Thats Audacious

In this episode of the That's Audacious podcast, host Lauren Clemett speaks with the brilliant Melissa Williams, CEO of Learning Dimensions Network. An award-winning corporate training organisation, LDN specialises in leadership, safety, and cultural change. With over 20 years of experience, Melissa shares her personal journey and professional insights on how to create truly impactful learning solutions.

 

Melissa Williams is the CEO of Learning Dimensions Network (LDN), an award-winning corporate training organisation specialising in leadership, safety and cultural change learning solutions. With over 20 years of experience in adult learning and instructional design, Melissa is passionate about creating engaging and impactful training programs that drive workplace transformation.

To learn more about Melissa Williams and LDN’s award-winning solutions, find her contact information below:

https://ldn.com.au/

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

Welcome to a powerful episode of the That's Audacious Podcast! Host Lauren Clemett sits down with the fabulous Katrina Sawa, a sought-after business coach, international speaker, and book publisher who's all about making your book a core part of your business strategy. With over 25 years of experience, Katrina has helped thousands of entrepreneurs simplify their marketing and automate their business, and she's guided over 150 authors to success.

The Mindset Shift: Your Book is a Business, Not Just a Product

Katrina’s journey into publishing is surprising: she never wanted to be an author and doesn't even like to read. Her interest in books came from observing others. Initially skeptical of selling a low-cost item like a book, she had a breakthrough when she realised a book is a powerful marketing tool for opening doors to speaking engagements, media appearances, and high-value clients.

A critical point she and Lauren discuss is that writing the book is only half the job; the other, and arguably more important, half is marketing it. Katrina emphasises that you must view your book as a business or a funnel into your existing business. If you don't, you risk spending thousands of dollars on a book that just sits on a shelf.

For those considering writing a book, Katrina's first piece of advice is to write the back cover copy first. This exercise forces you to think about the book's marketing, purpose, and audience before you've written a single word. It’s all about having a clear goal, whether that’s to launch a speaking career, gain new clients, or just share your story with family and friends.

From Information to Income

A book should be more than just a collection of information. Katrina suggests that authors use their books to create a sales funnel. This can be done by including:

• Exercises or journal prompts at the end of chapters.
• QR codes or links to a landing page where readers can download a free workbook or resource.
• Bundles that include the book and a separate, more detailed workbook or course for purchase.

This strategy turns a $20 book into a lead generator for high-ticket coaching, consulting, or speaking. She shares a story of a client who initially wrote a massive 500-page book and workbook combined, only to realise that nobody would want to read something so long. By separating them, they created a powerful bundle and a clearer path for their audience.

Katrina also advises authors to consider a book's physical size. A massive, expensive-to-ship book isn't ideal for a media kit. Giving away a smaller, concise book can be far more valuable, as the cost of printing is minimal compared to the revenue gained from a new client who reads it and hires you.

Why Your Publisher Should Be a Marketer

Katrina explains that many traditional publishers fail to offer marketing support because they aren't marketers themselves; they are simply book production specialists. She warns against paying for a book and receiving no help with promotion, as this is a recipe for a business-building failure. Her business coaching background gives her a unique perspective, allowing her to assess not just the book, but your entire brand presence—from your social media to your website—to ensure everything aligns to support your book's success.

Lauren and Katrina agree that a well-marketed book, especially one that has won awards, positions you as a "go-to expert". This makes you more attractive to event organizers and media outlets, leading to more speaking gigs, more visibility, and higher pay.

Actionable Steps to Promote Your Book

For anyone with a book gathering dust in a garage, Katrina has a clear call to action: perform an audit of your online presence.

• Audit your visibility: Can people easily find you and your book?
• Check your contact information: Is your phone number, email, or a contact form easily accessible on your website and social media profiles?
• Optimise your profiles: Ensure your LinkedIn and other social media profiles accurately reflect your brand and expertise.

Katrina's final advice to her younger self is to stop settling. She believes that settling in personal or professional relationships closes the door on great opportunities. She encourages listeners to stop putting up with things that are not serving them and to reach out for support if needed.

Katrina Sawa is a sought-after business coach, international speaker, and book publisher. Known for her direct, humorous and inspiring style, Katrina delivers actionable insights that leave audiences equipped and motivated to take their businesses to the next level. With 25 years of experience, she has helped thousands of business owners level up their confidence and pricing, simplify their marketing, automate operations, and build sustainable revenue streams. As the founder of Jumpstart Publishing, Katrina has also guided over 150 entrepreneurs through the process of becoming a published author, using books as powerful tools to boost their visibility, credibility, and their business

To learn more about Katrina Sawa's business coaching and publishing services, and how she can help you turn your book into a business, find her contact information below. If you're a published author, consider entering your book in awards to further boost your credibility and visibility. You deserve to be well-known, well-paid, and wanted!

 

Contact Info

Business Coaching website: https://www.JumpstartYourBizNow.com   

Book Publishing website: https://JumpstartPublishing.net    

Events Webpage: http://www.JumpstartEvents.net

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/.

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!

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/