Amplify with Jess Ekstrom

There is so much power in connecting with and building up other women. That's why I was honored to bring Natalie Franke, co-founder of The Rising Tide Society and community leader of Honeybook, on the podcast to discuss how you can genuinely root for other women.Listen in as we discuss why she decided to open up about her journey to motherhood and connect with others who are living through the same experience.Meet Natalie (2:30)Cheering for Other while Feeling Comparative (6:10)Opening Up (11:22)The T-Shirt Shop (21:45)Linksnataliefranke.comshopnataliefranke.cominstagram.com/nataliefrankeReview the Transcript at businessonthebrightside.com

I don't know about you, but I've found myself surrounded by strong and powerful women in my life. So, in honor of Women's History Month, on today's episode of Business on the Bright Side, I'm highlighting 10 women who have impacted my life and career.From family members, professors, and business colleagues to women I've never met and even one who's name I never got, listen in to see how knowing them has made my life and business all the better. 10 Women Who Impacted My Life & Career1. Dr. Maria DeMoya (1:23)She believed in what I was building.2. Sara Blakely (2:45)She inspired my to fulfill a need.3. My Mom (3:54)She taught me that experience is more important than lectures.4. My Grandma Joan (5:28)She taught me to silence stereotypes and live the life I want.5. Kristine Sickles (7:39)She saw the potential in my personal brand.6. RBG (9:03)She paved the way for women to have independence.7. Natalie Franke of The Rising Tide Society (9:46)She helped me to embrace community over competition.8. Martha Bitar of Flodesk (10:50)She mentored me through the process of building Bright Pages.9. Myrna Daramy (12:12)She taught me to embrace digital inclusivity in technology and helped me make my website accessible to all.10. A Random Woman at Starbucks (13:21)She paid it forward to my business when I was just starting out.One Liner: As a woman, every time you advance towards your dreams, you’re showing young girls watching what’s possible for their dreams.If you're a minority business owner looking for support in your business, please submit your pitches to hey@jessekstrom.com!Review the Transcript at businessonthebrightside.com! 

Why do we feel burdened to always be connected to our phones and checking social media? We shouldn't have to.In this episode of Business on the Bright Side, Minaa B joins us to share how and why you should set digital boundaries in your life and business. Listen in as she describes the importance of understanding responsibilities in online relationships and communication when you're setting those boundaries!Setting Digital Boundaries (1:35)Determine Your Why: Why are you going on social media at this time? (5:10)Social Media Audit (7:55)1. Check Your Screen Time2. Look at Who You FollowUnderstanding Responsibilities & Boundaries (9:00)Vocalizing Boundaries (13:17)One Liner: Normalize saying no in your life. (21:16)LinksBook Pop WorkshopYour Body, Your Story Podcastinstagram.com/minaa_bMinaab.com

Have you ever finished a book and thought, "That would have been better as an article or blog post?" I think we've all experienced that.In this episode of Business on the Bright Side, I'm sharing four ways to help you decided if your idea should be a book or a blog post. Grab yourself a pen and paper, and let's dive into this exercise!How to Know if Your Idea Should Be a Book or a Blog Post:How long have you been thinking about it? (1:56)Does the writing flow? (3:48)Try it on for the week.Do the tree exercise. (6:28)The Tree Exercise: (6:28)Draw a tree trunkIn the trunk, write one central theme or transformation your book will provide.Think about what people need to know in order to achieve that transformation.Create a branch for each of those things you think of until you have 10-15Blog Post: Less than 7 branchesBook: 10-15 branchesRegister for the Book Pop Workshop WebinarOne Liner: The most important step in being a thought leader is believing that you have something valuable to say. The second most important step is actually saying it. (11:25)Last week’s episode: How to Get Your Book on ShelvesRegister for the Book Pop Workshop WebinarReview the Transcript at businessonthebrightside.com. 

So, you have a book idea, but you have no idea where to start in order to get your book on shelves—thankfully I've already been through the process and can tell you!In this episode of Business on the Bright Side, I'm sharing four important steps to get your book on the shelves of retailers you love. Listen in as I dive into building a book proposal, getting a literary agent, securing a book publisher, and doing the work to see your book out in the real world.Four Steps to Get Your Book On Shelves1. Answer this Question: Why do you want to write a book?Why you? (2:03)Why this topic, transformation, or category? (2:28Why now? (2:42)brightpages.comPublishing Deals (3:41)2. Write Your Book Proposal (4:41)What goes into your book proposal:Overview of the BookAnswering the whysWho’s your target marketComparative titlesChapter outlinesWho are youMarketing ideasSample chaptersWorking with a Literary Agent (6:19)Working with a Publisher(8:10)Working with a Sales Team to Get on Shelves (9:26)3. Getting in Local Bookstores (10:31)4. Getting in Local Libraries (12:09)One Liner: Only write a book if you want to leave your readers better after having read it. (15:15)Get Podcast Updates Every Monday: Text Podcast to 704-228-9495Register for the Book Pop Workshop WebinarReview the transcript at businessonthebrightside.com.

Are you using clubhouse to grow as a professional speaker? With the platform becoming more and more popular, there is so much potential to gain awareness for your brand and network with others.In this episode of Business on the Brightside, Mothyna James-Brightful joins us to discuss how you can use clubhouse for your brand! Additionally, we talk about steps we can all take to create more diversity and inclusion in the speaking and event industry!First Paid & Non-Paid Speaking Gig (1:25)Pitching Yourself in Your Clubhouse Bio (8:05)How to Overcome the Fear of Speaking (9:17)Diversifying Speaking Engagements (11:50)Diversifying Your Experience (15:22)Advice to Speakers to Stay Active (18:38)Links:instagram.com/mothynasistermothyna.comstagereadyspeaker.comGrab the free email templates.Review the Transcript at businessonthebrightside.com.

Have you ever had a moment in your life that you look back on and thought, "Wow, that actually happened... and I made it through."In today's episode of Business on the Bright Side, I'm sharing how I lost the first $10,000 I invested in my business before I ever really even started. The lessons that came from that experience didn't sink in until much later, but it also brought out more than just lessons, it taught me about risk.What was the risk of moving forward after failure? What's the risk of not moving forward? What considerations or risks do you have in your next big idea or adventure?Getting Started with Headbands of Hope (3:12)How Jess Lost $10,000 (7:20)Moving Beyond the Risk (11:31)Finding Success & Purpose After Failure (13:10)Links:Chasing the Bright SideReview the Transcript at businessonthebrightside.com

Are you ready to make a change in the way you're living your life? Antonio Neves joins us as our first guest on Business on the Bright Side to discuss his book, Stop Living on Autopilot!In this episode, we talk through authenticity, knowing who you are, and surrounding yourself with quality community! If you're ready to stop living on autopilot, you need to hear this conversation with Antonio!Meet Antonio (2:25)Being Authentic (9:45)How do you introduce yourself? (15:16)Good Fear vs. Bad Fear (17:28)Thieves vs. Allies (26:58)Linkstheantonioneves.comStop Living on AutoPilot by Antonio NevesArmchair Expert by Dax ShepardReview the Transcript at businessonthebrightside.com!

Are you struggling with creating and prioritizing your goals? This episode is for you! While I'm not a fan of strict goal setting, I think it's important to know what you're working towards! Listen in as I share my favorite goal setting tips so you can accomplish what you want in 2021!Grab the Goal Setting WorkbookTips for Goal Setting1. Leave room for possibility. Release your grip. How can you hold it with an open palm2. Write down your goals.3. Speak it into existence.4. Do something small towards it.One Liner: We grow into the person that we want to be on the way to our goals, not in the planning. (11:04)

Sometimes our own way of thinking can get in the way of us achieving our own goals. Let's make life a little easier with a simple mindset shift. In today's episode, I'm sharing 4 mindset shifts you can copy to stop getting in your own way!4 Mindset Shifts to Make Life Easier (1:26)1. You before anything else. (1:38)2. Care more about the system, less about the goal. (3:02)3. Care more about what you’re creating than what people are thinking. (5:01)4. Train your mind to see the good in people & business. See it and speak it. (6:37)"People aren’t thinking about you as much as you think they are."One Liner: Even our most engrained patterns and habits deserve to be questioned. What worked yesterday, might not work today. Always keep iterating. (7:47)Review the transcript at businessonthebrightside.com.