It was so exciting to see such powerful feedback for Part 1 of this series, which you can read here: “You Don’t Deserve a Platform If You Don’t Do This …”
Comments shared include:
- “I love this Jenny. Thank you. We must take a stand. Our lives must become our stand.”
- “Powerful stuff here! You laid it out! I’m looking forward to being more of myself and not giving a crap what those around me think. Thanks for leading the way …”
- “I don’t love this title … feeling a little turned off by it. I am certainly not inclined to find out what I don’t deserve if I’m not doing what you say.”
- “Seriously, this needs to be a rallying cry for all coaches. The power of coaching is such a beautiful thing, but it’s an industry that has become really perverted. I know for myself it has made me have a hard time even calling myself a coach, which is silly, because that is what I am doing and finding other ways to say it just dilutes the message. I applaud you for showing up, speaking your truth, and offering an alternative to business as usual. That really speaks to my heart as one of the ideas I’ve been playing with for a few months as I look to broaden my services is looking at the idea of there being another way to do business and attracting those who are on the same page. It makes me really happy to be part of your community and proud to call you one of my teachers. It’s nice to be among people who get it and aren’t all flash. I love the line about how people are looking for nourishment and we’re offering them candy. Keep shining!”
As you can see, the post resonated with many in my community. And didn’t with others.
It was certainly bold and edgy. So edgy that some of the women I’m in a mastermind with were a bit concerned for me to go public with it. Once I made my case, they got it … even if they didn’t 100% agree with my approach.
Part 1 of this series was intentionally designed as a BOLD OPINION piece. It was meant to shake up business as usual. It was not a “feel good” piece. It was meant to create tension. Create conversation. And make noise. I didn’t need everyone to agree with me.
Here’s what you’ve gotta know: NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO AGREE WITH YOU.
Not everyone can see what you can see.
STOP TRYING TO PLEASE EVERYONE.
This is what we’re going to focus on in Part 2 of this series: digging deep into what you truly care about and why … so you can put your energy there as you grow your business (instead of trying to appeal to ALL the people and feeling like shit).
This is a lesson in VALUES.
And knowing WHY you stand for what you stand for.
And knowing you’re allowed to STOP CARING when people who aren’t your ideal clients don’t like what you have to say or what you’re selling.
STAND-UP LEADERS are confident enough to stand apart from the crowd and take a stand for what they believe in.
The are intriguing. Provocative. Aspirational. Bold. Consistent. Engaging. Courageous. Transformational.
STAND-UP LEADERS are a force of nature. This force translates into greater impact, influence and income.
To step into this next level of your expansion, you must claim your VISION and POSITION that is so bold, so audacious, so confident that the sheer force of your commitment has a transformational effect on everyone you touch.
I want to talk about a few companies who are getting it right to get the creative and courageous juices flowing for you.
As I share these three examples, you’ll quickly see my own values at play. By me sharing these, you’ll either agree or you won’t. But if you’re so pissed off by my examples and want to stop following me or buying from me, that’s totally okay with me. And if these examples make you want to take a stand in your business and invest to learn from me, awesome.
I want you to see that taking a stand magnetizes your ideal clients and repels those who aren’t a fit. This is GOLD.
Patagonia
I saw Rose Marcario, CEO of Patagonia, speak at an event last year. She is a force. I liked her immediately.
And when I saw this news a few months ago, I liked her and the company she leads even more.
Here’s an excerpt from a November 2018 “FORTUNE” article “Patagonia Donates Entire Trump Tax Cut to Environmental Groups” >>
Patagonia is planning to take the $10 million it saved from what CEO Rose Marcario calls the Trump administration’s “irresponsible” tax cuts and donate it to environmental groups.
“Instead of putting the money back into our business, we’re responding by putting $10 million back into the planet,” Marcario said in a statement on LinkedIn. “Our home planet needs it more than we do.”
The company’s announcement comes amid a series of devastating reports detailing the effects on climate change and the progress of the global response to lessen its impact.
Way to take a stand, Patagonia!
LESSON: Financially empowered women are changing the world. Look at the decision Patagonia – with Rose at the helm of the ship – has made. This decision will have positive RIPPLE EFFECTS on the planet. We need more leaders like Rose. More companies like Patagonia.
Dick’s Sporting Goods
Let me be honest with you: I do not like guns. I believe we have a huge gun problem in America. And lots of other problems, including the gun lobby being in bed with a lot of our politicians. And unfortunately – as we’ve seen time and time again in the USA – it’s only a matter of time before some other disillusioned person with easy access to lots of guns carries out a mass shooting.
So when our hearts broke AGAIN after the school shooting in Parkland, Florida in February 2018, I cried tears of JOY when Dick’s Sporting Goods took a stand and decided to remove AR-15-style and other semiautomatic rifles from the company’s Field & Stream stores soon after the Parkland shooting. Both chains also stopped selling guns and ammunition to customers younger than 21 last year. The company includes 729 Dick’s Stores, 94 Golf Galaxy stores and 35 Field & Stream stores.
“People in the gun business are not terribly happy with us. They said we were toxic, which is fine with us; we’re not going to change the way we’re going.” – Edward Stack, CEO, Dick’s Sporting Goods
Dick’s Sporting Goods, one of the largest firearms retailers in the United States, is moving further away from selling guns, even as the shift takes a toll on its earnings.
On Tuesday, Dick’s said that it would strip firearms and other hunting products from 125 of its stores and replace the merchandise with batting cages, ski apparel and other sports gear. If the switch is successful, as it was at 10 stores where it was tested starting in the fall, it will be expanded, the company said.
The latest move to scale back gun sales is becoming a familiar one for the company and its chief executive, Edward Stack.
Last year, after 17 people were killed in a shooting in Parkland, Fla., Mr. Stack learned that the suspect, Nikolas Cruz, once bought a gun from Dick’s. That firearm was not used in the attack, but Mr. Stack realized it could have been.
Shaken by the link, Mr. Stack, a longtime gun owner, introduced measures that made it harder to buy firearms at Dick’s stores, and he pressed Congress to adopt gun-safety measures. He aligned himself with gun-control activists; was shunned by gun sellers, buyers and firearms industry employees; and became one of the most cited names in a gun debate increasingly crowded with corporate voices.
The article also states that “Mr. Stack also said he had received some threats and had increased security measures meant to protect him and the company. But he said he had no plans to curb his gun-safety efforts.”
LESSON: Don’t expect everyone to agree with your position. You may even take a financial hit in the short-term as you recalibrate your business model. What’s important: can you look at yourself in the mirror? Are you valuing people over profits?
Netflix
Going back to work after you have a baby is a big juggling act. Paid parental leave policies in the United States are pretty crappy (compared to other countries), but I’m happy to see many tech companies – including Netflix – doing good here.
At Netflix, salaried employees, including birth and adoptive parents of any gender, can take up to a year off at full pay following the birth or adoption of their child.
This is a smart move for a sector that consistently struggles to employ enough women.
LESSON: If you want to build an incredible company, create a culture that attracts and keeps top talent (including you). The contributions of this talent will trickle down to your products, your profits and your community. And create a better world.
ALIGN YOUR MONEY WITH YOUR VALUES
What I love about these 3 examples is that they aligned their money with their values. That is rocket fuel right there.
This is why I want you to really ask yourself the question >>
WHY DO YOU CARE SO MUCH ABOUT THE THINGS THAT YOU CARE ABOUT?
And then back that up with the design of your business and the causes and issues you support. You’ll get out of your head and more deeply into changing the world with your work.
When you are aligned with something bigger than you, it’s easier to take the next step in your business. You won’t hide out.
You’ll send that email. And maybe even two or three in one day when you’re on the final day of your launch.
You’ll do that livestream on Facebook or Instagram and share a piece of your soul and a CALL TO ACTION that allows your audience to do deeper work with you.
You’ll open up to receiving more and more money and you’ll do wonderful things with this money.
EXAMPLE >> I led a recent workshop about creating, launching and leading group programs. In the middle of promoting it, I was reminded of the family reunification work of Together Rising and decided to give 50% of the profits to that organization to help the mission of bringing families back together. Knowing I was doing this fueled my promotional efforts. I didn’t have time for my silly fears about if people were going to be pissed because I was emailing or posting about my workshop when I knew it would:
- be of huge value to the women who attended … as they grow their businesses and help more people
- allow me to donate $$ to Together Rising to reunite families
So why wouldn’t I shout about this workshop from rooftop knowing the good it would do in the world?
That’s the power of knowing why you care so much about what you care about … and letting everything else fall away.
You need to know what you give a fuck about.
In my business and my family, we have supported the work of:
I also join forces with my dad, stepmom and in-laws to give college scholarships in my sister’s honor at my alma mater high school in Florida. My dad and stepmom travel from Atlanta to Honors Night at New Smyrna Beach High School and meet the winners of the Julie Amon Dolphins of Strength Scholarship. This process brings them much joy. What a way to keep Julie’s memory alive by investing in leaders as they pursue their education.
At Christmas time, my family partners with our local community center to sponsor a few children who need help having their Christmas wishes come true.
I also bought subscriptions to the New York Times and The Atlantic and appreciate their thoughtful and solid journalistic pieces.
There is a thread that weaves through my giving and the causes that I support: family, education, female entrepreneurship, civil liberties and quality journalism.
What’s your golden thread?
YOUR JOB
TAKE A POSITION. Stop being so freaking wishy washy because you don’t want to offend people or not appeal to everyone with your messaging and offers.
Do right by your own soul.
Speak your truth … even when you’re afraid.
If you are passionate about politics, you can and should discuss your views. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Speak up! What are you waiting for? Stop trying to be perceived as “nice” and instead say what needs to be said. There is a difference between kind and nice. And being clear is kind.
And if this post spoke to you … if you’re feeling the call to use your platform for something greater than you AND be surrounded by other women leaders who are right there with you taking a stand …
Then you want to join POWER BRAND CAMP.
It’s exactly what you need.
My intention with POWER BRAND CAMP: help gutsy women leaders get in alignment with the money you are ready to receive with your work + TAKE A STAND message that fuels your creations + the CAUSES that you deeply support.
I’ll also teach you what to DO with the money that flows in. Because making it is one thing. Using it wisely is an entirely different ballgame. If you ignore this, you won’t be in business much longer.
This took me 10 years as an entrepreneur and many dark nights of the soul to figure this out! The techniques that I’ll share allowed me to increase my Q1 profits from 2018 to 2019 by more than 1,000%.
TRUTH: Financially empowered women will change the world. Studies show that women consistently give at MUCH higher rates than men to promote SOCIAL CHANGE or HELP OTHERS who need it (even though women hold a lot less of the world’s money than men do).
Did you know that women have to work, on average, 92 extra days to earn the same amount men take home in 1 year? And for Black women it’s 233 extra days. For Latinas, it’s 323 extra days. This is unacceptable. (Thanks Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley for tipping me off to these stats.)
This is the HEART of what we’re doing in POWER BRAND CAMP.
Taking a stand for change. Not believing the lies you tell yourself about why it’s safer to hide. Making more money. Doing powerful things with this money. Being the leader you were born to be. Doing the work you can’t not do. Everyday.
Doors close on Friday, April 26.
My intention with the class of 2019 of POWER BRAND CAMP is to help the difference makers called for something greater at this point in your career.
Aside from the bonuses you get when you sign up, nothing is pre-recorded. I’ll be recording all trainings with you LIVE. All content is fresh and up-to-the-minute relevant. I’ll be coaching you live. You’ll be loved up in our community.
And you’ll build a deeper community to support you as you take the next bold move in your work. Because trust me – you’re going to need it!
The women in POWER BRAND CAMP know this: we are the change that we want to see in this world.
Have a look here to see what we’re doing and join us.
TIP: Choose the VIP level if you want to work with me in person at my live event this May > TAKE A STAND Live. We’re gathering over the full moon and it’s going to be unforgettable.
JUST 12 spots left at our event! Yes, you’ll need to make changes to your schedule to come. And it won’t feel convenient. And you’ll look for reasons why it’s not the “right time.” And it’s 1,000% worth it to be in this room with us.
Success doesn’t come to those who are looking for convenient or free.
And what got you here, won’t get you to your next level.
Let’s go.
Big love + big impact,
Jenny
PS – Please share this post! And hit me up on social media and let me know how this resonates with you.
Links from Jenny that You’ll Love:
Power Brand Camp (last call!)
TAKE A STAND Live (apply now!)
