Susan Finn 0:08
Welcome to this week's Rise Above Noise. Each week I have the honor of shining a spotlight on somebody in the rise above noise community who's making a real difference in helping others with their business growth. Let me introduce myself, I am Susan Finn. I'm a digital marketing strategist, with rise above noise where for the past 15 years, I've been working with transformation creators, right people who are making a real difference in the world energy healers, Lightworkers coaches creatives, I'm guiding them with their personal roadmap in their digital marketing journey. And together, we create your own system for showing up in a way that feels generous, and it feels in service, so that you show up with consistency. So that people who are already looking for you who need you can find you and your business is going to grow with flow and with ease. When you do marketing, you reach people. So today, my guest is Susan salesman. And she's been referred to as a business therapist write her that she's a combination of years of experience running multiple businesses, along with a keen ability to identify other people's natural strengths and talents. And that allows her to show up for her clients in her community, and guide them to take those step by step actions that bring them closer to their own potential and their own possibilities. Her knowledge and support has been key in helping so many people move forward. So why don't we just get right to it. So as you guys know, Thursdays are the days I get to have my favorite activity, you know, in the work that I do, one of the things that I tell people all the time is you have to find something that you love doing. And you have to find something that that yes, you have love it and it gives you joy, but that you will be consistent about if you can find the one thing that can give you a weekly consistent content that fills you with joy, then your marketing is going to be is basically going to take care of itself. Because a lot of people have this like feeling around marketing. And that's because they're pushing in a place that doesn't feel right to them. And so this you guys, this rise above noise spotlight is my commitment to weekly content, it gives me joy, I get to have content for all of my platforms. And I get to talk with really cool people. So let me get started. But as I do, we're gonna let me make this work over here sharing a quick digital marketing tip, which I kind of already did. But let me do it this way again. Oh, my goodness, it's gonna push over the light. In so the rise above noises and so the thing is, when no matter what you're doing, you need to know where you're starting. And I know this is what we're going to talk about with Susan today, you have to know where you're starting. Sounds good. You have to know where you're starting, you have to know where you're going. You have to know where your dog is at all times.
Susan Salzman 3:52
Yes, you do. Okay.
Susan Finn 3:55
You have to know where you're starting. And so the rise above noise, five pillars, the five steps gives you a GPS of where you're going in your digital marketing way too often. I saw this just the other day. Way too often. People are just throwing their stuff around and they're spending hours and hours and hours. On on things they think right? They're very busy. They're doing the do and they're there on socials and they're doing their tic TOCs. And they're creating their things, but without having a full strategy of what what that looks like and I want to just take you through if you haven't seen this before, let me share this with you. If they have seen it before, hang out with me for a minute. So core values and ideal clients right that's that's it the basis of everything. That's everything you say. Every piece of content that you make, everything that you send out into the world has to be speaking to your eye to client the problems that they're having and what the challenges are. But it's also got to be very, very cemented into what your core values are. And you have to know what your non, your non negotiables are. And you need to know, what's your mission, where are you going, and it's going to evolve over time, I often say that digital marketing is a practice. Much like my yoga, much like my meditation, much like artwork, you never get it exactly right. But when you are really clear on your core values, and who it is that you want to make a change for, and what the change is, everything else is going to make be so much easier. So then you can go on and make your compelling content, then you can be strategic about what you're sharing who you're speaking to. And like I said, if you have a commitment to have consistent, generous content, this part, although it will take some time will be easy and joyful. And the same with sharing proof of concept that would be sharing testimonials and case studies. And you know, having chit chats with people who can give you that outlook on the changes that you've created for them and sharing that widely and generously. Organizing and scheduling is going. I've said this before, our only true currency is our time. And our energy, we can make money. But we need to be very strategic with how we use our time and our energy. And so when you're organized when you're scheduling when you're not paying attention to others, and you're deeply rooted in your own zone of genius. And then you have ways to work that out. The email I was just writing this morning was about last week, I got thrown a monkey wrench and I had to be off the computer for five days. But my systems were still running. And I knew what I had to do the bare minimum that I had to do to keep things running for the week. And it was fantastic. And all of this is so that you keep in touch you keep in front of the people who are going to need you so that you mightier can be of service to people, I work with people I love to work with our transformation creators. And this is what they want to do. They want to do all the things so that they can be of service and so today now I'm gonna stop sharing and escape from here. Today when we talk with my friend Susan, I know that she works with business owners to help them pull together what feels like chaos. So I'm really excited to introduce you to Susan and I'm going to go ahead and read her official bio, give me one second to get that screen up. Okay, Susan Salzman as your strategic business adviser, also known as a business therapist, she helps go getters, thought leaders, and CEOs who are struggling professionally and personally create the life they want. By using the skills knowledge and talents they already have, so that they can plant a flag in their dreams. She has a five stage framework that helps people discover the missing pieces needed to uncover all their potential and their possibilities in achieving their vision in a utilitarian, practical, and creative way. I love that plant a flag in your dreams. I'm just gonna let that sit there for a second. I love that. Susan
Susan, I asked her what her superpower is. And she said that she is an acute listener. I'd love to learn more about that Susan about everything all the work you do, and about that superpower about being an acute listener.
Susan Salzman 9:11
Well I I've always been into the details. I like the details of everything. You know, it's a child I was entrepreneurial and found ways to take my passion and monetize it even back then. And then after college, I was in the corporate world and and I left that after six years and created a lifestyle brand that was originally created because I needed gifts for friends and I couldn't find what I was looking for. And I ended up spending 20 years in that career and built a multimillion dollar lifestyle brand that took me far and wide and I wrote a book And I was on Oprah. And I was in every magazine and I was on all the magazines shows like Entertainment Tonight, and extra and Access Hollywood and all that stuff. And so, for me, it's always been about the details, whether it's the thing, or the color, or the graphics or the typography. I pay attention to that stuff. And so as when I segwayed, out of my business in 2008, I, I started a food blog, because I love to cook cooking is my love language, feeding others is my love language. And it was there that I really learned all these digital platforms. And because I was doing it quite well. People were coming to me and saying, how do you do that? And I would say, oh, ISTEP x, y, z. And they're like, do it this way. And they're like, no, let me pay you. So for 14 years, I've been consulting to entrepreneurs, CEOs, brand builders, Business Builders, small mom and pops all that kind of thing, and helping them really find their voice. And so I feel like in order to help people, and in order to give them what they need, you have to listen to the details.
Susan Finn 11:13
So, so, so true. And it's hard. In a couple of weeks, actually, my friend, Joanne O'Neill will be on in this spotlight. And she's going to be talking about active listening. It's so important, like so many of us are listening to see what we're going to say next. And I think sometimes you have to listen to really just listen. In fact, when I have my discovery calls, I do them by phone, instead of on Zoom. And that's because what I can do is I can close my eyes and hear really hear what the person is saying and really identify more than what the words they're saying, how they're saying it and what emotions are coming through. So I hear what you're saying it's so important. Well, tell me more about the what what you're doing with you kind of went over it quickly. And wow, Oprah and work and all the work that you've done. Right? We're on such amazing journeys. Where are you now? What are you doing now? And how, you know, how can people? What can you tell us?
Susan Salzman 12:26
Well, I like I said, I work with lots of different kinds of people, mostly women, generally, a lot of Gen X's and baby boomers. But I've actually penetrated the Gen Z market. With my one of my programs, which is part of my five stage framework, you mentioned my bio stage framework. And I work privately I work in groups, and I have some digital products. So privately a one to one is, you know, I take them through my systems, my strategy and my structure to help them build their roadmap. I do that in a group setting as well. I love the group's I also have a program called Tech Talk 101, which is, for a lot of women our age, they don't know even how to access a Google Doc or even get on Zoom. And so I develop a tech talk one on one and it's a it's a monthly, for lack of a better word membership. I hate the word membership. But it's like if they pay monthly, and we meet three times a month, and it's a really fun group. And I have a digital I have like a, I would say a digital course library to help support them. And it's, it's like I said, it's a really amazing, fun group of women. And then I'm launching a new program in August, which is also part of my five stage framework, but I've kind of repurposed it and broken it up and I'm not ready to announce that yet.
Susan Finn 14:02
So I know that when you're working with people, you're you're helping them to kind of figure out their potential right for their further growth and development. And they've they're coming to you because they feel they feel stuck or they feel confused. And you're going to be a guide for them. What is it how do you do that?
Susan Salzman 14:23
Well first you know, first and foremost I kind of like I said I listen and I get under the hood. So I think that women our age are really one of the most valuable and untapped demographic out there and I feel like a lot of women who are coming to me either were career serial career you know, opportunists want to get out of it my into but aren't ready to retire. Most of the people I'm working with are creatives, visionaries, professionals, entrepreneurs, you know, just chefs writers, artists, lawyers, you write, you know, all different kinds of people. And they come to me because they know they want something more. And they know they're not done. So I really help them dig a little deep, and really dig out some of those things inside of them that they're already good at. But they didn't realize that they're good at. So I have a client who recently got divorced, and she was a stay at home mom. And she also loves cooking. And she is starting a little food business. And with my help, I'm helping her kind of with the step by step of that, and what that could look like, and how to kind of do it right, especially in this age of, you know, digital media that we're all been thrown into, right? It's like we can do so much more today. Look at us, you're in the East Coast, I'm on the West Coast, we're on Zoom. We're sharing ideas, and we're inspiring art, not only ourselves, but other people. So there's so many ways for us to share our gifts. And it doesn't always necessarily have to be a product. But you know, I do have product based clients and I have what I call to debase clients, which are, I'm sorry, yeah, digital based clients, I call my product people 3d. So my digital people are 2d and my product people are 3d. But I also have a children's book author right now who who has published seven books. And she has a couple more on the horizon. So I'm helping her craft that narrative of how she's going to reach out to potentially connect with new publishers and new agents and all that kind of thing. And also, because she's been she was an advertising and copywriting before I sent her one day, I'm like, you can monetize your gifts you already have like, other people who want to write children's books. And there's, there's other people need copywriting services. So we're developing a digital course for her.
Susan Finn 17:11
Oh, that's pretty cool. Fun. Yeah, digital courses, I know are very, very popular. And the thing is that they work right, it's really, really good. It's great to have that. And there's so many other things that you can do it once you make a course, then you can have, you know, different webinars and so many different parts of the product, once you realize that there's a market for what you have in the groups that I'm in where there are course creators. Gosh, there's just everything, teaching Greek teaching Greek language teaching Greek cooking, ukulele? Yeah, there's so many things you don't even realize. We're sitting home, you know, we don't realize that what we know not everybody knows.
Susan Salzman 17:56
Right. And also, I also think, because it has somewhat exploded in the past couple of years. I think I have a blog post on my old website, I put it on my new website, called, you know, the digital con is real, because I think that there's a lot of people who are pushing and selling, but they're not really qualified or authentic, or trustworthy. So I think you have to really, I think, yeah, I always tell my clients to listen, to listen to their gut, don't talk to their gut. And I think that you just have to really pay attention to those feelings and that kind of thing when you come across because, you know, everybody's trying to sell you something or hustle you something. And I think one of the biggest obstacles I see with the people that I've worked with over the years is that as a solopreneur, as an entrepreneur, we don't get the validation or we're missing the, the water cooler moments, right? Where we can connect and have those moments with people where we can say, What do you think of this, that and the other. And how I always start my clients off is with something I call the 360 POV, which is basically a it's a performance review, like something you would have in your corporate world, but it's a tad more creative. And it's really looking at the past and then the future and then the present and why I have them look at the past first is I think because we I think as a society are way more focused on the negative and what we didn't do. And in doing that exercise 99% of the time, people are like, Oh my god, I did accomplish stuff last year like this is amazing. And so that feeds their momentum and it feeds. It feeds them to propel to want to go forward because, again, that, you know, what we're all doing as entrepreneurs and solopreneurs can be very, very lonely. And that's a lot of the reason why I started the group's. Because for two reasons, one, I have so much only so much bandwidth, I can only accommodate so many private clients in a week. And it can get expensive and pricey. And I found a way to service more people, and be with more people in a in a group setting. And everybody really inspires each other. So they they become learning and teaching moments. Yeah,
Susan Finn 20:34
I agree. I think that when, when we learn together, and we support each other, I mean, I always forget how long it probably 20 years ago, I started the Women's Business Network of southeastern Massachusetts. And just because I needed people to talk to about business, and and it grew, and it grew. And what I realized was that in that setting, when you create a container of support, and we tie our boats together, and we support each other in a noncompetition way, gosh, we're amazing. And in particular, we as women are amazing, because we just have, and I know I'm being very stereotypical, but I, but I believe that we are natural sharers. And we naturally want to help each other. And I think that makes all the difference. And especially at like you said, when you're solopreneur, and you're sitting in your, your room, your office, you need somebody to bounce ideas off of and to give you support. Yes, but brutally honest feedback, I think is so valuable.
Susan Salzman 21:46
Yeah, I would not be where I am with the women around me, and particularly my clients, you know, they teach me every day, you know, they show me not only what they need, but what I how I need to serve them. And so I you know, I I'm grateful I really love what I do, you know, I, I definitely have my moments and, and, and I tell them, you know, I had a client texted me the other day saying she wasn't going to show up for a meeting because she was just feeling yucky and blue. And I said, you're not alone. You know, like, you know, like, go and nurture yourself, you know, and create that space. So I don't know, I just think life is hard. And especially with what happened this week, and what's happening all around us. I just, I have to shut that stuff out. Because it will really paralyze me. Yes,
Susan Finn 22:43
I agree with you. Yeah, fortunately, and in South South Coast, Massachusetts, it is perfect gardening weather. And so I shut it all off. And I go out with the puppy, and I get to go out to the garden and try to shut that off for a while. And on the other hand, also fired up in my head, and what can we do we have to do, we can't sit back and I'll be in our gardens. Right. So that's a whole, that's a discussion for a whole nother time. But it also speaks to the self care part that you had alluded to, that you need to that you probably support your clients with, like you just said that when you need your care, you need your care. But when it's time to work, get your butt in the chair and work, right.
Susan Salzman 23:29
Yeah, yeah, some days are more productive than others, you know, and you just have to, you know, you just have to give yourself some grace.
Susan Finn 23:38
I agree, I agree. And that's why in the work that I do with people helping them set up their their digital marketing systems. And as I mentioned earlier, having a way to do that with ease and joy, and slow. Um, that's the gift that I bring, right, so that you can step away for a little bit or that you can dig in a little bit sometimes, you know, for the energy healers that I work with, and they have so much to share that sometimes when they get when they put their head down into it, and they're creating something, whether it's a video or meditation series or a really great blog post that helps them to clarify they're not their worth and I don't mean they're worth but what they're here for their purpose. Yeah, and in doing so. Right when they spend that time sharing what they have, it makes them feel stronger and especially if they have that system set up to make it easy without the chaos and that that like energy suck that can be the social media world. It makes it a lot more pleasant. Yeah.
It's good to see What else can people know about you? What's What do you have going on? Well, how can people check you out? Get involved with you?
Susan Salzman 25:07
Well, my website is my name. So Susan Salzman no t.com. And I have the free resource, which is the POB, which is the 360 pob, which is a, you know, a self validated performance review for, for entrepreneurs and solopreneurs. And whoever wants it. And I have tech talk, which is a monthly it's not on my website yet. Or maybe I did put, I did put it on my website under my ala carte, it's under my work with me page, okay. So, Tech Talk is, again, really fun. And we meet three times a week, three times a month. And once they, if they opt in to my POV, they'll be on my list, and they'll be updated on programs and groups and all that kind of stuff. I'm speaking to a big group of Realtors next month to introduce the what's next roadmap. So I'll probably keep that to the realtors. But I may launch it again in September, something like that. But
Susan Finn 26:15
fabulous, yeah, so you've got lots going on lots of places where people can learn more about you.
Susan Salzman 26:20
And I have a podcast called The Power of the pivot podcast. And I took a little break, I had some health issues. So it took a little break. And I'm relaunching that at the end of June. And it's going to be a little bit of a different format. So I'm excited about that. So that's on all the time, everything, Apple, Spotify, you know, wherever you find your podcasts. So that's a fun place because I interview, you know, women who have pivoted and who have, you know, you know, redirected themselves and have found their joy.
Susan Finn 26:54
So I'm looking that up to make sure that we can share. Okay, power of the pivot, I got it right here and then to be able to share it in our group. So much good stuff. Susan, thank you so much for spending your early part of your morning with us.
Susan Salzman 27:10
I really appreciate your generosity and bringing me on to chit chat and talk about all good things.
Susan Finn 27:16
It's good and it is good stuff. I'm just going to quickly check the Facebook chat. See if that we have any questions. It's all good. We're great. Great to go. Susan, thank you so much. I appreciate you.
Susan Salzman 27:26
Thank you. Thank you.
Susan Finn 27:31
Well, there you have it. I hope you enjoyed this week's rise above noise spotlight. Susan Salzman, once more of us to find ways to share our gifts, especially these days. And you know what, sometimes we just need that guidance, like a roadmap that's going to help us get into momentum. Susan knows that. So often, we feel like, we want something more that we can be doing more. And she's the one that's here to help us dig deep and figure out what we're good at. But we might not even realize it. You can see our rise above noise community is revolutionizing how service professionals show up in the world in our marketing to make a real difference in the world. And now more than ever, our world needs you. We need our transformation creators to be successful in what it is that you're doing to show up in service and make that real difference in the world. Thank you for joining today. And I look forward to sharing the next rise above noise spotlight with you
Transcribed by https://otter.ai