Are you ready to go on an adventure? Let’s journey to find what fuels you and how to actually pursue it on The Struggle Isn’t Real Podcast. Entrepreneur, Speaker, and Investor – Codie Sanchez takes you on a weekly journey asking questions of elite achievers, strivers and doers that would be wildly inappropriate at a dinner party. Our goal each week is to remind ourselves that you were not put here to live an ordinary life, you were meant for something more. So we learn from those who have built before us how to reach for our extraordinary. Find out more on www.codiesanchez.com. Were you put here to live an ordinary life? To be common? My answer is unequivocally, NO. You were meant to follow your adventure.
Become An Influencer, Go Viral, Create A Tribe
May 04, 2017
Show notes
Ana Flores - CEO & Founder of WeAllGrow talks making waves in influencer land
Have you heard the word influencer more and more? Have you heard about the growing demographics in the Latino space? Do you keep hearing about the power of bloggers both for brands to leverage and for people to get $$ to post on social media about whatever tickles their little fancy? Well if any of that interests you, amigo you are in luck. This episode with CEO & Founder of WeAllGrow Latina Network, Ana Flores is all about how influencer marketing works, how she built a company around it, and what is shaking in the world of Latina’s and Latino entrepreneurs.
You see Ana knows a thing or two about how to get Insta-famous or how to make your product go viral. WeAllGrow was the first and is still the largest network of Latina influencers in the US. She was a content creator before she ran WAG, authoring the book Bilingual is Better, launching award-winning SpanglishBaby.com website, and working as a producer for major Spanish language networks. When she isn’t at the White House speaking, she’s running summits, or helping companies understand this unique market. Aka - she's a change maker and fabulous.
Some people speak, some listen and the few ACT. That is Ana.
If you want to hear about work life balance, creating a tribe, influencer marketing and understanding the Latino market, you are in luck my friends.
Some people speak, some listen and the few ACT. Ana is a member of the few.
Please enjoy this conversation with my friend and all around lady boss Ana Flores.
Cheers,
Codie
To stream and subscribe on iTunes, click on the icon above, or click here. Want to hear another podcast about how to find your why and passion? — Listen to my broadcast on Girl Power Hour Radio. Here I talk about 5 steps to finding what you want and then executing.
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Lessons from My Favorite Contrarian Entrepreneur
Apr 27, 2017
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Her name is Mary & Her Motto is: Eat, Play, Crush
(You are going to like her, and her stories even more).
There are four people’s Instagram I actively follow and check, four. Mary’s is one of them. I don’t think I’ve told her that before (our little secret). Most have heard of Mary as @PaleoChef on Instagram, twitter and the web. Or you may know her as a private chef to more celebrities and athletes than I can list without being a shameless name dropper… but let’s just say if they write books, have the biggest platforms in the world, play sports, have millions of followers, are frequently on a big screen near you, she probably has cooked or coached them on Paleo. Oh and she has a Youtube Show on Mixed Makeup. NBD.
You might also know her because she’s a fudge packer. Say what? She came up with one of my favorite brands as a healthy traveler, PhatFudge, which is all organic, paleo goodness on the go. While I follow her for those reasons, my favorite part about Mary is her completely contrarian approach to business.
“While everyone is out talking about life hacking and leveraging everything from technology to personal networks, Mary mostly turns left when others go right.”
You see she has never taken a dollar of funding for her now crazily growing company. In fact, she didn’t have a credit card a month ago. Straight cash baby. While everyone is out talking about life hacking and leveraging everything from technology to personal networks, Mary mostly turns left when others go right. On this podcast, she opens up about where creativity stems from for her, how she handles moments of doubt, her transition from corporate to entrepreneur, what Paleo means to her, and everything in between.
I hope you enjoy this podcast as much as I reveled in recording it with her. Stay tuned I guarantee you'll be hearing big thangs from this lady.
***Bonus - Scroll below to see my favorite posts from Mary on Instagram. They are all time.
My Top 5 Favorite Posts from Mary:
#2
#3
#4
#5
And a bonus picture.. Because we are really really ridiculous looking and I thought you guys would like to end that way.
That's all.
Cheers my animals,
Codie
To stream and subscribe on iTunes, click on the icon above, or click here. Want to hear another podcast about how to find your why and passion? — Listen to my broadcast on Girl Power Hour Radio. Here I talk about 5 steps to finding what you want and then executing.
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Care Over Commerce: Build A Brand & A Life That Matters
Apr 20, 2017
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Tim Dyer, Co-Founder & Chief Storyteller of one of Inc 500’s fastest growing companies speaks truth
Have you ever sat across from someone and just instantly known you wanted to dive deeper into the conversation. The other person literally had you hanging on every word. That was my experience the first time I met Tim Dyer and actually his brother, business partner, and twin Dave Dyer as well. Tim is the Chief Storyteller and Co-Founder of Manifesto Agency. Tim is my favorite kind of human, a status quo disrupter. He’s built his life around the power of the word, to not only sway someone, but to sway someone towards real purpose and meaning. On this podcast, you’ll see why Manifesto is on the Inc 500’s fastest growing business list, and how these two guys who started their business with no money, no clients and in a coffee shop, created the #7 fastest growing ad company in the game. If you are searching for how to define your brand, business, or self, how to tell a story and get heard, or how to build something that matters, this is the podcast for you.
I want to start this off a little differently…
I want to read you the Manifesto (what I would call the Why) that is the foundation of Tim & Dave’s company. Given the company is duly named Manifesto, it makes perfect sense…
Get ready to get goosebumps…
“We are the fearless ones. The why-nots in a world of cannots. We believe in lightning strikes.”
MANIFESTO:
We are the fearless ones. The why-nots in a world of cannots. We believe in lightning strikes.
A belief that puts insights and stories above artifice and vanity. We believe in the tin man’s heart.
Soulless brands are only meaningful when given a fleshy, beating heart.
We believe in tilting at windmills.
Sometimes the best causes are those only the dreamers, the dare-ers and the blind can see.
We believe in care over commerce. That when you give a d**mn, you’ll inspire others to do the same.
We believe in the life lived deliberately. “Most men go to their graves with their song still in them.”
We will make our finite lives and work count, each informing the other—and both be better for it. We believe in the immutable power of story and those who propel it.
We believe brands were meant to stand for more.
“We believe in the life lived deliberately. “Most men go to their graves with their song still in them.””
Some of my favorite quotes from our conversation:
On drafting off the cultural conversation. “It’s a little like walking into the middle of a street fight and putting on a pantomime show. I’d like to see that.”
"Just as much Substance as Sizzle." (Talking about Summit Conference we met at).
"We look at the triangulation of ideas. Imagine a Ven Diagram. We look for where all the parts intersect."
"Say it square and then say it with flair."
"Find people who speak truth into your life."
"Be unapologetically unafraid in taking the life pivots that speak to you."
“Your Onlyness – The one thing that you want to be known for, that unique something that only you bring.”
Framework for How They Help Brands:
If you own a company, are coming up with your own personal why, or want to align your team around one, this process is so deliciously applicable.
1) Origin: Why does your brand exist?
Did you start in a garage? Handed down from a family member? Created in an college dorm room?)
2) Ambitions: What does your organization aspire to be?
What do you hope to stand for and stand out in, in this world?
3) Attributes: Your DNA? What DNA makes up the organization?
What are your unique qualities that you bring to the table? Your onlyness.
I’ll leave you all with this…
“There is only one thing worse in the world than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.”
— Oscar Wilde
I hope you enjoy my conversation with Tim as much as I did. I have a sneaking suspicion you will.
Love You Animals,
Codie
To stream and subscribe on iTunes, click on the icon above, or click here. Want to hear another podcast about how to find your why and passion? But hen making it profitable, --> Here I talk about 5 steps to finding what you want and then executing.
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How to Make a Good First Impression — Make Yourself Unforgettable
Apr 13, 2017
Show notes
Not Conforming Is What Makes You Unforgettable:
Sometimes, the things that are a part of you are what make you unforgettable. Just so we are clear. I'm a Spaniard. We like four letter words (or in this case 5 letter words). Fun fact, in Spain you'll note tv commercials for mothers cough syrup where the women says essentially F*ck I have a cold, then turns to her kids and the screen and smiles as she takes Dayquil. Swear. I cuss because one I like it, two I think there is power when used unexpectedly to shake people out of the norm, and three, because it keeps me from trying to please everyone and fit in a box. It makes me be unapologetic and show up fully. Do I use them in investment meetings or with clients? Nah. But in just about every other occasion, absolutely.
If there is one thing I'm proud of, it's that what you see is largely what you get. I try to never lie, never hide, never fake it, because it's just easier to remember being straight up. But MAN that's taken me a while. Because if you are reading this there is a battle waging between what you want to do, should do, could do and actually do. And who you want to be, should be, could be and actually are. The goal of this week's Monday Slay, is making you step into uncomfortability so you can GROW. Why? Why not just conform?
Because then you are forgettable. You will never be remembered, you will never achieve great things.
“If you don’t piss some people off you will not even be an asterisk in the lowliest of history books. Does that sound like the kind of life you want? ”
Five quick ways to be memorably you:
We don't remember the suits, we remember the turtle neck wearing weirdos. So grab your turtleneck.
1) Social pressure - Answer this question: What is something you believe deeply, truly, wholeheartedly that most people would disagree with you on? Now post that on your Instagram. More controversial the better. (Here's mine --> Click here).
2) Reach out - Send a DM, tweet, email and otherwise try to stalk down one person you secretly respect for their giving zero F's attitude. Ask them one question... When they get inundated by negativity, backlash or haters how do they find the strength to continue regardless of the pushback?
3) Follow someone who does things that make even you uncomfortable --> Ashley Longshore, Gary Vee...
4) Say No - A big thing. This week. Say No to going to see your in-laws because you don't want to, to an assignment you think doesn't make sense, to a guy who wants to talk to you, to your mother who wants to talk to you. Before you answer, pause and ask yourself do I WANT to do this, if not. Say No. Don't say why. Just say No. Powerful.
5) MAJOR KEY 'People hate you for one of three reasons. They hate themselves, they want to be you, or they see you as a threat.'
“People hate you for one of three reasons. They hate themselves, they want to be you, or they see you as a threat.”
Internalize that. So if you are liked all the time, what does that say?
Be The Person They Always Remember...
**This is a special edition post of my Monday Slay newsletter where each week I send 5 tips to help you slay the week, the month and well - life. If you want to get it weekly click here!
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How To Slay the Insta Game
Mar 22, 2017
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So You Want To Be Instagram Famous?Or maybe you just want more sales on the IG, or maybe you're just really into posting quotes and you think the world NEEDs to see your latest cat video. No shame on your game. I'm a quantitative minded human, no doubt. So when I listen to most Instagram marketing explanations of how people grew their following and there isn't a recipe. I am TICKED. I know you just kind of "fell" into your 300,000 followers but that is not that helpful or repeatable. So I compiled all the tactics I've used, that I borrowed from some of the top Instagram accounts, accelerators, app companies like SumoMe, and then just experimented with myself. My gift to all of you. 1-2 -3 INSTAFAME GoalsBuild following from 0-10000 in 4 monthsBuild massive email list with Instagram (5k+)Drive massive traffic back to CSB’s websiteSo what exactly is this? This is a quant-based marketing plan that was responsible for taking CSB’s Instagram following of under 1000 to 15000 in less than 4 months without a team and with a spend of less than $200. If spend was higher we could 10x this. Also - I get lazy, forget to upload pictures, actually feel SM is a bit of a time suck and otherwise was a stubborn mule in the implementation of this. So if you are slightly less stubborn than a four legged cousin or a horse you will probably crush these numbers! Just saying. Why do I care about Instagram follower count?Because Instagram is an international distribution platform (IN YOUR HAND FOR FREE).Let’s put it this way: It is one of the few ways you can create distribution for almost zero dollars spent. Then as you add more followers that mean more feeds my posts end up in, thus the more eyes on my website, content, and products. It's called leverage. If you use it for your personal brand, your business, h*ll your dog, you'll at least get "free" stuff out of it. Or Fido will. However, WARNING: it is actually time consuming and hard, so don't expect a two week turnaround. People hate on bloggers all the time, I've had my moments too, but let me tell you I work with a lot of them and it is insane the amount of behind the scenes grind. So gird your loins.Here are the 5 questions that team CSB used to build traffic through Instagram:Why is Instagram marketing important for my business?How did I make my Instagram become a Traffic Generating Machine?How did I grow our Instagram following rapidly?How Do I Drive Traffic Back to CSB Website?How did I create an automated traffic machine by converting our followers?Question 1: Why is Instagram marketing important for my business?Twenty eight percent of internet users use Instagram. There are 400,000,000 Instagram monthly users and they are one of the most engaged audiences in social media.We all know that visual content works, because it collects 40x more social shares than any other form of content.And Instagram is almost 100% visual content.Given that over a quarter of the internet using Instagram, it is totally possible that my audiences are spending time on this social platform.However, not every audience is on Instagram.There are 55% of 18-29 year olds actively use Instagram, only 11% of the 50-64 age group use it. And the 65+ group is only 4%. This means that if my target audience is under the age of 50, then I reach a large portion of them through Instagram. If they are over 50? I then focus your marketing efforts on Facebook. Tweet me @codie_sanchez if you want to see my Facebook growth plan.Instagram Marketing also depends on the type of business I run. For example:If I was a food blogger, chances are my audience – the people who loves food porn – is on Instagram.If I was a clothing eCommerce store owner, my audience is on Instagram (people want to see the products they buy).If I was a personal trainer – my audience is on Instagram (waiting for the images of me to motivate them).Consultants, bloggers, virtual assistants, business owners, coaches, and so forth lend themselves to Instagram riches.So where do I fall? Well I'm a podcaster, blogger, inspirer, motivational speaker, investor, and entrepreneur. Is my audience on Instagram? Yes. I get to engage screen to screen with people who turn to me for my "influence." Aka the hot term is influencer. Question 2: How did I Make my Instagram Actually Make Me $First, it is very important to create a plan and constantly track the progress.Here is my downloadable metric tracking sheet.I set a goal, and then work backward from that goal. You’ll see we include everything in here from Hashtags and their usage, tech tools, assumptions on growth, the day to day postings to achieve this and conversion rates to the website. Fancy terms for making sure this actually turns into $$. Otherwise what are we doing really? Here are some guidelines:Time frame: 90 days. Anything past 90 days is hard to quantify and map out. Tracking: Weekly.Growth rate: I think you can expect healthy growth rate of somewhere between 10% to 40%. CSB has a weekly traffic growth of 37% and weekly follower growth of 40%.Follower count: Create a follower goal for yourself.Instagram growth is exponential rather than linear. This means that it is far easier to go from 10,000 followers to 12,000 followers than it is to go from 0 followers to 2,000 followers. So smile, breathe, and go slowly. Second, get the perfect Instagram username.The username is our personal brand. There are two ways to do it.1. Use your name (or a like identifier) on Instagram2. Use your brand’s name if your brand is more identifiable than your name.CSB uses codiesanchez because my brand: Codie Sanchez is also my name. Bet that one blew your mind. ;) Third, nail down the perfect bio.Your bio is the only place you can add a link. Utilize it. (I prefer a lead page to be linked so I can also grow my email list from a company like www.sumome.com or www.leadpages.com). The perfect Instagram bio has the following elements:1. A short, punchy description of what you do.2. An identifier of who you do it for. And why it is so rad.3. A strong all to action. Aka make a $100k in your footed pj's --> click here. 4. Emojis. I love Emojis. And there is evidence they catch the eye. It's science.5. A strong, trackable bio link.6. Bonus: Social proof.Fourth, track your Instagram trafficSo how did I track our Instagram traffic when Instagram does not let me track it? (Actually now they do, you can convert your page to a business page on IG and they give you reporting). Step 1: Set Up a UTM Source Code.What is a UTM source code? It is a bunch of text you put at the end of your URL to see where your traffic is coming from. And it's super easy.For example, CSB’s URL is https://codiesanchez.comIf I wanted to track how much traffic is coming from Instagram, I simply add:https://codiesanchez.com?src=instagram.Step 2: Shorten your trackable link with a URL shortener.Why? Because Instagram bio only allows 150 characters.Here are a few that do the trick:Pretty Link - highly recommend. Because it's pretty, aka not a bunch of letters like codiesanchez/asldaoenun52.23Bit.lyClkimStep 3: Monitor Your Instagram Traffic in Google Analytics.You won’t see it in your Audience Overview. You have to do a bit of digging - but don’t worry, it’s not too complicated.First, open up Google Analytics. Then, on the left under the Reporting tab, press Behavior.Under Behavior, expand Site Content, and then click on Landing Pages:From there, you can search "Instagram" or any identifier you used in your UTM codes:Then, you’ll be able to see the traffic from Instagram in your Google Analytics dashboard. Step 4: Monitor Your Instagram Influence with KlearThe Oracle at Delphi said the most important thing one can do is Know Thyself. That is true in Instagram and social media as well. After all it is just a different way to communicate. So I use Klear to track my influence level. (There are quite a few more of these now, just google influencer marketing platforms). What get's measured gets managed, said Peter Drucker so manage that ish. Question 3: How did I grow my Instagram following?Here are the 5 free strategies I found:Strategy 1: Share for Shares.This is when you identify similar accounts that reach the audience you want to reach (and vice versa) and you both post a Call to Action post to follow the other account and they do the same. It's a great way to cross-pollinate accounts. I typically just DM them and ask if they want to do a S4S and off to the races. (If you want our step by step process for finding people and pinging them... tell me on twitter @codie_sanchez or IG on @codiesanchez and we'll create it)>Strategy 2: Follow/UnfollowThis just works. I utilize the tool Instagress for this as it can be a time waster. You simply setup parameters and then the bot follows, comments and unfollows people for you based on similar or targeted accounts. I know, this feels kind of spammy. BUT You have to think about it this way, if your mission is to get your content in front of the broadest reach because you believe it is going to help people immensely than this is simply a tool to do that. Also - don't believe the people that say, oh I my 300k followers they just came and I like totally I dunno didn't even try it must because I am awesome. Lies. Strategy 3: Using relevant hashtags. I like doing my hashtags in the 2nd comment so that the hashtags won't distract my readers. Also I keep these in my notes on my iphone and simply copy and paste them each time. Use four bullets dropped down (like below) this hides your comment so it looks like this [...] as opposed to seeing 50 hashtags. DOWNLOAD my guide to see how I pick hashtags, crucial. Strategy 4: Be strategic in your posting with a calendar.How you do this is through using a tool like Later. It is used by over 600,000 of the largest instagram users to schedule and plan their content. With those you can pre-plan your layouts and actually see what your feed looks like with their tools. You can also be sure to capitalize on holidays, events and world news by planning your posts in advance. This allows you to operate from a place of thoughtfulness when writing and pepper in spur of the moment posts. FULL DISCLOSURE: I suck at this. I'm working on it.Strategy 5: Leverage Larger FollowingsEvery time I buy a product I love, meet a human I love, am at a hotel I love, h*ll anytime I love anything I give it virtual love on my instagram. Often times these brands and people will share your love with their followers. Thus tag brands constantly, create a tribe of things and people you love and watch what happens when they repost you.Here’s how to do it organically:1. Engage with the users you are already following. Like the posts in your feed, leave a comment on something you like, and message the people who resonate with you. (Or better yet outsource a member of your team or use PeoplePerHour to find people in other countries at lower prices).2. Engage with users who are following your “competition”. Simple visit your competition’s followers’ accounts, and leave a comment on their posts. This will help your new audiences know about you.IF you don’t know who your competition is and how you stack up use FanPage Karma it will compare your competition across Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest. You can use it to push reports to you weekly and send alerts. 3. Engage with the people who use relevant hashtags. Look up hashtags that are relevant to your industry and engage with the posts that are under that hashtags. Ultimately this is just another way to have a conversation. No one likes getting spoken AT they want to be heard too, so apply that to your instagram convos. BONUS: The 3 Paid Ways of Getting More Followers:Strategy 1: Pay for big accounts to shout you out.Yes. S4S is a free way to get more followers, if you work with accounts around a similar size as yours to make it far. But if you wanted to work with accounts that are much larger than yours, you can get them to shout you out.This is where you pay authoritative accounts in my industry to perform a “shoutout” (expect about $5-$75+ depending on the size of the account and the volume of shoutouts you pay for). I've had mixed experience with this, it can help a lot in the beginning but experiment with it before you shell out major cash.Strategy 2: Pay for Larger Accounts to Post a Screenshot of your account.This is an even more effective way to get more followers because there is no mistaking these posts – the sole purpose of them is to drive followers to your account.Expect to pay anywhere from $40 -$150 per screenshot to see 50-250 new followers or more.Strategy 3: Pay for AdsWhat I like about this option is it is one of the very few ways you can get people to follow you AND to go to your website. It is important you understand how to determine your target audience here but there is only one way to learn, Do. So go try it. Question 4: How Do I Drive Traffic Back to My Website?With Instagram, there are simply two things I did to drive traffic back to CSB website.1. My Bio Link2. Call to Action Posts.Here’s how I do it: With my bio link, I update the link with every new blog post. With my call to action post, I talk about my blog post every time it goes live.Question 5: How do I convert our followers to create an automated traffic machine?Let’s face this: Traffic is useless if it doesn’t convert.I don’t want our followers to visit my website once and then leave, because, there is a high chance that they won’t come back. I want my email list to grow substantially through Instagram. So, here is how I convert that traffic to grow our email list and therefore our income:Step 1: Give my Instagram visitors an offer they can't refuse (like that Godfather reference??). Dozens of websites are vying for their attention every day, and almost all of them are asking for their email addresses. Therefore, I need to set myself apart. So I offer them a content that they could hardly resist.Those are:- Entrepreneur books- Apps and tools that everyone needs- Monday Slay – Our 5 tips to conquer the week- Weekly ways to do more in less time- And lots of added snark.Step 2: Create Opt-In Opportunities Specific To Your Instagram Followers.This is where Welcome Mat comes from. Essentially it scrolls down from the top as a LARGE call to action, sort of like your welcome mat at your day draws in your guests eyes. So too does this virtual version. Because Instagram is a visual platform, we decided to use a Mat with a visual component, rather than a template with a black background.Also, instead of using a generic image, I use the image of the offer I am giving away when you click the link to purchase. See the example live here.Click here to learn more about the Welcome Mat we use.So my friends... if you didn't know before, now you know. I'd love to hear your stories on what works and doesn't for you. I'm not pro-scriptive, I'm into personally-scriptive. That is, find the prescription that works for you. Love you animals,Codie More Ideas Like This Straight to YOU! Sign up with your email address to receive all the hotness. Email Address Sign Up We don't spam, that's rude. Thank you!
Don't be afraid to ask for what you want
Feb 24, 2017
Show notes
You just might get it...
(Repost from My article in Business Collective)
Meet Codie Sanchez Baker, Entrepreneur, Investor and Speaker at CSB LLC
Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want – the more no’s you get, the closer you are to a yes.
International investment head, speaker, writer, entrepreneur & investor. Head of Latin American Investments for First Trust. CEO & Founder of CSB LLC. Follow her @codie_sanchez.
Who is your hero? (In business, life, or both.)
I’m a bit of a renegade at heart so I have always been a Christopher Hitchens fan (author of “Letters to A Young Contrarian”). Less because of his actual viewpoints, many of which I disagree with, but because it is such an uncomfortable position to go against the grain and he does it for a living. Every time I find myself moving with the crowd, I make myself pause and rethink my situation. I credit this practice to reading that book at a very young age. It has led me to ask the question, “How would I do it if it were easy?” Importantly, it has also taught me to hold my internal standard in everything I do, regardless of whether it is convenient or not. The old adage “If you stand for nothing, you’ll fall for anything” rings true for me.
What’s the single best piece of business advice (unorthodox tips welcome!) that helped shape who you are as an entrepreneur today, and why?
Always ask for what you want; the worst that anyone can do is say no. Asking questions, knowing what you want and pushing through the fear to ask for it has been at the center of my growth. As I continue to refine my questions, I get more of what I want. And the cycle repeats.
Surprisingly, I often learn more from the no’s than the yes’s. I think most things in life are a number’s game, so I try to collect no’s like people collect medals. Every no gets you closer to someone who will say yes. The only caveat I’ll make here is that I try to give something in every encounter I have. If all you do is ask for things from other people, you are not aligning your karma very well. So you should always ask for what you want while keeping in mind what you can do for the other person. How can you create a virtuous circle with your asks where everyone wins?
What’s the biggest mistake you ever made in your business, and what did you learn from it that others can learn from too?
My biggest mistake was thinking I had to do what everyone else was doing, that I had to fit into a box. For some reason, we’ve all agreed to the social construct of a 9-to-5 job. Why? I have no idea. Many of us do “our time” in an office building replete with padded cubicle walls and hot air balloon posters of a multi-cultural team. How bizarre when you think about it.
This idea of a 9-to-5 workday was first proposed in 1810 by the labor party. So we haven’t found a better way in 200 years? Even Henry Ford lessened his producers’ work from 12-14 hours to 8 because it increased productivity. So whatever your path, you’ve unknowingly agreed to this construct. But are you paid specifically to be present at your desk from 9 to 5? Is your job title “On Location for 8 Hours Associate”? I doubt it. Your job is related to what you do, not how long it takes you to do it.
If my team can do in four hours what other teams do in eight, all the better. The rest of the time should be theirs to grow, engage and become better humans. To go far, understand that just because everyone does it, it doesn’t mean it’s right. And you will go far much sooner than I did.
What do you do during the first hour of your business day and why?
My home is more often than not an airport or a hotel, so a set structure is challenging for me. Here’s my daily drill for when I’m not traveling:
Up at 6 a.m. every morning, I start with a cup of Pinon coffee and coconut oil that I take outside to meditate for 10 minutes and spend two minutes wrapped up in gratitude for all I have. Fully refreshed, I use the first two hours of the day for “deep work.” This means the strategic work that I have to think through, not responding to emails or calls. Then I do one or two things I REALLY do not want to do, i.e. a cold call, a difficult task, etc. so that it doesn’t hang over me all day. With my day kicked off the right way, I hop into the rest of the day.
As Peter Drucker said, “What gets measured gets managed.” I use an app called Way of Life to track how frequently I keep my morning routine. Over the past nine months, it turns out I follow this routine about 57% of the time. Next year I’d really like to up that percentage.
What’s your best financial/cash-flow related tip for entrepreneurs just getting started?
I talk my people through how to save up front and get as much as possible for free or trade. With this lack of pressure due to debt, we can take a two-step validation process through sales. First, tackle how to mine your current clients, or the people you already know, and use them as a testing ground. Secondly, and only after you have mined your personal network for real sales with dollars committed, you can go after strangers. A cold call is always harder than a warm lead. Once you have an understanding of the demand for your product, you can start spending, but it is always easier to spend more and then go back and try to save or cut costs you shouldn’t have made in the first place.
Quick: What’s ONE thing you recommend ALL aspiring or current entrepreneurs do right now to take their biz to the next level?
Take out your iPhone right now and set a reminder for every morning that says, “Is this necessary?” or “Am I being productive or just busy?” Focusing on the wrong tasks can murder your business and career. It’s not about being the most efficient person; it’s being the most effective. Instead of focusing only on the things in front of you, strategically cut out everything that isn’t necessary and you’ll be amazed by what happens. Get really comfortable with those two questions and using the word “no.” When you are asked to do something, make sure it aligns with your goals and is the BEST way you can be spending your time, not just a GOOD way.
Most entrepreneurs are type-A personalities who absolutely love a good to-do list and feeling like they accomplished a lot at the end of the day. The problem with that is you can accomplish a ton of stuff that absolutely doesn’t matter. It can be very painful to go through this process of simplification and even more painful to stick to it, but if you can, momentum will build and the big wins will drown out all of the small incremental wins you would have had with the wrong focus.
“Most entrepreneurs are type-A personalities who absolutely love a good to-do list and feeling like they accomplished a lot at the end of the day.”
What’s your definition of success? How will you know when you’ve finally “succeeded” in your business?
My definition of success is getting paid what I want, to do what I want, where I want, how I want and with the people I want. Pretty tall order, huh? But in truth that is my definition of success. It is not having $100 million in cash, or a NYT bestseller, or 50 million followers, or monuments, or power, or a Fortune 500 company, or $1 billion in company revenue. It is simply having the freedom to surround myself with the people, activities, setting and type of work that feeds my soul and allows me to give back through my unique skill set. My business is simply a mechanism to achieve those things and leave a footprint for those I can help through the skills I believe were uniquely bestowed on me.
“Success is simply having the freedom to surround myself with the people, activities, setting and type of work that feeds my soul and allows me to give back through my unique skill set.”
To stream and subscribe on iTunes, click on the icon above, or click here. Want to hear another podcast about how to find your why and passion? — Listen to my broadcast on Girl Power Hour Radio. Here I talk about 5 steps to finding what you want and then executing.
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#1 Reason You Aren't Getting What You Want.
Feb 23, 2017
Show notes
#soyoucangetit
My favorite homo-sapiens,
For those of you that aren't signed up for my Monday Slay Newsletter.. Here is a sample edition!his is my rant edition.. 5 bullets, no apps, all gold.
It hurts my heart, like literally makes it feel constricted in my chest. Do you know that feeling of tightness? What hurts me? Watching people I love, hell and people I don't know, meander unhappily through life. It is the norm not the exception. So many of us have every opportunity but for some reason stuff just doesn't seem to go out way, we don't get what we want, we're unhappy, and we eventually just settle into it. Wtf. So let's pretend you already know what you want (start small). A new job, more money, a crazy kinda love, or just a new car. How to get it? First - always always always always ask for what you want. BUT that is not enough it's in how you ask.
Here's my secret to usually getting what I want or even better what I need.
Give First
Before I ever ask for something, I give. I abide by the 10x principle. I attempt to give 10x the value of anything I take. How to apply? Play the long game. Your next meeting/email with your husband, boss, potential employer bring something to them. Aka instead of... I'd like you to hire me email, do a little research on them and their company or an opportunity. If you want a gig at a salon, research their kind of ideal customer, put together a plan on how you are going to go after hipsters, with tattoos, between ages of 25-35 by partnering with a local tattoo shop in a hip neighborhood with a referral program, as well as through customer before and after client pics with mustache cutouts and props like you see at weddings, that you'll tag on your blog and Facebook with your hysterical sense of humor. You're giving the salon a solution to a growth problem. How many others do that? NONE. I'd hire that hair stylist.
“Before I ever ask for something, I give. I abide by the 10x principle. I attempt to give 10x the value of anything I take.”
Specific Asks
I'm not a big deal at all, and Even I get about 3-5 emails a day asking for help. Which I love. But if your email says, can you help me be successful, can you mentor me, can you teach me how you got to where you are. I'm calling you out. Why? It is SO not specific and all of our time is limited. Ask me instead something like, "I'm a writer I want to get published, where would you start?"
I have no idea what it means to be a mentor except to do your thinking for you. You could say I'd love to meet for coffee for 20min to get your opinion on how to better build my personal brand. I might still say no if you haven't given me something first. So better yet, come to me with an idea on how you can help me, that's how you actually get a mentor.
“Ask me instead, I’m a writer I want to get published, where would you start? I have no idea what it means to be a mentor except to do your thinking for you. ”
Get Curious
I have this magical tool that is so powerful it can do almost anything for you with one click.
Want me to share? It's called Google. (Hehe sarcasm apparent?) Before your meeting, google it. I just turned down two people who want to work on my team, why? I told them to come to me with a proposal on why I should hire them and they went to one of my team members to ask them for all the answers. Lazy and stupid. Of course, my employee is going to tell me. Surprise me with your intel, try to show me you actually want to work, don't just bother me or the person you want something from with "hey just checking in." Uh ok. Thanks? Instead send them intel they might not have. Prove your worth not your ability to pester.
“ Surprise me with your intel, try to show me you actually want to work, don’t just bother me or the person you want something from with “hey just checking in.””
Meet 1 New Person A Week
Colton (are you reading?). Nothing like calling out your bro via email. I challenged him to try to schedule a meeting with one interesting random person a week. That's how I met Gloria Estefan, the President of Spain, was on Tv for Telemundo & People, hung w/ Wimhoff and Orlando Jones, more CEOs than I can name and the list goes on. I'm not special just process oriented.
Be Brief
Finally - when opportunity strikes be the first to end the convo. Always. It's like a hot chick at the bar, leave her wanting more.
Love you animals,
Codie
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Dominate Powerpoint: Tom Jamieson Founder Slidebot
Feb 09, 2017
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““Make slides that reinforce your words, not repeat them.””
— Seth Godin
As you all know I love nothing more than a super actionable breakdown from an expert in their space, not to mention I like telling the future. Well Tom Jamieson Co-founder of Slidebot kind of does just that. Slidebot is AI for powerpoints. Just imagine NEVER having to put together a powerpoint again (I kid you not I am using it right now). You see, Tom and his brother Ned have seen their fair share of presentations, think in the tens of thousands. #deathbypowerpoint
“There are 20 million powerpoint presentations created a day, I beat 19.9 million of them are awful. ”
— Tom Jamieson
So if you are looking to perfect your pitch, want to nail your next presentation or have your eye on a Ted Talk this bad boy is for you. Since I'm told most people fear #1 public speaking and #2 death.. this will be a great fear conquering activity for you.
Three Key Takeaways:
- Pictures of eyes correlate to higher retention rates
- People remember visual content 65% better than verbal content
- Facts are 20x more likely to be remembered if they are part of a story
Some of our mutual favorite powerpoint presentations nailed:
If you just want to hear his prediction that blew my mind fast forward to the end. Mind blown.
So my dears without further ado - I hope you dig this episode with Tom Jamieson of Slidebot!
www.slidebot.io
To stream and subscribe on iTunes, click on the icon above, or click here. Want to hear another podcast about how to find your why and passion? — Listen to my broadcast on Girl Power Hour Radio. Here I talk about 5 steps to finding what you want and then executing.
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A Seat At The Table Beats A Sign Outside the Building
Jan 31, 2017
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All around the world we see protest, signs held aloft, voices raised, and people telling us what they stand against, but not always showing us what they stand for. Believe me I get it ...
This is me 15 years ago organizing a rally at my school. I had a rallying cry, I called the local radio station for coverage and I held a reconciliation council with our principal, after orchestrating a walkout. My poor mother and her gray hairs. I know there is extreme power in standing outside the crowd and speaking your truth.
So, this week as I watched millions of humans march across the world, I got goosebumps. I felt sad to miss seeing the signs held aloft. I went back and watched MLK’s I Have A Dream Speech and the thousands marching in solidarity for the same foundational idea so many years ago. American pride exuded from my very pores. Then this week we've all been inundated with social media commentary on both sides of the aisle.
But the problem is.. Regardless of what issues you stand behind, I believe we need more than protest.. we need progress, and I'm not sure we are getting it.
“I believe we need more than protest.. we need progress, and I’m not sure we are getting it.”
Look at the Occupy Wall Street movement, as a member of Wall Street who worked at Goldman Sachs during the crisis, I can say with some confidence that they did not truly achieve their goals. I recall them picketing outside our office in 2008. I remember looking down on them from stories above as my colleagues watched for a moment before going back to work. Whether right or wrong, they held our attention for an instant… but ultimately they were outside the building, they didn’t have a seat at our table.
Flash forward to today.. Where are those that camped across the world against the 1%? Are they working at a bank perhaps? Maybe not, but I'd wager they are banking at one.
Now their fight wasn’t mine but I see a cycle of progress-less protest repeating, and my next logical question is where will the millions who wore pink hats this week be in a year?
Obviously, pink adorned celebrity statement didn't influence an election. I doubt their protests (however eloquently re-tweetable) will influence our government. However much I love their music and art, we don’t follow their opinions for our electoral decisions. We humans don’t really like to be told what to do, by anyone. Ask your rebellious teenage children.
So whether you are a champion for women, veterans, gun rights, how do you actually enact change?
I would argue not with protest, but through the power of your purse and your paycheck. It starts with one simple question, whose kingdom are you building?
“I would argue not with protest, but through the power of your purse and your paycheck. It starts with one simple question, whose kingdom are you building? ”
Government is Powerful but Enterprise is more Powerful.
Whether you are a housewife, student, employee, or executive, you can affect massive change by targeting the lifeblood of capitalism, democracy, America and power... money.
Companies are what back candidates, companies are what allow candidates self-funding to propel to positions of power. The truth is that government is powerful but enterprise is more powerful.Cut off cashflow, redirect revenue, align assets and the power shifts. Media, social media or otherwise, is not the way. Money is the way. But how do you do so?
The average American spends $55k a year. What if we redirected IT?
US CONSUMERS BUYING POWER IS $11 TRILLION
Women drive 70-80% of consumer purchases*
Women in the US have $8-9 trillion of annual household buying power**
Women represent 47% of the US labor force
Latinos represent $1.7 trillion of annual buying power ***
Latinas are the fastest growing entrepreneurial group
Latinos are 17% of the US population
Millennials have $600 billion of buying power ****
50% of millennials want to start a company in the next 5 years
I would propose three steps to progress.
Step 1: Tell Me What You Are FOR Not AGAINST
This isn’t just for the pink hatted, this is for the military supporters, this is for the gay rights supporters, this for the women’s rights or the pro-life right supporters. My opinion is worth no more than yours in the issue you choose, but you must decide what you stand for.
What will you support?
Step 2: Whose Kingdom Are You Building?
“You by working for your company are helping to build that kingdom, make sure you believe in what you are building. Your life force is going into it, is there any more powerful force?”
Now you must ask yourself a tough question. Whose kingdom are you building? If you are willing to post on social media, to hold signs, to raise your voice in debate, are you willing to put your money where your mouth is?
We as Americans work 34.4 hours on average a week, or 1720 hours week. We are the most productive nation in the world. So when you look at the company you work for, what values do they hold? AND are they aligned with yours? Are you working for a company that sells sugar laden products when you fight for healthy eating? Or for a manager that doesn’t promote women but you are a man with daughters? Or are you an adaptive and your company won’t invest in accessible workplaces? If so, what are you willing to do about it? Whether it is quitting, pushing for change, hiring more diverse members or raising your voice, will you speak the language of power? Money.
You by working for your company are helping to build that kingdom, make sure you believe in what you are building. Your life force is going into it, is there any more powerful force?
Step 3: The Power of The Purse
“What if you decided to become conscious of where you bought? What if instead of lobbying/posting you put your trillions of spending power to work? ”
What does every company need to survive? Customers. You are the most important aspect of every company. Without users, customers, clients, they crumble. So what if you decided to become conscious of where you bought? What if instead of lobbying only you put your trillions of spending power to work? When you go to buy a coffee, which company do you go to? When you buy clothing do you buy them from an international fast fashion company or do you buy them from a made in the US company who supports veterans? What about when you invest your money, can you do it at a women owned firm? How about your car? That’s a big purchase. Who is your realtor? Just the best, or the best with purpose? What if instead of thinking of just the cost of the price tag we thought of the cost to our society.
That’s where my challenge comes in….
TAKE ACTION: 30 Day Conscious Consumer Challenge
For 30 days, can you be conscious about everything you buy. I’m going to. For the next 30 days I will try to only buy from the below types of companies. When I fail, I will be conscious of it, and I will document it...
For me I will support:
Founders I know and believe in (Support my trusted humans first)
Small businesses (Support local and non-franchise first)
Minority owned businesses w/ an emphasis on Latino’s, women and veterans
Purpose driven companies. (Support businesses that believe in more than profits)
Before you say well that would be easy..
Think about it, airlines, hotels, gas, cars, insurance, apps on our phone, technology, food, restaurants, gifts, flowers, clothes. The average American spends $55k a year. How much more is that than you could ever donate to a political cause?
“The average American spends $55k a year. How much more is that than you could ever donate to a political cause?”
If you want to join the movement of 30 Day Conscious Consumer Challenge, CLICK HERE to subscribe to updates and comment below your name and the causes you stand for. We'll be building a list of where we buy and the stories of others who are joining the movement. Also tweet or tag us on instagram (@codiesanchez) twitter (@codie_sanchez) with #Consume4Change.
Sick and Tired of Cold-calls and Emails Gone Unanswered?
Whew, then this podcast w/ Kim Orlesky - Author, Sales Savant & B*d A$$ Chicks Is For You!
As a saleswoman at heart, having @KimOrlesky on my podcast, the ultimate saleswoman, who has been able to land names on her podcast like Grant Cardone, Guy Kawasaki, Nathan Chan was like unleashing a nerdy teenager at a Comic festival. Kim has made a living out of teaching others, particularly entrepreneurs, how to take their ideas and turn it into actual cash flow. You see the funny thing that most business people realize after they get out of marketing classes and into the game of marketing, is that nothing really sells itself. As I've said before if you build it, they will not come. You have to go find them and drag them in despite themselves. Consumers are drowning in a sea of choice and confusion. As a salesperson or a business owner, understanding how to create a sales pipeline, which CRM (client relationship management) software is best, how to define the right prospects, how to create a sales funnel, or when to take No as a No and walk away, is akin to finding the holy grail.
Because as my favorite CEO says, without sales there is nothing. Without sales there are no taxes for accountants to account on, no legal work for legal to attorney away for, no administration for administrators to, well you get the deal. First you get the sales, then you get the lifeblood pumping through the organization. Enough from me, let's hear it from the Master Kim Orlesky on straight closing.
In the podcast, we talk about:
1. Her favorite sales funnels and how to close the deals that matter
2. How to sell anyone on anything
3. The easiest mistakes to avoid as a salesperson that you never thought of
4. The one thing you can do now, to increase your sales
“If we use the prospect’s personal belief, and tie it into where they want to be: that ideal state or how much better their life will be when they purchase your product or service, you will be able to capture the prospect’s attention better.”
To stream and subscribe on iTunes, click on the icon above, or click here. Want to hear another podcast about how to find your why and passion? But hen making it profitable, --> Here I talk about 5 steps to finding what you want and then executing.
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