233 - From BBQ to Branding — with Phyllis Strawder
Mar 22, 2023
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Phyllis Strawder, a certified brand strategist and life coach known as the Ghetto Country Brandmother®, shares her unique journey from running a barbecue restaurant to empowering solopreneurs. She emphasizes the importance of authenticity in branding, revealing her personal anecdotes about embracing her 'ghetto country' roots. Phyllis discusses the challenges of navigating cultural identity and the art of 'two-word branding' to connect with others. Her insights also touch on mentoring youth entrepreneurs and the delicate balance between self-protection and vulnerability.
Phyllis Williams-Strawder is passionate about helping foster youth become entrepreneurs and believes they deserve the opportunity to build businesses based on their gifts and talents.
Being authentic in branding is crucial, and setting boundaries and attracting like-minded individuals who appreciate one's authenticity is important in building a personal brand.
Phyllis cautions against imitating others and emphasizes the importance of finding one's unique strengths, language, and style in branding to create genuine connections with the target audience.
Deep dives
Helping Foster Youth Become Entrepreneurs
Phyllis Williams, also known as the ghetto country grandmother, has a passion for helping foster youth become entrepreneurs before they age out of the system. She wants to be famous for this mission, to provide support and guidance to teenagers so they can start businesses based on their gifts, talents, and abilities. Phyllis believes that not every young person is meant for college and financial struggle, and that they deserve the opportunity to build a business and create financial stability. She aims to help foster youth find their authentic selves and break free from limited options, empowering them to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.
Being Authentically You in Branding
Phyllis emphasizes the importance of being authentic in branding. She encourages individuals to embrace their true selves and not compromise their identity for the sake of fitting into a certain mold or attracting a specific audience. According to Phyllis, setting boundaries and determining how much of oneself to share is crucial in building a personal brand. She believes that it's important to attract like-minded individuals who appreciate and connect with one's authenticity. Phyllis also stresses that success should be measured beyond financial gains, and that finding one's purpose and making an impact should be driving factors for personal and business branding.
The Pitfalls of Impersonation in Branding
Phyllis cautions against imitating others or trying to fit into a perceived notion of success. She criticizes the tendency for some individuals to launch products or services with a flashy, premium image without truly embodying that brand identity. Phyllis believes that such actions can detract from one's authenticity and cause confusion among potential clients or customers. She encourages individuals to focus on their unique strengths and to find their own language and style in branding, emphasizing that building a successful brand requires consistency, truthfulness, and genuine connection with the target audience.
Helping Clients Set Clear Boundaries and Priorities
Phyllis helps her clients identify their life purpose, business purpose, and brand purpose, compelling them to set clear boundaries and prioritize their goals. By aligning these three elements, individuals can establish a personal brand that has a meaningful and positive impact. Phyllis advises her clients not to compromise their values and authenticity, even when faced with challenging circumstances or potential opportunities. She encourages them to respect their own boundaries, be selective in the opportunities they pursue, and prioritize the clarity of their personal and business branding message.
Building Personal and Business Brands
In this podcast episode, the speaker emphasizes the importance of building a personal brand that can feed into and endorse a business brand. They discuss how having a personal brand helps establish authority and expertise, and how it can make pitching and promoting your business more genuine and authentic. The speaker shares the concept of a two-word brand, which distills your core idea into two words that are memorable and set the foundation for scaling your brand. They highlight the importance of embracing vulnerability and being true to yourself when developing a personal brand. Examples of successful two-word brands are given, such as 'Ghetto Country Grandmother' and 'Ethical Strategist', showcasing how these unique identities can create intrigue and establish authority in a crowded marketplace.
Living in Unison with Your Brand
In this podcast episode, the speaker discusses the importance of aligning your personal brand with your real-life persona and how it informs your actions and decisions. They highlight the need to embrace discomfort and vulnerability when defining your personal brand, as these elements often lead to authentic connections and memorable experiences. The speaker shares personal anecdotes, such as their preference for classic style mixed with unconventional elements like bourbon and cigars, to emphasize how their personal brand informs their lifestyle choices. They emphasize the power of living in harmony with your personal brand and how it can boost confidence, attract like-minded individuals, and differentiate you in the marketplace.
Phyllis Williams-Strawder is a certified brand strategist, life and business coach, and psychology marketing specialist who is known as the Ghetto Country Brandmother®. She has a passion for guiding people and helping them become brand leaders.
Phyllis began her career in the food industry. She started by delivering lunches from her dining room table to eventually owning two restaurants and a catering company that generated millions in revenue. Her personal brand at that time was Mrs. Mista, where she was known for her motherly vibe.
As her business grew, Phyllis herself grew out of the role and began coaching. She got her certification as a brand coach, and brand strategy allowed her to embrace her ghetto-country roots and find her real voice. And The Ghetto Country Brandmother® was born.
