Thats Audacious

EP 41 | From Country Roots to Seven-Figure Success: Sharon Jurd on Mindset, Awards, and the Power of Bragging

On this episode of the That's Audacious Podcast, host Lauren Clemett speaks with the exceptional Sharon Jurd, a seven-figure business coach, mindset expert, author, speaker, and CEO of the Sharon Jurd Coaching Institute. A self-described country girl with nine companies to her name, Sharon shares her remarkable journey, emphasising the core values and mindset shifts that have driven her success.

Values-Driven Leadership and a Journey of Helping People

Sharon's journey began in a small country town, instilling in her a strong sense of community and values like respect and curiosity. She realised early on that her work had to align with a central purpose: helping people get from pain to pleasure. Whether it was helping clients buy their first home in real estate or guiding entrepreneurs to grow their businesses, her focus has always been on the person, not the product. She has coached in over 127 industries, and her success, she says, comes from the belief that if you put out good energy, you will attract good people.

The Snowball Effect of Awards and Hypnotherapy as a Game-Changer

In her real estate career, Sharon won an astonishing 36 awards in a very short time. She shares that this wasn't about ego but about building credibility and a profile in a new town where she knew no one. The awards created a snowball effect, legitimising her expertise and attracting clients.

Later, in her coaching business, Sharon hit a roadblock: her clients had great strategies but weren't implementing them. This led her to discover hypnotherapy, timeline therapy, and NLP. She became a master trainer and now teaches these skills to other coaches. Integrating these tools into her coaching has been a game-changer, allowing her to address the "what's going on up here" (the mindset) before focusing on strategy. She believes that without the right internal beliefs, a great marketing plan will never yield consistent results.

Overcoming the Fear of Success and the Tall Poppy Syndrome

Lauren and Sharon delve into the critical topic of self-worth and mindset, particularly concerning awards. Sharon highlights that many people fear success as much as failure. She offers several powerful tips to combat this:

• Reframe Fear as Excitement: The unconscious mind can confuse the two. By consciously telling yourself, "This is not fear, this is excitement," you can recalibrate your neurology and approach challenges with a positive, energetic outlook.
• Release the Need for Perfection: Sharon points out that no one has it all together, no matter how successful they appear. The belief that you must be perfect to win is a self-imposed roadblock.
• Visualise the Win: She encourages a powerful visualisation exercise: vividly imagine the successful outcome of winning an award five minutes after it has happened. This tells your unconscious mind that it's already a reality, prompting it to work toward that result.
• Learn from Not Winning: When she first lost an award, Sharon initially made excuses. However, the experience provided invaluable feedback from the judges: she wasn't "bragging on" her achievements enough. This taught her the importance of self-promotion and not downplaying her successes, a lesson she applied to win the following year.

The Courage to Brag and Embrace Success

Sharon challenges the insidious tall poppy syndrome prevalent in Australia. She encourages people to celebrate their wins openly, citing a story about a man whose exuberant celebration at an awards night was met with quiet judgment. She suggests that if more people were confident in their success, it would become the new normal.

She also addresses the fear of being disliked, reminding listeners that there will always be some people who won't like you, and that's okay. The key is to focus on the overwhelming majority of positive support and not be held back by the few who are unsupportive.

Sharon's Advice to Her Younger Self

At the end of the podcast, Sharon shares three pieces of advice she would give her younger self:

1. Enter awards sooner. The credibility and profile they build are invaluable.
2. Build better relationships. As a younger, ambitious entrepreneur, she was too focused on immediate outcomes and didn't understand the long-term value of nurturing strategic alliances.
3. Start sooner, because you're never ready. You will make mistakes, but that's where the learning happens. Waiting for the perfect moment will only hold you back.

Sharon's insights offer a powerful lesson in combining a strong ethical foundation with a fearless mindset to achieve audacious success.

SHARON JURD is a 7-figure business coach, mindset and success coach, speaker, author, and CEO of SMJ Coaching Institute. She owns nine companies and enjoys margaritas and hiking. Sharon is a #1 Best Selling International Author of two books entitled ‘How to Grow Your Business Faster Than Your Competitor’ and ‘Extraordinary Women in Franchising’.

To learn more about Sharon Jurd and her coaching, mindset programs, and hypnotherapy, visit her website at https://www.smjcoachinginstitute.com.au/.

EP 40 | From Whim to World-Ranked: Rose Davidson on Podcasting with Purpose

In this episode of the That's Audacious Podcast, host Lauren Clemett welcomes Rose Davidson, host and producer of the globally ranked and award-winning "Talking with Experts" podcast. Usually the interviewer, Rose steps into the hot seat to share her journey, insights, and unique system for helping others navigate the world of podcasting.

A Whim That Grew Wings: The Birth of a Top Podcast

Rose's podcasting journey began on a whim in 2020 during lockdown. Witnessing brick-and-mortar businesses struggling, she felt a strong desire to help. With no prior podcasting experience, she simply thought, "Why not start a podcast?" and invited a few Facebook friends as her first guests. This impulsive decision blossomed into something extraordinary: 633 recorded episodes over five years, earning "Talking with Experts" a spot in the top 5% of podcasts globally.

Lauren notes that most new podcasters quit after just five episodes, finding it too hard. Rose's secret to longevity? A heart-centered approach and a genuine love for connecting with people who openly share their knowledge. She sees her podcast as a valuable resource, even for herself, often revisiting episodes for insights. Her personal motivation to help others, rather than chasing numbers, has kept her dedicated.

The Power of Interviews: Authenticity Over Perfection

Rose explains her choice of an interview-style podcast: she finds it difficult to talk to a camera on her own. The dynamic of conversation allows her to be authentic and comfortable. Her tagline, "Business owners helping business owners," perfectly aligns with the show's name, as her guests are indeed experts in their fields.

She uses PodMatch to find incredible guests, a platform she highly recommends for its vetting process and ability to connect hosts and guests effectively. Rose and Lauren both emphasise that podcasting offers a unique way to build a personal brand, allowing audiences to hear your voice and passion, which is invaluable for speakers, thought leaders, and authors.

The OPAL System: Your Roadmap to Podcasting Success

Rose has distilled her years of experience into the Signature OPAL System (Organise, Produce, Arrange, Launch), a comprehensive program designed to guide aspiring podcasters.

• Organise: This initial phase covers foundational elements like legalities, program strategies, choosing your name, hosting platform, and setting up your studio.
• Produce: Focuses on becoming a great host and guest, building confidence on camera, and finding the perfect guests.
• Arrange: Deals with the technical side, teaching how to structure intros/outros, edit podcasts, and choose the best platforms.
• Launch: Explores getting your podcast out there, monetisation, and establishing authority in your chosen niche.

Rose stresses that the biggest mistake people make is overcomplicating things and thinking they need expensive equipment. She started with just a laptop, microphone and camera. Her key advice: prioritise audio quality over visuals, as listeners will forgive poor video but not bad sound. Podcasting doesn't have to be expensive to start.

Consistency, Dedication, and the Long Game

While her podcast achieved a global ranking in the top 5%, Rose admits she has no idea exactly how it happened. She credits consistency and dedication as crucial mindset elements for any podcast host. She views podcasting as a craft and acknowledges that it takes time to build an audience; instant success with millions of downloads is a myth.

Rose is passionate about authentic conversations. Her show is guest-centric, with minimal host interruptions and straightforward editing. She also expresses disappointment when guests don't leverage their appearance, calling it a waste of time, and shares frustration over no-shows.

Rose's Advice: Get Organised and Be Kind to Yourself

Looking back to 2020, Rose would advise her past self to "be more organised." Despite her significant success and awards, she believes better organisation from the start would have propelled her even further.

Her final tips for aspiring podcasters:

• Decide on your podcast type (solo, interview, etc.) and your core message.
• Handle all legal and copyright considerations first.
• Just start! Don't wait for perfection or expensive equipment.
• Be authentic, consistent, and dedicated to your craft.
• "Be kind to yourself and just do what your heart and follow your heart."

Want to start your own podcast, become a better guest, or revive an old show? Rose Davidson's expertise, born from real-world success, can guide you.

Click here to find her contact details and information about her OPAL system: https://rosedavidson.com.au

Embrace the journey, be bold, and get your voice out there!

EP 39 | Am I Award Ready? Debunking the Myths of Business Recognition

Welcome to a special solo episode of the That's Audacious Podcast! Lauren Clemett tackles one of the most frequently asked questions she receives as a professional award writer: "Am I ready? Have I done enough to enter awards?" Lauren debunks common myths, challenges self-limiting beliefs, and instils the confidence needed to pursue recognition for your hard work and impact.

Myth #1: You Need Stellar Financials or Massive Growth

Many believe that awards are only for businesses with sky-high revenue or exponential growth. Lauren clarifies that this is largely a myth. Most awards, almost 90% of them, don't even ask for your financials. Instead, they focus on:

• Innovation: Your fresh ideas and unique solutions.
• Potential: The future impact you could make.
• Challenges: How you've overcome obstacles.
• Impact: The positive difference you're making, not just your bottom line.

Therefore, you don't need a massive income jump to be award-worthy.

Myth #2: You're Too Small, Too New, or Too Unknown

Awards are for businesses of all sizes, from startups to large enterprises. The key is finding the right categories. Lauren highlights a golden window for startups, with categories specifically designed for new ventures (often within 12-24 months of operation), even those pre-profit or without external funding. Missing this window means losing eligibility for these unique opportunities, so if you're a startup, now is the time to seize it.

Myth #3: Imposter Syndrome (The "Itty Bitty Shitty Committee") is Holding You Back

This is a common internal battle. Many entrepreneurs feel insecure, believing their business isn't "perfect," optimised, or free of mistakes. This mindset often focuses on external validation and the fear of judgment. However, Lauren encourages a shift in perspective: "Nothing ever really is perfect."

By pausing to reflect on your journey – your challenges, your original motivations, and your achievements – you can gain a profound sense of self-recognition. Even failures are part of your success story. You're never too small, too new, or too late to enter awards. There are countless categories for various business types, products, services, and impact makers, regardless of whether you have a physical product or a well-established business model.

Inspiring Case Studies: Awards at Every Stage

To illustrate her points, Lauren shares three compelling examples:

• Angela Dion (Blissful Bond Booby Pillow): Angela, a new entrepreneur, had sold only about 50 units of her innovative breastfeeding support product when she first considered awards. Despite her early stage, they entered the Stevie Awards for Women in Business (an international program). Angela won two bronze awards, even competing against giants like Google in the product innovation category. This recognition not only boosted her confidence but directly led to a major opportunity with Westfield, proving the power of branding by association.
  
  
• Kimberly Sumner (She Prosperity): Kimberly won a gold Stevie Award for her concept of a program designed to close the gender pay gap in corporate settings, even before the program was launched. This demonstrates that awards can be won for vision and future potential, offering instant credibility to an untried idea.
  
  
• Emmelia O'Sullivan (Author to Advocate): Emmelia started by winning author awards for her book about her extensive medical journey. Building on this, she leveraged her podcast to win podcast awards. As she transitions into a coaching business and builds online products, she then won a top prize in the Beam in Business Awards for a wellness advocacy role. This highlights that awards aren't just for established businesses; they can be won for impact, social change, and advocacy roles, positioning individuals for future business success.
  
  

These stories underscore that you don't need decades of history or massive revenue to be award worthy. Your impact, your innovation, and your unique story are more than enough.

Are You Awards Ready? Take the Quiz!

Ultimately, being awards ready comes down to:

1. Having a clear purpose: What do you want to win awards for? What's your unique solution or approach?
2. Having the courage to articulate your value: Even if your idea is new or your business has faced challenges and pivoted.
3. Passion, dedication, and the problem you solve: These are what truly matter, not just financial metrics.
4. Commitment to leveraging the award: Turning recognition into tangible growth.

Don't let self-doubt or outdated myths hold back your brilliance. Lauren encourages listeners to find out just how awards ready they are right now by taking the free Are You Awards Ready? Quiz.

This quick quiz culminates in a personalised guide that identifies your current readiness level (gold, silver, or bronze) and offers tailored advice for your next steps, whether you're a first-time entrant or looking to elevate previous wins.

Take the quiz, embrace your journey, and be bold, brave, and audacious!

 

https://theaudaciousagency.com/quiz-are-you-award-ready/

EP 38 | Done is Better Than Perfect Francesca Moi on Reclaiming Time and Scaling Your Business with Smart Delegation

In this engaging episode of That's Audacious, host Lauren Clemett speaks with Francesca Moi, a dynamic speaker and the founder of Empowering Virtual Solution. Known for her no-fluff approach, Francesca’s agency is Australia's most human-focused VA agency, designed to help 7-figure CEOs with overwhelmed teams reclaim their time, build high-performing offshore teams, and master the art of smart delegation.

Francesca candidly shares her journey, which wasn't initially aimed at entrepreneurship. A pivotal moment came while working in a corporate role where her efficiency was discouraged. This, coupled with personal challenges, ignited a profound personal development journey. This transformation, inspired in part by attending a Tony Robbins event (which she resourcefully earned a free ticket to by selling 100 tickets for him!), revealed her innate talent for sales and community building. She realised that if she could sell for others, she could sell for herself, setting audacious goals that she ultimately achieved.

The Power of Authenticity and Pivoting Through Adversity

Francesca's path led her to become an event specialist, filling rooms and generating commissions, eventually being encouraged to speak herself. Despite initial self-doubt and a “crap” first presentation (as a friend honestly put it!), she embraced her authentic, upfront style, which became her unique signature and resonated deeply with audiences. She champions the idea that the less polished the videos, the better it is for genuine connection, contrasting it with overly professional content that can create distance.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced an unexpected pivot. Faced with the stark reality of her events business collapsing, Francesca confronted the worst-case scenario head-on. By accepting the possibility of failure, she liberated herself to see new opportunities. She realised that a core part of her academy, virtual assistant services, was gaining traction. This insight led her to focus solely on the VA agency, which miraculously grew to $1 million in just 14 months, providing a powerful lesson in resilience and adaptation.

Overcoming Delegation Hurdles: Mindset and Growth

A significant portion of the conversation focuses on the common challenges business owners face with delegation. Francesca highlights two key hurdles:

1. Fear of Imperfection: The worry that a VA won't do the job as good as they want it to be.
2. Cash Flow Concerns: The apprehension that hiring a VA will shrink the bank account.

Francesca counters these fears with a powerful mindset shift: "Done is better than perfect." She emphasises that if tasks aren't delegated, they might never get done, leading to overwhelm and stagnation. She provocatively asks, "Would you hire a CEO for $200,000 to do your Canva, emails, and bookkeeping?" Her point is clear: CEOs delegate to focus on growth, and business owners should too. If you're in growth mode, every profit should be reinvested into the business, including hiring support, to unlock your time for strategic activities.

For Francesca, delegation became almost an "addiction" once she saw the benefits of freeing up her time. She outsourced everything from cleaning to cooking, allowing her to focus on high-value activities like learning, networking, and maintaining her health, all crucial for running a thriving business without exhaustion.

Cultivating an Authentic Personal Brand

When asked about building her profile and reputation, Francesca stresses authenticity. She receives consistent feedback that she is exactly the same whether online or in person, a quality she believes people crave. She encourages others to embrace their true selves, even if it means not always looking perfect, as this genuine approach fosters stronger connections.

Francesca's final, powerful advice to her past self is to never, ever, ever stop working on your mindset. She attributes every business roadblock to neglecting her personal development practices – meditation, coaching, networking, and staying updated. She passionately encourages listeners to actively seek knowledge, surround themselves with ambitious individuals, and continuously invest in their personal and professional growth.

If you're an overwhelmed CEO ready to delegate, reclaim your time, and step into your true role as a business leader, Francesca Moi offers the no-fluff, human-focused solutions you need. Find links to her book and VA business below.

https://empoweringvirtualsolution.com/

Don't wait for perfect; just get out there and be audacious!

EP 37 | "Overcome fear and Don't Be Afraid of Taking Action": Saurabh Arora on Building a Mortgage Empire with Lightning-Fast Service and Unwavering Confidence

In this compelling episode of That's Audacious, host Lauren Clemett sits down with Saurabh Arora (Sab), the dynamic founder of Eminence Finance Group.

 Sab, a former top-performing mobile lender with ANZ and a multi-award-winning mortgage broker, is revolutionising the mortgage experience with his commitment to lightning-fast customer service and unparalleled client care. Beyond his remarkable business growth, Lauren dives into how Sab has swiftly built an incredible profile and a stellar reputation in the competitive sector of mortgage broking.

Sab's journey to Australia in 2016 marked a fresh start, propelling him back to basics despite a solid eight years of banking experience in India. This initial step backwards paradoxically accelerated his progress in the Australian banking industry due to his prior knowledge and adaptability. 

Within three years of his initial broking phase, a purely random call from ANZ changed everything. Despite initial hesitation, he took the leap and in just two and a half years, rose to become the number one mobile lender in the country. 

This monumental achievement wasn't just a dream come true; it was the ultimate confidence booster that spurred him to launch his own venture, Eminence Finance Group (EFG).

The Power of Proactiveness and Customer-Centricity

Sab's ethos is rooted in proactiveness. He thrives on clearing his desk and ensuring clients are never left waiting, a stark contrast to the industry's common pain points of poor communication and long wait times. He believes in treating people the way he would like to be treated, a seemingly basic principle that has become a significant point of difference for EFG.

He shares a powerful anecdote about clients straying from their previous mortgage brokers due to a lack of ongoing contact. Sab emphasises that maintaining relationships with existing clients is the most organic and effective way to generate business through word-of-mouth referrals, a marketing strategy often preached but rarely practised consistently.

Awards are More Than Just an Ego Boost

Sab enthusiastically discusses how awards have played a pivotal role in boosting his profile. He notes that receiving awards not only provides an ego boost but, more importantly, validates his legitimacy and reassures existing clients that they are in capable hands. He recounts how winning the Stevie Awards led to calls from clients, both current and past, reaffirming their trust and even prompting former clients to return for his services.

A highlight of his recent achievements is winning the national title for Customer Service in Finance at the Australian Achiever Awards. This particular award is significant because it involves direct interviews with clients to gauge their satisfaction, providing an undeniable third-party endorsement of EFG's commitment to delivering on its promises. Sab was genuinely stunned to win this prestigious national award, a testament to his consistent delivery of exceptional service.

Niche Down, Think Big

Initially, Sab found it challenging to niche down, especially when clients' primary focus was solely on interest rates. He consciously shifted his conversations to clients' long-term objectives and goals, demonstrating that he prioritises their financial well-being over just securing the lowest rate. He candidly admits to turning away rate-sensitive clients, recognising that long-term client relationships, built on trust and alignment, are far more valuable for sustainable growth and referrals.

Looking ahead, Sab is focused on building a corporate environment within EFG, aiming to mentor and grow a team of mortgage professionals. His vision is to pay it forward, empowering others to achieve wonders in their careers, all while scaling EFG into a prominent brand.

Sab's Advice for Success

Reflecting on his journey, Sab's advice to his past self is profound: "Don't be scared, don't be afraid of taking action." He stresses that results only come from action, and even if an action doesn't lead to an immediate win, it provides invaluable experience and learning. He also encourages people, especially immigrants, to think big and not limit their aspirations.

Finally, Sab highlights the importance of delegation when building a brand. Knowing that one person can't do everything, he advises business owners to trust and delegate to other experts in the market, allowing them to focus on their core strengths.

Ready to experience lightning-fast customer service and work with an award-winning mortgage expert? 

Learn more about Saurabh Arora and Eminence Finance Group and get in touch with Sab here: 

 

https://www.eminencefg.com.au/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabarora/