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I think there's been so many changes in the last few years that finding a community that serves you and feeds your soul and that you can also share some of your gifts and magic with other people is really what it's all about.
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Hello and welcome to Rediscovering Connection.
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I am Shelley Doyle and I'm very blessed today to have Trish Tonei with me, an award winning community builder, artist, author, emcee.
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I'm sure there's many other things, I understand you did a Uh, went to law school as well.
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So really interested to dig underneath, um, who Trish Tonight really is.
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five plus years ago, Trish launched a community called share your story.
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Stories where she invites entrepreneurs to come a live interview.
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So every Friday, I believe Trish comes together with one of these entrepreneurs for kind of a fast 20 minute interview of which I did one of these.
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Um, in this industry, podcasting seems much more prevalent.
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So doing a live interview for me, definitely for me.
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Pushed me out of my comfort zone.
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Um, and then that also combines with a story that we put onto Trish's, um, website, share your stories.
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And then Trish does an amazing job of holding space for everyone that has published and spoken on her podcast, um, bringing us together at least quarterly for, um, connection events, which are.
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I would say, I wouldn't even say semi facilitated, they are very facilitated interactions, very intentional interactions, um, taking us off into breakout rooms and allowing us to share space with other really inspiring entrepreneurs from all over the world and all different walks of life.
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So personally, I've met some phenomenal individuals through this, um, through this community.
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So.
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This podcast with Trish is really a big thank you, thank you for creating this community, for holding this space, and being incredibly generous with sharing the amazing connections that you have accumulated along your journey.
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So hello and welcome Trish, thank you so much for being here.
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Oh, it's my absolute pleasure.
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I'm really looking forward to meeting the folks in your audience.
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And thank you so much for, um, the wonderful introduction and mentioning shareyourstories.
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online.
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So thank you for that.
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Pleasure.
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So where did this, where did this come from?
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You've obviously had Many different kind of career paths through your journey of life.
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Um, was there a calling to kind of rediscover connection in a way of holding this community?
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Had that been yearning for some time before you bit the bullet and actually went for it?
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How did that how did that occur?
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You know, what was really interesting as I took a executive, uh, education course at Harvard law school, it was on mediation and dispute resolution.
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And it was with, uh, 47 other individuals from around the world.
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And what I found was that we started sharing stories about really how we got there.
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You know, who were some of the people that helped us along the way?
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So this whole idea of mentorship really was born.
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And then throughout the process.
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I ended up leaving that course and writing my second book, Breaking Barriers, 10 Entrepreneurial Women Share Their Stories.
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And within one year of attending Harvard, I had another published book.
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And then I was out on the speaker circuit talking about mentorship and role models and the importance of, you know, sort of the messaging that we leave behind.
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And I was meeting amazing individuals like yourself, who said to me, How do I share my story?
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How do I do this?
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How do I get, you know, noticed?
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How do you increase my visibility?
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And I started to think about that.
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And before long, I started a guest blog.
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At the time, I was, uh, doing, um, Marketing, consulting, and coaching with leadership teams.
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And we shared a hundred stories in the first year.
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And it was shortly after that, That I bought the URL share your stories dot online, and we ended up starting to feature and we automated everything to make it easy peasy for folks, and we now have stories on five continents, we have over 300 people featured.
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And as we mentioned, our podcast, we have over 200 podcast guests, where we sort of introduce the person behind the logo.
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And that's really the intention of the podcast.
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So good.
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And you just seem to have got into such a good flow with it, like the consistency.
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And I think a lot of people that start these podcasts and communities, it is about finding regularity and consistency.
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possible and positive.
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And I know you have pushed yourself in some ways, like you used to do a lot of panel discussions with the speakers and you, that, that became a lot.
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So finding what you, what we can do alongside all of the other commitments that we have in our lives, right?
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How has that been to find the balance?
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You know, what's really wonderful is folks like you who have shared their story.
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We always invite you to invite other folks in your own network.
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Who may be interested in increasing their visibility.
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So we, it's really the referrals.
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I mean, I have to say that probably 80 to 90 percent of the people that are now sharing stories are wonderful individuals like yourself who say, you know what, this was really a great experience.
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I need to introduce some of my colleagues.
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So that they too can share their story.
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So that's really how the community has grown.
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It's really been based upon trusted referrals.
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And I'm super appreciative of the people who sort of open up their Rolodex and say, look, you'll have to meet Trish.
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You've got it, you know, increase your visibility on her podcast and in the guest blog.
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And it just really creates this wonderful symbiotic relationship.
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Yes, and a couple of things are coming up for me.
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Firstly, I feel like I need to say thank you to Mia Jarrett who introduced me to you.
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That's right.
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Um, and, and this is how this whole thing works is one person introduces another and then it rolls on from there.
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Another thing to mention I think is that no money changes hands.
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That's true.
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Um, so it feels like a very like.
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Positive, uh, energetic exchange, kind of time and appreciation for time and appreciation.
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And it's like we're all winning together.
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And I think, again, that this is where a lot of people get stuck in thinking, I don't know what to charge.
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I don't know what people want to pay.
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Has that, did that occur to you?
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And there, is there a reason that you decided to just make this open and accessible for everybody?
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You know, I decided it was going to be my passion project.
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So I've been an entrepreneur since 1993, believe it or not.
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I'm probably dating myself a little.
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Um, but I know what it's like.
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I've walked the walk and talk the talk for over 30 years of being an entrepreneur.
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And I really wanted to try to help other individuals.
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Really.
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One of the mantras that we've come up with is we want people to be seen, heard, found, and hired.
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And.
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Really the whole essence of that is you need to be on multiple platforms with multiple folks talking about your story.
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And the only way that you can do that is by connecting with other folks, whether it's in your own community or globally.
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And the wonderful thing about our community is it has become global.
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You know, we usually get, as you well know, we've got people from five different countries that usually participate in our quarterly networking events.
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You know, we've got, Usually seven different time zones of folks that are making time to to meet because we do really want folks to have heartfelt connections.
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And we've seen some awesome collaboration happening from the platform.
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You know, we've got people in India who are collaborating with people in the United States.
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You know, we have folks in France who are helping folks in Canada.
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So it's really wonderful.
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One thing I've learned this year that I can share Shelly is I've learned that we're all so different and yet the same.
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We appreciate so many similar challenges.
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And yet at the same token, people are people, you know, we're all human and we're all experiencing the same challenges, the same joys.
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And so to be able to find someone in a community that's sort of nonjudgmental, where you know that everyone is in a similar sort of place, that's where the magic happens.
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So good.
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And personally, I've made some amazing connections through your community.
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I recently had Jacqueline Olivero Sella on my podcast.
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Um, Hirsch attended my recent workshop.
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Um, and I'm very interested to speak to Susan, the, um, book publisher about the journey.
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So, yeah, Susan.
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Such a high caliber of individuals who are all doing, I guess you said about this being your passion project.
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And I guess a lot of them, they're passionate entrepreneurs.
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They're doing things that are in their heart and that they, they feel passionate about telling.
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So yeah, I've met some incredible people.
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Um, I feel like, oh, there's another piece about the magazine.
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So you, um, you created a magazine partnerships that that magazine now features.
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The stories that are told through your podcast and portal is, you know, it's really a wonderful, uh, we've decided for 2025, 2026, we're going to launch a digital magazine that's going to be housed on the website that will feature various different folks and who want to celebrate their great ideas, but it's a sponsorship for our grant program.
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So the folks that are participating are actually going to be sponsors for our Share Your Stories global marketing grant, which we started this past year.
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And as you know, you attended that ceremony and we have two winners, one from Ireland and one from Canada.
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And it's just, it's seed money to help folks with their marketing budget.
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Because I can certainly say that in interviewing and speaking and sharing stories of all of the folks that we have, the similar.
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Challenge comes up and that is funding and funding gets in the way of innovation.
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It gets in the way of expansion.
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It even gets in the way of collaboration to a certain point.
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Because we all have a certain budget that we're working with, um, yes, it evolves and flows and changes at, at certain points in times of the year, but we only have a finite amount of money that we can put into marketing.
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So we started the marketing grant to help folks, just with a little seed money to that maybe they can try something a little bit different.
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That they haven't tried before.
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So I'm really interested in seeing how the evolution of that comes about, because we also have formal mentorship.
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So 12 folks from the share your stories community are offering one hour of their time for one month next year, who are now going to mentor the two grant recipients and help them to kind of expand their knowledge base so that they can be better humans and provide, you know, their products or services on a perhaps a wider stage.
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It seems like so much is happening with it.
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How do you make it all possible?
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Does it, does it flow?
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Like, um, what's the phrase?
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It's always like, following the path of least resistance.
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Is it one of these things that you've gotten going, and actually now you've got the momentum, it actually almost drives itself.
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You know, to a certain extent, that's very true.
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But one of the things that I had to do, you know, you were talking about your comfort zone and getting outside of your comfort zone.
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And I, you know, I'm a big picture thinker.
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So, um, you know, I've had lots of leadership positions where I had national and international responsibility, very much like yourself.
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It's very hard to then think small once you've been thinking big.
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So one of the things that I had to do is I decided to have an advisory board.
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And we meet four times a year where I get to throw the spaghetti on the wall and say, listen, this is what I'm thinking.
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What do you think?
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And sometimes they reign me in and say, Ooh, that sounds like an awful lot.
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Like that might be a little more than a little more work in your passion project than you'd like to donate your time and effort to.
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Um, but sometimes they push me out of the comfort zone.
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Yeah.
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So, you know, that was a classic example of the marketing grant.
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I was talking about the grant, we were talking about opportunities and various ways that we could now take the level of commitment to the Share Your Stories community a little bit larger.
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And they're the ones who said, you know what, I think you can do this.
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I think this is possible.
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So we came up with the phrase, funding for entrepreneurs by entrepreneurs, because it's folks like yourself who are participating in the grant program.
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And everyone gives a little so that we have enough.
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And it's really rather wonderful that, um, we're, we're able to connect with folks who, as you say, are very giving back to a community.
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They sometimes just need a community that they need to connect with.
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And ours seems to be the community that everybody is attracted to.
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And maybe it's because it's a passion project.
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Maybe it's because we have global reach, or maybe it's just because it feeds their objectives of being able to help other small business owners.
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I know that the live events are quarterly and I guess it's in the diary at least a month in advance and you don't want to miss it People are really intentional about being present and you know, the screen was full.
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I don't know how many attendees there were on the, uh, Uh, on that awards ceremony, but there must have been at least 30, if not more.
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Well, the funny thing was, um, we had 60 people registered globally for the event and I was talking to one of the sponsors and she kind of made this face and said, you do know that only 10 percent of the people who register events actually show up.
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And I was like, Geez Louise, you got to be kidding.
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Only six people out of 60 are going to show up.
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And we actually topped out at 50 people.
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Um, so 50 people attended the awards and grant ceremony.
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And I think that's a testament to the room.
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Who's in the room?
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You know, who can I connect with?
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Um, who are the like minded folks that I'm going to be able to meet in some of those breakout sessions, which we use for networking?
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Um, so I think that it's, If the energy in the room is what attracts people to attend our events, and I think also because they're on zoom.
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So we try to make it obviously for global I mean I would love to say we could fly all over the world and be doing events live, you know, in various different cities but it's just not practical.
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And one of the wonderful things that's come out of coven.
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Is these wonderful platforms, which we're now able to connect with people virtually all over the world.
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So we've taken advantage of some of the wonderful technology opportunities that have been made to us since COVID, and we're now using it to our advantage.
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I was trying to do the maths in my head then and I'm struggling.
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I have a bit of a cold, but that's definitely more than 10%.
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Yes, for sure.
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Absolutely.
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You know, when you say, well, I guess we had about, I would say about over 75%.
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I mean, you know, we're almost at 90%.
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Of attendance.
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And the wonderful thing about the quarterly networking events is we always have a speaker from the community that you've chosen.
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So, you know, one of the things from the last event we had in September was people were talking about ways in which we can connect with testimonials.
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And so our speaker in February is actually one of our in kind sponsors from the award ceremony, and she has this awesome platform with 32nd opportunities for us to share testimonials.
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after a special event or, um, you know, a speaking engagement.
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And so she's going to be our speaker.
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And then the folks in February will decide who will be our speaker in May.
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So you'll pick a topic and then I'll find someone within the network who has that area of expertise.
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And we invite them to be a speaker for five to seven minutes in the next networking event.
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So good.
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Um, well, I just want to applaud you for the consistency and putting yourself out there and just making this happen because you're really serving the community so well, and we're so grateful for you.
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Um, and anybody that's listening that wants an introduction to Trish, please let me know, and I'll be really happy to make that introduction so you can get your song out there.
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on share your stories.
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Um, Trish, is there anything that we haven't covered yet that you think you'd really like to share this?
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Um, maybe it's, um, something big that's going to be happening for, for you or for your community in 2025.
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I think the development and expansion of the grant program is something we're really going to put our heart and soul into.
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So, you know, doing the annual magazine is a huge build because it's giving people a tangible asset.
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The sponsors will then have a tangible asset that they can use.
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And we're hoping that we'll get enough uptake that we can expand the grant program from two to three grants.
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And really that's, I think going to be the focus for the next few years because you know once you put yourself out there and you've established a network of folks who are supporting your cause, I think then you have to be really true to the cause so we're really going to concentrate on.
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You know, expanding our opportunities for the grant program, continuing to increase the visibility of folks like yourself who participate with us, and really continue to make those really wonderful heartfelt connections that, you know, don't, they sort of cross the line from business into friendship too.
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And I think that's really an important part because we're all as humans looking for the support of other people who are in small business.
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And I think there's been so many changes in the last few years that finding a community that serves you and feeds your soul and that you can also share some of your gifts and magic with other people is really what it's all about.
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So I've, you know, somebody said to me, are you ever going to quit?
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And I said, well, probably not.
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As long as there are stories to share, I'll continue with the share your stories initiative.
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Um, just so that, because it not only feeds my soul, but hopefully it feeds all of the people that join us as well.
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Totally.
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And maybe if you don't mind, I'm just going to ask one last question.
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Just, just about.
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It feeding your soul and is it serving you like, uh, what I'm working on is like our social health and our social wellbeing.
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Like, do you feel that satisfaction when you come off either your Friday lives or the quarterly network?
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Like, does that fill you up?
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How does that serve you in your like everyday life?
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You know, I have to say when I started my first business in 1993, it was pretty tough for female entrepreneurs.
00:19:27.424 --> 00:19:31.115
We didn't have, um, we had very few role models.
00:19:31.394 --> 00:19:32.694
Um, we had no mentors.
00:19:32.694 --> 00:19:42.515
You know, I often say when I was speaking, you know, when I started in business and mentor wore a blue suit and a red tie, and there were very few females that we could look up to.
00:19:42.825 --> 00:19:51.859
So for me, it's all about giving back to that entrepreneurial community because I don't think a lot has changed, which is really rather sad.
00:19:52.059 --> 00:20:05.390
If we start to look at the global statistics, you know, even though there are 582 million entrepreneurs around the world, um, 76 percent are men who start businesses because funding is easier for them.
00:20:06.089 --> 00:20:26.950
You know, women are still struggling to be seen, heard, found, and hired because We live in a society that doesn't necessarily promote female entrepreneurship because we're not looked at as being business people were looked at in a totally different way in our societies, and that's being more nurturing and moms and role models and things like that.
00:20:27.410 --> 00:20:29.250
So I think that for me.
00:20:29.615 --> 00:20:35.934
It's so symbiotic and it's so amazing because I learned something from every single story I share.
00:20:36.404 --> 00:20:48.444
We all have to overcome obstacles and barriers and I find that inspiring to read someone's story and say, Wow, like, holy cow, that's a pretty amazing thing that they're doing.
00:20:48.815 --> 00:20:54.315
So one of the other things that I always share is we're all ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
00:20:54.944 --> 00:20:57.095
And that's really what the platform is all about.
00:20:57.484 --> 00:21:00.345
And I just find that the more people that I meet.
00:21:00.755 --> 00:21:08.355
Um, the more joyful it actually makes me and I've really become very proud of the, of the community that we're building.
00:21:08.714 --> 00:21:15.694
And I think it's because of people like yourself who participate and give something of yourself to the community as well.
00:21:15.744 --> 00:21:22.265
So, it's, it's a very nurturing place to be, to be quite honest, and even after 30 years of being in business.
00:21:22.785 --> 00:21:24.234
There's always something new to learn.
00:21:24.650 --> 00:21:27.289
And so I really, I really love that about the community.
00:21:28.759 --> 00:21:45.130
And I think you saying this is really going to be quite inspiring for other people that might be thinking that they've got a community that they want to birth but thinking of all these obstacles and why nots and what would you, what would you say to somebody like that?
00:21:45.845 --> 00:21:59.305
You know, I have to say, if you have an idea and you have a passion and it keeps waking you up in the middle of the night and you know, you're journaling it and the same words keep coming up or every conversation you have with your colleagues, this idea keeps popping into your head.
00:21:59.694 --> 00:22:07.355
I really do think then that you just need to take the leap of faith, step outside your comfort zone and do it because what's the worst that could happen.
00:22:08.605 --> 00:22:14.464
Maybe people will find you and they'll think you're amazing, and they'll start to follow your community.
00:22:14.875 --> 00:22:15.194
Me.
00:22:15.605 --> 00:22:17.795
I can't think of anything better to happen.
00:22:18.174 --> 00:22:27.865
And even if the opposite is true, even if it's a slow go to start with, um, we all meet people in life for a certain reason from, that's my philosophy, you know.
00:22:27.904 --> 00:22:33.914
And so if you've been really thinking about something and it's niggling you in the back of your mind, what have you got to lose?
00:22:33.914 --> 00:22:35.615
Just take the bull by the horns and do it.
00:22:35.644 --> 00:22:36.444
Give it a try.
00:22:36.654 --> 00:22:37.244
And you know what?
00:22:37.509 --> 00:22:39.690
The more that we fail, the more that we learn.
00:22:40.049 --> 00:22:47.240
So the first try out of the gate, you may think, Oh, geez, that wasn't very successful, but you may learn something from it.
00:22:47.289 --> 00:22:49.359
And then you can tweak it a little bit.
00:22:49.380 --> 00:22:51.599
And if it's meant to be, it will happen.
00:22:53.140 --> 00:22:55.150
Fantastic words of wisdom.
00:22:55.269 --> 00:22:57.359
Thank you so much, Trish.
00:22:57.369 --> 00:23:02.279
It's been such a pleasure to get to know you and to get to know your story a little bit more.
00:23:02.714 --> 00:23:03.184
Thank you.
00:23:03.184 --> 00:23:09.154
I look forward to continuing this journey together and I wish you a very happy Christmas and new year.
00:23:09.575 --> 00:23:10.714
Thank you so much, Shelley.
00:23:10.724 --> 00:23:11.265
And to you.
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:13.429
I think there's been so many changes in the last few years that finding a community that serves you and feeds your soul and that you can also share some of your gifts and magic with other people is really what it's all about.
00:00:15.050 --> 00:00:18.149
Hello and welcome to Rediscovering Connection.
00:00:18.190 --> 00:00:30.420
I am Shelley Doyle and I'm very blessed today to have Trish Tonei with me, an award winning community builder, artist, author, emcee.
00:00:30.699 --> 00:00:35.619
I'm sure there's many other things, I understand you did a Uh, went to law school as well.
00:00:35.619 --> 00:00:40.890
So really interested to dig underneath, um, who Trish Tonight really is.
00:00:40.890 --> 00:00:45.314
five plus years ago, Trish launched a community called share your story.
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Stories where she invites entrepreneurs to come a live interview.
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So every Friday, I believe Trish comes together with one of these entrepreneurs for kind of a fast 20 minute interview of which I did one of these.
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Um, in this industry, podcasting seems much more prevalent.
00:01:05.250 --> 00:01:07.969
So doing a live interview for me, definitely for me.
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Pushed me out of my comfort zone.
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Um, and then that also combines with a story that we put onto Trish's, um, website, share your stories.
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And then Trish does an amazing job of holding space for everyone that has published and spoken on her podcast, um, bringing us together at least quarterly for, um, connection events, which are.
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I would say, I wouldn't even say semi facilitated, they are very facilitated interactions, very intentional interactions, um, taking us off into breakout rooms and allowing us to share space with other really inspiring entrepreneurs from all over the world and all different walks of life.
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So personally, I've met some phenomenal individuals through this, um, through this community.
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So.
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This podcast with Trish is really a big thank you, thank you for creating this community, for holding this space, and being incredibly generous with sharing the amazing connections that you have accumulated along your journey.
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So hello and welcome Trish, thank you so much for being here.
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Oh, it's my absolute pleasure.
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I'm really looking forward to meeting the folks in your audience.
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And thank you so much for, um, the wonderful introduction and mentioning shareyourstories.
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online.
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So thank you for that.
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Pleasure.
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So where did this, where did this come from?
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You've obviously had Many different kind of career paths through your journey of life.
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Um, was there a calling to kind of rediscover connection in a way of holding this community?
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Had that been yearning for some time before you bit the bullet and actually went for it?
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How did that how did that occur?
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You know, what was really interesting as I took a executive, uh, education course at Harvard law school, it was on mediation and dispute resolution.
00:03:03.625 --> 00:03:08.125
And it was with, uh, 47 other individuals from around the world.
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And what I found was that we started sharing stories about really how we got there.
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You know, who were some of the people that helped us along the way?
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So this whole idea of mentorship really was born.
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And then throughout the process.
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I ended up leaving that course and writing my second book, Breaking Barriers, 10 Entrepreneurial Women Share Their Stories.
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And within one year of attending Harvard, I had another published book.
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And then I was out on the speaker circuit talking about mentorship and role models and the importance of, you know, sort of the messaging that we leave behind.
00:03:45.405 --> 00:03:50.865
And I was meeting amazing individuals like yourself, who said to me, How do I share my story?
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How do I do this?
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How do I get, you know, noticed?
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How do you increase my visibility?
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And I started to think about that.
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And before long, I started a guest blog.
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At the time, I was, uh, doing, um, Marketing, consulting, and coaching with leadership teams.
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And we shared a hundred stories in the first year.
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And it was shortly after that, That I bought the URL share your stories dot online, and we ended up starting to feature and we automated everything to make it easy peasy for folks, and we now have stories on five continents, we have over 300 people featured.
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And as we mentioned, our podcast, we have over 200 podcast guests, where we sort of introduce the person behind the logo.
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And that's really the intention of the podcast.
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So good.
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And you just seem to have got into such a good flow with it, like the consistency.
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And I think a lot of people that start these podcasts and communities, it is about finding regularity and consistency.
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possible and positive.
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And I know you have pushed yourself in some ways, like you used to do a lot of panel discussions with the speakers and you, that, that became a lot.
00:05:07.615 --> 00:05:14.495
So finding what you, what we can do alongside all of the other commitments that we have in our lives, right?
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How has that been to find the balance?
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You know, what's really wonderful is folks like you who have shared their story.
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We always invite you to invite other folks in your own network.
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Who may be interested in increasing their visibility.
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So we, it's really the referrals.
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I mean, I have to say that probably 80 to 90 percent of the people that are now sharing stories are wonderful individuals like yourself who say, you know what, this was really a great experience.
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I need to introduce some of my colleagues.
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So that they too can share their story.
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So that's really how the community has grown.
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It's really been based upon trusted referrals.
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And I'm super appreciative of the people who sort of open up their Rolodex and say, look, you'll have to meet Trish.
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You've got it, you know, increase your visibility on her podcast and in the guest blog.
00:06:03.459 --> 00:06:06.579
And it just really creates this wonderful symbiotic relationship.
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Yes, and a couple of things are coming up for me.
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Firstly, I feel like I need to say thank you to Mia Jarrett who introduced me to you.
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That's right.
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Um, and, and this is how this whole thing works is one person introduces another and then it rolls on from there.
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Another thing to mention I think is that no money changes hands.
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That's true.
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Um, so it feels like a very like.
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Positive, uh, energetic exchange, kind of time and appreciation for time and appreciation.
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And it's like we're all winning together.
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And I think, again, that this is where a lot of people get stuck in thinking, I don't know what to charge.
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I don't know what people want to pay.
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Has that, did that occur to you?
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And there, is there a reason that you decided to just make this open and accessible for everybody?
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You know, I decided it was going to be my passion project.
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So I've been an entrepreneur since 1993, believe it or not.
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I'm probably dating myself a little.
00:07:08.209 --> 00:07:10.050
Um, but I know what it's like.
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I've walked the walk and talk the talk for over 30 years of being an entrepreneur.
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And I really wanted to try to help other individuals.
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Really.
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One of the mantras that we've come up with is we want people to be seen, heard, found, and hired.
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And.
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Really the whole essence of that is you need to be on multiple platforms with multiple folks talking about your story.
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And the only way that you can do that is by connecting with other folks, whether it's in your own community or globally.
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And the wonderful thing about our community is it has become global.
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You know, we usually get, as you well know, we've got people from five different countries that usually participate in our quarterly networking events.
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You know, we've got, Usually seven different time zones of folks that are making time to to meet because we do really want folks to have heartfelt connections.
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And we've seen some awesome collaboration happening from the platform.
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You know, we've got people in India who are collaborating with people in the United States.
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You know, we have folks in France who are helping folks in Canada.
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So it's really wonderful.
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One thing I've learned this year that I can share Shelly is I've learned that we're all so different and yet the same.
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We appreciate so many similar challenges.
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And yet at the same token, people are people, you know, we're all human and we're all experiencing the same challenges, the same joys.
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And so to be able to find someone in a community that's sort of nonjudgmental, where you know that everyone is in a similar sort of place, that's where the magic happens.
00:08:51.294 --> 00:08:52.144
So good.
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And personally, I've made some amazing connections through your community.
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I recently had Jacqueline Olivero Sella on my podcast.
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Um, Hirsch attended my recent workshop.
00:09:04.705 --> 00:09:11.235
Um, and I'm very interested to speak to Susan, the, um, book publisher about the journey.
00:09:11.235 --> 00:09:14.125
So, yeah, Susan.
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Such a high caliber of individuals who are all doing, I guess you said about this being your passion project.
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And I guess a lot of them, they're passionate entrepreneurs.
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They're doing things that are in their heart and that they, they feel passionate about telling.
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So yeah, I've met some incredible people.
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Um, I feel like, oh, there's another piece about the magazine.
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So you, um, you created a magazine partnerships that that magazine now features.
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The stories that are told through your podcast and portal is, you know, it's really a wonderful, uh, we've decided for 2025, 2026, we're going to launch a digital magazine that's going to be housed on the website that will feature various different folks and who want to celebrate their great ideas, but it's a sponsorship for our grant program.
00:10:06.715 --> 00:10:15.475
So the folks that are participating are actually going to be sponsors for our Share Your Stories global marketing grant, which we started this past year.
00:10:15.684 --> 00:10:21.815
And as you know, you attended that ceremony and we have two winners, one from Ireland and one from Canada.
00:10:22.134 --> 00:10:26.325
And it's just, it's seed money to help folks with their marketing budget.
00:10:26.705 --> 00:10:34.835
Because I can certainly say that in interviewing and speaking and sharing stories of all of the folks that we have, the similar.
00:10:35.534 --> 00:10:42.754
Challenge comes up and that is funding and funding gets in the way of innovation.
00:10:42.764 --> 00:10:44.845
It gets in the way of expansion.
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It even gets in the way of collaboration to a certain point.
00:10:49.139 --> 00:11:01.620
Because we all have a certain budget that we're working with, um, yes, it evolves and flows and changes at, at certain points in times of the year, but we only have a finite amount of money that we can put into marketing.
00:11:02.039 --> 00:11:09.529
So we started the marketing grant to help folks, just with a little seed money to that maybe they can try something a little bit different.
00:11:09.850 --> 00:11:11.259
That they haven't tried before.
00:11:11.450 --> 00:11:17.100
So I'm really interested in seeing how the evolution of that comes about, because we also have formal mentorship.
00:11:17.419 --> 00:11:39.049
So 12 folks from the share your stories community are offering one hour of their time for one month next year, who are now going to mentor the two grant recipients and help them to kind of expand their knowledge base so that they can be better humans and provide, you know, their products or services on a perhaps a wider stage.
00:11:40.389 --> 00:11:42.899
It seems like so much is happening with it.
00:11:43.159 --> 00:11:46.299
How do you make it all possible?
00:11:46.500 --> 00:11:48.419
Does it, does it flow?
00:11:48.649 --> 00:11:50.879
Like, um, what's the phrase?
00:11:50.879 --> 00:11:54.190
It's always like, following the path of least resistance.
00:11:54.190 --> 00:12:00.759
Is it one of these things that you've gotten going, and actually now you've got the momentum, it actually almost drives itself.
00:12:01.695 --> 00:12:03.495
You know, to a certain extent, that's very true.
00:12:03.664 --> 00:12:08.575
But one of the things that I had to do, you know, you were talking about your comfort zone and getting outside of your comfort zone.
00:12:08.855 --> 00:12:11.384
And I, you know, I'm a big picture thinker.
00:12:11.394 --> 00:12:19.575
So, um, you know, I've had lots of leadership positions where I had national and international responsibility, very much like yourself.
00:12:20.779 --> 00:12:23.600
It's very hard to then think small once you've been thinking big.
00:12:23.960 --> 00:12:28.710
So one of the things that I had to do is I decided to have an advisory board.
00:12:29.120 --> 00:12:34.909
And we meet four times a year where I get to throw the spaghetti on the wall and say, listen, this is what I'm thinking.
00:12:34.909 --> 00:12:35.669
What do you think?
00:12:36.059 --> 00:12:40.009
And sometimes they reign me in and say, Ooh, that sounds like an awful lot.
00:12:40.039 --> 00:12:46.429
Like that might be a little more than a little more work in your passion project than you'd like to donate your time and effort to.
00:12:46.820 --> 00:12:49.110
Um, but sometimes they push me out of the comfort zone.
00:12:49.120 --> 00:12:49.139
Yeah.
00:12:49.455 --> 00:12:52.284
So, you know, that was a classic example of the marketing grant.
00:12:52.585 --> 00:13:02.945
I was talking about the grant, we were talking about opportunities and various ways that we could now take the level of commitment to the Share Your Stories community a little bit larger.
00:13:03.174 --> 00:13:05.715
And they're the ones who said, you know what, I think you can do this.
00:13:05.825 --> 00:13:07.014
I think this is possible.
00:13:07.434 --> 00:13:15.174
So we came up with the phrase, funding for entrepreneurs by entrepreneurs, because it's folks like yourself who are participating in the grant program.
00:13:15.445 --> 00:13:17.855
And everyone gives a little so that we have enough.
00:13:18.274 --> 00:13:26.684
And it's really rather wonderful that, um, we're, we're able to connect with folks who, as you say, are very giving back to a community.
00:13:27.034 --> 00:13:30.215
They sometimes just need a community that they need to connect with.
00:13:30.575 --> 00:13:35.294
And ours seems to be the community that everybody is attracted to.
00:13:35.625 --> 00:13:38.335
And maybe it's because it's a passion project.
00:13:38.634 --> 00:13:47.455
Maybe it's because we have global reach, or maybe it's just because it feeds their objectives of being able to help other small business owners.
00:13:49.154 --> 00:14:02.995
I know that the live events are quarterly and I guess it's in the diary at least a month in advance and you don't want to miss it People are really intentional about being present and you know, the screen was full.
00:14:02.995 --> 00:14:10.115
I don't know how many attendees there were on the, uh, Uh, on that awards ceremony, but there must have been at least 30, if not more.
00:14:10.514 --> 00:14:25.195
Well, the funny thing was, um, we had 60 people registered globally for the event and I was talking to one of the sponsors and she kind of made this face and said, you do know that only 10 percent of the people who register events actually show up.
00:14:25.284 --> 00:14:27.914
And I was like, Geez Louise, you got to be kidding.
00:14:27.914 --> 00:14:30.215
Only six people out of 60 are going to show up.
00:14:30.664 --> 00:14:32.924
And we actually topped out at 50 people.
00:14:33.424 --> 00:14:37.855
Um, so 50 people attended the awards and grant ceremony.
00:14:38.034 --> 00:14:40.644
And I think that's a testament to the room.
00:14:40.695 --> 00:14:41.595
Who's in the room?
00:14:42.034 --> 00:14:43.585
You know, who can I connect with?
00:14:43.995 --> 00:14:50.544
Um, who are the like minded folks that I'm going to be able to meet in some of those breakout sessions, which we use for networking?
00:14:50.945 --> 00:15:00.009
Um, so I think that it's, If the energy in the room is what attracts people to attend our events, and I think also because they're on zoom.
00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:09.009
So we try to make it obviously for global I mean I would love to say we could fly all over the world and be doing events live, you know, in various different cities but it's just not practical.
00:15:09.190 --> 00:15:11.480
And one of the wonderful things that's come out of coven.
00:15:11.779 --> 00:15:18.370
Is these wonderful platforms, which we're now able to connect with people virtually all over the world.
00:15:18.460 --> 00:15:29.529
So we've taken advantage of some of the wonderful technology opportunities that have been made to us since COVID, and we're now using it to our advantage.
00:15:31.940 --> 00:15:34.669
I was trying to do the maths in my head then and I'm struggling.
00:15:34.710 --> 00:15:37.230
I have a bit of a cold, but that's definitely more than 10%.
00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:39.409
Yes, for sure.
00:15:39.549 --> 00:15:40.350
Absolutely.
00:15:40.529 --> 00:15:45.990
You know, when you say, well, I guess we had about, I would say about over 75%.
00:15:46.409 --> 00:15:48.309
I mean, you know, we're almost at 90%.
00:15:49.279 --> 00:15:49.700
Of attendance.
00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:58.539
And the wonderful thing about the quarterly networking events is we always have a speaker from the community that you've chosen.
00:15:58.549 --> 00:16:07.129
So, you know, one of the things from the last event we had in September was people were talking about ways in which we can connect with testimonials.
00:16:07.465 --> 00:16:20.205
And so our speaker in February is actually one of our in kind sponsors from the award ceremony, and she has this awesome platform with 32nd opportunities for us to share testimonials.
00:16:20.625 --> 00:16:24.455
after a special event or, um, you know, a speaking engagement.
00:16:24.625 --> 00:16:26.184
And so she's going to be our speaker.
00:16:26.524 --> 00:16:31.485
And then the folks in February will decide who will be our speaker in May.
00:16:31.485 --> 00:16:36.654
So you'll pick a topic and then I'll find someone within the network who has that area of expertise.
00:16:36.654 --> 00:16:40.774
And we invite them to be a speaker for five to seven minutes in the next networking event.
00:16:41.945 --> 00:16:42.585
So good.
00:16:42.865 --> 00:16:54.485
Um, well, I just want to applaud you for the consistency and putting yourself out there and just making this happen because you're really serving the community so well, and we're so grateful for you.
00:16:55.004 --> 00:17:03.654
Um, and anybody that's listening that wants an introduction to Trish, please let me know, and I'll be really happy to make that introduction so you can get your song out there.
00:17:03.654 --> 00:17:05.974
on share your stories.
00:17:06.365 --> 00:17:11.595
Um, Trish, is there anything that we haven't covered yet that you think you'd really like to share this?
00:17:11.634 --> 00:17:18.605
Um, maybe it's, um, something big that's going to be happening for, for you or for your community in 2025.
00:17:19.634 --> 00:17:25.035
I think the development and expansion of the grant program is something we're really going to put our heart and soul into.
00:17:25.315 --> 00:17:31.494
So, you know, doing the annual magazine is a huge build because it's giving people a tangible asset.
00:17:31.535 --> 00:17:34.375
The sponsors will then have a tangible asset that they can use.
00:17:34.684 --> 00:17:39.994
And we're hoping that we'll get enough uptake that we can expand the grant program from two to three grants.
00:17:40.454 --> 00:17:58.575
And really that's, I think going to be the focus for the next few years because you know once you put yourself out there and you've established a network of folks who are supporting your cause, I think then you have to be really true to the cause so we're really going to concentrate on.
00:17:59.049 --> 00:18:14.900
You know, expanding our opportunities for the grant program, continuing to increase the visibility of folks like yourself who participate with us, and really continue to make those really wonderful heartfelt connections that, you know, don't, they sort of cross the line from business into friendship too.
00:18:15.404 --> 00:18:22.644
And I think that's really an important part because we're all as humans looking for the support of other people who are in small business.
00:18:22.934 --> 00:18:36.515
And I think there's been so many changes in the last few years that finding a community that serves you and feeds your soul and that you can also share some of your gifts and magic with other people is really what it's all about.
00:18:36.515 --> 00:18:39.055
So I've, you know, somebody said to me, are you ever going to quit?
00:18:39.644 --> 00:18:41.005
And I said, well, probably not.
00:18:41.015 --> 00:18:45.644
As long as there are stories to share, I'll continue with the share your stories initiative.
00:18:45.954 --> 00:18:53.125
Um, just so that, because it not only feeds my soul, but hopefully it feeds all of the people that join us as well.
00:18:53.904 --> 00:18:54.704
Totally.
00:18:54.734 --> 00:18:57.325
And maybe if you don't mind, I'm just going to ask one last question.
00:18:57.325 --> 00:18:58.684
Just, just about.
00:18:58.904 --> 00:19:08.434
It feeding your soul and is it serving you like, uh, what I'm working on is like our social health and our social wellbeing.
00:19:08.444 --> 00:19:15.755
Like, do you feel that satisfaction when you come off either your Friday lives or the quarterly network?
00:19:15.805 --> 00:19:17.234
Like, does that fill you up?
00:19:17.234 --> 00:19:20.934
How does that serve you in your like everyday life?
00:19:21.384 --> 00:19:27.384
You know, I have to say when I started my first business in 1993, it was pretty tough for female entrepreneurs.
00:19:27.424 --> 00:19:31.115
We didn't have, um, we had very few role models.
00:19:31.394 --> 00:19:32.694
Um, we had no mentors.
00:19:32.694 --> 00:19:42.515
You know, I often say when I was speaking, you know, when I started in business and mentor wore a blue suit and a red tie, and there were very few females that we could look up to.
00:19:42.825 --> 00:19:51.859
So for me, it's all about giving back to that entrepreneurial community because I don't think a lot has changed, which is really rather sad.
00:19:52.059 --> 00:20:05.390
If we start to look at the global statistics, you know, even though there are 582 million entrepreneurs around the world, um, 76 percent are men who start businesses because funding is easier for them.
00:20:06.089 --> 00:20:26.950
You know, women are still struggling to be seen, heard, found, and hired because We live in a society that doesn't necessarily promote female entrepreneurship because we're not looked at as being business people were looked at in a totally different way in our societies, and that's being more nurturing and moms and role models and things like that.
00:20:27.410 --> 00:20:29.250
So I think that for me.
00:20:29.615 --> 00:20:35.934
It's so symbiotic and it's so amazing because I learned something from every single story I share.
00:20:36.404 --> 00:20:48.444
We all have to overcome obstacles and barriers and I find that inspiring to read someone's story and say, Wow, like, holy cow, that's a pretty amazing thing that they're doing.
00:20:48.815 --> 00:20:54.315
So one of the other things that I always share is we're all ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
00:20:54.944 --> 00:20:57.095
And that's really what the platform is all about.
00:20:57.484 --> 00:21:00.345
And I just find that the more people that I meet.
00:21:00.755 --> 00:21:08.355
Um, the more joyful it actually makes me and I've really become very proud of the, of the community that we're building.
00:21:08.714 --> 00:21:15.694
And I think it's because of people like yourself who participate and give something of yourself to the community as well.
00:21:15.744 --> 00:21:22.265
So, it's, it's a very nurturing place to be, to be quite honest, and even after 30 years of being in business.
00:21:22.785 --> 00:21:24.234
There's always something new to learn.
00:21:24.650 --> 00:21:27.289
And so I really, I really love that about the community.
00:21:28.759 --> 00:21:45.130
And I think you saying this is really going to be quite inspiring for other people that might be thinking that they've got a community that they want to birth but thinking of all these obstacles and why nots and what would you, what would you say to somebody like that?
00:21:45.845 --> 00:21:59.305
You know, I have to say, if you have an idea and you have a passion and it keeps waking you up in the middle of the night and you know, you're journaling it and the same words keep coming up or every conversation you have with your colleagues, this idea keeps popping into your head.
00:21:59.694 --> 00:22:07.355
I really do think then that you just need to take the leap of faith, step outside your comfort zone and do it because what's the worst that could happen.
00:22:08.605 --> 00:22:14.464
Maybe people will find you and they'll think you're amazing, and they'll start to follow your community.
00:22:14.875 --> 00:22:15.194
Me.
00:22:15.605 --> 00:22:17.795
I can't think of anything better to happen.
00:22:18.174 --> 00:22:27.865
And even if the opposite is true, even if it's a slow go to start with, um, we all meet people in life for a certain reason from, that's my philosophy, you know.
00:22:27.904 --> 00:22:33.914
And so if you've been really thinking about something and it's niggling you in the back of your mind, what have you got to lose?
00:22:33.914 --> 00:22:35.615
Just take the bull by the horns and do it.
00:22:35.644 --> 00:22:36.444
Give it a try.
00:22:36.654 --> 00:22:37.244
And you know what?
00:22:37.509 --> 00:22:39.690
The more that we fail, the more that we learn.
00:22:40.049 --> 00:22:47.240
So the first try out of the gate, you may think, Oh, geez, that wasn't very successful, but you may learn something from it.
00:22:47.289 --> 00:22:49.359
And then you can tweak it a little bit.
00:22:49.380 --> 00:22:51.599
And if it's meant to be, it will happen.
00:22:53.140 --> 00:22:55.150
Fantastic words of wisdom.
00:22:55.269 --> 00:22:57.359
Thank you so much, Trish.
00:22:57.369 --> 00:23:02.279
It's been such a pleasure to get to know you and to get to know your story a little bit more.
00:23:02.714 --> 00:23:03.184
Thank you.
00:23:03.184 --> 00:23:09.154
I look forward to continuing this journey together and I wish you a very happy Christmas and new year.
00:23:09.575 --> 00:23:10.714
Thank you so much, Shelley.
00:23:10.724 --> 00:23:11.265
And to you.
