0010: Knowing your identity, so your prospect knows you with branding & identity expert & author Maria Erazo

Ea interviews.

Episode 10, Inspiration, Transformation, Success Stories and the Imperfect Action Round. Seven days a week. Join Mario Ficcini for today's expert Authority effect interview.

We're live, Expert Authority World. And it's going to be another great episode. I have none other than branding identity and best selling author Maria Erasso with us live today and she's going to be bringing the content to you. She is a wealth of knowledge. I've seen her speak. I know what she's gonna be sharing. I'm not gonna take any of her thunder, so I'm gonna jump right into it with her. You're in for a treat. But first, let's thank our sponsor. So you wanna go live on Facebook.

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We'Re back with Maria Era and Maria, I am so glad you are here. Thank you for joining us. How are you feeling?

Oh, great. Very, very happy to be here with you, Mario, and with your audience. This is great. Thank you for having me.

All right, we're in for a great episode, so let me just jump right into it and we're just going to have a conversation here. I know your backstory and it's why I invited you on the show. But for the audience, tell them what inspired you? Why do you do what you do? What inspired you to start your business and help people the way you do like no other.

What inspires me is to see people succeed. I love being able to help people to acquire the knowledge, develop the skills and access the resources that we need in order for us to succeed in this entrepreneurship world. And I just, I just love it when I can see people go from not having a brand identity, not really owning their worth, you know, their value and seeing them shine and serve in the world. And I just love that.

Dive a little bit deeper into that. I know what you're referring to, but when you're saying shine and serve in the world, how do you, how do you bring that out? How do you bring out the best in your clients and, you know, even prospects? Because when you're talking to them, you know, you're on stage. We've been at some of the same places speaking, and how do you, how do you get inside of their head to say, you know what? I see the value in you. I'm gonna bring it out of you, and we're gonna do it like that. What are some of the things you do to bring out the best in people?

Yes, definitely. Well, one of the reasons why I'm so effective in doing that is because I was in their position at some point of my life where I was full of knowledge, experience, But I didn't know. I was so connected with myself, with my own story, and it was hard for me to recognize my true value. And it wasn't until I started learning about myself and until I worked with one coach who actually was able to tell me to help me see myself through his eyes.

And.

And it helped me believe. And since that, I started realizing that, oh, my gosh, I'm wondering how many other people are doing this. So when I interact with someone, the first thing that I help them do is to learn and to uncover their gifts, their natural abilities, and for them to recognize how amazing they are. And I help them see themselves through my eyes and. And I help them believe by walking them through a process.

On how can they serve the world with their stories, with what they have. But it has to come from within. It has to come from a personal belief. It's something that we have to get out of our own head and get out of our own way. And fortunately, a lot of times, we are our worst enemy, because we don't. Most of the times, we don't truly value everything that we already know and what we have accomplished. So that's where I start helping them with. To really get to connect with themselves and to realize how valuable and amazing they are.

So you're saying it's a lot more about the psychology in most instances than the actual things they're doing.

Oh, of course. Because a lot of people are. You know, we get so caught up in life and we get so caught up and busy and just doing, you know, everything. Just working and just going from, you know, through the. Throughout through the day with just. With everything that we have going on that we disconnect. We truly disconnect from what our passion is, you know, what makes us feel alive, what makes us feel, you know, happy, what makes. What do we hate, what makes us cry, what makes us smile. All of those things are deeply connected and directly connected with our purpose. So it's really more psychology than anything. The beginning of any. I will say any personal or professional coaching has to start with. With psychology.

You know, I agree with that 100% because I've even told my clients, it's not that you have to do more in most instances, it's just that you have to be more. And that always starts with you. It reminds me of this picture, I think. It's funny. I don't know if everyone else will, but it's my show, so I'm gonna say it. But it's a picture of Waldo, and he's sitting here like this, you know, meditating. And it says, when Waldo finds himself.

Oh, love it.

But it's so true, because, like you're saying, it's not out here. It's. It's more about what are you doing and how are you becoming more to serve people?

Who are we being? Who do I need to be in order for me to act different, in order for me to take better actions or more positive, you know, to be more productive? Who do I need to be? Everything starts with who am I being right now? Who do I need to be in order for me to accomplish that? Who do I need to be in order for me to serve the world with my gifts and talents? So the stories that we tell ourselves are the ones holding us back. So we get to replace the stories, change the story, so that we get to be the person that truly connects with, you know, with our audience, with our clients, with. With people.

So I know you're not going to say their name for confidentiality. And when people advise with me, it's, you know, same thing. Advisor client privilege. But let's just say Mr. Or Mrs. X. Is that fair?

Yes.

Share with me an example of someone that what we're talking about, the psychology and the mindset, they came to you and they were like, I'm here. I wanted to go here. What was, like, the biggest hurdle they had, and how did you help them through it?

Yeah. So I'm gonna go with. I'm gonna call this client. I'm gonna call her Mary, because everybody's Maria. Right. And so I'm gonna just, you know, in a way, we call everyone like John Doe. Right. So I'm gonna call this client Mary. So Mary, she.

Went through a very tough time in her life where she was. She was very ill, and physically and emotionally, she was broken emotionally, spiritually, and lost. And she was under a lot of stress. And, I mean, her life was miserable. Well, through a certain process that she went through, she healed herself through natural. Through natural. Through natural process with food and, you know, just better enough for nutrition. She also started working with her emotions and her spiritual being and truly learning to love herself, forgive. So she went through this amazing transformation herself and to the point where she, I mean she turned to be this free, you know, beautiful, amazing looking woman. And then everybody worked. All these other women around her would come to her and ask her, oh my gosh, Mary, what did you do? How did you turn to be, you know, this amazing person? How did you got healed and all that. So Mary, you know, she really loved these women and she wanted to help them, but she didn't feel good enough, she didn't feel qualified enough to share and.

To teach this woman all the steps that she utilized and everything that she did to get to where she was. So she told me, maria, I want to monetize somehow and help a lot of people. But I want to, this is what I want to do. Like I want to be an entrepreneur. I want to, I want to create a program so that I can teach this woman step by step how they can do it. But I don't know. And so I have a system, right that I mean I take clients all the way from, you know, the five step system where I help them, you know, just connect and create their story, their transformation story, cover the problem that they're solving, creating the avatar or the client that they're helping and creating the map blueprint of their program and helping them put together create the coaching programs and how are they going to serve their audience and how can people work with them? So I have that step that I can take people through. But the biggest problem that I had to or challenge that Mary was facing was.

Self belief, self worth, not feeling good enough. And so that's where I started working with her before I got, I took her through this five step process. I worked with her on helping her just to value and to see, to appreciate who she is and to understand that you know, for what you do, you don't really need to go to school five or six more years. You don't need to get all this certain or different certifications. You, all you need to do is really just teach people to do what you did to get to where you are. So once she got over that and she realized and she learned to appreciate and love and value herself. Now she's speaking and she's now been hired to speak in different events. She now coaches people in nutrition. She works for an organization that.

Hire, they outsource her services so that she can come in and teach people about nutrition and she's writing a book so that she can share the whole process with her audience. So now she's truly owning and living, you know, her dream of serving people and transforming people throughout all the whole process that I walk her through.

And how good does that feel on your part to help her overcome that?

Oh, my gosh, I feel like, because when I talk to her, she tells me, she's like, maria, you need to know that every woman, every life that I'll be transforming and that I'll be helping and this know with my work. You, I, we owe that to you. I owe that to you because it was because of your work, because of what you, what you did with me, that I'm able to help other women. And I tell her, I'm like, you know, you know what, Mary, I received that and thank you for sharing that with me. And I want you to also understand that you are doing the same thing. We are cost you, we can. We are, you know, people who are causing a positive effect in the world. And it's a chain that is a never ending chain. And I just love that feeling because when we own our value and we help someone, we are really touching more lives than just the person that we're working with. So that really is my, you know, is what keeps me motivated and keeps me going.

It's the same for me. I tell people all the time about the ripple effect, and that's what the whole point of it is. It's not just about. I was doing a broadcast earlier and, you know, it's not about the stupid logo. It's not about, you know, this, that, the other thing. It's about that transformation. And I flat out said I was excited to have you on because I knew what you were doing. And I don't work with people that are just kind of there and I'm sure as heck not gonna have them on the show. And it's like I'm always looking for people that are making a transformational difference. And when you're thinking like that, as you are, which you always have, since we met years ago, it's like you have that ripple effect. And it's like the work you're doing isn't just how do you take this video and leverage it, but it's how do you take that person who's been praying for an answer for a year, two years, five years, 10 years, and it's like you can deliver that to them. What greater gift is there than that? I mean, really. So thank you for sharing that story with us. And I want to ask you, is she your biggest success story or. Or is she the biggest transformational One.

I would say she's so far, she's the biggest transformational one, because who she was and how.

Low confidence she had and how.

She just didn't own her worth and her value and emotionally, how trapped she felt to see her now on stage and shining and free and radiant and, I mean, just. Well, you know, just living her purpose. So I will call her my biggest transformation.

Okay. And that's great because, you know, when people say, who's your biggest success story? I have it here, Admittedly, I'm looking at the thing. You saw me grab it before we started. But the success story is such a. How would you define success? Did you go from making 10 grand a month to 100 grand a month in three months? Is that a success? You know, you could say it is if you're talking strictly financial, but I like yours. Because if you've had low confidence your whole life or even for any period of time, and you can break free from that, I mean, it only took me 20 years. How long did it take you to help her?

Oh, gosh, to help her, I think I worked with her. Deep, foreign, intense. Six months to a year.

Okay.

Where she truly broke through completely.

It's a lot quicker than 20.

Yes, for sure.

Okay, so Mary, we're calling her. Let's talk about what type of person she is. Who are the people you help? Obviously, we know how you help them, but who are you looking for?

Passionate experts who have, I will say, that have a vision that truly, truly want to help others with their knowledge, with their products or services. They have something. So these are people that have something that can help others, and they want to package it, they want to brand it, they want to position themselves, and they want to connect with their audience so. So that they can make an impact.

In their audience. So these are the people that I love working with, that I'm looking for someone that is like, well, I have. It's like I have this pot of gold, right? But nobody knows me. Nobody. I don't know how to present it. I don't know how to package myself. That's because that's where the brand comes, right? I don't know. We are a product. You are a product. Right? So how people perceive us, that's the whole, you know, branding. That's what, branding consent. So how do we build our brand? Well, with what content are we putting out there? You know, what platforms are we on? You know, what image? You know, how people perceive us? Like, how, you know, when people see you, do they see us?

If you are a yoga trainer and you are in a suit, then you. You kind of, you know, that's your brand is off. Right? I mean, your present. So all of that, all these little details that matter are the ones that I help people with. So that's what I will. I will say, you know, the. The people that. The entrepreneurs who want to package themselves and present, you know, wrap themselves up in a way that their audience can connect with them instantly.

Well, that makes a lot of sense. So if I can ask you about the identity.

Aspect of it, when you're talking about the identity piece, is that strictly who they are in their identity? Are you talking branding and identity, like the graphic design, the layout, how you're perceived and all of that? Because I know it can be interchangeable. And just to clarify, for everyone listening through the episode, what's your take on it?

Yeah, identity. I refer more to who they are.

Okay.

Yeah. Who are you? What, you know, what is your passion? What. What is your, you know, what is your story? What.

What makes you come alive?

Right?

Yes.

Yeah.

Because I know some people that have graphic Divine.

Wow.

Really? Graphic design for firms, agencies, whatever. And they're saying, oh, I do identity work. I'm like, you need it more than anyone, bro. Right. But that's kind of like what we're talking about. So just wanted to clear clarify that. So let's talk about one of our favorite things, our books and video. How? Two separate parts. Which one do you want to start with? Do you want me to ask you about your books first or video first?

Books.

Books. All right, talk about your books. How has publishing a business book helped your business?

Oh, incredibly. I mean, it just positions you as an expert, Right. And in the marketplace. So, I mean, it has been one of the most effective and powerful tools that I utilize with my brand, with my business, and that I also help other. When I help other people.

Create their books or their, you know, or their PDFs or their content, I mean, it just becomes a very powerful tool.

So what would you say to someone who's like, well, I've heard about those books, and it seems like everyone's writing a book and everyone's got an ebook and blah, blah, blah, and they're just, let's just say, overly skeptical or negative or honestly kind of boring. But what would you say to help them? Maybe reframe it in a way where it's like, you know what? You are worth it. Maybe you should shine a little bit more. Let's polish you up.

Definitely. I will say that a Lot of it has to do if someone has that mentality, I think is their lack of commitment. They, deep down, I think they, they understand that once you put your name in a book and you put your content in a book, you going to have to respond and be almost.

Be the face, right? I mean be, be put out there. So if somebody is not confident, it's not, doesn't own their value. They're, they don't consider themselves knowledgeable or the expert on what they do. They will be afraid of putting themselves out there. So I will say that that's more like an internal issue. That's more like, you know, than anything else because that's one of the first excuses that come up when I ask my clients, oh, why don't you write a book? Oh, I'm not ready. Why? Oh, I don't know. I don't think I have all the facts. What if I say something wrong? What if. So it really comes back to their lack of confidence on their knowledge. And if that's really the issue, then that's something that we can all deal with, right? I mean, we can, you think so with what we have, if we're willing to and we're, we're truly committed and we're truly working honest with ourselves and with our audience and really when we share from our heart what we know, you know, and where, then we don't, we wouldn't have a problem saying, you know what? Yes, why not? I'm gonna publish even if it's a 75 page book, because that shows commitment. I mean, even if it's a seven to me, both small enough like I just finished, you know, helping one a client. Right. So he overcame adhd and this is, this kid is, I mean it's a kid because he could be my son. He's very young, he's only 22. And he's so passionate about what, you know, about helping people and sharing with people how he overcame adhd. He's not a doctor, so he's so committed. He truly, he's so vulnerable and wants to share that, you know, with the world and with people what he went through and his story. And he, he did, he had no hesitation. He's the one reaching, that was reaching out to me, looking, you know, for euphoria, just wondering how he could do that. Why? Because he is that committed. He's not, he doesn't want to be perceived as the most knowledgeable and you know, the guy with all the answers or the per the author with a 200 page book. And with all these facts and science, he just truly and genuinely wanted, wants to help people to overcome.

Or to deal with ADHD so that they can enjoy the life that he's enjoying now because he has so much love for helping others. So lack of commitment, lack of love really for their audience or the people that can benefit with their knowledge could be something that can also be holding people back who they know that they want to, but they say that they're not, that it's not important.

Do you think some of it stems from the imposter syndrome?

Yes, totally, Definitely. That can be a big factor.

I saw something just like the Waldo picture and it was like, Bob, let me introduce you to Sally. She's the world's leading authority on imposter syndrome. And she says, well, Bob, you know, there's a lot of other people who achieve more than, oh, I see what you did there.

But it's so true. And I was honestly going to jump into the video section, but you inspired me to go deeper with this when you said lack of commitment. Let's, let's keep it on the psychological front here. What, what's stemming from that? Why do you think so many people don't want to commit to doing video, doing a book, heck, doing anything? I want to hit this goal, but I don't want to do any of the stuff that anyone recommends to get there. What word? Where do you think this thing is? Because I know you deal with it. Because I know I deal with it. And how you know it's not about you're doing it wrong or you know, this is the right way. But how do you get people to take that action, to get past it? I really don't care what they do. I just want to see them at the finish line. How do you address that?

Yeah, I really focus on helping people connect with their why, their reason. Right. I mean, why they want to do whatever they want to do, like why, you know, what inspires them? So I help people.

Find that, connect with their why, you know, create an inspiring why. So why people lack commitment because they are not inspired. They don't have a why, a reason. Right. Strong enough that will motivate them. You know, it's like one, this one question that I have in the test that I do, that I work with people is one of the questions is, what would inspire you to cross to.

How do you say it? Two buildings. Right.

Skyscrapers.

Skyscrapers, yes.

Like the ones behind you.

Those. What will inspire you to cross? Those with 5 centimeter beam rope. What will Inspire you to cross them. To cross from one side to the other.

Shoot. Can I answer?

Yes.

Me. Pick me.

Go ahead.

A helicopter?

No, there's no helicopter. You have to.

What, you, you expect me to turn into Spider man and just rappel past that or what?

There is a 5 centimeter beam, right. A piece of wood and you shoot.

I just walk across it. Then that would be easy and not terrifying as all get out.

Not at all. Right. I mean you're only a 50. Yeah. Floor building. You can fall. But what would inspire you?

Family and friends.

Yes. Love. Truly. I mean it's love for your family and your friends. Like if, if your mom is on the other side and she's in danger, you will be willing to risk your life to cross and to go and save her.

Without question.

Of course. And you know, so that only shows that we lack motivation. We just, you know, we just haven't been. You, we haven't been able to connect with our reason strong enough to do. To do that, to do anything in life. So that's why it's very important to truly to be honest with ourselves and to, you know, I, I think a lot of people are so caught up in living and this is where I, it gets, you know, I, I really get deeper into this and I, you know, I, I'm very, I will say I can be.

How can I say Whatever you want.

If you're holding back. Don't. I have a feeling where you're going.

Controversial when it comes for it society. Oh, I need to have this title or I need to have this position in the company. I need people who are willing to hold on to their titles or their positions more just because they want to keep that image among their peers.

In many occasions they want that more than truly saying, you know what, who cares about the title? I want to help people. I want to live and build and create the title. The life that I want. If it's going to cost me people not, you know, not giving up these awards that the company give out, you know, every six months because I hit certain numbers or whatever and if I need to let that go and truly help people and build a business with something that I'm passionate about, eventually what they don't understand is that when you are truly honest, when you are truly, when you follow, you know that your passion, when you develop your skills, when you polish.

You know. Yeah. I mean your talents and you utilize them, you are going to become much more valuable in the market where you are serving that, you know, with the audience that you're serving, and eventually you're going to make even more. You can make even more money doing that. Then if you stay in a place that has a feeling or that, you know, with that has a lot of politics, that will not let you be who you really authentically want to be. And that. I think that that also plays a big role and in today's society.

Well, I appreciate you for touching on that because I agree 100%. I saw something else recently and it said, don't go broke convincing broke people you're not broke.

And it was like, you know, you spend most of your time impressing people you don't like for doing something you don't want to do to, you know, somewhere you don't want to go. And it's. It's the same thing as, what are you doing? Why are you doing it? You don't want to look 40 years until your point with the skyscraper is. Yeah, you climb the corporate rat like ladder. Or maybe not even corporate. Maybe it's a business, you know, and I see people with this attitude like, I got a business. I'm better than people with jobs. Yeah, but are you playing at the level you should be? You're still have that minimal mentality. And it's like, you know, you might have climbed the ladder, but only to find out it was laying against the wrong building.

Yes. Yeah, I have seen that analogies, seen that analogy and pictures, and it's.

So get as controversial as you want, say what you want. It's my show. It's your show right now, so don't hold back. I. I saw you doing it.

Yeah.

I was like, you're trying to behave and all that. You know me. Come on. Really?

Yes.

Say whatever you want. You know, I do. We kind of went deep on the book part. So let's talk about business and then we'll thank our sponsor and go to the lightning round. So how has video helped your business?

Oh, gosh, video, it's the window to the universe. I'm gonna say that.

I mean, what. We are living in an era where we can turn on the phone and connect with people around the world that has access to Internet. I mean, it's. If we know, if we take advantage, we leverage it. If we use it the right way, if we, you know, use it for the right reasons. And, you know, and I mean, we have endless opportunities to not just impact people, inspire people, touch people, serve people, and get to people. I mean, that's. That's where everything is happening. Right. I mean, we. I mean, video has helped me with brand visibility. I mean, I can now I have, I work with clients from all over the country, even internationally. And it's, it's just amazing how utilizing and doing it right. I. One thing that I admire about you, I admire a lot of things about you, Mario, but I absolutely admire your professionalism and how committed you are to give the best video experience or your clients with your setup, with, you know, how mindful you are with sound, with everything. And that shows true commitment. And, you know, if we just, you know, learn to truly leverage video and be consistent with it, we can, we can serve people in ways that even five years ago wasn't even possible. So it's only getting better, it's only getting bigger. It's only getting, you know, becoming the way to, to connect to rich people and, you know, and all over the world. So if an entrepreneur, a business is not that, if they, they're not, they don't get caught up with the whole, you know, utilizing video. And if they don't get comfortable with video or hire someone that is comfortable with video, they are going to struggle.

Well, I appreciate you for the kind words and, and the advice because absolutely, you can reach people all over the world with it. And you know, for anyone that's listening to this, we are also filming it live. And some people have called me nuts for doing that. So sincerely, thank you for that because I have put a lot into this because I want it to be the most leverageable for you as well and for anyone listening, watching, however you came across this, check Maria out because even when she's. I watch her shows, she, she always has great content and she can attest to it. You know, I always pop on and, you know, it's not just because I know her, but it's because it's good content and she, she always has something. I can tell you last year, especially after what happened, personally, there were times I watched you and I was like, okay, I gotta keep going, because I know what you've overcome and you kept going. And sometimes it's like, what can I learn? What's the value add? But sometimes if it's just straight inspiration.

You know what, it doesn't matter what you're doing, if that's your gift, just keep doing it. So I'm gonna finish this with what's your favorite way to leverage video after the fact? And then we're gonna go to thank our sponsor in the lightning round. So what's your favorite way to leverage video after the fact?

It would be Sharing it and.

Just.

Placing it in all the different social media platforms that I have. Even using parts of it, just downloading it and then using clips, just short. Doing short clips and just repurposing the video that was created and then just continue. Not just leave it there but repurpose it for other. Yeah. For other opportunities that I have with it.

Very good. Well, thank you for sharing. I'm going to, we're going to thank our sponsor and we're going to come back for the lightning round, everyone. Maria Erazo, Instead of trying to get.

Your prospects attention, why not be so captivating they can't look away? That's quote from my first book, Video Marketing for business Owners. And I'm saying it again today because the truth of the matter is if you can't get your prospects attention, they're not going to pay attention to you and they're not going to receive your message and you'll never be able to help them.

That's why I love Belive.

Before it even launched, I was using it in the beta phase and it is the simplest and easiest way to do Facebook lives, to reach your audience, to interact with them. You can cue the comments up, you can take questions, you can answer them live. There's live polling features. You can make a professional looking production very inexpensively and very quickly, which is important because you don't want to be spending your time messing around with computers and hardware and all this other stuff. Live streaming can get very intense and there is literally nothing else I would recommend to start off with that is simpler, easier and more affordable than Belive. So check out MarioFaccini.com/forward/belive. Once again, that's MarioFaccini.comforward/belive.

All right, so we're back from the break and as I alluded to before the break, we're going to jump into the imperfect action section. Here we got Maria Araso, branding, an identity expert. And Maria, what is the biggest problem you see with your audience and what is the fastest way they can overcome it? To take imperfect action.

Yeah, not putting themselves out there, not really talking, not connecting, not having a clear.

A clear message, not having a clear brand identity about themselves and not having.

The description or not understanding the real issue of the client that they want to work with. So how can they overcome that? You know, they can start by really by just connecting themselves with themselves and getting, getting very crystal clear on who they are, defining who they are and defining what problem they're solving. Who are they solving the problem for? And Then start talking to that audience. You know, just think everything that they will, that they can create, starting right now. Even videos, you know, even if they don't have the perfect equipment or lighting or anything. The imperfect action is just write down 10 questions that your clients might have, 10 issues that your client, the ideal client that you want to work with might be struggling with, just 10. And then create a video answering each of these questions, a five minute video. And that can help you right away to get that reaction right from your audience and for people to start connecting with you. That would be the imperfect action. Just really, just get crystal clear with yourself, with your, your identity, the issue you're solving, who are you solving the problem for? And start creating, you know, just videos or posts, you know, just share or do blogs or just share, you know, content for that audience and just fix it, just make it better, improve it on the way. Imperfect action is better than no action at all.

Absolutely. So lightning round imperfect action item number two. What's the shortest path to the cash? How can you take someone from where they're at to where they want to go in the fastest way possible? What can they do today that's going to make a difference tomorrow? Outside of what you already mentioned?

Oh yeah, definitely find something that, like a product or a service that people are willing to pay for. You know, even so let's say that you have that 21 day.

Fasting or juice juicing program to lose 10 pounds before Christmas, invest couple hours or invest in a great graphic designer and have them put all this content into a PDF that with steps, easy steps that people can follow and then start selling it to people who want to accomplish that. So you know, we all have or if you know how to make something. So let's say you know how to cook.

You make amazing apple pies or you, you, you love to cook, start selling, you know, even you know, cooking or you know, or you know, sell, sell food or you know, to your family or for special events. Especially with holidays coming up, we need to understand that we all have ways, even little kids have ways to earn money. How? By selling chocolate, Right? I mean we live in a society and I mean in this country, we teach, we have, we're blessed with having the, this culture of entrepreneurship for even at church, at schools, you know, you'll see all these kids selling chocolates for, to raise funds for their field trips. So find something, find a product, find a service that people need that you can sell them and charge for, make money with. So I always say, you know, if you are broke, it's because you are not committed enough to help somebody to put a service or a product in someone else's hands. And you're lazy. I mean, that's plain lazy. I mean, I say that to myself. This is when I'm like, at a point where I want to hit a certain financial goal and I'm like, okay, Maria, you're just being lazy. What do you know? What can you do? What problem can you solve for someone right now that someone is willing to pay you for? So. And now don't be ashamed. Don't be afraid, you know, of being perceived as. Oh, I don't want to be perceived as a person selling, you know, food or the person selling, you know, clothes. Really, everybody's selling you something and everybody's making money with what you are buying every day. Why not be you the person that is making the money? So that's really what. Where it's mindset. It's really just mindset.

That passion, everyone, can you feel it? She's awesome, isn't she?

I love Sal.

Maria, tell us what you're really thinking.

All right, I love self. Let me show you something, if you don't mind.

Go for it.

I am going to show you something.

Okay. So this is where my passion comes from. When I was 13 years old, we had no money. My father abandoned us. So my. I'm the oldest of seven children and we were living in Mexico. And so we had. We were struggling, right? Just. I wanted to help my mom somehow. I couldn't work and, you know, because I was so young. So. And I needed to help my mom at home and everything. So I started thinking, how can I help my mom with at least with a little bit of money so that she doesn't have to feel like she's carrying this way by herself. So what I did is I started selling Chiclets. These little Chiclets. I was one of the girls, if you have ever been to a country where you see these kids in the corner selling chiclets. I was one of those girls selling Chiclets. And this is where I started, like, where I realized that, oh, my gosh, if you sell something and you are not like, I had two cousins that were my age and we used to go out together. My brother, he was eight. Me and my two. Our two cousins. But they were very ashamed. They didn't want their friends to see them on the streets selling gun. On the other hand, I didn't care. I would even argue with them. So I would get into an argument with them. Because I will tell them, oh my gosh, look at, look over there. There's a lot of people, let's go offer it, you know, let's go ask them if they want to buy Chiclets. And they will tell me no, because I think what if somebody knows us, know us from there? What if some of our, the kids from our neighborhood or school are there and what, what are they going to think and say? But you know, at that moment I somehow I realized that, you know, they, I didn't have no, you know, we didn't have a father or somebody supporting us, somebody, you know, other than my mother. We didn't have anybody waiting or you know, ready to give us money. We had nobody. It was just us. So to me, that desire to help my mom was bigger than what would people think about me. So that's why I'm very passionate about this and that's why I teach my kids, you know, to earn money. And I don't have a problem if people see my kids selling, you know, chocolates in the neighborhood. Why not? So I, I say, you know, at the end of the day, what people say, what people think, people's perception about you is not going to fit your family. And that's why when I, when I work with people and I'm like, you know what, you are being selfish. You can help so many people with your knowledge, with your passion, with what you do, why you are not helping them. People want you and your selfishness is stopping them from having an amazing product or life with what you can help them with just because you are being selfish. And I think that's another reality that stops us from truly being successful.

I can relate to that. I never sold Chiclets. And if anyone from high school sees this and you have pictures, I doubt there's any video of it. I wish there was because there's no cell phones at the time. But I remember 9th grade band bus. We were marching in the Hollywood. That was a different year. We were in Florida for the Easter parade and we all had pre metered lunches. Everyone gets a cookie, everyone gets a sandwich, everyone gets some peeps.

And everyone gets whatever the apple or I don't know anyone would want that. But we all had these little pre made meals and I wanted three sandwiches. Didn't care about the sugar, the apple was okay. Cookie.

I wanted the food. I've always liked food in other people. They wanted to get all. I got the Chiclets, not the Chicklets, the peeps. And they're like, is that what you have?

Yeah. And then other people wanted the cookies. And I know there's teachers that have seen this. I also sold videos from my locker and I sold them to the teachers because if you can persuade and influence them on your side, you don't get in trouble as much. So we had all these lunches and after I just wanted three sandwiches. Well, after two or three transactions, just bartering, everyone starts going, hey, can you get me more apples? Can you get me more this? Can you get me? And I'm like, well, now I don't get to eat my lunch. And I traded half the bus out. But everyone on their own had one fourth of what they wanted. I wanted more sandwiches, they wanted more sugar. And some of the adults wanted the food, the fruit. And that's the thing, like, you're talking about the collaboration of like, here's my resources, here, here's yours. Let's swap this around. Who else do we know what's going on here? And when you have that servant mentality, it's so easy. So I love the Chiclet story. I love the Chiclet story. So in the same vein of selling and creating sales and profiting from it, the last thing I'm going to ask you, then we're going to thank the sponsor and there's a surprise after. But.

How would you say is the best way to increase customer lifetime value? How do you take the one customer and not just have it transactional, but have it transformational?

Oh yeah. Create educational.

Material that can keep them engaged. So keep them updated with the latest information about the product or service they're using. So it's truly, you know, just given them and just add value, you know, just that's where we get to stay updated. We get to always study what, you know, what, what we do or, you know, or the product and always come back and just educate them. Really. People want to know, they want to feel, feel like if something is going to come up that is better than what you sold me, I know you're gonna tell me and I know you're gonna share with me because I know you care enough to come in and share that with me. That will definitely bring that, you know, that relationship within that relationship and will create, you know, that relation, the long term connection with the clients.

Gracias, Maria. It's been a pleasure having you on the show. I'm so glad we could connect like this and can't wait to air the episode. We'll see everyone again, Maria.

Gracias, gracias Mario. Gracias. Thank you everyone. Love you. Keep up the amazing work. Go out there, shine. Own your worth. Because the world needs a rock star like you.

You're already successful.

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