How I Got a Celebrity to Record a Birthday Video For My Mom

“Any time you give someone the opportunity to tell you no, you also give them equal opportunity to say yes.”

Don’t you love that? It shows how much opportunity and possibility you invite by just asking people for what you want. 

Let me give you an example.

Last week was my mom’s birthday, and I wanted to do something really special for her. The standard jewelry, flowers, card, blah blah blah, it just wouldn’t do. Not only is she my mom (bless her) but she’s also been one of my biggest supporters since launching The Bold Life Movement. 

No. A regular gift wouldn’t cut it. It had to be something unique. Something bold.

Then I thought of the one thing that she couldn’t go out and buy for herself. And once it came to me, I knew I had to make it happen. That "thing" was a personal birthday message from one of her favorite actors. Preferable format? Video.

To explain how I ACTUALLY pulled this off, I recorded a short Facebook Live earlier this week and laid out the whole thing. The intention behind the video is to show what is actually possible WHEN YOU JUST ASK for what you want. People will often surprise you.

This concept is so near and dear to me, that I have an entire chapter dedicated to it in my book. 

Whether it feels like a "big" ask or a "small" one (this obviously varying person to person) there are so many ways in which you can politely, and elegantly ask people in your life for what you need, or what you want.

Be it your boss, your spouse, your friends, or the flight attendant, typically you're imposing far less than you think.

I hope this message inspires you to go out and GET what you want this week. I’d love to hear about it! 

So go ahead, leave a comment below!  And tell me:  

What is something in your life this week that you can ask for?

Or in other words, how can you let people help you?

Where can you give them the opportunity to say yes?

Leave a comment and let me know!

Hugs & Love,
Kimberly

Why You Should Create a Manifesto

One of the biggest struggles that I faced early on in my business (and that I see others struggle with ALL. THE TIME.) is getting SUPER clear on what they stand for, and who they serve. 

Creating a manifesto is not only a quick way for people to familiarize themselves with your brand, but it’s also a super fun exercise. Win, win!

There are a handful of different ways you can go about creating a manifesto, and each has it’s own set of benefits for your readers. In this article, I’ll outline some of the variations you can opt for, how you can go about creating one, and then what on earth to do with it. 

First, let’s get clear on what a Manifesto is. Though manifestos can take many shapes and forms, the intention is universal.

Merriam Webster defines a manifesto as: a written statement that describes the policies, goals, and opinions of a person or group.

Essentially, this is a place for you to clarify: 

• Your core beliefs.
• What you aspire to create or embody.
• Advice for how others can do the same.
• Rules or policies that you adhere to.

This exercise is super beneficial for all parties because anyone who wishes to adopt your manifesto or abide by what’s set forth in it, will likely have  an easier time: 

• Making decisions for their own life.
• Evaluating opportunities more effectively.
• Course correcting when they get off track from their goals.
• Surrounding themselves with people who also share the same belief systems. 

“A manifesto is a great way to condense your message into a short, all-encompassing format. People can read it, print it, email it to their friends, or feed it to their dog.”

— Jeff Goins

Manifestos are digestible pieces of content that can help unite you with your followers, but also strengthen the community among them. 

Other reasons you might create a manifesto for branding purposes: 

• Helps people connect to your mission. 
• Gives people something to share. 
• You can sell it if you have an established brand. 

So you’ve decided this manifesto-business is for you... 

But what kind should you create? Do you opt for a more visual approach like the Holstee Manifesto? Or are you longer winded, and prefer to follow Jeff Goins Example. 

Short answer: choose whatever fits you and your brand the most.

If you’re appealing to writers, then maybe an ebook or PDF is more your style. If you want something that people can easily post around the web (or in their home) then a visual graphic is probably more appropriate. 

Here are a few styles you can choose from, based on what your intention may be: 

LIST

• Personal: List of goals, or experiences. This could be a bucket list
• Thought Leader/Expert: Think of these as commandments or Best Practices that your clients can live by. 
• Corporate: 

TYPOGRAPHY + IMAGERY

• Personal: Think of this as a public vision board. 
• Thought Leader/Expert: Similar to the Holstee example or The Bold Life Movement Manifesto below, this is a visual representation of your values and intentions. Corbett Barr also employs this style with his Expert Enough Manifesto.
• Corporate: This can personalize your brand more, Lululemon Manifesto is a great example. 

VIDEO

• As videos grow in popularity, this can be a really great choice for anyone looking to connect deeper with their audience. Ex: Creating a video for your about page on your blog, business website, etc.

PDF OR EBOOK

• Thought Leader: Chris Guillebeau and Jeff Goins offer great examples for their followers who are aiming to create careers in writing. 
• Corporate: Your company’s manifesto may be a summary of the mission statement, goals for the company, and a description of the world you’re looking to create through your work. 

No matter what style of Manifesto you choose to create, you have options in how you bring this baby to life. 

DIY is great for anyone bootstrapping or creating their manifesto for more personal reasons. Here are some ways you can hack it on your own:

• Visual Manifestos: You can create actually it yourself in an hour or so using tools like Canva, photoshop, microsoft word, etc. The Bold Life Manifesto you see above was created using Canva. 
• Video: You can use your iPhone or digital camera and edit in iMovie or other free video editing software. 
• PDF: These are easier than ever to personalize. Just create your documents in Word or Google Docs, print as PDF, and Voila! 

If you want to save time, or you know your design skills are lacking, you can easily outsource some of all of the options above and for not that much money. Fiverr, Upwork, & Freelance are great sources for getting help with design editing services on really any sort of project. 

Launching a brand can be daunting with all the moving parts. Simplify your life, and get clear on your vision from the start by creating a manifesto to unite your readers/followers/customers/etc, and to give cohesiveness to your message.  

***

Still struggling to nail down your message?

Unsure how to get out to the masses once you do? 

Join me (and other passionate entrepreneurs) this fall for Bold Life Business School. In just 12 weeks, we’ll take your idea from infancy to influence, and create the impact you know you’re meant for. 

Click Here to get all the deets! 

Know Your Audience - A.K.A. When to Keep Your Mouth Shut

I was hanging out in the pool this past weekend with a friend (because #laborday, and also it’s Austin, and our pools are open 10 months out of the year) and we were chatting about business and private jets. You know, the usual.

He’s a very successful entrepreneur so it’s rare that our businesses (or at least his) don’t come up in conversation.

We started talking about Tony Robbins' net worth (as you do) and his private plane, and I ended up confessing that last year I had downloaded the Jetsmarter app on my phone. My intention was to signal to the Universe that a private jet was on my list of desires and if it could be so kind as to get the ball rolling on that….

And that’s when steam started coming out of my friend's ears. 

This person is one of my closest friends; I know better than to talk to him about the woo woo side of my business and my life. I know that books like Science of Getting Rich, and Think and Grow Rich not only didn’t contribute to his success, but he thinks they’re total crap. 

Don’t worry, MANY successful people have attributed their success in part to their mindset practice and belief in the power of the law of attraction. 

But not this person. Our light conversation had now shifted and his participation in our dialogue now primarily consisted of eye rolls, nostril flares, etc. I was sure to point out both because I’m assertive and annoying like that. 

The point of this story is not to illustrate how close-minded my friend is, or how illogical I am. The point is that if mindset work and affirmations give you the necessary confidence to take action towards your goals, then DO THEM. But be cognizant of who you talk about these things with. 

If you’re reading my article, then chances are good you’ve already read Think and Grow Rich, or similar books, and understand the power of focus, intention, and affirmations. You understand that everything is just energy and we are predisposed to thrive and for the Universe to deliver to us what we need and what we ask for. 

Since you likely speak my language, listen up. It does you no good to preach about these principles to people who have no interest in hearing it. It only causes frustration for you and your friends to try and convince people of things that they firmly disagree with. 

And that’s their prerogative. This friend (and others like him) are still VERY supportive of me and my business. But in other ways. It’s important to be aware of your audience and to be intentional about what you share with them. Be it friends, family, former colleagues, etc. 

Just as you wouldn’t talk about politics with everyone in your life, it’s equally important to pick and choose who you talk to about your personal development, your beliefs, and your business goals. Some people may mean well but their form of support comes across like harsh criticism and can leave you feeling deflated and unmotivated. Again, just know your audience. 

When I first launched my business, I had one friend who openly trolled my social media posts. I don’t even think he meant it to be as malicious as it came across, I think it was his form of humor, but it was anything but supportive. And I ended up blocking him from my business page. 

You have that same right. Create boundaries to protect the things that are important to you, this includes your ideas and beliefs and goals about your business. 

I recently had a conversation with a friend about our Facebook groups for our forthcoming books, and we were discussing our process for inviting people to join. She said she had a very clear “no-invite” list, consisting of people that she knew wouldn’t be interested or supportive. And who likely wouldn’t resonate with the content enough to add or get value by being there. 

You may feel inclined to tell EVERYONE about your new business thinking that’s the best way to spread the word, but be aware that not everyone is going to get it. 

I don’t want this advice to imply that you shouldn’t post things on your personal Facebook page, and you shouldn’t share your message with the world. What I want to impart is that you should use your judgement when sharing things that are important to you, especially if they’re personal and potentially fragile like a new business idea, or a new belief system. 

Find a community of people who you can be open about these things with, and accept your existing circle for who they are. If it reaches a point that you all no longer can connect because your interests have become so polarizing then you’ll organically drift apart. But until then, know your audience, and know when to keep your mouth shut.  
 

***

Looking for a COMMUNITY of people to connect with about your new biz?

Join us in the brand new Bold Life Business School launching September 2016. Click Here to get first access and early bird pricing. 

Real Talk: What I learned in the First Year of Business.

Sitting at the coffee shop here in Austin reflecting on what has transpired in the past year, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude. Also caffeine… 

It’s so easy to sit here in the same seat where I built my website 12 months ago and think “I thought I would have hit 6-figures by now!” or “I thought I would have hosted my retreat in Bali by now!”
 
Yes, these are totally achievable goals, and a handful of new coaches hit these within a year. BUT SO MANY MORE DO NOT. 

What's more, when hitting six figures isn’t the primary goal, it makes it a really hard target to hit. My goals this past year were more about developing a recognizable brand than they were about filling my coaching program and hitting any financial goals. And that’s the truth, baby. 

The reality is, there are a million things we can tell ourselves every day to diminish our success. There are a million ways we belittle our progress and compare ourselves to other people who are “so much further than us.” 

But what good is that? Comparison-induced paralysis does us no good. The fact is, I’ve been able to create some really incredible things in the past year: 

• Successful Podcast on iTunes with thousands of listeners in over 30 countries.
• Interviews for TBLM podcast with mentors who I now call friends. 
• Speaking at the conference that inspired it all last year, World Domination Summit.
• Working on my first book (set to release end of 2016/early 2017).
• Features on other podcast and publications including Huffington Post. 

There are countless lessons I’ve learned over the past year, and I infuse each of my coaching sessions with this new knowledge to ensure that my clients can skip the mistakes I’ve made. Don’t worry, every entrepreneur will create mistakes and lessons of their own! 

Here are some of the biggest time (and energy) saving lessons I’ve been fortunate enough to go through since launching The Bold Life Movement: 

1. Put your shit out there

One of the hardest things for people launching personal brands to overcome is this fear that EVERYONE WILL JUDGE YOU. I remember being petrified to even tell my friends about The Bold Life Movement back when it was just a blog. I was afraid people would think it was lame, or narcissistic or who knows what else. 

#Truthbomb: If you’re going to create content for people to consume, if you’re going to embark on a journey of helping others, you’re going to have to embrace a necessary level of audacity to think you can actually provide value. And eventually you’re going to HAVE to hit publish, to make an offer, and to tell people about what you are doing. 

The need to be initially (and then consistently) visible has been one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned. And that’s coming from the creator of the damn bold life movement! 

Don’t let your fear of being judged keep you from reaching the people you were meant to reach. You won’t inspire anyone if they don’t know about you. 

2. Stay aligned above all else. 

There was a period in my business where I found myself emulating people who were having success in my industry, because that’s how I thought I would have success. RED FLAG. 

You might think this sounds like a really smart thing to do. But the issue lies in the fact that while they were “in my industry” their goals were not the same as mine. I mentioned earlier that my goals this past year were not based in financial growth or filling my 1:1 coaching program. If they were, I wouldn’t have started the podcast because to be frank, that’s not the fastest way to fill your coaching program. 

My goals were to create a recognizable brand (notice my domain is not my name. It is the brand that I’m focused on growing globally.) 

When your message and your business become misaligned with your true goals, everything stops. You stop feeling inspired to create, you stop attracting the people you want to attract (and start attracting the people you don’t) and everything gets so out of wack. 

I watched it happen to over a dozen other coaches I know. It goes like this: Launch brand, make money, get burnt out, realize you lost yourself and your true message along the way, go off the grid, rebrand, relaunch!

Whether you’re a speaker, a writer, a coach, or a consultant, ALWAYS be sure you’re staying true to your why. Always stay connected to this authentic drive behind your business and your brand will follow suit. 

The quickest way to lose steam is to start pretending to be something you’re not. 

How did I get back on track? Spending time with myself. Meditating, journaling, (thrashing a bit) and eventually just being honest with myself and with my followers. 

I’m super passionate about ensuring that my clients remain authentic in their branding so they never lose steam and can avoid this same mistake. I’m grateful for this lesson because it helps me to be a better personal branding coach and inspiration to people looking to be bold in their business (and in their life). The boldest thing you can do is to be unapologetically you. 

3. Be ruthless with your time. 

I truly believe that you can have everything you want in life. But the truth is, you likely can’t pursue it all at the same time. It’s going to be hard to create a new social circle, find your soulmate, lose 20 pounds AND build your business, simultaneously. 

If you’ve already got some of those areas of your life covered, awesome. But not everyone does. When you’re building things (be it relationships or a business) typically that one thing becomes the priority. 

In times of business growth, usually your social life suffers. That’s okay. Your true friends will understand that you’re not available to hang out and do nothing 7 nights a week. 

This boundary setting applies online as well. Even though Facebook messenger seems to have replaced email, your phone may be blowing up with texts 24 hours a day, and you may feel constant obligation to respond to people, you must resist. Set expectations on text, in email, and on platforms like Facebook messenger that you do NOT respond right away. 

You are busy building an empire! Be ruthless with your time! You think Marie Forleo or Seth Godin or [insert your thought leader of choice here] are spending their time responding to messages on Facebook? Ef no. 

And neither are you. Batch that sort of thing, and always remember your time is now valuable. If you don’t respect that, how can you expect other people to? 

Along the same vein, it can be really easy for new entrepreneurs to DIY every last thing. This is fine, to a degree. But please don’t make the same mistakes I’ve made. 

Don’t let yourself get sucked down the rabbit hole of custom CSS or website tweaks that seem to erase entire days. Why? Because it’s likely NOT a valuable, revenue-generating tweak that you’re making.  If it is, then calculate your worth on an hourly basis and then outsource that task as fast as possible. 

There are so many available avenues for sourcing developers, designers, copyrighters, FB ads specialists, etc. Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer.com are just a few. 

4. Follow the right people and ignore everyone else. 

Once you start connecting with people in your industry, you’ll notice something happen almost immediately. Your Facebook feed will become overwhelmingly targeted towards you and this new path you’re on. 

You’ll get daily sponsored ads inviting you to challenges, courses, and opt-ins of many different shapes and sizes. If you join a bunch of new groups, your notifications will BLOW UP with all sorts of new things that seem important and urgent and you will want to check them, and then spend hours reading all these relevant posts. 

BUT YOU MUST RESIST. 

In fact, I encourage you to unfollow all of these new friends of yours, especially if they’re creating similar things. That may seem like a dick move, but it’s not. 

Come on, would I make you look like a dick? 

The reason for this, is you will be incapable of creating your badass brand if you’re bogged down with following others’. You’ll also increase your chances of 'compare and despair', thinking you should be much further along than so-and-so.

Similarly, this is a really easy way to trigger shiny-object syndrome. These are very serious ailments and should be avoided at all cost.

If you start clicking on all these amazing FREE TRAININGS TO GROW YOUR INSTAGRAM BY ONE MILLION PEOPLE and TRIPLE YOUR TRAFFIC ON PINTEREST WITH ONE IMAGE and whatever else, then it will be super easy to keep switching gears and trying all the things. But trying all the things simultaneously does not bring you success. Focus and consistency bring you success. 

So unfollow people who distract you from your goals. 

That being said, I highly recommend listening to podcasts, reading books, or watching videos by people who inspire you. These are typically thought leaders that are much, much further along than you are, so the tendency to compare yourself to them is much less. 

Instead you feel on FIRE after listening to their content. It sends you into a state of flow. You turn off the podcast or shut the book and immediately fill a page with ideas for blog posts, videos, courses, etc. 

These people are safe. They inspire you into motion, rather than trigger a downward spiral of self doubt and distracted, ineffective action. 

For me, these people are Lewis Howes, Liz Gilbert, Marie Forleo, Jason Silva, Tony Robbins, etc. You likely already know who your people are because they are the reason you got turned onto to this new world, and your new business in the first place. 

Just ensure that for every piece of content you consume, you produce 3. Don’t put off creating because you’re too caught up consuming. 

Entrepreneurship is one of the hardest things that someone can embark on, wrought with uncertainty and never ending self analysis. If you’re brave enough to launch a personal brand, the journey comes with a whole slew of other challenges. 

The rewards though are unparalleled. Testimonials from people who have changed their lives because of an article you wrote, or a piece of advice you gave them during coaching, create more fulfillment than I could possibly convey in this one article.

If you’re one of those people who knows you have a message to share, then chances are good you should. No one can say it the way you can, and you don’t know whose lives could go unaffected if you keep it inside. Just know that you have support and you never have to face it alone. 

****

Looking for support building your personal brand?

Struggling to get your message and your brand in front of the right people? I feel you. That’s why I’m inviting a select group of people to join me in a private group program this fall. Click here to get more details and know when we launch! 
 
 
 

Networking Tips for When You're Feeling Introverted

A few weeks ago I attended the Podcast Movement Conference in Chicago. In addition to learning valuable tips for growing your podcast, part of the intention when attending something like this is to make new connections. Connections with mentors, connections with fellow podcasters, and connections with potential guests. 

But what if you just don’t feel like it? 

Yes, even an extrovert like myself can feel like hiding in my hotel room over small-talking with strangers. 

I’ve realized that despite my ability to connect quickly and easily, a lot of that is dependent on context.

How much pressure do I feel to engage?
What is the likelihood that we will be able to bond over something other than just the conference topic?
How organic will this conversation feel?
How forced? 

Since so much of anything is mindset, including networking, I wanted to highlight some ways that you can set yourself up for connection success even when you’re not feeling particularly social.

Whether you’re a natural introvert, or just not feeling very outgoing, following some (or all) of these tips can pull you out of your shell and help you make the most of any conference or event.

1. Talk to Vendors & Sponsors.
One of the easiest ways to get warmed up is to engage with the booth vendors. This is helpful for a couple reasons. First, they're there to help you and/or sell you on what they have to offer. This can make it feel like you have the upper hand in these conversations. Having that slight feeling of authority can help you relax because you can guide the conversation without worrying about whether or not you're actually "connecting" with them. Though, to be honest, it's much more fun if you do! 

One of the reasons it's so fun to talk to vendors is because they've been sitting there all day saying the same thing over and over. If you can be the one person who comes to their table, makes them laugh, and breaks their pattern a little bit with some banter, it's better for everyone. 

Here's a pic of me and the guys at the Zenolive booth (A company that gives podcasters a phone number that listeners can call to hear the 5 most recent episodes. This is great for listeners who aren't particularly tech savvy, or individuals who would rather use minutes than data). This vendor booth was by far my favorite. We had a great rapport, and immediately felt like friends. My time with them was well spent and I was easily more open to chat with other attendees after visiting their booth. 

2. Go with a Buddy. 
While it can be easily to use a conference buddy as a crutch to avoid engaging with other attendees, it can also be really beneficial. If you can convince a friend to attend with you, then it can be easier to approach other groups or people. You'll also have a go-to person when you need to sit and mentally recharge. Nothing wrong with that! 

Having a friend in tow can also increase your odds of connecting with people and making post-conference plans because you can divide and conquer. He or she may connect with people that you could benefit from meeting, and vice versa. 
 

3. Attend un-conference Events. 
At most conferences, there are a slew of activities and meetups not on the printed schedule. These can be planned, or spontaneous, but both are beneficial in their own right. I find that even when you're feeling zonked after a day of seminars, rallying to go out and grab dinner or a drink usually proves to be fruitful. This is when everyone can let their hair down a bit, and when you can really connect with people on a more human level. 

It's in these times that friendships, partnerships, and the best memories from the event are formed. 

4. Give yourself some recharge time. 
Know thyself. If you're someone who feels like a million bucks after a 20 minute nap, by all means nap. Protip: this is where staying at the conference hotel can come in handy. 

If you get cranky from four straight days of airconditioning and artificial light, then get that ass outside. There's nothing wrong with taking a solo stroll through the park, to get some vitamin D and process what you've learned and who you've met. 

There's no "right" way to do conferences, and everyone's needs are different. For some people, the structured networking inherent with events like this is preferred to the after-hours happy hour vibe that feels more comfortable to others. The trick is to listen to your body, and do what works best for you. Knowing that ultimately you want to get the most out of your experience, don't let you be the reason you don't connect with people. 

Let me know what you think of these tips! 

And if you want even more free advice on the topic, check out my interview with Podcast Movement Speaker, Christina Canters: 

If you want even more free advice on the topic, check out my interview with Podcast Movement Speaker Cristina Canters: Networking Lessons with Kimberly Rich

10 Ways to Create a 'HIT' Podcast Episode from Pat Flynn

I recently made a somewhat last-minute decision to attend the Podcast Movement Conference in Chicago. To be frank, I was coming off of a Tony Robbins event, and I was mildly concerned that I wouldn’t be dancing, hugging, or high-fiving nearly enough, but I figured there had to be other perks, right? So I dropped the $500 on the ticket, cashed in some airline points, and I was on my way.

Since The Bold Life Movement Podcast is less than 6 months old (but already at 29 episodes!) I was confident there was something valuable there for me to learn.

Enter, Pat Flynn and his incredible breakout session. 

If you’re not familiar with Pat, he’s been in the entrepreneur and podcasting game for awhile. He’s an OG, and best known for his podcast, Smart Passive Income. 

It’s easy to get fomo during breakout style sessions because there’s so many interesting things happening at once! Should I learn about monetization, or is storytelling more important? Would it be more lucrative to learn about systems and automation or how to drive more traffic to each episode?

You can see my dilemma. Fortunately, I knew that Pat would deliver, and deliver he did. For anyone interested in Podcasting, read on. For I give you the 10 tried and tested, Pat Flynn methods for creating a HIT (Highly Intentional & Targeted) episode. 

Before we dive in, it’s important to understand the #1 rule for creating HIT episodes. If you don’t follow this rule, then you can’t be assured that each style of episode will achieve its potential.

The Golden Rule: Treat each of these episodes like an EVENT. 

What this means, is that you plan ahead. Pick a launch date and market the episode ahead of time. The goal is to create BUZZ around these episodes. You want to tease people about what’s coming. 

One way to do this effectively is to leak clips from future episodes at the end of current episodes. People love a good teaser. 

Utilize your email list, and tap into your network (and the network of your guests) to help promote. 

Share out to Social media, talk about it in FB videos, and really treat it like it’s something special. 

So, now that we know we all mean business here, on to the meat of this post. Here are the 10 ideas for creating a HIT episode, courtesy of Pat Flynn: 

1. Round up Episode
A Round up episode is a great way to engage listeners, or other podcasters for more exposure.

The concept is that you pick a central theme or topic, and have experts and/or listeners provide their perspectives. They can send in audio using something like Speakpipe.com, or submit answers via a survey. 

By engaging listeners, they feel involved and are more likely to listen to the episode and share it out. If you choose to elicit the thoughts of other podcasters, they’ll likely share the episode out to their list, which gives you more exposure. 

To beef up the episode and help it flow together, add your thoughts in between answers. For creative marketing around this episode, you can put the submitted answers on social cards for easy sharing. 

Here’s an example of this type of episode: Patflynn.com/227
 

2. Interview a Forum Owner
Pick the brain of someone who has a built in following, by interviewing a forum owner. These can be individuals with large FB groups, or leaders of Linkedin Groups, membership sites, etc. Chances are good that these guests will share the episode out with their communities, and engagement is likely to be high since those members have proven interest in the topic, and trust in that individual. 

It’s a win-win for everyone. More free content from someone the members trust, added credibility for that forum leader, and increased exposure for you! 

My recent episode with Jill Stanton from Screw the Nine to Five is a good example of this: theboldlifemovement.com/029

3. The Burst Strategy
The burst strategy is fun, because it’s like a mini series! People love binge watching or binge listening, and your show should be no exception.

What this looks like: instead of releasing one episode, you release 2 or 3 at once. Each episode is connected by a central theme or guest. 

I’ll be utilizing this strategy with my release of the two-part interview I did with Nat Eliason, coming out August 10th. Nat had so much great content to offer, that we recorded two separate episodes. The first focuses a lot on building a lifestyle business, and in the second episode we dovetail into writing, specifically about writing things that can be considered taboo. He shares his vision for the book he’s currently working on, about how men can have better sex. It’s such an interesting and personal combination of interviews and I love the idea of releasing them back to back. 

Be sure to subscribe on iTunes to get access to them when they are released on August 10th: bit.ly/tblmpodcast
 

4. Share-for-Share
Share for Share is kind of a quick win strategy. The concept is that you have someone on your show, and they return the favor. You both gain access to the others’ listeners and email list by promoting the respective shows. It’s valuable for your listeners because they get access to someone who you clearly share values with, AND they get to experience you in a different context as a guest on the other host's show. 
 

5. Contests
Promoting contests is a good way to help your episode go viral. With an app like KingSumo, listeners are motivated to share the episode with more people, because the more entries into the contest that they drive, the more entries they earn. 

You can swing this one of two ways: Promote the contest before the episode is released, and announce the winner on the show. Or promote the contest after the episode to increase how many shares you get. 
 

6. The Challenge
Challenges are a growing trend when it comes to community engagement and growing your following. Simple Green Smoothies is one of the best examples of the Free Challenge method. Multiple times a year, they create buzz around their free 30 day smoothie challenges, where they give away 30 different smoothie recipes for free via instagram.

Their followers increase, and engagement is epic because people love to share the beautiful images, the valuable content, and most of all, they love to share with their friends that they’re accomplishing something difficult. 

If you can cultivate a challenge around one of your episodes, then you can drive listenership because people will want to share their progress publicly. 
 

7. The Poster Boy Episode
The Poster Boy episode is pretty simple. Emulate someone you admire, and then talk about it. For example, I’m releasing a 2-part series next week, a la Pat Flynn, and I’m writing about it in this post. 

Another, non-podcast-related example would be the JP-Sears inspired video that I created recently. This appeals to my audience because they get to see a different, more playful side of me, but it also appeals to lovers of JP (and Tony Robbins) and that encourages shares and exposure from a new audience. 

Poster Boy episodes are also a great way to gain the attention of those people you admire, because tagging them in the social shares could catch their eye. If you can emulate your mentors AND have them share it out to their followers, even better.  
 

8. Podcast Carnival
The Carnival method, or the “mash up” method, is a bit more intensive logistically, but has the potential for a big payoff. For this type of episode, you join forces with other podcasters, and you release 4 different episodes over the course of 1 month (this is assuming there are 4 of you total). 

The intention is to pool together the hosts of similar podcasts to tackle the 'burning questions' of the collective listeners. This type of episode requires some pre-lim marketing and planning as you want listeners to submit their questions, register for the call series, and subscribe to EACH show. The result? Each of you get access to this new list of subscribers, and each show now has additional listeners subscribed on iTunes. 

Check out Pat's slide to see what I mean: 

The listeners get exposure to different show styles, and get added value in that particular genre. A possible example would be joining up with Business Podcast hosts to answer questions on all things marketing. 
 

9. Round Two - The Follow Up Episode
The Follow Up episode is great for a few different reasons. Listeners love a good “where are they now?” story, so bringing back an old guest is great for your long-time listeners, and encourages newer listeners to go back and listen to old episodes. This can also be really valuable for listeners if the original episode garnered a lot of questions and engagement. Bringing back a particular guest, or elaborating more on a specific topic, provides answers to listeners’ questions and gives them more of what they’ve proven to like. 

This is great for topics or niches that have a lot of layers, or require a lot of explanation. It can also be beneficial for past guests who are now launching a new project or book, or who want to provide updates on the projects they discussed last time they were on the show. 
 

10. Niche Specific Show
While you may think that going super niche will alienate a lot of your audience, you’d be surprised. By sporadically offering super-niche episodes, you’re showing love to a subset of listeners who may not have otherwise tuned in. Most people have a variety of interests so by attracting listeners based on one topic, you may be able to convert them into long-time listeners, and simultaneously show your broader audience that you have layers and a breadth of knowledge to share. 

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What Really Happened at the Tony Robbins Event in Dallas

Earlier this month, I experienced one of the most exhausting, and most rewarding weeks of my life (isn’t it funny how it works out like that?)

I spent 5 straight days working 17 hour days as a volunteer for the Tony Robbins event, Unleash the Power Within.

BUT THAT’S SLAVE LABOR KIM! HE DOESN’T PAY YOU??

No, if he did it wouldn’t be called volunteering. If he paid us, then we wouldn’t be donating our time and it would actually take away from the experience. It’s called contribution for a reason.

Since this particular UPW made national news with 'millions burned at the firewalk', or whatever the headlines read, I wanted to take a moment and share some behind the scenes truth about what really goes down at these events. 

I won’t address the firewalk sensationalism too much, this article did a great job of that, instead I’ll share four of my favorite moments from the event:

1. From Homeless to Hired, Meet La'Ve Jackson.

If there was ever a story to remind me of our ability to change lives in an instant, the story of La’Ve is it. As fate would have it, on the day of the UPW conference, La’Ve was posted up outside the venue selling newspapers. At nine months sober, he was doing what he could to get back on his feet and selling the Street Zines was his way of making an effort to deliver value.

When Paul, one of the UPW crew members, initially encountered La’Ve, he didn’t give him much notice. Something called him back though, and a few minutes later he learned of La’Ve’s perseverance and determination to turn his life around and get clean. 

Back inside the event Paul had the revelation that we were there in Dallas to serve people. There was no difference between this man on the street corner outside, and the thousands of participants inside who had paid to attend. So Paul took initiative to help in whatever way he could, and the results were nothing short of magic.

Paul joined up with some other crew members and together they pooled their money to buy La'Ve a ticket into the conference. My words will never be able to do justice to the joy that radiated from La'Ve, and everyone he met during those 3 days. His gratitude and willingness to play full out 100% led to some truly miraculous changes throughout the weekend. 

While attending, he was offered not one, but TWO job offers, and another attendee even gifted him access to Mastery University, which includes three future events and months personal coaching ($10,000 value).

The communication and support inside the UPW Facebook groups is unending-- It’s amazing anyone gets any work done--but because of this strong community support, I’m confident La’Ve will be held accountable to continue onward and upward. 

This was easily one of the most moving stories I’ve ever been fortunate enough to witness. Don’t take my word for it though, check out this video that was created to tell La’Ve’s story. 

If you feel inclined to support La'Ve on his journey, check out this GoFundMe that the crew created for him.

2. The Power of a Simple Smile. 

One of the side effects of crewing is that you find yourself smiling 30 hours a day. You also develop a tendency to say hi to EVERYONE and genuinely want to connect with them. I know, bizarre. 

Some of my favorite moments from the event involved connecting with people I would likely never have gotten to chat with. All possible simply because I was being open, rather than closed off and in my head, or on my phone.

During one of my many trips to the ladies' room (17 hour days mean you’re drinking LOTS of water) I started chatting with the restroom attendant, Ora. I told her she had the best earrings, and conversation ensued. I found that she was genuinely happy to be doing her job and helping us ladies do our biz in a more pleasant environment.

When I saw her later in the day, she remembered our connection, said “My friend Kim!!" and reached out to give me a hug. Cue the heart bubbles. 

This woman is trapped in a bathroom for 9 hours cleaning, she easily could have made some comment about how the paper towels go IN the bin, not on the floor next to it. But no, she was warm and joyous, and her ‘friendship’ is one of the memories I’ll cherish most about those few days in Dallas.  
 

3. When finding your tribe leads to finding true love. 

As a crew member, there are endless perks. Discounts on events, becoming best friends with Tony*, a lifetime supply of alkalizing super foods*, getting to dance on stage, behind the scenes peek at how this event goes off, etc.

Hands down, one of the best benefits of crewing is immediate access to people who share your values and are up to big things. If you’re single, it’s like a real-life dating app, but all the people who don’t get you have been filtered out. 

Stories of new romance abound, but there’s nothing like witnessing these special connections in person. On the last day of the event, at our all-hands crew meeting, we all received a special surprise as one of our crew members got down on one-knee and proposed to his girlfriend in front of everyone. Their love story began when they connected at a UPW in 2015, both adamant that they manifested the other into their lives and that our little family made it possible. 

If you’re one of those people who feels like “there’s no good guys/girls left” then I strongly encourage you to put yourself in more situations where “the good ones” are. By that I mean, join communities where you’re likely to share values with people. Surround yourself with people who want to contribute value to the world, who want to have fun, and do activities with these people that allow you to organically connect. 
 

4. Getting access to the Ultra Spiritual. 

Just as TR events draw countless opportunities for potential friendships, partnerships, romantic connections, etc. They also have the tendency to draw some established influencers and well known names in the world of business and personal development.

The Dallas event was no different, and front and center at this past UPW was none other than JP Sears from the famous youtube channel Awaken with JP.  

Many attendees snapped selfies and connected with JP over his hilarious Ultra Spiritual videos, and his graciousness was evident throughout the event. His ability to be present with each person and stay down to earth despite his recent fame was so fun to watch. No doubt attributed to his enlightened state and vegan diet...

As an ode to his work, and in the spirit of keep life light and fun, I created this JP-inspired video to help UPW attendees re-integrate back into society following the event. 

Take it with a grain of salt. (Organic, Pink Himalayan salt, of course). 

There are hundreds of memorable moments I could share from my time crewing at the TR event, but these few should offer a taste of what to expect should you ever find yourself curious about attending. 

I always love hearing others’ stories of transformation and growth (and I’m equally happy to answer any questions) so if you’ve ever been to a Tony Robbins event, or want to know more, leave me a comment below!

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Photo credit (top): Tony Robbins

The One Thing You Must Do to Achieve Any of Your Goals

Timely image via Momentum Dash. Why staring at this image daily changed my life.

Three years ago my life was completely different. I would drive an hour to and from work each day, and sit in a cube farm for sometimes up to 12 hours. Don’t worry, I’d get up to attend pointless meetings and spend frivolously at starbucks just to get some air. For the most part, though, I was heads down, and one client call away from a panic attack at any given moment. 

Growing up, I’d always had this inner voice that challenged authority, questioned the status quo, and to be fair got me into a lot of trouble... But one day, three years ago, I heard this voice loud and clear and knew she was right.

First she screamed "What the ACTUAL *F are you doing wasting your time at this office?" Then she lovingly suggested that I make a plan immediately to get out of this situation, and I dunno, start living my life the way I wanted to. 

This voice had a little encouragement from The Four Hour Work Week, but ultimately it was my own decisiveness that would change the course of my life. 

To this day, I credit my next step as the source of my success and happiness. And as the source of my knowing with certainty that we truly can create anything in our lives that we imagine. 

This one step is something that so many people skip, and yet when I tell it to you, you’re going to think it’s so obvious. 

So enough dancing around, the #1 thing that ANYONE should take when they are looking to make change in their life is to get SUPER freaken clear on EXACTLY what they want that change to be!

I told you it was obvious. I’m as perplexed as you that so many people never even make it this far.

So often people are too focused on what they don’t want, that they never even take the time to dream up what they do want, and to get so lasered in on it, that they become aware of all the opportunities popping up to make that desire a reality. 

When I decided that I wanted to move abroad, I was very clear on where. I wanted to live in Thailand. See above. I knew wanted to see that exact scene, and I knew it was possible because other people were already doing it.

To keep my mind right while I was still figuring things out, and showing up to the office each day, I made my desktop background almost the exact same image you see above, and I looked at it every single day. I day dreamed about how it would feel to sit on that island and what a liberating sense of accomplishment it would bring. 

Essentially, I was visualizing, but I didn’t know it at the time. I wasn’t really familiar with this practice yet, and just thought I was avoiding work to think of more interesting things. 

Of course, every other waking moment was devoted to taking action towards this goal, but that’s for another article. The important thing to note here is that without this crystal clear image in my mind of what I wanted, I wouldn’t have known what actions to take. 

Without communicating to the Universe what I was looking to achieve through my thoughts and  images I was surrounding myself with, it never would have known. I never would have known. It would have been so easy to just keep repeating the negative loop I’d played for so long about all the things I hated about my current situation. 

Don’t be confused, I haven't always been so aware of my desires. For months—nay years—I stayed in jobs I hated, and had a schedule I hated, and a commute I hated, and I was sure to let everyone know just how miserable I was. Other people were miserable too, so we bonded at happy hours and holiday parties. To to be honest though, if you asked me today, I wouldn’t be friends with the old me. 

She was negative and unmotivated, because she wasn’t clear on what she wanted in life. 

Don’t be like old Kim. 

Get clear on what you want.

Ask yourself these questions: Where is it, what is it, how does it feel? What kind of person has what you want, or does what you want to do? How can you act more like this person? Who are they connected with, and how can you start connecting with those people? 

Take the time to get really clear on the details, and then start surrounding yourself with reminders that this is what you want. Create a vision board, or write yourself sticky notes, or put the picture up as your desktop background. Whatever method works for you to keep your eyes on the prize. 

Just 3 months after I made the decision that I wanted to move abroad and ultimately to Thailand, I quit my job and boarded a plane for South East Asia. Three months is such a short amount of time for such a massive change to come to fruition!

Above is a picture of me on that exact beach in Krabi Thailand. Not pictured are the tears I shed as I sat on that beach at night thinking to myself “I really did it. I really freaken did it!” 

Anyone can have these moments, but they’re hard to come by if you don’t ever take the time to decide what you want. 

A [Real] Behind the Scenes Look at Being a Business Owner

Don't be fooled... It's not all photo shoots and fancy lights!

One of the biggest reasons for paralysis that many people have when it comes to starting their side hustle, or creating that dream biz, is that they think it has to be perfect. 

This perfectionism creates procrastination, and instead of just STARTING, just taking one small step toward their goal, they stay stuck. They continue talking about this big plan they have, or worse--complaining about their current situation--but they never actually do anything to change it because of their fear of not being good enough, smart enough, etc. 

The frustrating thing is that this misconception about entrepreneurs having their shit together from the get-go could NOT be further from the truth. 

Have you found yourself saying any of the following?

“But I don’t have an office/a warehouse/capital for inventory…"

“But I don’t know how to build a website…"

“But I can’t afford to hire employees…"

“But I don’t know anything about marketing…"

“But I have to hire a photographer and I can’t afford one yet…"

First things first. If you have a computer, you have an office. Congrats and welcome to 2016! 

Fortunately for the technically inept, one of the benefits of living in this day and age is that there are sooo many DIY options for creating a website, or an online presence. From Wordpress, to Squarespace, to Shopify, you can literally have a store front or blog up within hours. 

And with social media apps abound, often people can find ways to market their services, and even make sales WITHOUT a site. 

So I’m sorry to bust your bubble, but this excuse is null and void. 

What if you’re worried that your site will look ghetto because you don’t have the resources to hire a professional photographer? Got you covered. Lucky for you, there are now countless sites for accessing stock photos to supply your site, your social accounts, etc. Stocksnap.io and Pexels.com are just two that come to mind. 

The truth though, is that even your iPhone can produce internet-worthy snaps. 

Let me prove it. 

With the growing trend of people selling on amazon, I was invited recently to help a friend out by modeling for some photos that he needed for his new amazon product listing. His product samples were in, and he needed someone with a halfway decent face to pose with the products in a variety of ways.

In exchange for a free meal, I stood outside his home, in front of a white sheet and channeled my inner Chrissy Teigen (or my inner catalogue model…this is amazon after all).

The neighbors looked at us like we were crazy, as my friend swirled around me snapping pics with his iPhone. A few feet away, another friend fanned my feet with a broom to help fight off mosquitos as I dabbed drops of sweat from my forehead. It was 90 degrees outside with 80% humidity. Ah, the glamour. 

Really, there was nothing “professional” or “sexy” about the scene. It was just as ghetto as it sounds. 

But it was fun! And the truth is, with a little photoshopping, the pictures will look more than legit enough to bring in a few extra grand of passive monthly income for my friend. 

Being an entrepreneur is SCRAPPY sometimes, but that’s the reality of it. Sometimes you work so long you forget to eat, sometimes you’re answering client emails with no pants on, sometimes you literally don’t even know how you just got paid to do what you do, but because you have that fire in you, you keep going.  

Here’s another example. 3 years ago, I launched an commerce store selling watersports equipment. I remember the first time I got a sale, it was 12 a.m. Asia-time (where I was living at the time) and I was sitting in my bed wearing PJs and there’s a good chance I hadn’t showered in two days. (We call that "hustle mode").

When the notification came in, I ran into my roommate’s room screaming and pointing to my computer.

“NOW WHAT?!” I said. "Someone gave me money!" 

He looked up at me from his bed, “Fulfill their order?"

He, as you can tell, was an experienced entrepreneur. 

“OH RIGHT!!”

I ran back into my room, my heart pounding. This shit works! I thought. I snapped a selfie to document the ridiculousness of what being a real life business owner looked like (see below). 

Making that dough.

And then I fulfilled my first ever order. 

The point is that most people don’t know what they’re doing until they start. You learn along the way, you get better at copywriting, sales, website design, and knowing your customers' wants through experience. 

Since done is so much better than perfect, and we’ve shown that so many excuses we have for not starting now are just BS, then there’s really nothing left to hold you back. 

If you’ve ever wanted to create a side business, or increase your number of revenue streams through entrepreneurial endeavors, there’s never been a better time. There’s literally countless courses and services to support you.

Being an entrepreneur is messy, and the reality is that most people are faking it until they make it. So start now. Make mistakes. Fail fast. 

Find people [like me] who can support you, who can help to give you the resources you need and who can hold you accountable for your goals and ambitions.

Here are some great resources to help get you up and running quickly: 

• $100 Startup - Chris Guillebeau
• 7-day Startup - Dan Norris
• How to Build a Lifestyle Business with Anton Kraly - The Bold Life Movement Podcast, Episode 007

How to be happy when it feels like everything is going wrong

As I swung the door open to my apartment, the heat hit me like a wall. A steamy, dank, wall. I had been gone for eleven days and in my absence the air-conditioning had broken transforming my apartment into a tropical rainforest. 

I tried not to think about the fact that this was the hottest and most humid it’s been in Austin all year. What an inconvenient time this was to have my air-con flake on me.

After a long day of work, and then 8 hours of travel back to Austin this was the last thing I wanted to deal with. My bed was calling. My dog needed cuddling. (Read: I needed cuddling). She looked up at me like, “you abandoned me for long enough, and now this?" Her fur coat surely would keep her awake all night in 89 degrees. 

Even with all the windows open, the temperature would only drop by a few degrees, and the issue would have to wait until the next day to be fixed. 

I woke the following morning after an inevitably restless sleep, to find my internet had been shut off. Some issue with an expired credit card that I was never notified about. I swallowed back the tears as I sat on my couch sweating. “Everything is figureoutable, Kim. Everything is figureoutable."

As you read this article from your computer or phone, it should come as no surprise that the internet is pretty integral to the success of my career. Without it, there is no blog, no podcast, no clients. This would not do...

After a few minutes on the phone with the Internet provider, I was back up and running. I heaved a sigh of relief and immediately began stalking the property manager via email about getting the air condition fixed. I had two podcast episodes slated that day and I’d been waiting months for these interviews (one of them, years) and I didn’t want to have to cancel. 

In the end, they both had to be pushed out. 

“Not the end of the world.” I told myself. 

Instead I chose to look forward to a long catch up dinner with a close friend. But when I went to hop in my car to drive to her house, it wouldn’t start. 

You’ve got to be effing kidding me. 

I JUST purchased this car a couple months ago. And in that time, I’ve had it jumped on more than six occasions, and had it in the shop twice. I swore these issues were now behind me...

With Uber and Lyft now gone from Austin, transportation is much more limited for those without wheels of their own. 

After two failed attempts to jump my car with the help of some neighbors I reserved a Car2go, and started my walk in the 90 degree heat. 

Objectively none of the issues above are world-ending, life-shattering things. But the compounding effect of lingering stresses from the previous week, coupled with my expectations of coming home to my house as I left it, can render anyone a bit frustrated. 

So how do we deal when it feels like “nothing is going our way?” 

To say “stay positive” would feel a bit trite, so I’ll break down for you exactly how I coped. 

When I climbed in the tiny smart car, drenched in sweat,  the first thing I did was not check the mirrors, or even log into the dashboard system to start the car, and kick on the AC.

Instead, I let myself cry. I sat there, shoulders hunched, too big for this micro-car and just sobbed. Because the truth is that my body needed it. To be able to get past the stress, and frustration and choose happiness, I had to let myself release all of it first. 

So I sat there in this joke of a car and wept. 

Then I wiped my eyes, drove to my friends house, and spent the evening being as present as possible.

And here’s where I really became proactive about my emotional state...

When I got home, I wrote down all the things I had to be grateful for. Below are a few from the list:

• Kind neighbors to let me work from their house while my air conditioning was getting fixed. 
• Those same neighbors who helped me jump my car with not one, but TWO different cars. 
• Who then offered for me to just take their car! 
• A generous girlfriend to make me dinner, feed me wine, and gab with for 5 hours about all that we’d missed in each other’s lives in the past 11 days. 
• Having my air-conditioning and my internet both back up and running within 24 hours! 
• The amazing weekend I’d just had celebrating my friend’s wedding and getting to meet her gorgeous growing family. 

The following day, I did it again.

Again, I wrote down everything I have to be grateful for. 

• Landing an interview with one of the writers I admire most, Chris Guillebeau. 
• Knowing that I made that interview possible because I chose to put myself out there and trust that good things would come from it! 
• Getting to work from home and spend time with my dog. 
• On and on. 

The goal is to stay in a state of appreciation, because when you’re in this state it’s hard to feel frustrated or disappointed. 

I’ve written about the power of a gratitude practice before, and chances are I will write about it again. 

I think the trick to really getting the most from your active appreciation is to remember to give yourself space ahead of time to let yourself feel things that might not be so enjoyable or positive. 

It’s OKAY to not feel good all the time. The tricky part that so many people don’t employ is the steps to get back to good once we’ve let ourself grieve or thrash a bit.

At the time of writing this, my father hasn’t spoken to me in 5 months. We all have our shit to deal with, and sometimes that shit is overwhelming and it’s painful. But the trick is to rely on the tools in your toolbox that allow you to get back up and continue being intentional about your life and your happiness. 

It doesn’t feel good to share personal information about my family with the public, but I know that by showing that I’m human too, and my happiness is also a choice I make-- despite my circumstances-- it will better empower you to make the same choice when shit hits the fan.

Remember:

• It’s okay to let yourself experience negative emotions. 
• When you feel the world beginning to “happen to you” instead of “happen for you” recognize that, honor your body’s reaction, then put a time limit on it. 
• Give yourself a few moments to grieve and thrash and release the energy. 
• Then practice gratitude as if your happiness depends on it. (Because it does). 

How to Actually Connect with Influencers

Pictured: Kimberly Rich with Legal Expert Sarah Kornblet from SarahKornblet.com

I really wanted to name this post “How to get Chris Guillebeau to ask for your number” But it felt too clickbait-ey...

It’s also somewhat misleading. Not that that didn’t happen (because it did) but that’s not the point. 

I’m here to share how I’ve been able to successfully connect with people who inspire me, over and over, and hopefully encourage you to buck up and go out and do the same. 

Disclaimer: this is not for the lazy. Or the the faint of heart. This is not for people who are mildly interested in chatting with someone successful in their industry, or who just want something out of it, and aren’t willing to give. This is also not a magic formula that works for every person, all the time. 

But here’s how it’s worked for me...

It felt sort of serendipitous. I had been delaying for months to write the email, and hit send. I knew I wanted to tell Chris Guillebeau how much his conference WDS had impacted my life, but an email just felt so impersonal. And so not me. 

Fortunately, Chris is a busy guy, constantly putting out books. And Austin is a great destination for a book tour! So as luck would have it, he scheduled a book signing here in town to promote his new book Born For This, and I made plans to show up. 

While I could have waited in line to gush all over him, while he half listens, and half writes some inspiring but likely generic message in my new book, that just wasn’t going to cut it. I had to leave an impression. I had to really communicate the change that had come from something he created and shared with the world. 

So I created something and shared it with him...

I painted him a watercolor painting. Yep! Sound the crazy bells! (Because I don’t care). 

I created something that hopefully illustrated how genuinely grateful I was, but also a little bit about who I was. 

It helped that I was the first in line to give him this gift. I’d made the mistake at the Lewis Howes book signing of NOT being first (or last) and I wasn’t going to do that again. Protip: Chat ‘em up while they’re still fresh and energized, or linger 'til you’re the last person if you’re looking for better odds at securing a post-signing hangout. 

The exchange actually went far better than I thought. It’s super scary and vulnerable to do something different! Or to make someone something! You never know how people are going to react.

But that’s the trick. You never know how people are going to react unless you do it. 

Chris was so surprised, and impressed, and truly grateful, that he asked for my contact info on the spot. He said, he can’t keep every gift people give him, but that he’d be keeping this one. He pushed the painting to the front of the signing table and said “Let’s make sure people can see it!” (Cue cry-face emoji).

And within hours of the book signing he had texted me to say thank you. 

That’s right, someone I look up to. Someone who’s work has radically changed the trajectory of my life, was texting me to thank me! He told me to keep in touch and to let him know if he can ever support me in any way. 

It took a few minutes for me to pick my jaw up off the floor.

I can appreciate that Chris is just a person. He and I have dozens of mutual friends and he’s an incredibly down to earth human being, but this was special. It was another reminder that by being not just genuine, but authentic, you can really leave a lasting impression. 

Pictured: Chris Guillebeau & Kimberly Rich

So how did this experience compare to the other times in my life that I’ve been able to connect with people who are where I want to be? Who have large followings? Who I legit just want to be friends with? 

There’s three central themes, and 3 things you can do to move towards similar connections and relationships: 
 

1) Be Genuine

Above all else, you have to truly want the best for this other person. It’s from this desire that you’ll be able to deliver the most value, and that you’ll actually be able to connect with them. If you’re pretending to be something that you’re not, or they can smell your ulterior motive from a mile away, it won’t work. 

When I was interested in quitting my corporate job to move abroad, I reached out to anyone and everyone who was living that lifestyle. I genuinely wanted to be their friends. That came through in my messaging, and by finding common ground we connected. 

Some of those people introduced me to other entrepreneurs who would go on to hire me, host me, and even become like family over the next few years. We often joke about the early days, “Remember when I was that rando on twitter who would send you messages?? And now look at us!” And then we clink glasses and laugh like we've known each other for decades.
 

2) Be Creative

You don’t have to paint someone a picture to show your creative side. There are countless ways you can be different and stand out. 

Youtuber, Sara Dietschy recently made an epic ode to famous Vlogger and videographer, Casey Neistat. Her video taught “How to Casey Neistat a Vlog” done in pure Casey Neistat vlogging fashion, and it was SO good, that it somehow made it into Casey’s inbox. 

He was so impressed with her work, that he dedicated his Vlog that day to giving her credit and in turn growing her followers from 4,000 to 40,000 OVER NIGHT. 

Talk about ROI. 

Another great example, Podcaster Cristina Canters was able to get Pat Flynn on her show by writing a rap, and tweeting him the video as an invite.

She did her research and understood that he not only likes beatboxing, but likely gets 300-400 emails per day, and therefore a tweet had a better chance of standing out and getting added attention.

If you’re serious about leaving an impression, do your due diligence and get to know the person you’re looking to connect with. Often, if you’re already an avid follower you know more than you think. 

3) Be Persistent

If early efforts fall flat, don’t give up. Now of course, don’t go into full fledge stalker-mode--and if you do DEFINITELY don’t refer to this blog as a source of your inspiration--but instead keep yourself based in reality. Chances are, the person you’re reaching out to gets hundreds of emails, tweets, snaps, etc. per day. So if they miss yours, or don’t respond, don’t give up on life and go straight for the ben and jerry’s.

Continue to add value, continue to reach out, but look for new and different ways to do so. Maybe the mode of communication you chose doesn’t work for them. Maybe you’d be better served to meet them at an in-person event? Maybe you’re better off getting close to them, by getting close to people who are already close to them. 

Since meeting Lewis Howes at his book signing here in Austin, I’ve consistently sent him Snapchats for the past 4-5 months. I do this, because I know that someday it will pay off. I chose Snapchat, because I know he’s an avid user and he actually invites people to message him, so I don’t feel out of line.

The trick is to send things that are relevant, that are valuable, and that give him a sense of who I am and what we might have in common. And you know what? 98% of the time he responds! In fact, this weekend he even upgraded from text to video!

#progress.

One final piece of advice I have, is to be patient.

If you’re lucky enough to garner the attention of the person you admire, don’t bulldoze them with requests and ways that they can help you. How would you feel if every time you connected with someone they immediately shoved their book, or podcast, or resume in your face? You’d likely fake a phone call and high tale it out of there.

Same goes for busy, successful people. Respect their time, and respect that they don’t want to be used either. If a genuine connection forms, then they’ll be more than happy to help you out and support you in any way that they can. Work on making that genuine connection first.  

Find this helpful? Be sure to share with your peeps on Facebook and Twitter!

3 Things I Learned Celebrating my 30th Birthday

“You’re so negative” 

The words cut into me. I was 22, and days away from graduating and leaving all my friends, AND the person I was in love with, and here he was telling me that I was “so negative.” 

I later learned two things: the difference between lust and love.  And, that he was right. 

The anxiety of graduating college with no job, no plan, and no one else to commiserate with had created an anxiety inside me that manifested in the form of defensiveness, pessimism, and apparently, a general sense of “negativity”. I was one of those oddball December graduates, which meant that dozens of people who helped define me were staying back for another 6 months of partying, of getting to postpone responsibility, and of course classes and learning and what not...

I’ve never forgotten how it felt to have someone classify me as a negative person, and the older I get, the more I try to identify as anything but that. 

Turning 30, and getting the chance to reflect with close friends about who I’ve become, and how I show up in their lives, I’m insanely grateful to share that “negative” is no longer a badge a wear. I left that ugly thing in my early 20s and never looked back. 

Age has gifted me a self awareness that I wouldn’t trade for anything, and getting to celebrate my 30th with close friends, I was able to learn even more about myself AND about the needs of others. 

I’m lucky enough to have a group of friends in Austin who gather monthly for a “family dinner.” This usually entails some food theme of sorts, an opportunity for everyone at the table to share a few central things about themselves (for ex: the best part of their day) and usually a lot of wine. 

*Cheers!*

On Birthday’s though, we mix it up. Everyone goes around the table and shares their favorite memory, or what they most appreciate about the birthday boy or girl, and he or she gets to squirm in their seat, and receive the attention and love like a champ. 

So last week, 15 people, some close friends, some new friends, went around the table and shared how I’ve impacted their life. It was beyond humbling, and naturally I cried like the emotional being that I am. But it was also educational!

I learned so much about about how people perceive me, and what makes them happy. 

---

Here are three of the lessons I learned from the experience:

1. People crave community. If you can facilitate that for them, they will love you for it. 

Two of the guests on that night were friends who had recently moved to Austin. I invited them because I thought it would be fun, and thought it would be great way for them to connect with other entrepreneurs and other people I’m close to.

They explained that by welcoming them with open arms to one event after the next, including this intimate dinner, they immediately felt loved and at home in Austin. While this would be a positive experience for anyone new in town, it was especially meaningful given that they had just left a very close knit group in St. Thomas and they were nervous that sort of community would be impossible to recreate. 

I’ll be honest. I had no idea my efforts were that impactful! I genuinely wanted them around. 

Hearing this feedback though, reinforced how important it is to create this sense of belonging for people whenever possible. With this knowledge, I can do so more consciously, and hopefully by reading this post, you can too. 

Everyone wants to feel loved, to feel accepted, and to feel like they matter. If you can go out of your way to satisfy these needs for people, and to give them a sense of belonging, they will love you for it. And then maybe they will tell you at your birthday.

2. It can be important and powerful to hear how you show up in the world.

This is not to say “you should care what other people think” or “Only do things for the reward of feedback and praise” but instead, it’s to highlight the productive effects feedback can have. 

If I know that by doing X, I make the people around me feel good, I’m damn well going to do more of X. 

Think of it as market research for your social life. I’m confident that my presence in the world errs much more on the positive side, than the negative these days, because I recognize the work I’ve done on the inside. But hearing my friends echo that back to me reinforces the behavior. There’s nothing wrong with gauging from loved ones how you show up in the world and in their life. 

As with anything, use discretion when deciding who to solicit feedback from, but see if you can create opportunities in your life to do so. Family Dinners, special date nights, etc. If you can preface the request with an offer to do the same for the other person (AKA share with them what you most appreciate about them) chances are they’ll say yes. Unless they’re still working on their ability to receive words of affirmation, in which case you have my permission to sneak it in ; ) 

 

3. Know that your affect on people extends beyond what you can see.

Keep creating. Keep putting content out there, or contributing in whatever way you are meant to. You affect people even when you may be completely unaware of it. 

One of the most surprising pieces of feedback that I received was praise and support for my brand, The Bold Life Movement, and the impact it’s having. 

This was SUCH a good reminder, that even if people aren’t “liking” something on Facebook, even if they’re not a paying client, even if you don’t talk to them every day, they see you. 

This notion that people are being impacted without my knowledge is a fantastic reminder to KEEP WRITING. KEEP PRODUCING. 

This can apply to both business, and social dynamics though. For example, you may be having a conversation with someone and unbeknownst to you, someone else nearby is affected. Be it positively or negatively, your energy and your words penetrated their peripherals and they are now changed because of you.

Your effect on people is far beyond what you can even begin to imagine. 

So always be aware that people are listening, and people are watching (in a non-creepy way of course, but sometimes in a creepy way too) and try to show up in a positive way as much as possible.

If you’re someone who creates content to share with the world, keep doing that. Don’t let the ebbs and flows of likes, caused by the Facebook algorithm keep you from creating. You never know who needed to read that post, or hear that message. 

The One Thing You Can Work on Every Day to Have a Better Life

Think of a time in your life when things were at an all time low. Where it felt like every little thing was happening to you and nothing was happening for you. Where your energy was low, overwhelm was high, and hope was essentially non-existent. This could be attributed to a break up, a lousy job, family issues, or maybe all of the above simultaneously!

Now, just for kicks, think of a time in your life when things were at their best. Maybe you were cruising at work, and your boss was recognizing you for all your efforts. Maybe you were in a passionate, fun, loving relationship. Maybe you were traveling a lot, or a part of a really fun friend group that left you feeling supported and brought lots of laughter to your life.

Whatever it was that you felt fulfilled by, remember that time. 

How did your outlook on life differ in those times? 

In scenario one, were you cycling through disempowering feelings like frustration, impatience, inadequacy, or even helplessness? Did you spend majority of your time in these mental states? 

Likely, the answer is yes. 

What about scenario two. When things were reallllly jiving for you, were you primarily living in emotions of joy, inspiration, motivation, and gratitude? 

You see where I’m going with this? 

You may think, duh Kim, my life was on POINT, of course I was happy. When things were shitty, of course I felt low. Everything bad that could happen to me was!! 

But let me paint you a picture. 

3 years ago, I was working 12-14 hour days at a job that no longer suited me. My clients were miserable, which in turn made me miserable (or so I thought). I felt undervalued, unmotivated, and stuck. I was living at my mom’s house because I didn’t want to sign another lease, knowing in my gut that the Washington DC area wasn’t right for me anymore, and my desire to live abroad was stronger than ever. 

I felt trapped and helpless and the more I played these songs in my head, the more they rang true. 

But then, something happened. 

Within a span of 3 months, I connected with an entirely new community of people, who were located all over the world. I landed a new position which would afford me the ability to travel full time. Thousands of dollars came to me unexpectedly and I was able to pay off lingering debt. 

How did all this seemingly good fortune happen so suddenly? 

The truth is simple. I decided it would. And by deciding, my entire emotional state shifted. 

NOTHING about my external reality changed. The commute was the same, friends were the same, clients were the same. Everything that was outside of me stayed consistent.

The difference, and the catalyst to the amazing change that was brought into my life, was the change I made on the inside. I decided that I was no longer available for that life. That I would be moving abroad within 6 months, because it was important to me. And I took immediate and massive action. 

This empowering decision created a new emotional home inside me. I was excited, and motivated, and hopeful! 

I focused on the fact that this was happening (that it was CERTAIN), and every single day until the point that I boarded a plane for Europe, some new opportunity was uncovered for me, because now I was available to see it. 

In order for things to change for you, YOU must change.

So how can you start changing your emotional home TODAY in a way that will create positive change in your life? 

Step 1: Change your vocabulary.
Eliminate the words that put you in a low state. Words are so powerful, that even if you’re NOT feeling tired or overwhelmed, if you’re so used to identifying with those, and you keep saying them, they will make themselves true.

Your thoughts become the things in your life, so choose different words to think about. 

The strongest force in the human personality is the need to stay consistent with how we define ourselves.

That means that step one is to choose new words to define ourselves, our surroundings, and our experience. By conditioning yourself to use these new words, you’ll be conditioning yourself to feel them and be them. 

Step 2: Think of emotions as something you DO, not something you feel. 
Often we give control to our emotions, and let them steer the wheel, when in reality we are the master of our universe. Since it can be hard for some people to accept the old adage “control your emotions don’t let them control you” if we think of emotions as an action, we’re able to quickly nip it in the bud.

Since we know that realistically no one can make us do anything, but it’s more difficult for people to accept that the truth is also no one can make us feel anything,  we have more power over our emotions of we decide that we just don’t do them anymore!

Some emotions you might give up doing: overwhelm, self-pity, impatience, inadequacy. 

Tell yourself that you don’t do that emotion anymore, and replace it with a new emotion that you would like to be doing. This may take practice, but then again that’s why we call it conditioning!

Step 3: Ask intelligent questions. 
Which of these is more empowering? 

“How come I never seem to earn enough money?” vs. “How can I earn an extra $5,000 this month?” 

One opens the door for opportunity, while the other just leads to further frustration and a continued negative state. 

You can see, if you ask a shitty question, you’re going to get a shitty answer. Or another way to phrase that is, if you ask a disempowering question, you’re going to get a disempowering answer.

Set yourself up for success by asking intelligent questions!

-----

By taking responsibility for our emotional state, we take responsibility for our experience. Since it’s often difficult to go from suffering to enjoyment, instead focus on moving into a state of gratitude, and watch how much easier Steps 1-3 become. 

You got this. 

The One Thing Humanity Suffers Most From

I bet it's not what you think...

Did you know that one of the biggest causes of suffering is simply that we feel we are inadequate? That we are unworthy? 

Where do you think self-sabotage comes from? Why do we "ruin relationships" when they're going so well? Why do we think of our greatest fears right when we're in the middle of having the best day ever?

I'll tell you why.

Many of us are programmed at an early age to think that we are not pretty enough, not smart enough, not funny enough, not a good enough son or daughter.

So how are we supposed to enjoy happiness in our life, if inside we're holding onto this belief that we don't deserve it? 
 

There's one shockingly simple trick to help you start. 

And that trick?

To tell yourself, you are enough. 

I know, it seems too easy. BUT DON'T EX OUT OF THIS POST. I'm serious. 

Affirmations, inspirational calendars, sports coaches giving motivational speeches before a big game; these are all examples of different tools used to change our internal beliefs about what's possible. What we're capable of. And what we deserve. 

Even if you don't want to spend the time to watch this video, do one thing for me. 

Just this one thing! 

Write I AM ENOUGH on your mirror in big letters. Leave it there for one month and read it to yourself every day. 

If in one month you haven't felt a shift, you haven't noticed that you feel even that much more capable, deserving, and happy, then take it down. Take it down, and email me to tell me it had no impact on you. 

But if you DO notice a difference (which you will) then PLEASE write me and tell me. 

What if "enough" doesn't resonate with you? Maybe you need to be more specific. If that's the case, then please, do that. 

Here are some other examples of things you could write to remind you how ENOUGH you are, right now, just as you are, just as you've always been: 

• I am a great wife/husband
• I am a great boss/employee
• I am a fantastic writer
• I am HILARIOUS
• I am a great daughter/son/brother/sister
• I am a great lover

Whatever thing in your life you have self-doubt around, or guilt, or a lack of worthiness, flip that bad boy and tell yourself you are the BEST at that thing that there ever was.

Because you are more than enough. 

The Top 4 Takeaways from 4 Days with Mike Dooley

This past weekend I attended a conference hosted by the one and only Mike Dooley (author of the daily emails, Notes from the Universe). I became certified to teach the principles in his bestselling book, Infinite Possibilities. (woohoo!!)

It blew my mind, melted my heart, and lit a fire under me in ways that I’ve been struggling to articulate. 

With a little journaling, and a lot of caffeine, I’ve been able to process, and now compile the top 4 things I’ve taken from my time with the master of Thoughts Become Things.

 

1. Prioritize visualization. 

Mike is a big proponent of visualization, conscious thinking, and doing what he calls “Living as if” to attract the life and circumstances that you want most. There are endless examples of successful millionaires, celebrities, athletes, etc. who utilize these tools to achieve their goals. 

The biggest mistake he sees people make, though? 

NOT actually doing it! 

He uses teeth-brushing as an example. We’re told this will improve our lives, and we take this information as truth. So much so that we prioritize this activity on a daily basis. Maybe even multiple times a day! (I approve). 

We even have a special place in our home where we do it. And most of us spend time and money to go out into the world and purchase tools that will make us more efficient at this practice. 

All because someone told you it was necessary to be a healthier (ergo happier) you. 

Mike argues, that visualization is no different. For something that only requires 5 minutes of our time (max!) per day to achieve, it often gets pushed under the rug. 

Ask any Olympian, or miraculous survivor of some chronic injury or desease, chances are they will tell you that they won or overcame their ailment because they saw themselves doing so. 

Don’t believe it? Give it a shot for 1 month. See what opportunities start coming your way to support that vision. 

Top 4 things you can do to ensure your visualization practice is as effective as possible?

1. Keep it brief and only visualize one goal at a time. 
2. Think of all the details (the sights, sounds, textures, etc.)
3. FEEL into it as much as you can. SEE yourself being happy and let yourself smile if that’s the emotion you’re going for. 
4. ACTUALLY DO IT. 

2. Take your “Live As If” game to a whole new level. 

In addition to visualizing the life you want, Mike proposes that you start living as if you’ve already achieved these desires now. Start talking as if it’s your reality. Start acting as if it’s already happened.

But what if you’re not very good at visualization? Or you’re having trouble feeling into the emotion of “Living as if” because you think you’re full of shit.

Not to say you haven’t tried. Maybe you’ve even set up a special visualization chair and you tell all your friends and family that you’ll be sending the jet to pick them up for dinner on Sunday. 

If you're having trouble visualizing, acting 'as if' or feelingggg the emotions of your mindset practice, whatever the reason may be, make the reality of your desires as tangible as possible. 

Let me give you an example:

At the Infinite Possibilities conference, there was a 'Come as Your Future Self’ party. We each were invited to dress up, bring props, and come with details of our future life, and act as though it was already happening in real time.

To really get into the character of future Kim, I painted a Bold Life Movement branded shirt because I know that future me will have a SUPER strong, recognizable brand with ample merch for my Bold Life Ambassadors. It felt really amazing to walk around all night being recognized for my well-known brand and the impact it’s had on the lives of so many people. 

The thing that gave me the most *feels* though was my 'Bestselling Book.'

I created a book cover in canva, printed it out, and wrapped it around a book I already owned. Holding that book in my hand felt so real. I was utterly giddy when I walked out of Office Max with a copy of MY BOOK in my hand. 

I spared no detail in the design. I included everything from an author bio, to a Foreword by one of my mentors and ‘future friends.'

When I shared pictures of me with this book on Facebook, I received so much support that I’m confident half the people who commented thought I actually had released a book already. And let them! 

The more you act as if your dreams and desires are real, the more the Universe starts to shift things into place to accommodate.

3. Be visible. I cannot emphasize this enough.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, or an employee. Whether your desires are for a better career, or a better relationship. You HAVE to put yourself out there. 

If people don’t know who you are and what you have to offer, how will they now to buy your products or services, or give you that promotion? How will they know to ask you out? How will they know to offer you that book deal?

With the internet, it may seem like there are endless ways in which you could be visible, and that’s true. So pick the best ones for you. But be sure to pick!

Whether it’s Facebook, twitter, instagram, or Linked in. Utilize those tools, but not JUST those found on the internet.

Be visible in an elevator with strangers, as well. Attend events, and be visible by getting on stage whenever possible, asking questions, volunteering, etc. Go to meet ups in your area, or join Toastmasters if the thought of talking to people scares the shit out of you. Get practice at being visible, and get out there. 

The life of your dreams is not going to find you sitting on the couch at home with your vision board.

I was sure to MAKE myself known at this conference and on the last day someone came up to me and said the kindest words.  He gave me a pin that his group leader had gifted to him, that read “I believe in you.”

He said to me, “Of the 150 ppl here I believe in you the most. I already see everything you shared in your vision happening for you. You're unstoppable."

I was beyond touched.

I’ve shared before how being visible on twitter changed my life and let me quit my corporate job to travel. The same is possible for you. Get out there and let your mind be blown by what happens.

4. Stop searching outside of yourself.

This resonates a lot with me because I'm a coach. It's SO easy to 'compare and despair' in this industry when you're inundated daily with the successes of others.  But in the end it doesn't matter how other people run their programs, or communicate their message. I feel most fulfilled when I'm being authentically me, and it's only then that I attract the clients who are the best fit. 

This nugget of advice can apply to anyone's life, though. 

Take what feels right from your advisors, coaches, friends, parents, etc. and leave what doesn't.

If you're struggling to make a decision or decide your next path in life, look inside for what excites you the most and go with it. Trust your gut, as they say. 

You will attract the people you're meant to work with, be in relationships with, and learn from by BEING YOURSELF.

By acting as authentic as possible your impact on those around you and the ripple effect that can generate will be greater. 

Lastly, have fun!

New Year's Cleansing Ritual to Kickstart 2016

I don’t know about you, but I find something so therapeutic about rituals. Be it daily rituals--like morning yoga, or practicing gratitude--or rituals that stem from specific events or dates. 

This year, I wanted to incorporate some sort of ritual into my New Year’s celebration so instead of just sipping bubbles and blasting Adele, we included a sort of “cleansing” ritual into our night. Don't worry, there was still plenty of bubbles, and endless Adele.

I found it so helpful in preparing my mind for the new year that I wanted to share it with you. It’s not too late for you to hold your own mini-ceremony of letting go. 

Here’s how it went down:

I sat with one of my closest friends, and we each wrote a list of all the things we wanted to leave behind in 2015.

All the things we wanted to release, or let go of. 

Here are some examples of things you might write: 

• Resentment towards ______ for _______.
• Bad habits that don’t serve me, like _______.
• Laziness
• Limiting thoughts about myself like _______.
• Attachment towards ______ [insert person, thing, etc.]

Once we had our list, we read them aloud to each other.

Side note: I made sure to do this with someone that I trust, who I knew would be comfortable getting just as vulnerable as I did, and also would not pass judgement on the things I wanted to release. I mean, this shit was personal.

One thing I didn’t anticipate was how different our lists would be! That being said, both of us felt inspired to add to our own lists new things stemming from items that the other person had shared. 

So once we read our lists out loud, (and took a big gulp of champagne) we headed outside to burn those bad boys!

This is where the “release” part really comes in. We did not take pictures of our lists or document them in a journal.

The point was to get them out, then burn them up and let them disintegrate both in front of our eyes, and in our minds and hearts. 

We felt lighter instantly. 

Just as you clean house to make room for new additions, it’s good to cleanse your soul every once in a while to make room for new thoughts and feelings that promote the things you want for yourself. 

We’re only 2 days in, it’s definitely not too late to hold your own “letting go” ritual. If you’ve set new goals, or resolutions for the coming year, I highly encourage you to make room for those new positive vibes by sending off any old, un-productive feelings or habits into the ether. 

Bon voyage bad ju-ju! Hello to a happier, healthier you.

Wishing you the best start to a new year!

The Compounding Effect of Consistency

I recently listened to a podcast featuring John Maxwell, a New York Times Best-Selling author and world-renowned leadership coach. He was promoting his latest book Intentional Living: Choosing a Life that Matters. 

One of the things that stuck out to me the most in this interview was the power of what he called, "compounded consistency." 

This is the compounded effect of consistent [read: daily] action we put towards the unsexy, unexciting tasks as we to work towards our mission. 

He is one of many people I’ve heard lately harp on the effects of consistent action. Yes that includes things like, social media, communicating with your audience consistently so they don’t forget you, and routinely evaluating what is and isn’t working. 

But it also means just being consistent about your intention. Not expecting to get everything right the first time, not expecting to be an overnight success. 

Waking up every day, and setting an intention that aligns with your mission and then CONSISTENTLY working towards it. 

Even when you’re feeling stuck. 

Even when you’re feeling uninspired. 

Even when you’re doubting yourself. 

These are just some of the benefits of taking routine and consistent action towards a life that you love:

Consistency builds momentum.

Understanding the power of momentum is key. How do you think major athletes continue to break their own records? They understand the benefits of their efforts, and instead of quitting the moment they achieve their goals, they forge on with equal or greater intensity. 

Building momentum is the toughest part, but once you’ve created these consistent habits, it becomes much easier. 

People often quit the moment they start to see good results from their action. Big mistake. 

Maintaining a habit of consistent action each day will build the momentum you need to change your life or business. It is a million small actions compounded over time that have the greatest effect.

Consistency means you’re making progress even when you’re not “feeling it."

So often we take a TON of action when we’re feeling excited or inspired. We’re optimistic and enthusiastic and this fuels our mind and our body as we work toward our goals. 

But what about the days you’re not feeling inspired? What about the days you’re feeling stuck or overwhelmed? 

If we let these ebbs in inspiration derail our progress, we’ll soon find ourselves back at square one. Taking SOME form of action every day ensures that we’re always making progress, even when we don’t feel super high vibe. 

The twist? Achieving things and making progress will actually help you get back to that inspired place of action quicker! So keep taking baby steps, even when you’re doubting yourself or the process. 

Consistency maximizes your time. 

By now, you probably know the dangers of “multi-tasking” (no I don’t mean texting and driving, though that is ill-advised). What I mean is the time-lost by switching from one task to another because of the mental ramp-up period required for each. 

The same goes for creating good habits in your life and business. To achieve new goals, we must create new habits. If it takes at least 30 days to create a new habit, then it makes no sense to quit on day 28. 

If we’re investing time and effort towards our goals, then quitting or pausing when things get tough only increases the amount of time required to reach that goal. Sticking with SOME form of action daily will save you from having to re-create habits that proved fruitful (or might have if you’d seen them through). 

Consistency increases your odds to success. 

At some point, it becomes a numbers game. If you’re working out every day in some fashion, it is extremely unlikely that you will not reap some sort of health-related benefits. 

If you are working on your entrepreneurial journey with intention every day, it is extremelyunlikely that you will NEVER see the fruits of your labor. You may have to switch gears, or rebrand, or revisit your “why” a few times. But consistent daily action will yield results. 

Be open to the fact that they might not be on your timeline, and be ready to receive them when they come. 

Keep taking consistent action every day, and you'll be amazed at the shifts that can happen. 

How to use discomfort to achieve greatness

In the past 36 hours I’ve done 4 things that scare the shit out of me.

Four things that make me feel exposed and vulnerable.

The truth is, that really should be the norm. It’s usually when I put myself out there that the biggest shifts happen in my life. 

I want to share what those things were (yet ANOTHER vulnerable position to be putting myself in) in hopes it will inspire you to get out there and take some risks. To get out there and share your goals or triumphs with people so that they can support you. And maybe even be inspired by you!

So what did I do? 

#1

Tuesday night I attended a book signing. Lewis Howes was in town to promote his book The School of Greatness. I would say he’s currently one of the top people in this "industry" living a vision that is similar to mine: premium coach, published author, keynote speaker, successful podcast, and promoting a mission that benefits the greater good. 

Three years ago, my role models were two dudes who had started a podcast about living a location independent life. They had a huge following, ran a successful membership community of entrepreneurs and lived wherever they wanted. 

I knew I HAD to get close to these guys. So I did everything in my power to know who they knew, be where they were, and make sure they knew my face and remembered it. 

Eventually I ended up working with them for a couple years, and we even lived together and traveled a bit overseas.  The point is that I knew I had to get near them, and I made it happen. Lewis is that new person for me now. 

He’s a human, he’s not perfect. I don’t idolize him. But I respect the process of mentorship, and I know the effects of being close to people who have what you want and do what you want to be doing. 

So when it was my turn to have my book signed, and get my big bear hug, I asked if he and his posse were grabbing food after the book signing, and if I could come. 

BOLD. I know.

Let me clear, a book signing is NOT the optimal place to get close to someone in Lewis’s position. He’s exhausted and bleary eyed from shaking so many hands, and connecting with so many fans; it can be really difficult to transcend that gap from fan to friend in that atmosphere. 

So I wasn’t hurt or surprised when he said he may just be heading back to his hotel to crash, but if I was still around at the end and they were going somewhere, I was welcome to join. 

I know when to play the long game, and I didn’t stick around (it was close to 10 at that point, and there were still dozens of people in line) but I told him he’d see my face again, and I know it’s true. 

If you know my story, then you know that I’ve found my success and opportunities through showing up at places that my mentors are. (Lewis calls it “stalking” and said he used the same tactics to befriend people like Tim Ferriss and later land Tim's book agent for his own book deal). 

Asking someone with 150K instagram followers, and a NY Times Best Selling book if they want to grab food is NOT easy. But in the end we’re all just humans, and I knew I’d regret it if I didn’t.

I also know there’s a better chance he’ll remember me for having asked, than for just saying “thanks for writing this book, love your message.” 

#2

Earlier in the evening, prior to my foray into rejection therapy, I also took advantage of the Q&A time and asked a question in front of the entire group. Lot’s of  people did, so you may think that it’s no big deal, and maybe it wouldn’t be for some. But standing up in front of 150 people to share anything makes me sweat. A lot.

Before asking a question, each person was also required to share what they were most grateful for. I knew I had to stand up and make myself visible - something I’ve decided I will ALWAYS do now, when given the chance - but I also knew that what I was grateful for would make me feel exposed. 

Photo Credit: @joshuadphotography

I told Lewis (and the room full of people) that I was most grateful for the conference that I first saw him speak at. That conference, and Lewis’s speech among others, made an impact on my life so great that my entire path and purpose have unfolded since. 

Typing it, saying it, whatever the medium, admitting that publicly is ALWAYS gut-wrenching. 

#3

The third thing that I’ve done this week to put myself out there was to admit publicly that I’m starting a podcast, to start asking people for interviews, and to say “yes I know what a challenge it can be, but it’s important to me, and it’s part of my vision.” 

Collaborating with inspiring people, and interviewing game changers (world-changers) as a means to provide free content to my followers is something that has been on my mind for months. 

I’m finally moving forward with it, and it just feels right. Knowing the difference between what is right for other people, and what is right for you and your business is something that takes time to hone but is integral to feeling fulfilled and finding success. 

Receiving positive feedback (both internally and externally) has reassured me that this is a good step for my business, and makes all the nerves about launching well worth it. 

Spoiler: I've already got some AWESOME interviews lined up and I'm really stoked. Stay tuned for details.

#4

The final thing I did recently to stretch myself and be more vulnerable was on more of a personal note.

Following the book signing, I posted a picture yesterday and included in the caption a note about the effects that Lewis’s speech had had on my ability to be vulnerable. And namely how that had impacted my once-rocky relationship with my Dad, for the better. 

Admitting publicly anything about your family can make you feel SUPER exposed, but I find that when people I follow share things in an authentic way, it helps me connect with them.

It helps me feel less alone if I’m struggling with a similar insecurity, or family issue, or whatever the topic may be. 

If any content I ever put out can help people to ditch their ego, act out of love, and change their lives and relationships for the better, then I know I’m on the right path.

Part of living a bold life, is showing up in your relationships in a bold way and owning the fact that you are 100% responsible for everything that you bring to it.

Do you bring love and acceptance or bitterness and resentment?
Do you bring ego and entitlement, or compassion and humility? 

Understanding that we can't change anyone but ourselves and taking initiative to do so will benefit your life and business in ways you wouldn't even be able to imagine. 

So what's the point of me telling you about all the things that made me sweat and cry this week? 

I want to encourage you to always seize opportunities to step outside your comfort zone, to show up in a vulnerable way and let others connect with you on a deeper level.  

Being genuine and taking risks adds a richness to your life that wouldn't exist if you were to continue to play it safe.

What ways can you show up more this week?
How can you put yourself out there and live a bolder life? 
What awesome things will you miss out on if you don't? 

Hugs & Love,
Kimberly

The Paris Attacks - On Grieving Privately in a Social World

“Bonjour! Como sa va?"

I realized late last night that my dad had used these words in his most recent text to me. 

“Be back on the 22nd. xx"

He was traveling (he’s always traveling) and so I didn’t think to ask where. 

So 11pm last night it occurred to me that I didn’t know where he was, and that there was some chance he was in a French-speaking country (despite that the fact that he wasn't *technically* speaking French), and therefore some chance he was in Paris.

It was a long shot, but I immediately jumped to conclusions and went into slight panic mode.  I texted him, I called him, I Facebook messaged him, I did all the things. 

I stalked his most recent photos, and those on his wife’s page. Nothing since October 10th! Loads of pics from their trip to New England in early October, but nothing since! 

So then, I did the only thing left to do; I waited.

If you ask any of my friends, they’ll tell you that I never know what’s going on in the news. It’s a conscious choice. Like not doing mushrooms. (I just know myself! It wouldn’t be all rainbows and giggles and walls that taste like candy).

Some people always know what’s going on in the world because it makes them feel like they can make a difference. Or because they feel it’s their responsibility to be in the know. Some watch because they are gluttons for punishment. 

I’m none of these. I’ve chosen to free my mind of the negativity and apply my efforts towards spreading love and abundance, instead of focusing on hate and poverty.

Sometimes though, I feel like I need to at least have a general understanding of what is happening to exist as an adult in society. 

While my social media feeds filled with images of the Eiffel Tower and mentions of the “paris attacks” I found myself thinking What happened?? Did someone crash a plane into the Eiffel Tower?? What is the french government doing in response? What is my government doing?? 

So I did what I never do, and I looked. (Ignorance is bliss, but walking around not knowing if there is even an Eiffel Tower anymore borders on obnoxious in my book). 

So I looked. I read one article to get the details, and then I shut my computer. I didn’t binge. I didn’t go down a rabbit hole of masochism, from one horrible image to the next. 

I just needed to know the facts, and then I needed to react in what way felt right for me. 

For thousands of people, that means posting images of the Eiffel Tower. It means changing their profile pictures and making a public statement that they know what happened, they are in shock, they have an opinion, and now you can see that opinion in image-form across their social media platforms. 

This has never felt right for me. 

When the White House made history a few months back and the entirety of my Facebook wall became a beautiful collage of rainbow profile pictures, I left mine be.

In 2006 when 32 lives were taken just a half mile from my house at Virginia Tech, I didn’t change my profile picture to a ribbon. I left it be.

While these acts of support feel right for soooo many people, they’ve just never resonated with me. I feel uncomfortable and inauthentic and then I wonder things like "When is it okay to change it back? Does it send the wrong message if I change it too soon?" which only furthers the point that this just isn't the right response for me.

I wanted to write this article for anyone else who’s ever felt the same way.

As social media continues to play a growing role in our lives and the way we “express ourselves" I wanted to create a conversation and a safe space for people who feel like they just don’t want to react, and grieve publicly in the same way as "everyone else."

There can be this pressure to follow the masses. You didn’t put a rainbow on your profile pic, does that mean that you don’t support gay rights? 

I (and all the people in my life) know that there is no place for homophobia in it. Or hate of any kind. That I support equal rights for everyone, but following a trend and changing my profile picture just isn’t how I show it. 

You didn’t say anything about the Paris attacks, don’t you have friends that live there??

I’m saying something in my own way. With this article. I’m sharing the fear, and the pain, and the utter disbelief that I’ve experienced in the past 15 hours by writing about it. And by using this opportunity to embrace anyone else who reacts, or supports, or grieves in their own way, which may or may not include a public post, a profile change, etc. 

The point of this article is not to call out people who immediately post a picture or change their profile or make their position known. That is 100% their prerogative and hopefully a reaction that feels comfortable for them. The intention with this piece is to support the individuals who prefer to react more quietly, offline,  or--God forbid--not at all.

At 2 am I finally heard back from my dad. 

“Paris airport flying out” was all he said. 

Do I wish he’d typed more? Of course. Do I wish he’d called and told me he was safe and that he loved me? Yes.

I felt helpless and I needed him to comfort me.

But he was safe. And he was doing all he could to get himself and his wife out of Paris efficiently.

He was responding in the way that he knew how. It took me writing this article to realize that, and to let the heartache which had turned to anger subside as I read my own words. 

He was responding in the way that he knew how. 

Tomorrow I will pick myself up, and get back to working on my life and my business as best I can. You will probably receive a newsletter from me about financial freedom. But today I’m grieving the loss of innocent lives, and I’m sending out love in all the ways I’m comfortable with, and capable of. 

That includes writing this article. I want to hold space for people who have felt pressure to react to world events publicly, and any shame or guilt with not feeling authentic in doing so. We’re all in this together, but we all deserve to share--or not share--in how we react to things.

We all deserve to respond in the way we know how. 

Praying for paris,

Kimberly 

The Daily Practice That Has Changed My Life

You know when you learn about something new and you start to see it everywhere? Or another common example is that you buy a new car and then everyone and their mom seems to drive that car now?
 

That’s what practicing gratitude has been like for me. Now that I’m including it in my daily habits, it’s showing up everywhere and my friends are sharing that they have been doing the same!

Since I’m not one to hog the wealth, I’ll go ahead and tell you how it has really improved my life and how you can use it to up your happiness as well!
 

First, I have to tell you, this weekend was one of the most love-filled weekends I’ve experienced in Austin. I spent Friday with one of my closest friends, whom I met through improv class (proof that you should get out there, invest in your hobbies, and connect with other hilarious humans). We had one of those fluid evenings where everything is easy, everything is fun, and the drinks are free flowing.
 

At one point we made friends with some people who were in town for Formula One and we laughed and chatted for hours. It was one of my favorite evenings because I am so energized by meeting new people. Especially when they understand the meaning of good banter.
 

I went home feeling so grateful for the opportunity to fulfill my extroverted tendencies and for ability to befriend people quickly.
 

Full disclosure, this is something I actually write in my gratitude journal. “I am grateful for my ability to talk comfortably with strangers, and to connect with people quickly.” 
 

By showing gratitude for this quality in myself, I’m able to experience these moments more frequently and really appreciate them. The more introverts I surround myself with, the more I realize that this ease of communication and connection with new people is not a global trait, and it’s something a lot of people struggle to do.
 

So I make damn sure to show the Universe how grateful I am, and I welcome opportunities to use this skill!
 

Saturday night was just as delightful. I’ve been really focusing lately on my desire to host and attend dinner parties with good friends. A girl wants what she wants!

There’s something so intimate about gathering around a table of good food with people who support you, love you, joke you, etc. Why do you think Pinterest is overflowing with tips on how to host a good dinner party??
 

On Saturday night, a close friend of mine invited me to join a “Family Dinner” night with her group of friends. (Thank you Universe!!) We drank wine, told stories, made fun of each other, supported each other. 
 

As part of their Family Dinner traditions, we even went around the table and shared "The best thing that is going on in our life right now" and “The best thing that happened in our day.” 
 

Sound familiar? Those are gratitude practices.
 

Even when I’m not intentionally sitting down to write in my gratitude journal, or expressing gratitude internally as I go through my day, I’m still being presented with opportunities to feel appreciation and recognize all the things I have going for my life. And it’s not even Thanksgiving yet!
 

Getting to participate in Family Dinner was one of the most special experiences I’ve had in Austin. As an only child, and avid interloper, I can tell you there is nothing more magical than other people welcoming you into their home as one of their own.
 

I woke up Sunday morning, and through my daily gratitude practice, I knew that that day would bring just as much joy as the previous two. 
 

But, I feel the need to pause for a second to clarify something. 
 

Does practicing gratitude mean that every day is easy 100% of the time? No. Sometimes things happen that cause us pain, derail our mood, or flat out rip us apart. It’s okay to feel these feelings. 
 

The importance of practicing gratitude is evident even more when things feel like they're going to shit. Because by actively choosing to be grateful for the lesson in that moment, we’re able to get ourselves back on track more quickly, and to be present in the next moment allowing it to bring us joy. 
 

So in terms of my weekend, Sunday was not a total cake walk. Even before the day had really begun, I had to have a tough conversation with someone I care about, and it left my heart aching. 
 

BUT. I knew that my practicing gratitude for all that situation was teaching me, I would be able to pull myself out of the funk and make the best of what was left in the day.
 

I knew that was true, even though I was feeling sad.  Even though it was cold and rainy outside.  Even though I easily could have crawled back in bed with a season’s worth of grey’s anatomy and just wallowed. 
 

Instead I let myself feel (because the reality is that suppression is not in my repertoire, even if it were a healthy tool) and then I pulled myself together and went to meet my friends for a goodbye lunch. 
 

As a fun exercise, we decided to share what we are most grateful for about our friend who is leaving town. It was far more emotional than one would expect for a lunch in a public place, but that’s why it was so awesome!
 

We all had really amazing things to share about this person, and she was able to really see how much she is valued and loved. Who doesn’t want to feel that??
 

I received this text later that night that actually moved me to write this post: 

If you could make people feel like this everyday simply by telling them how special they are, why would you not??
 

The next day I received another message in which a friend shared some of the biggest things they’ve learned this year. Guess what made an appearance on the list? 
 

There it was again, gratitude. Everywhere I look recently gratitude has been popping up. It’s effect on my life has been profound and I now see that I’m not the only one in my network experiencing this shift. 
 

If you want to harness your ability to create more positive experiences (and more abundance) in your life, the real truth is that you have to get really good at being grateful.
 

Be grateful for what you have, be grateful for what you do not yet have. Be grateful for the good times, and the bad. Be grateful for everything from your ability to walk, to your ability to crave a pizza and have that shit show up at your door 30 minutes later! #magic
 

If you’re interested in bringing more of what you want into your life, and enjoying each day on a deeper level, here are some exercises you can start practicing today: 

1. Write down 10 things your grateful for every morning, and every night. Really feel into it, say them out loud! Look your dog or your partner in the eye and say “I’m grateful for this cup of coffee! It gives me superpowers! I’ve always wanted superpowers!"
    
2. If you want to take it a step further, write down something you're thankful for, then write down three reasons why you’re thankful for that thing.
   
   It can be a person, a place, an event, an object. Doesn’t matter. Next, write down 3 ways that you could show gratitude to that person/place/thing if you wanted to.
   
   You don’t actually have to do it, but you will start to signal to the Universe that this is something you want more of because you’re focusing your energy on it. You’ll also just feel really good because your brain is firing off the same way it would if you were actually experiencing that person/place/thing in real time. Yep, I know, it’s pretty cool. 
    
3. For those who reallllllly want to take this gratitude thing to the max, you can even go one step further. Practice completing step #2 for different areas of your life, then after you’ve done a few, move to something that has actually been causing you stress or anxiety or anger. Write down that person/place/event/etc. and complete #2 for it!
   
   By now you should be in such a good vibration that you’ll be surprised how easily you can come up with things you appreciate about what you just wrote. The quickest way to change how you feel about something is to start focusing on all the good aspects of it, because pretty soon that is all you will see. 
   
   It may be tough the first time or two, but you will start to get familiar with the sensation of showing gratitude for things that bring you angst or anger, and by feeling into how you would show this person appreciation, you’ll actually shift your thoughts and feelings. Since you can’t actually change other people or circumstances, you can only change yourself, this is a GREAT tool to have in your emotional arsenal. 

So spend the next week really feeling into what you have going well in your life! If you write down someone’s name, I encourage you to share that with them! Tell them why you wrote down their name. Not comfortable with it? Read my text above again. Now imagine you have the capacity to make someone feel that good, because you do. 
 

Feeling bold? Leave me a comment below sharing one thing you're grateful for! I'd love to hear it, and it may even spark some appreciation in someone else!