Collaborative Interview Series: Connection is Open on YouTube
"I don't really understand what you do, but you seem nice."
Lol. Ouch.
That's what the speaker said at the end of welcoming the guests to the BNI meeting.
I was struggling to define what I was doing in "self talk," so it didn't really surprise me when everyone I just spent 2 minutes blabbing to was just as confused by my explanation.
At the time I just knew I was helping women who were tired of emptying themselves in the name of quick "fame" or money. I could name more things I didn't want to be than what I did want to be in the coaching space. If I'm being honest, "coach" didn't even seem to fit.
I became inwardly embarrassed and ashamed.
Not by what that guy said -- he was so genuine and kind and honestly I busted out laughing because, "King, same."
But because here I was, about to completely (and visibly) shift my focus to coaching, and I couldn't articulate one bit how I would carry that out. I didn't have a 5 day reset or formal program set up. But I did have connections from running a successful photography business for seven years.
I specialize in branding and commercial photography (by referral only) so getting to know local small businesses is nothing new. We have been talking candidly for years.
So I had already established a need for this type of coaching in my community-- that's why I opened the "doors" in the first place. But now that they were open, I was struggling to articulate my position in the whole concept.
So I started getting out of my head and started talking. And not to the people closest to my story. Not to the people who were already "all in."
I started having coffee with lost connections. People I kept meaning to reach out to over the years.
There were dates with people I'd crossed paths with at conferences, people I had met through online groups, and people having nothing to do with business but a semi-knowing ear nonetheless.
HERE IS WHAT I FOUND.
It was good to reconnect. I'm a believer that you don't need a big network, you need a strong one and the way to get one is by building it authentically and strategically. But I found something else, too.
It put me in positions where I had to answer questions about what, why, and how I was moving forward with Angela Hoppe Collaborative. People were curious about similar things, so the questions I received were pretty predictable.
I welcomed the opportunity to prepare.
The more I spoke with people the more confident I felt in my delivery and the clearer I became. Each time I sat down, I found myself a little more confident offering details instead of waiting for them to be fished for. I was always confident in my idea-- build a place for women to connect and cowork with action oriented curriculum. My uncertainty was around the "and what does that actually mean."
It was through curious questions I was able to understand what people wanted to know about the shift in my business model. But it was my willingness to absorb those questions and consider different answers for next time that really paid off in terms of settling into my Collaborative Schoolhouse concept.
I WANT TO GIVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO OTHER WOMEN.
So, I am launching the Collaborative Interview Series for women. I'm talking to customers, business owners, and non-profit leaders-- What you're doing now, how you got here, what you're working toward, and what you're figuring out along the way.
Real conversations where I introduce you and we spend 15-30 minutes getting nosy so viewers can decide to take the next step connecting... if it feels right.
WATCH EPISODE ONE 👇 [ 001 Welcome to the Collaborative Interview Series: Let’s Get Nosy, Y’all ]
Want to be interviewed and introduced (or know someone who may be interested) on my YouTube channel? Awesome!
GRAB 👉 [ Interest Form ]
Already been interviewed but have something else to chat about? Please, submit a new Interest Form and thank you so much for contributing to this series!
Looking for someone in a specific industry or with a specific skillset? Let me know in the comments!
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