved brand among celebs, was featured in several media outlets and was generating nearly $1 million in revenue. Her business was shining brightly -- until a drastic change in the 2008 economy nearly shattered everything. On this episode, Tracy talks about how she built her internationally successful jewelry line, mistakes she made along the way, what she learned about her business and herself during the tough times and why she's passionate about supporting other jewelry designers by creating something she didn't have access to when she was a young designer: shared information. On this episode you'll learn: How Tracy built an international jewelry design company (and why she walked away).The importance of structuring your day properly.How to focus on revenue generating activities.The importance of building on your momentum.Why you can't you jump directly from A and Z and succeed.What Tracy learned about growing fast without being ready.Why having a consultant -- and a support system -- can save your business and get you through the tough times.Questions to ask yourself when it's time to move on and when your business no longer serves you.Getting over the ego's definition of success.Learning to think strategically and install systems. The value of getting buy-in BEFORE you create a new product.Thank you for listening! And hey, if you love it, please leave us a Rating & Review on iTunes!

Show notes, links, contacts and resources for this episode may be found at http://supportissexypodcast.com

Subscribe to Support is Sexy podcast on iTunes or on Stitcher Radio!

[Music: "Someone Else's Memories" by Revolution Void]

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