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Tuesday, March 26, 2024

I Have This Theory About Home Business Owners

Let's be real...

Running a business is like riding a rollercoaster. One moment you're soaring high with success, and the next, you're gripping onto your seat for dear life. But fear not, because I've got your back!

Introducing... drumroll, please... cue confetti... my newly revised and updated newsletter!

I cooked up this little gem because I know the struggle all too well. I wanted a sanctuary where all us entrepreneurs, from the go-getters to the daydreamers, could gather and bask in the glow of our shared love for freedom.

You see, I have this theory. We, my friends, are a rare breed. We're the renegades who said "see ya" to the 9-to-5 grind in exchange for the wild ride of entrepreneurship. We're not after corner offices or fancy titles; nah, we're in it to leave a legacy that will outlive us.

We're all about living life on our terms, doing things our way, and carving out our own paths to success. Sound familiar? Well, my friend, you've found your tribe.

As your virtual hostess with the mostess (yes, that's me!), it's my mission to keep that rebel flame burning bright within you. And trust me, I've got a whole bag of tricks up my sleeve to make sure you're armed and ready for whatever the business world throws your way.

So, what's in store for you in this neck of the woods? Let me break it down for you:

Top-notch marketing know-how: Whether you're a newbie or a seasoned pro, I've got the scoop on all things marketing right here on my blog and in my exclusive FB group. Ladies,, consider it your one-stop-shop for leveling up your game.


Tools, resources, and services galore: Building your empire should be a blast, not a bore. That's why I'm hooking you up with a treasure trove of freebies and goodies to make the journey as smooth as silk. From nifty apps to kickass business opportunities, I've got something for every taste.


Personalized pep talks: Who doesn't love a good heart-to-heart? Get ready to receive regular doses of wisdom, inspiration, and tough love straight from yours truly. Because let's face it, we all need a cheerleader in our corner.

So, if you're nodding along right about now, then welcome aboard, my friend! You officially have a VIP pass to the Life on the Dirt Road community, and I couldn't be more pumped to have you join the party.

Drop me a "Heck Yeah!" in the comments below to let me know you're ready to rock this entrepreneurial journey with me. Trust me, you won't regret it!


Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Unveiling the Smart & Sassy Rebel in Marketing: A Sneak Peek into My World

So, you've stumbled upon my corner of the internet, and whether it was by sheer luck or calculated curiosity, I'm thrilled you're here. Let's cut to the chase – I'm not your run-of-the-mill marketing coach. Nope, I'm the one who believes that injecting a hefty dose of fun into the hustle is just as crucial as raking in those dollar bills.

Now, if you've just joined the party and haven't had a chance to get to know me, fear not! I've got you covered with a little crash course on what I'm all about. Think of it as a sneak peek into Smart and Sassy Marketing and The Rebel Tribe.

So, here are two things that encapsulate my essence:

#1 – What I Teach

#2 – A Dash of My Style

You see, I'm not here to regurgitate the same old marketing spiel you've heard a thousand times before. Nah, that's not my style. Instead, I'm all about shaking things up, challenging norms, and embracing the rebel within. And if you want a taste of that rebel energy, look no further than my quick 7-minute podcast where I introduce you to the vibrant world of the Rebel Tribe.

CLICK HERE FOR A QUICK 7-MINUTE PODCAST OF ME INTRODUCING THE REBEL TRIBE

And my style – it's what sets me apart in a sea of sameness. If you're curious about my flavor, you got a taste of it when you clicked the link "A Dash of My Style." As you can see, I'm not above acting a little crazy at times. But I'm not all fun and games. If you want to see me be "business serious", my best blog post about making more money is the perfect glimpse into that world. Trust me; it's not your average read. Prepare to be enlightened, entertained, and maybe even a little bit inspired.

CLICK HERE FOR MY BEST BLOG POST ABOUT MAKING MORE MONEY

But hey, I get it – you want to know what sets me apart, what makes me tick, and how I've carved my own path in this wild world of marketing. Well, look no further than the three things I did that totally changed my business. It's a juicy tell-all that'll leave you craving more. (Not really. It's actually a YouTube Short...but it gets my point across!)

CLICK HERE FOR THE 3 THINGS I DID THAT TOTALLY CHANGED MY BUSINESS

And there you have it – a glimpse into the Smart and Sassy Marketer's playbook. Consider this your VIP pass to the inner workings of my world.

Remember, I believe in you. Let's shake things up and make magic happen together this year!

Until next time, stay smart, stay sassy, stay rebellious.



Tuesday, March 5, 2024

The Day The Lights Went Out on Facebook...

 

...And Instagram. And YouTube.

 I got a bunch of text messages and phone calls from people panicking because FB and IG being down meant they were losing money because they have no other way to communicate with their audience. They were having an absolute MELTDOWN and had no other way to function. It's rather disconcerting, actually, how dependent on social media so many of us have become. Including me to some extent. I was just thinking the other day that I couldn't recall the last time I used my phone for it's actual intended purpose...as a PHONE! I am very lazy about getting phone numbers from people. If I want to talk to someone I usually make calls on messenger. And it was down too!

But the one thing I have always done for 23 years now is get my best people onto my newsletter. And I have my blog. So I can ALWAYS communicate. The only two things you actually control online are your email list and your blog.

And if you are reading this then maybe you are beginning to understand why focusing your marketing just on social media...ANY social media...is not a good idea. It's a very dangerous game.

I know blogging isn't for everyone. But building an email list isn't difficult. Isn't it time you learned these skills once and for all so you are not at the mercy of a platform you can't control? If so, there are several options. Let me introduce you to the email marketing coach that taught me. Come hang out in the Smart & Sassy Business Women Facebook Group, where I will briefly go over some email marketing stuff periodically. Or do it yourself.

Beginning to build an email list is VERY simple and anyone can do it. Even YOU!

So while Facebook was down, I hopped over to Twitter...

(I know...technically it's "X" now, but it will always be Twitter to me)...

To read all the latest conspiracy theories.

Then after entertaining myself with all the foolery, I wrote my clients and team members and checked in on them. Now I'm writing this blog post and asking you how can I help you? Because losing money over things you can't control is definitely not a good thing at all. 

Let's face it. We're all hooked. Even me. I admit it. I spend way too much time on my phone. 

But writing an email is a 10 - 30 minute activity that can put you into profitability quicker than you think. And today may have been the day that makes you realize that having one is not optional if you want to have a successful, stable business. So leave a comment or hit me back on social if you are being beaten into submission today.

We can talk about whether the $9 a month my coach charges is worth it to you. Or whether hanging out in a group where I teach marketing stuff for free is the answer...as long as you're willing to wait until I decide to teach email. Or if doing it all yourself is how you roll.

Personally, I don't care which way you go, as long as you do something! Having an email list is more important than ever. Today just proved it.

 

Monday, March 4, 2024

Do You Know What You Want? What You Really Really Want?

What do you want? What do you really want to have happen? Why do you read my blog? Do you read them because you know I can help you? Do you read every post? Or do you only read it if I write a subject line that triggers you?

Are you just waiting around for someone to push you into taking action? Or have you realized that no on is coming to fulfill your dreams and the only way you are going to get what you want is to DO SOMETHING.

What do you want? What do you REALLY REALLY want?

Are you scared? Have I pissed you off? Are you going to stop reading and make a nasty comment and call me a B!%(H? Or have you finally realized that you have found someone that actually cares? Someone who's been down this path before you. Someone who knows the twists and turns.

Maybe you want to go give more money the the hot new guru of the week. Buy a course you'll never open. Sign up for a challenge you'll never complete.

Or have you finally grasped that we are already three months into 2024 and the days are slipping away.

Are you scared? I get it. I've been so scared, I couldn't move.

Are you mad? I get you. I've been so mad, I've cursed at people I love which is totally not me.

Are you just stuck? Afraid to move? I've been there. Woke up in the morning ready to "crush it." Went to bed having accomplished absolutely nothing.

I get you. Trust me. I get you more than you could possibly know. But there's a big difference between those that move forward and those that stay stuck. And it's got nothing to do with how much money you spend.

Successful people get help. They plug in. They show up. They know what they want and they prioritize their actions to get it. They don't let themselves get pulled around by the world. They make the world their oyster. And they grasp the work that is needed to get what they really want. They don't pretend that a video a week, or a letter occasionally, or going to half a dozen "networking" events is going to get them where they want to go.

What do you WANT? What do you REALLY REALLY want? Can you even answer that question? Most people can't.

And if you can, do you truly understand what it's going to take to make that happen and the help that you are going to need to make your wants become reality?

Now would be the time where a guru would make their offer. Get you all emotional and worked up and then send you to a sales page to wrestle with yourself. So you would hopefully convince yourself to buy something. Not me. That's not who I am. I just want to sell you on the idea that you are a magnificent being. I want you to see the AWESOMNESS that is YOU.

And if at some point you think I might be the teacher or consultant for you, sweet! But we're not discussing that now when you are thinking about the chance of living the life you were BORN to live.

What do you want? I'd love to hear about it if you feel like sharing. I mean...who else are you going to discuss this with? My ex-husband NEVER understood. My kids don't. My sisters definitely don't.

It wasn't until I found people who UNDERSTOOD my DESIRE for something more that I was able to turn the corner and go from counting days until my next paycheck and praying the check for the utilities wouldn't hit the bank before then to dropping $400 on an emergency vet bill yesterday and not even thinking about it.

It wasn't some magic course or webinar or workshop. It was about finding people for the first time who understood me and knew that I could do this. They didn't baby me. They didn't check my work. In fact, they often scolded me and told me that no one but ME could make it happen.

Do you want someone to hold your hand and tell you it's not your fault? Well I hate to tell you, but as I had to learn the hard way, if you are not where you want to be, it IS your fault. And the way to change that is to begin...

NOW

TODAY

A few years ago I drew a line in the sand and said ENOUGH. ENOUGH wallowing because life was going in directions I didn't want. ENOUGH crying because the marketplace was changing and technology was improving and everything was moving while I was whining that I didn't understand it. ENOUGH making it all about me feeling sorry for myself instead of thinking about my family, my team, my clients.

And then I turned to those I knew could help me and I learned.

And I did my first Facebook Live, because that was the hot thing then. In my bathrobe. With no makeup. Nothing fancy. Just me. Talking about how I was accepting the challenge to learn the skills and do the things. With NOTHING to prop me up.

Are you BRAVE enough to do that? If so, you are MY KIND OF PERSON! I'd like to get to know you better! Very much so.

Ok, I guess that's it. One of my LOOONGG posts that most won't read to the end. I'm not going to proof read it. I'm still exhausted from being up with my puppy last night. (Yes, the vet was real, my boy was SICK and I was scared). But being able to get him the care he needed no matter the cost just made me realize how many maybe couldn't afford a simple extra $400 without putting themselves in a bind, and it hurt my heart.

And so this is FROM my heart.

What do you want? After all I have been through in my 66 years I have come to the conclusion that my true passion...my calling...my WANT... is to help YOU. The people who are willing to take the time to truly believe in themselves despite all their flaws.

We all have flaws. The question is can see past them to you GIFTS? I can. And that's why I'm writing this today,

And with that. I am done. I am completely exhausted and out of words.

Hugs from me and Kai.

Monday, February 26, 2024

You Are Not a Fraud

You're on stage, ready to give a speech when suddenly you see one of the big names in your field in the audience. He's looking right at you and you know what he's thinking. The same thing you are thinking. You don't belong here. You haven't done anything to deserve this. You are a fraud.

Or you're nominated for an award. When the local news media reach out to you for an interview, you decline saying it's really not a big deal. You didn't do anything special. You are afraid to give the interview because you know if you do, everyone will see what you have always known. You don't deserve this...or any other...award. You are a fraud.

If you can relate to these stories, or similar situations, the truth is crystal clear. You are not a fraud. You suffer from a condition. One that affects a multitude of others as well.

It's called Imposter Syndrome.

Imposter Syndrome is a condition that frequently affects high-achieving people and convinces them that they are unworthy of their success. This false belief can stem from many places including a feeling that you don’t belong, an overly critical upbringing, past trauma, and even your own inner voice.

Some people use imposter syndrome to push themselves to achieve even more. In these situations, you might use your fear as motivation.

You tell yourself that you have to succeed because you don’t want anyone to know the truth about you. But as soon as you accomplish one thing, you immediately begin focusing on the next one. This creates a cycle where you’re forever pursuing bigger and more complicated goals.

For others, the fear that comes with imposter syndrome breeds procrastination. You fear that you’ll do the project wrong and everyone will realize that you never were that competent to start with.

So instead of completing the project, you keep putting it off. Once the project has reached critical status, then you’ll get it done. This can be a defense mechanism as you can tell yourself that you’d do a better job if you’d only had more time.

When Are You Most Likely to Experience Imposter Syndrome?

You can experience imposter syndrome at any point in your life or career. However, there can be certain times that you’re more likely to experience it than others. These include new situations such as starting your graduate program, going after the promotion you really want, or a shifting romantic relationship.

I experienced imposter syndrome after an unexpected promotion into management. The previous manager left after only 4 months on the job. So, I was promoted.

Despite the fact that I had already been handling most of the workload for my former boss, I still felt underprepared for the task of leading my co-workers. It wasn’t until a colleague encouraged me that I began to realize I was viewing myself differently than those around me did.

The truth is that imposter syndrome often leads you to live in your head where your self-perception can become warped. Like a fun house mirror distorts your vision, you don’t see your own abilities and accomplishments accurately.

How Does Imposter Syndrome Affect Relationships?

When many people think of imposter syndrome, their first thought is of their career or academic accomplishments. But what you may not realize is that imposter syndrome can affect your relationships as well.

I was bullied throughout middle school and high school. As I got older, I found a core group of friends who loved on me and were fiercely supportive of me. But despite this, I often found myself going along with whatever the group wanted me to do.

I was afraid that their acceptance was dependent on my performance. In my mind, I had to be easygoing and not make waves in order to be considered a good friend. I didn’t realize that my friends loved me just for who I was.

It’s not just friendships that are affected. Your romantic relationships can also be influenced if you have imposter syndrome. You might feel that you constantly have to achieve to be worthy of your spouse’s attention or that you need to “do your part” in order to have your partner stay with you.

Why Are You Experiencing Imposter Syndrome?

There are many reasons that someone might experience imposter syndrome in their personal or professional life. It could be due to low self-esteem and feelings of unworthiness.

For others, it’s linked to family expectations. In these situations, your family may have quietly sent you the message that it’s not who you are that matters. It’s what you do. As a result, you feel the need to achieve in order to get the validation and love that you want.

Still, it can also be linked to what you believe is your core identity. You might believe that you have to be “the responsible one” or “the smart one”. You work hard to maintain that image in front of others for fear that you’ll lose your identity if you stop performing.

What Should You Know about Imposter Syndrome?

If there’s one important message that you need to hear in the middle of imposter syndrome, it’s this: you are not alone. Many of the smart, talented, and successful people around you also experience the same fears, insecurities, and doubts as you do.

There are a host of successful celebrities, entrepreneurs, authors, and leaders that have openly admitted to struggling with imposter syndrome. Some of these include names you may already be familiar with such as Maya Angelou, Neil Gaiman, Michelle Obama, Tom Hanks, and Emma Watson.

Even with all of their success, these celebrities and successful leaders find themselves worried that they’re not all that good or talented. They think their success was a fluke or simply the result of good luck.

Yet if you’ve ever watched a Tom Hanks or Emma Watson film, you’d be quick to point out their talent. If you listened to Maya Angelou or Michelle Obama, you’d be impressed by their accomplishments.

Should You Let Imposter Syndrome Stop You?

The world is filled with people who never sing the songs in their heart, never write the books they want to, or speak out about the issues they truly care about. When the moment comes to step up, they look around and ask, “Who? Me? I’m not qualified enough.”

Then they convince themselves that they’ll be worthy or ready after more. More achievements. More schooling. More accomplishments. More, more, more.

But the world needs you now. It needs your voice. It needs the songs you want to sing or the books you want to write or the paintings you want to create. It needs you to rise up. Because you are here for a purpose. You were made to dream and dance and laugh and lead. The story of your life matters.

It’s time to overcome imposter syndrome once and for all. It’s time to stop letting this self-doubt hold you back and step into the beautiful, brave woman you’re meant to be. 

 

Friday, February 23, 2024

Cheers To You!

As we close out February, The month of LOVE, I just wanted you to know....

In case you didn't....

I love you all. I care about you I TRULY want to help you. I REALLY DO want to see you become fabulously successful.

That's all.