We all want those massive national conferences, right? But I've found that the most consistent speakers built their foundation in the "Hidden Market." I’m talking about local chapters of national associations—think SHRM, AMA, or even the local Rotary. Why are these gold mines? Honestly, it's easier access because you’re talking to local volunteers rather than a scary board of directors. They also act as referral engines; if you rock a local chapter, they’ll brag about you to the regional and national levels. Plus, it’s a low-pressure environment to test new material and grab some high-quality video for your reel. The reality is that a "small" gig with the right audience is worth way more than a "big" gig with the wrong one.

If there is one thing 16 years in business has taught me, it is that it is not about doing more. It is about getting better. Don't just keep posting the same old way on social media. Look at the stats. What post resonated the most? What was different about it? Replicate that. Check the results. Repeat. Don't just create a YouTube video once a week or day. Again, check the stats. What worked? What didn't? Try an ad or two. Check the results. Repeat. This quarter/month is ALL about improvement for me including: - New professional photos taken for my website SHOWING my energy and passion, exactly what event planners are looking for to engage large audiences. - A CRM upgrade to ensure gaps in my systems are addressed. - New booking links that automatically throw the person booking into my CRM. - New CTAs on every social media post that includes meeting link. - And finally, an upgrade to my LinkedIn profile to ensure it gives those in the industries I serve the info they are looking for when it comes to hiring a trainer or keynote. I am loving how this year is playing out but I am also doing all I can to ensure it KEEPS being successful and that requires BETTER not just more. So the question is, what have you been doing and what can you do better? Only you know the answer! Don't just talk or think or plan ... DO!! Love ya! Sandi

My story is being played at a museum in Washington D.C. Let that sink in. I came to America at 17 with nothing. I slept on cardboard in a basement. No money. Eating peanut butter and jelly just to survive. Took 17 years to finish college. Then one day, a manager at The Home Depot asked me how I was doing. I told him the truth: I was sleeping in a basement and didn't know how I'd make it. He didn't just listen. He gave me $600 dollars to buy a mattress. Then he took me on a journey. Showed me what leadership actually meant. Showed me that people matter. That your story matters. The Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream selected my story among 10,000 Americans featured in their exhibit. Same room as Oprah Winfrey. Kevin O'Leary. Magic Johnson. And the late Bernie Marcus Co-Founder of The Home Depot. ( RIP). The company that believed in me when I was sleeping on cardboard. I didn't come from privilege. I came from a basement, sleeping on carboard. I came from nothing. And somehow, my story is now on a museum wall. Today I help leaders find their story, tell it with confidence, and use it to build authority and influence. Because what happened TO you is not the end. It's the beginning of someone else's breakthrough. I've watched leaders get promoted. I've watched them build movements. All because they stopped hiding their story and started owning it. This is why I speak and coach others to tell them this: Your story is your strategy. Not your setback —> your strategy. Don't you ever let anyone tell you your story doesn't matter. It belongs in rooms you never imagined. Who's the person who believed in you when you didn't believe in yourself?

I was spending some time in the community today and it hit me just how much heavy lifting our profiles do before we ever send a message or hop on a call. In a space like Skool, your profile isn’t just a bio—it’s your silent introduction. But it made me wonder: are we using that space to its full potential, or are we leaving opportunity on the table by being a bit too modest? I noticed a few common patterns that most of us (myself included!) fall into. If you look at your own profile right now through the eyes of a total stranger, here are a few things to consider: - Titles vs. Outcomes: Many of us lead with "International Speaker," "Author," or "CEO." Those are impressive, but they tell people what you are, not necessarily how you help them. What changes for the person who hires you? - Human Connection: We have an amazing mix of coaches, poets, and facilitators here. Adding a tiny bit of "why" or a human touch—like your mission to make the world better or your specific creative lens—helps you stand out in a sea of professional labels. It’s usually just a simple shift from sounding "qualified" to being "the solution." When was the last time you looked at your bio and asked: "If someone landed here with zero context, would they know exactly why they should reach out to me within five seconds?" @Regina Huber @E.g. Sebastian @Antoni Lacinai @Rosie Norman-neubauer

This morning, as I was starting my day, I was watching Taylor Swift's recent interview for the New York Times. In it she shares how her fans do not want to see her responses to trolls on the internet. In her summation of her fan's thoughts, "We want your art". And I couldn't help thinking of how that applies to all of us in this community. Your fans and followers and eventually customers (given enough time) do not want to see your party pics from the weekend. They do not want to see you rip apart a troll. They want to see your art, your expertise, your wisdom, your calm in the storm, the calm (or passion or purpose or whatever you preach) that they want to have which is why they follow you. The easiest way - THINK OF EVERYTHING YOU POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA as a representation of you and your company. Are there some things you should go delete? Keep it real but don't shoot yourself in the foot. Food for thought ...