Are you waiting for a push from the universe to kickstart your business? Well I have bad news for you. Only you can give yourself that push! You’ll be waiting forever for it to come from somewhere else.
Here’s the good news: Emily Hirsh is here to arm you with all the tools and motivation you need to take charge of your own dreams. She has been there done that and come out the other side with a business managing $85,000,000 for her clients. If those are the kinds of numbers you day-dream about, tune in to hear all about Emily’s journey and what she’s learned along the way.
Emily Hirsh is a leading digital marketing strategist, young entrepreneur, and founder of Hirsh Marketing, one of the fastest-growing digital marketing agencies that is responsible for over 85 million and counting. Emily and her team of experts work with top-level influencers and game-changing entrepreneurs to grow their businesses and generate massive revenue using her revolutionary Hirsh process.
I’m thrilled to be sitting down with her today to find out all about what led her to this point in her life, and what it takes to build a digital marketing business.
In Today’s Episode We Discuss:
How to picture your dream life and GO for it
Emily Hirsh’s journey from college dropout to Facebook ads agency owner
Getting your hands dirty, rolling your sleeves up, and figuring things out
When to consider hiring a coach/mentor
Recognizing what’s holding your business back
The challenges of growing a team
How to get your foot in the door and start your own freelance business
Mindset changes that have to take place in order to grow
The value of understanding your one ideal customer/avatar
The importance of prioritizing yourself
Emily’s story resonates with me so much, and I’m grateful that she took the time to share it with us, because I believe there is value in listening to and learning from other people’s experiences.
Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today, so you don’t miss any future episodes! I already have so many amazing guests and topics lined up, I would hate for you to miss a single one! Click here to subscribe on Apple Podcasts
Could I ask a big favor? If you love listening to this podcast, please leave me a review onApple Podcasts. I read each and every review. Plus, you get to pay it forward because it will allow other service providers like you to find the podcast! Wondering how to leave a review? Click here to review, then select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review”. So easy and so appreciated!
My love language is touch, mama, so I warned everyone who came to Free Mama Live last year, “I WILL HUG YOU.”
My love language is touch, so being surrounded by the amazing, incredible women who are a part of this community — dancing with them, laughing with them, crying with them, and celebrating with them in person was a huge high point of 2019.
My love language is touch, so I spent all of last year travelling around the country to meet Free Mamas in person, and it culminated in the first ever Free Mama Live event, and I had SUCH BIG PLANS for 2020.
So it would have been pretty easy to get really depressed at the thought of taking my 3-day live event and making it virtual. It would have been SO easy to just crawl into my bed with a big bowl of ice cream and watch The Bachelor while sobbing into my mint chocolate chip.
But that’s NOT how we do things here.
You got lemons? Let’s make lemonade. (And maybe add a bit of margarita mix.)
via bubly on GIPHY
You got a global pandemic and you think that’s going to stop the force of the Free Mamas?
Oh, 2020, do I have some news for you.
Yeah, Free Mama Live 2020 will be virtual this year, but it’s still going to be EPIC — like, amazing swag bags mailed to your house, like, breakout sessions that will blow your mind, like, live dance parties ON YOUR COMPUTER, because THAT is how we do things here.
In all seriousness, this was a tough decision to make, but it ultimately came down to this: I want to be in control of my life. Leaving the fate of my event up to others doesn’t work for me. By choosing NOW to take action, I retain control of my business and the decisions I make.
And you can do the same thing, mama. You don’t have to wait for clients — you have the skills to go out and fill your pipeline, and convert those prospects to paid work. You can ditch the downers and choose to surround yourself with women who are getting the work done and making their own decisions.
Ahem. Soapbox. It happens. I’m not sorry.
ANYWAY, what does this Free Mama Live 2020 news mean for you?
It means you don’t have to worry about travel plans. It means you can join us even if you’re 9 months pregnant, nursing a newborn, or afraid of flying.
No, it won’t be like last year…
… IT WILL BE BETTER.
Apparently, no one has told the coronavirus that you and I — and our entire Movement of 30,000+ women — are a force to be reckoned with.
My team and I are already hard at work creating a virtual event unlike anything you’ve ever seen — and you know we can do it.
Last year’s event changed lives. And this year’s will be no different. (I mean, okay, it will be different, but better, and the changing lives part will NOT be different.)
P.S. Seriously. This will be virtual, but it’s going to be more like virtual reality. Possibly minus the weird headsets. But maybe?Get your ticket NOW!
It’s called Free Mama Radio, and it’s packed with information you can use to start your own business and work from home the way YOU want to. It’s the next, best podcast for female entrepreneurs!
Because maybe the idea of being a virtual assistant doesn’t light you up. That’s okay.
Maybe you’re still figuring out what you want to do, or maybe you’re on a path to being a full time freelance funnel designer, copywriter, bookkeeper, tech goddess, or something else entirely, and you’re looking for scaling strategies.
Or, you might be seeking inspiration as you leap courageously into the unknown.
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You’re going to LOVE Free Mama Radio. I’ve spent the last few weeks interviewing loads of amazing people to bring you the best, most exciting resources and information so that you can build the business of your dreams, it’s going to be your favorite podcast for female entrepreneurs!
Are you wanting even more Free. Mama goodness? If you’re looking for more information on how to get started working from home, you are going to LOVE Free Mama TV – check out this round up of Free Mama TV episodes that are going to teach you how to start working as a virtual assistant and get clients fast! You can find all the details right here!
Today’s episode is a little different but more important than ever. Following the death of George Floyd and the discussion around racism that it has sparked globally, I feel a responsibility to speak up and share how we will be making positive changes at The Free Mama.
Join me as we face these difficult but necessary conversations head-on, and take time to reflect on what we can do as individuals and as a community to make sure that our actions have a lasting impact.
In Today’s Episode We Discuss:
The power of your influence
Why now is the time to start learning, educating, and elevating the voices that need to be heard
Your influence as a mother
What we’re doing at The Free Mama to make a difference
Questions to consider as we work to better ourselves
I believe in the Free Mama Movement. In the idea that we can change the world because we’re moms. We are raising the next generation, so let’s raise them to be better than us.
If you want to join the discussion taking place in the Free Mama Facebook group, I ask that you be respectful and productive with your comments.
I think we can all agree that we need to commit to MASSIVE ACTION.
At the Free Mama, we are also evaluating our long term strategies to affect change, which means asking some hard questions…
Do black women feel represented in our community and at our events? How diverse are my team, colleagues and coaches? Will we collaborate with other businesses, events, podcasts and summits who do not uphold our commitment to diversity? How can we bring the mission of the Free Mama to marginalized mothers? How can we share the struggles and successes of more black women in our community?
I will use the Free Mama platform to do better, demonstrate to the best of my ability what that looks like, share stories of more women of color in our community whose experiences I cannot understand.
Black lives matter at the Free Mama. Please know that I will always fight to keep this community safe and inclusive and productive.
We are the human race. Black lives matter. I am with you.
You might be wondering what the swim team and relationship sales have to do with each other. Well, let me tell you. Last year, my daughter Daphne joined the swim team. I had no idea what I was in for when we started, and if you were here for that saga, you got to see it all unfold in real time.
Well, it’s time for the sequel. You can think of this as Swim Team 2: Henry’s in the Pool.
There are a few differences between last year and this year — and a big part of it is that this year, I have expectations.
For example, last year, I was stunned (and terrified) to discover that signing Daphne up for swim team didn’t mean she was on the swim team. She had to prove her worth by swimming the length of the pool, which is approximately the length of the Atlantic Ocean.
via Gilmore Girls on GIPHY
(Maybe I am slightly exaggerating.)
Anyway, last year Daphne gave me this whole teachable moment. It was amazing.
This year, I was super nervous about the whole “swim through the shark-infested ocean” thing… and then something incredible happened.
We were at the pool, and all the kids were swimming with their kickboards. I was chatting it up on the sidelines, filling up my daily social needs, and not really paying attention.
Suddenly, I realized that all the kids had tossed their kickboards to the sides and were swimming the length of the pool.
Unassisted.
Just swimming.
No one said, “THIS IS THE SWIM TEAM TEST.” No one made it a big deal. The kids just…
… swam.
It was oddly calm.
via The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on GIPHY
We love to hype stuff up in our heads — but does it really help us when we do that?
Would it have helped if Henry were totally stressed out about the swim team test?
When I told Henry, “You just made the swim team!” his reaction was, “Okay, cool.”
Henry focused on swimming, and the rest just happened.
So, am I telling you to jump in the pool with your kickboard? In a manner of speaking, I guess I am.
When you’re trying to land clients, it’s easy to hype up every interaction in your head.
If you build up every single discovery call in your mind, and convince yourself that signing this client is a matter of life or death, you will be stressed and tense. You will NOT be at your best.
via Lucifer on GIPHY
Instead, keep your focus on making a connection. You will be amazed at how much less stress you will feel. You will be able to connect — and the clients will come. That is the key to mastering relationship sales. Here’s a little more on that.
Give it a try — and share your experiences in the Facebook group!
You constantly blow me away with your commitment to yourself, your belief that you CAN do hard things — and the way you take action on the things you believe in.
I’m such a huge fan of action, and messy, imperfect action is probably my favorite kind.
You know why?
Because it’s real.
It’s feeling the fear and doing it anyway. It’s showing up even when you haven’t showered or brushed your hair (or brushed your teeth, but maybe that’s just me…). It’s holding your breath and hitting send.
It’s going live on Facebook for the first time even when you are absolutely terrified.
And over 100 Free Mamas recently did just that in the brand-new Free Mama Squad.
via Tacocat on GIPHY
If you want to talk about imperfect, here’s a story for you.
When my right hand woman Jordan came to me and said, “Lauren, our mamas need more accountability,” I agreed with her — but I also know that I didn’t have time to plan out a proper launch. I didn’t have time to get my copywriter set up with details and build out a beautiful funnel and plan a strategy.
So we decided that our desire to help you get the accountability you need was more important than our (my) need for things to be perfect and pretty.
Jordan and I spent a total of about 6 minutes prepping, and then we jumped in and launched that sucker.
Over 150 mamas heard the call and answered.
They shouted “I want MORE for my family! I want MORE for myself!”
They came into the group. And then they found out that THE VERY FIRST THING they had to do, to prove to themselves and to us that they were serious, was to go live in the group and introduce themselves.
via TruTV’s At Home with Amy Sedaris on GIPHY
So many of these amazing women had never, ever gone live before.
But they did it.
And they saw that it didn’t kill them.
(I think at least a few of them genuinely expected to keel over on the spot!)
Instead, it made them stronger. It gave them another reason to believe in themselves and their abilities. And goes what? Public accountability — telling people what you want to accomplish, hanging out with people who are also going after their goals — it works.
In less than a month, we’ve had mamas celebrate:
Announcing their business and intentions publicly
Working out daily
Writing and sending off proposals
Hosting LIVE trainings online, and engaging with potential clients
Finishing web sites and promoting themselves
SIGNING clients and GETTING PAID
Going to bed on time
Posting videos and living to tell the tale
Booking coffee chats with potential clients
Negotiating with anchor clients
Asking for and receiving referrals from existing clients
Breaking up with bad clients
Eating better
It’s not just about business — it’s about your whole life. And It. Is. AMAZING.
I don’t know if you heard, but the Goldens are out on the road, and it seems like a perfect time to share a couple of my favorite FreeMamaTV episodes with you, so that you can catch up on anything you’ve missed and sharpen your skills.
I’ve put together a totally bingeable playlist just for you to start working as a virtual assistant.
via ABC Network on GIPHY
If you need help getting started as a virtual assistant or a social media manager — or you’re looking for more clients, these episodes have you covered.
Kick it off with What Can Virtual Assistants Do? which will help you identify your skills so you can start building your business.
You can get through all four episodes in just over half an hour — and the payoff is a business you LOVE that lets you work from home on your terms, own your time, and live the life you want.
Does scaling your business with joy sound magical?! Are you thinking “sign me up!” but are you unsure what that would even look like for you? If so, you are going to love today’s interview with my special guest, Laura Meyer.
Laura is a serial entrepreneur who has scaled multiple six- and seven-figure online and offline companies over the last fifteen years. She helps national brands and high-growth entrepreneurs with profit growth, effective marketing, and brand strategy.
Laura is here to tell us the story of how she scaled her own business and how she came to help others do the same. I’m excited to ask her all about her turbulent entrepreneurial journey and how she overcame the challenges of leaving behind one dream to pursue a bigger one. If you are considering starting or scaling a business, you will not want to miss the marketing nuggets of gold that Laura is sharing with us in this episode.
In Today’s Episode We Discuss:
Finding more time for family
The challenges of franchising
Laura’s journey from photographer to growth strategist/scaling coach
How she scaled her own business
Why finding your unique angle is the best thing you can do for your business
How to identify your strengths and establish a reputation that you will take with you wherever you go
How to overcome your biggest challenges
Walking away from a dream that isn’t what you want anymore
Struggling with the loss of identity
The gift that adversity will give you
How to stay true to yourself and what you really want
Life never seems to go the way we plan, right? Laura’s story is an example of how to navigate the unexpected and still come out on top. Starting or scaling a business will bring you new challenges, but don’t let them knock you down, mama. Instead, ask yourself what you will gain from this challenge. How will you and your business be better off on the other side of it?
Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today, so you don’t miss any future episodes! I already have so many amazing guests and topics lined up, I would hate for you to miss a single one! Click here to subscribe on Apple Podcasts
Could I ask a big favor? If you love listening to this podcast, please leave me a review onApple Podcasts. I read each and every review. Plus, you get to pay it forward because it will allow other service providers like you to find the podcast!
Funny story. One of my coaching clients recently asked me about something I said. I mentioned that when I set goals, I KNOW I’ll hit them, and my student wanted to know HOW I knew that.
I thought about it for a few minutes, and I thought that my podcast was the perfect example.
See, back at the end of 2019, I started thinking about my 2020 goals. I knew I wanted to launch a podcast — and do a whole bunch of other things.
Guess what? We can’t actually do all the things we want to do all the time, so my very first step was to make a big, giant list of everything I wanted to do — and then decide which of those goals I’d actually work on in 2020. SPOILER ALERT: The podcast made the list.
Then it was time to figure out WHEN in 2020 I’d launch the podcast — and again, it had to fit in with everything else that I’d be working on this year. Together with my team, I determined that FreeMama Radio would be a Q2 project — specifically, we’d launch it in May, for my birthday. 🥳
So think about that for a second: back in December 2019, I already knew that in May, I’d be launching a podcast. That meant I had five months to do all the planning and preparation.
I knew that by February, I’d need systems in place, which meant that I needed to start researching and figuring stuff out in January.
In other words, back in January, I was already blocking off time on my calendar to work on the podcast I just launched a few weeks ago.
What does this mean for you and your goals? Do you know how to crush your goals?
Well, it starts with the simple fact that writing down your goals isn’t enough. Making a vision board isn’t enough. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t do those things — writing down goals and creating vision boards can be a really important part of the process — but on their own, they won’t get you past the finish line.
via think! on GIPHY
After you write down the goal, you need to figure out what all the steps are to get you from where you are right now to where you want to be. And that can be tricky if you’re doing something for the first time. I’d never started a podcast before, so I had no idea what I’d have to do. That’s why I blocked off time to research things, and then I found someone who HAD already done this before, so my research started there. I looked at the step-by-step work other people had done, and followed their path to success.
Let’s say you want to, oh, I don’t know, launch a freelance virtual assistant business. You’ve never done that before, but you know that there’s a 12-week program out there. You can either invest in that program and figure that it will take you more or less 12 weeks to get up and running, or you can decide to put in more time and energy to do the research on your own, and it’ll probably take you longer than 12 weeks.
Maybe you want to write a book. You’ve never written a book before, so you start looking at people who have written books, and check out what they did each day. You can build your own program that way — or, again, you can invest in a course or a program that will give you the step-by-step process and break it down for you.
The point is, you have to figure out, one way or another, all the smaller steps that go into hitting your goal. You have to schedule time to do each of those steps. And then you have to show up and do the work that you’ve planned. That’s how to crush your goals.
If you skip any of those steps, you won’t get to cross that goal off your list.
Yes, reaching your goals takes time and effort. It takes work. But I’m willing to bet that there’s nothing on your list that hasn’t been done before — which means that it can be done, you LEARN how to crush your goals.
Ready to crush your goals? I can’t wait to see what you do!
