Woman Owned: The Growth Podcast for Women Entrepreneurs

Changing careers and reinventing yourself is a difficult challenge. In my experience, many women who are trying to reinvent themselves and their careers often try to leave their past careers, experiences, and skills behind them. However, if you are trying to recreate yourself, your career, and your business, leaving your past behind you along with all of the experiences, skills, and insight that you have developed throughout your previous business is a huge mistake!

In line with the “Women and Risks” theme from last week’s episodes, today I am joined by the wonderful business and career coach, Sarah Vermunt. Sarah’s journey started while working toward obtaining her Ph.D. in human resources management and organizational behavior. After devoting four years of her life, and investing a lot of money into developing her career, Sarah began to realize that this career choice was not what she dreamed about after all. After spending two years dedicating her time to her previous career dreams, she went on a mission to find the work she loves – being a coach and teacher for entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, and new graduates.

Competition in the workforce over the years has become a “taboo topic.” Many women do not want to talk about having a competitive edge in their field. We keep saying “It’s not about competition, it’s about collaboration.” Ladies, competition is a healthy aspect of building your career and business. It allows us to push ourselves past our comfort zones, and while being open to collaboration is important, having a strong competitive edge is also essential.

Welcome back, my Fierce Feminine Leaders! I am incredibly excited about today’s episode and our guest on the show today. Today we talk about women and risks. Many successful women are afraid to take risks in their business or career, but do not realize that taking risks – stepping out of their comfort zone – often leads to personal and professional growth.

Welcome back, my Fierce Feminine Leaders! If part of your business consists of public speaking or giving public presentations, then this Is an episode you do not want to miss! Today is all about public speaking. Are you making the most of it? Are you ensuring that your message is delivered the way you intend it – strong, powerful, and making a positive impact on your listeners?

Have you ever felt conflicted in your success? Felt confused, uncertain, or even felt like an imposter? Have you recently made a monumental change only to hear a negative voice in your head saying, “Who do you think you are to do something like this?” Thousands of highly successful women go through these feelings each and every day. They feel like they’re crazy. They feel like a “hot mess.” Rest assured, my Fierce Feminine Leader – you are not crazy. You are upleveling.

Mindy Weinstein is the “expert to the experts” when it comes to SEO and internet marketing strategies. She is the President and Founder of the digital marketing firm, Market Mindshift, as well as a digital marketing strategist, public speaker, trainer, and a published author. She has taught dozens of large companies and major brands how to market their online products and services using digital marketing, social media, and SEO strategies. Mindy has had media appearances and has been interviewed and quoted in countless publications including FOX, NBC, ABC, the Huffington Post, and Bloomberg Radio. She has an MBA from Arizona State University and is currently working on her Ph.D. in Psychology with a special focus on technology. Keep Reading >> Get Discovered: A Smart Women's Guide to SEO with Mindy Weinstein In today’s episode, Mindy shares her story on how she got started in the digital marketing industry as well as several actionable tips on how you can improve your visibility and discoverability online. Thank you for joining me on the show today, Mindy.   Here’s a Breakdown of the Topics We Covered: Mindy’s story – how she got started in the internet marketing and SEO field Things you need to be doing and thinking about to make sure your website is working hard and creating results. Mindy explains what “discoverability” is and why it is important. Ways you can become more visible online – and why it’s Universal traits and behaviors you want to have to kick start your career and get promoted fast. What prompted Mindy to leave the corporate world and start her own business? Internet marketing trends Mindy has noticed and you should be using. Valuable tips for fierce feminine entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs to increase their online visibility, discoverability, and market themselves online. Mindy tells us what Market Mindshift is, and shares her business model and revenue streams. The difference between personal branding and corporate branding, and why Mindy chose to brand her business as a corporate entity. “If you don’t ask for what you want, you won’t get the opportunities.” – Mindy Weinstein   Mindy’s Advice for Women in Organizations and Ready to “Go It Alone.” Plan how you will get clients. Plan out what the bare minimum income you need each month to pay your bills and live comfortably. Plan what steps you want to take immediately once you’re on your own.   Mindy’s Top 3 Tips for Entrepreneurs Trying to Market Themselves Online Work on your website. “Your website is your central hub. You have to make sure what’s under your hood is working correctly. If you can’t get your website indexed by search engines, you’re never going to rank for anything. Make sure you have the right technical structure for your website.” Work on your website’s “Your message is what is on your homepage, landing pages, blog posts. Showcase your expertise. Build trust and authority. Work on your social media message. “Make sure you are on the major social networks. Know where your audience is and make sure you are there, too, and engaged. Stay socially involved.”   How to Make “Becoming Your Own Publishing Company” Easier for Entrepreneurs Create an editorial calendar for yourself and your blog. Schedule out blog posts, video/audio publications, and social media posts. Stay Engaged.   Tips for Professional Women Within Organizations for Improving Their Online Presence Take a hard look at your social profiles. If you have your own website – do a technical review of it.   Resources Mentioned In This Episode: Anchor – Audio Social Media App Help a Reporter Out Mindy’s digital book – Rich and Thin: How to Slim Down, Shrink Debt, and Turn Calories Into Cash Mindy’s Website (Sign up for her Free Digital Marketing Guide, which is packed with free tools and tips to help you improve your internet marketing strategy.)   Connect with Mindy: LinkedIn Twitter Google+   Exciting News! I am really excited to share this news with the Fierce Feminine Leadership “tribe!” Mindy Weinstein has agreed to conduct an exclusive 1-hour training webinar for all you fierce feminine leaders in July! This webinar specifically targets women entrepreneur wanting to learn how to significantly improve their online marketing and SEO strategies.   Subscribe to and Review the Fierce Feminine Leadership Podcast for a Chance to Win This Month’s Contest! At the end of each month, one lucky reviewer will win a free private coaching session with me! Are you feeling lucky? Head on over to iTunes, subscribe to the show and leave your honest feedback to enter your name into the contest!

Ambitious women in business, especially those in high-energy careers, often struggle through many obstacles and dilemmas. Probably one of the most common dilemma that high-achieving women face are those that are internalized – feeling as though you are “not up to snuff” in your career, despite having a glowing resume, awards, or fantastic recommendations. This dilemma is what I call “Ambitious Woman’s Dilemma, and it is the most common condition affecting ambitious, high-achieving women in business. Keep Reading >> Click to get a copy of AWD Worksheet In today’s episode, I share with you 6 of the most common symptoms of Ambitious Woman’s Dilemma (AWD), and what you need to do to overcome this condition.   Here’s a Breakdown of Today’s Show: What is Ambitious Woman’s Dilemma? How common is AWD? Is there a way to “cure” the AWD condition – and if so, how? Why highly ambitious women begin feeling the effects of AWD?   What Is Ambitious Woman’s Dilemma? AWD is a common condition among smart, ambitious women who want to make a difference in the world while genuinely being present for their families and being financially secure but tend to feel like their “not up to snuff” or should be further ahead in their career or personal life than they are currently. “You know you have Ambitious Woman’s Dilemma if you feel like the rope in a real-life tug-o-war game.” – Eleanor Beaton   6 Common Symptoms of Ambitious Woman’s Dilemma You feel you are only as good as your last deal, sale, or project. You feel like you have to do things to be awesome and feel safe in the world. Your ratio of thinking about exercise and your health versus actually doing it is greater than 7 to 1 You do not have any hobbies AWD sufferers do not have any hobbies because, at the end of the work day, they are too busy sleeping, eating, driving, cleaning, or feeding someone. You sometimes have the feeling that you have lost the sense of play and wonder, that the creative part of you is somehow “dying.” You can’t slow down. AWD sufferers often think, “Slow down? That’s what losers do!” You know you’re a confident person, but you don’t understand why you feel insecure at times. Understand the difference between confidence and worthiness.   “When you truly embrace your sense of inner worthiness, you begin to approach your work & your life with a rested edge.” – Eleanor Beaton Subscribe to and Review the Fierce Feminine Leadership Podcast for a Chance to Win This Month’s Contest! At the end of each month, one lucky reviewer will win a free private coaching session with me! Are you feeling lucky? Head on over to iTunes, subscribe to the show and leave your honest feedback to enter your name into the contest!  

In our last episode, I spoke with Joan Michelson of Green Connections Radio. She brought up a fascinating topic about the differences between how women support other women in business compared to the ways men support other people in business. This discussion led me to evaluate how the women within my own network have supported me through various business ventures, as well as how the men in my network have shown their support. One thing that I have found interesting during this evaluation was that women typically demonstrate their support through emotional support while men will often support you through practical support.

Today, I am joined by a fabulously fierce feminine leader, advocate for female leaders throughout the corporate and entrepreneurial world, and owner of Green Connections Radio, Joan Michelson. Joan has made a huge impact in the corporate world and helping women “claim their power” in their industries. Her very specific, unique niche in the business community is in the Clean Tech area, also known as the “green space.” She joins us today to share her story about how the “green space” niche fell in her lap and provide some insight and tips to other women in leadership roles on ways they can find their voice within their organization. Keep Reading >>   Here’s a Breakdown of the Topics We Covered: Joan’s story – how she dived into the Clean Tech space, the struggles she has endured, and how she overcame those struggles and how she empowers other women to do the same. Statistics show that women tend to get promoted on performance while men get promoted on potential. Women walk into a discussion or decision with a laundry list of assumptions. How Joan felt “held back” in her previous career goals, and what she did to overcome this common obstacle. Women have permission to change the rules in the corporate world, even though many feel as though they don’t. Using relationship building skills and deal closing skills at the same time produces results. Everyone in business – entrepreneurial or corporate – needs to do both. What is Joan’s business model? “Women tend to limit their choices by – unknowingly or unintentionally – setting boundaries.”   Joan’s Advice for Women Who Are Looking to Build their Voice: Confidence Self-talk – listen to yourself, how you talk to others and yourself, to learn a lot about what your voice is and how you are, in your own way, making assumptions that may or may not be true. Network Be visible Ask for what you want Be willing to hear voices that are different from yours so you can stretch your knowledge. Be willing to learn new things and ask for help.   Joan’s Advice for People Working Within a Corporate Entity and Want to Elevate Their Personal Brand: Go to your company’s communications team and ask to cover the public speaking engagements that the CEO cannot attend. Approach them with specific opportunities that will also benefit the company.   Connect with Joan: greenconnectionsradio.com iTunes Joan’s blog on the Huffington Post Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Email – info@greenconnectionsradio.com   Subscribe to and Review the Fierce Feminine Leadership Podcast for a Chance to Win This Month’s Contest! At the end of each month, one lucky reviewer will win a free private coaching session with me! Are you feeling lucky? Head on over to iTunes, subscribe to the show and leave your honest feedback to enter your name into the contest!