Making It with Jess Ekstrom

Welcome back to Amplify with Jess Ekstrom! For today’s Monday Motivation, Jess talks about why habits and intentions are more effective than New Year's Resolutions.   If one of your resolutions is to grow your personal brand, Jess is going to share some of her habits to make that goal happen, including speaking engagements, podcast guesting, and writing!  Learn how to leverage your platform - to s...

Welcome to Amplify with Jess, Today, we’re leading off with Giselle Ugarte , Global Speaker and Executive Performance Coach, and someone who’s become TikTok famous . Giselle wasn’t always comfortable being behind the camera, so I ask her what happened and why she appears so confident now. (00:00) The confidence journey (03:56) Admitting vulnerability (07:47) Breaking barriers (11:00) Competition o...

Welcome to Amplify with Jess! Get ready to dive into anecdotes, insights, and tips that'll amp up your 2024!  Today, we’re talking about the fine line between inspiration and comparison. When you see others winning (especially on social media), do you find that motivating? Or a little deflating?  If it makes you feel less than, what can you do about it? Amplify with Jess is produced by Earfluence...

I was hesitant to restart this podcast because my mind was saying, "Is the world too noisy right now? Are we in information overload? Will I be yet another podcast that people will roll their eyes at?" But we were in Week 3 of Mic Drop Academy , which is our 10-week elite speaker program for women. And I was giving advice to someone who is hesitant to start their career as a speaker or in thought...

Do you find it hard to separate your personal worth from your business, allowing every little failure to eat you up? I'm going to let you in on a little secret and daily mantra I use: it's just business. Over the last few years, I've dealt with the pain that comes from someone not loving a product, because I was taking it personally. When I started using this mantra, I found more space to focus on...

As a speaker, you're always looking for ways to gain experience and land speaking gigs, right? Suz Chadwick is sharing 3 ways to qualify yourself as a speaker and get booked for speaking engagements. Listen in as she walks us through what it looks like to call yourself a speaker, how to show your value, and where you need to start today! Get to Know Suz (2:41) Three Ways to Land Speaking Engagemen...

Are you dreaming of standing on a stage next to those three big, red letters? Let's get you ready to land a TED Talk! In this episode of Business on the Bright Side, I'm sharing the four P's to getting booked for a TED Talk! Jess' First TedX Talk (1:06) Ted X Talk vs. Ted Talk (1:47) Ted X Talk: Localize Events Ted Talk: Main Events The Benefit of the Ted X Talk: (2:10) - You can feature the logo...

We live in a society where it's hard to be direct and say what you want—but I want to change that, starting with myself. Erica Reitman joins us today for a straightforward conversation on three ways to be more direct in both your life and your career. Listen in as she walks us through her journey and how being direct has moved the needle forward! Erica’s Past as an Interior Designer (1:44) Inner S...

Are you ready to make your website accessible for everyone? Let's test your website's accessibility! Myrna Daramy is an advocate for Digital Media Optimization, encouraging others to create an inclusive and accessible space in their brands. Listen in as she walks us through opportunities for improvement and how we can start optimizing our websites today! DMO: Digital Media Optimization (1:50) Digi...

Do you have a great business idea or name? You may be asking yourself, "Do I need a trademark?" Michelle Murphy of Wilson Murphy Law and The CEO Legal Loft join us to discuss when and why you need a trademark for your big idea, and how to go about the trademark process. Listen in as she walks through a trademark search, a few legal steps to take when you're getting started, and how an attorney can...

What does creativity mean to you? Have you found a way to incorporate it into your life? In this episode of Business on the Bright Side, I'm joined by Brit Morin of Self Made and Brit & Co to discuss how you can activate your creativity, dive into what your passionate about, and use that to launch the business you've been dreaming about!   Get to Know Brit (1:14)  The Journey of Brit & Co...

Do you typically stick to the same marketing tactics you've always worked with in your business? Sometimes that can leave you stagnant.  Audria Richmond is making big moves in new marketing strategies and techniques, which is why I thought it was so important to bring her on the show. Audria joins us to share three ways you can try new marketing in your business this year to set yourself apart! Ge...

As my team celebrates Headbands of Hope's 9th birthday, we're also celebrating the honor of being ranked in the top 1% of all Shopify stores! As I reflect on these last 9 years, there are so many experiences that led to this success in business! Listen in as I share 5 things that I believe contributed to our top 1% ranking of all Shopify stores! Plus, make sure you use the code FIRSTTIMER for 20%...

Have you been hesitant to put yourself on video in your business? Today, Natasha Samuel of Shine with Natasha joins us to help you set aside any fears by sharing the impact video can have on connect with your audience. Listen in as she shares 3 ways you can use video on Instagram to connect, plus she's providing a few ideas to help get you started! Becoming an Instagram Strategist (3:11) Why Video...

Overthinking can cause so much more stress than any of us need—let's crush those tendencies and stop overthinking. Jon Acuff joins us in this episode to share three ways you can stop overthinking in every aspect of your life. Listen in as he walks us through these steps and how he's used them in his own life. Three Ways to Stop Overthinking (1:03) 1. Retire Your Broken Soundtrack (1:19) Bright Pag...

Has Women's History Month motivated you to surround yourself with and collaborate with other women entrepreneurs? I'm here for it! In this episode of Business on the Bright Side, I'm sharing 5 ways you can collaborate with other women! From simple ideas to more complex opportunities, let's dive into how you can grow together! 5 Ways to Collaborate with Other Women 1. Swap or Trade Services (2:12)...

There is so much power in connecting with and building up other women. That's why I was honored to bring Natalie Franke, co-founder of The Rising Tide Society and community leader of Honeybook, on the podcast to discuss how you can genuinely root for other women. Listen in as we discuss why she decided to open up about her journey to motherhood and connect with others who are living through the sa...

I don't know about you, but I've found myself surrounded by strong and powerful women in my life. So, in honor of Women's History Month, on today's episode of Business on the Bright Side, I'm highlighting 10 women who have impacted my life and career. From family members, professors, and business colleagues to women I've never met and even one who's name I never got, listen in to see how knowing t...

Why do we feel burdened to always be connected to our phones and checking social media? We shouldn't have to. In this episode of Business on the Bright Side, Minaa B joins us to share how and why you should set digital boundaries in your life and business. Listen in as she describes the importance of understanding responsibilities in online relationships and communication when you're setting those...

Have you ever finished a book and thought, "That would have been better as an article or blog post?" I think we've all experienced that. In this episode of Business on the Bright Side, I'm sharing four ways to help you decided if your idea should be a book or a blog post. Grab yourself a pen and paper, and let's dive into this exercise! How to Know if Your Idea Should Be a Book or a Blog Post: How...

So, you have a book idea, but you have no idea where to start in order to get your book on shelves—thankfully I've already been through the process and can tell you! In this episode of Business on the Bright Side, I'm sharing four important steps to get your book on the shelves of retailers you love. Listen in as I dive into building a book proposal, getting a literary agent, securing a book publi...

Are you using clubhouse to grow as a professional speaker? With the platform becoming more and more popular, there is so much potential to gain awareness for your brand and network with others. In this episode of Business on the Brightside, Mothyna James-Brightful joins us to discuss how you can use clubhouse for your brand! Additionally, we talk about steps we can all take to create more diversit...

Have you ever had a moment in your life that you look back on and thought, "Wow, that actually happened... and I made it through." In today's episode of Business on the Bright Side, I'm sharing how I lost the first $10,000 I invested in my business before I ever really even started. The lessons that came from that experience didn't sink in until much later, but it also brought out more than just l...

Are you ready to make a change in the way you're living your life? Antonio Neves joins us as our first guest on Business on the Bright Side to discuss his book, Stop Living on Autopilot! In this episode, we talk through authenticity, knowing who you are, and surrounding yourself with quality community! If you're ready to stop living on autopilot, you need to hear this conversation with Antonio! Me...

Are you struggling with creating and prioritizing your goals? This episode is for you! While I'm not a fan of strict goal setting, I think it's important to know what you're working towards! Listen in as I share my favorite goal setting tips so you can accomplish what you want in 2021! Grab the Goal Setting Workbook Tips for Goal Setting 1. Leave room for possibility. Release your grip. How can yo...