I'm Hobnobbing With Hollywood! Meet Joie Gharrity!

Facebook Groups...you know I love them,  I'm not talking about those spammy everybody-vomit-your-links-endlessly type of groups.  I mean real Facebook groups designed to create a community.  Done properly, they are a great place to build relationships.  That's where I met this month's Success Story.  She runs an awesome group called Branding for Professional Business Women!  Everyone meet Joie Gharrity.  And when you're finished reading this, go join her group!  See you there!

1. Joie, tell us about yourself.

I am the Founder of 113 Branding Digital Media Studio. I'm a Brand Director, Creative Producer, Author, and International Speaker. I have worked in the Hollywood entertainment industry for 15+ years at top companies, in film, television, original web content, and branded entertainment. I was hand-picked by the ABC Studio President to launch the first multi-media startup business for The Walt Disney Company.

I was inspired to launch 113 Branding because I realized that most entrepreneurs were not focused on standing in their own Spotlight and selling themselves, which impacts their long-term success. I integrate my strategic branding and content development vision with both the creative and business sides of the entertainment industry. 

 

2. Tell us about your book

In my book The Red Carpet Guide to Visibility and Influence, I share branding strategies, techniques, tools, and tips that can be implemented easily. I am passionate about being of service and working with entrepreneurs to help them gain Superstar Visibility and Influence in the marketplace. 

 

3. Why did you write this book?

I truly believe that it is your birthright as an entrepreneur to stand in your Visibility and Influence Spotlight and shine bright. It has nothing to do with the last name you are born into or your vocation. It does have to do with living your true purpose turning up your Visibility and Influence Spotlight and allowing your Influence to shine.

4. How has being a Hollywood insider helped with your current career?

I have taken my Hollywood insider background along with the strategies, tools and tips and repurposed them specifically for entrepreneurs to stand in their Spotlight. I consider entrepreneurs stars in the business world. And I treat them accordingly.

5. What can Hollywood teach us about branding and marketing?

To step fully out of the shadows and embrace your gifts and talents by getting Visible and increasing your Influence. Running a business is much like filling theater seats. It takes a minimum of two years before a feature film goes into the theaters. The minute a movie gets a green light the studio along with the producing team immediately start working on getting the buzz up in the marketplace. They do not wait until the project is complete or perfect. As an entrepreneur, you want to hit the ground running to grow the Visibility and Influence about your projects and services before you launch so that there are buyers waiting when you go live. 

6. It appears that in Hollywood, it’s still “not what you know but who you know”.  Would you say this is correct?  How can knowing the right people help you build your brand and expand your business?

A well know quote of mine is “Only together can we soar higher and higher.” It is impossible to build a thriving brand without a huge tribe and network. Getting out of your own backyard is also an important piece to growing your brand. Knowing lots of the “right people” should be a priority for every entrepreneur who is serious about building a sustainable business.

7. What has been the most difficult part of getting your message out?

Visibility takes courage. Many people have grown up not necessarily being seen and heard in a big way. Nor have they been encouraged to stand in their Spotlight and own their gifts and talents. I encourage people daily to make it a habit. It takes a minute to really get comfortable with the Visibility Spotlight. However, it is so worth it!

8. Do you have any resources that you would recommend for entrepreneurs – or anyone – struggling to make themselves stand out? 

I have a Huffington Post article called Double and Triple Dip Your Way to Massive Brand Visibility. It is a network driven 113 Branding Strategy that is based on the experience of working in Hollywood. We have a very unique way that we network that leverages each other’s influence.

9. I love your book and think the topic is SOOO important.  You’ve been hard at work promoting your book and your brand.  And quite well, I might add.  Do you have any tips to share on promoting yourself?

BRAG, BRAG, BRAG. I have gotten push back on my encouraging specifically women to brag. However, I do not consider this to be a negative three letter word. In Hollywood I was taught and encouraged to embrace my wins and to share them with others. How is someone going to know to work with you or buy your products and services if they don't know about them. Standing in our expertise, gifts and talents is your birthright. Shine a bright light on everything you are doing in pre-production, production and post production is my advice and allow the marketplace to see your greatness.

10. What other advice would like to share with new entrepreneurs? 

Being an entrepreneur is one of the best titles and jobs in the world. Embrace it and shout from the rooftops that you are an entrepreneur. I see entrepreneurs sometimes skirt around their title and what they do at times because there can be a stigma in the marketplace. Kick that to the curb and stand loud and proud.

11. Where can we purchase your book? 

https://113branding.com/book-red-carpet-guide-to-visibility-influence/

12. Is there anything else you would like to share?

Stand in your Spotlight, get Visible and grow your Influence. Your future self will thank you!

5 Ways to Get Noticed in a Noisy World

My friend Joie Gharrity (you'll meet her later this week!) says everyone deserves to stand in the spotlight.  And it's true.  As business owners, we all want and NEED to be noticed for what we do.  But have you noticed?  It's a bit harder lately.  There is so much noise, so much chatter, it's almost impossible for the small business owner to be stand out.  You either have to be posting EVERYWHERE 24/7 or spend a ton of money on ads.  Maybe even both!  And if we are just starting out, we may not have the time (many of us may still be working a job) or the money.  It's a battle we just can't win...


Or can we? 


The answer to that question is yes...we can!  There are some simple steps you can take to help you stand out and shine in this crowded space.


1.  Choose your space and master it!  Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, LinkedIn...and probably a few more I haven't mentioned.  Lots of the marketing gurus tell you to have a presence on ALL of these social media sites.  And I agree...to a point.  It's okay to have a presence on each of them providing your target market is also present there.  And with the automation available today it's easier to manage multiple platforms than in the early years of social media marketing.  But I still say to pick one platform and become the master there.  I am active on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.  Less so on LinkedIn.  But Twitter is my home!  It's where I generate the most leads and interact with thousands of followers.  When I have something big happening, Twitter is where I make the announcement.  


Twitter is my space but it might not make any sense to you.  That's ok.  If you love Facebook, then become the Facebook whiz.  If you love using images and photos to convey your message, then Instagram or Pinterest may be the best spot for you.  It doesn't matter which one you choose as long as you are comfortable there, can master the platform, and build your tribe. 


By the way...if you are on Twitter, I'd love to connect with you.  Follow me here! 


2.  Embrace the technology!  As I mentioned in the previous paragraph, you can automate much of your social media marketing.  Tools like HootSuite and SocialOomph or Social Jukebox allow you to schedule posts in advance.  You can link social media accounts so that what is posted on one will appear on others.  Of course, the same tool might not be right for every platform.  So once you have decided where to build your empire, do your research to find which tools and apps work best with that platform.


3.  Reuse your content!  It's hard coming up with fresh content everyday.  Especially if you are still working.  So reuse and revise.  For example, I will take this blog post and break it up into smaller posts for FB and Twitter.  I will use the image to post to Pinterest and Instagram.  I may find a couple of points and turn them into image posts for Facebook.  And when I'm looking for a topic for a video or Facebook Live, I will come right back to this post.


4.  Let your personality show!  When I first started on social media, I thought I had to be all professional and formal all the time.  But that's not me.  I'm the girl that does videos in her PJs or in Cosplay costumes.  I'm often snarky and irreverent and I tend to go against the norm.  When I finally let my true self show, my engagement skyrocketed.  Don't be phony.  People can spot phony a mile away.  So just be you. 


Oh - that doesn't mean you get to be rude, hateful, or hurtful.  If that is your true self, you are in the wrong business. 


5.  Provide value!  If you really want to stand out in the crowd, then share your expertise for free, with no expectations.  In a world full of people screaming, "Buy my stuff!  Join my team!  Notice me!", offering value free with no conditions is a definite attention-getter.  And when people see that you give away good stuff, they are more likely to purchase from you later because you have already proven your worth.


So...are you ready to stand in the spotlight?  Awesome!  Follow me on Twitter and I'll help spread your message if it's worthwhile.  I love retweeting value!  Or find me on any of the other social media platforms. 


Are you already getting noticed?  Share your tips and techniques in the comments!

Finding the Perfect Journal for Your Needs

Journaling can be done with traditional pen and paper or you can capture your thoughts digitally by using an app. But one method isn’t necessarily better or worse than the other. It’s just a matter of preference. Still, if you’d like to know the pros and cons, here are a few ideas…

Advantages of Handwritten Journals

Handwriting can boost creativity, so you can make connections faster and easier. It also gives you space to leave the digital world behind, which can help you see your problems in a new light.

Another pro of handwriting your journal entries is that there are fewer distractions. If you’re typing on a laptop or smart device, you may be tempted to stop and check your email, read the news, or do other tasks that keep you from completing your entry.

Some people prefer handwritten journals because the writing is often more emotional and raw. With typing in a digital journal, you can erase and rephrase your sentence as many times as you want, which can sometimes result in more sterile writing.

Journal Options

You can find a variety of journals available in stores and online. But before you buy, think about the type of journal you’ll want. If you’re going for a bullet journal, then you’ll need to shop for one with a bullet grid like this BulletJournal/Notebook with Pen Loop - Elegant Black Leather Notebook with PremiumThick Paper.

If you’ll be doodling or creating artwork beside your journal entries, you may not want any annoying lines to get in your way. That makes this Spiral Daily Notepad a good choice. Not only are there no lines, the paper is refillable so you can keep re-using the journal cover as many times as you wish.

If you need your journal to lie flat and hate spirals, then Studio Oh has some beautiful journals you might want to consider. This cute Follow Your DreamsSloth Journal is as inspiring as he is chill.

Pros of Digital Journals

Digital journals can be more secure, especially when protected by hard-to-crack passwords. With a handwritten journal, anyone can read your entries if they have access to your notebook.

Another advantage is that digital journals can be tagged and searched. This means if you have a journal entry from two years ago, it’s much easier to find a digital copy than to sift through years of notebooks.

Plus, digital journals allow you to include other media. For example, you can write a post about that day at the water park and include videos of yourself going down the tallest slide.

Journal Software

There are several options if you prefer to journal digitally. The Day One Journal is one of the most well-known and popular journal apps. It can be used on both Android and Apple products and it’s free.

If Day One isn’t what you’re looking for, the Journey app is a good alternative. It’s free and has a desktop version that works on both Windows and Mac. It syncs seamlessly between the different locations so you always have access to your latest entries.

Although EverNote is a productivity app, you can use it as a journal if you wish. Just start a new notebook and name it “Journal” or “Thoughts”. Then create a note within the notebook. Each note can be treated like a journal entry. You can add tags, format text, and include images in your entries.

So, Which Should You Choose?

Try both journal options! Spend a week or two writing daily entries in a physical journal. Then switch and spend a week or two writing daily entries in a digital journal. At the end of your experiment, choose the one that felt most enjoyable to you.

How to Rock Your Journal Sessions

I love journaling. I always feel better after doing it. But sometimes, I let life get in the way and I avoid doing it - sometimes for or several weeks. It's a bit like going to the gym. I never regret getting it done but sometimes, I find it difficult to get started.

I shared this with my friend, Kristen, and she suggested a few tips to help me become more consistent with my journaling habit. If you also struggle with consistency, consider trying some of these ideas…

Create a Template

Kristen explained that she had created a template for her journaling time. It meant that when she sat down to write, she didn’t have to wait for inspiration or try to come up with something new to say. A few of the questions on Kristen’s template include:

·         What am I grateful for today?

·         Who did I show kindness to?

·         What I did learn from yesterday?

·         How am I feeling?

·         What’s one thing I want to do now?


My template is a bit different since I journal for a different
purpose. But I find that having some predetermined
questions  that I ask each time really helps get my thoughts
flowing.

Make It Fun

Kristen told me to make my sessions fun. “When it’s fun, you’re naturally drawn to an activity, so make it easy and enjoyable.”

For me, this means brewing a cup of my favorite tea each time I sit down to journal. I savor the tea in my favorite mug and the warm liquid helps me to relax before I begin to write.

Play Music

Another way to make it fun is to play music. Some people, like me, do their best journaling if they have their music blasting. Other people find music is too distracting when they’re trying to write.

If you enjoy listening to music when you’re working on a project, you might be one of those people who finds it inspiring to listen while you journal. Experiment with different kinds of music until you find the one that makes journaling easiest for you.

Have a Special Journal Spot

I like to journal from the comfort of my front porch during the early morning hours. I sit in my rocking chair and sip my tea, often getting out early enough to watch the sunrise.

Kristen has tried to do the same thing but didn’t find the environment stimulating enough. She likes to be surrounded by people and the hum of conversation. So, she decided to make the local Starbucks her journaling spot and finds it works much better for her.

Schedule It

Kristen encouraged me to schedule each journaling session like I would a doctor’s appointment or other event. “By scheduling time to journal, you’re more likely to do it,” she explained.

Of course, this doesn’t mean you have to make it a daily habit. Kristen enjoys journaling each morning but I find that is too frequent for me. So, I changed my schedule and now journal twice a week.

Journaling might not feel natural at first, but don’t give up on it too fast. Instead, try some of the tips above. Pay attention to what works best for your personality and inspires you to write.

Which Journal Style Is Right for You?

When it comes to journaling, there’s no wrong or right way to do it. Journaling is a creative activity so you can relax and simply do what works for you. But if you’re stuck and not sure what type of journal you need, ask yourself these three questions…

What Do You Want More of in Your Life?

Karen was a real estate agent and single mom. She was busy raising three teenagers and often felt overwhelmed by all the demands on her time and energy. When she thought about what she wanted more of in her life, the answer was clear: peace. Inner peace.

So, Karen started a meditation journal that she used each night before bed. She wrote down positive affirmations she wanted to embrace. She recorded how long she meditated for each evening as well as anything that was troubling her.

As time went on, Karen noticed it was easier to sleep at night because she had taken the time to process the noise of the day. Now, she wakes up feeling peaceful and refreshed and more able to focus on her children and her business.

How Would You Like to Grow?

Cristina’s marriage crumbled after thirty years when she discovered her husband had cheated on her. Her children were already grown and Cristina realized she was alone for the first time in her adult life.

This realization was scary but also exciting. Cristina began to think of the ways she’d like to grow and realized she’d always wanted to travel. So she bought a camper with a goal of exploring every state in America.

Along the way, Cristina kept a travel journal. She recorded what she was learning about herself, who she’d met, and what she was seeing. The trip gave her the chance to seek out new experiences and consider what she really wanted from the next phase of her life. Recently she shared her writing with a friend who encouraged to turn the stories from her adventure into a book.

What Would You Like to Change about Your Life?

Susie had struggled with her weight her whole life. When she was a child, she was obese and other kids bullied her. She frequently binged on junk food like ice cream, candy, and cakes to distract herself from her dysfunctional home life.

When Susie thought about how she’d like to change her life, her health was her top concern. Susie’s therapist knew that giving up junk food meant Susie would need to deal with her emotions, rather than stuffing them down.

So she encouraged Susie to buy a journal to give herself a safe space to explore her emotions. Susie started a health and wellness journal where she began to record how she felt instead of snacking to escape. She began to recognize painful situations that triggered her feelings and how to cope with them.

Don’t feel like you have to commit to one journal style right away. You can start journaling and figure it out as you go. So for now, just relax and enjoy the journey

Would You Like Ghostwriting?

If you like writing, you may have entertained the idea of becoming a ghostwriter. A ghostwriter writes on spec for other people, usually without credit. The person who contracts the writing is usually credited as the author. That fact is often a stopping point for many writers who dream of fame and riches. They like seeing their name on a byline and feel sick thinking of doing all that work and not getting credit.

For others, that idea sounds great. Get paid to do something they love and stay in the background, awesome. Many introverts love the idea of ghostwriting. But, you don’t have to be an introvert either to love ghostwriting. Let’s look at some pros and cons of working as a ghostwriter so that you can decide for yourself whether you’ll love ghostwriting or not.

Let’s start with the cons of ghostwriting and get those out of the way shall we:

You Won’t Get Credit

This can be both a blessing and a curse. It can be hard to work on something using all your skills and then get no credit. But, did you know that this is not uncommon? It’s not theft. It’s not wrong. It’s very common. There are ghostwriters in every single field and it’s totally acceptable. There are even ghost designers.
If you are a designer and work for a big fashion house and design something, it’s credited to the house, not you. If you write software for Microsoft or Apple guess what, it’s not credited to you, it’s credited to them. There are writers for NASA who get no credit for their work other than payment. This is how the world works and has always worked. If you get paid enough, do you really need credit?

It’s Not Always Books

Sometimes you won’t get to write books. This is a con to some people. Sometimes the writing you do will be…should you think it…boring? It may be technical writing. It may be blog posts about a topic you find mind-numbing. Of course, you don’t have to take on topics you don’t like writing about. However, by learning to write well about something you don’t enjoy, you will improve your writing exponentially.

Finding Clients Can Be a Challenge

It’s hard to get testimonials as a ghostwriter. Mostly because people don’t typically admit that they used a ghostwriter. However, there are cases where someone will give you credit and a testimonial. You should make it a habit to ask every single time you work for someone to either give you credit with a discount or to provide a testimonial of some kind.

You’ll Have Strict Deadlines

When you are a ghostwriter you’ll be working on deadlines. These deadlines usually are strict and usually cannot be changed. That means you’ll have to be disciplined in your writing timelines and get work done on time. This is a con but it’s also a positive. If you want to learn how to write on spec on deadline ghostwriting will train you to do that. This can only pay off for you because the faster you can get work done the more clients you can take on. Additionally, it will help you when you are writing for yourself too.

You’ll Have a Boss (sort of)

When you are a ghostwriter you work for yourself. You are a business owner. You can think of yourself as the owner of a ghostwriting firm. In fact, if you get enough work you can hire other writers too. But, you will have people who are paying you that are like a boss. Your clients will expect certain things in certain ways at certain times. You’ll have to answer to them and that can be hard sometimes.

Researching is Part of The Job

Many people like to write but they don’t like to do research. As a ghostwriter creating content around someone else’s idea you’re going to have to do research. In fact, sometimes the research part takes longer than the writing part. If it’s a particularly boring topic for you it may be more exhausting than something you like. But, if it’s something you enjoy you may get sucked down the rabbit hole and spend too much time on research. Set time limits.

You Have to Let Go of Your Ego

Sometimes you’ll write something for someone else that is truly amazing, and you may feel some pain at letting it go. But, try to get pleasure out of the fact that people will still get value from it whether you get credit for it or not. You are going to get paid, and that is a type of credit. You’re also getting the experience and knowledge which is also an important factor to consider.

Now let’s move on with the pros of ghostwriting:

Most Authors Don’t Get Rich

The truth is, most traditionally published authors never sell more than 3000 books. The likelihood of you selling enough books that you publish in your own name to make a living is low, and it’s much less likely that you’ll become rich. That’s not to say you’re not a great writer, or that it’s impossible – not at all – but if you aren’t already famous it’s almost like winning the lottery to truly make it big in today’s book market.

You Can Do Both

What’s awesome is that if your goal is to make an income with your writing, ghostwriting can be that career for you. Many ghostwriters make six figures a year doing what they love. Plus, it doesn’t stop you from pursuing your dream of making it big as an author either. In fact, ghostwriting can free you up to become the famous author you always dreamed of being. Not to mention the fact that your writing will improve while getting paid up front for it.

Ghostwriters Are Multitalented

If you are good at writing, listening, project management and understand the publishing industry you’ll make good money in the ghostwriting field. You may even be able to get work with an agency. But, even if you have none of that there are plenty of bloggers, internet marketers, and others who need ghostwritten content. Enough of them that you can make good money writing if you can write at the 10^th grade level about a topic.

Make Money Without Giving Up Your Dreams

If you like making money, like writing, and enjoy being of service to others and helping them make their dreams come true you’ll likely love ghostwriting. This is especially true if you’re an introvert who just likes writing but would rather let other people have all the attention. But, as mentioned above, that’s not really a necessity because being a ghostwriter can finance your bigger dream to become a famous writer.

Hone Your Craft While Earning Money

In many ways being a ghostwriter can allow writers to gain the freedom to hone their craft and become better writers. No matter what your goal is there really is no downside of being a ghostwriter despite the cons you read above. Whether you hope to make a consistent living, become a better writer, or someday publish your own work it’s all possible with ghostwriting.

You Can Leave the J.O.B. Behind

One thing that often gets in the way of realizing a dream is a job that keeps you stationary working typical hours for someone else. Often not even doing anything close to what you wanted to do. If you have a job that has nothing to do with what you want to do with your life it can cause you to lose hope. But, when you have a job that is working in the area you need to improve, such as writing skills, you’ll be able to make everything you do count.

As you can see there are quite a few things you need to think about if you have a dream of being a ghostwriter. You know yourself best, after all. Write down in your mind the good and bad points of ghostwriting, determine a potential niche, and give it a try. You may find that you love it. You may find that it’s not for you. But, at least you tried.

With my new ebook, Get Started in the Ghostwriting Business, you'll get a deep dive into what it takes to become a ghostwriter, how to find ghostwriting jobs and much more.
Here are some of the topics you'll find in the report:

• Pros and Cons of Becoming a Ghostwrite
• Hot Niches for Ghostwriters
• Specialized Ghostwriting Topics that Pay More
• Groups and Organizations that Support Ghostwriters
• What Your Ghostwriting Website Needs
• Creating a Social Media Presence for Your Ghostwriting Business
• How to Get Paid as a Ghostwriter

You'll also receive a Launch Prep Checklist so you don't miss a step along the way and a Promotion Checklist to get the word out about your new business.

Becoming a Ghostwriter is within your grasp! Click here to get started:

Different Types of Journals

When it comes to journaling, your first thought might be of a diary with a lock and key. Maybe you kept one as a kid that you guarded from your sister or perhaps you’re a free spirit who’s never seen the point in keeping a journal.

No matter which category you fall into, you should know there are many different types of journals. In fact, you can create a journal for just about any activity you do. And depending on your business, you can use them as fodder for marketing content! Here are some of the most common ones…


Travel Journal

A travel journal is the perfect way to capture all of the adventures you’re having. You can journal about which cities you’ve visited, which hotels you stayed out, who you met, and what you did on your trips.


Using a travel journal can help you remember important events that you don’t want to forget like how amazing you felt when you learned to surf or how much fun you had when you finally mastered the art of skiing.


The network marketing company I am part of has a travel division.  So this is a natural for me when I am looking for inspiration for content.  But it also helps with my overall content.  Nothing like a few well-placed travel "lifestyle" posts to pique curiosity and spark some engagement!

Daily Life Journal

Some people like to record their daily life in a journal. This might include writing about current projects, a fight with your spouse, or a kind act a stranger did for you on the subway system.

You may also find yourself drawn to a daily life journal during an important season in your personal life like an engagement, a new baby, or the home-buying process. These events can bring up a lot of emotions and it can be helpful to process them in the privacy of your journal.


This is exactly the type of journaling I was doing when I had the revelations mentioned in my previous post on journaling.

Prayer Journal

If you consider yourself religious or spiritual, you may like the idea of keeping a prayer journal. Many people who participate in this practice will record what they prayed for as well as the date of their request.

Later on, they can go back and add how that request was answered. This can be a wonderful way to grow closer to God or the Universe, depending on your beliefs. It can also be a source of comfort when you look back later to see how many situations turned out for the good.

Business Journal

Another type of journal that you might enjoy keeping is a business journal. With your business journal, you can record your work projects, plan new products, or brainstorm new ways to market your services.

It can also be useful for generating ideas or coming up with solutions to problems you’re facing. You can also use it to consider what new goals that you might want to pursue and how you could accomplish them.

Bullet Journal

A bullet journal is a special type of journal that allows you to track many different areas of your in life in one convenient space. Inside of it, you can keep lists, make notes, and create plans. The idea is that you write down short phrases or “bullets” to help you remember important dates, manage your to-do list, and keep you on track with your goals.

The advantage of using a bullet journal is that it can be customized for your life. So if you want to keep a list of the books you’re reading, how many steps you took today, and what knitting project you’re working on, you can easily do that.

Bullet journals can take a few minutes to set up. But there’s plenty of inspiring ideas on social media sites like Instagram. Just look up #bulletjournal or #bujo and you’ll discover all of the ways you can decorate a bullet journal.

The wonderful thing about journaling is that there are no rules. You can create the journal you want and customize it to fit your life.