by Kyla | Jul 11, 2017 | Business, Communication, Entrepreneurship |
Well this isn’t the first time you’ve heard (or read) this and it certainly won’t be the last:
ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS HARD.
I started this company in September of last year and it was soooo exciting at first. New website, new social media, new networks, new energy…..lots of newness. I had so many grand plans for my business because I was so confident that it was meant to be, and that it was part of my purpose. I felt like I was doing everything right, I was getting introduced to the right people, and I had the right schedule (working part-time) to launch a business.
I had sooo many people saying “Wow! That’s a great idea for a business!” and so few people actually booking me. So…..as the clients started sprinkling in instead of pouring…..I had to ask myself, “How high is the DEMAND for what I’m offering?”
This, my friends, was a game changer.
I am currently reading “She Takes the World” by Natalie MacNeil, and she addresses this exact topic. When I read this part of the book, it was like that golden moment when the angels sing and a light surrounds those magical words:
“If you want to make a living by living your purpose, you need a starving crowd.”
Ding Ding Ding! I didn’t have a starving crowd!!
What I realized in that moment, too, was another game changer: There is a large number of people who need my services, but a small number who are willing to pay for them.
Did I go cry in a corner? NO! Did I feel like any less of an entrepreneur now that I realized that my services may not appeal to the masses? Nope. What I felt was a sense of relief, and a realization that I needed to re-direct my strategy. Full-time entrepreneurship is not for everyone. The blessing of it all was that when I launched the business I was still at the tv station, so I was able to gain somewhat of a following based on people who genuinely valued my career and wanted to support my next endeavor. After I left, I was in a part-time position that allowed me to have medical benefits, and quite a bit of flexibility to support my early months in business. And now, I am in a position that allows me to marry my two loves: storytelling and communications training. But that also came in the form of a full-time position, which is a huge adjustment to the amount of time I have to dedicate to my business.
So I fell into a lull. I was constantly trying to wrap my mind around my new position and how to best navigate the territory while also still fueling my passion (Crowd or Camera). I hadn’t had a consulting session in a WHILE, and wasn’t even as active on social media. So then, naturally, I started to feel like I was failing, and that maybe I shouldn’t have started the business and “where will it go from here anyway?”.
THEN – I got an email booking not one consultation but two. Long story short, I spent a Saturday morning working with two amazing young people who are on a career trajectory that I, hopefully, got to play a small part in cultivating. The energy and sense of purpose I felt leaving those appointments was exactly how I felt when I started Crowd or Camera. And that’s how I know that I’m on the right track, and that this part of my story might not be the highlight reel, but it’s just as purposeful as every other chapter in the book.
I say that to say – keep pressing. Everyone’s version of entrepreneurship doesn’t look the same. I have a family that I adore, one that I truly enjoy spending time with and that I make time for. I’m not one of those “Sleep when you die!” entrepreneurs. Nah, I think you should get a solid 6/7 hours (and I really want to make 8 happen more often). We’re all built differently, and that’s okay. Don’t compare your chapter 2 with someone else’s chapter 20. And know that as long as you are living your purpose, you are doing everything right – even when it feels weird or wrong.
Do the work, trust the process, and believe that you were uniquely created for a purpose.
Now go out there and be great!!
by Kyla | Oct 24, 2016 | Branding, Communication, Entrepreneurship, Social Media |
Businesses and brands want coverage for whatever they are doing or whatever services they offer. It’s a natural inclination. When watching or reading media, you might catch yourself saying “Man I wish my company could get featured or be called on as a source of information”.
Well guess what? They want you as bad as you want them. “They” being whatever media outlet or social media platform you are referring to. One of the biggest misconceptions about the broadcast industry is that these stories just appear out of thin air. The truth is – stations and websites need your content as much as you want it to be featured.
Beyond breaking news and leading news stories, producers are often relying on user-generated content. Story submissions, informative and visual events (often “official”, meaning city or state sanctioned – but also community and lifestyle events, which are realized through press releases), and social media are the main sources of content for many outlets. Positioning yourself as an authority or valuable entity in whatever your field of expertise, and knowing how to make yourself marketable to media (the necessary tools) will all help you become the “go to” brand or person for those coveted time slots.
Not sure where to get started? That’s where we come in. 🙂 Fill out our contact form or simply email
kyla@crowdorcamera.com.
Make it a great week!
by Kyla | Oct 13, 2016 | Branding, Communication, Entrepreneurship, Social Media |
When presenting your business, brand, or even yourself to potential clients or consumers…..why should they choose you? What makes you stand out over the next product, service, or speaker?
Often times we find ourselves looking at those who are great in our field as an example of how to navigate our own paths. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that – but you also have to realize that what makes them great is just that – WHO THEY ARE. There’s one Oprah. There’s one Beyonce. There’s one Dave Ramsey. There’s one Ellen. There’s one iPhone. They found out what makes them uniquely dominate their space, they mastered it, and they deliver it authentically.
What is it about you that makes you, YOU? One of my favorite sayings is “I stay in my own lane.” Before I decided to stay in it, I had to create it. I had to find the lane that works just for me. It won’t work for everyone – and here’s the crazy part – THAT’S OKAY. I never wanted to be “the next” so and so or “Just like” this woman or that woman. I wanted to be the first Kyla. I want my own unique style to define my brand.
That’s what we’re passionate about here at Crowd or Camera. Helping you master your lane.
Now go out there and be great.
by Kyla | Oct 2, 2016 | Branding, Business, Communication, Entrepreneurship |
Effective and memorable communication is really about employing simple strategies and making them unique to your character. Here are 3 tips to get you started:
Stand (or sit) up straight
– You’re totally underestimating the effect posture has on your communication. When you straighten your back, you automatically become more focused and more engaged in what you’re saying.
Use your hands
– in a non-distracting way, of course. Using your hands emphasizes whatever you’re saying at the moment. The gesture also invites your audience into the presentation.
Repeat what you want to be remembered
– Any information that you want the audience to take away from you is worth repeating a time or two. Lists, key points, and quotes are just a few things you may want to consider repeating.
This is just the beginning! We would love to help you become the communicator you’ve always dreamed of being. Why wait? Make your appointment today. 🙂
by Kyla | Sep 4, 2016 | Branding, Communication, Social Media |
“It’s not what you said, but how you said it.”
How many of us have been forced to sit through a painful, although well meaning, presentation? Wait. Ok. Before we go there – let’s acknowledge the elephant in the room. Maybe you’ve been that painful presenter. Please….please….PLEASE don’t be offended by this. I mean, I threw in the adjective ‘well-meaning’ to soften the blow, ok? But let’s be honest: no one enjoys those. The presenter pops in the room, wanting you to REALLY LOVE what they’re about to say, and then they pull up a slideshow of power points and go from bullet point to painstaking bullet point (in monotone, no less) telling you why you should do this or buy that.
I’ve literally struggled to stay awake during these presentations. You know that one tear that drives the struggle bus of boredom down your face when you’re REALLY fighting Mr. Sandman?! Yep…that’s when it shows up.
I digress. The bottom line is this – it totally doesn’t have to be that way. You know how I know? Because I’ve also had the pleasure of attending some phenomenal presentations. Keynotes and speeches and conferences with engaging speakers who know how to capture an audience. How do they do it? Well, first of all, they usually speak from the heart and not from the paper. I’m not saying great speakers don’t use notes. I’m saying that if they do, you don’t usually know it.
There are several other strategies (intended and unintended) that great speakers employ that make them just that, GREAT. And that’s why we’re here. Maybe you don’t have the natural ability to speak to a crowd of 100 or 1,000 – or to a crowd of one microphone and one camera. That shouldn’t count you out from being called upon as a commentator, speaker, or expert in your field. With the right training…. in a personalized, engaging, and productive environment….(And fun. Like, bowtie t-shirt kind of fun. Because we’re formal but we like to party)…..you, too, can master the art of communication.
Trust us. And let us show you how.
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