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Mondays are for Fresh Starts

It may be time for a fresh start. Clients have been reaching out to me because they are stressed and wondering what to do next. The uncertainty created by the COVID-19 situation is a challenge for businesses and leaders. How can you possibly create a bright future right now?

In face-to-face workshops, I really enjoy watching my clients jump over fresh start lines after they have decided to pivot and move in a different direction. Now is the time to jump over that line if what you are doing is not working.

We have made a lot of changes in our house too. Growing a business while helping kids with their new normal of remote learning at home is a total mind bender. One of our dogs died, and we closed on a house that we were in the process of buying before this all happened. We also received very difficult news about two loved ones that are struggling with health issues. It has been hard and more than a little depressing.

Through all of the challenge and stress, there is hope and opportunity.

For example, I had to give myself permission to hold off on launching the online version of F*school while also expanding my client base to serve those who are in need. The challenge was putting my almost completed F*School on hold so I could move into the opportunity of helping more clients. My personal philosophy is to serve the immediate needs of existing or new clients first while developing products requested by future clients.

If you need to create a fresh start for yourself, or your business, then do it. Today, or any day, is the perfect time to do something different, experiment with ideas and reconnect with yourself and the clients.

If you are having a hard time dealing with the need for constant change and need a mindset shift, then let me know. The experienced coaches I know and admire are all adding clients in an effort to help individuals and organizations navigate this rollercoaster of a ride we seem to be on right now.

Give yourself permission to create a fresh start! If you need help, please let me know. I am here for you. If I am not the right fit, I will help you find someone who is.

We will get through this, and there are opportunities out there – for people at every age and stage of life. Let’s create joy and hope in the world again. It’s time.

Go Wild with Your Fresh Start!

-Dr. Connie

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Happy International Women’s Day!

Women’s prosperity is a focus area for Wild Innovation.

Why?

Research continues to demonstrate that gender equity strengthens economic prosperity.  When women make money, they invest it into their families, businesses and communities.  

It is time to support #EqualforEqual and ensure economic equity and prosperity for all.

This is something that I am personally passionate about because of my own experiences with inequality in the workplace. Instead of simply talking about my story, I am taking action to help other women (as well as workplaces) create futures that are more inclusive and more prosperous for women, their families and their communities.

I am absolutely thrilled to partner with Talbot County Economic Development and Tourism to offer a strategic foresight workshop for female leaders committed to playing big in both work and life while having fun! 

This new workshop coincides with their declaration of 2020 as the Year of the Woman because it marks the 100th year of women’s right vote in the United States. In addition to the workshop, I am giving the keynote for their annual Business Appreciation Breakfast focused on “How to Lead Like a Futurist in Talbot County.”

Leading Like a Futurist in Talbot County, Maryland!

What is Leadership & Life 2025?

Leadership & Life 2025 is a strategic foresight workshop designed for women who want to take charge of their futures.  Women are forging new paths in leadership, business and entrepreneurship. They are creating new models of work, life and income generation in an era of full-time careers, gig-economy side hustles, dual-working couples, the #metoo movement and an aging workforce that prizes youth.  

Join us for this workshop if:

You are a high-achieving, female leader and/or entrepreneur who is ready to get to the next level

You are challenged by work-life balance and want to get your life back on track

You are in a time of transition and lack sense of direction but want something “more” that you can’t quite grasp or understand

You feel hopeless, lost or unsure about where you are going and why you are currently doing what you are doing – even if you just keep doing it

You are bored, disengaged and uninterested in your current career, business endeavor, romantic relationship or even life in general

You have a sense of unease because you “aren’t getting any younger” and feel that you are running out of time to do, be and accomplish all you desire out of this lifetime

You are ready to take some time to work on your dreams while having fun with other women making great things happen!

Come to Leadership & Life 2025 and leave with:

Your new vision for the future as well as the focus, confidence and excitement you need to make your future vision a reality

A personal innovation plan that sets you up to WIN by taking Wildly, Inspired, Natural Actions

Connections with other female leaders and businesswomen who are ready to make their new visions a reality

Women who Lead in Talbot County….Join Us April 23, 2020 and Go Wild with Your Dream Futures!

-Dr. Connie

PS: Need some ideas to support International Women’s Day 2020? Go to InternationalWomensDay.com and Take Action!

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Announcing TED Masterclass: TED’s official public speaking course — TED Blog

Many of the leaders I coach and work with want to improve their public speaking skills and abilities. TED’s official public speaking course may be a great opportunity for many of you to learn from other leaders who have experienced success with their presentations. I am always looking for growth in this area as well, and the course looks like fun!

Extra Bonus! It is all done through as an app-based course, and final talks can be submitted to TED’s curators!!

Check it out to see if it is a fit for you! It may be time to go a little wild and share your ideas. Take those calculated risks that help you grow and have the potential to share your message with the world! We need more women to step up and make their voices heard!

Go Wild & Have Fun Telling Your Stories!

-Dr. Connie

We’re excited to announce the release of TED Masterclass — TED’s official public speaking course. Delivered via mobile app, the course is guided by TED’s Head Curator, Chris Anderson, and is designed to help you identify, develop and share your best ideas as a TED-style talk. Based on Anderson’s book TED Talks: The Official TED…

Announcing TED Masterclass: TED’s official public speaking course — TED Blog
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Women Worldwide Podcast Interview with the incredible Dierdre Breakenridge

I recently had the privilege of being interviewed by Dierdre Breakenridge. Dierdre is a PR guru, entrepreneur, teacher, author and awesome person! Learn more about Dierdre and her work by going to her web site: https://www.deirdrebreakenridge.com/

We had a million things we could have talked about in this episode of Women Worldwide; however, we ended up talking about futuring, the importance of a vision and how to have fun while pursuing your desired future! Check out this episode Women Worldwide and join Deirdre’s mission to advance a global conversation designed to help women succeed in business and in life.

Futuring – What is it and Why Do You Need It In Your Business?

Check out the podcast designed to help women around the globe develop their inner strength!

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Interview: Wings of Inspired Business Podcast

It was an honor to be interviewed by Melinda Wittstock!  Melinda is a successful entrepreneur and leader dedicated to helping women achieve their best in business and in life.  Her podcast, Wings of Inspired Business, has become my go to podcast for not only inspiration, but also practical tips I can apply in leadership and in life.

And, this woman is connected!  She has interviewed women such as Christy Whitman.  Christy is a transformation leader and New York Times bestselling author.  And scientist entrepreneurs like Gitte Pedersen who is changing the future of healthcare by revolutionizing cancer treatments.

Enjoy the episode 203: A Futurist Entrepreneur Shares How to Connect ‘Sci-Fi Tech’ and Evolved Human Consciousness for Innovation and Impact

And, make sure to download your free gift!  

Blue the Bee Cover

A digital copy of Blue the Bee Learns to Be Happy.  The interactive adult (and family) coloring and activity book designed to add more happiness and health to your life (and future)!

wings of Inspired Vision Podcast
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The Future of Women: Globally Connecting in the #GigEconomy

Women are one segment of society benefitting from the #GigEconomy.  They are taking advantage of being globally connected in a big way!  Women are selling products on Etsy, Amazon and their own stores.  They are using Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and other social media sites to grow their online presence while supporting their businesses and families.

In 2015, I co-published an article, Become a Future-Focused Leader:  Use Three Megatrends to Grow Your Rural Business, with Alyssa Dye (an amazing young female entrepreneur!)  We also published three videos on the three megatrends I will share in the Future of Women series.  You can download the full-text article focused on rural entrepreneurs, including related references by clicking here.  The first video is below.  The article and videos were targeted to rural entrepreneurs; however, the same ideas are important for female entrepreneurs.  I made a few changes to the original article and posted a few segments below.  When you read or hear “rural entrepreneur” in the video you can think “female entrepreneur.”  The #GigEconomy is full of challenges and opportunities for women in business.

No one can predict the future; however, entrepreneurs and business owners can use a future-focused leadership approach, which includes examining megatrends, to shape the future of their businesses and lives. Megatrends are global shifts that influence society, the economy and the environment. This “Future of Women” series will  discusses three megatrends shaping the future:
1) The Rise of the #GigEconomy
2) Living with Purpose and Meaning
3) The Decentralized Marketplace

While many companies are struggling to keep up with the rapid rate of change, future-focused entrepreneurs are growing their businesses by blending technology with the human experience. And, many of these entrepreneurs are women.  Together, with a common purpose, female entrepreneurs can examine megatrends, utilize emerging technologies, and monitor analytics while creating meaningful experiences and innovating businesses in ways not yet imagined.

Why is this so important?  I believe many women are naturally future-focused leaders.  Research published by the National Women’s Business Council shows that nearly 91% of female entrepreneurs are in business by themselves.  They have no employees.  I believe this is by choice.  Women are working to support themselves and their families; however, they also want to build a future for their families that includes more than money.  They are looking for ways to live a full and meaningful life designed to support their families for generations.

The trend of female entrepreneurs is a critical global trend.  Women have long been leading families and communities with little to no recognition.  This trend is changing, and women will be shaping the future in ways the world has not yet imagined.

The emerging Gig Economy (#GigEconomy) will create new challenges and opportunities for entrepreneurs, businesses and communities. An emerging trend, the rise of global joblessness (International Labour Office, 2014), is supporting the growth of the Gig Economy while creating a need for the marketing of talents and skills in new and meaningful ways. The ability to sell, purchase and promote goods and services, as well as individual brands, on the web has created a need for entrepreneurs to add value to the lives of others in innovative ways. People are increasingly defining success for themselves, which does not always include a college degree and a 9-5 job. In many ways, it is now much cooler to be a successful start-up entrepreneur, famous blogger or YouTube sensation than a person working in a traditional office setting for 40+ hours per week.

Approximately 53 million Americans are engaged in some manner of freelancing, which is adding around $715 billion to the economy (Edelman Berland, 2014). Further, the number of large employers is predicted to shrink in the future, causing people to find new and inventive ways to make a living. Self-employment has been identified as a vital economic tool for rural people and communities (Goetz & Rupasingha, 2014). The rising #Gig Economy may be one megatrend that can benefit rural places if technology can be leveraged to reach both local and niche audiences interested in purchasing goods and services from freelancing entrepreneurs.

One common denominator will remain the same: Women-owned businesses and people need to be found on the already crowded World Wide Web. They have to build their brands and levels of influence to strengthen both credibility and success. Businesses like Fiverr.com and Iotronics are disrupting the traditional career and job search with technology. Need a logo, book review or video? No problem. Go to Fiverr and hire outsource experts in almost anything to help you. Services start at only five dollars! Iotronics helps people generate Twesumes (Twitter + Resume = Twesume), which are resumes in 140 characters or less) to land jobs or gigs (thus, the #GigEconomy).

Connectivity is key. Female entrepreneurs can participate in the #GigEconomy as both entrepreneurs for hire as well as employers. Entrepreneurs can use #GigEconomy tools to diversify their profit centers, contract with other entrepreneurs and generate income.

Coaching Tips for Female Entrepreneurs:

1) Consider marketing goods and services on websites that can help you test the marketplace, connect with customers and take payments. Amazon, Square and Etsy may be places to sell your ideas. Fiverr and Elance can help entrepreneurs find help or land gigs. Online marketplaces may be a way to begin selling on the Web. Make sure to do your homework first to ensure that you are working with a credible source.

2) Connect with other entrepreneurs inside and outside of your niche. Look for other entrepreneurs (both competitors and collaborators) on Fiverr and find gigs on places like Mom Corps, TeachersPayTeachers, Square and similar resources. LinkedIn is a great place to connect with like- minded entrepreneurs and industry leaders. Many states have an online marketplace focused on selling goods and services available in that state. For example, Grow Nebraska is a marketplace resource for Nebraska’s entrepreneurs.

3) Become vigilant and creative about building your brand. Blend online and offline worlds in ways that engage people in meaningful experiences. Have some fun and let your personality shine through! For example, a Twitter Party is a great tool to expand your brand online in real-time.

Successfully making your mark in the #GigEconomy takes patience and hard work.  However, it also presents the opportunity to earn extra income along side of your current career or as a part- or full-time entrepreneur.  The opportunities are truly endless!

Go Wild with Your Opportunity in the #GigEconomy!  This is your chance to…Be You & Do Something Cool!

-Dr. Connie

 

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9 Easy Headline Formulas from the Famous Ali Brown!

If you have been following my blog, you know I am enrolled in Ali Brown’s online Elevate Your Business program.  The following article by Ali is really helpful to anyone looking to make a great first impression on their target audience.  Best of all, she suggests having fun while generating great headlines!  More evidence that fun and business do go together!

Go Wild, Get Creative and Have Fun Making Amazing Headlines!

-Dr. Connie

PS:  Click here to learn more about the Elevate!

In the world of marketing, your first impression – your headline – can lead to either sales success…or failure. It’s important to realize that headlines work best when they appeal to your reader’s interests (not yours).

Not only can headlines grab attention, they can also make your message easy to read, convey your main selling points, and lead your customer to a sale. Remember, you want to go for a bold statement that the reader can’t pass up!

Here are 9 easy headline formulas I use all the time:

1. The Question:
“Are You Worried About Your Financial Future?”

A question automatically gets your readers involved in your message, because they answer it in their minds. Many people will read further just to find out what answer or solution you provide. Again, make sure the question focuses on the reader’s interest, not yours. A bad example would be: “Do You Know What New Product We’ve Created This Year?” (No one cares but you!)

2. The How-To:
“How to Get Thinner Thighs in 30 Days”

How-to headlines work very well, because people love information that shows them how to do something. (Thousands of book titles begin with “How to….”)  Think of the results your product/service offers and then try creating some “how to” headlines.

3. The Testimonial:
“Jane Smith’s Consulting Is Pure Magic – Our Sales Have Increased by 30%!”

Why not let your clients do the selling for you? Their commendations can go a long way in convincing others to use your services. Tip: To appear credible, always include your clients’ information (as much as they are comfortable with) such as name, city, state, business name, etc.

4. The Command:
“Boost Your Business Today!”

Turn your most important benefit into a commanding headline. A few examples are: “Make More Time for Your Family,” “Look Younger Instantly!” and “Get New Clients This Month.”

5. The News:
“Introducing Our New ‘Rest-Assured’ Tax Service!”

Caution: This only works if you truly have something big to announce that is of interest to the reader. (Something that will make their life or business better.)  Don’t try to make news out of something that’s not.

6. The Promise:
“Give Me 3 Days, and I’ll Show You and Your Partner How to Have the Relationship of Your Dreams”

I first used this formula years ago with my Online Success Blueprint Workshop sales page, and then I suddenly started seeing it everywhere, especially for other live events. It’s a good one!

7. The Secret:
“REVEALED: How Any Solopreneur Can Use Email to Leverage Their Business and Make an Extra $5,000+ a Month… Easily and Consistently”

Everybody loves being let in on a little secret. I’ve used variations of this headline through the years, and it’s always been very effective. It says it all…who it’s for, what they’ll learn, and what type of results they can get if they use my methods.

8. The Number:
“7 Secrets of the Super-Wealthy That You Can Start Using today to Build Your Own Portfolio of Riches”

People love numbers. That’s why you see so many magazine covers promoting articles like “The 3 things your husband’s not telling you” and “101 great fashion finds for spring”. Numbers tell us exactly what we’re going to get, making the statement more digestible and believable. (And some studies show people prefer odd numbers to even ones.)

9. The Who-Else:
“Who Else Wants to Work at Home in Their Pajamas and Make a Million?”

This encourages the reader to jump on the bandwagon. If everyone else is doing it, don’t you want to also?

Take Your Time With Headlines. They’re Not Always Easy

Headlines are often the most difficult part of any sales letter or marketing piece. In fact, I typically spend a good 15 minutes brainstorming before I arrive at a single headline. Set a timer and have fun doing it with these formulas. Do not censor yourself, just be outrageous and then when the timer goes off go back and see which ones are usable. If you’re stuck, another trick is to write the rest of your piece first. Then scan what you have written—your headline may be hiding within!

Question: What great headline are you using for your business right now? I’d love to see it below. ~Ali

“Entrepreneur mentor Ali Brown teaches women around the world how to start and grow a profitable business that make a positive impact. Get her FREE CD “Top 10 Success Secrets for Entrepreneurial Women” at www.AliBrown.com”