Ep 607: Authenticity Is the Strategy: How to Build a Personal Brand That Actually Matters with Jessica Zweig
Rory & AJ Vaden (00:00)
Jessica, I’m so excited. Finally girl. I know. Before we hit record on this y’all, we were just talking about how many friends we have in common, how our paths have crossed in so many ways. And yet today is our first time. have met in person. I’m ready for this moment. But you know what that’s a great testament of is the true nature of a reputation. Amen. And also the power of you can be teaching people, serving people without ever having met them in person. It’s such a testament of
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (00:00)
Jessica, AJ, I’m so excited. Finally girl. I know. Before we hit record on those y’all, we were just talking about how many friends we have in common, how our paths have crossed in so many ways, and yet today is the first time we have met in We’re waiting for this moment. But you know what that’s a great testament of is the true nature of a reputation. Amen. And also the power of, you can be teaching people, serving people without ever having met them in person.
It’s such a testament of
Rory & AJ Vaden (00:30)
the power of content and just
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (00:30)
the power of content and…
just the work that you’re doing because we both clearly knew about each other. I told her, was like, I have your book sitting on my shelf. That made my whole freaking day. That book is like such a piece of my soul and to know that it exists in the world and that it’s touching people. like, that’s the best thing you can say to an author is you know.
Rory & AJ Vaden (00:32)
the work that you’re doing because we both clearly knew about each other. I told her, was like, have your book sitting on Michelle. That made my whole freaking day. That book is like such a piece of my soul and to know that it exists in the world and that it’s touching people. It’s like, it’s the best thing you can say to an author is you know.
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (00:46)
And yes, and I think that’s also the beautiful thing about actually doing work that you deeply love and care about is that it actually helps people get to know you before you ever meet in person. Powered personal brand. I’ve been preaching these for over a decade.
Rory & AJ Vaden (00:46)
Yes, and I think that’s also the beautiful thing about actually doing work that you deeply love and care about is that it actually helps people get to know you before you ever meet in person. Power of personal brand. I’ve been preaching this for over a decade as
you guys have been too. Which we’re going to talk a little bit about today. But we’re going to talk about that and so much more. So I have so many things that I would like to talk about, but since we only have roughly 45 to 50 minutes. We’ll do a follow up over cocktails.
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (01:02)
you guys have been to. Which we’re going to talk a little bit about today. But we’re going to talk about that and so much more. So I have so many things that I would like to talk about, but since we only have roughly 45 to 15 minutes. We’ll do a follow up over our skills.
This is part one, episode part one. But here’s the first question. I told you that we had an event last week with a lot of our community at Brain Builders Group here in Nashville. And there was this circulating conversation that came up over the two days. And I thought it was really serendipitous that
Rory & AJ Vaden (01:16)
Here’s part one, episode part one. ⁓ Here’s the first question. I told you that we had an event last week with a lot of our community at Brain Builders Group here in Nashville. And there was this circulating conversation that came up over the two days. And I thought it was really serendipitous that
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (01:32)
I knew we were having this conversation today and I thought if that
Rory & AJ Vaden (01:32)
I knew we were having this conversation today. And I thought if that…
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (01:35)
many people had the conversation in our room How many more people want to have this conversation or want to hear thoughts on this? So that’s where we’re gonna start today. Are you ready? I’m ready. Okay You have founded and exited businesses. You’ve written best-selling books. You have built a top podcast You have an amazing amazing coaching practice There’s a lot of things going on in that and none of that happened overnight. I know that but what
Rory & AJ Vaden (01:36)
had the conversation in our room, how many more people want to have this conversation or want to hear thoughts on this? So that’s where we’re going to start today. Are you ready? I’m ready. Okay. You have founded and exited businesses. You’ve written bestselling books. You have built a top podcast. You have an amazing, amazing coaching practice. There’s a lot of things going on in that and none of that happened overnight. I know that.
What do
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (02:02)
Do you think that people truly misunderstand about what it takes to build a personal brand that lasts? Oh girl, what a good one. think a few things. I think that first it starts with, you know, it’s scary to put yourself out there. I think that everyone is afraid to some degree, whether they have alchemized it and healed it over time or don’t want to
Rory & AJ Vaden (02:02)
you think that people truly misunderstand about what it takes to build a personal brand that lasts? ⁓ girl, what a good one. I think a few things. I think that first it starts with, you know, it’s scary to put yourself out there. I think that everyone is afraid to some degree, whether they have alchemized it and healed it over time or don’t want to.
are afraid of what people might think of me. Because I think being a
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (02:26)
admit it, are afraid of what people might think of them. Because I think being a
brand yourself, calling yourself the brand can come off in the wrong way, like an ego play, like that you’re all about yourself or that you are, you know, putting yourself out there in a way that is only serving you. And I think we really have to one move through that fear and start to trust ourselves that what we have to give in the world matters
Rory & AJ Vaden (02:32)
brand yourself, calling yourself a brand, can come off in the wrong way, like an ego play. Like that you’re all about yourself or that you are putting yourself out there in a way that is only serving you. And I think we really have to one, move through that fear and start to trust ourselves that what we have to give in the world matters.
who we are, the world wouldn’t be the same without our
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (02:56)
who we are. The world wouldn’t be the same without our
Rory & AJ Vaden (03:01)
gifts and we would be doing the world a disservice if we don’t show up in our gifts and that is that’s easier said than done. That takes some radical inner work. I often say and I think we have the same ethos that building a personal brand is actually an inside job first before it becomes an external platform and that’s not always the the walk that people want to walk.
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (03:01)
gifts and we would be doing the world a disservice if we don’t show up in our gifts. And that is that’s easier said than done. That takes some radical inner work. I often say, I think we have the same ethos that building a personal brand is actually an inside job first before it becomes an external platform. And that’s not always the walk that people want to walk
because you have to sort of face your own shadows and you have to face your own trauma and you have to face your own bullshit to be honest. And I think
Rory & AJ Vaden (03:23)
you have to sort of face your own shadows and you have to face your own trauma and you have to face your own bullshit to be honest and I think
when you can touch into that radical self-belief and start to put one foot in front of the other every single day because here’s the truth not everybody’s going to get you or like you or refer you or share your content but the more you are you the more you magnetize your right people and that becomes a daily confirmation that you’re onto something.
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (03:31)
when you can touch into that radical self-belief and start to put one foot in front of the other every single day, because here’s the truth, not everybody’s gonna get you or like you or refer you or share your content, but the more you are you, the more you magnetize your right people and that becomes a daily confirmation that you’re onto something.
And I think it’s moving through that fear in the very beginning that helps to sustain and power the compound growth of what becomes a platform of meaning over time.
Rory & AJ Vaden (03:52)
And I think it’s moving through that fear in the very beginning that helps to sustain and power the compound growth of what becomes a platform of meaning over time.
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (04:01)
And really digging in and I know that I know your philosophy. I’ve studied BBG for a long time You guys are amazing. You really talk about being of service Like what you have to give to the world and if you come from that orientation You’re never gonna come off egotistical and people think that who cares.
Rory & AJ Vaden (04:02)
And really digging in, and I know your philosophy, I’ve studied BBG for a long time, you guys are amazing, you really talk about being of service. Like what you have to give to the world, and if you come from that orientation, you’re never gonna come off egotistical. And if people think that, who cares?
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (04:20)
I also think that you have to really ⁓ understand that the Market wants to see the authentic you and that you have to be willing to be out loud with your own journey
Rory & AJ Vaden (04:20)
I also think that you have to really ⁓ understand that the market wants to see the authentic you and that you have to be willing to be out loud with your own journey.
A brand, a personal brand is not meant to be stagnant. We’re not Starbucks coffee or Hyatt hotels or BMW cars. We’re human beings in a constant state of evolution.
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (04:31)
A brand, personal brand, is not meant to be stagnant. We’re not Starbucks coffee or Hyatt hotels or BMW cars. We’re human beings in a constant state of evolution.
And so the more that you can show up in that evolution out loud with strategy, of course, and with clarity, the more your audience is going to trust you and go on that journey with you. So to answer your question, I think that it’s… I often say that personal branding is personal development disguised, you know? As marketing self-discovery. Self-discovery and personal.
Rory & AJ Vaden (04:43)
And so the more that you can show up in that evolution out loud with strategy, of course, and with clarity, the more your audience is going to trust you and go on that journey with you. So to answer your question, think that it’s, I often say that personal branding is personal development disguise, you know, as marketing, self discovery, self discovery and personal
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (05:01)
empowerment and I think if you can really click into that and hit that it becomes the biggest high for lack of better word because then they are helping
Rory & AJ Vaden (05:01)
empowerment. And I think if you can really click into that and hit that, it becomes the biggest high for lack of better word, because the end of the day, you’re helping.
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (05:10)
people.
And there’s no better feeling in the human experience than helping people. Well, I cannot agree more. And one of the things that we say, one of our mantras at BBG is that if you’re afraid of somehow coming off as prideful or egotistical, then you’re worried too much about yourself. Amen. Right. And yet it’s still one of the number one people. It’s one of the number one things people struggle with. And so you mentioned, you’ve got to do some of that inner work. You’ve got to face that fear on the front end. You talk a lot about that. You do a lot.
Rory & AJ Vaden (05:12)
And there’s no better feeling in the human experience than healthy people. Well, I cannot agree more. And one of the things that we say, one of our mantras at BBG is that if you’re afraid of somehow coming off as prideful or egotistical, then you’re worried too much about yourself. Amen. Right? And yet, it’s still one of the number one people, it’s one of number one things people struggle with. And so you mentioned, I you’ve got to do some of that inner work. You’ve got to face that fear on the front end.
You talk a lot about that. You do a lot of
that. What are some of the things that people can start doing? If they’re sitting there listening today going, yeah, I do struggle with that. And I’m afraid to tell people what I’m doing because I don’t want to be judged or I don’t want them to think I’m just bragging about myself and all these things I’m doing. What’s the one, couple, two, three, how many ever you got? What are the inner things that we need to be working on? I think, you know, if I may, I want to share a story.
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (05:41)
that, what are some of the things that people can start doing? If they’re sitting there listening today going, yeah, I do struggle with that and I’m afraid to tell people what I’m doing because I don’t want to be judged or I don’t want them to think I’m just bragging about myself and all these things I’m doing. What’s the one, couple, two, three, how many ever you got? What are the inner things that we need to be working on? I think, you know, if I may, I want to share a story.
I’m a serial entrepreneur. ⁓
Rory & AJ Vaden (06:10)
I’m a serial entrepreneur. like
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (06:11)
I’d like to say that I scaled and failed my first business. did. was critically successful, but financially not good. Scaled and exited my second. Now I’m scaling and sustaining my third. How is that? Scale and fail, scale and exit, scale and sustain. That’s my path. My very first business, I want to get to the question, I ran a very sparkly business in my late 20s, early 30s. It was an online
Rory & AJ Vaden (06:11)
to say that I scaled and failed my first business. did. It was critically successful, but financially not good. Scaled and exited my second. Now I’m scaling and sustaining my third. like that. Scale and fail, scale and exit, and sustain. That’s my path. My very first business, I want to get to the question, I ran a very sparkly business in my late 20s, early 30s. It was an online
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (06:39)
magazine for the millennial women.
Rory & AJ Vaden (06:39)
for the millennial women
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (06:41)
Chicago we were the go-to guide for restaurants and nightlife and arts and culture and fashion and beauty was amazing and I kind of Accidentally became like an eight girl in Chicago like I was always going out I was on the scene I was going to nightclubs I get into any restaurant I wanted like I thought I was I was a nerd in high school so like in my late 20s when I became all of a sudden quote-unquote cool like my ego was definitely taking that wheel and
Rory & AJ Vaden (06:41)
of Chicago. We were the go-to guide for restaurants and nightlife and arts and culture and fashion and beauty. It was amazing. And I kind of accidentally became like an it girl in Chicago. Like I was always going out. I was on the scene. I was going to the nightclubs. get into any restaurant I wanted. Like thought I was a nerd in high school. So like in my late 20s when it became all of sudden quote unquote cool, like my ego was definitely taking that wheel.
I felt, you know, in alignment, I guess, for a time until my life blew up. Like the business
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (07:05)
I felt You know in alignment I guess for a time until like my life blew up like the business
went bottom up broke, had a toxic relationship with my business partner, I started contracting an autoimmune disorder, like my life broke down internally
Rory & AJ Vaden (07:12)
bottom-up broke. I had a toxic relationship with my business partner. I started contracting an autoimmune disorder. Like my life broke down internally.
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (07:20)
and externally everyone thought I was this like sparkly co-founder of this women’s magazine. Long story short, I left the business, decided to start Simply Bee Agency, this little one woman consultancy that turned into my agency and I got asked to speak on a panel and there were four or five of us up there and I was burying myself out of credit card debt, okay?
Rory & AJ Vaden (07:20)
And externally, everyone thought I was this like sparkly co-founder of this women’s magazine. Long story short, I left the business, decided to start Simply Bee Agency, this little one woman consultancy that turned into my agency. And I got asked to speak on a panel and there were four or five of us up there. And I was burying myself out of credit card debt, okay?
While trying to figure out my next move. And I made the pretty bold move to share that with the whole room.
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (07:41)
while trying to figure out my next move. And I made the pretty bold move to share that with the whole room,
that I was coming out of that. It was like my very first moment of actually being authentic and telling the truth about what was really going on under the surface. And when that panel was done, AJ, there was a line of people around the room waiting to talk to me and nobody else on the panel.
Rory & AJ Vaden (07:51)
that I was coming out of that. was like my very first moment of actually being authentic and telling the truth about what was really going on under the surface. And when that panel was done, AJ, there was a line of people around the room waiting to talk to me and nobody else on the
because everyone felt seen.
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (08:11)
because everyone felt seen.
Rory & AJ Vaden (08:14)
Everyone felt like less alone. Everyone felt safer to share their truth with me. And I was a stranger. I gave them radical permission to own their own authenticity. And that was a huge unlock for me. It was sort of the catalyst to this whole concept around authentic personal branding. Like we can be the experts. We can stand out and be masterful in our gifts and use our platforms to make money. Of course, that’s what we do it for.
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (08:14)
Everyone felt like less alone. Everyone felt safer to share their truth with me. And I was a stranger. I gave them radical permission to own their own authenticity. And that was a huge unlock for me. It was sort of the catalyst to this whole concept around authentic personal branding. Like we can be the experts. We can stand out and be masterful in our gifts and use our platforms to make money. Of course, that’s what we do it for.
Rory & AJ Vaden (08:44)
but our
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (08:44)
authenticity, our truth, our shame, our failures don’t cancel out our greatness. They make us more magnetic because we’re real. And I think the more I’ve tested that theory over time and my whole like platform speaks to that vulnerability to this day like radical honesty. Not like sharing all of the crap that when I’m having a bad day or fighting with my husband or like but like the stuff that I’ve worked on
Rory & AJ Vaden (08:44)
authenticity, truth, our shame, our failures don’t cancel out our greatness. They make us more magnetic because we’re real. And I think the more I’ve tested that theory over time and my whole platform speaks to that vulnerability to this day, like radical honesty, not like sharing all of the crap that when I’m having a bad day or fighting with my husband or like, but like the stuff that I’ve worked on.
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (09:11)
and I’ve gleaned real wisdom on the other side of to
Rory & AJ Vaden (09:11)
I real wisdom on the other side of to
come out and share that kind of thing openly is magical. It’s what the world needs. And so I think my continual trusting, going back to that inner trust, has really impacted my external success and magnetized my right audience of women mainly who feel less crazy, feel less alone because I’m willing to go first. And we all should go first. We could heal the world if we went
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (09:14)
come out and share that kind of thing openly is magical. It’s what the world needs. And so I think my continual trusting, going back to that inner trust, has really impacted my external success and magnetized my right audience of women mainly who feel less crazy, feel less alone, because I’m willing to go first. And we all should go first. We could heal the world if we went
first. What I love about what I heard you say,
Rory & AJ Vaden (09:41)
You know what I love about what I heard you say
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (09:44)
is because I think a lot of people talk about authentic leadership, be authentic online, authentically you, there’s all these tag races, no one has really made it clear and I just something I just heard it just clicked for me literally for the first time of what authentic really means and you said telling the truth. Yes. That’s what it means to be authentic. Yes. It’s tell the truth. Right. Like the whole concept of be authentic it’s like yeah but how?
Rory & AJ Vaden (09:44)
is because I think a lot of people talk about authentic leadership be authentic online Authentically you look there’s all these tag races, but no one has really made it clear and I just something I just heard it just clicked for me literally for the first time of what authentic really means and you said telling the truth Yes, that’s what it means to be authentic. Yes, it’s tell the truth, right? Like the whole concept of be authentic. It’s like yeah, how
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (10:11)
But it’s tell the truth. Yes.
Rory & AJ Vaden (10:11)
But it’s tell the truth. Yes. And if I can
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (10:14)
can add one point to that. I think it’s telling the truth from a vibration. I’m very spiritual so you’ll hear me say words like that. From a vibration, a frequency of love, not fear. Like to not tell the truth to hurt somebody or make yourself look better or dump, but to tell the truth back to this word in service of somebody else’s awakening,
Rory & AJ Vaden (10:14)
add one thing to that, I think it’s telling the truth from a vibration. I’m very spiritual so you’ll hear me say words like that. From a vibration, a frequency of love, not fear. Like to not tell the truth to hurt somebody or make yourself look better or dump, but to tell the truth back to this word in service of somebody else’s awakening.
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (10:41)
aha moment.
Rory & AJ Vaden (10:43)
I think if
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we can really come back people feel that like if you’re there to show your behind the kimono not for your own indulgence but for someone else’s gain right not for the sake of over sharing exactly and that’s what you said dumb so here’s a follow-up question I have to this because it has in this concept of okay the authentic put it all out there tell the truth
Rory & AJ Vaden (10:44)
we can really come back, people feel that. Like if you’re there to show you’re behind the kimono, not for your own indulgence, but for someone else’s gain. Right, not for the sake of oversharing. exactly. And that’s what you said, dump. So here’s a follow-up question I have to this, because in this concept of, okay, be authentic, put it all out there, tell the truth.
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (11:08)
how much yeah what yeah when where yeah they should read my book be ⁓
Rory & AJ Vaden (11:08)
How much? What? When where? Yeah, they should read my book B. I’ll give them all the codes on how to
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (11:14)
to do that. I really believe that a couple things. One, your life does not belong in a glass case online. Like you can keep things private. You can be discretional. You can be intentional. Doesn’t make you any less authentic. I think that’s one. You and going back to what I said earlier, personal branding is an act of empowerment.
Rory & AJ Vaden (11:14)
do that. I really believe that a couple things. One, your life does not belong in a glass case online. Like you can keep things private. You can be discretional. You can be intentional. Doesn’t make you any less authentic. I think that’s one. You and going back to what I said earlier, personal branding is an act of empowerment.
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (11:34)
In many ways, like if you’re in alignment and you’re coming from love and you’re coming from truth and you’re coming from service, this is never going to feel manipulative. But you get to teach the market who you are.
Rory & AJ Vaden (11:34)
In many ways, like, and if you’re in alignment and you’re coming from love and you’re coming from truth and you’re coming from service, this is never going to feel manipulative, but you get to teach the market who you are. You
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (11:44)
You get to teach the market how to see you. You get to write your own narrative every single day based on what you say. You are who you say you are over and over and over again. To me, there’s nothing more empowering in life than that. However, you get to design what’s for people and what’s not for people. And
Rory & AJ Vaden (11:44)
get to teach the market how to see you. You get to write your own narrative every single day based on what you say. You are who you say you are over and over and over again. To me, there’s nothing more empowering in life than that. However, you get to design what’s for people and what’s not for people.
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (12:01)
I kind of have this framework in my book B called the personal brand hologram. I teach this in my school. I do this in all my private coaching to help craft a message because I believe that branding at its core is an exercise in clarity. ⁓
Rory & AJ Vaden (12:02)
kind of have this framework in my book B called the personal brand hologram. I teach this in my school, I do this in all my private coaching to help craft a message because I believe that branding at its core is an exercise in clarity. You
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (12:14)
have to really be known as the thing and felt as that thing within less than 15 seconds less actually now to someone who’s never heard of you to create that emotional response and we need clarity to do that but
Rory & AJ Vaden (12:14)
have to really be known as the thing and felt as that thing within less than 15 seconds less actually now to someone who’s never heard of you to create that emotional response and we need clarity to do that.
but we can’t sacrifice that. So how do we create that beautiful juxtaposition of this holistic message that encapsulates both your expertise and your humanity?
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (12:24)
we can’t sacrifice depth so how do we create that beautiful juxtaposition of this holistic message that encapsulates both your expertise and your humanity I also think the last thing I’ll add to that is you know I’ll tell you another quick story when I first got jumped on Facebook back in like 2008-910 whatever that was
Rory & AJ Vaden (12:35)
think the last thing I’ll add to that is you know I’ll tell you another quick story when I first got jumped on Facebook back in like 2008, 9, 10 whenever that was
I was going through this horrible breakup okay with this ex-boyfriend of mine and I was getting on Facebook at the time being like super passive aggressive and like sharing stuff that I knew he would see that he would you know be mad at her as we all have as we all have exactly and I remember somebody I really trusted pulled me aside and was like Jess
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (12:44)
I was going through this horrible breakup, okay, with this ex-boyfriend of mine. And I was getting on Facebook at the time being like super passive aggressive and like sharing stuff that I knew he would see that he would, you know, be mad at her. As we all have at some Exactly. And I remember somebody I really trusted pulled me aside and was like, Jess,
Rory & AJ Vaden (13:03)
The internet is not a place to process. That’s so good. You have your therapist for that. That’s so good. The internet is a place for you to show up once you’ve gone through that breakup,
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (13:04)
the internet is not a place to process. Mmm, that’s so good. I’m not your therapist for that. That’s so good. The internet is a place for you to show up once you’ve gone through that breakup.
healed, gathered new information for women who are going through a breakup too. But right now you’re making this one cathartic hot mess on the internet and no one cares. Yeah, it’s so good. It was brutally honest. was the best feedback I ever got. And I’m
Rory & AJ Vaden (13:14)
healed, grown, gathered new information for women who are going through a breakup too. But right now you’re making this one cathartic hot mess on the internet and no one cares. Yeah, that’s so good. It was brutally honest and it was the best feedback I ever got. ⁓
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (13:31)
like, okay, heard. When we show up in our whatever parts of the glass house we do want to share, let’s just make sure that it’s clean. That’s good. You know, that’s really, I think, a huge
Rory & AJ Vaden (13:35)
show up in our whatever parts of the glass house we do want to share let’s just make sure that it’s clean. That’s good. You know that’s that’s really I think a huge part
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (13:44)
part of that authentic Once you have gleaned the lesson and you’ve healed from the hurt, then it’s time to go back and share. Once you’re out of the pit, then you can go back and talk about everything, but not necessarily while you’re in it. I think
Rory & AJ Vaden (13:44)
of that. It’s like once you have gleaned the lesson and you’ve healed from the hurt then it’s time to go back and share right like once you’re out of the pit then you can go back and talk about everything but not necessarily while you’re in it.
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (14:02)
that’s a big reason why social media gets a bad rap, because we weaponize it. You can feel that. You can feel that frequency. I feel like it’s the people, the brands, many of the people that you and I know and are friends with that are
Rory & AJ Vaden (14:02)
That’s a big reason why social media gets a bad rap because we…
feel that. You can feel that frequency and I feel like it’s the people, the brands, many of the people that you and I know and are friends with that are
you know really doing well in the space come from that that place. Like they’re being authentic, they’re being honest, they’re sharing their stories but it’s not like for them or targeted. It’s for their community and it can still be raw and real as long as you’ve…
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (14:13)
you know, really doing well in the space come from that place. Like they’re being authentic, they’re being honest, they’re sharing their stories, but it’s not like for them or targeted. It’s for their community and it can still be raw and real as long as you’ve
not processed it in real time. Honestly, one of things I think is so important that I hope everyone heard what Jess just said around, you know, it’s like, and this is how I interpret it. It’s like social media.
Rory & AJ Vaden (14:34)
I honestly, one of the things I think is so important that I hope everyone heard what Jess just said around, you know, it’s like, and this is how I interpret it. like social media, like
everything else is a tool. It’s a tool to share. It’s a tool to be used and it can be weaponized, but it can just as much be used for good. It’s beautiful. I love social media. And I think everyone talks about the weaponization of it and the bad parts. And I’m like, that is true. Those are there. Let’s not pretend.
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (14:43)
else is a tool and a tool to share it’s a tool to be used and it can be weaponized but it can just as much be used for good. It’s beautiful I love social media and I think everyone talks about the weaponization of it and the bad parts and I’m like that is true those are there let’s not pretend
and and it can change your life. I do every single one of my Bible studies and my devotionals on social media every morning. I love that and it’s like it’s also sharing good exactly and there are amazing stories.
Rory & AJ Vaden (15:00)
And it can change your life. I do every single one of my Bible studies and my devotionals on social media every morning.
And it’s like, it’s also sharing good. Exactly. And there are amazing stories
and, and yes, there’s not so bad. And you get to curate your own feed and your own experience and who you let into your field. And you get to just, you have agency of how you show up. And if you can get like, I think that it’s actually the most fun place to be. I have made real relationships, deep friendships, real money, real impact, true community with Instagram. I love showing up there.
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (15:13)
And, and yes, there’s also bad. And you get to curate your own feed and your own experience and who you let into your field. And you get to, you have agency of how you show up. And if you can get like it, I think that it’s actually the most fun place to be. I have made real relationships, deep friendships, real money, real impact, true community with Instagram. I love showing up there
because it’s the energy that I bring to it. And that’s what I attract. And I, I tune out the noise. I, we all,
Rory & AJ Vaden (15:37)
because it’s the energy that I bring to it and that’s what I attract and I tune out the noise. We all,
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (15:43)
You know, I’ve coached a lot of people you do it’s like people struggle with social for so many reasons and if you can just really remember that it’s a tool for connection and show up as a human and remember that there are other human beings on the other side of their phone and every single thing you post and to not just add noise but to add value You’re gonna you’re gonna rise
Rory & AJ Vaden (15:43)
you know, I coach a lot of people who do, like people struggle with social for so many reasons. And if you can just really remember that it’s a tool for connection and show up as a human and remember that there are other human beings on the other side of their phone and every single thing you post and to not just add noise, but to add value, you’re gonna run.
You’re gonna stand out because it’s so low density at a lot of the time. So you get to be one of those people that
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (16:06)
you’re gonna stand out because it’s so low density at time a lot of the time so you get to be one of those people that
rises above. you look at it, if you really study the people that you admire, like pay attention to their energy. That’s right. And that’s what you should emulate. I just love the conversation of it’s a tool and it’ll be wielded in any way that you choose. Like any other tool, a hammer can be used to build a house or it could be used to murder someone. Yeah, exactly.
Rory & AJ Vaden (16:13)
rises above. you look at, you really study the people that you admire, like pay attention to their energy. That’s right. And that’s what you should emulate. I just love the conversation that it’s a tool and it’ll be wielded in any way that you choose like any other tool. A hammer can be used to build a house or it could be used to murder someone.
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (16:34)
Right? It’s like these tools aren’t inherently good or bad. It’s whatever energy we bring to it. That’s exactly right. Now you talk a lot about energy and frequency. I do.
Rory & AJ Vaden (16:34)
It’s like these tools aren’t inherently good or bad. It’s whatever energy we bring to it. right. Now you talk a lot about energy and frequency.
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (16:43)
And you mentioned earlier the spiritual part of your business and your brand and how you run the day to day. So that kind of leads me to my next question. You talk a lot about alignment
Rory & AJ Vaden (16:43)
And you mentioned earlier the spiritual part of your business and your brand and how you run the day to day. So that kind of leads me to my next question. You talk a lot about alignment.
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (16:53)
and energy and the energetic components of how to put business and life together. What does that look like in a day to day business? ⁓ well, let me take you back, okay, before I take you forward. ⁓ It wasn’t always like this. I feel very ⁓ proud of how my state’s energetically
Rory & AJ Vaden (16:55)
components of how to put business and life together. What does that look like in a day-to-day business? ⁓ well let me let me take you back okay before I take you forward today. It wasn’t always like this. I feel very proud of how I my state’s energetically
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (17:13)
every day, how I’m running my business. My nervous system is calibrated. I’m not in fight or flight anymore. I trust that the universe has my back. I’m in
Rory & AJ Vaden (17:13)
every day how I’m running my business. My nervous system is calibrated. I’m not in fight-or-flight anymore. I trust the universe has my back.
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (17:24)
a lot of financial abundance. I’m surrounded by beautiful people. I have the most amazing community in the space in my view. I know I’m biased, but I love my work. I would do it for free. That’s Everyone should just take a lesson in this positive self-talk that just happened here. If we’re not talking like that, check yourself. It’s been a journey to get here.
Rory & AJ Vaden (17:24)
financial abundance, I’m surrounded by beautiful people, I have the most amazing community in the space in my view, I’m not biased, but like I love my work, I would do it for free. That’s Everyone should just take a lesson and this positive self-talk that just happened here. Like if we’re not talking like that, check yourself. It’s been a journey to get here
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (17:43)
is my point. Like, so when I answer these questions of like the attunement of how I start my day, what does that look like? I need to really confess that it was
Rory & AJ Vaden (17:43)
is my point. Like so when I answer these questions of like the attunement of how I start my day, what does that look like? I need to really confess that it was…
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (17:53)
not like this for the majority of my career. I started my agency, Simply Bee, as a one-woman consultancy in 2017. I was making like panties, just testing the model. This was in 2016-17 AJ, so you understand, like personal branding at that time was sort of like,
Rory & AJ Vaden (17:53)
not like this from the majority of my career. I started my agency, Simply B, as a one woman consultancy in 2017. I was making like panties, just testing the model. This was in 2016, 17 AJ, so you understand like personal branding at that time was sort of like
IPBP 607 YouTube Jessica (18:13)
wild.