WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:02.399 The topics and opinions expressed on the following show are 2 00:00:02.439 --> 00:00:04.320 solely those of the hosts and their guests, and not 3 00:00:04.360 --> 00:00:07.280 those of W four WN Radio It's employees or affiliates. 4 00:00:07.400 --> 00:00:10.960 We make no recommendations or endorsements for radio show programs, services, 5 00:00:11.039 --> 00:00:14.080 or products mentioned on air or on our web. No liability, 6 00:00:14.199 --> 00:00:17.079 explicit or implied shall be extended to W four WN 7 00:00:17.160 --> 00:00:20.199 Radio It's employees or affiliates. Any questions or comment should 8 00:00:20.239 --> 00:00:22.440 be directed to those show hosts. Thank you for choosing 9 00:00:22.559 --> 00:00:33.439 W four WN Radio. 10 00:00:42.759 --> 00:00:45.159 Hello, and welcome to Fearless Fabulous You. 11 00:00:45.479 --> 00:00:48.200 I am your host, Melanie Young, and I am glad 12 00:00:48.200 --> 00:00:51.280 you're joining me today. It's a beautiful summer day where 13 00:00:51.320 --> 00:00:55.280 I am as you know, I enjoy interviewing dynamic people 14 00:00:55.280 --> 00:00:57.759 who inspire you to live the best life you can 15 00:00:57.880 --> 00:00:59.799 and I like doing it to help you as well. 16 00:01:00.159 --> 00:01:02.719 And today we're going to be talking to my guest 17 00:01:02.759 --> 00:01:07.480 who is fearless and helping small business owners and entrepreneurs 18 00:01:07.560 --> 00:01:10.959 get a boost in their business and in their outlook 19 00:01:11.040 --> 00:01:13.280 to take them to the next level. But before we 20 00:01:13.319 --> 00:01:17.000 go into that topic and my guests, I do want 21 00:01:17.000 --> 00:01:18.840 to give a shout out to where I am now 22 00:01:18.920 --> 00:01:22.079 because they have graciously offered me an office and it 23 00:01:22.200 --> 00:01:24.439 was as spur of the moment as a morning phone 24 00:01:24.439 --> 00:01:28.120 call today at nine am, I am in the beautiful 25 00:01:28.439 --> 00:01:33.599 town of Abington, Virginia, in southern Virginia, near the Appalachian Mountains, 26 00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:36.840 near the border of my home state now of Tennessee. 27 00:01:37.040 --> 00:01:40.120 Let's just say it is beautiful. It's surrounded by mountains. 28 00:01:40.640 --> 00:01:44.680 It has been called one of the coolest places in 29 00:01:44.719 --> 00:01:47.480 southern Virginia and one of the best small town food 30 00:01:47.519 --> 00:01:51.319 scenes in the country by USA Today ten Bests. And 31 00:01:51.400 --> 00:01:54.159 I'm going to be checking out some restaurants after this show. 32 00:01:54.799 --> 00:01:56.280 Little fun facts. 33 00:01:56.799 --> 00:02:00.239 There's a lot of arts here in theater and the 34 00:02:00.280 --> 00:02:03.480 Martha Washington Inn and Spa, which was built in eighteen 35 00:02:03.560 --> 00:02:04.599 thirty two. 36 00:02:05.000 --> 00:02:07.319 We're going to go visit that. It is charming. 37 00:02:07.560 --> 00:02:09.680 And if you are doing road trips like many of 38 00:02:09.759 --> 00:02:11.879 you know I've been doing with my husband David now 39 00:02:11.919 --> 00:02:17.360 for three years, put Abington, Virginia on your map if 40 00:02:17.360 --> 00:02:20.919 you're going down I eighty one south, and frankly, put 41 00:02:20.919 --> 00:02:23.080 the whole state of Virginia on your map, because we've 42 00:02:23.120 --> 00:02:29.240 been touring and visiting wineries on the Monticello side Ava 43 00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:32.360 and the Shenandoah Valley side, and we have some gems 44 00:02:32.400 --> 00:02:35.319 which we'll be sharing on our other show, The Connected 45 00:02:35.360 --> 00:02:37.840 Table Lives, so check that out. But I want to 46 00:02:37.879 --> 00:02:42.039 thank the Abington Convention of Visitors Bureau who literally two 47 00:02:42.080 --> 00:02:45.280 hours ago said come on in because that's what Southern 48 00:02:45.319 --> 00:02:48.520 hospitality is all about. So thank you to the City 49 00:02:48.560 --> 00:02:53.319 of Abington, Virginia. So now let's go on to my guest, 50 00:02:53.919 --> 00:02:56.520 who is an amazing woman. 51 00:02:58.120 --> 00:03:00.840 Like me, lived in New York, now live South. She 52 00:03:00.960 --> 00:03:02.120 is an award Jackie P. 53 00:03:02.360 --> 00:03:06.360 Taylor is an award winning businesswoman host of the podcast 54 00:03:06.479 --> 00:03:10.080 The Real Juggle, which takes an unvarnished look at what 55 00:03:10.240 --> 00:03:14.520 it means to be successful. She is a business consultant 56 00:03:14.639 --> 00:03:17.520 and has worked with everything from top Fortune five hundreds 57 00:03:17.520 --> 00:03:22.840 to independent entrepreneurs and she helps them get a boost 58 00:03:23.159 --> 00:03:26.080 in their outlook on what they're doing and their vision 59 00:03:26.199 --> 00:03:29.560 and their strategies to take their business to the next level. 60 00:03:29.719 --> 00:03:32.280 She really helps a lot of people from many diverse 61 00:03:32.360 --> 00:03:37.240 backgrounds realize their potential engage in more rewarding lives and careers. 62 00:03:37.599 --> 00:03:39.639 She has a book out called Give Me a Boost. 63 00:03:39.639 --> 00:03:42.199 It's an easy, slim read with a lot of interesting 64 00:03:43.000 --> 00:03:46.560 insights and tips to help underresource business owners like yourself 65 00:03:46.759 --> 00:03:50.520 and sometimes like me, who are onto person heart but 66 00:03:50.599 --> 00:03:53.919 sometimes just feel they need a little extra help and 67 00:03:54.039 --> 00:03:57.400 insights and motivation to get to that next level, as 68 00:03:57.439 --> 00:03:59.680 they say, get that boost. So we're gonna be talking 69 00:03:59.719 --> 00:04:02.159 about everything you may want to know. If you were 70 00:04:02.199 --> 00:04:05.199 starting out as an entrepreneur, maybe you have a business, 71 00:04:05.560 --> 00:04:08.280 but you just got to take it to that next level. 72 00:04:08.360 --> 00:04:11.960 And you're saying, now what, Jackie P. Taylor, Welcome to 73 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:13.319 Fearless Fabulous You. 74 00:04:14.840 --> 00:04:16.040 Thank you for having me. 75 00:04:16.160 --> 00:04:17.680 I'm so excited to be on with you. 76 00:04:18.120 --> 00:04:20.920 Well, I'm curious and I always start this way, Jackie. 77 00:04:21.399 --> 00:04:24.439 Tell me a little bit about your personal and professional background, 78 00:04:24.519 --> 00:04:27.360 starting with where you raised, your raised and your education 79 00:04:27.600 --> 00:04:30.040 and your early career because most people, let's face it, 80 00:04:30.079 --> 00:04:32.879 don't start out as young youngs. You're saying, I want 81 00:04:32.879 --> 00:04:35.639 to help businesses build business build their businesses. 82 00:04:35.680 --> 00:04:37.879 So give me a sense of your career journey. 83 00:04:39.040 --> 00:04:41.000 Sure, So just to tell you who I am, I 84 00:04:41.040 --> 00:04:44.600 am a diversity enthusiast. I am guided by my passion 85 00:04:45.079 --> 00:04:48.319 and I'm energized by helping other people. That's at my core. 86 00:04:49.199 --> 00:04:52.879 I grew up in Brooklyn, New York. And it's funny 87 00:04:52.879 --> 00:04:55.560 that you say that people don't start out saying they 88 00:04:55.560 --> 00:04:58.079 want to own businesses. One of the first things that 89 00:04:58.240 --> 00:05:02.519 I remember, one of my young memories in Brooklyn, there 90 00:05:02.600 --> 00:05:05.240 was a store that sold these car radios. This is 91 00:05:05.279 --> 00:05:07.480 back in the days when you had to like bring 92 00:05:07.519 --> 00:05:09.519 your car radio in and out of your car. So 93 00:05:09.600 --> 00:05:13.199 I'm dating myself, and they were selling these car radios, 94 00:05:13.199 --> 00:05:15.920 and so in the trash just outside of the store 95 00:05:16.360 --> 00:05:20.199 they had the plastic containers that the car radios came in. Well, 96 00:05:20.319 --> 00:05:23.519 I was about eleven years old, maybe ten, and I 97 00:05:23.560 --> 00:05:26.279 thought that this was like a huge find. I got 98 00:05:26.279 --> 00:05:28.360 my best friend and I we took all of these 99 00:05:28.360 --> 00:05:31.240 car radio you know, compartments, and we went door to 100 00:05:31.319 --> 00:05:35.360 door in Brooklyn Schenectady Avenue and I was basically selling 101 00:05:35.639 --> 00:05:39.439 these you know bags, you know, as anything you can 102 00:05:39.519 --> 00:05:41.519 use it for, as type of things. And I just 103 00:05:41.600 --> 00:05:44.040 remember this one neighbor thing. You know, you can keep it, 104 00:05:44.199 --> 00:05:46.319 but I'm going to give you five dollars. So I 105 00:05:46.639 --> 00:05:49.000 don't know, I've been I've been entrepreneuring for a while. 106 00:05:49.360 --> 00:05:51.639 I'm impressed by that. And you were doordered or salesman 107 00:05:51.680 --> 00:05:52.360 which you know I did. 108 00:05:52.759 --> 00:05:55.000 I did that in Atlanta when I was first starting 109 00:05:55.000 --> 00:05:57.519 out and desperately needed money because I hadn't gotten my 110 00:05:57.600 --> 00:05:59.920 break in writing, and I had to sell door to 111 00:06:00.120 --> 00:06:04.480 door cable TV subscriptions on Beauford Highway, which, if you know, 112 00:06:04.519 --> 00:06:06.160 a thing of Atlanta is just like wall the wall 113 00:06:06.199 --> 00:06:08.160 apartment come back. 114 00:06:08.240 --> 00:06:08.519 Wow. 115 00:06:09.279 --> 00:06:11.720 And my parents dissed me so bad. 116 00:06:11.800 --> 00:06:14.199 But I made some money and I learned how to 117 00:06:14.199 --> 00:06:16.160 be fearless in selling. 118 00:06:16.680 --> 00:06:19.160 It built a lot of fearlessness in me about sales. 119 00:06:19.199 --> 00:06:20.480 And that's important, right. 120 00:06:20.399 --> 00:06:22.399 Because you've got to be able to sell yourself and 121 00:06:22.519 --> 00:06:24.360 your product, your service, right, Jackie. 122 00:06:25.480 --> 00:06:28.000 Yeah, you learn grit, right, you learn grit. You learn 123 00:06:28.000 --> 00:06:30.199 how to make something out of nothing, and you know 124 00:06:30.240 --> 00:06:32.959 from what your situation and mine, you definitely learn to 125 00:06:32.959 --> 00:06:35.160 deal with rejection. Because I'm sure we both got a 126 00:06:35.160 --> 00:06:35.680 few notes. 127 00:06:36.680 --> 00:06:37.959 Oh yeah, I got a lot of a lot of 128 00:06:38.000 --> 00:06:39.759 nose and a lot of dogs trying to stiff my crotch. 129 00:06:39.800 --> 00:06:42.000 I was like dodging big dogs all the time. It 130 00:06:42.120 --> 00:06:44.319 was like good away from me. It was crazy. 131 00:06:44.560 --> 00:06:47.480 So what was your what was your first career break 132 00:06:47.519 --> 00:06:49.560 when you well, where'd you go to school? And tell 133 00:06:49.560 --> 00:06:51.839 me about your education and then your career break. 134 00:06:53.040 --> 00:06:53.360 Sure. 135 00:06:53.480 --> 00:06:56.399 So just since we're on this Virginia theme, I actually 136 00:06:56.480 --> 00:06:59.560 attended boarding school for high school in Richmond, Virginia. Who 137 00:06:59.600 --> 00:07:01.639 I did have my days in Virginia. So I agree 138 00:07:01.800 --> 00:07:03.560 the great state of Virginia it should be on the 139 00:07:03.639 --> 00:07:08.839 visit list. I actually got a full scholarship to Adelphi University. 140 00:07:09.399 --> 00:07:13.720 And I have always been the person that wants to work. 141 00:07:13.839 --> 00:07:17.160 I have had no patients. I've learned patients over the years. 142 00:07:17.480 --> 00:07:19.160 I had no patients, and so I did a lot 143 00:07:19.199 --> 00:07:22.680 of interning. I ended up getting my first job with 144 00:07:22.839 --> 00:07:26.720 ABC News Radio, and I interned. You know, I was 145 00:07:26.759 --> 00:07:29.879 competing against the other desk assistance. If you if you 146 00:07:29.920 --> 00:07:32.079 were in media, you understand that you kind of work 147 00:07:32.120 --> 00:07:34.839 your way up from coffee to getting b roll and 148 00:07:34.959 --> 00:07:37.879 sound on tape. And I did that. But because I 149 00:07:37.920 --> 00:07:42.360 had self taught technology backgrounds, I was helping ABC News 150 00:07:42.399 --> 00:07:44.920 Radio and the team there with their station calls. Right, 151 00:07:44.959 --> 00:07:47.360 we would do those morning show prep calls, and so 152 00:07:47.439 --> 00:07:51.199 I helped them with their Microsoft Access database. And so 153 00:07:51.279 --> 00:07:53.279 at the end of the internship, we were all buying 154 00:07:53.399 --> 00:07:56.639 for jobs. I was not ready to graduate yet, mind you, 155 00:07:56.759 --> 00:07:59.560 but we'll get to that. We were buying for jobs, 156 00:07:59.720 --> 00:08:02.560 and I ended up getting the job. They actually created 157 00:08:02.639 --> 00:08:05.920 a role in talk show prep Morning show talk Prep, 158 00:08:06.079 --> 00:08:07.560 and they said, well, wait a minute, when do you 159 00:08:07.600 --> 00:08:09.199 get your degree. I was like, Oh, I'll get it 160 00:08:09.240 --> 00:08:12.399 next semester. I'll get it next semester. So, with my 161 00:08:12.519 --> 00:08:17.199 full scholarship to my parents dismay, I left Adelphi. 162 00:08:17.079 --> 00:08:19.720 Oh Go, joined the workforce. 163 00:08:19.319 --> 00:08:24.079 And so ultimately I got my bachelor's degree from Mercy College, Dobbsbury, 164 00:08:24.199 --> 00:08:27.680 New York. But my path was not a traditional path, 165 00:08:27.759 --> 00:08:28.480 to say the least. 166 00:08:29.560 --> 00:08:31.360 You know a lot of people sorry, and you know 167 00:08:31.920 --> 00:08:34.320 it's an important message to everybody out there. You don't 168 00:08:34.320 --> 00:08:37.200 have to follow the traditional path. There will be people 169 00:08:37.279 --> 00:08:40.960 along the way, hiring managers and HR other HR people 170 00:08:40.960 --> 00:08:43.960 who look for that traditional path. But some of the 171 00:08:44.039 --> 00:08:47.080 people I most admire and business did not follow it. 172 00:08:47.120 --> 00:08:51.799 They followed their gut and their instinct and their why right. 173 00:08:53.559 --> 00:08:57.960 And more and more organizations today, I know Big four 174 00:08:58.000 --> 00:09:02.159 consulting firms, a lot of the tech firms have gotten 175 00:09:02.159 --> 00:09:04.919 a rid of the requirement that you have a bachelor's degree. 176 00:09:04.919 --> 00:09:07.679 I think I saw an article just today that Kellogg. 177 00:09:08.480 --> 00:09:11.960 Actually is now hiring and not requiring a bachelor's degree. 178 00:09:12.039 --> 00:09:13.879 So I think, you know, I was ahead of my 179 00:09:13.960 --> 00:09:14.519 time with that. 180 00:09:14.639 --> 00:09:16.240 It wasn't as easy, but you're right. 181 00:09:16.360 --> 00:09:18.679 Time have changed, you know, Jackie. 182 00:09:18.759 --> 00:09:21.080 That's encouraging because I was with a good friend up 183 00:09:21.120 --> 00:09:22.879 in the Hudson Valley who was lamenting. 184 00:09:23.960 --> 00:09:25.000 She neats coaching. 185 00:09:25.480 --> 00:09:27.039 I can't get a job because I don't have a 186 00:09:27.080 --> 00:09:28.960 college degree. And I look straight he and I said, 187 00:09:29.000 --> 00:09:32.120 you know, Bill Gates, Mark. 188 00:09:31.960 --> 00:09:34.399 Zuckerberg, that is that is not your barrier? Did you 189 00:09:34.440 --> 00:09:34.919 tell her that that? 190 00:09:35.360 --> 00:09:37.559 Yeah, I just said that is not your barrier. I said, 191 00:09:37.559 --> 00:09:40.200 your barrier is up in between your ears. I said, 192 00:09:40.279 --> 00:09:42.360 you know, you got to you gotta, like, you know, 193 00:09:42.600 --> 00:09:44.320 change what's inside your head. 194 00:09:44.799 --> 00:09:46.879 And a lot of it is that when you're coaching, 195 00:09:47.559 --> 00:09:48.000 don't you. 196 00:09:47.960 --> 00:09:53.039 Think I think that on one, it's a mindset. I 197 00:09:53.080 --> 00:09:55.679 am big on I mean people use the term manifestation. 198 00:09:56.320 --> 00:10:00.000 Back before people were using that term. I was always 199 00:10:00.039 --> 00:10:02.720 big on visioning, right, and so I set a vision. 200 00:10:02.759 --> 00:10:06.960 I set a goal, and I had this fearlessness you 201 00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:10.080 know that it was going to happen. And even to 202 00:10:10.159 --> 00:10:13.879 this day, I had vision boards from Melanie from years ago, 203 00:10:14.240 --> 00:10:16.320 and so it may not have occurred in that year, 204 00:10:16.759 --> 00:10:19.679 but maybe like a couple of years later, or it 205 00:10:19.759 --> 00:10:22.519 happens in its own time. But I'm really big on 206 00:10:22.639 --> 00:10:24.519 making sure that you vision and you get your mind 207 00:10:24.559 --> 00:10:25.279 in the right place. 208 00:10:25.879 --> 00:10:29.080 Well, I completely agree, and I rely on vision boards 209 00:10:29.120 --> 00:10:31.399 a lot, and I've changed my vision over the years 210 00:10:31.480 --> 00:10:34.759 quite frequently. And then I also will sometimes lie in 211 00:10:35.039 --> 00:10:38.279 the morning and while I visualize my day, I also 212 00:10:38.399 --> 00:10:41.440 visualize any mental barriers they're standing in my way in 213 00:10:41.480 --> 00:10:43.399 the long term and how to break through them. And 214 00:10:43.440 --> 00:10:47.200 it's actually been a great mental exercise to kind of 215 00:10:47.200 --> 00:10:49.720 rethink many many things in your. 216 00:10:49.559 --> 00:10:50.720 Book give me a boost. 217 00:10:51.200 --> 00:10:53.320 A lot of it I knew because I've had businesses 218 00:10:53.360 --> 00:10:56.120 and you know, I come from like the entrepreneuri background. 219 00:10:56.159 --> 00:10:58.440 But you said something in there that really resonated. 220 00:10:57.960 --> 00:11:02.519 With me because I closed my business after going through 221 00:11:02.919 --> 00:11:06.480 breast cancer treatment, my main business, which was a fairly 222 00:11:06.519 --> 00:11:11.639 successful marketing and culinary events agency in New York City. 223 00:11:10.840 --> 00:11:14.240 I was like the person that you wanted to be 224 00:11:14.639 --> 00:11:17.240 when you grew up, I have to say, and then 225 00:11:17.759 --> 00:11:20.039 you know, I get the breast cancer diagnosis, I go 226 00:11:20.120 --> 00:11:24.200 through chemo so fearful. Remember that word that I'm going 227 00:11:24.240 --> 00:11:26.159 to lose all my business that I hid it from 228 00:11:26.440 --> 00:11:29.120 everybody for two years, soldier through and then at the 229 00:11:29.200 --> 00:11:33.879 end of it said I am so done. And for 230 00:11:33.919 --> 00:11:39.480 a while I was freelancing, And man, that's really different, 231 00:11:39.600 --> 00:11:42.200 you say, and give me a boost. There's a big 232 00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:46.080 diss being a freelancer and an entrepreneur because they're both 233 00:11:46.240 --> 00:11:47.600 in many cases self employee. 234 00:11:47.639 --> 00:11:50.000 But they're very different. So I want you to define that. 235 00:11:51.320 --> 00:11:52.639 Yeah, very different. 236 00:11:52.799 --> 00:11:57.320 So I always say entrepreneurs are absolutely business owners, but 237 00:11:57.440 --> 00:12:00.960 a business owner is not necessarily an entrepreneur or a 238 00:12:01.000 --> 00:12:03.720 business owner. And both an entrepreneur and a business owner 239 00:12:03.759 --> 00:12:06.639 are independent, autonomous. 240 00:12:05.960 --> 00:12:07.720 Have a vision, risky. 241 00:12:08.679 --> 00:12:13.120 But for an entrepreneur it's different. You are building something 242 00:12:13.159 --> 00:12:16.679 bigger than yourself. You want to work yourself and build 243 00:12:16.720 --> 00:12:20.120 yourself out of the day to day operations and administryvia 244 00:12:20.440 --> 00:12:23.600 and focus on the bringing someone in and a succession 245 00:12:23.639 --> 00:12:24.759 plan under you. 246 00:12:24.759 --> 00:12:26.120 You want more than one location. 247 00:12:26.639 --> 00:12:30.000 You want to diversify your products and your services. You 248 00:12:30.039 --> 00:12:32.759 want to you have aspirations of significant growth. 249 00:12:33.759 --> 00:12:36.799 So although you are a business. 250 00:12:36.399 --> 00:12:41.120 Owner, you are an entrepreneur because you're building something bigger. 251 00:12:41.559 --> 00:12:45.080 When you are self employed or a business owner, you 252 00:12:45.279 --> 00:12:48.080 still have many of those same attributes, but it doesn't 253 00:12:48.120 --> 00:12:50.080 need to grow you. It doesn't need to grow to 254 00:12:50.120 --> 00:12:53.919 some you know, scaled level. You're fine working in your 255 00:12:53.919 --> 00:12:57.159 business every day. I use the example of a plumber 256 00:12:57.159 --> 00:13:00.440 who's self employed and doing really well. You're like Atrician, 257 00:13:00.720 --> 00:13:04.120 a salon owner, and they're happy. They don't necessarily want 258 00:13:04.159 --> 00:13:06.480 to get to the point where they have like multiple 259 00:13:06.600 --> 00:13:10.039 locations and multiple teammates. They're happy doing a day to 260 00:13:10.120 --> 00:13:12.559 day and I think that's the biggest differentiator. 261 00:13:14.000 --> 00:13:17.840 Very good explanation, and I completely and entrepreneurs are builders. 262 00:13:18.679 --> 00:13:21.000 They like to build. They're restless. I mean, there's that 263 00:13:21.240 --> 00:13:22.559 entrepreneurial itch. 264 00:13:23.600 --> 00:13:26.200 Because most right it's like an itch. 265 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:29.039 Like you said, you love to work. I can't stop working. 266 00:13:29.200 --> 00:13:31.200 You know, people even this morning, I was writing a 267 00:13:31.200 --> 00:13:34.600 post about our show today and you know we're with relatives. 268 00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:37.480 They're like, you're always working. It's like, I I like it. 269 00:13:38.039 --> 00:13:42.200 I it's an itch to build and create. And if 270 00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:45.200 you got that itch, do scratch it because you may 271 00:13:45.200 --> 00:13:49.120 be doing some amazing things. What are some essential tools 272 00:13:49.159 --> 00:13:51.519 and tactics. This is a good one because I know, 273 00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:54.080 I know when I hung my shingle, I just said 274 00:13:54.120 --> 00:13:56.080 I'm in business. I had no plan other than I 275 00:13:56.120 --> 00:13:57.759 didn't want to work for anybody else. So when I 276 00:13:57.799 --> 00:14:01.080 started my business, I did not want want to work 277 00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:04.039 for anyone else. So that was my drive, not I 278 00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:06.519 want to build something. I just wanted to do it 279 00:14:06.799 --> 00:14:09.279 my way and better. 280 00:14:10.360 --> 00:14:12.440 That was my drive. My way. 281 00:14:12.519 --> 00:14:14.799 Yeah, and I. 282 00:14:14.759 --> 00:14:17.200 Think that that is a lot of the motivation for 283 00:14:17.320 --> 00:14:21.000 a lot of self employed people and business owners. You know, 284 00:14:21.120 --> 00:14:22.840 you want to do it your way. You have a 285 00:14:22.919 --> 00:14:25.240 vision on how things to get done need to get done. 286 00:14:25.440 --> 00:14:28.480 I think essentially in order to do that, there's some 287 00:14:28.600 --> 00:14:30.799 bras packs and we're going to just talk Melanie around 288 00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:34.360 just launching and not necessarily growing and scaling to launch, 289 00:14:35.120 --> 00:14:38.879 having that vision, understanding that it's something that could be profitable. 290 00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:41.559 So basically people will pay you for the product or 291 00:14:41.559 --> 00:14:44.960 service that you bring into market. Essential is a business plan, 292 00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:47.720 and I know that's debatable to some people. 293 00:14:47.960 --> 00:14:50.399 I started my business, I didn't have the business plan. 294 00:14:50.919 --> 00:14:53.039 If you want to do it right, it is essential 295 00:14:53.080 --> 00:14:55.720 to have a business plan, and so I think that 296 00:14:55.840 --> 00:15:00.919 plan is important. And then having an execution STRATG is important. 297 00:15:01.159 --> 00:15:03.360 So unlike the lottery where you just need a dollar 298 00:15:03.399 --> 00:15:06.519 and a dream. If you are looking to start a business, 299 00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:08.600 you need a proposal for what you're going to get 300 00:15:08.600 --> 00:15:10.720 going and a plan for getting it done. 301 00:15:10.840 --> 00:15:13.559 And if you're looking to get funding for your business, 302 00:15:13.759 --> 00:15:16.440 if you need funding, you need that plan and you 303 00:15:16.480 --> 00:15:19.360 need that. You need that plan, You need a proposal, 304 00:15:19.720 --> 00:15:20.919 and you need a timeline. 305 00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:21.240 Right. 306 00:15:22.519 --> 00:15:25.399 Yeah, you not only need the plan to formally apply 307 00:15:25.600 --> 00:15:29.519 for funding sources, whether that's a bank loan or a grant, 308 00:15:29.639 --> 00:15:32.559 et cetera, but that plan is going to help you 309 00:15:32.639 --> 00:15:35.440 codify the idea in your head. So I have online 310 00:15:35.519 --> 00:15:39.399 through my social Jackie P. Taylor, I'm on a mission 311 00:15:39.399 --> 00:15:41.639 to talk to ten thousand business owners about what they 312 00:15:41.679 --> 00:15:44.320 need to grow and scale their business. And I cannot 313 00:15:44.360 --> 00:15:47.120 tell you how many business owners I talk to who 314 00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:51.240 cannot cleanly articulate within less than a minute let's say 315 00:15:51.720 --> 00:15:54.559 what their business is, what's going to help them grow, 316 00:15:54.759 --> 00:15:56.519 and what their vision is for where they can see 317 00:15:56.519 --> 00:15:59.440 their business going. I get a lot of that's a 318 00:15:59.440 --> 00:16:02.799 really good questionquestion, And so I know also that that 319 00:16:02.879 --> 00:16:06.080 those are the individuals who delay in answering those questions, 320 00:16:06.440 --> 00:16:09.000 are the ones who haven't formally put a business plan together. 321 00:16:09.039 --> 00:16:11.320 Because if you had then you would be able to 322 00:16:11.399 --> 00:16:13.360 articulate that a lot, a lot more easily. 323 00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:15.639 It's so interesting, Jackie, because that's the people I want 324 00:16:15.679 --> 00:16:18.559 to help, because I come from the communications background. My 325 00:16:18.679 --> 00:16:21.399 company was started out in public relations, a good old 326 00:16:21.399 --> 00:16:24.360 fashioned way pitching media. But it grew because I grew 327 00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:27.720 and I had a plan to become the best events 328 00:16:27.799 --> 00:16:31.320 culinary events company in the United States, and to be 329 00:16:31.399 --> 00:16:33.879 the best at what I did in every aspect and diversify. 330 00:16:33.960 --> 00:16:36.440 And I diversified and I grew because you got to 331 00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:39.799 expand you've got to add people and teams. But I 332 00:16:39.879 --> 00:16:42.960 want to help people who cannot articulate because I find 333 00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:46.600 that the communication skills of most people, much less most 334 00:16:46.679 --> 00:16:52.440 business people, most less most business owners is weak flat 335 00:16:52.480 --> 00:16:53.080 out week. 336 00:16:53.399 --> 00:16:54.519 I think you're spot on. 337 00:16:54.679 --> 00:16:56.919 I think you're spot on, And working with someone like 338 00:16:56.960 --> 00:17:00.679 yourself also helps them make the decisions that I compel 339 00:17:00.799 --> 00:17:02.679 many of them to make, which is, you know, it 340 00:17:02.679 --> 00:17:05.799 may be a matter of honing your communication skills one percent, 341 00:17:06.160 --> 00:17:08.599 but then it also may be working with someone like 342 00:17:08.640 --> 00:17:11.039 yourself may help you determine that maybe I am not 343 00:17:11.079 --> 00:17:13.240 the face of the business, maybe I am not the 344 00:17:13.319 --> 00:17:15.519 voice of the business, and maybe it makes more sense 345 00:17:15.839 --> 00:17:18.039 for me to hire or bring someone else on board 346 00:17:18.400 --> 00:17:21.079 to be that front facing person while I work on 347 00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:24.039 the vision and tightening up the operation exactly. 348 00:17:24.119 --> 00:17:27.440 And if you're a numbers person or a tech geek, 349 00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:31.160 you may not be the best communicator of what your 350 00:17:31.160 --> 00:17:34.160 mission is and more importantly, identifying who your audience is 351 00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:35.400 and communicating to them. 352 00:17:35.440 --> 00:17:36.960 We've all seen major. 353 00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:41.680 Gaffs in businesses large and small where they've miscommunicated with 354 00:17:41.720 --> 00:17:44.039 their audiences and it's been backfired on them. 355 00:17:45.319 --> 00:17:47.640 Yeah, it's been it's been horrible. And so to me 356 00:17:47.880 --> 00:17:50.599 that the risk is so high and the consequences that 357 00:17:50.680 --> 00:17:53.240 you've described are so great that it just makes sense 358 00:17:53.359 --> 00:17:55.960 to as a leader, make the decision early. 359 00:17:56.960 --> 00:18:00.240 And don't you agree that understanding and you talk about 360 00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:01.680 the SWAT analysis, So. 361 00:18:01.559 --> 00:18:02.880 We're going to I want you to explain it. 362 00:18:02.920 --> 00:18:05.200 But in that you can understand what your weaknesses are 363 00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:06.559 and where you need to beef up and get the 364 00:18:06.559 --> 00:18:10.480 best people. So for those who don't understand a SWAT analysis, 365 00:18:10.519 --> 00:18:12.480 I'm going to have Jackie explain it. 366 00:18:14.200 --> 00:18:14.480 Sure. 367 00:18:14.599 --> 00:18:18.200 So, a SWAT analysis is a method that you can leverage. 368 00:18:18.200 --> 00:18:20.279 And you talked about the book being very easy to 369 00:18:20.319 --> 00:18:22.319 read in the book, I have a description of a 370 00:18:22.359 --> 00:18:25.720 squad analysis, and I actually allow you to treat it 371 00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:28.720 as a workbook where you can actually fill this information 372 00:18:28.839 --> 00:18:31.599 in where you talk about your strengths that's the s 373 00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:36.200 W your weaknesses, your opportunities, and your threats. And you 374 00:18:36.240 --> 00:18:39.799 look at this both internally and externally. So what are 375 00:18:39.839 --> 00:18:43.440 your strengths and weaknesses internally as an organization, as a leader, 376 00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:46.960 what are you lacking? What this differentiates you from other 377 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:49.640 people in the market. And then what are your opportunities 378 00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:52.799 and your threats externally? And that can be anything depending 379 00:18:52.839 --> 00:18:55.079 upon when you're doing it. Like a pandemic, right, that's 380 00:18:55.079 --> 00:18:58.599 a threat and needing to pivot to going online versus 381 00:18:58.599 --> 00:18:59.119 in person. 382 00:19:00.039 --> 00:19:01.279 Could be financial threats. 383 00:19:01.559 --> 00:19:05.079 It could be competition that has you know, spawned and 384 00:19:05.119 --> 00:19:07.960 sparked up in an area where you are tapping into 385 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:10.680 the market and recognizing that you need to be prepared 386 00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:13.839 to go up against competition. And so the SWAT analysis 387 00:19:13.880 --> 00:19:17.200 gives you a comprehensive view of where you stand and 388 00:19:17.240 --> 00:19:20.240 then from that information you can put an action plan together, 389 00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:23.039 because once you identify a risk, you got to mitigate 390 00:19:23.079 --> 00:19:25.039 the risk, right, You got to have a plan for 391 00:19:25.160 --> 00:19:28.599 doing something doing something about it. 392 00:19:28.599 --> 00:19:31.119 It's so important and every business needs it and the 393 00:19:31.480 --> 00:19:35.640 other one again getting back to communication is the essential why. 394 00:19:36.319 --> 00:19:39.599 You need to be able to answer why are you 395 00:19:39.680 --> 00:19:43.240 doing this? Why is there a need? Why will it 396 00:19:43.240 --> 00:19:46.079 make a difference? And then how how will it make 397 00:19:46.079 --> 00:19:48.240 a difference, and how will be implemented and how will 398 00:19:48.319 --> 00:19:51.680 make an impact and how will you measure results? Right? 399 00:19:53.400 --> 00:19:56.240 Absolutely that that is such a great point, and you 400 00:19:56.279 --> 00:19:58.480 know in the book I kind of guide people on 401 00:19:58.480 --> 00:20:01.480