In the dynamic landscape of career advancement, a professional development plan can serve as your guiding light toward greater achievement. Today, one of our writers Courtney explores the profound transformative potential of such a plan, delivering practical insights to navigate your path toward professional excellence.
Define Your Career Goals
Start your professional development odyssey by setting clear and ambitious career objectives. Clarity here forms the bedrock of your journey. Without a well-defined destination, you risk wandering in your career path. A professional development plan helps you crystallize your goals, ensuring you have a precise target to aim for. This clarity not only keeps you motivated but also enables you to make informed decisions about your career choices and opportunities.
If you want to upgrade your career, getting some guidance on how to write a resume is a great place to start. Remember, you want your resume to be succinct but impactful, highlighting your skills and experience in such a way that they make you stand out from the competition – without resorting to embellishment or a melodramatic tone. It’s also a good idea to spend some time on your cover letter, as well as practicing your responses to hypothetical interview questions to help boost your confidence and comfort level.
Go Back to School
Pursuing an online degree offers a flexible pathway for career advancement, particularly for professionals aiming to elevate their expertise while maintaining full-time employment. For instance, educators seeking to impact broader aspects of their field can enroll in an online EdD program. These programs enable them to delve into specialized areas like curriculum design, policy formation, and innovative instructional strategies, directly translating to improved educational practices. The online format accommodates their busy schedules, allowing them to balance work responsibilities with academic pursuits effectively.
Craft an Actionable Plan
Status.net suggests constructing a meticulous action plan to propel you toward your career objectives. Lay out key milestones, tasks, and deadlines to maintain focus. A well-crafted plan serves as your roadmap to success. It breaks down your goals into manageable steps, making them less daunting and more achievable. By setting clear milestones and deadlines, you create a sense of urgency that keeps you motivated and on track. Your plan becomes your guiding star, ensuring you stay the course even when faced with challenges.
Seek Mentorship for Career Ascendancy
Forge connections with mentors in your industry. Their guidance can accelerate your professional growth and unlock new opportunities. Mentorship is a powerful catalyst for career development. Experienced mentors provide valuable insights, share their knowledge, and offer guidance tailored to your unique circumstances. They can introduce you to influential networks, help you navigate professional challenges, and inspire you to reach new heights in your career.
Invest in Continuous Learning Consider pursuing further education to bolster your skill set. Additional qualifications can elevate your career prospects and enhance competitiveness. In today’s rapidly evolving job market, continuous learning is essential. Acquiring new skills and knowledge not only makes you more competitive but also opens doors to higher-paying roles and career advancement. Whether through online courses, workshops, or formal education, investing in your education is an investment in your future.
Assess Progress and Celebrate Triumphs
Regularly evaluate your progress toward career goals. Acknowledge milestones and victories to sustain motivation and momentum. Monitoring your progress is essential to ensure you’re on the right track. Regular assessments help you identify areas that may need adjustment and allow you to celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. Recognizing your successes boosts your confidence and keeps you motivated to pursue your long-term goals.
A professional development plan transcends a mere document; it is your roadmap to the zenith of your career aspirations. Whether you aim to ascend the corporate ladder or embark on an entrepreneurial voyage, these strategic steps pave the way forward. Embrace the potential of a well-crafted plan and witness your career soar to uncharted heights. Your journey begins with defining your goals and ends with celebrating your triumphs.
In an era where digital landscapes shift with the speed of thought, steering your business toward success requires more than mere presence—it demands innovation. With the right strategies, you can transform your digital footprint into a powerful catalyst for growth. This ICY CONSULTING guide offers actionable insights into weaving digital innovation into the core of your business operations, making sure that every step forward is a leap toward achieving your goals.
Shout out to Lucy one of our writers who put this article together for you.
The foundation of digital success is visibility. Enhancing your online presence opens up a world of opportunities to connect with a broader audience. This involves establishing a strong presence across various digital platforms and ensuring that your brand message resonates clearly and consistently with your target audience. Engage with your followers, share valuable content, and position your business as a go-to resource in your industry.
Streamline the User Experience
A website is more than just a digital brochure; it’s the heartbeat of your online identity. Ensuring that visitors have a seamless and engaging experience is crucial. This means your website should be intuitive, responsive, and mobile-friendly, offering users easy navigation and access to information. A well-optimized website retains interest and encourages conversions, turning visitors into loyal customers.
Defend Against Digital Threats
In today’s digital domain, the paramount importance of security cannot be overstated. By adopting robust measures like encrypted PDFs for document sharing, your business fortifies its defense against cyber threats, ensuring sensitive information (e.g., credit card numbers, addresses, social security numbers) remains under lock and key. Give this a view, and regularly update your security protocols to maintain your business’s reputation as a secure and trusted entity.
Harness the Power of Scheduling Tools
Time is a resource that cannot be recovered once spent. Utilizing digital scheduling and time management tools optimizes your workflows and ensures that your operations run like a well-oiled machine. These tools help you keep track of meetings and deadlines and enable your team to collaborate more efficiently, ensuring that no task falls through the cracks.
Leverage Social Media Dynamics
Social media platforms are invaluable for boosting your company’s online visibility. They provide a unique space for engaging directly with your audience, offering insights into their preferences and behaviors. You can build a loyal community around your brand by crafting compelling content and interacting authentically. This enhances your online presence and drives traffic to your website.
Optimize with IoT Innovations
The Internet of Things (IoT) is revolutionizing business operations, offering unprecedented insights and efficiencies. Integrating IoT devices into your business model allows you to streamline operations, enhance customer experiences, and gain a competitive edge. These devices collect valuable data that can be analyzed to improve decision-making and tailor services to meet customer needs more effectively.
Update Security Protocols Regularly
The digital world is ever-evolving, with new threats emerging at every turn. Keeping your business safe requires a proactive approach to security. Regularly updating your security measures ensures that your defenses keep pace with the latest threats, protecting your business, employees, and customers from potential risks. This commitment to security is a necessity and a testament to your dedication to safeguarding all stakeholders.
Collaborate for Greater Impact
Collaboration is a powerful strategy for amplifying your business’s reach and impact. By partnering with other companies, you can tap into new audiences, share resources, and bolster your visibility. These collaborations can take various forms, from co-hosting events to shared marketing campaigns, each offering mutual benefits that propel all parties toward greater success.
Navigating the digital landscape requires agility, foresight, and a willingness to embrace innovation. Integrating these strategies into your business model will pave the way for success in the digital age. Each step forward, informed by these insights, is not just progress—it’s a stride toward redefining your industry’s standards and establishing your business as a leader in the digital revolution.
In today’s ever-evolving business landscape, staying relevant and resonating with your target audience is crucial for the success and longevity of your brand or company. As you get ready for the next quarter in the year, consider revitalizing Your Brand Strategies for a Fresh Start. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by refreshing your brand. In this article presented to you by Lucy, for Icy Coaching & Consulting, we will explore eight strategies that can breathe new life into your brand and help you connect with your audience on a deeper level.
Craft a Strong Brand Message Your brand’s message should be a reflection of your company’s values, mission, and vision. Take the time to review and revise your brand’s messaging to ensure it aligns with your current objectives and speaks to your audience’s aspirations and pain points. A well-crafted brand message not only conveys what your company stands for but also creates an emotional connection with your customers, fostering loyalty and trust.
Harness Social Media Diversify your brand’s online presence by actively engaging with your audience on various social media platforms. Tailor your content to suit each platform’s unique audience and features, allowing you to connect with a broader and more diverse audience. Social media isn’t just about posting content; it’s about fostering two-way communication with your customers, listening to their feedback, and adapting your brand’s approach accordingly. By utilizing the power of social media, you can not only increase brand awareness but also strengthen customer relationships.
Digitally Organize Your Documents Organizing your marketing documents is crucial for efficient business operations, and converting these documents into PDF format is a smart strategy. Using a PDF format ensures that your content remains consistent in terms of formatting and is easily shareable across various devices and platforms. Whether you need to create a PDF online from scratch or convert an existing file, like a Microsoft Word document, into a PDF, a reliable PDF maker tool is indispensable. This approach not only streamlines the sharing process but also enhances the professionalism of your documents.
Remake Your Website Your website is often the first point of contact for potential customers. Ensure it is visually appealing, user-friendly, and up-to-date with the latest information about your products or services. A well-designed website can leave a lasting impression on visitors. Beyond aesthetics, prioritize user experience by optimizing page load times, navigation, and mobile responsiveness. A user-friendly website not only attracts visitors but also converts them into customers, ultimately contributing to your brand’s success.
Partnering with Influencers and Ambassadors Collaborate is the new competition. Collaborate with influencers or brand ambassadors in your industry to promote your products or services. Their authentic endorsements can significantly impact your brand’s credibility and reach, helping you tap into new customer segments. Influencer marketing is a powerful tool for expanding your brand’s reach. However, choose influencers whose values align with your brand to ensure authenticity and resonance with their followers. Establishing genuine partnerships can lead to long-term brand growth.
Outline Your Core Values Clearly define your brand’s core values and communicate them consistently across all touch-points. These values serve as the foundation of your brand’s identity and can create a strong emotional connection with your audience. Authenticity is key when conveying your core values. Make sure your actions align with your stated values, and don’t be afraid to take a stand on issues that matter to your customers. When customers see your brand living its values, they are more likely to trust and engage with you.
Amplify Public Relations Invest in public relations efforts to increase your brand’s visibility and reputation. Engage with media outlets, industry publications, and influencers to share your brand’s story and achievements, building trust and credibility. Effective public relations can shape the narrative around your brand, positioning you as an industry leader and a trusted source of information. Be proactive in seeking out opportunities to share your expertise and experiences, both online and offline.
Innovate Your Approach to Advertising Explore innovative advertising techniques that align with your brand’s goals and target audience. From immersive experiences to different forms of interactive content, staying at the forefront of advertising trends can set your brand apart from the competition. Innovation in advertising not only captures the attention of potential customers but also demonstrates your brand’s willingness to evolve and adapt to changing consumer preferences. Embrace creativity and experimentation to create memorable and impactful advertising campaigns.
Refreshing your company’s brand is a strategic move that can reinvigorate your business and capture the attention of both existing and potential customers. By crafting a compelling brand message, harnessing the power of social media, streamlining marketing collateral, etc., you can breathe new life into your brand and thrive in today’s competitive marketplace. Don’t hesitate to embark on this exciting journey of brand revitalization, and watch your company soar to new heights of success.
You can have a lean launch as the Savvy Entrepreneur in your family. Here is your guide to starting big with small funds. Starting a business is a dream for many of us, but limited capital can often stifle these aspirations. Yet, with the right resourceful strategies, even entrepreneurs with minimal resources can turn their business vision into a reality. In this article by Courtney on our team for Yetunde Shorters.com, we will explore actionable ways you can launch a successful enterprise without breaking the bank. I started my company to little funds and grew it into a multiple 6-figure business. YOU CAN DO THE SAME& BETTER!
Tap into Available Grants
One overlooked source of initial capital is business grants tailored to help entrepreneurs with limited funds. Conducting thorough research to identify these opportunities is essential. Don’t rush this process; take time to write compelling applications that set you apart from the competition. Local government agencies and industry organizations often offer such grants, providing a lifeline to those who are financially strapped. There is free money out here with people and organizations who want to support your vision, take the time to fill out the paperwork.
Crowdfunding has become a popular way for entrepreneurs to raise capital directly from the public. Platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo allow you to present your business idea and receive small amounts of funding from a large number of people. The key here is to create a compelling campaign that engages potential backers and outlines how their support will contribute to your vision. I used Crowdfunding to raise capital to print my cookbook for Afropolitan Chef. It works. you just have to do it right. If you’re interested in my 1-1 training on it, contact me here hello@yetundeshorters.com
Expand Your Network
Networking is invaluable when you’re starting with limited capital. By building connections with potential investors, partners, and mentors, you open doors to multiple opportunities. Attend industry events, participate in online communities, and leverage social media platforms to connect with like-minded professionals. The connections you make can provide both financial backing and invaluable advice. Be sincere. Connect with people you like and want to get to know.
Use a Document Management System
Implementing a document management system can greatly enhance the efficiency and organization of handling various types of documents in your business. A key aspect of this system is the flexibility to convert documents between formats to suit different needs. For instance, converting a PDF to Excel is particularly useful when dealing with tabular data.
This conversion provides a more versatile and editable format, allowing for easy manipulation and analysis of the data. Excel’s robust features make it simple to edit, sort, and analyze information in ways that aren’t possible within a PDF format. Once your data is updated or reorganized in Excel, you can easily re-save the file as a PDF for secure sharing or storage. For businesses looking to streamline their document management processes and make the most out of their data, check this out as a practical and effective solution.
Offer Customers Pre-Sales and Pre-Orders
One clever way to generate revenue before your product or service officially launches is through pre-sales and pre-orders. This strategy not only brings in some much-needed initial cash but also serves as a market validation tool. If your target audience is willing to purchase before launch, that’s a strong indicator that there’s demand for what you’re offering. Additionally, securing pre-sales and pre-orders can give you the confidence and momentum you need to continue pushing forward with your business plans. So you only need to have/get one sample and sell using that one sample before you get inventory that you can’t get rid of.
Bootstrap Your Business
The concept of bootstrapping involves launching a business through self-funding and frugal financial management. This method compels you to be resourceful and prioritize what truly matters for business growth. With every dollar accounted for and spent wisely, bootstrapping can be a rewarding, albeit challenging, way to start your business.
Develop a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
Starting small with a minimum viable product can save you money while allowing you to test your business idea in the real world. This stripped-down version of your product or service gives you a low-risk way to gather customer feedback. Use this data for iterative improvements, refining your offering without wasting resources on features that aren’t essential.
Monitor and Build Your Credit Score
Maintaining a solid credit score is crucial when you’re running a business on a limited budget. A high credit score not only increases your eligibility for future financing but also allows you to negotiate favorable terms with suppliers and lenders. Consistently monitoring and building your credit score will provide more financial options as your business grows.
Launching a business with limited funds may seem daunting, but it’s far from impossible. By tapping into available grants, leveraging crowdfunding, expanding your network, monitoring your credit score, investing in a content management system, and more, you can make your entrepreneurial dreams come true. Starting a business on a shoestring budget requires a balanced blend of creativity, meticulous planning, and resourceful execution.
For help creating a purpose-centered, intrinsic plan you can use for impact, attracting an incredible community, and earnings profits confidently, contact Yetunde Shorters at www.icyconsulting.com today!
It’s Yetunde Shorters here, chiming in share with you, as we plan for the New Year, 7 powerful ways to level up your personal brand in the New Year. This year flew by so quickly that we couldn’t even catch a breath, but it’s never too late. You can start now and start today, and let’s plan for manifestations in the New Year. Below are my suggestions of 7 powerful ways to level up your purposeful personal brand in the New Year
PLAN AHEAD
Planning ahead means take the time one of these days this year before the year is over and sit down and plan for the things you want for your personal brand or your business. That means on social media. Sit down and plan what your social media would look like. Sit down and plan what each quarter would look like. Sit down and plan what products that you’re going to launch per quarter, whatever steps that are involved in each stage. Write it out and plan. You have plenty of time to do that this year so that you can be prepared and schedule things for next year. That way, you save yourself some time. Sacrifice that 4 hours of social media a day time just for you. You deserve it.
Number 2 thing you need to do to level up your personal brand in the New Year is manage your time like a boss. Here’s what that means. We all have 24 hours in the day. Yes, sometimes, everyone says, “We have the same time that Oprah has.” Well, Oprah has a team to work with and delegate too, none of us can afford Oprah manpower yet. If you’re a solo-preneur or you have a small team, you have 24 hours in a day. You have a lot to do. What that means is be conscientious of how you spend your time. What are you doing with your mornings? The first 90 minutes set the tone. Be intentional about those 90 minutes. Do you find yourself on Facebook or Instagram immediately? WATCH IT, STOP IT. Do you time yourself when you do that? Nothing wrong with applying social media, but make sure you’re not spending and wasting time on there without a return on your investment.
What that means is allocate and dedicate and promise yourself you’re going to spend a certain amount of time per day on whatever social media platform it is. One of the things I actually do to manage my time better is when I have social media days off where I’m just logged off of social media and I also log off of my Wi-Fi, and I do projects that do not require me to be online. There are many apps you can use to manage your time. There are apps you can use to block you from going on social media so you can focus because it can be addictive as productive as it can be, but managing your time is very important. That also means if you’re obsessed with certain TV shows, how many hours are you spending on that? You’re watching people that are making money off of you watching them. Why don’t you spend that time building your personal brand? You can watch TV, limit your time and focus on building and then enriching your own personal brand.
MAP OUT YOUR SYSTEMS
The number 3 way you can level up your personal brand in 2019 is to map out your systems. What this means is: if you are going to be doing events or if you are going to be doing a photo shoot, if you are going to be consulting with clients, write out what that looks like. For example, stage one clients inboxes you. What is the response after? Clients responds to you. What do you send after that? Write out step-by-step so that you have automated content that when anything happens you’re literally just cutting and pasting again saving you time. or use e-services to do an auto send out. Map out whatever your systems are for getting new clients, for securing a sponsorship or getting product, whatever system is. Sit down, think about it, and write it all out step-by-step so that you have everything planned out in a Word document or a notepad or Evernote. Write it all down so when the time comes you’re literally just cutting and pasting or scheduling it into your e-applications. That would save you tons of time and will allow you to be able to train someone if you’re not available on how to run your systems.
CONNECT, BETTER
Number 4 powerful ways to level up your personal brand in the New Year is to connect better and more. That means online and offline. Sometimes we get caught up in posting and we forget that we have to engage other people, so dedicate 20 to 30 minutes of your time per week and go back to the people that follow and engage you and engage on their pages. Like the comments, like their pictures, read stuff, and leave your thoughtful feedback. People want to connect with you, and also do this in live events. That means go out more, look for networking or marketing events that you can be a part of. Look for virtual events that you can be a part of, but make it an effort to connect better and more with people because, with personal powerful branding these days people connect to people so you can no longer hide behind a company name or the Internet. People want to know who you are, and the more you connect and the more authentic you are, the better for you and your business and your personal brand.
DOCUMENT IT
The number 5 powerful way to level up your personal brand in the New Year is to document your milestones. Click To Tweet This is one of the things that was actually in the recent book I had with the Better Business book where I shared my 10 things I’ve learned from, my 10 years in business, and if I knew then what I know now, I would have at the end of every month or maybe every two weeks, documented any good thing that happened in my business. Because guess what? When you’re going to do a review of the year or an analysis to a client, you can go back and have documentation, have a folder created on your computer and have documentation of the really good memorable milestones that happen and the really challenging ones, as well, so, at the end of the year, if you have to do a year in review, you have all your ducks in a row, you have content for your portfolio, you have content for testimonials. It’s a great way to track your progress.
TRACK AND ANALYZE
The number 6 way to level up your personal brand in the New Year is to track and analyze often. Often depends on how engaged you are on social media or on your newsletter or in person. That means see what’s working. Test it out. See what’s working and then come back and take off the things that are not working. Tracking and analyzing actually helps you see that your efforts are being put to good use. You want to make sure you maximize that and make it a habit starting now, so that when the New Year comes, when the new year comes, that you are ready and prepared to track and analyze. That way, you will get into the quality of what works for your personal brand, and so you just rinse and repeat and use the things that work over and over again, but you can’t know what works unless you track and analyze it.
AUTOMATE, AUTOMATE , AUTOMATE
Finally, the 7th way to level up your personal brand in the New Year is to automate and engage and convert. Create your automation systems. What does it look like when someone signs up for your newsletter or signs up for talking to you, what is that process? If there’s anything you can automate, which means use a mailing service where something is automatically sent to them without you, your business can function without you, you automatically automate all the stuff that you want your customers or potential clients to know.
Then, you want to engage them. When you automate, when they respond back to you, you want to engage them. As much time as it’ll take, try to be as one-on-one as possible, or maybe do a group session or a group webinar, but engage them in some way on a live stream, on the Tweet chats. Find ways to engage your community. Then, when you engage them, you can convert them. Because once they know, like, and trust you, which is the KLC factor. When people feel like they know you and then they like you and then they trust you based on the consistency and content you share, it is very easy to convert them to buy anything you are selling, because they believe you are out to support them and what they want out of life with your expertise.
Again, you have plan ahead, manage your time like a boss, map out your systems, connect better and more, document the milestones, track and analyze often, automate, engage, and convert. These are the seven things you need to level up for your brand in the New Year. I wish you well. Let’s go manifest all the hard work we put in this New Year
Whether you’re an angel investor, a venture capitalist, or just a savvy entrepreneur, buying an existing business can strengthen your existing portfolio and create new opportunities to profit. Taking on someone else’s venture, however, is by no means straightforward, and you’ll need to carry out plenty of research if you want to adapt it successfully to market – here are a few pointers before you commit.
Acquisition
Requirements
Before you begin your search for a high-potential business, it’s important to first review your own skill-set and capabilities – both as an owner and, if you own other companies, as a conglomerate. An understanding of the industry in question is a must – you should also ensure that you have enough time and capital available to allocate towards the development of a new business. Take the time to work with your CFO, accountants, or consultants and review the resources available to you – understanding this is crucial not just for the researching stage but also for the negotiation stage.
Identifying a High-Potential Business
When it comes to business investment, as a rule, there are far more duds than there are boons, and so, to isolate a strong prospect, you’ll need to develop strict criteria and stick to them. Your criteria can vary depending on budget, industry, personal requirements, and more but, as a rule, you want to take on a business with a willing market (meaning there is preconceived demand amongst customers), high profit margins, and a clear selling point that can be taken advantage of in future.
Due Diligence
A cautious approach can save you time and money in the long run, and nowhere is this more true than when you’re conducting background checks on business prospects. Take the time to review critical documentation, analyze any available data and identify key risks that might cost you in the long term. It might also be necessary to meet with key players within the business itself, members of the c-suite, for example. Finally, you should ensure that your lawyers have read through any financial, legal, and regulatory company documents to ensure that everything is above water and legally sound.
Negotiating
Once both parties have agreed on a valuation provided by an independent source, you can move into the negotiation stage. Ideally, this should be straightforward, with communications taking place amongst yourselves and the company’s top decision-makers. Remember that these individuals may have sunk years into growing this venture and so it’s important to convey a clear understanding, appreciation, and plan for its future.
Adaptation
Structure
As important as the business itself is your strategy upon completing the acquisition. You should aim to review every department and look at larger components like structure – you may decide, for example, that you want to change this entirely. A formation service can help navigate any legalities and there are many options available online for you to compare reviews and prices, such as Rocket Lawyer vs Zenbusiness.
Marketing
If you’re taking the company in a new direction, this should reflect in your brand design and marketing efforts. If you’re working with limited resources, consider saving on designer costs by using online banner makers to design a custom banner for your website or social channels. These can often be customized with text, colors, fonts, and animations.
Business Process Management (BPM)
A company running on outdated processes can be enhanced using BPM strategies. BPM can automate and optimize workflows by analyzing how people, systems, and data interact – by understanding how digital process automation and BPM work, you can use the information gathered through the BPM process to streamline your operation and improve efficiency.
Acquiring an existing business is an arduous process in itself and adapting it to market is even harder. However, with a few adjustments, such as a new business structure or cost-efficient marketing strategies, you can take a struggling venture and bring it up to profitability
Thanks to Lucy Reed for today’s article. I appreciate the insight.
Hey Purpose Angel. This morning, I want to share with you answers to the following:
Why am I doing this? Why is this important? I remember the day I decided I didn’t want to become an Attorney anymore.
I was in the first month as a Junior in college at Loyola University Chicago Why? 3 reasons
1. As much as I enjoy reading, I was stressed out about how much information I would have to retain as a Lawyer
2. I knew I wanted to help women and build wealth and I didn’t see how I would do that without having to work for the bad guys (They typically have more money than the good guys. Good guys have money too)
3. I am an Empath, so I literally feel other peoples vibes and so I’m hyper-mindful of the energies I allow in my space and the energy I bring to any space. I’m also super intuitive, so I get clear directions on what I need to do for results, safety and success. These are physical and spiritual God-given abilities. We all have them. I’ve simply had a mentor who’s helped me master them and I’m still learning.
I feeeeel the energy of our world. Even as I type this now to you I have tears in my eyes just feeling it. I also feel the love and they are both overwhelming. So when I say I’m RADICALLY CLEAR on what role I need to play to support you in stepping fully into your purpose, It’s because it’s important. I already know we will have a better world when YOU do your part and you get to skip the line cuz I’ve done all the mistakes and spent a lot of money to get you the current best possible blueprint for your own next level.
So in school, I selected a few marketing and pr courses to take. In one of my classes, we were given a mock Ad campaign to work on for Verizon and in a split moment I realized how may millions of people I could reach with one simple yet effective AD. LITERALLY MILLIONS IN ONE GO. I caught the PR BUG and I was sold. I focused on my specialty in Communications.
Everything I have learned and do since then has helped me to be a student and teacher communicator with visuals, words and quality. I get the privilege of doing this for my own personal brand and the over 100+ women I have had the honor of branding overtime.
Why you should care: If you find that you’re not joyful, excited or energized most times about your life or work or situation, It may mean you’re not in alignment with your purpose. And the fact is, you don’t have to stay in this space. It can be more than you ever imagined. I testify to this and so do many of my client.
What you need to do: DM me if you’d like to explore what it looks like to kick off your purpose journey, stress-free, no overwhelm and joyfully. Wanna see Quantum Leap, ask @evatoby She became a bestselling author beating out Lala Anthony’s book even before her book was available, secured over 7 media features in one year national and international. Became a published columnist for rolling out magazine and using my process once raised $900 in 5 hours for a youth organization in Detroit, Michigan.
Get VIP access to the Next level version of you. We kick off our Purpose POWER LAUNCH May 2nd. #radicalclarity #livethroughpurpose #purposepower
FB Friend, I have new news. But first, story time lol
So on 7.7.7 I launched ICY PR into the world and I did it specifically because I wanted to support small business owners who could share their knowledge and products with the world. I think in international, global terms, so I always dream then do big for my clients and my work.
In these 14+ years a lot has happened and I can sincerely say I forget how much we’ve done until we look back to see what we have done.
In December I had a coach who I was new to make a back-handed social media comment that I know specifically was around what I shared in our session about the work I do for women. Her comment was about how one shouldn’t make commitments about helping people live through their purpose, you should focus on the fact that you get them clarity.”
I was offended and I didn’t know why at the time, then I chatted with a friend and she said “MAM, just because she can’t and doesn’t do that, she probably can’t see how it’s possible that you can.”
lol I was like “yeah, you’re right”. I have conservatively secured now, over 1500 media features in my career. supported 14 entrepreneurs in becoming Best Selling Authors, Gotten my clients exposed to over 100 million people literally, from Latin America to Africa to North America. I am 41 about to be 42. I have literally been doing this consciously since I was 18. And I have incredible results to prove it.
From working with some of Africa’s biggest stars like DavidO, Stephanie Linus and a few others I can’t share as per lifetime NDA lol to working with some incredible Grammy Award winning artist and Dance music brands from American Ballet Theatre to Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre to Pianist Lang Lang and a lot more when I was Director of Marketing and PR at CAF. To small business owners in London, Nigeria, America, Canada, Caribbean, Latin America etc.
We’ve donee a lottttt. So I do know how to do this and still helping incredible Entrepreneurs get results. Heck!! last week got 6 professional women get featured in Today’s Purpose Woman Magazine sharing their purpose work and expertise.
There is a method to the Purpose. And since I am RADICALLY CLEAR on how I am supposed to guide my clients with all I have learnt and still learning, I am going all out and I say this with no humility: MY LIGHT WILL ATTRACT so that those I am meant to serve can spot me and I can serve my God calling.
It took me almost 20 years to realize how simple this Purpose this is supposed to be. YUP. I cracked the code on the simplicity. It’s supposed to be simple actually. The work you’re looking to do to feel validated is in the mastery and action of the DOING your part.
As we step into year 15, (we will be 15 on 7.7.22) we have officially evolved into a coaching and consulting international company. We are now officially and legally called
ICY COACHING AND CONSULTING INTERNATIONAL.
Our mission: to support women and a few men in stepping fully into their purpose, using their personal brand, without stress & confusion, information overload, or time wasting so they can have global impact & earn substantial income consistently.
If you’re nudged intuitively to learn more about the PURPOSE P.O.W.E.R BOOTCAMP, feel free to DM me.
Discovering your intrinsic value is simpler than you think.
One day, I was laying down to take a nap on my sectional sofa, I woke up about 45 minutes later and I could NOT get up…I couldn’t move my legs. I was scared. My heart was racing, I could literally taste my anxiety. and I started crying… and at some point my brain signaled for me to get my phone.
luckily it was right next to me and I called one of my Pharmaceutical Dr. friends. And she heard the panic in my voice just from saying hello. I told her I couldn’t move my legs, I started crying again and she told me to calm down, “try wiggling your toes, she said, pinch your legs”.
I did all of that still stressed and anxious and then the feelings in my legs came back.
I got off the phone cried some more, then went back to work.
You would think I would have seen that as a warning.
Months later, I ended up in the hospital from Adrenal Fatigue and my Best friend was with me and as I lay in the hospital bed at the time, I thought to myself, “if I died today, none of this shit would matter. And I thought “hmmmm, my family would cry, eat some rice, have a party and they would move on.
In that moment, after all the blood work, recommendations and everything else from the doctor, when I got home, I made a decision to change my life in 30 days. I stopped watching TV that month, I read a lot of books, I meditated more.
I was present in my life and I can tell you, the level of clarity that came to me once I decided to step FULLY into my purpose was divine.
The blessings and opportunities that came with that choice were astounding. The effectiveness that I was activating now that I had clarity.
Yes, I still had to do the work of mastery, heck, I’m still doing it, But this time, I had a blueprint of how to let my purpose lead my many passions.
It is fully your responsibility to MASTER your purpose.
What are you doing to master the thing you’ve been called for? Are you taking specialty classes, are you feeding your soul, Do you have mentors who can help guide your light, You tap into all of these things, so that your impact is bigger, your joy is bigger, your attraction factor is bigger, your profits are bigger.
You can get to do all the things you enjoy and still live through your purpose.
What you seek is already inside you. Release it and step fully into your purpose.
If you’ve jumped on the personal branding bandwagon, and you think creating a personal brand that is all about you will make you the next Gary V., you are already down the wrong path. Cuz even Gary V. doesn’t talk about Gary V. Look, I understand. I completely get it. I’ve been there. I wasted time and money. The surprisingly easy way to ruin your personal brand is to think it’s all about you. **SPOILER ALERT*** It’s not.
Every brand coach is out here telling you to just launch your personal brand, create a website, launch a course, give your followers an opt in they can’t resist, so you can get their emails and sell to them
So tell me this: Does everyone you know who has a self- serving personal brand or website, and sales page attract paying clients?
EVERYONE?
But of course not.
But think about it for a second. What does every SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR with a personal brand have?
THEY BUILD BASED ON THEIR PURPOSE, HOW THEY CAN SERVE OTHERS: and here is the kicker: many of them still get to do many of the fun things they enjoy, heck some of them even buy other types of companies that do the other things they love. Talk about Multi-passionate Purposeful Entrepreneur. Yup they exist.
The truth is, they have a focused PURPOSE-CENTERED product or service that they offer to thousands and millions of people.
They have content that is engaging, powerful and customized to their personality yet incredibly valuable to those they SERVE. They all build wealth through this purpose. They all let the world know how they can help it, and then, they took what worked excellently and used it over and over and over again.
Can you think of any successful entrepreneur who has a personal brand who isn’t focused on something PURPOSEFUL?
Can you find me any successful entrepreneur who doesn’t have their message zoned in, with stellar content that converts and engages their ideal paying customer?
Can you find me any successful entrepreneur who hasn’t built wealth from their purpose? Heck If you’re a Mac user, you bought Steve Jobs Product. There is a 50% chance you’re using an iOs Device right now to watch, read or listen to this message. He made wealth from his purpose. Then he figured out what worked (slick design, quality product and a focus on his ideal clients CREATIVES. Yup that’s YOU.) He created this product for you. His message is clear. If you’re using a MAC, You’re a creative.
Here is how you can build your own successful purpose-centered personal brand that attracts paying clients.
First you have to get crystal clarity on what your purpose is. And it’s okay to be a multi-passionate entrepreneur, but a purpose breakthrough session helps you identity what to spend your most valuable time and resources on.
Second creating and developing your outstanding content that makes it easy for you to be loved, respected and paid by your ideal clients.
Third, you’ll need to identify how you want to build wealth through your purpose . Here you get to provide products or services that excite you and excite your ideal paying clients even more
Once you’ve gotten these top 3 core details together, then you’ll want to launch and launch big, with confidence, easily securing media features, blogs, podcasts and radio shows highlighting your story and how your product or service transforms lives.
And finally you take some time to review what worked with your process and perfect that and do just that perfected process all over again to get consistent results.
Remember, if you don’t get crystal clarity on your purpose, you’re going to keep loosing time and money because you’re spread too thin on all your passions. You’re going to keep pumping out content that doesn’t connect or engage with your ideal paying customers, you’re going to be selling the wrong product or service and wonder why you’re not making substantial income from it. You’re going to have a whole noise making launch of what you do that flops with only 0.5% of your ideal paying clients even aware you did a launch. You’re going to keep repeating strategies that don’t work and wonder why they are not working. Chances are you’ve probably experienced one or two of these things, if not all in the past 6-9 months.
So you can either be the entrepreneur who continues to think that having a self-serving personal brand or a personal website a cute opt-in and a sales page will help you attract your ideal paying customers who adore your purpose
You can be the entrepreneur who decides to step fully into her purpose, in spite of any fears, someone who wants to get crystal clear on what she has been called to do on this earth, attract and be attractive to the people she has been created specifically to help, people who will pay her anything she asks, without questions. An Entrepreneur who lives purposefully, earns her profits confidently, is authentically herself and builds status as the top expert in her industry.
And if that’s you. Then you know exactly what to do next. Click the link below and sign up for my Purpose Breakthrough Session I look forward to supporting you in Living through Purpose, Attracting paying clients and being celebrated as a profitable leader in your industry.
As a black woman, every time I hear stories about how people who look like me are brutalized & killed by Caucasian/pass for Caucasian police and self-appointed police, it literally physically hurts & I cry just about every time. This brutality happens every day, don’t be fooled into thinking it’s once in a while.
I get angry and I work hard not to get to hopeless, because I believe in I get angry and I work hard not to get to hopeless, because I believe in HOPE and I believe in the power of CHANGE + ACTION. See, change can be trusted because it always shows up, it always happens and it guarantees that NO CONDITION IS EVER PERMANENT however many eons something may take to change. CHANGE IS DEPENDABLE. And I find comfort in its POWER.
Today, I also realized how many of my white friends have NO IDEA about my experience of racism in this country. I imagine they think, I am that “different African chic”.
I also realized I don’t share my experiences because a part of me feels why bother, they won’t get it and I’ll still be seen as “but you’re different.” NOPE, I AM NOT.
So, I’m making a choice to actively have those conversations more, and actively share what my friends can do to make a change that can deeply reduce the racism (assuming they want to).
I also believe in finding solutions; knowing what to do about something is how I maintain and build my personal POWER.
In this time and through my morning meditation today, I got a clear message:
“Yetunde, I sent you here to get more women to step into their purpose, because the world will be a better place when more people are living in PURPOSE, so stay focused on what I sent you here for” “YES GOD, Got it!”
“I know you’re angry. I know you hurt, and across the world even if all black people don’t personally know each of these people, your soul power is what makes you feel this so deeply every time, and you will never be desensitized because you are part of the solution.”
“Love is the answer and love needs power, justice, defense, protection and so many things to be fully experienced, so do something different today with what you share.”
From my years of reading on politics and world changes, from Apartheid South Africa, to the murder of George Floyd, two things always make change happen.
Active and prolonged boycott that affects financial gains MAJORLY
Voting who you want in office that has the interest of all of our collective humanity in mind.
So, today’s JUST 5 MINUTES FRIDAY attempts to be a piece that may shift your mindset and get you to COMMIT to the long term freedom of all of US.
—————————————————————————————————— There are lessons only you have learned and experienced that can literally transform someone’s life. It is your soul’s responsibility to share that message before you exit this planet. If you’re reading this and you are serious about action driven change,
No matter what business you’re in and what projects you find yourself tackling, a systematized approach will help you:
• Work faster and produce more • Produce higher quality results with fewer mistakes • Easily outsource the tasks you don’t like to do
The Magic of Templates
How many times do you answer email from potential clients? What about responding to customer complaints? Or saying a polite no to those people wanting you to meet up to pick your brain for a coffee chat?
All of these tasks and more become effortless when you create fill-in-the-blank templates that can be repurposed for specific cases/people. Templates can be as simple as a “canned response” in your email client or help desk, or you can use software such as Text Expander (for Mac) or Phrase Express (for Windows). You might even create a template document in Evernote, Mac note or Google Drive to house all your templates for easier access.
While templates will undoubtedly save you time, the real beauty is that once they’re created, you can easily outsource things like email and even sales. Simply instruct your Virtual assistant on the proper use of your templates, and you’ll be free to do other, more important things.
Checklists Prevent Mistakes
I have multiple checklist. One for even writing this blog post, one for going live, one for recording my videos and writing articles. It might seem counter-intuitive, but when you perform the same tasks over and over again, it’s easy to miss a critical step. You might think you did all you needed or that live-stream this week— you might even remember doing it—only to look back and you missed two steps that affected your post promotion.
But when you implement checklists, it’s suddenly much more difficult to miss an important task.
You can easily create checklists for all your common tasks and projects using nothing more than a text document. I do the most so I use Apple Pages and make it look all fancy lol. If you’re managing a team, checklists in your project management system allow you to see exactly what tasks are complete, and which are still outstanding. Think of it as a to do list for each task
Templates and checklists turn smart business owners into productivity Queens, and it’s easy to get started. The next time you answer an email you’ve answered before, save your response. The next time you set up a new product in your shopping cart or create a new opt-in page, take the time to record the steps. These documents will make future projects easier and faster to complete, and best of all, you can hand them off to your assistant to do instead.
So, tell me which tip would you implement to work for you?
Hey you. Welcome to my Virtual home here on YetundeShorters.com where I get to support your awesomeness with tools, tips, resources to thrive out here in these world streets. Plus, I get to share with you my life as a Lifestyle Entrepreneur, TwinMom and Wife. A snap shot of the good and challenging. I am on a journey to realize my highest self while sharing the experiences, in hopes that someone else can learn from them, without having to go through it. I look forward to connecting live or online.
