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In 2023, I thought I was
going to just ride the wave.
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You see the fall of 20, 22
was the absolute busiest.
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My business has ever been for
my keynote speaking standpoint.
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I was crisscrossing the
country every few days.
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I was inspiring huge audiences
connecting with the audiences and
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feeling like for lack of a better term.
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I had finally made it as a speaker.
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That wasn't till January, 2023, when
the phones literally didn't ring.
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The entire month.
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And they didn't ring in February, Either.
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Welcome to episode 180 of the shit
works, a podcast dedicated to all
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things, networking, relationship
building and business development.
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I'm your host, Julie Brown.
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Speaker author and networking coach.
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And today I am discussing how sometimes.
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We need to take our own damn advice.
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Get off her asses And make shit.
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Happen.
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2023 was my wake-up call.
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I mean, in the beginning of the year,
I was emotionally exhausted from the
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loss of five family members, one of my
best friends to cancer and my sweet dog,
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Royce, whom I had rescued 12 years before.
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And the entire time
had never left my side.
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I was physically exhausted
from months of travel.
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And to say that my coping mechanisms to
deal with everything that was going on.
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We're less than healthy
would be an understatement.
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In January.
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I sat on my couch in my office
with my other dog, Maddie curled
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beside me and stared at my
computer for what felt like weeks.
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Actually, it probably was weeks.
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I kept waiting for the phone during,
for their speaker requests to pile
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up in my inbox, but the phone stayed
silent and their requests didn't come.
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I actually had no idea
how this was happening.
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I just come off my busiest year.
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I'd spoken to thousands
and thousands of people.
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Where were the people lining up to hire
me to bring my energy and my spunk to
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their companies and their conferences.
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I stayed in this passive
steep until March.
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Waiting.
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Hoping.
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And then getting pissed at
myself when I remembered.
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That the key to building
a thriving business.
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Isn't passive waiting.
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Is proactive engagement.
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It's about crafting a strategy,
getting out there and meeting more
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people and making the shit happen.
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It's the shit I encourage people to do for
their own businesses in careers every day.
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And here I was sitting back expecting
things to be different for me.
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Expecting to not have to work for it.
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So.
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What did I do?
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Well, I got off my ass and developed a
robust strategy that included outreach.
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New marketing, additional networking
and active engagement with
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potential clients and past clients.
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I thought about who I
really wanted to serve.
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And I did the research on
all of those companies.
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I researched the best contacts within
those companies and asked my network to
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make strategic introductions for me.
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I reconnected with network partners
that I hadn't talked to in awhile.
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I connected with and
guested on Newport podcasts.
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I reached and asked high profile
people to be on my podcast.
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I wrote two new keynotes, one on
internal employee networking and
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engagement that debuted at the
CFMA conference in September.
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And one on networking for the college
and university students, which I will
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debut in February at Endicott college.
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Up the fun factor in my marketing,
creating new reels, including the
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networking nine 11 series, which has
exploded on Instagram and driven new
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followers to my website and newsletter.
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All of this.
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All of this has set me up for a 20, 24.
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That will be my best year yet.
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By December 31st of last year, I
had already secured more speaking
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gigs for 20, 24 than I had for all.
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Of 2023.
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And, you know, what.
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I'm having so much fun.
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I'm loving my strategy.
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I'm loving the clients I'm
working with, and I'm having fun.
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With my business again.
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I know I have a fantastic product.
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I know that when I step on a stage,
everyone in that room will not only
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learn new things, but have a fantastic
fucking time learning then as well.
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There's a misconception that a fantastic
product or service alone will draw
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customers in while quality is crucial.
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It's equally essential
to create visibility.
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You've got to showcase what
you offer, tell your story and
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connect with potential clients.
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Waiting for the phone to ring is like
hiding your light under a bushel.
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You can't do that.
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You've got to get out
there and let it shine.
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And as much as I love in-person
networking, getting out there, isn't
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just about physical presence at events.
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It's about your digital footprint.
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In today's world, a significant
chunk of business happens online.
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Utilize social media, especially
LinkedIn build a compelling
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website, create engaging content.
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These are tools to amplify your
presence and your reach, and
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they help you network better.
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Don't wait for clients to miraculously
stumble upon you, go where they are
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and show them why they need you.
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This was a big part of my strategy and
why that strategy was so successful.
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Take it from me.
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Waiting for the phone to ring can
lead to frustration de-motivation and
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more than the occasional swear word.
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And I need a damn drink comment.
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When days go by without inquiries or
sales, it's easy to feel disheartened and
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disenchanted, but when you take the reins.
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When you actively pursue your
goals every step forward, no
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matter how small becomes a victory.
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And those steps add up.
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You're in control and that's empowering.
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Okay.
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Uh, onto the drink of the week,
which here's how we got to this one.
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I first thought there must be a
cocktail called bull by the horns
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because isn't that what I just did.
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I took 20, 24 by the horns.
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And then there is this whole
bull market sort of take that
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could be associated with it.
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And yes, there was a cocktail that
was called bull by the horns and it
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was disgusting and it called for red
bull, which you know, is huge no-no
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for me, obviously, caffeine is huge.
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No-no for me.
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So then I scrolled through a bunch
of other cocktails and found a
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cocktail called the brave bull
cocktail, which I'm like, Hmm.
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Maybe that works even better.
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So.
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Without further ado here
is the brave bull cocktail.
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Very, very, very simple.
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Here's what you're going to need.
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One part Kalua and two
parts, Blanco, tequila.
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Um, you're going to fill a rocks,
rocks, glass with ice, add the clue,
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and then the tequila mix and enjoy.
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And that is it.
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All right.
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Friends.
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Do you know, actually, before
you get on, they actually make
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like a coffee flavored tequila.
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Patroned Meek's one.
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I have a little nip of it, but
I've never tried it anyways.
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I don't even know if I can, because I
don't know if there's caffeine in it, but
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I don't think there's caffeine in clue.
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Okay.
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Tangent.
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All right, friends.
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That's all for this week.
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If you like what you heard
today, please leave a review
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and subscribe to the podcast.
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Also, please remember to share the podcast
to help it reach a larger audience.
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If you want more, Julie Brown.
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You can find my book.
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This shit works on Amazon
or Barnes and noble.
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And you can find me on
LinkedIn at Julie Brown BD.
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Just let me know where you found
me on when you reached out.
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I am Julie Brown, underscore BD on
the Instagram, which is where you
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can find those hilarious networking.
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Nine 11.
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Reels actually, I put
them on LinkedIn as well.
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Anyways.
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Um, where you can just pop
on over to my website, Julie
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Brown, bd.com until next week's.
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Cheers guys.
