Beyond The Mood Board

After hitting record for over two years, I’ve decided to end this show. In this episode I’m joined live for a conversation on why I decided this, how I came to the decision, and what it’s taught me about how others react when hearing about big life and business decisions. We talk about: How important it is to get quiet, Getting over the fear of losing connection when you’re not pumping out content, The push and pull between relevancy and authenticity, Separating what you want from what you think you should want, and LIstening to — what Oprah calls — the whispers of the universe. Stay connected long after this show has ended by signing up to receive emails from me: www.patternofpurpose.com.

Business growth can, at times, feel like you’re on a roller coaster — anticipating the unknown is scary and invigorating. Before you know it you’ve become addicted to the act of climbing and bottoming out — so addicted, in fact, that you feel you have to steer the cart at all times. Aside from not being a very effective way to run a business, this makes stepping away and trusting a team quite difficult. As my final interviewee, Karen Sergeant, helps us to understand how to prevent bottleneck behaviors and bridge the gap between good ideas and good execution. Working in the CIA, she cut her teeth in what she calls “the hardest parts of the world” and is using those skills to help small businesses. A pro at surfing ambiguity and uncertainty, Karen has great tips for delegation, creating systematic frameworks, and keeping business fun while also effective.  In this episode we talk about: Walking away from a dream job; The differences in operating as a freelancer and a business owner; What boring money is and wh

Earlecia Richelle never had a roadmap for her career. While fashion has always been her north star, it’s been integrated in her work in unexpected ways, taking her across the globe as a stylist, mixologist, and national brand ambassador. On today’s episode Earlecia shares what top brands are doing well that corporate and personal brands skip over—connecting your brand to your consumer’s lifestyle, narrowing in, and creating an aspirational aesthetic. With a personality as bold as her wardrobe (you must follow her on IG), Earlecia shares: How she followed her internal spark even when there was no model for what her varied interests could lead to, Being unapologetic about pricing, Why luxury isn’t as much about price as we think it is, and How you must experience life fully if you’re going to inspire others through your work. Be sure to sign up to attend the final podcast recording. Bring your questions and experiences moving through transitions and turning points.

All business owners reach a point where they want to pursue opportunities outside of their current focus. Sometimes that’s writing a book. For others it’s sharing their personal story.  So what happens when that desire looks different from the outside than what you’re doing right now? How do you convey all sides of who you are and what you do when these parts aren’t necessarily tied to your marketing goals? My answer: personal branding.  In this episode I talk about,  The top reasons you might need a personal brand, Tackling the most common objections to personal branding, Taking a summer sabbatical, and A BIG announcement about the future of this show. Sign up for the final podcast recording.

Those numbers on your balance sheet - they have no meaning. We’ve been conditioned to believe that growing our revenue is the goal. But what today’s guest, Josh Greenbaum, wants you to think about is why you’re growing in the first place. Josh has been an Advisory CFO for over a decade and what he’ll willingly tell you is that his work isn’t always easy to grasp. Like many of us who use our training and experience in multi-dimensional roles, Josh has had to explain why his services are different from those you can get with a low monthly fee.  As we explore commoditization we talk about the human experience of what you sell. Once you can capture that in your messaging, it’s much easier to stand out. In this episode we also cover,  Why numbers alone have no meaning,  The reason “do what you love” messaging impacts what we charge, Getting addicted to the process of growing, and Why profit first isn’t always the goal. Visit Pattern of Purpose for full show notes and links to resources mentioned on this episode.

I recently took a trip to Palm Springs for a photoshoot. This photoshoot was the big one—the one that would take down all photoshoots. So you can imagine my confusion, angst, and sadness when the results didn’t come back as imagined.   This episode is all about what it looks like to be in the middle of change. While everyone loves to say that change is messy, we rarely accept it as such. The desire to push through it and have it figured out is real. But what would happen if we can roll through these disappointments and setbacks rather than labeling them as a waste of time, money, and energy?   That’s the question I’m considering as I take the mic solo and unscripted in the midst of a season of great expectations.

We cheer for our healthcare heros. But do we actually understand what they’re going through?   Today’s guest, Dr. Hisla Bates, does. An Ivy-league trained, board certified psychiatrist, who also happened to have a career as a fashion designer, Dr. Bates coaches women physicians who are experiencing burnout.   Even if you’re not a healthcare professional, you probably understand the toll it can take when you wear busyness as a badge of honor. Dr. Bates brings a firsthand account of the fast-paced lifestyle we’re convinced we need and why normalizing stress is dangerous.   In this episode we cover: Why female physicians are at the highest risk for burnout, The health scare Dr. Bates faced in her 30s and how that changed her life perspective, How to create conditions for creativity, Making the distinction between your personal interests and your professional calling, and Why “just one more thing” leads to burnout.   This episode is dedicated to those of us who think we can (and should) do it all—as parents, pa

If you’re in business you’re in sales. And every salesperson has to expect negotiation.    When you’re in charge of making decisions you also have the freedom to name your price, availability, and timeline. This is great because as you evolve you can shift your prices, start a waiting list, and let a prospect know when you’re not a good fit.    And still there will always be someone who wants it all and wants it THEIR WAY.   Knowing what you can promise -- good, fast, or cheap -- (hint: it’s never all three) will help you navigate these conversations and uphold the boundaries you need to deliver your highest level of service.   Visit Pattern of Purpose for full show notes and links to resources mentioned on this episode.

We all know that social media isn’t everything—it’s a snapshot. Swap that out for newsletters, podcasts, or however you stay connected. We see flashes of success and think, “They’re killing it.”   Some of us are saddled with home responsibilities we’ve never had before — kids being at home 24/7, dishes and cleaning, schooling during the day and working until midnight. Others have had tremendous space to create as the world loosened up on its hurried expectations. But we’ve all experienced envy.   Despite what you’ve heard, envy isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In this episode I’m sharing: Why we need to pay more attention to what we’re envious of, Important questions to ask yourself to assess whether envy is helpful or harmful, A surprising action I took when I was recently feeling jealous, and Keeping your sights on the life you want your business to afford you.

How do you decide which pieces of your story to share and where to share them? How do you know when you’re even ready to do so? Today’s guest, Shawnta Jackson, is a master at using storytelling to leave a lasting impression. No matter the arena, this successful leader, social entrepreneur, author, podcaster, and single mother commits to showing up as the highest expression of her authentic self. That kind of exposure isn’t easy; even a calculated risk comes with a high degree of anxiety. For Shawnta, however, the rewards of repeatedly stretching beyond her comfort zone - and modeling that lived experience for her audience - continues to inform her life choices. Shawnta and I discuss leveraging our overlapping personal and professional identities, when appropriate, in the stories we share and journaling as a creative tool for self-assessment. We also talk about sorting through the shame that often keeps us from crafting more compelling narratives. Please note: We discuss sensitive topics, including domestic ab

We all struggle writing about ourselves. It can feel self-important, pretentious, even put on.   Then there are the questions of how to blend what you did before with what you’re doing now and how to sound professional without sounding boring.    Yet bios are important. They capture attention. They build connection. And they help you become more visible.   In this episode I’m giving a rundown of what you need to know to update your bio, including: How your about page, LinkedIn profile, social media bio, and press bio differ; What you need to know about streamlining your professional narrative; and Where to find the best bio inspiration.   Visit Pattern of Purpose for full show notes and links to resources mentioned on this episode.

Oh, the allure of rags-to-riches transformations! We see this genre of messaging everywhere. Perhaps we’ve even surrendered our own histories to the template, running modest career moves and hard work through the wringer until we’ve disappeared from the subsequent tale. Ouch. I’m here to tell you that the point of your story isn’t just to shock someone. It’s to connect, and to humanize, and to build trust. You don’t have to contort your narrative into a wildly provocative origin story to improve credibility. Sure, rags-to-riches storytelling captivates; it’s glossy, and it’s ubiquitous. But to what end? In this solo episode, I debunk its seductive but ultimately unsustainable charms and offer ideas to help you craft more relatable messaging.  In this episode, I cover: The unsustainable allure of rags-to-riches narratives, Using “micro-moments” to connect with your audience, Disentangling your story from a belief that your life’s purpose must be linked to your work, Abandoning the need to prove your professio

That entrepreneurial origin story of yours could use a refresh. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with the standard lemonade stand tale, much like the MBA story, it’s merely acceptable rather than meaningful. Whether you call it your origin or founder’s story, the true soul that keeps your audience listening lies in the turning points. But how do you reintroduce yourself after relying on the standard opener for so long? Hint: Don’t start at the beginning. In this solo episode, I explore the questions that inform more relevant, relatable narratives, and share details on crafting origin stories that audiences can feel rather than hear.  In this episode, we cover: Why your narrative doesn’t have to start at the beginning,  Using turning points to provide an audience with access into your story, Examples drawn from fellow founders, Questions to aid you in crafting a more compelling why, and  How mistakes and everyday “messiness” leave an indelible mark on an audience. Visit Pattern of Purpose for full show

You’re ready to speak more but you aren't sure what to talk about. You aren't even convinced your story is compelling enough to share.  Today's guest, Alexia Vernon, would challenge you on that point. She believes that we are equipped with the tools we need to make an impact from the stage right now.  As a sought-after executive coach, trainer, keynote speaker, and author, Alexia’s ease in front of an audience came with patience and practice. We talk about what it looks like to integrate social justice into our businesses, how the Miss Junior America competition introduced Alexia to public speaking, and why thought leaders must be unapologetic truth-tellers. Throughout our conversation, Alexia illustrates adjustments we can make in our approach to public speaking and how to uncover what it is about our lived experience that resonates with audiences more than expertise ever could. In this episode, we cover: The defining experience that introduced Alexia to public speaking; The myth of "not being enough of an

It takes more than raising your prices to attract premium-paying clientele. Your brand approach has to instill confidence that you can serve them in the way they need and expect.   This is where the small businesses and agencies of the world become differentiated.   In this episode I’m sharing 7 things that premium clientele are looking for and the 5 tactics we’ve been taught that are creating question marks in their minds. I share:   How to adjust your brand approach to instill confidence, Why you need to review in your customer experience right now, The mistake I made when trying to convey a customized approach,  How important social media is to clientele with cash on hand, and Whether top-paying clients want to be educated or not.   Visit Pattern of Purpose for full show notes and links to resources mentioned on this episode.

Scaling and growing aren’t the same thing. All businesses should experience healthy growth. Not every business is destined to scale.   The same goes for teaching. Not every business owner is a great instructor. Some of us thrive when solving problems in real time with others—let’s be honest: we’re the ones who step in when someone doesn’t get it quickly enough.   In this solo episode I explore an important question: Is it enough to want to make a really good living doing 1:1 work?   In this discussion I cover: How your work inherently changes when you scale your business, What I learned from a job that kept me in perpetual launch mode, Why it’s important to personally define your success metrics, and  The rarely discussed but very lucrative reason to provide top-level 1:1 services.   Visit Pattern of Purpose for full show notes and links to resources mentioned on this episode.

Early in our lives we learn to strive for good grades. We begin to understand the connection between being smart and succeeding. So it’s quite a jolt when we realize that in entrepreneurship simply being smart isn’t enough.   There will always be people who aren’t as smart as you who own a much more profitable business.   This episode focuses on the tools we need aside from book smarts to create long-term success. These are the tools we don’t even realize we’re developing until we look in the rearview mirror.   I talk about: How mothering through a pandemic has made me doubt myself in business, The reason Tom Brady’s rise to success is relevant to entrepreneurs, Why it’s essential to position yourself when you’re the best at what you do, and Sharing how your pandemic experience is relevant to your brand’s story.   Visit Pattern of Purpose for full show notes and links to resources mentioned on this episode.

“What should I post today?” is a good question but it’s the wrong question. It’s the question that makes marketing feel too self-serving and endlessly complicated. Today’s guest is client turned good friend, Allie Morris Nute of Verb House Creative. Listen as she talks about the role of empathy in marketing. The fire in her veins she speaks of is something we should all feel when we’re talking about our businesses. This conversation is one we’ve had many times on our own—why hustling your way through content development will never work and how it feels as a consumer to be shouted as rather than spoken to. In this episode we cover: Why Starbucks’ CMO deserves a raise, Getting support from someone does similar work to you, Whether or not solitude can make us more empathetic, Figuring out which pieces of our story are appropriate to share, and Whether you are or aren’t responsible for finding the answers for your clients. Visit Pattern of Purpose for full show notes and links to resources mentioned on this epi

Words, just like fashion, can be trendy. Just audit five sites of the people you follow on Instagram. My guess is you’ll very quickly notice themes in the words they use to describe what they sell.   If you want to stand out—because everybody wants to stand out (I’m aware of the irony in using this trendy phrase)—you have to use language that captures that difference. General, lofty words and phrases won’t do the trick.   In this episode I’m covering: The seven most common offenders, Why these words have lost their meaning, and And how to choose words that better describe the value you offer.   Enjoy this episode? Do me a solid and take 60 seconds to submit a review of the show. It helps provide the social proof to attract inspiring guests and reach new audiences with the show.

When you’re in the midst of a professional shift it can feel impossible to make sense of your message, let alone consistently produce content to share with others. So how do you show up authentically and intentionally when your identity feels like a moving target?    Contrary to what you may have heard, you don’t have to share every piece of this transition. And what a relief that is.   In this milestone episode (1-0-0!) I’m talking about: The differences between you view your brand and how others perceive it, When you should make an announcement about changes and when that’s not necessary, 5 tips to help you move through this phase without ghosting your followers, and Getting past the resistance of putting yourself out there after pivoting your professional direction.   Visit Pattern of Purpose for show notes and to nominate someone you'd love to hear on this podcast.