Welcome to Series 6 of the Plutus Awards Podcast hosted by Michelle Jackson. Our community is filled with hundreds of stories from creators and entrepreneurs just like you. And through this show we share these stories of challenges and successes from bloggers to podcasters, from writers, speakers, and more.
In this season we talk about a somewhat taboo topic — the deadly sins that personal finance (and other content creators) can make. We share lessons learned, how to avoid these mistakes, and the fact that we’re all human, putting our creative work out there into the world. This season’s conversation is about the inherent risks we’re taking in developing online brands, our own hubris, and the impact that how other people perceive us can make us or break our online brand.
Today’s guest is Felicia Gopaul and she shares how trying to do everything hurt her brand. Once she focused on who she was of service to and focused on consistency her business began to thrive.
Felicia Gopaul – The Sin of Misalignment: Why Your Brand’s Consistency Is So Important
Notes and summary from this episode
Felicia-It’s funny, we talked about how we make mistakes when building out our online brand. In the beginning I was everything. That was the biggest mistake I made and not taking the time to understand who I was online.
Michelle-If someone was to ask you what your online brand is could you share how you began positioning yourself online?
Felicia-I like to talk and to educate. I’m not ok with clients just taking what I say, I want to understand why we’re doing what we’re doing. I’ve always spoken, done workshops, etc. When I say I’m an economic catalyst because I’ll educate you so you understand exactly why you should do what you’re being educated to do.
Michelle-We’re talking about the sins that content creators can make as they’re building out their brands. One of the things that I realized was that these sins don’t exist separate from each other. Could you share how inconsistency showed up in your brand and what you did to change that?
Felicia-When I first got online I had a hard time articulating who I was. I would invest with various different mentors. I would invest with Facebook, etc. and was an early adopter and can’t articulate who you were and what you do so I wasn’t able to get the traction that I was hoping for with those investments.
Michelle-The journey of trying different things isn’t that you’re inconsistent, you were testing things out. How did you recognize what worked for your audience?
Felicia-I took time off to take care of my father for 7 years and when I returned I realized that what I was doing before wasn’t working. What I would say to other entrepreneurs is there is a common theme or thread throughout your business that you’re comfortable doing within your business.
Michelle-Once you figured out that speaking was in alignment with your business how did you create products how did you build in consistency?
Felicia-I had to find a company that was in alignment with what I was trying to do. Recently, though, I found a company to work with that is consistent with the type of education/resources that create a synergy with my customers as well. I had a focus on creative affective content
Michelle-I want to know more. What’s a day in your life look like for you? How are you getting enough people to connect with who you are and your message?
Felicia-I have a team. When I’m doing quarterly events with the company I’m partnered with I direct them to their events. I’m constantly talking to people about what I’m working on.
Michelle-You’re doing ongoing messaging?
Felicia-Not an affiliate though. It’s an ongoing education company. I look at what’s coming up and then invite folks to those upcoming events. I know in general up to a year in advance the different events that are coming up on an annual basis. I also take the months of July and December off. I build into my schedule these breaks.
Michelle-What has the impact been scheduling those breaks? Sean DeSouza “The three month vacation” Podcast
Felicia-I started with working 4 days a week. But, that’s not enough of a break. I realized that I needed a longer break and I’m married to a gentleman who gets 6 weeks off a year. If he gets six weeks off I need to take 6 weeks off too. I also didn’t want to work too much in December and want to play and relax at the end of the year.
Michelle-What was the impact for your business (taking those breaks)
Felicia-I was very worried when I first did it and I didn’t announce it-I just did it. I wasn’t going to ask permission to do this. I was unwilling to do that. In terms of the revenue it means that I have to get the revenue within 10 months versus 12 months. I’m willing to do that because I get 8 weeks off during there.
Michelle-What’s your number one piece of advice for a content creator in this space?
Felicia-I admire that the younger entrepreneurs are open to trying stuff vs. worrying about reputation. They’ll just strike out and try stuff and it may not work but there’s a learning that comes from that. Know who you are and move forward.
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Felicia Gopaul (everywhere)
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