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Earn Your Happy

Find your purpose, build your network and make money doing what you love with Earn Your Happy, a motivation-packed podcast! You’ll think bigger, dig deeper and gain the confidence to go for your (world dominating) goals. Each week, learn how to get to the next level personally and professionally with host Lori Harder, best-selling author, investor, multi-passionate entrepreneur, and founder of the female funded beverage company Lite Pink, for which Lori raised over $2 million through the strong network she has built. Lori will give you a vulnerable, behind-the-scenes look at the challenges of growing a business, the toll it can take on your relationships and mental health, and how to support yourself through it all so you can reach your massive goals. Be mentored through your earpods on the topics of starting and scaling a company, building a personal brand, manifestation, boundaries, money, fear, relationships and taking the next big leap in life. Get the inside scoop on who you need in your circle, how to find them and the lies you need to stop believing to be successful. You’ll laugh, cry and feel like you’re not alone in the journey. Follow Lori @loriharder on Instagram for more inspiration and behind-the-scenes of how she is building Lite Pink.
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Now displaying: July, 2017
Jul 31, 2017

I know you are all going to love today’s guest, Dave Asprey. Not only will you be in awe of his transformation story, but he shares so many useful tips and tools to help you gain more energy AND boost both the health of your mind and body.

A successful Silicon Valley tech entrepreneur and the founder of Bulletproof Coffee, Dave once weighed 300 lbs. and even though he spent 1.5 hours at the gym daily and ate a super low-calorie diet, he couldn’t budge the scale. He felt old in his young body. It wasn’t until he decided to cut sugar from his diet (and inadvertently lower his carb intake) that he lost 50 lbs. It took him another 7-8 years while biohacking and figuring out his body to lose the other 50.

Since that time and with an innate sense of curiosity, Dave has discovered and created techniques, and keys to taking control of and improving a person’s biochemistry, body and mind so they work in unison, helping one execute at levels far beyond what is expected without burning out, getting sick, or allowing stress to control decisions.

I learned and related to so much of this amazingly educational conversation and I hope you do as well. Dave’s determination and drive to discover more and more about the human body is so inspiring. I’m giddy just thinking about where his work will take us in the years to come.

Happy Listening!

--

Questions Asked in This Episode

  • When you had your huge transformation, what was the biggest thing that clicked for you compared to what wasn’t working before?
  • When you changed your diet, did you have doubts that it wouldn’t work?
  • What is a common health misconception that you hear all the time?
  • How long does it take to see results?
  • What do you recommend to increase willpower?
  • Do you think it’s possible to overcome different genetic problems?
  • What is the toughest thing you’ve had to let go of in order to fulfill your dreams and mission?

In This Episode You Will Learn:

  • How Dave Asprey lost 100 lbs. without spending hours in a gym
  • About the difference between hunger and cravings
  • The importance of putting the right food into our bodies to control cravings
  • How Bulletproof Coffee was created
  • How to increase willpower
  • About the power and importance of mitochondria
  • How to find your weaknesses and conquer them
  • About the benefits of intermittent fasting
  • Why sleep is so important and why it’s important to get better (more quality) sleep

Quotes:

“I wanted to help a few people who were stuck like I was.”

“My brain changed and I needed new pants.”

“Eat enough food and eat the right kinds of non-inflammatory fats, and when you eat the right foods your cravings should be gone.”

“Low calorie means low energy.”

“You can be lean and look pretty good just from what you put on your plate and it’s not about eating less. It’s about eating the right things so you have enough energy and less cravings and stable hormones and less inflammation in your body.”

“Find out what the bare minimum you can do is – then do that.”

“Stop making so many decisions.”

“Any upgrade in energy = an upgrade in willpower = more energy to improve yourself.”

“Make happy, healthy, strong and powerful mitochondria and they will cause the best genes to be expressed.”

“You are not a slave to your genes.”

“Struggling is different than working hard.”

--

Dave Asprey, founder of Bulletproof and author of New York Times bestseller The Bulletproof Diet, is a Silicon Valley investor and technology entrepreneur who spent two decades and over $1 Million to hack his own biology.

Dave lost 100 pounds without counting calories or excessive exercise, used techniques to upgrade his brain and lift his IQ by 20 points, and lowered his biological age while learning to sleep more efficiently in less time. Dave is the creator of the widely popular Bulletproof Coffee, host of the #1 health podcast, Bulletproof Radio, and author of the New York Times bestselling books, The Bulletproof Diet and Head Strong.

Resources:

Books by Dave Asprey:

Follow me on social media @LoriHarder on Instagram and Lori Harder on Facebook. [smart_track_player url="http://traffic.libsyn.com/loriharder/151_Why_Community_Helps_You_Through_Lifes_Transitions_with_Almost_30_Hosts_Linsey_and_Krista.mp3"]

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Jul 27, 2017

Do you ever wake up and feel like you’ve just experienced spiritual amnesia? You know, when you take classes, listen to podcasts or do something else that lights your soul on fire only to wake up the next morning feeling…not so soulful, barely recognizing who you were the day before.

 

I’m here to tell you that this is normal. As one of my favorite quotes says:

 

“Every day is day one.”

 

It’s one of my favorites because it’s so true. You change on a daily basis and what happened yesterday has no bearing on today. So what made you happy yesterday, doesn’t necessarily make you happy today. And many days you won’t even know who you are…red flag!

 

“If you’ve forgotten who you are, you may want to reassess.”

 

Ask yourself, “what’s working for me. What’s not?” Are you continuing to do something because you think you should or because you think you’re going to get a certain result? Sometimes we’re so caught up in what we should do that we forget what we enjoy doing.

 

To ensure that I stay in this constant state of evaluation and questioning (and happiness), it’s imperative that I pray, meditate and get grateful (this is often only 5-6 minutes a day).

 

“Do the thing that makes you find peace.”

 

Get present, become aware and make time for what truly makes you happy – regardless of what’s happening that day (crazy work day, family visiting, running kids all over town). Play your favorite music that helps you get in flow. Drink that favorite cup of coffee even if you only have five minutes to have a few sips in a locked bathroom. ;-) You will find that every little bit helps to make this experience of life just a little more joyful.

 

What keeps you joyful and in the present?

 

 

In This Episode You Will Learn:

 

  • How to figure out what’s not working in your life
  • How to get present
  • Why having daily rituals are so important
  • How to make life more enjoyable

 

Resources:

 

The Bliss Habit

For more information, visit theblisshabit.com.

Checkout my website at loriharder.com. Follow me on social media @LoriHarder on Instagram and Lori Harder on Facebook.

Jul 24, 2017

Subscribe to Earn Your Happy on iTunes.

Time to get comfortable, take your pants off (be sure to tune in to get this reference) and get ready to listen as I talk with two best friends (and podcasters), Lindsey Simcik and Krista Williams, who you will soon feel like yours too.

With Lindsey originally from the East Coast and Krista from the Midwest, life brought them both out to California by way of New York. They met a couple years ago when a mutual friend suggested that Krista reach out to Lindsey for advice on auditioning for SoulCycle. They immediately clicked and felt that there would be an even bigger connection later on. They were right! Even though Krista didn’t become a SoulCycle instructor, she and Lindsey did create the hilarious and tell-it-like-it-is podcast, Almost 30. During this podcast, they share the life transitions they’re going through in real-time, where they’ve been and what tools they’ve used to help them get there – all while keeping it authentic to who they are and with a lot of laughs. I hope you love listening to these ladies as much as I did and that it encourages you to find those people who get you and allow you to be unapologetically who you are.

Questions Asked in this Episode

  • What is SoulCycle?
  • How did you two meet?
  • How did you come up with the Almost 30 podcast?
  • Where are you two now and what are your unapologetic dreams?
  • What work are you doing around your money mindset?
  • How do you allow yourself to show up and create a safe space for other people?
  • When do you feel most free – most yourself?
  • How do you set massive goals but detach from the outcome and remain present?
  • What do you feel you’re resisting right now?

In This Episode You Will Learn:

  • About life transitions and why it’s so important to have a sisterhood/community to help you navigate it.
  • About finding your true calling in life
  • Why imperfect is better than perfect
  • Starting a podcast
  • Why self-love and forgiveness is crucial in the creative process
  • About balancing personalities, responsibilities and tasks when in a business partnership
  • How to shift your money mindset

Quotes:

“Small decisions and small actions lead to something great.” – Krista

“We must try to be the best versions of ourselves for each transition that comes along.” – Lindsey

“Just because it’s not perfect doesn’t mean I shouldn’t put it out there.” – Lindsey

“There isn’t a better feeling than knowing people accept you for who you are.” – Krista

“I’m most free when I’m not focused on the end result.” – Lindsey

“If you’re wanting what someone else has, then you’re not being grateful for what you have.” – Krista

“The process becomes who you are.” – Lori

“Appreciate your potential and just do it.” – Lindsey

--

The Almost 30 Podcast is a weekly podcast filled with interviews and conversation about navigating big changes and transitions in life. It’s more than being almost 30, it’s about equipping yourself with the tools, insights and inspiration to be your best self! We keep it light, we keep it funny, and we keep it real.

Resources:

Follow me on social media @LoriHarder on Instagram and Lori Harder on Facebook.

Jul 20, 2017

Penny for your thoughts? What have you been thinking in the last week or so? List the top three feelings you’ve felt, keeping in mind it could be a combination and vary by the hour! ;) That’s how I’ve felt lately anyway.

“How you feel is how you view the world around you.”

Let’s say you’re happy. When you have a hectic day, you don’t get angry, you choose gratitude and feel blessed to be so busy. If you’re anxious or feeling angry, you can likely guess that ANYTHING will set you off (why are they chew SO LOUDLY?) and things don’t look as rosy.

Emotions don’t just appear; they need our thoughts to fuel them. So if you’re pouring gasoline on a fire, you’re going to get bigger flames or an explosion. Same with your thoughts. If your thoughts are literally raging, your emotion (and actions for that matter) will follow suit.

So how can control this whiplash of emotions on a day-to-day basis? First off, take a minute and reflect: What emotions am I feeling? Then, what are the thoughts that are fueling that emotion? Once you’ve figured that out, INSERT NEW THOUGHT(S).

Recently, I’ve had to use this reframing practice along with a little help from a mastermind friend who steered me in the right direction. I wanted to hold onto that feeling of overwhelm – book, travel, programs etc. – and darn it, I wanted to be validated for it. My lovely friend, Lindsay, wasn’t going to give me an inch though. Instead, she encouraged me to “find presence in the busier schedule.”

“Don’t rob other experiences because of one emotion.”

So since then, I’ve been super mindful of these overwhelming thoughts. And I’ve used a special piece of jewelry to keep me aware and remind me to SLOW DOWN and get in the present when those feelings come creeping back. And I encourage you to do the same.

“Make your world instead of destroying it with your thoughts.”

Is it hard? Heck yes! It does NOT always feel awesome, but we must choose to get out of victim mode. Think the most peaceful, loving thoughts, forgive for the other thoughts and move on.

In This Episode You Will Hear About:

  • About the link between our thoughts and emotions
  • How choosing new thoughts can help you
  • About the importance of keeping your thoughts in the present
  • Why being aware of your thoughts is so important

Resources:

Follow me on social media @LoriHarder on Instagram and Lori Harder on Facebook.

Jul 17, 2017

I’m so excited for you to listen and get to know green juice junkie (and so much more), Drew Canole. We could have talked for hours! He’s so connected and open with his spirituality that I felt like I was talking to a long-lost friend. Seriously, we’re both from Michigan (now in California), we’re experienced snowmobile drivers and we both take guitar lessons! And our journeys are quite similar as well. Drew had always been into fitness, but after consistently working out two or more hours a day he wasn’t getting the results/body he wanted. He soon realized it was likely the food he was putting into his body (Michigan diet = burgers, pizza and Hamburger Helper).

So it was six and half years ago, after a friend suggested that Drew try a green juice, that he decided to eliminate the junk/processed foods and also drink “copious amounts” of green juice for seven days. Loving the effects, he decided to continue on for 90 days while incorporating intermittent fasting and also documenting his journey on YouTube. He lost 40 pounds! And while his physical appearance was amazing, what’s more is that he FELT so much better. He had more energy, he felt more creative, productive and experienced more clarity in his life. Drew felt in tune with his most authentic self.

“When you get in that flow state, that energy, it radically shifts your viewpoint of every human being.”

After all, when you’re in this state, there’s no time for lack or scarcity – you just see abundance. Realizing that for some, it’s difficult to get to this state, Drew explains that adjusting your nutrition is the perfect hack to reaching this when your mindset hasn’t quite reached this point. He offers the following tips to get started on your own transformation:

  • Get quality sleep. Dial in on what kind of sleep you need and what you’re actually getting – and tweak. Drew uses the app Beddit to track his sleep.
  • Drink A LOT of water.
  • Drink green juice. This is optional, but Drew feels it’s so helpful when trying to retrain your tastebuds.
  • Set a goal. Figure out your “Why-Dentity” or your “why that makes you cry.” Along with this, it’s recognizing what you want to hear from the people you love and what YOU want to see in the mirror. This often creates more of a reality for you. It’s a combination of feeling what you want to and SEEING it as well. Even further, boost your success rate by finding someone to team up with as well.

Developing certain daily rituals or daily practices are also an important key to your success. It’s what grounds us and keeps us in that state of flow. Personally, I know when my sleep isn’t quality or I’m not moving my body, my creativity and motivation comes to a halt. The same goes for Drew. Below are some of his important morning visualization/meditation practices.

  1. Wake up and get grateful. Go through a list in your head or write out what you’re grateful for.
  2. Visualization/Meditation for 10 minutes or more if time allows. He uses a Japanese-style meditation that focuses on breathing.
  3. Email/text three people you care about. Show appreciation to people you care for, but haven’t reached out to in a while – just to show your love.
  4. Coffee (usually some beneficial supplements) and then off to the gym (about 1.25 hours). Sometimes swimming.
  5. Spiritual work/reading.
  6. Shower
  7. 9 a.m. daily work touch-base meeting

Now, I get it… So often a person doesn’t feel like they have the time to build in such rituals. But we both Drew and I believe you can. If you constantly think you don’t have time, guess what? That’s how it’s always going to feel. Drew himself believes that time is just an illusion. He likes to view all time as “the unfoldment of good.” He likes to frame it as constantly being in a state of bliss – tracking how much good can be done in ONE moment. When you’re in this place, time is no longer a question. Instead it seems to expand exponentially.

“The universe is like water and wants to get out of your way when you know where you’re going.”

When time (and life) is approached this way, people and opportunities are magnetically drawn to you. So take time to focus on the times you feel stress or like you have no time. Take a time out. Breathe in and as Drew suggests, “breathe out with a smile.” Notice how much lighter you feel after.

“Time slows down when you’re living in the moment.”

With this approach, it’s no wonder that Drew has attracted 80+ team members to join his team. Ideal boss alert! He encourages people to explore their spiritual gifts daily whether it’s reading a new book a week as a company or attending his team’s daily 9 a.m. meeting. He also ensures that he’s connected and creating a healthy work environment. When it comes to staying personally grounded and connected, Drew finds writing therapeutic as well as frequent spa treatments (acupuncture, cryo-saunas etc.). But it’s also been about is overall vision for his life. When he began to see that what he does every single day makes a difference, he was able to bring that vision to life. Drew wants everyone to know that a person’s vision for what they want to create in their lives is so huge and it CAN be created.

“It’s the consistent action, every single day, that’s going to be the guiding light in your life.”

How’s that for motivation? What actions could you take to today to make your vision a reality? As always I would love to hear! -- Drew Canole is a rockstar in the world of fitness, nutrition and mindset, with a huge heart for others and doing his part to transform the world, one person at a time. Drew is the founder and CEO of FitLife.TV, an online health and wellness media channel where he shares educational, inspirational and entertaining videos and articles about health, fitness and healing and longevity. He is also the founder of Organifi, an organic line of superfood products that was created to make healthy living easy and accessible on the go. With a community of over 3 million people, he continues to inspire and empower others to live their best life in their healthiest body through delivering daily content online.

In This Episode You Will Hear About:

  • How to increase creativity and productivity
  • The importance of daily rituals
  • Effects of drinking green juice for a week
  • Visualization and meditation

Resources:

Follow me on social media @LoriHarder on Instagram and Lori Harder on Facebook.

Jul 13, 2017

Are you happy right NOW in this moment? Or do you have certain contingencies that it hinges on? Are you waiting or relying on someone or something to make you happy? Whether it’s a spouse, best friend, job or goal are you depending on something other than yourself to FINALLY bring you happiness? Here’s where that gets a little tricky…

“Happiness is a choice in each moment.”

We must understand that the “thing” you’re waiting on is NOT going to make you any happier in the long term than you are right now in this moment. And that’s why happiness can be a little sticky at times. If you are relying on anyone other than yourself, your happiness level will average out to be where you are now until you decide to be happy all the time. OK, I’m realistic. I don’t expect you to be happy ALL the time. If something bad happens, feel those feelings, but don’t let them hang around too long. Often it’s as simple as waking up and CHOOSING the mood you’re going to be in. It’s all about adjusting your “default mood.” Sure, there may be some things in your life right now that plain suck. But you know what? That doesn’t mean YOUR LIFE sucks!

“Start becoming really grateful and experiencing deep gratitude for all the little things.”

If you’re looking for the good, you’ll find it. The same goes for the opposite. Instead of looking for what’s missing, look at what you do have. I still have times where I need to remind myself to get in the present and stop blaming others – unfortunately we blame those closest to us first (sorry, Chris!). And this is usually when my daily practices/rituals are off kilter (not meditating, not enough sleep etc.). Most importantly, if you find that you’re relying (blaming) on someone/something to be complete, don’t judge yourself too harshly. Recognize it and forgive quickly – you’re human! So what is it that YOU desire? What could you shift your thoughts to right now and get really grateful for? I promise that when you can step into gratitude and learn lessons along the way, the happiness will follow (and so many other great things).

“Your happiness is what attracts amazing people and things.”

In This Episode You Will Hear About:

  • Why happiness is a choice
  • The importance of daily rituals/practices
  • The Law of attraction
  • Tribe

Resources:

Follow me on social media @LoriHarder on Instagram and Lori Harder on Facebook.

Jul 10, 2017

Subscribe to Earn Your Happy on iTunes.

Four years ago, teaching English in Japan, Melyssa Griffin decided to start a blog to connect with more people. She soon realized, however, that this blog was becoming less of a hobby and more of something she felt called to monetize and turn into a career. She left teaching and decided to offer web design services. After a couple of years, she had created a profitable business, but she still felt a touch restless… she still felt the pull to teach and do more with MORE people.

Melyssa decided to return to teaching, but this time in a different realm. She now teaches online workshops and courses to those who want to start their own business. And one of the things she’s most passionate about is managing the online communities that go along with them.

Community has always been an important and intriguing part of Melyssa’s life and I love that she had the opportunity to compare Japanese culture/community with American culture. While she found that Japanese culture, in general, tended to be more reserved (opinions and personalities) there was still a sense of community. It was a concept that wasn’t questioned – it just was. Originally from California, Melyssa found that while the culture varied (more outgoing, more flexibility), there was one universal truth. It became clear one day as she watched a Japanese man and his child play in the park. She noticed that even though she couldn’t understand what they were saying, she could still understand the “conversation” through their body language, intonation and facial expressions. It was a deeper human connection that we ALL have.

“We all have this intimate connection that we all have to each other that has nothing to do with the languages we speak.”

With a focus on this connection and sense of community, Melyssa went on to open and close several businesses – a greeting card shop, a web design shop and blogging. While one could have felt a sense of failure around the ups and downs of these businesses, it was through this process that Melyssa made a huge realization.

“Maybe the fun of it is knowing that it will change in the future and that means you’re still growing and learning new things.”

I couldn’t agree more, and I full-heartedly believe that if you’re not changing, you’re not growing – even if that means failing full force along the way. After all, when things are uncertain you might as well explore new things, am I right? Similarly, Melyssa encourages hopeful entrepreneurs to do the same.

“Move in the direction of what feels good. Don’t overanalyze it. Don’t try to calculate it. If something stops feeling good and you know that something is going to feel better, do that and start moving in that direction.”

Melyssa hasn’t always had such a great relationship with failure. Like many, she was raised to believe that she needed to be successful and wealthy. And admittedly, those are ALL great things, but it also implied that failure wasn’t an option. Today, she’s undone most of these beliefs, but she often has to consciously spin the negatives into a positive light.

“Failure is either going to lead you in a direction to something you will enjoy or that will turn out well, or you’re going to learn something massive from that failure and that will lead to something else that’s going to be that next step for you.”

So this is all good and great, but now you may be wondering how you actually even begin to turn your passion into a career you love? For many, there’s the common excuse of not having enough time. While both Melyssa and I agree that this is often the case, we also know that there are tiny spaces of time and small sacrifices you can make to just start. Melyssa suggests to start super small, but get super clear on how and who you want to serve. From there, begin by sharing your knowledge for free. This can lead to collaborations with other entrepreneurs – and you’ll be getting your stuff out there! More tips on getting your business out there

  • Get on Pinterest. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not a social media platform. It’s a search engine for a whole lot more than DIY projects.
  • Do video in some form – podcasts, IG stories. This provides a way to deeper connect with your audience on a personal level.
  • Webinars. Once thought of as more of a “fancy” sales pitch with little value, Melyssa advises to make it valuable. Offer 30-40 minutes of quality training and THEN offer to expand on the training with your product. If you’re looking to grow your audience (and email lists) and make sales – this is a two-for-one deal.

“The more you can have your audience know you, the more you’re able to grow your business and affect people.”

One tip from Melyssa… Don’t get bogged down with the thought that it’s all been done before. Yes, it probably has, but not by YOU! When people follow you, they’ll LOVE all facets of who you are. And they’ll love your story and where you’re coming from.

“We need more voices because we need people who can deeply connect to each type of person out there.”

Of course, you’ll always have those that don’t resonate with you, but guess what? It’s OK! They’ll just find someone else who does, and you will allow room for another to follow you. But what if you get someone who just can’t keep their thoughts or dislike for your message to themselves? Although difficult and sometimes hurtful, Melyssa suggests taking a day to process what’s been said if you need to while keeping the following thought in mind:

“Happy, secure people don’t go out of their way to hurt other people.”

With this in mind, assume that all people are good. That way when you’re ready, you can respond in the most loving way possible without judgment or anger. I love that Melyssa stresses the importance of coming from a place of love and community in all that you do. If your intent is to create a business that can grow, be sure to focus on Melyssa’s three Cs – Connection, Content and Collaboration. Focus on who you can serve and what valuable content you can provide and the community will follow. -- Melyssa Griffin teaches online courses and live workshops for entrepreneurs and bloggers who want to turn their after-work hobbies into full-time businesses. A few of her specialties include list-building, webinars, using Pinterest to get organic traffic, and content marketing. She also leads an active Facebook group of 60,000 members and helps almost 150,000 entrepreneurs with her weekly emails. But most importantly, she's the mom to one wacky corgi, an expert at laughing, and a green smoothie aficionado.

In This Episode You Will Hear About:

  • Dealing with failure
  • Handling negative feedback
  • Community
  • Pinterest
  • Importance of using webinars
  • Strategies for launching an eCourse
  • Monetizing your passion
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Blogs
  • Online training
  • Kindness

Resources:

Follow me on social media @LoriHarder on Instagram and Lori Harder on Facebook. You can also see more at my website: LoriHarder.com [smart_track_player url="http://traffic.libsyn.com/loriharder/145_Social_Media_Strategies_with_an_Accidental_Entreprenuer_Jasmine_Star.mp3"]

Please tell me what you thought below and, if you liked what you heard, please click the SHARE button! Thanks!

 

Jul 6, 2017

Just a couple days ago on the 4th of July, I was able to take a WHOLE day just for PLAY with friends – no writing, no meetings, no worries – celebrating America’s birthday. And while initially I felt as though it may stress me out more (I am on a book deadline), I couldn’t have been MORE wrong.

Today I feel energized, more creative and honestly like I just drank about 10 straight shots of espresso (OK, let’s not get too crazy). I realized that the play is actually equally as (if not more) important as the writing, creating programs, podcasts etc.

“The play IS the work.”

It can be a bit confusing at first because while you’re “playing,” it doesn’t feel as though you’re being productive. But I assure you, you are! It’s especially beneficial when you feel as though you’ve hit a creativity rut.

“The play is productive. The play is important. The play is creative. The play is freedom. The play is expansion. The play is real connection.”

After you’ve taken the time, you’re able to come back with a fresh perspective – new eyes. Ideas abound and the world just seems…better. Am I right?

“Personally, when I play and try new things, I have so much more to say.”

Anyone else? You’re always up-to-date and relevant because you’re constantly thinking of new things and connecting. What would it look like for you to plan some sort of play into every week? Please share – I would love to hear all about it!

In This Episode You Will Hear About:

  • Adding more play into your week
  • Ridding yourself of creativity blocks
  • Finding fresh perspective
  • Connection

Resources:

Follow me on social media @LoriHarder on Instagram and Lori Harder on Facebook.

Jul 3, 2017

Upon listening to my recent conversation with my guest, photographer and business strategist, Jasmine Star, it will become quite apparent why I felt as though we could have continued to talk for hours more. Her story (so far) will have you hooked and feeling the serendipitous pull of it (not to mention all the social media strategy knowledge she drops here). In 2005, Jasmine walked away from a scholarship to UCLA law school to follow her heart. The path led straight to her mother's bedside as she battled brain cancer for the second time. Wanting to be at her side as she fought, she dropped out of law school (fully intending at the time to go back). Praying for her mom to be able to walk her down the aisle at her wedding to her high school sweetheart, she planned a wedding in three months to ensure that this hope became a reality.

Against all odds, both her mother and father were able to escort Jasmine down the aisle on a sandy beach in Hawaii. Shortly after, wedded bliss faded into the reality and she discovered she was jobless, broken, and desperate to follow her mom's earlier instructions of doing something she loved.

On a beach, barely a tan line on his ring finger, Jasmine confessed to her husband that she didn’t want to be a lawyer, she wanted to be a photographer. With no experience or a camera for that matter, Jasmine’s husband supported her decision. That Christmas he gifted her a camera and the permission to pursue her passion. Though not extraordinarily talented at the time, she tapped into her self-awareness, slowly building a brand and community, marketing her services, and transforming from a “doubtful photographer to a savvy entrepreneur.” Four years later, she was voted one of the top photographers in the world.

“As a byproduct of pushing through and consistently ending up on the other side, other entrepreneurs, quiet observers, are paying close attention to what you’re doing. They develop an allegiance not for the perfection, but for the sheer will to succeed.”

Amazing, right? Interview over. Kidding. I wanted to dig deeper and see just how Jasmine is able to teach her programs, keep up with her own social media AND stay inspired. The first tip Jasmine offers is that you can’t just sit around and wait for creativity to hit you like a bolt of lightning (you’ll be waiting awhile…). ;) She feels that she’s most creative and inspired when she’s working through something. Whether she’s unhappy or looking but not finding a solution – those are the moments when things tend to fall into place without evening knowing it’s happening.

“Inspiration is like a small drop, and all of a sudden you realize the bucket is filling – and that’s when you shift.”

So once you’ve locked in your passion, how do you attract your audience? Jasmine likes to create her “ideal” client by asking roughly 20-30 questions. Really tune into WHO you want to serve. Once you’ve figured that out (and this can take some trial and error), you can create content that’s specific to those followers. Jasmine often uses her own social media accounts to help her fill in gaps with her content. Keep in mind that when people comment on your posts, they often are telling you what problems they need help with. Wait now… Jasmine still monitors her own social media accounts? Yep. While she does have a small team to help, she feels it is super important for her to manage her accounts so she’s able to keep a pulse on her followers. While some struggle with the tremendous discipline and time management skills this requires, Jasmine thrives. Many days, her time is planned down to the minute. For example, her marketing is roughly planned out at 10 hours per week. That’s broken down into 600 minutes… and 20 minute increments from there (IG, FB, FB groups, hashtag follow-ups, plus an hour of research a day to keep up on algorithms and trends).

“We always have these high aspirations, but if we’re not clear on our trajectory, there’s a good chance we’re going to miss the mark.”

Jasmine also encourages entrepreneurs to add to this by making it a point to understand their audiences and bring more of themselves. If your audience likes long posts, write them, but know that unless engagement is high, the algorithms will suppress views (IG and Jasmine prefer shorter posts about 86-112 characters). Get real with your audience. Selfies do very well as do stories about your personal background. Show your workspace…let people get to see the REAL you!

“People want to see the simplicity and the grandeur.”

Lastly, Jasmine advises that it’s not all about you. Nobody watches TV, listens to the radio or surfs social media to see commercials, so don’t make all of your posts about your products or services. Instead of focusing all of your attention on selling your product or service, you must first build your followers’ trust.

“The more you show up and the more you build trust by providing valuable content, the better off you’ll be and the faster you’ll transfer them to customers.”

At the end of the day, Jasmine stresses the importance of people knowing that “you see them, you hear them and that you want to know them.” Make sure your brand is more than a website, product or business… Make your brand an experience for your customers. With a successful and ever-growing business, I think this is the perfect advice. For more tips, be sure to follow Jasmine at the links below.

In This Episode You Will Hear About:

  • Photography
  • Self-awareness
  • Making creativity a habit
  • Turning followers into customers
  • Branding

Resources:

Go to jasminestar.com/freestockphotos to receive FIVE free stock photos.

Follow me on social media @LoriHarder on Instagram and Lori Harder on Facebook. You can also see more at my website: LoriHarder.com

 

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