How to: figure out your niche, overcome disappointment, and get clients via your friends without feeling gross (Yes Yes Questions 7 Review!)
While I think investing money in coaching is essential, I am also a product of the Soviet Union.
This means I was brought up by parents (and grandparents, and aunties, and uncles) who love FREE STUFF. Sometimes, that means speed-clearing the toiletries in a hotel bathroom (and, let’s be honest, from an unattended housekeeping cart) like a one person plague of miniature shampoo bottle-loving locusts. And sometimes, that means seeing where you can get a free version of services that other people pay for…
In the spirit of this, once a month, I run a free call called Yes Yes Questions. Part-Free Business coaching, part-Live Advice Column, it’s an hour where you get to ask me ANYTHING YOU LIKE, without the usual price tag that comes with my services. And the next one is next Monday, April 6th! Want to be there? Pop your details in on this blog. And to whet** your appetite — here’s the recording from last time, and here is an overview of most of the questions asked then and the answer I gave! In this episode, I answered these Q’s:
1. How do you know if your niche is niche enough?
2. How did you become an entrepreneur? What led you to that path and how did you go about learning how to be one?
3. How do you fake your niche if you feel like you can help EVERYONE?
4. Howwwwwww do I ask my friends and family to help me spread the word about my business? The idea of doing that sounds AWFUL.
5. Any advice on keeping up positive momentum when you get a setback?
I just found out an hour ago I did not get a significant consulting gig that I really wanted (and had received inside information that I would be hired…). Ugh… I just want to hide under a blanket for the rest of the day.
6. Is there a place where speakers hang out or go to? I really wanna photograph more speakers, as well as BIG speaking events.
7. I want to speak at conferences! How do you stand out when applying to do this?
Want to know what I said? Click below to read more!
How to edit your stories (Part 2) – BWSS #3
This is a short episode, and honestly is the only thing you REALLY need to know about how to tell a compelling story.
Obviously, I think there are way more than just one lesson (I kind of make my living based off that belief). But if you can understand this thing? You do 90% of what’s needed.
So, today in the Baby Walk Story Sessions (the podcast + transcript, made while I walk around with the baby on my back, hence the name) I cover my most important (and pretty easy) lesson:
HOW TO WRITE AN ACTION SCENE.
If you can write an action scene, you can tell a story. And all you need is two simple questions. Want to know what they are?
Nobody Else Has Their iSht Together Either. You’re Doing Just Fine.
After years of working with hundreds of storytellers, I figured out something essential:
The ways you feel like you fall short? That feeling you have that everyone else has their iSht together, and only you don’t?
You’re not alone.
In fact, E-V-E-R-Y-B-O-D-Y feels that way.
Below (video and transcription) is my World Domination Summit mainstage (8 min) talk that goes into this, which is the reason behind why I do all the work I do.
It’s my attempt to counteract the epidemic we’re facing in our society, to give people a space to feel like they’re not alone in secretly feeling like a bit of a failure almost all of the time, and to DEFEAT EVIL.
Also, I tell a funny story about a weird thing on my face. Want to hear it?…
The MOST important question to ask before you tell your (or ANY!) story! BWSS #1 official!
There’s a question that you MUST ask before you work on telling your — or any — story, if you want not to waste your own (or other people’s) time. And I’m telling you what it is this week, on the official first episode of the Baby Walk Story Sessions! (the last one being a kind of warm-up intro).
And, starting this episode, in case you’re more of a reader than a listener, I’m also giving you the transcript.
This week, you’ll discover…
How to find stories and decide which ones you should tell — an intro to BWSS, a new training series by MEEEE!
This is going to be my most comprehensive storytelling training — and my most scrappy.
A couple of weeks ago, fired up to work but in charge of a baby who doesn’t like me being on the computer (unless she’s allowed to go all salcKjiefwijoewfiojefwijoefw on the keys herself), I came up with a solution:
To start making audio training while out walking with her on my back. I made this decision, then 5 mins later…
All of the best bits from my best videos! A Yes Yes Videos Review
PLEASE TRY NOT TO PASS OUT IN SHOCK:
Next week will see the return of a Cult Classic: The Yes Yes Marsha idiotic jokes, wigs and costume videos! And it’s going to be a gooooood one. I don’t want to throw in too many spoilers, but….
How to build a mailing list; how to approach guys in bars; how to banish your ‘you suck’ voices – Yes Yes Questions 3 review!
It was a nice mix of shy and very brave in our third Yes Yes Questions – my monthly Live Advice Column. People mostly asked their questions on the chat (with me reading them out), but they asked some goooood ones.
Before I present the questions, I’m doing it again, Monday, April 6th @ 2pm ET. Want to get a reminder – plus all the secret links and resources I promised after this call?
Here is a list of most of the questions, with a short form of the answer I gave on the recording.
Let’s mix up the order, and start with the juiciest:
How would a couple of women approach dudes in a bar in a coldish city (like Toronto) without seeming too desperate, too intimidating, or too contrived? She’s admittedly not that open with strangers, but is hoping to change that. I’m good with strangers, but the approach is always so difficult!
Short form of answer: The trick here is to cultivate a situation where it’s less ‘hi, are we allowed to hang with you?’ and more ‘we are having fun and making mischief. You can join us if you like (and you’ll clearly be missing out if you don’t).’
And don’t just make this pretend. If you can get to the point where the two of you are having so much fun that, honestly, if you aren’t joined by whichever dudes have caught you’re eye, you still have a blast, then it’s win-win. Plus we all know that the ‘I don’t need you over here to have fun’ attitude is always very appealing.
Then I gave a PS on dating wisdom from my smart friend Paul…
How to say no, How to stay focused, How to love somewhere you hate living – Yes Yes Questions #1 REVIEW!
GUESS WHAT???!?!??!?!?! You know that thing I did? Where I had a secret wish that seemed silly, had little to do with my job and is only for already super-famous people (or paid journalists)… but I thought I’d try it out anyway? IT WORKED!! If you missed the whole story, the Cliff notes are: –…
This is usually my favourite thing to do, but one woman RUINED IT.
“Cabin crew seats for take-off, please,” said the tinny voice overhead.
I looked around, wide-eyed. I made my hand into a fist, then pumped it down.
“Yesssssssss,” I hissed, half-under my breath. This was a SCORE.
I leaned over to the other seats in my row – both empty – and grabbed their plastic-wrapped blankets. I tore them open, then lay them on top of the one that was already on my knees.
Stand-ups, Stories and feeling Suicidal – some of my most personal secrets!
I AM SICK. And when I’m sick, in between necking garlic and vitamin C, I like to lie on my couch and, while feeling terribly sorry for myself, listen to things. In case you’re of a similar frame of mind – here are some audio delights for you, featuring your favourite sore-throated British storytelling enthusiast!
1. The One Where I Tell a REALLY Big Secret About Myself…
