I believe that as a business owner this quote is SO TRUE.

She had that thought as she was starting her business but now that business owner is the owner of Shit That I Knit. That company is behind every hat, every pair of mittens, and everything that’s handmade for the USA Olympic team…she has a multi-million dollar business who employs artisans who handcraft their products.

Here’s how I can relate. I started my business nearly two years ago and I have many days where I don’t feel like a success.

I feel like a failure but I don’t want my business to be.

I also don’t want to regret starting this thing but not seeing it through to what it could be, so I plug away.

Just a year ago I posted about “I don’t think I can do this.” A year later, I’m still plugging away. It’s NOT easy. There’s no manual for what I’m doing.

I’m still here, dedicating countless hours to running my biz.

Being a business owner isn’t easy. If you are someone who owns their own business or you know someone who is, please know you aren’t alone.

We are all in this together.

Oh yeah, and for those who have subscribed to my email blast, thank you so much, I appreciate it. It’s finally hitting inboxes this morning. The link to subscribe is in the comments. I understand how valuable your inbox is and I sincerely appreciate that you’ve voluntarily chosen to get emails every other week from me.

Thank you also to all the people (nearly 5,000!) who have subscribed to my monthly LinkedIn newsletter. I’m going to put that link in the comments too.

The fear of failure is bigger than the fear of regret. Keep plugging.

The post “The fear of failure was so much bigger than the fear of regret”. appeared first on Leverage Up.

Yesterday I got a connection request from someone who “can help your business STAND OUT on LinkedIn”.

That’s what I do. So I thought, “Let’s take a look at his activity to see how much he’s commenting.”

Know what? Out of his last 35 “LinkedIn activities”, he’s commented ONCE.

That’s not enough.

People can’t get to “know, like and trust you” by likes. That’s why engagement (AKA commenting) is one of the BIG part of the strategy I teach my clients.

Lesson 1: Commenting shows people you appreciate their content and allows people get to know you better. It’s shaking hands just like at a networking event.

Lesson 2: Do your research before hiring a coach to help you on this platform because we aren’t all cut from the same cloth.

The post I love commenting. appeared first on Leverage Up.

Too many people here aren’t focused on that and it shows here.

When you optimize your profile, you should be paying attention to the details. Each section (from the top all the way down) speaks to who you are and what you do. Don’t just skip the banner and say “the template is fine”. Don’t skip the about and say “I don’t need to write one.”

Then…you’re not done!!! It’s about having conversations with people strategically. You never know when that relationship can turn into something more.

Wait, you’re still not done!!! Tell the stories, share insights, bring the value in your content.

When you stop selling yourself, the possibilities (Who knows what will happen and what doors will open!) will come to an abrupt halt.

Oh and by the way, I have to tag Kristen Birkbeck because she’s helping me get to know more people in this area! It was so nice to get out and chat over coffee this morning!!!

The post “Never stop selling yourself!” appeared first on Leverage Up.

It’s kind of appropriate because we are preparing to host Thanksgiving dinner. Later this morning, I’m headed to the grocery store for last minute necessities.

My husband is doing all the cooking.

Pie dough is in the fridge, more preps await tonight and of course up early to help tomorrow when the kids watch the parade.

The stress level is pretty high around here.

I still feel like giving some LinkedIn advice before the holiday because this one has been bothering me.

If you’re home relaxing this weekend and want to work on one thing on your LinkedIn profile, how about checking on your banner image?

I was working with a graphic designer on her profile last week. She’s a
self-proclaimed “visual person” so I wanted to show her some profiles for examples of what to do.

During that process I ran into a lot of people who don’t have a banner image.

For the love of all that is good, PLEASE people…change and update the template that LinkedIn give you for your banner!

Too many people aren’t updating the gray template at the top of their profile. Frankly, it’s a missed opportunity. The goal should be to set yourself apart from the masses. There are 80
Million people on LinkedIn.

What should it look like? It should be a graphic or image AND 3-4 words that best describe who you are and what you do. A pretty picture isn’t enough.

Canva is a pretty good “go to” site for your banner, and it’s FREE.

If you need help, let me know. Optimizing your LinkedIn profile is one part of the Leverage Up, LLC triangle.

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It struck a chord because I instantly thought, “That totally applies to LinkedIn.”

Show up.

Consistency is so important when it comes to LinkedIn. If you post every day for a week and then you don’t show up for weeks, that’s not consistent.

Do your best.

If you aren’t being yourself here and doing your best, then how do people know who you are or who they will be working with or who they will be building a relationship with?

Of course, the above isn’t the “be all and end all” to being successful here on LinkedIn, but…

If you’re consistent and being yourself, you’re on the right path!

P.S. Thanks for all the well wishes, I’m slowly but surely getting my energy back. Hoping to feel back to my normal self soon!

#linkedin#leverageup#purplesquirrelmagnet

The post “All you gotta do is show up and do your best and everything else will take care of itself.” appeared first on Leverage Up.

Loving is well…kinda cool. ❤️

If you aren’t commenting on posts, you’re missing the bus. 🚌

Engaging with posts with something more than “Great post!” is lending your voice to the conversation.

It’s allowing your connections to get to know you better.

People don’t do business with people they don’t know.

So comment with insight and/or experience here, you never know where that comment can lead!

The post Celebrating is great. 🎉 appeared first on Leverage Up.

Me too.

You know what? You prioritize.

In order to grow your presence here and make LinkedIn work, you have to make LinkedIn a priority in your schedule.

It doesn’t take 8-10 hours a day. It doesn’t take 4-6 hours a day.

You can be visible here on LinkedIn by showing up strategically and it only takes 15-30 minutes a day.

How do you make time for LinkedIn?

How much time do you spend here?

http://leverageupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Clips21-09-20_02-20-Schedules.mov

The post Do you have a schedule? appeared first on Leverage Up.

Do you know who your center of influence is?

If you’ve answered yes to all of those questions, congratulations!

Now, let’s use answers to those questions to help you engage better here.

It comes down to keywords.

A question I often ask my clients is “If someone were looking for you, what you do, or your services, what keywords would they use?”

The sweet spot is using those keywords NOT to blindly connect with strangers, but to start conversations with the people you want to be seen by.

That’s a little clue on how I help my clients with engagement here.

My tip to you is this: know who you are trying to reach and start to interact with people who fit either your ideal client or your center of influence. One of the best things about LinkedIn is when those 2nd or 3rd degree connections see you.

When your conversations here follow the path you are on, then the results are pretty remarkable.

#linkedin#engagement#leverageup#purplesquirrelmagnet

The post Do you know who your ideal client is? appeared first on Leverage Up.

That tells me that he connects with people but he doesn’t use the platform to its fullest potential.

I didn’t accept that connection request.

#linkedin#engagement#content#socialmedia#purplesquirrelmagnet#leverageup

The post I got a connection request from someone with 8,462 connections. appeared first on Leverage Up.

I don’t know that person but because he or she sees I have a large network, I’m being tagged (with lots of other people) in that post…JUST FOR VISIBILITY.

Nope, I’m done.

I’m blocking all those people.

Build the relationship. Don’t take the easy way out.

I will respond to tags of people who I know. People who I appreciate on LinkedIn. People who I respect on LinkedIn.

If you’re just tagging me to get my attention so I will engage with your posts, and you haven’t built a relationship with me, I’m not falling for it.

I’m here for genuine professional networking.

#linkedin#networking#blocking#purplesquirrelmagnet#leverageup
#peoplefirst#respect#socialmedia

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