31: Getting clear on who you are and what you have to offer with Lisa Cumes (Enneagram 3)

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Welcome to the Becoming Bulletproof podcast. I am your host, Tracy o'. Malley. I'm a mom to millennials, an author, Enneagram expert, and multi million dollar entrepreneur, and master performance and business coach. I've gone from rock bottom to building a bulletproof business and life. If you're looking for the unfiltered transparent truth and ethos, an extra kick in the ass, you will discover that here. Each week, I'll be bringing you success stories of high level entrepreneurs as we discover how they became bulletproof and created their empire. You'll learn the story behind the glory along with Enneagram inspired truths so you can ignite your own purpose, profits and build your legacy. It's time for you to become bulletproof. Buckle up. Let's go.

Hello and welcome to another episode of the Becoming Bulletproof podcast. And this is going to be a fun chat. I just know it because when I get together with this woman, there's fireworks. Like there really is. Like, she is a firecracker, enneagram3 who gets things done. And I am naturally drawn to those people. I'm inspired by those people, especially the Enneagram Threes, because they have just this one quality that I don't have, you know, because as an eight, I can kind of get in my head. And I operate from a place of, okay, I'm doing this because I don't want to be, you know, backed into a corner. When an enneagram 3 does something, they're like, all in nothing. There's nothing else in their head but going all the way with it. And I'm so inspired by people like that, especially somebody who has as much heart as our guest today, Lisa Coombs. I met her, gosh, not that long ago, but I remember our first interaction was on one of my Enneagram posts. I think it was probably parenting because she has an enneagram 8 daughter and she's like, oh, you guys are tough. I'm like, oh, you guys are tough. So that was our first interaction and then we ended up in a mastermind together. And, you know, she brings this element to my life that I can kind of. Most of you may not know this, but I can really get in my head a little bit because I want to serve at such a high level and I don't always have the ability to communicate it in the way that I kind of envision it. And the minute this woman came into my life, she was like, it's not that hard. Let me just show you. And it was instant that I felt Relief and then fear because yes, she nailed it. And I think sometimes we hold back ourselves because we know how powerful it can be. And this woman is the queen of helping people bring their visions, their stories to life. She is a freelance copywriter and story brand guide. She's built a multiple six figure online copyright business over. Over only the last two years. She's shifted and scaled her business and she actually coaches copywriters and other freelance artists as well to build a profitable business because she is all about helping people work from home. She's a busy mom, she's got three kids. She's been a single mom before. She's had to do the grind and do whatever it takes. She can be scrappy and she wants to help others do the same. You know, when I met her, I knew that I was kind of moving into this direction. That was scary for me. It was unknown and working alongside her and with her and with her wisdom and expertise, even though I'm a little scared of it, I know it's. She's gonna nail the message in the way it was always intended to begin with. And I think that maybe I was just waiting for you all along. And you guys, I want you to take mad, mad notes. You're going to want to know who this woman is. She is brilliant, brilliant and just heart led all the way. Lisa Coombs, I'm so excited you're here today.

Wow, man, you need to make a job out of introducing people because that just lit me up, girl. Thank you, thank you, thank you. As an enneagram3, that is my love language. Holy wow. The words of affirmation, the recognition, the really understanding and valuing that I take action. So on top of all of this, right, my strength finders is I am an activator and an achiever which is this non stop, like, you know, the hamster wheel of like if somebody tells me they need something done, I start today and I don't stop until it's done. And as exciting as that is, it's also very exhausting at times. But you know, working with eights is one of my favorite things to do because they are so full on with their force and where they're going, what they want to do. And so as we met and I said, oh, well, this is what you do and this is what you are and you need to get going. And you're like, oh, shit, yes. And wait, I wasn't ready. I'm like, oh no, you're ready, let's go. Right? And so sometimes when somebody Comes along and says, you got what it takes. Let's go. You're ready? For some people, even with the clients I work with, they're like, whoa, whoa, whoa. That was. I don't. You know, they have a little bit of that hesitation. But here's the cool thing. When you get clear, clarity is king. The words flow so easy. Things come to you when you're clear. And I think one of the things that people really struggle with is having so many ideas, having such a big vision, being too awesome for their own good. I say that they cannot get clear on who they are and what they offer. And so that's one of the things that we're going to talk about today.

Oh, my gosh, you're making me nervous already. And that is what I love. You know, I know I have a lot of Enneagram 3 listeners because a lot of achievers are in the entrepreneurial world, and you are one of the healthiest Threes ever met, which is amazing because, like you said.

When you get something in your head, you just go till you don't. And I know you've had to kind of figure that out. And before we get into all your brilliance, I really want those enneagram3, specifically, and everybody else out there that feels this pressure, right? Because we're living in a world today where it's like, if we don't do it today, we're going to miss the boat. We're going to miss the boat. And I know with your personality the way it is, you have to kind of navigate that and keep it in a healthy range as a mom, as a partner, as a business owner, as somebody that's living in a body that can break down if we're not careful. Right. So how do you navigate that?

Wow. So when I was unhealthy, everything was about performance and validation and who could see it and what it was all about. And so, you know, performance was the key. And so even when I would get on calls with clients, it was all about proving to them and showing to them there was hardly any serving. So this is very typical of a three is about being on stage and getting the applause. When you shift into a healthy mode, you turn into. My weight is a 2, which is a servant's heart, which is like, hey, I don't need to be the star here. Like, actually, you are the star, and I'm going to help you shine. Man, what a big shift that was. That came out of a lot of inner work. It came out of identifying who I was. It came out of, like, taking a breath. And one of the things that is a kind of a life mantra, I say to myself under my breath, which is, hey, you got 40 more years of this. Pace yourself. This 40 more year mark works both ways. If there's something in your life that you can't put up with anymore and you say, can I do this for 40 more years? It's like, hell, no. Or, hey, listen, you've got 40 more years. Like, you're gonna get there. Just give yourself a little bit of grace. So I get to use it both ways for me in terms of a litmus test of like, how fast should I go? Should I move in that direction? And so, absolutely, I have to catch myself when I start kind of being a little manic in getting things done. And the other thing is managing expectations with your clients and with your family. And so being confident to say, hey, can I get that to you to tomorrow instead of today. And giving myself that little bit of breathing room has been really, really hard for me because I literally do say, oh, I'll give that to you today. And they're like, wait, Lisa, that's not going to work for you and not for your family. Would it be okay if I sent that over to you tomorrow or on Monday? And it's so amazing. Every other number on the Enneagram would be like, yeah, that's fine. As a three, you self impose the most crazy deadlines. And we do not need to do that anymore. We need to, like, wake up to the rest of the world. That's like, nah, we're gonna be fine if you deliver it tomorrow or the next day. So, you know, anybody who's out there is like that. Recognize that you are causing more problems for yourself by putting your own timelines on things really aren't probably realistic.

It's so cool that you are doing what you do because like you said, for you to be the person behind the scenes helping everyone else shine is. I mean, it's pretty awesome that that's what you're doing, right?

Yes.

As an enneagram3, like, usually you're the one, like, look at me, I'm the hero. Right? And now you're helping other people write about the hero and their story.

You know, when you find what lights you up and what fulfills you, then you can do that without having the spotlight. It took me years and years and years to find that internal thing that is mine that I know lights me up without anybody else watching. I have spent the last three years behind a computer screen Just like this. Nobody's watching me. I'm not on a stage, I'm not in a classroom. Now one day I will be on stage. This is all training ground. I know that it's coming, but I. It's just me and my client. I'll do a recording for them. And whatever reason, this is the thing I'm called to do. And that lights me up. And so, you know, on your search for what you're supposed to do and where it is, even with the clients I work with, I always start with, hey, hey, hey. What is the thing you can do forever? What sustained you? Or what is sustainable? What is fulfilling? You know, a lot of times people are entrepreneurs and they're trying to fill a hole in the market or like, oh, I can make money here. And I always say, no, no, no, stop. What is the thing that will light you up every day that you could do without anybody watching? And I'm probably speaking to myself in that, but that is the foundation. And Tracy, we've talked about that. What is the thing you want to be doing whether anybody notices it or not? Right. And so for me, I mean, I think I am the luckiest person in the world for the fact that I get to work from home, work with world changing entrepreneurs from behind my computer screen and write words that sell things to, like, the world. It is just really, really unbelievable. And so right now I'm super content and I'm using my three ness to like, just set really crazy goals. So right now we're setting big goals for the company and all of that. But.

I am really appreciating being a three and understanding how to be a super healthy three and what that looks like in front of kids, in front of my partner, and in front of other people. Because I don't hold back. I tell people I'm a three and I don't want to be like, oh, you're one of those. I want people like, wow, I have not really ever seen a really great example of a healthy three. And that's one of the things I really want to strive for.

Well, and that is one of the things I noticed right away about you and all of you threes out there. I want you to know that when you get into this healthy state, you are the thoroughbred. Trust me, like, there's no question about it, you are the thoroughbred. But when you can help bring other people to that level, like, that is when huge things happen, not just in your heart, but in your, in your pocketbook. Quite honestly, you know what? I'm saying, because when you create a movement, you don't have to do it all. And you know what? You're still gonna shine, right? Yeah. So what caused you to really tap into that? Because were you burnt out? Like, how does it happen that all of a sudden Lisa doesn't need the spotlight? Lisa doesn't need all the recognition. Now she's behind a screen doing it.

So I did a lot of inner work about three years ago. I did that whole journey that hopefully people will eventually find themselves on, which you can call it your awakening, your midlife crisis, your second life. You know, there's all kinds of things you can talk about when you get to the point in your life where you realize that you no longer have to strive and that ego is not the most important thing and that there's something that is, you know, deeper inside. The first book that really kicked things off was the Road Less Traveled. I mean, that is like, I think I found it at a thrift store. I was like, oh, I think I've heard of this. And I read through it and realized that love was extending yourself for somebody else's growth. And I was like, huh? Because up until this point, it's all been about me, you know, and coming from a divorced home and like being a gypsy and like always on my own, like firstborn daughter, a type personality. I mean, you put all the titles on me. I lived up to every single one of them and I was super proud of it. But it was exhausting realizing how fulfilling it is to actually do something for somebody else. You know, for other enneagram types, that is their love language. But for threes, it's not. They really are. Can be selfish in a way because they're so desperate for that attention and for that love. And then when you start to realize that when you give and you serve and you actually help support somebody else's growth, it's a two way street. Like, it's a win win. It is really one of those revelations that I was like, wow, I get filled up and so do they. And so it stops becoming a zero sum game where either I win or you win. Which again, as a competitive person, that's how I lived most of my life to we both win when this happens. And it just. I got addicted to the feeling of helping people have light bulb moments. And the more I dove into understanding my purpose, you know, what fulfills me and that I could have better, healthier relationships in my life. When I dropped the facade, I was living a double life for many years where what was going on in my head and what I portrayed on the outside. Again, I hate to be such a stereotypical three, but we're the performer. We have such a facade, and we are so deceitful in the fact that we believe our own crap. I believe the own. I believe all the roles I played really, really well. I am the queen at compartmentalizing. And so I really had this desperate need to become one, one voice congruent with what I was saying inside and what was coming on the outside. And that meant leaving a job that paid really well. It meant leaving a relationship. It meant leaving a lot of things, because I finally came to the point where I didn't want to live with a mask, whatever the cliche is, but behind a different facade. And I thought if I could just say what was on my mind and be okay with that, that would be a really freeing thing. And that started me, I guess, really on that journey.

I love that. And what I. You know, I'm sure you might. You might know this, but, like, when a three gets healthy and is in a pattern of growth, they start to take on the healthy traits of the six, which is the loyalists, which are like the master troubleshooters. The big, you know, can see, you know, 10 steps ahead. And for you to be doing what you're doing, actually, because you're able to not be the star of the show, even though, God, you are. You are the star of this show for sure, in a different way. Right. But having that strong, healthy part of the six come in where you can see things 10 miles ahead.

It has helped you help people so easily. Like, you do it so effortlessly. Like, I seriously think you're like a superhuman when you start pulling things out of. Not just me, but I've watched you do it with several other people. Like, have you always had that? But maybe it was when you just got healthier and got out of your own facade.

Yeah. When you stop. When you stop using your energy to promote yourself and to fulfill yourself and to soothe yourself. I read in the book I. One of the books I read every day is the seven Spiritual Laws of Success. And it says that when you start dropping your ego, you free up energy. When you're focused on yourself, you free up energy for other things and positive things. It's funny you bring that up, Tracy, because I've been able to identify one of my superpowers is this idea of discernment and vision and seeing things that other people can't see. It does freak me out all the time, and I'LL be on a call and I'll be in flow, if you guys know what that means, like where you're in your grace zone or whatever. And literally things come to me and I'll say them out loud and the person's like, what did you just say? I'm like, I have no idea. I could not tell you again, it came from beyond me. It is a gift and I steward it very well. I'm very careful with it. I'm very respectful of it. It is a powerful thing because when you say words to somebody, you plant seeds and you can scare the shit out of somebody and or empower somebody all at the same time. And I don't take it lightly. The responsibility is a heavy burden on me. I keep a notebook next to my bed. I wake up at night with like, message, like, you know, ideas and thoughts and brand messages for clients because they come to me all the time. And so I'm not trying to get all woo, woo. But it's unbelievable. I sit back and I'm like, damn, that's good. And that's when you know it's a superpower because it's beyond you. It's just something that. And so did I always know that? No, I saw sparks of it here and there. But when you're confident and you feel like you are where you belong and you have set the stage for that, man, it is just a really amazing thing to watch things unfold in front of your face.

It really is. And I think because.

You weren't so fixated on the go, go, go, get, get, get, do, do, do for me, me, me, it did free up because you probably did have, like you said, little glimmers of that and you're like, yeah, but that's getting in the way of, like, what I got to do. Right? I love that you, you do what you do. Because I've seen this in action where it is so divinely led, what you do. And I have that same gift sometimes. And I'm like, you better just start taking notes now because I have no idea. I won't be able to repeat it. And that is your gift. And so when it comes to helping people, you know, in their business not tell their story, but tell who they're trying to help story, because I think that's where a big gap for. And I still struggle with that. Not because of my ego, but because I just don't know how to do it another way. Yes, I struggle with that.

So where you're going with this, I totally understand. And until it's kind of revealed or you see a new perspective. It makes sense. If you are building a business that happens to be based on your brand or you are part of it, you are a promoter, or you are the product, or you're the face of whatever it may be, let's just call it a personal brand. You ask yourself, how the hell can it not be about me? Like, what do you mean, don't talk about myself? But people want to know about me. They want to know how to connect to me. And it just makes sense. You go to most anybody's website, and it's like, my process, my story, my vision, our. This, our clients. Like, and it seems so natural. And you kind of say, well, what other way is there, right? So I stumbled on Donald Miller and storybrand many, many years ago. Before he actually wrote the book. I listened to a podcast and he laid out the framework of a hero's journey. And it's funny that you talk about how, whatever, I'm the hero. When you think about these classic stories like Star wars, you got Luke Skywalker, who is actually the hero of the story. And in almost every story that starts, the hero's broken. They're lost. They're, like, just kind of confused. And they know that they need to, you know, walk out their destiny or find success. And they meet a guide, okay? Like a Yoda. And Yoda comes along and says, oh, Luke, you only have to do this, this, and this. Here's the plan. If you just follow the plan, you're going to be the success. You're going to be the hero, right? And then, of course, the character has this moment of crisis. Every movie plays this out, okay? The music changes, and they're like, I just can't do it. You know? And if he does do it, he's gonna save the, you know, the battleship. And if he doesn't, like, the planets are going to disappear, right? Like, there's the success and failure. But here's the funny thing. We all love Yoda. There are people with T shirts with baby Yoda on it. Yoda is the fucking star of the movie, right? Even though he's not. He's the guide. So what I love to say is, come on, play the guide, and you'll end up the hero. All right? You win. Win. It just works out that way. Always take the position of the. Of the guide. Let your customer, your client, be the hero. And I promise you, you will be the hero in their eyes because you to find their own success. And in the end, you Both, you know, you both win. So.

True. And, you know, I know this. Like, I know this. And even as you were talking about it before you started into the Star wars story, I'm like, oh, like, thinking about my website, which you and I have talked hours about. I can't stand it and all the things. And. Because I know, like, I'm the hero on my freaking website, and I don't want to be, and I still don't know how to tell the hero's journey for my client. And that's where you came in and are coming in for so many people. So I, like, I know I'm Yoda, but Yoda isn't the star. So I know there's a lot of you out there that you're like, okay, now what? Like, how do. How do I. How do they know I'm the expert then that I can actually help them?

Yeah. Okay. Awesome. I'm so glad you teed this up. So I hate to say it's easy, but it's easy now. It's easy for me now. So you have to do the work. There's work involved. You have to say, who is my ideal customer, my ideal client, and, you know, if you want to build an avatar Persona, blah, blah, do it. You know, call her Jane. And Jane makes this much money. Don't go too deep into it, okay? But you do have to picture who is the person you want to talk to. And the biggest mistake I see people making is they want to talk you to everybody, okay? You're not that great. Not everybody needs you. You have a very specific audience already in your sphere or in your circle. Own that. All right? Stop being greedy. Stop thinking that you're for everybody. You're not, okay? And I say, hey, who connects with me? Who do I want to connect with? Who do I love being around? Who do I want to spend my time talking to in the coffee shop or on a zoom call? Like, who are my people? Who get me? Who do I get? Who are those people? And then you need to do the work, and this is the hardest part. You need to find out, what problem do they think they have now? What problem do you know they have? Because you're the expert and you're the smarty pants, and you're like, oh, they don't even know. Do not be condescending. Even though you know you can deliver 10 things that they need, what is the thing they think they need? Because oftentimes they are not the same and they're not aligned. And good messaging or copywriting will translate. It will bridge the gap between what they initially are coming for and what awesomeness you're going to deliver in the end. And if you try to communicate that all up front, number one, you're going to confuse people, you're going to lose people, you're going to overwhelm people. And the funny thing they're going to say is, oh, I don't think this is for me. Because they're going to see all the hundred, the 99 things that you do and go, oh, I don't need that. I just needed the one thing. So being very diligent to identify one, maybe two things, okay, that are the primary things, and that is where every client struggles. They do not want to let go of all the things. So here's a great example. People come to me all the time and they say, lisa, can you help me put words on a website? And I say, yes, yes, I can. They're like, awesome. That's what I need. And I'm like, bullshit. I know exactly what you need. I'm going to ask you two questions and you're going to fall apart and you're not going to have any clue. And we're going to go through the whole blah, blah, blah, right? Do I say that to them? Of course not. I say, yes, I can help you get words on a website. This is for the process, how much it's going to cost if I overwhelmed them with my awesomeness, whatever, it would be too much. And so too many of you are doing that. So let's say I have a friend, God bless her. Hopefully she hears this every time we're on a call. She wants to sell me essential oils. And I love her. I love her. And, man, she's doing a great job promoting it, but she keeps telling me all the reasons why she uses them. And she does not take the time to crawl inside my head and understand what is the one fear, the one thing or the whatever that I'm worried about. She just wants to project onto me all the amazingness that she found in the product. And we all do it. We don't mean to do it. But if you're selling a product or you're selling a service, be careful not to project onto your customer why you think they should use it or buy it.

Not fair. It's very selfish. It's a very lazy way out. You're, like throwing shit up on the wall, hoping something sticks and they go, oh, I like that one. Yeah, that's why I need it. No, no, no. So you need to, you know, we always start when I do any copywriting, any messaging, social media, email. We always start with the problem that the customer thinks they have, and we poke that pain a little bit. We kind of like get in there and squeeze it a little bit till something goes and you're like, I understand. Then you get to step in as the guide. Share your authority, share your empathy. Put your logos on there as seen in all these magazines, like, all the things. Because they are looking for an authority, but they first need to know that you understand the problem that they have. And I look at websites all day long, and every time I don't see somebody identifying who their customer is and the problem that they're facing.

Let me tell you guys, like, I'm sitting here like, oh, because she poked my pain. Let me tell you. And because she does care so much about what I do. Like, she believes in what I do. And even if she didn't, she knows that I believe in what I do.

And.

But people are confused, right? I love Tracy, but, yeah, no clue what she does, right? And that's hard. That's hard for me because that's not what I want. I don't want to be the hero. And also, it is very uncomfortable to pigeonhole myself, so to speak, or say, okay, this isn't about my ego, but I know I can help everybody, right? And I know there's a lot of you right now that are in an industry. A lot of you are network marketers, right? So let's say we have a hundred people listening to this right now. They all represent the same product.

Like you said earlier. Like, what is keeping them from going even to Amazon to get it? But it's like, yes, you.

Yes.

I want you to talk to people that are in network marketing because a lot of people think that whatever product or company they're with is their brand, and it's actually not a hundred percent.

You are so right on. So building personal brands is one of my favorite, most fun things to do. It's probably the most difficult for somebody else to do for themselves. Number one, don't write your own copy. Okay? Even if you have to get your brother, mother, sister to do it, don't write your own copy. So that's the first thing. Because you're too close to yourself. You're too close to your own brand. You're too close to your own product for the same reason as you're going to say all the benefits and the solutions and how you deliver value, you can't do that. Up front, and you can't even do that as the primary thing. People really want to know that you empathize and understand. So I would play to your strengths. And what is your wheelhouse? If you're a mom with three kids, and I don't mean to pigeonhole you or be cliche, you are going to connect more with other mothers because you have empathy, you have understanding, you have authority because you're a mother, for good sakes. Right? So don't be all things to all people. That's the first thing. You have to find a point where you can connect. The second is that really getting into understanding the problem that they're facing, the very unique problem they're facing. I always say this to businesses who are professional services or on their own personal brand. They buy the product, but they also buy you. Okay, so they're buying two things, because they could buy the product anywhere. Why are they choosing you is because they are. They're buying you. So an aspirational identity is very important. You probably have already kind of figured that out. An aspirational identity, it means I want to be like you. I like what I see about you. And if I take your product, use your oils, take the supplements, it means I'm gonna get to be more like you. People buy that, and you need to sell that. You need to sell the dream of the aspirational identity. The only way to do that is to be super real and super authentic. In the last year, I've had so many people come to me and say, how the hell do I get to be a copywriter who works from home? That makes six figures. Like, I see you online. What do you do? Can you show me how to do it? So without knowing it, I sold a product, a service, and the brand by showing up as myself. And of course, as you know, Tracy, super authentic. It's probably 80% success and 20% failure. You've got to show both sides because that is the, you know, the truth behind what a real personal brand is. I don't think this is anything new for people. What do you find is the challenge? You're a little bit more in that world, Tracy. But what are the mistakes you see people making on their site that you go, man, I wish you could see what I see from the other side. That's not connecting with their audience.

I think it's exactly what you said. You know, back when I started network marketing, God, seven years ago, you know, the online space was a little bit different, but I did exactly what you said. Like, I Was the brand. It was my story and my experience with it. Did it relate to a lot of different people? Yes, but it was still like my thing and people could relate to me because I told different parts of this story, right. And I interjected other people into it and my kids into it. And a lot of people came to me. They're like, I have no idea what it is you're doing, but whatever it is, I want to. I want what you've got.

That's awesome.

I'm ready to drink the Kool Aid, whatever it is. And I think today the problem I'm seeing is people are afraid. I think there's a lot of imposter syndrome out there. They're afraid to. To stand in their story a because they know it's going to change. And then what do they do then? I know I've kind of faced that a little bit. It's like I don't want to pigeonhole myself because what if I especially as an enneagram 8, you don't want to back me into a corner. I mean, that's just totally transparent. So me like putting like this nail on the head, this is who I am, is kind of scary for me. And I know other people struggle with that. But I think there's this level of not even having their own self awareness, quite honestly, to be able to be the brand. Right. It's way easier to hide behind a product or a service or a supplement or an oil or whatever. Right.

So part of building the brand again, I'm going to tap into story brand as a framework. Really what happens is that people don't want to know your story. People want to be invited into a story where they can see themselves or visualize themselves finding success. So it's a very fine line between trying to show people how successful you are. Because what will happen is a lot of people will say, oh, but I can't do that. If you make it unattainable, people will go, there'll be this disconnect. They won't be able to step into your story. So you want to create a story and invite your hero and your character into it. Make sure that they can see between happy, successful pictures, stories of success. Because people use the product, the highs and the lows of it, and that at the end you're always reminding them of the transformation that's going to happen. Not gimmicky, not promising, not salesy, but just a transformation that's going to happen. And so they get to like kind of play the story out in their head. And so when I talk to people about maybe being a freelancer or a freelance copywriter or whatever, it's not like, oh, you get to live this life. We talk about what would life look like for you? And as soon as you like, activate that part of people's brains, it's amazing how they step into it. When you ask the right questions, people's minds will start trying to solve that problem for them, which means they are energy, they are moving in that direction. So a lot of copywriting and sales is psychology. It is just saying, how do we move people out of a state of inertia or like non movement just to get them moving in a little bit of a direction and then from there you can continue the conversation and kind of build off the story.

You know what I love about you as well is like you kind of accidentally, I mean, you were a freelance copywriter, kind of doing your thing, building a six figure business. And the next thing you know, people were asking you how you did it, how did you do that? And now you have a team of people that are under you that you feed them business, which is amazing. And you have droves of people coming in saying, teach me how to do this. It's an accident.

Oh, total accident. In fact, that is, that is the funniest thing is that I had my head down for two years. Literally, head down, grinding, like working, you know, making money, watching my own little, you know, star chart go up. I was giving myself gold stars. And I like, I was just in my own little world. And when I started realizing I had a wait list and I had a backload of people and I'm like, people were waiting to work with me. I was like, huh, I probably can use some help here, right? And as I was interviewing copywriters, I had one after the other was like, how did you do that? Like, can you show me? And then one girl finally said, can I pay you to coach me? And literally the light bulb went off. And I was like, oh my God, all I need to do is tell them what I did. And I'm like, I have a process and I have a step. And I like, yes, yes, yes. And it wasn't like, how to be a copywriter. Here's the funny thing about anybody running a business, okay? Whether you're a website designer, graphic designer, you're online coach, you're a fitness coach, maybe you're in the wellness space and you're a fitness coach and you love personal training or planning nutrition plans, the shit you have to Go to through to get a client so that you can do the work you love is sometimes, like, really hard for people. They don't like selling, they don't like putting out proposals, they don't like talking to clients. They don't, they don't like the business side of business so that they can have a business doing what they love. And so many creatives really find themselves in a very stuck position because I just want to do the work and I'm like, so where I do a lot of coaching is in how to streamline, set up processes and mindsets around freelancing and basically running a business. It's so funny. If I was, to be honest, I'm a business coach, but I would never say that because nobody wants a business coach. Right? So here's the funny thing. I'm copywriting myself. Do people go looking for business coaches? Not really. They're like, how do you. How can I get more, you know, clients on upwork? I'm like, oh, I can show you how to do that. And so you give them what they want, sell them what they want, and then deliver all the other stuff. Right. So, you know, that's kind of classic sales things. But, yeah, I'm super excited about that. And here's the funny thing. As much as I love helping clients and you're amazing, I love having a team. My mama bear heart just like busted open when I got a team and I was cheering them on and I was helping them with their professional development and I was like, I have awakened the giant and realized that building teams, finding amazing people, motivating them and moving them forward is really what lights me up. And it just gave me another breadcrumb on the path of, like, where I am going.

I love that. And, and when I think about my journey, I love building leadership and teams. It's one of my strongest gifts and one of my favorite things. And I've done that very, very successfully. And now I'm going back to. It's me. I'm like, oh. But I am seeing in the future, okay, how can I build kind of like a leadership team here to do this?

Oh, Tracy, you are on a path, girl. Let me just turn this around on you. I know what path you, you are on. So the fact that you have business experience, sales experience, and you're an enneagram, you know, expert, you are the perfect storm. People are not going to know what's going to hit them when you are brought into a business. And when you combine business acumen and the perseverance you have and the sales experience and the techniques. Not just like, oh, I'm a good sales, you know how to sell and you put a filter or a layer of the Enneagram on top of that. And that is such an unstoppable combination that people are desperate for. We've done all the leadership development. What really needs to be done is the personal development, the awareness at a personal level, the awareness of others at a personal level that then leads to leadership development. So like you are stepping into an area that is desperately needed. It's bone dry. Everyone's dried up with leadership development. And so you're going to add this super juicy personal like. And people, people love talking about themselves and what motivates them. What I love about the Enneagram, it is not your strength. It is not like your positive attributes. Oh my God. It's your deep, dark motivation and secret side and the shadow. And when you can discuss that and honestly look at it, it becomes your powerhouse. And I know that you are so able and patient and so kind with helping people discover that because the first time you see that face to face, it is so disturbing. It can be so jolting to basically have a mirror put in front of you that you thought nobody knew. In fact, even your conscious didn't even know. Your subconscious goes, oh yeah, that's me. And so having a guide like you that kindly and gently brings people face to face with all of that stuff, it is life changing. I can only tell people that having an Enneagram coach is a life changing experience. As a parent, as a leader, as a business owner. And I will shout it from the rooftops that if there's anything that will move you further in your business faster, it's understanding your type and then the people that are closest to you, their type.

Well, geez, I didn't expect that little shout out, but that was beautiful. Thank you. And I know that in my heart of hearts because, you know, it is hard when we are jolted by the shadow. I remember eight years ago when it hit me square up between the eyes, I was like, wow. However, like you said, when we have that in front of us, we don't have to have the emotional charge from it because we can actually see where it all fits together.

Yes.

And I think like what you said, even in working with you, like, it's bringing the shadow parts of me to light a little bit more. Even in doing this work with you. And that's, you know, you have the right person. I'm here to tell you guys, I'VE worked with copywriters before, and they're beautiful human beings. And. But they're. They're not like this. Like, you want somebody that is speaking your passion, your mission, what you are here to do. And the only way that that's really going to convey to those that really need you is if she pulls this part out of you too. And so I am so grateful for all the triggering and all the shadow stuff that is coming to the surface in something as simple as putting together my website copy. You know what?

The website is just a silly tool for getting clarity. And people are like, can you put words on my website? You know, I'm like, listen, I don't write cute. I don't write clever. I don't write cliche. No, I can't. I can't put words on your website. I will help you get clear about who you are, where you're going, and who you want to help. And what happens is when you get clarity in your business, I'm selfish. That means I can write the words that match that, right? So in the end, I only have one end game, right, which is to write words on a website. I will do that, and they will be great. But the funny thing is, over and over and over again, people will say about the whole process, they're like, oh, my God, you helped me get clear on who I am as a business, who I am as a person. Like, I'm able to communicate to my employees like I know who I am and what I'm doing, and how valuable is that? Right? So what, you have a website that also says the same thing? I mean, that's awesome. But just getting clear as a business owner about the direction of where you're taking it, I think is the lasting benefit. And when you're clear, you are unstoppable. Like, clarity is king. I said that at the very beginning. And getting clear is one of the hardest things that people are not willing to do because they're not willing to say yes to some things and no to other things. But when you get clear, I can tell you what I can write somebody's website copy in a matter of two hours. I've done it over and over again. It's taken like four weeks to get there. But as soon as we are on the same page and the light bulb goes off and we're like, that's it. Boom. The writing comes. And so if you're struggling with writing, it's because you're not clear. And if people don't understand your website, it's because you're not clear. And so you owe it to yourself, you owe it to your customers. Brene Brown says that clear is kind and clear is simple. So if you think, oh, people don't understand, my website's overwhelming, it's because you're not clear. Sorry if that's a wake up call to somebody. But guess what? There's freedom on the other side of that. That's what I love about it is there's freedom and there's like, relief when you get clear and you're like, breathe again.

Right? Oh, my gosh, I'm so grateful that you are in my life because, yeah, there is freedom on the other side. Even though it's uncomfortable right now with the clarity. Because the clarity, when I see the clarity and this is what's holding a lot of you back, when you are clear, then you have no choice but to move forward.

Yes.

And.

You guys, I'm speaking my own truth here too. It's freaking scary. And you know what? Like having an enneagram3 that wants to get to the finish line with us. This is like the perfect storm.

Yep. It's kind. I will kick you in the butt and put my arm around you at the same time. And it's just, it's unstoppable. Like, we will get there one, because I'm going to get there. With or without you, I'm going to get there. But here's the thing. Stop dabbling. I can't tell you how many people are freaking dabbling. They're like, oh, I'm going to try it. I'm going to side hustle. I'm going to do this. And so it just comes across in all your writing that you're dabbling. And it's because you can't commit to yourself either. You don't want to face that this is what you do. There's some kind of thing that's holding you back. Like, I don't want to really know people. I don't want people to think I'm really a network marketer. I don't really. Whatever it is, all this stuff is like internal crap, first of all. So it'll come out when you ask some questions about, okay, what's your vision, your mission, your purpose? Like, ah, people melt and they crack, crumble, and they're like, I don't know. I'm like, okay, let's have a quick therapy session and then we'll get that, you know, then we can write the real words. But some of that is if you're if you're struggling, it's because you're having an internal struggle with the identity you have with what you want to be seen as. And so it's really hard to write words. Or you're doing the opposite, which is writing words that aren't true. You're saying things that are like, oh, I want to be seen as this, but you don't really know if you can back that up. And so you end up saying way too much. And you think, oh, nobody will know. Like, so you know, that's not fair.

So where can people start to unpack this? Obviously I think they all should work with you, but let's say they're not there yet and they really need to get the brain picking on their own for first to start with.

Well, first of all, I'm afraid I scared everybody off, so that's my own fault there.

Oh, you know what? Like, here's the thing. Like, that is the fucking truth, though. That is the truth that needs to be told and people aren't saying it and they're spending tons of money on shit that doesn't convert. So you know what, if they, if you're scared right now, then welcome.

This is what it takes. And telling the fucking truth for sure.

Absolutely. You can find anybody on upwork for 20 bucks an hour to write you some words and see how that goes. If you want to get serious about who you are and like communicating with your people, then, then you gotta have to do this work. It's just there's no way around it. So here's the first thing you would do. I'm going to give you guys an exercise that I do with my clients that they pay for that you don't have to pay for. Okay? And I call it the one liner, but it's basically how to create an effective or a killer elevator pitch. And before you roll your eyes, I know you're not a startup, but when people say, Tracy, what do you do?

Yeah, I don't know.

Anybody who does not freeze and go.

And having the confidence to just be able to either say it in person, put it in your Instagram bio, or be able to put it on your LinkedIn profile is a really powerful thing. And this is where it all starts. And we, I do not help anybody with copywriting until we get really clear on your one liner. Okay? So you get to do this. If you go to my website, you can download the worksheet for free. And I'm even offering, if anybody wants to try the worksheet and send it to me and say, hey, could you review it? Can you, can you just give me some thoughts on what you think this is? Even hop on a 20 minute call, no strings attached, just to go over it. I just feel so.

This is such a valuable exercise to do. I will warn you, it's super simple and it's really hard.

Okay.

As all things are. So you can Download it@ simplestorysolutions.com it's called how to create a Killer Elevator Pitch. I give you the instructions and then on the backside you get to kind of work it out. You might need two or three more pages to do it. And then you can just contact me at and I'll email it to me or whatever and I'll have a look at it and give you some feedback.

Where else can they find you? I know that you're on Instagram and I love your Instagram. Personally, I do.

Thank you. I am really pumping out a ton of content. I gotta figure out how to make money on it. But that's not the point right now. The point is to actually, is to highlight the power of copywriting. Right now I'm talking about lead generators and next week I'm talking about emailing. But at LisaKombs, C U M E S L I S A C U M E S and at Instagram, I share a bunch of things. Copywriting, parenting, working out, traveling, and all the highs and lows I go through so you get to see it all. My Instagram's kind of fun. And yet you'll pick up some really great tips in terms of personal branding and building your website.

What a gift you were when you came charging.

I knew when I met you I was scared and really, really excited at the same time because I knew you were gonna push me in an area that has been a challenge for me. And I hope I do the same for you.

Here's the thing, girl. The world is waiting for you. And I don't mean to say that to like, you know, make you feel, you know, threatened or like, ah. But people are waiting for you to step into your greatness. People are waiting for you to get clear so that you can help them get clear. And this is for anybody out there. I have a note that says, every day, Lisa, people are waking up waiting for you. And when you know that, it sends a sense of urgency to like, do a great job, get clear on your shit so that other people know how to find you and say yes to you. People want to say yes like they want your help. And we're just holding back on being able to communicate it. And so I really hope people find clarity, simplify their message, and like, step out there and let people find them.

Oh my gosh. I love you so much. Thank you so much for like, so much value and wisdom and, and like the truth. Like especially the truth. I love that about you and I'm just so honored. Thank you for your time and for everything. So I love you.

How much fun is this? You are a rock star and I am watching you as much as you're watching me and I love doing this journey with you. And so thank you for really talking about the Enneagram again. Screw copywriting. If everybody just read about the Enneagram, like, everything will be fine. Okay? That is the truth. So, like, I just really support everything you're doing with that and look forward to watching where you take it when you take it into businesses and organizations.

We're just getting started, my love. Thanks for being on.

Thank you for tuning in to the Becoming Bulletproof podcast. If you learned a thing or two from our show today, it would mean a lot to me if you shared it. And tag me so I can hear exactly what landed on your heart. This will help me to bring you even more episodes with the topics and guide guests you want. Please head over to itunes and leave an honest and loving five star review. If this made an impact on you, you can find me on Instagram at traceyomalley and I have tons of free resources for you@tracyomalley.com as always, if you are wanting to ignite your purpose, profits and build your legacy, it's time to stand on the front line of your life and do the work. Let's become Bulletproof.

Sam.