Shownotes
The key to building a thriving business isn't passive waiting; it's proactive engagement.
Listen in to discover how I created a strategy that involved outreach, marketing, networking, and active engagement with potential clients to set myself up to have the best year in my business yet.
Drink of the week….Brave Bull
10 Questions to Ask Instead of What Do You Do?
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Julie Brown:
Transcripts
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.
