The concept of the long game is sticking with it. It’s also about recognizing that you are on your unique journey. No two people have the same path. With all creative endeavors, you have the chance to show up your way, in your style.  Today we’re talking with Lizzie LaRock and we’re discussing the power of creativity. She’s the creator of The Life Feast, a one-of-a-kind program she calls a movement and a mission.  Lizzie shares how she came up with the name “Life Feast”. She explains how this phrase came to her during a particularly difficult time in her own life. We are meant to have lives of joy after all! It’s not just about working and paying bills.  How can we use creativity to live a bigger life?   One way Lizzie made space for more in life was to sign up for piano lessons; something she’d always wanted to do. She had this realization when one of her daughters wanted to stop her lessons. She realized she was sad about it because she’d always wanted to learn to play.  How can we switch from consuming to creating?  There’s nothing wrong with streaming your favorite shows or checking out Tik Tok videos. Lizzie and I talk about how we focus on creating more often and use consuming content for fun and sometimes for inspiration.  Creativity is a state, not a trait. It’s a muscle that we all have and can build upon.  Lizzie shares why using her iPhone is what works best for her when she’s creating. It’s a great reminder to use what we have and take 15 minutes to take photos when you’re inspired.  To spark creativity Lizzie shares prompts to help people see their world with a new perspective. Here’s a few examples:   Worms eye view  Shoot from the hip  Focus on a specific color (what pops up?)   Birds eye view   I love that these prompts can be integrated into part of your day. It’s not about setting aside an hour with a planned agenda. It’s about noticing what’s right in front of you and seeing it in a new way.  Lizzie explains that she encourages a growth mind-set. No one was born with a great eye, knowing exactly how to create the perfect photo. Embracing your view, your imperfections and your perspective is what makes you interesting. It is what makes your creativity unique to you.  Think play, curiosity, and sense of wonder. It’s something any of us can do as we begin to create. It allows all of us to be in flow leaving stress and perfection behind.  Lizzie also brings the science. She teaches mindfulness based in the rigorously researched, evidence-based, scientific study of positive psychology.  She calls her course a “gateway” drug. Many of her members move into other types of creative practices like painting, or writing, or acting etc. It’s a way to open up your creativity and your curiosity.  We need 3 positives for every negative in our day.  We are hard-wired to recall the negative things in life for survival purposes. Creative work helps us embrace and hold onto the positive. She explains the practice of savoring and shares several great examples that anyone can do.  Reclaim your creativity!   Connect with Lizzie:  Life Feast Info Instagram  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’ve been thinking about ways to grow your business, you may be looking at sales funnels, social media posts, TikTok, paid ads, and email campaigns. All of these are legit methods to employ in your strategy for growth, but there is one strategy you’ll want to give more attention to after this episode. Public relations (PR) is about managing how others see you and your brand. It’s about a strategic communication process that gets you in front of the right people which makes growing your business much easier. “You need PR to get big, you need PR to make money, you need exposure because people can't do business with you if they don't know about you.” Maven Media founder, Christina Nicholson, was a TV reporter and anchor with lots of experience being pitched and given pitches. Her PR skills have landed her on podcasts such as Bossbabe, Entrepreneurs on Fire, Smart and Passive Income with Pat Flynn and so many more. Today we’re talking about:  The power of PR placement for your business   Using social media to pitch  When and how to follow up on your pitch  How to pitch podcast shows specifically  Why PR is about relationship building and connection   “Advertising is saying you're good. PR is getting someone else to say you're good.” Putting yourself out there is scary business, but not growing your business is a failing business and it requires maximum exposure. Guesting on podcasts, contributing to articles and local news appearances can do wonders for your business and your brand’s credibility. Christina unloads so much value in this interview that you’ll want to take notes and start implementing her strategies right away! Here are a few tips Christina shares that are sure to get you noticed and in front of your audience faster. TIP #1: Make it super easy on the person you are pitching to.  TIP #2: Create a Media List using a spreadsheet. Create a different tab for each angle you can pitch and start collecting podcasts for that angle with the contact information you need to submit a pitch. Work this spreadsheet for pitches and cycle through with a different topic each time. TIP #3: Write subject lines people will open by making them short, catchy, and relevant to the person and what they do. TIP #4: To pitch a podcast, be very specific about what you do and the tangible results and outcomes for the audience. Include personal elements that touch on their industry or one of the previous episodes TIP #5: Block 2 hours every week to build your media list. Include people that are writing about your industry, active podcast platforms that speak to that industry or genre, and remember to follow and comment on their social media channels. Christina is incredibly raw and candid about the PR business and has a no B.S. approach to the content and information she shares and teaches to others. If you want to check out the exact pitch she submitted to Pat Flynn to get on his podcast, head over to Podcast Clout. Links to connect with Christina: Website Masterclass  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I’m talking about streamlining your offers.  This is something that comes up for my clients and for me as well. I see so many people spending time energy on their offers, with mixed results.  In the past year, I’ve worked to streamline my own offers and it’s allowed me to scale my business up one more level.  Entrepreneurs are plagued by the list of good ideas we’d like to implement. Add to that mix the fact that many of us are multi-passionate and neuro-divergent and we end up with a jumble of information that we want to share. Nothing is landing because we’re not specific or targeted as a result.  What is streamlining?  To me, streamlining is about flow. It’s about putting systems and processes in place that give us ease in our work. Flow feels good.  Hear how I define streamlining as it relates to offers. I think it will resonate with you as well.  Note: This is not about pigeon-holing you into only doing one thing. It’s about being known for expertise in one specific area. This allows you to leverage your offers while keeping them streamlined. It’s also about clear messaging. People need to hear your message more than once and keeping a focused approach will help people recognize how you can help them.  Examples of streamlining offers:   Create a signature offer and message. Build on that over time. Example Marie Forleo and B-School.  The same services with various price points and value. Example: Me! I have a high touch done-for-you offer, a mid-range done-for-you offer (with less included) and a small group strategy program that leads members through the same processes I use with my done for you clients. Coming soon: my course as the DIY version of the same frame work as an entry level program.   Packaging, partnerships, and placement. Example: beauty products at hotels. This allows them to place their core products in different packaging to reach new potential clients for their full-size versions. This works with services too – done for you vs. DIY for example.  Hear how I breakdown the way this can work for an email marketer. You’ll see how easily the messaging and offers compliment each other with a variety of options. Similar messages with varying offers = streamlined.  What if you have expertise in multiple areas? This is where you must be intentional about your messaging, and timing of content and offers. Hear how you can create a runway of messaging so that it’s clear and not confusing.  This long-game strategy is one that will pay off again and again. Streamlining will help you stay in control and feel confident about what you offer, and the messaging that supports it.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How am I supposed to get this all done?  I know I’m asking myself that all the time. Lots of creative people feel this way. We have big ideas, and we want to see them come to life.  Today’s guest is the coach for humans who have impatient ambition. Can you relate? Coach Jennie is going to show us how to stop squandering our potential and make things happen.  How did the concept of make-it-happen come to life?  Coach Jennie wants everyone to know there is nothing wrong with you. She busts a few myths about coaching advice we’ve all heard.  She explains that we all need a way to think through what’s going on. The solution is not to ignore it. Make It Happen was created to help people take action. We all have more how-to information than we can possibly implement.  She supports people to follow through to their commitment to themselves.  Hear how she helps people get from creating strategy (something lots of us visionaries love to do) to implementing. Not just any action but the right action. It’s not about productivity (doing more) it’s about doing the thing that will get your closer to your goal.  Check out the question she asks her clients – and ask yourself too.  What opportunities are you actively seeking?  Not planning, or researching, but actively doing? It might feel like a subtle shift; but there’s a big difference between planning and executing the plan. Coach Jennie gives some great examples that all of us can relate to.  Hear what to do when you hit the “this sh*t just got real” moment.   Give yourself some credit   Collect proof of your brilliance   Puddle jumping – bet this is something you do too!   Not sharing our successes   Coach Jennie shares a great tip about how to get perspective (and feedback) demonstrating your expertise.  What should you want?  This is something that’s pervasive in many online communities. Does everyone really want to write a book? Are we all trying to get to 7 figures? Coach Jennie brings some sanity to this tricky topic.  Group coaching is magical. – Coach Jennie  The power of coaching by proxy is legit. It’s when you learn from seeing someone else being coached. It also means you are not alone; you are not the only person who has been where you are.  Group coaching is also where I’ve gotten some great ideas. Hearing what works in a completely different industry has sparked something I can model in my business. Insights that wouldn’t come from 1:1 coaching.  Monday Morning Moxie This is part of Coach Jennie’s magic. You must hear how she does this and the way it’s impacted her members. Genius!  No Facebook Group WHAT?  Coach Jennie’s group doesn’t have a Facebook group or a forum of any kind. She provides other ways for her members to connect with her when they need something specific. There are other ways to build community and we talk about how she does that for her members.  Jennie wants everyone to feel accomplished. Not productive. There’s a big difference between I did a thing in Trello to I crossed a frickin’ finish line.  I know Long Game fans are action takers. You’re here because you want to do work you love and make an impact. Here’s to making it happen!   Connect with Coach Jennie Tackle Your Fears Worksheet  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever thought about being an author or stepping on stage to speak? If so then you know you must have a well-crafted story. On today’s episode I’m talking with April Pertuis, a story expert.  She’s not just talking about how to tell a story, but how to make sure it gets out to those who are ready to hear it.  “Publishing the book is only half the work.”  April Pertuis April’s book project, Elevate Your Voice is now available on Amazon. Check out the stories of the 14 women who worked with April to share their stories as only they could.  This isn’t your typical book collaboration. April developed a program centered around embracing and telling their stories. The book is the bonus, the tangible result of the work and experience.  These women worked together in a community. Yes, each person had their own story and April led them through the process in weekly calls as a group. A professional editor was hired too. All the participants received feedback from April the story expert, from Lanette Pottle the publisher and from the editor. With each piece of feedback, the authors were able to refine and polish their story.  Hear how these authors can now share these stories (and others) in multiple ways moving forward. Some of the participants feel confident and ready to write their own book after learning how story development and publishing work.  April breaks down how people chose the stories they wanted to share. There was an over-arching theme, but each person chose what was meaningful to them.  When you hear this table of contents (each story) you’re going to be blown away! What’s next?  We know that the publication of the book is really the beginning. It’s the opening of a door for the authors.   One woman launched a business as a result of telling her story  Another is now writing her own full-length book  Another group is already on the way to publishing book number 2!  April has seen increased visibility and opportunities as a result of working on this project   I love that this is a springboard for those who chose to participate. In long game style, opportunities show up when we face the fear and move forward.  Hear how April determined if this project would be a good fit for her. This insight and perspective are something we can all benefit from. Another long-game approach: community.  These women are now connected. They supported each other and they all helped one another. Relationships were formed that will continue well beyond the publish date.  We finish up with the marketing info. April and her team developed an incredible plan for promotion. Hear what they created to make sure the book was a success. Just a few things included:   Graphics and materials with a cohesive brand across all authors   Developed a launch team to help with promotions  Set up interviews to help each author  The next cohort has begun! April shares how one of the authors in the 2nd group helped an author who was fearful to open the box of books when they arrived. You’re going to love it.  Lastly, the proceeds of the book are going to Kiva! What an amazing way to pay it forward.  I’m going to make sure April comes back later this year to give us an update on how the book and the authors are doing as well as info on the next one!   Buy the book!   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“The actions that you took last year brought you to where you are today.” I’m using this quote in my up-coming webinar. What you did last year contributed to where you are now. What you do every day makes an impact in where you’ll be tomorrow. I’m having all the feels around this because I’ve been head down working on my own business. It’s been so intense, I my eye developed a twitch! Yeah. That happened. It was a good reminder for me to remember what is important. That brought me to “blissipline”. A long game term for sure! Hear how I found it and what it means to me. It’s everything!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 100!  You already know podcasting is a long game strategy for me so it’s extra special to be hitting episode 100. It’s a good reminder that I can show up, be consistent and share information that’s helpful. Thanks for being here with me. I’m so glad to be on the journey with you.  We are all the sum of our experiences. My Jersey roots are definitely a part of me. I’m proud of the fact that New Jersey is one of the most diverse places in the US.  Today’s show is all about my Jersey Pride!  First, I’ll admit that there is a bit of truth about some of the Jersey stereotypes. And, there is so much more.  What exit? Yes, it’s true. It’s an identifier for the locals. When out-of-towners use it, we know you’re trying to poke fun. Guess what? Jersey peeps don’t care.  It’s known as the Garden State for a reason. We grow corn and sunflowers and all kinds of produce here.  Other Jersey Facts:   72 mile of the Appalachian Trail runs through New Jersey  We call the 100’s of miles of beaches the shore.   Jersey is adjacent to the city. (that’d be NYC of course)   You can get disco fries 24/7 in Jersey.   Pork rolls, we got ‘em  Also grease trucks and fat cat sandwiches  Bagels and pizza (made the only way they should be made)   We have jug handles (IYKYK)  I hope that hearing about what it means to be from Jersey gives you a bit more insight to who I am. Jersey is part of me.  On this business journey, I’ve become the truest form of myself. I continue to learn and drop what doesn’t work, or fit. I’m paying attention to the signs to pause or to jump in with both feet and everything in between.  Thank you for being part of this Long Game Jersey-Girl podcast! I couldn’t do it without you.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can we have success and lives that feel spacious and encompass joy?  I believe we can. That’s what guest Marta Sauret Greca and I are talking about on this episode. She’s figured out how to manage a very busy life and she teaches her clients to do the same. She uses the minimalist method that she’s created and is now teaching, and we are diving into all of it on today’s podcast.  Marta is a mom of 5, the primary breadwinner in her family, business owner and author. She struggled growing her business until she developed her Minimalist Method and began using it herself. Business started expanding and she’s since taught her clients the same process.  What is the Minimalist Method?  It’s not about how little you can get by with, it’s about being intentional about what you allow to fill up your space. That means your physical space, your mental head space, your energetic space, and your schedule. It’s about being intentional about what you allow in, and de-cluttering the things that no longer serve you.  The work includes:   Mindset   Schedules and systems   Energetic work  Marketing and tech tasks that you need to let go  Marta’s story is compelling. Life circumstances required her to downsize and get by with much less for a while. That’s when she realized that she had to be intentional about what she could say yes to, and all the things that were a solid no.  What’s the path to minimalism?  It’s a combination of lots of things to be sure, and Marta shares how she uses time-blocking and creates times for work, times for home-schooling and other responsibilities. She also encourages everyone to ignore the myth that homeschooling, or entrepreneurship means hours and hours of time every day.  Use systems and processes for yourself and for your team. Allow others to bring solutions to the table as you grow and as your team takes on more responsibility. She also highlights being compassionate and understanding. We’re all human. Leave the drama and create space for discussing and implementing solutions. That’s a Long Game approach for it as well.  Marta teaches her clients to self-coach themselves. Making mindset shifts is key for personal and professional growth. She also teaches her clients how to outsource and manage work that others can do well, so they can focus on what only they can do.  Marta and I both think of our client work as a partnership. We understand their businesses, which means we can help make connections and find ways to feature them.  As my own business has grown, like Marta, I’ve become much more comfortable with knowing where I fit, what type of clients I want to work with and the trade-offs I am willing and not willing to make to be successful.  Doing less and living more really is possible.  Resources:  Marta’s Website The Minimalist Method Book Instagram  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is it necessary to be productive all the time? We put a lot of pressure on ourselves to execute and that’s understandable. Like you, I want to be successful and I’m willing to do the work.  There’s also a time to pause, reflect and listen. As entrepreneurs we get to create how we want to work and how we want to feel as well. Today’s episode is all about countering the productivity culture long game style.  Productivity is a hold-over from the corporate world where time is money.  I grew up going to the lake with my friend and we would canoe for hours, paddling and soaking up the sun. When you are paddling you are focused on the action to propel you forward through the water.  When you stop and sit back and glide, you can take in the environment, and you stop moving. Both actions are what make being on the water fun. The action and the pause. The same is true in business.  I’ve been hearing from clients and peers that we can’t take a break from posting and producing. We feel guilty if we take a social media break. Without the pause, there’s no place for a break or time for reflection. Consistency is important, but so are creative breaks.  Results come from what you do most of the time, not some of the time.  When you stop pushing, you can listen. You can pay attention to what people are responding to. What questions and new insights are showing up with your work?  That’s part of long game thinking. Executing, assessing what’s working (or not) and then using that data to create even better content and impact.  Going through the process is ultimately where the value is for you, the creator.  Hear how The Queens Gambit (Netflix) is a great example of this long game strategy. There were periods of productivity, long pauses followed by continued pursuit to get the mini-series filmed. It was one of 2020’s most watched shows that might not have happened. The producer didn’t let this sit on the shelf. He kept moving forward, working with different writers, with long gaps where things didn’t come together. Until they did.  Exploring the path that excites you is part of the journey. It’s okay to lower the pressure with periods of rest and reflection so you can keep moving forward in ways that are interesting and rewarding for you, and for your business.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guest is the person who introduced me to the concept of morning pages. Julia Cameron, author of The Artists Way, explains them this way:  Morning Pages are three pages of longhand, stream of consciousness writing, done first thing in the morning. *There is no wrong way to do Morning Pages*– they are not high art. They are not even “writing.” They are about anything and everything that crosses your mind– and they are for your eyes only. Morning Pages provoke, clarify, comfort, cajole, prioritize and synchronize the day at hand. Do not over-think Morning Pages: just put three pages of anything on the page...and then do three more pages tomorrow. This is an exercise that helps you have more consciousness during your day. It’s a process to help open your creativity. It’s all about uncovering, getting unstuck.  Today’s guest, Krysty Krywko, has her own process called anchor pages. She uses art and creativity to help people heal.   First up we talk about how Krysty chose to rebrand herself and her business. She shared why she knew she needed to make the change AND admitted why it felt so hard to release the old name/brand. “I can change my mind anytime I want to change my mind”. – Krysty Krysty shares her anchor pages process and how she uses this in her own work. It’s working through a series of prompts.   Name it and claim the emotions you are feeling right now.  How do you want to feel?   What actions do you need to take?   She reminds us that the actions are usually small steps that allow us to make a change.  She’s using this process with creativity to help clients with sobriety and recovery. She encourages using a journal to allow for creative expression when doing this work. I know for sure that we are all recovering from something, and this process is something anyone can do.  Krysty reminds us that it’s perfectly fine to start where you are, with what you have. Use the kids crayons and markers, cut photos out of magazines. Her advice: don’t censure. Just start.  The power lies in the process.  Hear how this process is different from creating a vision board. Krysty shares how some of her clients have use this journal-creating-process to gain clarity in life. She also explains 3 of her favorite ways to get started so you aren’t working with a blank page.  Final words: Start where you are. Don’t worry about showing anyone else and remember that there are no rules. You can’t do it wrong!  Connect with Krysty Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices