Season 10 Reunion, Part 2: Community, Consistency, & 9 Years of Marketing Wisdom

Hello.Hello, and welcome to season 10 of the Making a Marketer Podcast with your hosts, Megan Powers and Jen Larsen.Since 2017, we've been your resource for all things marketing, business and branding.For the marketing curious to the seasoned pros, of course, with the absolute best guests.Let's do this, y'all.All.Hello.

Hello.

This is the second of four Season 10 kickoff shows where we have invited guests back from the last nine seasons.As I mentioned on the first one, we hope that these shows will be like hanging out with fun, smart friends.So over the course of these four shows, we had more than 20 guests back to join us to talk about what matters to them these days and may or may not relate to what they're doing now and they teach us something new.So we really hope you enjoy the start to season 10 leading up to episode.Episode 200 coming up.Thanks for listening.We're going to welcome our next group, Ms. Judy Fox and Marissa Cowie.Welcome to the show.Welcome back to the show.I should say, glad to be here.

I was going back to see which episode I was, and then now we can be.Oh, is it 80 or did I get the wrong number?

No, 80.You were right.Captivating Clubhouse.Oh, yeah.

I was like, clubhouse.

What?

What happened to that?That was so we did talk about.So I listened to it again today.

And I love it.

That's so cute.We had all these cool things to say and about Clubhouse, but there's still threads of what matters that still lasts in the spirit of, you know, Nick, talking about things that have staying power and what's not going to get disrupted.Our human voices are not going to really get disrupted.So that is what we ended up talking about.

Yeah.

Yeah.Is Clubhouse gone?Gone?

No, but just people.It's not on people's phones or people.

Don't even log in anymore.

It's like, yeah, it's like a forgotten app, but it's not gone gone like vine or like trying to bring vine back.We should have a nostalgic clubhouse room.

That would be so much fun.

Yeah.Do you ever spend time in there anymore?

I have probably.I'm thinking back to how many hours I used to spend.It's probably like one hour a year now.

Like,.

Feel like I have spent about.

An hour in there.

Wow, that's wild.

Anyone here?Have you clicked on that app in the last 365 days?

No, I just did it for the.

First time in well over two years.

Just to see if it was even still on my phone.

I mean, I miss it.I Sound like I'm missing an old relationship or something.Like, I miss you.But it got me through Covid in a way that I don't think other apps were hitting that way for me at that time.I don't know.It's like, I sound like I have a love relationship, but if you're 80 of making a marketer, you can hear my love of clubhouse and LinkedIn.

Well, and we would spend hours on it.Even if you were just listening to people and, like, doing your dishes and making your dinner and doing whatever that, you know, taking your walk, doing all the only things you could do during that time period.

Yeah.

Like, I got to know Troy Sandage in a way I wouldn't probably have ever gotten to know him because of that.

Yeah, so true.

Yeah.Just had some really, really quality conversations.My experience was the best rooms were like five or six, seven people versus the.The huge ones that had 500 people in there.You had moderators and all of that kind of thing, which I know that you started to make part of your living on, like, moderating groups.

Right.

So let that brings us to what are you doing now?

I am still running more of a LinkedIn business development type of.So I'm creating income for other people.So I am helping people get more.Either speaking opportunities is one of my niches where people want to get paid to be on more stages, or they're selling their book or they have a consulting business, and I'm trying to get them more opportunities.So those are kind of my three how can I make you more money?That's my pitch.

I love it.So, because, yeah, when you got on clubhouse, LinkedIn was your baby, right?

Yes.

Yeah.

And it still is.I just position it a little less than.I'm not necessarily trying to make people LinkedIn content creators, which I think is a different category where the.The energy of LinkedIn content creators is a lot different than someone who might want to truly use the platform for business development and not necessarily pushing out a deluge of content.

Yeah, well, that's actually good.Our.Our most recent episode, published yesterday with Richard Bliss, is around.LinkedIn blew our mind on all of the changes because everyone's like, the algorithm.Algorithm.I'm getting no visibility.And he's like, well, here's why.And he gave all these tips in this, like, very solid.We just like, okay, this is show.One hour is not enough.We definitely have to revisit this.But the point being that it's.It's a business platform.It's not a social media platform.And if you're using it as social media platform, you're likely going to get penalized and you're not going to get seen I.By even the 2%.Yeah.Yeah.

I'm definitely going to have to listen to that episode because it sounds like we are on.I've met him and we've talked and we end up being on the same page for a lot of things.The advice that people are getting and then they come to me, it ends up making it harder for them to close business because sometimes they do things like, I have to have an incredible hook, which I love, a good hook.Come on, bring me in.Hook me.But some of that isn't necessarily good for your business.If you're trying to hook with so much rage, bait, kind of hooky, or you're trying to be dramatic and then you try to tell a story, story that is not really good for your business.And I think people get kind of pulled in to advice just for visibility sake.

Ah.And then, and then it's like that, and then what?Right?Like the same thing with going viral.Like someone goes viral for something that they're not actually an expert at or like isn't in their zone of what kind of business they want to build.And then they're like, oh, how can I capitalize on this?I think it's hard, right?

Yeah.When you keep getting online, especially on LinkedIn, and you keep doing dramatic openings.Like, I made a huge mistake.I lost a client.

Client.

Like, those are too many things in a row.Sometimes that people will post and then they come to me and they're like, I can't get anyone on a sales call.

And I'm.

I look back at their posts and I'm like, every post was too dramatic.We want to work with people who are steady and stable and are not necessarily causing drama in the workplace.Like, we know the drama in the workplace and then we know who we would want to hire.

So.

Right.

All right, awesome.Okay, so let's chat with with Marissa for a minute and then Jen will go back and ask Judy and Marissa the one big question.Welco.Marissa.Callie.How are you?

Hi.Great.How are you?

Hey.

Good to see a lot of familiar faces on here.

I love it.

Right.

A little reunion here and kind of.

Built it that way.

Yeah.

But in some ways I'm getting lucky.In some ways, it's on accident.Tracy Stuckrath by Jill's Tracy Stuckrath is coming up.So if you're still around, you'll get to see her too.

Perfect.

Yeah.Your episode was about live streaming, which was.That's what Julie's episode was about.But she was like episode 17 or something.

Like.Yeah.

Forever ago, but yeah.So livestream production.Brett, you're still kind of doing that, but you're doing some different stuff.So what's.What are you up to?

Yeah, so I work more on the event side than the marketing side, but I'm bringing marketing into events.And I'm happy to see Nick here because I worked with Nick briefly last year at an event.Well, he wasn't there, but we were on the same team.Yeah.So anything from a pre, during or post event marketing and that include not just social posts where you're like, I made a mistake, as Judy would say, made a huge mistake.But, you know, driving traffic to the booth.What's the strategy at the booth?What do you have?What's the conversation like?And even when Nick said, like being curious, like when people come to the booth, like, you don't want to just pull out your business card or do a hard pitch, you want to build the relationships.And it's been fun because all of this stuff that you've learned, like building your own business, it's all integrated into what you're doing on the show floor.And you know that now.Megan, I think when we talked last time, I wasn't really in events and now I'm crossed over to events, so it's pretty fun.But yeah, so I do that.And then I also am building a series of my own stuff that's allowed me to show up and be present for all of this, which is workshops and retreats and consulting around communication and alignment in your business and who you are.So you always want to build your own stuff.It's the nature of the beast, especially now with AI.

So, I mean, you should be anyway.Yeah, for sure.Anyone who's.Who's got all their eggs in one, like social media platform basket or any of that, obviously that's bad, bad idea.Am I going to see you at happy Camp?

Yes.

I am a vip.Are you a vip?

I am.For those listening who that we are both a part of the same community called Club Ichi, founded by Liz Lathan and Nicole Oshiboto, who have both been on this podcast a couple times and not gonna be able to make the reunion because they're doing big things and they just don't like, there's no.They don't have time.But yeah, they're gonna bring 250 people together to play and we'll Talk some business, but ye not gonna miss that at all.So I did go on the secret family reunion, which I've talked about, which, and our listeners know, I had a big trip that I.Where I didn't know where I was going, and I ended up in New Zealand, which was with that same group.Yeah, with that.

I had to, like, go to happy camp.I was like, this has to happen.Like, I need to.I didn't want it to pass me by.So, yeah, I'm excited.It's already next summer.I'm like, I've got my summer.

It's a year away.

It's crazy.

All right, perfect.Well, Jen, you want to ask Judy the big question?Yes.Thanks, Preeti.

All right, Judy, what is one tip you think would help everyone listening in their own business journey relative to your own expertise?

Listen to the Making a Marketer podcast.

Am I the first one that said that?

Yeah.

Yes.

Love it.

I mean, honestly, the best advice that I have gotten has been through mostly podcasts.They have leveled me up.I have a road trip that I have to do several times a year that's a thousand miles.So I listen to a lot when I'm on that road trip, and that changed my life.So find solid things to listen to.And it will.It will eventually change your life if you have a thousand miles to drive.But we can go on walks and listen to podcasts.I just think it's something that's really accessible while we're moving about our day.So.

Yeah, that's really true.

Yeah.About business, but also about other things, too.

Right.

There's so many podcasts out there.And I do think, like, if anyone wants to be a podcaster, you gotta listen to podcasts because, like, that's.That's the way to learn not just what you want to do, but what also what you don't.

Well, back to podcasting.Not only listening, but it.I was gonna mention how even though Clubhouse is gone in a way, it's not gone.

That was.

I put air quotes around it for anyone listening.Yeah, it is still there, but it changed my life.And that sounds like.I hear people say that about the different social media platforms, but it improved my stage presence, ability to communicate, tell stories, and it did it in a very.There was just so much freedom on that app to get on and just play.And I didn't realize at the time how much I was improving my skills.But I did a weekly show that was an hour to two hours every Wednesday for two years.

Wow.

And that's a live Show.

And when.

When I hear consistent, that's another thing I'll bring up, is something to be consistent on.You don't have to be consistent with what other people tell you to be consistent on.Because I had people tell me, oh, you're not actually being consistent on LinkedIn.And I was like, I don't care.I'm being consistent on a place where I'm getting business to.So find where you need to be consistent, not where the world tells you to be consistent.

Yeah.How great feedback really is.

My thoughtful Thursday post today was about consistency.It sure was.

Oh, my gosh.I didn't know that.I'm gonna have to go check it out.

Well, it hit me.I was like, oh, this, I've got the podcast, I've got this.I've got my breast cancer.All these things.And it just hit me.I was like, whoa, sorry, Marissa.Didn't mean to cut you off, but yeah, yeah, go ahead.

No, we grew up, like, with.With being at the forefront of all the trends and all the new platforms.And it's like, did you get your pot?Did you get your username?Like, do you have an account?Secure it now.Be consistent on, like, 12 platforms.I'm like, this is absolutely not possible.I think I'm.I'm echoing what Judy says as well.Like, it's like, you can be consistent.Like, I'm doing a new podcast that we were like, we just want to start recording.That was the intention.Record, have time in the schedule, and that's it.Now we're on, like, almost episode 30 since April.Now that's, like, a big deal for some people in events, right?Like, to be able to do one every week.But it feels good because you're like, wow, I'm doing this every week.And now you miss it.You're like, oh, well, that's.But then you don't post.Like, I didn't post on Instagram this week, even though I was at a show.Really, you know.

Right.

Well, then people miss you.Right.Like, Jen and I had some trouble at the beginning of season nine, like, kind of getting it together.And my.The thing at the forefront, my mind was like, we have people who like this as part of their routine.Like, I have mine, like, every Tuesday, Thursday, like, this podcast, it gets published.And I know that I look forward to listening to that.And so you kind of don't want to let them down.

Yeah.

Awesome.So I love Bluetooth.My earbuds keep going in and out, so it's, like, distracting me.But you Kind of answered it.But Jen, you want to officially ask Marissa, was that your answer?

Yeah.Marissa, what is your one tip you think would help everyone listening in their own business journey?

Yeah, I would say make time for personal development or professional development.I'm sure you all have had your own things that maybe lit the fire again or given you a little more clarity.And I think, you know, working for yourself is easy to just.Oh, that's another thing I do especially you know, when I mentioned before AI, like I have a new idea and I'm going to build like a new landing page just like quick.Right.But you're like, oh, maybe that's not needed for me.So I think you know, scheduling that time in whether it's like I think this year, earlier this year I put on my calendar Fridays.Like we're just days off.Like I didn't have it available on Calendly.Like and I'll take like I've been off this whole week and so neck tomorrow I might have.We're recording on Thursday.

Sorry.

But Friday I might have a meeting and switch it but it's like consistent.Like my personal time is Friday or I need to go away and I need to go work on some things that have been lingering in my brain, my creative mind and I need to get them done.So I need to step away from, from my usual.And I think that's kind of also relates to why I want to start or you know, hosting retreats or I've had hosted my own but like organizing them for people and like really encouraging, you know, the access to all this information is great and we can continue to be curious like Nick said.But we've got to enrich ourselves too.Whatever that looks like.So if you're in business, make sure you don't forget about who you are.

Yeah, I love that Marissa.Thank you.

That's such a good answer.True.

Yeah.

And that, that's, that's to the point of the consistency too.Like most of the things on that my list were not related to work there.But there's things that fill me up, things that bring me joy.And so yeah, that's.That's such great advice.Okay, well, we are going to welcome Judy and Marissa to stay as we move on to our next group.But everyone's feel free to, free to come and go as they like.But I want to welcome back Adorine Lauren Van Dam back to the show she was on just recently.How are you?

How are you ladies?Nice to see everybody.

Good to see you again too it's.

Funny when someone is just on like, Richard, we published his episode yesterday and we're like, come back for a reunion.Even though we talked like five minutes ago, we talked about how organic social media is not dead.And we talked a little bit with Julie Riley earlier about.Well, and Kara Chase was supposed to come on and talk about her book, Social Media Burnout.I'll still give her the plug.She's like, I'm not really working on marketing anymore.And I was like, oh, there's a book in the footer of your email.You want to talk about your book?And she's like, oh, that's a really nice invitation.Because social media, it's a real thing, right?For so for on a B2B level, you gotta.It's even more important to be more engaging, to capture people's attention right away and whatnot.But I think it's an important conversation to have about around.You don't just have to do paid.And organic is still a real thing.A lot of these friends have been on.They were all like on season one or two or three, and so we've been like, what have you been doing for the last nine years back?And what, like, what were your thoughts after being on the show?

Yeah, definitely.Organic's not dead.And I currently work.One of my clients is an SEO agency.And you know what's happening with SEO, right?We're going to go to Geo or whatever we call it.And especially if you're in the B2B industry, you understand that, you know, Google search now includes AI search.And if you want to do SEO, you also need to get ranked in AI search.And how do you get ranked?You get ranked by relevancy, of course, but you need to do all the things again.All.Everything that's old is new.You want to, you know, make sure you work on your pr, you do your blogging, you, you know, get on other people's podcasts, right?Doing just this being mentioned, those are all organic things that you should have been doing.But if you didn't do them before, you really need to do them now to get listed and to get named.And so organic isn't dead, it's actually being resurrected.I've never really been dead, but really with the AI search, you want to show up naturally, and that's going to happen.Reddit is new again.Reddit's been around for a long time, but all of a sudden, you know, Reddit agencies are coming out and people want to know how to do it.And those who are using AI to do Reddit is.That's not going to work.That just happened last week where all the Reddit mentions tanked.It's the people who do it right are going to have long term gains from that.So yeah, community, it's always been big, but it's really big again is, you know, having real conversations with real people.So that's all part of the organic social and that's, I don't think ever it's going to go away, but it's going to be more important now than ever to really distinguish yourself from those people who are using AI for everything.I'm not saying AI is bad, I'm just saying it's bad.If that's all you do and if that's you're not having conversations with your clients or your customers or your potential customers and you're using AI for everything, you're going to miss out on the side sentiment of your customer.So you, you know, AI can answer a question, frequently asked question, but they can't answer a question when somebody said, I'm really sad because something arrived damage.And here's why I'm sad because I really wanted to use it.You need a human to commiserate and say, hey, we're going to make it right and have that conversation.And so there's certain things you just can't outsource.And that's why I think organic is important, listening is important, posting is important.And real humans showing the real humans.

Behind your company engaging.

You mean we're supposed to engage with people on social media?We're supposed to be social on social media.That's crazy talk.

This is blowing my mind.I know, I know.But can you believe we have to say it out loud though?I know.

Wild to me too.

Yeah.I don't want to call out certain people or certain groups of people, but there are certain groups of people who are thinking that AI is the answer to everything and then they're surprised that their product isn't taking off the way they thought it would or, you know, like just things aren't working and it's because you have an AI version of you talking about stuff instead of you doing it.

Yeah, yeah.It's going to come full circle again.

Absolutely.

Awesome.So Jen has a question for you and I'm going to invite our two guests that are in the waiting room and invite them in.So don't be alarmed.I know, like, I'm like waving to them just to let them know, just to acknowledge that they're Here.And I don't want to distract anyone while you're giving your answer.I think I did that to Marissa.So sorry about that.All right, go for it, Jen.

Okay, Doreen, what is one tip you think would help everyone listening in their own business journey, kind of relative to your own expertise?

Understanding the difference between an audience and a community?I think that's something.I've had some guests on my podcast, and I know that we talked about that, Jen, when you came on my podcast, and I just think that is such an important distinction.When you first start out and you don't have a community yet, if you're a business owner or you just not put a lot of time or effort into building that online audience as much as you could have, that's fine.If you start with an audience, it's great.But when you have people that follow, you start talking to each other is when you have that community, and that's really what you want, because people buy from people.People buy from other.They like recommendations from peers.That's what's showing up in LLMs too, right?You know, when you ask for recommendations and people trust.Trust their friends, their peers more than the company.You know if you want to buy laundry sheets, right?I'm in the market to start buying laundry sheets instead of laundry soap.

Yeah.

I'm gonna go ask my friends, because bombarded with ads, I'm not really trusting them to tell me what I need to hear.I need to talk to my friends.Any of you use laundry sheets?Which ones have you tested?Which one have you tried?Which one are the best?The cheap, the most effective?And I'm going to go with what you say.And so that's the community feel.That's what community can do for you.If you are a brand building not just an audience, but building that community where even if you're there listening when they start talking to each other, that's really what you want.That's how you can really grow.And when you get super fans like that, that's invaluable.That's really amazing, Doreen.

I love that so much.And if there is anything in this entire podcast episode that stays.Stays the same throughout the years, like looking back over the last nine seasons that we've had this podcast, this is one of those things that is still relevant, but still so incredibly strong and also easily forgotten.So I just.I love that you drove that home.It's so true.Community is everything, and.And so is trusting in other humans.So I love that.Thank you.So good Such a gem this is.

Speaking of community, we have our own little making a marketer community, and we're going to be starting a newsletter.And of course, everyone who's been a guest is going to seated in that newsletter and for your input.But I also want to say, Dorian, we'd love to have you stay.You're welcome to stay as long as you like.And I want to welcome to the show Tracy Stuckra and Lindsay.Lindsay.What last name are we going by these days?

Hillman.Now.

Sorry, I should have put that in.

I am back to Heilman.

Okay.Lindsay is my niece.She's my sister's daughter, and we share a brain.But she was born, like, seven days before I turned 12.I think, you know, there's a little bit of age difference, but, you know, English major, the whole thing.We're both word nerds.So welcome.And then Ms. Tracy, Marissa here.The three of us were in Orlando together in January.We were talking about clubichi earlier.Are you gonna go to Happy Camp?Campy Camp.It's in the Midwest, so I had to say it like that.It's in the Midwest.

It's not.It's in the Pocono.

Oh, my bad.My geography is not good.In my brain, I thought, oh, okay, you're right.You're right.

Anywhere east of East County, San Diego, Megan's.Like, it's whatever.

That's not true.My geography is bad, but it's not that bad for some honeymoon in the Poconos.

Yeah.

For some reason, my brain went to the Ozarks, which is Midwest, not.

Oh, yeah.

I was thinking.

All right, that makes sense.

Yeah, that's exciting.So, yeah, not the same place, but also, I've never been to the Pocono, so I'm excited.In addition to just being able to play and have, like, a really exciting week.And that way, getting to experience a new part of the country will be super, super cool.Okay, we'll start with Tracy.You also just missed Nick Borelli and Dana Lynn.Then I got Guess they were both event industry friends that were on and hung around for a little while.Um, we are.We're, like, ahead of time today because we had some guests not make it, so when.I guess maybe this is the trick to not being stressed about moving on to the next group and being able to invite people in early.But.Okay.Tracy talked about navigating inclusive events and entrepreneurship.It was actually in season nine, episode 1 79.So if you're interested in that and how to keep people safe at your events, or you know, people who work in events who should know about keeping people safe at.At events.Then she's your woman and she has her own podcast called Eating at a Meeting.So clever.Yeah.So it's not been that long since we chatted, but like, what's the goss, what's the latest?What's going on in, in inclusivity with relation to food and beverage?

Well, where you are in California, there's a new law called the Addie act that now requires the labeling of the top nine allergies on menus.It is, there is a caveat to it.It says it's once the only venues that have 20 locations or more nationwide have to do it.So you're thinking big chain brands, but a lot of restaurants, like I'm gonna say P F Chang's, that's the only one.But the high end restaurants that we book that have more than 20 locations are now fall under that.But that's one thing.And some food codes are changing across the country, so that's another thing that's gonna start requiring people to label as well.

Well, and I saw you, someone posted that something has all the nine of the top allergens, but didn't let, didn't like list what they were.Do you want to just rattle them off just for anybody who's curious?

So the top nine allergens are soy, sesame, milk, tree, nuts, peanuts, fish, shellfish, wheat and eggs.

Wow, that's a lot of stuff.

Yeah, it is a lot of stuff.And there's more in the uk, in the Europe that are required to be laseled.So like including celery and sulfites and mustard.

Wow.

Yeah.I did last week in Chicago and I looked at 11 different catering menus from hotels in Chicago area and I took a menu item from each one of them and I tasked it to the audience.I said, okay, find the allergens in these foods.And only one of those 11 hotels actually label for the top nine.And then one other one labels for the top four and there's like six that don't label at all.And so, and it is now law, the food code in Chicago or in Illinois says you have to label for the top nine.So they're not doing.And it's really, when you try to find those allergens, it's hard.

I can say as a, as a vegan, I've been vegan for 12 years, I'm not allergic to anything.But I really want to know what's in it.And I can tell you the conferences I go to, which ones really, truly make an effort.And then those who, their staff doesn't even know, they, they've hired a catering company who doesn't understand the question.

Right.

You know, like they can't tell you what's in it or they tell you, yeah, this is vegetarian.I'm asking for a vegan.They go, oh, this is vegetarian.

I know.Is that what I'm ask?

So, yeah, exactly.

Yeah, yeah.

It makes it hard.And I am lucky enough that I choose not to eat certain things.Not that I can't, but I can see where I have a friend whose son is highly allergic to peanuts.And you know, that's crazy.You need to know.

Yeah.

So safely.It's definitely an issue.It is.

And.But even for you, being a vegan, I mean, you should have.I was chatting on a conversation that talking, we're going to speak on a panel in IMAX today and I'm like, you should get more than just tomatoes, potato juice, like, or more than a plate of broccoli.Right.It needs to be thoughtfully created or curated.The plate needs to be just as nice as the filet mignon and shrimp combo.Right.Your vegan dish should be the same.

Can I do a shout out to a conference at the marketing conference that says this really, really, really well?It's a marketing craft Conference.The B2B Forum in Boston by Handley.They have, have an amazing, amazing vegan menu.They have options, breakfast, lunch, dinner.Everything is labeled.They fantastically take care and even the non vegans go with a vegan food when it says because it's delicious.Yes.

And what's the name of it again?

The B2B forum.It's every year in November in Boston and I forget what hotel it's at.

You could Google and Hanley.Com conference, probably.Yeah.And you'll find it.

Okay.

Yeah, it's.I literally will go for the food.Amazing food.

Yeah.

And the thing is, vegan food can be very adventurous.Like you said, you know, the beautiful things can be made and they care.And I can tell you I feel the love through the food.Right.It's, it's.I feel the love, the care.So really great.

And that's exactly what it should be.It should be about the care and.But also you're going to come back, she gets your business every single year.You just said it.Because she feeds you.And so for the people who don't feed you, like, do you really want to go spend your money with them?And for a hotel even, like you might actually go stay on the hotel on your own dime because of how they fed you.So it's a heads and beds opportunity.It's a revenue generating opportunity if you think about it the right way.

Yeah, yeah.I had a client who had an event that I was a facilitator at at the Four Seasons in San Francisco recently, and there were three vegetarians, and we had.I think, no, no true allergens, but we did have three vegetarians, but they didn't make a.They didn't make a custom menu for them.So everyone had a menu in front of them that had, like, all this food that didn't necessarily.And then what I like them to do is like, we do that.We kick off before everyone sit.We're networking and we do a little.And I. I ask the servers, when they sit down, please go around to everyone to double check on the dietaries.Because if someone has an allergy and you're putting them next to someone who has it, you don't want them to be sitting next to each other.If someone has a shellfish allergy, you know, you're serving shrimp, for example.And anyway, and then they didn't do that.

They're like, oh, no.

We talked.They talked to the three that were vegetarians.And I was like, okay, well, I mean, you could have double checked with them, but we knew about them.Y' all wanted.You needed to ask everybody else so that we can keep everybody safe.And so I've learned from Tracy, and I'm trying to like, in my eager way, wherever I am, try to like.And I am.And then I put it on the post event survey, too, so that the client could share that back with the hotel.But it's kind of an uphill battle you're fighting in a lot of ways, right, Trace?

Oh, it is an up.I have been doing this for 16 years.I mean, my hill is getting a little bit.Not as angled.

Yeah.

But I mean, it still is an uphill battle, though.And it comes down to staffing and who understands this.And it comes down to reading labels.And I did one the other day on.I coded some menus or coded a menu for a new catering company, barbecue catering company.And he sent me a list that said ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire, and then the rest of his other spices.And I'm like, okay, but I need to know what brand you're buying of each one of those, because those ingredients are different.And he had bought the Harris Teeter brand of Worcestershire sauce.And I was reading the label of it.And it only contains soy, where if you buy the lean parings or the Heinz, it has anchovies and Worcestershire sauce.Typically or traditionally does have anchovies in it, but his did not.So it made the people with a seafood allergy that were coming to his event okay to eat his barbecue, and he had no idea that anchovies were in that.So I need to know the ingredients of the ingredient.

Yeah.

And it's.And it's challenging.Yeah.

You need an army trace.

Okay.

I'm gonna.Jen has a question for you, and then it'll be Lindsay's turn.

Okay.

Yeah.

All right, Tracy, what is one tip you think everyone who's listening, you think would help them in their business journey?What would help help them?

I think, and just because of recent events with Dolly Parton is just be who you are and.And stick with what you believe in and what your business is.And if it's.If you're working for someone else, still believe in what.Who you are and what you do, and it will make you prosper.

Love that nice little tribute to Dolly, too.That's great.

Dolly reference.We're lousy with Dolly references.But I can't get enough.I still want to know what people's perspectives are on her and stuff.

Yeah.Okay.

Thanks.

Thank you, Tracy.That was amaz.Get to do what you love, stick with what you love.

Yeah.It's important because if you don't, I mean, you're.

We're at work a lot.

You need to like what you do.

Yeah.

Yeah, absolutely.

All right.

Thanks, Terese.You're welcome, Lindsay.Heilmann.You did put Heilman in the thing, but I just saw your face, and I blipped on it.

No, I didn't put it in the.In the zoom notes here so that you could see.

All right.We recorded in this very place where I'm.I'm standing or I'm sitting right now.I wish I was standing.And we talked about clarity on agency See traction and growth in season six, which was a long time ago.And like most people on the show today, on this mega reunion, your life has changed quite a bit.So we talk about this whole system, right, this traction system that you were using in that job at the time.I think you've changed jobs a couple times since.So what are you up to these days?

Yeah, well, I just thinking, you know, Tracy's tip and everything was great.Segue of, you know, kind of being in that phase now of my career of figuring out, like, how am I going to do what I love so that I can be happy with all of the time that I spend working.So I'm on a little bit of that journey right now.But yeah, I mean, I would like to say that the way things kind of turned out, you know, at the agency that I was with at the time that we talked about traction, I think that, like, traction was a big reason that, you know, that agency got acquired because we had such a, like, well oiled machine.We were performing well and it made us attractive to a buyout.It was just unfortunate that my place in the company didn't quite survive that transition.And then, you know, as it goes with the greener pastures, I really thought, okay, agency life, it's really hard.You have like a hundred bosses.You know, every client has a different expectation of what success looks like.They all have different expectations.And so it is.It's like having a bunch of different bosses.And so I went in house thinking that was just going to be the perfect remedy to that.And then it turns out when you have a boss that you're not aligned with, can't change it.When you have a client you're not aligned with, you can say like, well, you know, I just don't think this relationship was meant to last.And they go find another agency and you go find another client and everything's fine.And when you're in house, it just.

Doesn't quite work that way.

The turnover is not that quick or easy.

So true.So true.Know exactly what you're talking about.

I was just gonna.I was just saying on mute that Jen can relate.So.I love you.

Realigning is a. Yeah.It's a big thing.

Yeah.

All right.I.That I was able to have my little baby niece.

Who's about to be.

43, Who's all growed up.

Sorry, I just can't get your age now because you.If anyone wants to know that from before, that's okay.

I'm about to be double nickels.And I had someone look to save me the other day.She's like, take your glasses off, let.

Me see your eyes.

She's like, there's no way you're 55.And I'm like, not yet, but almost.

Thanks.

I. Yeah, it's, you know, genetics and the.

Like.

I've said this before, right?Like I didn't a kid tax that I didn't have to pay.My mom had nine children, so she looked very different at this age.

You don't know.

I'm the youngest of nine.Yeah.She was dropping me off at college this week.Seventeen years ago.And she was my age, like now when she was doing that.

Wow.

Isn't that.Because she was 38 when she had me?So I did the math and I was like, oh, that's crazy.And then I look at the pictures of her and I was like, okay, I'm doing all right.I love you, mom.But, you know, she did have nine kids.All right, thanks.

Judy's doing a lot for us these days.And the other skin.Yeah, well, step Korean skincare routines that apparently.

No 100%.And actually, it's funny because I just.That's why I was.I was.My hairdresser.I was like.I still call her hairdresser because that's how old I am.I'm a dinosaur.My stylist, whatever.I know.No little makeup and moisturizer.That's pretty much the extent of my routine.Even though I bought one of the.I spent a ridiculous amount of money on one of those red light things.I used it.Have I used it once.Cautionary tale.I'm sad Marissa is not still on because she was with me when I bought it.I got duped.And in Vegas, like, those guys that are like, come in and they like, they take and they make the bag, they make the things go away, and then they talk you into spending thousands dollars on something that you don't actually use.So sad.Oh, my gosh, you guys.I can't even believe I just admitted that.And Tracy, on the walk in between, like, where you are that guy.That guy.I'm gonna welcome Tracy and Lindsay to stay with us for as long as you like.And welcome to the show.Nathalie, Greg.Hi, babe.How are you ladies?So thrilled to be.

Be here to celebrate with you and Jan. 10 years that went by extremely quickly turned in.

So good to see you.

So good to see both of you as well.

I mean, it's been a minute, man.I used to see on Twitter.And I'm not, you know, I'm not.I kiss that.Whatever they're calling it these days, I kiss that goodbye.A long time ago just for, you know, personal reasons.I did.Out of my life.But what that means is that there's no more.I'm not on any Twitter chats anymore.

More.

And so what are you, like, we did talk about the power of Twitter chat.So are you on that platform doing chats still or what's your.

No, I've kind of pivoted.I'm trying to decide whether I'm going to go back to it because I did it for three years and I thoroughly enjoyed it.Incredible platform and also getting to meet all the rock stars from all around the world.I was talking to Mei King earlier today on Instagram and we were talking about fomo and that's how we met through Twitter.And dude, in the chat, while she was doing it for Social media marketing world and she was number one on the leaderboard.

Yeah.

A couple of years after, I was able to take the number one space from tweeting from my balcony in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, not even everybody thought I was there.That's when I knew that social media was serious and here to stay.

Oh, hi, Goldie.I'm sorry if you were sitting in the waiting room for a while.I got engaged and I forgot to.So welcome Goldie Chan.Hi.Hi.

Hi, everyone.

How are you doing today?

I have my Boba with me, so I'm so hot here.

Fantastic.

Yeah.

We're la, right?

I'm in la.We're.We're in the middle of this wave and it's raining outside, so.

Wow.

Yeah.

Okay.I'm in San Diego.It's not.It's probably been.That means it's on its way here.And you.You would think that that may cool it down, but it's.I don't know.But it's not here by trace.Right.

Yeah.

And we are.

We're such babies in California without.But I. I don't know.I don't.So, like, this is me.I've got fans up above and I've got two of them coming this way and one up there, and then I.

Have a small desk fan there, and then the AC is in the other room.

So.

Yes.

Amazing.Well, thanks for joining us.We appreciate you coming back to the reunions.We were talking to Nathalie.Do you know each other?Goldie and Nathalie.

We follow each other on social media.

Yeah.

Believe it or not.And so gracious to Goldie because she actually submitted one of my tweets to a Forbes pizza she was working on quite some time ago.Thank you so much.

Yeah, of course.Of course.

And Lindsay is.Is hanging around still.This is my niece and she.She's also been a guest.And I'm sure that Lindsay knows Goldie.You're.You're like gold out there.Like, everybody knows.Knows Goldie Chan, so.And Goldie's episode was about personal branding, building your identity as an introvert and an extrovert.

Right.

There's that both.Both pieces are part of that.That title because ultimately we ended up being like, it's both.Right.And then.And you put a book out.What's the name of your book?

Personal Branding for Introverts.And this was the final book that was out.So it's been out for a little under a year now, which is really exciting.And it's been cool.I've been just kind of doing a book tour of it.So I've been going and speaking across the world on my book to a bunch of introverts, which is really fun.Global introversion.

Right.That's crazy.How ironic.Okay.Also, so the book wasn't out yet.I know.I have it.I ended up pre ordering it, but yeah, because you were on 50 episodes ago.

Yeah.

That's so wild.

Yeah.

Because I think when is.Do you remember when I was on.I have no concept of time anymore, so I apologize.I don't remember when I was on.Do you remember what month?

Oh, wait, no, you've been on.You've been on twice.

Okay.

And you've been on twice.And so I.That title was episode 145, but then Jenna says season nine, so I feel like 149.Five was 50 episodes ago.So maybe that title is the most recent one.But the 145 one was your first one.

Oh, maybe.

Yeah, it's okay.

Anyway, I don't remember anymore.I'm just personal branding.Personal branding, though, that is definitely the focus.Yeah.I've been thankful to be doing just so much speaking right now.August is my lull month, so it's my slow month.I think it's probably slow for everyone in August and then starts back up, of course in the fall again until December when it'll be dead again.

Fall season.Football.Football and conferences.Two of my standing things in the fall for me.Okay.So we're bouncing around a little bit.So Natalie, let's get.Get back to you.So what are you up to these days?

Up to these days I'm hanging out on LinkedIn and my toe in the influence of marketing and the UGC side of the world and looking at Substack and what I need to build.And I reached out to Goldie some time ago about being a guest on my podcast and I'm looking.Looking at launching it on Substack.

So wonderful.

Yeah, absolutely.So excited about that piece and seeing what's next and what we can create.

And Natalie, just nudge me again because 100, I think I said yes and then I probably dropped the ball.So that is 100 on me.That is 100 on me,.

Bringing people together.Okay.So I have a question, though, on that.Like, so you're launching.You're doing an audio show on site, Substack.

Well, I am looking at now which direction I want to go, whether I want audio only or whether I want to actually do video and audio together.

Okay.So I.A little.A piece of unasked for advice is to definitely put it through a platform like Captivate or Libsyn so that it goes out to all of the things and then.And have substack be one of the places that you distribute it, because unless you put it through one of those, then you may.If substack goes under, then you are.Are super out of luck.So you definitely want to have it pushed out through one of the.And I. I.We moved to Captivate from Podbean a couple years ago and absolutely love it.Yeah.So within that, then you could.Then.Then like.And I know Jen uses substack to.Then she takes our transcript and she writes a blog post on substack to supplement the show.

Yeah.

So that's an idea too.Yeah.Your hair looks great, too, by the way.This audio.If you're listening to the audio, you can.You can't see it, but it looks.

Yeah.But here in South Carolina, it is blazing here as well.

Is that dry?Is it dry or wet heat over there?

Well, it just rained, and so now the humidity is really top of us, so.

Oh, wow.

It's mostly wet because of the humidity, because we're at the ocean.

Gotcha.Yeah.And Goldie's still rocking her green hair, which I know.

I hate to say this, but my hair stylist literally, we always do a different sh.Like slightly different shade of green every single time I go in.And we do sample colors, so we'll do, like.We'll literally do like, two or three mixes until I get the exact shade of green that I want for that session.I'm that person.She literally has to stock green hair dye in the salon just for me,.

Which is very cute and sweet, but.

It is very fun.And Lindsay has pink hair currently.Are you doing the same thing with your.

So I was gonna say, like, so relata.Relatable.Except, I mean, caddy kind of found the pink I loved and was.Had it for, like, six years, and then they discontinued that color.

Oh, no.

Y' all had to go on this mission of, like, finding different colors, and now she has to stock all these different colors so she can blend it just right.For what?

Right.

Everyone at her Salon knows me.They're like, oh, it's Lindsay Pink.Like, Lindsay Pink.What do you mix for that?

Oh, my gosh, that's so cute.Okay, well, we'll now relieve our listeners of the.Of the hair talk.That's funny.That went on longer than I expected.So I love that y' all are here and Jen has.Let's go with Nathalie first.She's got a question for you.

All right, Natalie, what is one tip you think would help everyone listening in their own business journey?

That you can do it by yourself.

I love that.That's very motivating people from all walks.

Of life from all over the world to be able to help you accomplish your goal.So I think we need to stop thinking that we can do it alone.And this is proof positive, this conversation that we're having 10 years later that, you know, you can't do it alone.

Yeah.Gotta have those people.Gotta have your people.

Absolutely.

Community comes real handy.

You can do it alone.Ish.You gotta have your people to back you up.

Yeah.

In your corner.Yeah, yeah.Because I think because of the reverse could be said true.I don't want people to be, like, think that they can't venture out.Right.So there's a.There's a difference between, like, not venturing out and taking advantage of the freelance world.But you gotta have your community.We talked a little about community when Doreen Maureen Van Dam was on earlier.You just missed her, if you know her.She was part of this reunion.And we hung out with us for a little bit.But, yeah, we talked with her about how.Or at the core of that is building community and making sure that you're.That it's, you know, a give and take and not that.That kind of good stuff.So love it.All right, Ms. Goldie.Jen, you want to ask her?

You want to.

Yeah, I'll ask.All right, Goldie, so what is a tip you think would help everyone listening in their own business journey?

Oh, I think a tip is know who you're talking to.Right.Not only know who you want to sell to, but know who you're talking to.Because who you are generally talking to might be broader than the people you're selling to.It might be narrower.So it might be helpful to then identify.And I always like to do this exercise personally, which is, are you trying to speak then to your clients directly, Potential clients, Clients, customers, or are you trying to speak to, say, your peers?Are you trying to speak to people who may be hiring you for a job or your bosses or people you'd want to be on, say, a board with?Or are you trying to speak to a general community, like a general, broad audience of folks?And then from there, really, really understanding who you want to speak to can only help your business because it clarifies your voice.

Yeah.Yeah.

Know who you're speaking to.I've heard that from somebody else very recently, too, and it makes sense.You can't drive home and relate to somebody if you don't know who in the world you're talking to, you know?So I love that.I'm so glad you shared that.It's so true, so important.

I love that you all joined us.Thank you so much for being part of this party.Coming up on two hours that Jen and I have been talking with with our friends, and we get to do.We're going to do two more hours tomorrow.How our editor.Ay, I love to see how you chop this up.And we'll just run it back.But we got to figure out how to.We can't release two hours at a time, so we're going to have to figure out where we divide it up.But I love having guests back.And we last year, for the first time, had didn't do a reunion after the season, so it kind of felt like.Like it was worth this crazy idea to bring as many people back as possible.So thank you all for being here.

Yes, thank you.

Thank you for having us.All right, Jen, let's do this again tomorrow.

Okay.

Sounds like fun.

Two parties in two days.Okay.

That's right.Tomorrow's Friday.We have a adult beverage in hand while we.While we do that one.Yeah.All right, y', all, this has been the kickoff, part one of the Making a Martin Marketer podcast.And we will catch you next time.