625. Why You Need a Platform Element in Your Business

I believe a platform is anything where you get to showcase another person's voice and you get to figure out what's important to them and showcase that.

Welcome to the earn your happy podcast.

I'm Lori Harder, founder of The Bliss.

Project, 3 Time Fitness World champion, fitness expert and cover model, turned self love.

Junkie, lifestyle entrepreneur and author.

Each week I'll bring you a guest.

Or a thought that will help you.

Bust through your fears, connect to your soul and get focused and clear so you can elevate your life, business and relationships. We don't wait until we're ready for someone to tell us we're good enough. We take what we want and we anoint ourselves. Get ready to earn, own and unapologetically rock your happiness every single day. Are you with me?

Here we go. Hey everyone. Welcome back to the show. And it's time for another quickie because there's always time to fit in inspiration. And I've been getting so many thoughts just in my head recently. New thoughts, kind of like aha moments, because I am back to kind of going on these regular runs twice a week and listening to podcasts. So for me, that is like going to church. And I'm working it in right now because emotionally and mentally I really need it. And also it's a time for me that is really creative. So not only am I going to talk about a couple things that have been food for thought on my mind that is going to help your business and your life, but also to remember what are the things that make you feel creative, that make you kind of get those downloads. What are you doing? For me, it's always been movement and listening to other people's thoughts that kind of start like they're the matchstick, right? So getting that high vibe energy from people who are in a place where you want to go or people who are in a really great place, right. And discussing ideas and big ideas. And that's always been the matchstick for me. So right now, because I am in a place with my business with light pink, with really wanting to look at the big picture and do it right from the beginning as right as we can. Right? There's going to be a million mistakes, but do it as right as we can. I'm really listening to and searching for all the people who are either there or who have done this before. So I'm getting all of these different thoughts coming through my head. And what I want to talk about today is something that if you're not considering it, maybe going to the next level of what your business could look like and how it could be a platform for other people. Because something that came into my mind is how platforms truly propel. And, you know, they propel your business. They propel. Propel other people. They are elevators, right? Having a platform is an elevator, not only for your business, but for other people. And it starts by thinking about how you can help elevate other people. And where this thought came from is because I've been looking at Light pink, not only as a company that, you know, connects women, but as a company that elevates women and gives them a platform. So what does that mean? What. What does it. What do you have to do to even be a platform? I believe a platform is anything where you get to showcase another person's voice and you get to figure out what's important to them and showcase that. So this could be in a million different ways, right? This could be a blogger who, you know, maybe even let's. Let's just start here. This could be a fashion blogger who starts highlighting different women's brands, different people's brands, different people on her blog. And all of a sudden, this audience that you have now created is an audience that. So you are helping promote other people with and sharing. So why is that interesting? Why is that important that we start to look at, you know, how is it that my audience could actually be a platform for other people? And this is because all of the things in life that we are desiring are going to come from a relationship. So whether it's something that you are needing for your business, whether it's an article that you really want in a magazine, whether it's a magazine cover, whether it is media, whether it is, you know, getting your product out into the world, whether it is being on someone's stage, whether it is writing a book, all of those things start with a human connection. You have to think about that. Every single thing that you are desiring is going to come through some form. Form of human connection, right? It's going to be somebody either recognizing you, noticing you, wanting to work with you, you paying someone to work with them, and you having a brand that is desirable or something to work with, right? A brand, a story, whatever that is. And we can do that by really thinking about how we can create not only the brand that we're desiring to create, the business, the product, the podcast, the book, but how could that thing also serve as a way to help connect and elevate other people? So I want to look back to all of the different things that I have, you know, had as goals in my life and that I've been able to reach and how they came about. And one thing that I think about was getting a book deal. Now, I had no idea how to get a book deal, like, no clue whatsoever. So I started asking around and I got a lot of answers around how to do this. And the first thing was to start with a literary agent. Like, if you have a literary agent, they can kind of guide you just a little bit. Maybe on your creating your proposal, they're going to go shop your book around to these different agents. But you also need a good concept for a book and you also need to know what goes in that proposal. So from there I learned about. I found a literary agent and learned about what goes in a proposal. A proposal is a huge. It's essentially like a 30 to 70 page marketing tool that you are showing them, that you're showing the editors and people who own these different publishing houses what you're going to do to promote your book. And looking back, one of the biggest things that happened, not only with finding a publisher or what they were interested in writing that proposal, but also a huge part of it was they want to know who you're in relationships with so that those people can help promote your book. They want to know how your book is going to make them money. So with that said, all of this ended up coming down to a platform that I had created, which was my podcast. Now, how did that happen? So when I was writing the proposal, they wanted to know how I was going to get this out and how many people I had in my social media audience and in my podcast or downloads for my podcast. Now, my social media numbers weren't super huge. And at the time, a lot of these publishing houses were looking for people who had a million plus in their social media following. I still do not have that, but my podcast did. It had that many downloads and then some. At the time, I think I had 10 million downloads. I had no idea that when I was starting my podcast and being consistent for three years at the time of my book release, I had no idea that that would actually be the thing that would end up securing the deal for my book. No clue that because of those numbers, they would be intrigued and say, okay, this is interesting. She has people who come on here and she has people who listen to this. So creating a platform for other people was a way that I had gotten noticed for my book by saying, okay, people are listening. And also she has people on here who have written books for us before. Um, you know, she has people who are showing up for her saying, yes, this is someone that I vouch for. And those were all relationships that I made by way of my podcast. Now I'm looking at this company light pink that I'm starting. And a lot of the investors who have invested are women who I have had on the show. And it's because I created a relationship where I created a platform where their voice could be heard so I could then figure out what was important to them and promote that on my show. And what happens is when you're showing up first to get these other people's voices out there showing up in a way that says, hey, I'm here for you, yes, I want you on the show, but this is a platform where we're gonna expose you to a whole audience that you have never been exposed to before. And let me know what I can help you promote. Let me know what are you focusing on? Because I really want you to feel like there's something big in this for you. So let's be figure out how I can add value to your life. And by doing that, they then were like, hey, what's something you're working on? You know, what's going on in your world? And I take that opportunity. I don't just say, oh, nothing, not at all. You know, this is about, I'll just make sure that I get your voice out into the world. It's equal, right? It's like, great, I created a platform for you. This is what I'm going to be able to do for you. Let's figure out what's important to you. And when they say, great, what can.

I do for you?

Say something. Say something. So I really want you to think about what is it that you can be doing that you could add a sort of platform to whatever business you have? How could you add a platform to your social media where maybe you're promoting other people, even if it's once a week, how could you add a platform to your, you know, how could you create a platform maybe within a podcast? How could you create a platform if you write articles for different magazines, if you have a website that you have, if you have a product based company, how could you also turn part of your company into a bit of a platform for people? Like, how can can your brand, company, whatever it is that you have, add value by creating a bit of a platform within what you're doing? Because platforms are going to elevate. They're going to elevate that the, the person that you're helping and they're going to elevate your brand. So I think it's, it's like level two of business, right? Maybe you have a business, maybe you have a coaching business, maybe you have a fitness business. Maybe what, whatever that is. How can you actually use your business as well now to also elevate and promote? Do you have a Facebook group where all of your people are in it that you coach or that sign up on your programs? Can you highlight them every month? Can you create a podcast around that? Can you have some of those people get on your podcast or actually run episodes of your podcast? How can you create something where other people are winning? This is the key. If you want to know how people are creating the lives that they want, it's all through relationships. And it's because they've created something and worked so hard on something that is going to add a lot of value to other people's lives. So this is next level thinking. You're not going to find this right away. And maybe some of you just popped off with an idea, like, hell yes, you're ready for it. But for some of you, you're going to have to start thinking about what is this? And it's going to be a thought that goes with every business and every brand that you create. Like, what is it about this company that is going to help elevate other people? How can I also turn this into a platform of some sort or something that adds value and gives back? That is what is really going to create those relationships and next level interest for your company? So, you guys, I just wanted to throw that out there so that you start thinking not only of, you know, how can I get more people involved, how can I get more people to buy my book, buy my coaching program, but how can I elevate more voices so that people really want to be a part of this because they know it's going to be something that will also propel them. So that's really what I want to create with light pink is, you know, have it be a place where they know that if they get involved, if an investor gets involved, if somebody gets involved and wants to, you know, share the product, if somebody, something in the future happens where, you know, you can be a part of the company in some different way. It's like, I want this company to be something that propels women forward. So they're excited not only because the brand is obsession worthy, but they're really excited because it's also going to help them personally, because I believe that when we help people personally and help elevate them, we're also helping all of the people that they're going to help. So it's a ripple effect. Like if you can do a 35,000 foot perspective of your business and the choices that you're making, you're really going to take a much larger or you're going to, you're going to think a lot bigger about the things that you can do, right? You're going to think of the whole instead of the one. And I think this is really next level thinking in your business, like thinking about the whole and how you're going to help everybody who's coming in, not only with, with your product. It doesn't end there, but now that they've gone through the product and had this transformation, how do you help elevate them to now go out and help even more people? So what is it that you're going to do to create a platform within what you're already doing? You guys, I'm super excited to hear your thoughts. I would love to know, I would love to know if you had any ideas come to you while you were thinking about this or listening to this. Make sure you shout me out on Instagram so that I can hear it. I want to know if you had something that you're like, holy shit, this is like right here, Here for my business. I could do this right now or I could start this right now. And this is not going to happen overnight. Like my podcast, in order before I've done anything is what, four years in the making now? And it's kind of like four years of showing up three times a week now. Four times a week, you guys, with nothing, no payment, no sponsors, no nothing for three years, right? And finally now it's grown to a point where I can have sponsors, I can start getting paid for it. I've. I've been paid in the form of relationships for those three years. And that was the most valuable thing that I have ever, ever experienced in my entire life. I'm still benefiting from creating a platform that helps people get their message out. So think about it, you guys, and it's going to take a while, but it's going to pay off big time. Because my friend always quotes Emma Isaacs, she says, by the time you need a relationship, it will be too late. What's the thing that you can do right now where you are starting to form those relationships with absolutely no thought of what you're going to get? Right? It's just like how can I add more value? Because that is eventually going to help you.

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And this is something else that I want to add. I thought this podcast is over, was over. But what I want to say is, you know, you're, you're adding value and you're having no intentions of it helping you in the future. Even though we know that if we do great things that it does you, you can't stop that energetic effect of it. But you also have to ask for what you need. Just like I said, when people are like, oh my gosh, that's so sweet. Is there anything that you're working on? Please tell them specifically, specifically what you're working on. And you might feel bad, like, oh my God, they're gonna think I asked because I have this. It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. Be unapologetic about the things that you're going for because they are meant to help people and they're meant to get out in the world. And if I know people like you guys, after almost 700 podcasts, let me tell you, I feel like I know a little bit about people. I can tell you that people want to be heroes. They want to help, so let them help you. Nothing feels better than actually being able to help someone. So. So please ask for help and use that help. So, you guys, I really want to know what you got out of this podcast. So make sure you tag me on Instagram at Lori Harder and go follow the nyourhappy page. And also if you love this podcast, make sure you go rate and review it, because that would really, really, really rock my world. So if you've been listening for a while and this has added any value, most people try to do it from their phone. You actually can't rate and review from your phone. I'm pretty sure you still can't do that. So you have to go on your computer, rate and review and that would mean the world to me. We also give you shout on my Q and A podcast for people who rate and review. So we'd love to have a chat over there you guys. Until next time, earn your happy.

Bye everyone.

Thank you guys so much for spending this time with me on the Earn your happy podcast. I am so glad that you stopped by. If you could take one second to share this episode with someone you think would love it, that would be absolutely amazing and we would be forever grateful. Also, please leave us a review if you feel so moved by going to itunes and leaving us an honest thought, an honest comment. Tell us what you think, tell us what you want to hear more of. It would really help us out on our journey to helping thousands and thousands of people. Until then, don't forget to earn your happy. Thanks again guys.

Bye Bye. Sam.