July 29, 2024 • 21 mins
Can you imagine transforming your business through the power of authentic connections? Join us as we sit down with the brilliant Linda Ruhland, the visionary founder behind Success Authorities and Positively Asheville. Discover how Linda's entrepreneurial journey, deeply rooted in a family of business creatives, inspired her to create Positively Asheville—a revolutionary electronic media platform and peer-to-peer network designed to nurture local business leaders. In our conversation, Linda unveils how Asheville's unique culture fosters rapid trust and mutual respect, making it easier for entrepreneurs to build a supportive community that boosts efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
We also dig into how the business landscape is evolving, shifting from cutthroat competition to genuine relationship-building. Linda and I discuss the profound impact of embracing authenticity, transparency, and a spirit of abundance in forging meaningful connections. Learn about the concept of a "business neighborhood," where entrepreneurs can freely share resources, advice, and emotional support, ultimately driving professional growth and resilience during tough times. This episode is a treasure trove of insights for anyone looking to create a network that champions collaboration and collective success.
Website: https://successauthorities.com/
Success Authorities
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/71829477/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SuccessAuthorities
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wcw2k/
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@successauthorities
Linda Ruhland
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindaruhland/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/linda.j.ruhland
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindajruhland/
Positively Asheville
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/95035117/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/positivelyasheville
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/positivelyasheville/
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@positivelyasheville9367
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Find our more or register for a course today: Mosaic Business Consulting
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Website: https://www.mosaicbusinessconsulting.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Laura (00:14):
Good morning.
I'm your host, lauraWagner-Kanesh, owner of Mosaic
Business Consulting, and you'relistening to the Mosaic Life
with Laura W.
A mosaic is a bunch of piecesthat, when put together, make up
the whole in a really beautifulway, and this show plans to
discuss the various pieces of abusiness throughout different
industries and how these pieces,when put together, can help
(00:37):
develop a better, more efficientand effective running of your
business.
To reach me, contact bizradious.
Today.
My guest is a fabulous one,linda Ruland, and Linda is an
experienced marketing strategist, works with business and
organizational leaders toovercome obstacles, navigate
(00:59):
change and ultimately achievemore clarity, greater
cooperation, improved results,etc.
Ruland is the founder ofSuccess Authorities, an advisory
firm for improving business andleadership success, and
Positively Asheville, apeer-to-peer network where
leaders support one another ingoal achievement.
(01:22):
She is also an accomplishedspeaker on the topics of
leadership conversation andcooperative team building and is
founder of the Western NorthCarolina chapter of the National
Speakers Association.
And what I love about her storyis that she really grew up in a
family of entrepreneurs.
Both her mother and her fatherwere successful business owners,
(01:44):
and the family seemed tofrequently engage in business
conversation around the kitchentable, so consequently, she
gained a special admiration forentrepreneurs, their passion,
their perseverance, and she haschanneled this love she has for
entrepreneurial leadership intoa vision that, with the right
(02:06):
people, processes and systems,businesses and organizations may
experience scalable andsustainable success.
So please welcome Linda to theshow.
Linda, it is so good to haveyou here.
Linda (02:20):
Well, thank you, Laura.
It's a pleasure and an honor.
Laura (02:23):
Yeah, yeah, I'm so glad you decided to join us and thank
you, laura, it's a pleasure andan honor.
Yeah, yeah, I'm so glad youdecided to join us.
And you know, I was wonderingabout the whole entrepreneurial
journey and thinking about howwe tend to, as leaders, find
ourselves struggling at times,and I'm curious to know a little
(02:44):
bit more about thispeer-to-peer support you
mentioned with PositivelyAsheville.
Linda (02:49):
Well, Positively, Asheville is, in of itself, a
journey.
It is something that I moved toAsheville not knowing I would
create.
It was inspired by the peoplehere, especially the business
community.
After talking to many of youover the course of about a year
a little more than a year Ilearned what people were looking
(03:12):
for and I learned what I'd liketo think, what I have in common
that I wanted to see more ofhappening and what the people
the business people, the leadersaround me would want to see
more of happening happening andwhat the people, the business
people, the leaders around mewould want to see more of
happening.
And about a year, a little morethan a year ago I think my URL
(03:32):
is just a year old I launchedPositivelyAshevillecom with the
idea that would be an electronicmedia platform that would
provide insights and informationfor business leaders, and I
understood at the get-go thatour small businesses and
organizations struggle with thesame thing when it comes to
(03:54):
recruiting, gaining awarenessout there, and with regard to
promoting any kinds of events orspecial achievements that they
are let's say, new product orservice launch that they are
engaging in.
So that was the impetus, and afew months ago, I added to my
(04:19):
team, an advisory group, andthey helped me kind of explode
it bigger and so we made it notonly electronic but live, and
now we meet monthly and we alsohold quarterly learning sessions
.
We call them brunches.
Laura (04:37):
Oh, wow.
Linda (04:38):
Cool, yeah, that.
That is the journey that thathas been inspired by is the fact
that we as leaders aresometimes a little isolated and
each of us are going thatdistance in our own way and in
our own timing, and it can getlonely and sometimes a little
(05:00):
bit frightening, and other timesit just would feel better to
have somebody to bounce ideas up, and so that's the idea of the
peer to peer networking that youhad mentioned.
Laura (05:09):
Well, and I like your idea about bouncing ideas off of
one another, but I also likethis idea of you know, having
collegial support from peoplewho get it, people who are those
leaders themselves andstruggling or have struggled
with those same challenges thatyou're encountering at the
(05:31):
moment.
Let's say right, yes, exactly.
Linda (05:34):
I like to say that the answers are in the room, if we
have the right people and wehave the understanding and trust
and confidence in one another.
There is just so much more thatwe can accomplish, and both
efficiently and, you know, costeffectively.
That's a big deal too,especially when you are working
(05:55):
on a tight budget, which, interms of entrepreneurs and local
organizations, clubs who isn'tyeah?
Laura (06:03):
exactly Well, and you know I'm wondering how is it
that you're able to build thattrust to?
You know, make that a spacewhere people get that they're
there to support one another.
It's not competitive.
It's intended specifically tobe supportive and to help one
another.
Linda (06:22):
There's a lot to be said about culture.
There's a lot to be said aboutculture and it is that invisible
presence of, let's say, sharedbeliefs, definitely shared
values, and a consistencythereof.
(06:44):
That is Asheville.
There is an openness about it.
I don't know if, from anortherner's perspective, if
you'd call it Southernhospitality, but I think it's
more.
It's part of being thatAsheville resident that we
understand that we are part of akind of a family of sorts, a
(07:05):
community, and that if weembrace that and we treat one
another with that kind ofrespect at least the kind of
respect that I've grown toappreciate in a very big way
that there there can be a rapiddevelopment of that trust, as
long as we play consistently andmake our intentions clear.
Laura (07:26):
Yeah, yeah, and I do think that that's such a key
element, because you go to thesenetworking meetings and you
have 60 seconds to sort of spewout your spiel and tell people
what you do and why you're there, basically, and I just feel
like in so many regards it's abit fake, a bit false, and it's
(07:51):
only the before and after thosenetworking meetings that you
have the opportunity to reallyexpress who you are and to have
those longer conversations aboutwhat you do and how you might
be able to help other people.
Right, and I feel like thisorganization this this
positively Asheville you'retalking about is is different
right.
Linda (08:11):
Yes, beyond the elevator pitch, let's call it.
Yeah yeah, you know we all needthat elevator pitch and it helps
us gain clarity, but at somepoint we all need to let our
guard down.
And again, that's important tomake sure that, if you're going
to let your guard down, you'reletting it down in a place
that's safe and supportive.
Obviously, that's a big dealfor all of us, whether it's at
(08:36):
work or at home or, you know,among family and friends.
But it's also important, ifyou're going to grow, to gain
that mutual feedback.
I want to say that for each ofus, whether we're leading an
organization or a business, thatthere's a sweet spot for us,
(08:58):
and that sweet spot is where ourinterests mesh with the
interests and needs of whoeverour clientele or constituents
are.
And how are you going to findthat sweet spot unless you open
up, ask questions, push yourselfout there a little bit more
than what you would normally dowith a classic elevator pitch?
Laura (09:21):
Yeah, and even among the networking colleagues that you
have in these other networkingmeetings, even among the
networking colleagues that youhave in these other networking
meetings, it's like that senseof vulnerability is almost in
many respects and not all groupsare like this, but some groups
where being vulnerable is noteither allowed or is seemingly
discouraged, right, and you'resaying in Positively, asheville,
(09:45):
let's lift these voices, let'sbe vulnerable, be open.
And what will people get fromthis?
What is your hope that peopleget from this?
Linda (09:56):
Well, my hope from this is that as we progress into you
know now it's AI, and beforethat we talked about the digital
revolution.
You know now it's AI, andbefore that we talked about the
digital revolution.
But more and more and more, aswe move forward in life and in
our technological universewhatever you want to call it
(10:18):
that the products and servicesand traditions that we had
around competing are no longerrelevant because people can get
what they want where they wantit, when they want it, and if
you have a price that'scompetitive today, it won't be
tomorrow.
All of that kind of turns intominutia.
It turns into the things thatare essentially commoditized at
(10:41):
a very rapid pace.
So then, if you wipe all thataway, what do you have?
And that is you, and you knowwhat you cannot.
If you try find somebody tocompete with you, there is no
competition at that level.
It's purely unique.
So then the only way people canget to know you and appreciate
(11:02):
you and want to engage with youfor whatever it is that you
specialize in, is to be outthere, to be open and to be
transparent, to coin an overusedword these days.
But that's really thedifference that I mean come on.
(11:23):
Every time you open up a linkor hear something on, I mean,
come on, every time you open upa link or hear something on the
air or on television, you cantell the difference between
somebody you know being honestand open with you versus being
very, let's just say, plasticand pre-recorded.
Yeah, salesy.
Laura (11:42):
Yeah, yeah, salesy, yeah, you know, and more and more you
keep hearing about howgenuineness and authenticity are
such a critical element ofsales, because sales is about
building relationships.
It's not about sales, right,it's relationships.
It is, it is, and so really whatyou're doing is building a
(12:02):
network of relationships.
It sounds like that is trulybuilt on this genuine and
authentic belief that we can allsupport and gain from each
other, and that you're trying tobuild that environment for
people to do just that right.
And will this model that youdeveloped, will it, somehow help
(12:28):
businesses?
Linda (12:29):
grow Absolutely.
One of the things is I don'twant to take credit for
developing.
I want to just say I'm tryingto facilitate what's happening
organically.
One of the reasons I gotinvolved with the I mentioned a
business forum that I was partof a while ago that did some of
(12:52):
this work.
The interest that I had in thatbusiness forum was that they
focused on the fact that thereis abundance right, there is an
abundance of both opportunityand wealth to be had.
if you look for and pursuethings in an honest and
(13:13):
consistent way.
If we look at competing with oneanother, then things start to
get small and the world getssmall.
We feel like we're actuallyhaving to, you know, take a
slice of the pie or not have aslice of the pie, that we're
competing for that same amountof business but, in contrast, in
(13:34):
a perspective of abundance,means that there's more than
enough for everybody to goaround.
And you know, it's just aphilosophy that changes the way
you see opportunity.
It changes the way you see oneanother.
And what I referenced, you know, rather than to sound
philosophical about this, whenyou think about the fact that
(13:55):
when somebody is out looking forsomething let's just say it's
something like a piece offurniture or an article of
clothing are they going to go tothat one place that's isolated
out amongst everything else butthat item that they're looking
for, or are they going to gowhere there's a lot of those
(14:17):
items available and they canpick and choose from it?
So when you look at yourcompetition as somebody who's
actually amplifying what you andthey do now, you're attracting
more of what you're seeking.
You're not competing for it.
Laura (14:31):
You are actually working cooperatively to bring more
business for you as a group, asan industry as whatever
affiliation you have with oneanother, but you essentially
have a strategic alliance, ifyou want to use a business term,
and yeah, you look at thingsWell, and I'm just wondering,
(14:52):
when you were saying that, youknow, it almost felt like what
you're building is a businessneighborhood.
Yeah, you know what I mean.
It felt like you know how theyhave that um application or
website next door, right, so youcan, yes, have these neighbors
that you can reach out to, hey,hey, have you seen my dog?
Or hey, be on the lookout,there's a bear in the area or
(15:16):
something like that.
Right that there's thisconnectedness that we feel to
one another and we share and wecan, you know, make sure we're
looking out for each other.
Linda (15:28):
And it means so much.
Laura (15:29):
Yes, yes, yeah, and I loved how you said you know,
when you're leading anentrepreneurial group, we're so
often by ourselves and feelinglonely, et cetera, and lonely at
the top, if you will and thatthis approach you're using to
sort of evolve the networkingexperience into something that
(15:51):
is meaningful but impactful.
Right, it's not just about me,me, me, take, take, take.
Linda (15:58):
One of the things I really love about leaders when
leaders are leaders, becausethat's how they're wired is that
they're lifelong learners.
They're always looking forsomething new, something better,
something to share, somethingto contribute, and when you have
a network of people who aredoing that and reaching out,
(16:21):
it's like having unlimitedresources.
And what's really nice about itis they're also very accessible
resources.
Very accessible resources.
You don't have to break thebank to go find that next piece
of whatever it is that you need,or knowledge base that you need
(16:42):
.
Or think of it this way If youneeded some expertise because
suddenly you lost a key playerin your organization and you
needed somebody to either helpyou in the interim or give you
some advice to replace that keyindividual, how nice would it be
to have a group of peers atyour side, at your fingertips,
(17:05):
to assist you in that unexpectedinstance.
Laura (17:08):
Yeah, yeah and yeah.
It is so critical, right whenyou're feeling down and you've
had a rough day as anentrepreneur, it is so critical,
I think, to be able to reachout to someone who gets it
number one and can then maybe besupportive and help you know,
yes, yes, and that's nice.
Linda (17:29):
And on the other side of the coin too, it's also good to
have somebody who will kind ofset you straight every once in a
while, put you in the chair andsay you know, look at it this
way.
You've got to get real or youknow.
Laura (17:42):
So you mean that accountability thing.
Linda (17:44):
Say again you mean that accountability thing, that
accountability thing, or justyou know, get in touch with
where you are and you know,stick to the plan.
And sometimes it just gets roughand you want to give up.
And you know sometimes somebodythere to say, hey, you promised
that's a big deal and it couldbe that it could be.
(18:06):
Whatever it evolves into itwill depend upon the culture
that emerges as a result of this.
But I think that there's enough.
Let's just call it, you know,love of one another and
understanding of one anotherthat this could be something
really tremendous for our groupsand for our leaders.
Laura (18:27):
Yeah, and I see this not staying local, but growing
dramatically.
What are your thoughts?
Linda (18:33):
Well, my thoughts are if this works in this community, it
can work in another community.
I can see that differentcommunities could evolve as a
result of this.
Let's just say, today it'spositively Asheville, but maybe
tomorrow there would be apositively Asheville and or a
positively Hendersonville and ora positively Minneapolis.
(18:58):
I'm not sure where that willevolve, but at the moment we are
focused on positively Asheville, because that's where we are
and that's what's blossoming atthe moment.
That's the seed planted.
Laura (19:10):
Yeah, it's great, and if people wanted to get in touch
with you and learn a bit moreabout Positively Asheville, how
can they contact?
Linda (19:17):
you If they go to the website positivelyashevillecom.
There are ways to number one,just inquire and contact me, or
you can take a look at theevents.
There's an event calendar onthe homepage and you can plug
into the events that we arepromoting and those events have
(19:40):
a registration page so you cansee when they are and they all,
by the way, all of our monthlymeetings happen at Sun Tzu
Martial Arts on the firstTuesday of the month at 10 am,
so that's a really great way toget in touch and get a good feel
for who we are and what we do.
Laura (20:00):
Excellent, excellent.
Well, linda, it is so great tohave you on the show and I can't
thank you enough for all thatyou shared with our group and
the people.
Linda (20:08):
Fantastic, I appreciate you, Laura, and everything that
you do.
You are definitely a shiningstar for people who can and need
guidance going forward.
Laura (20:19):
Thank you very much.
I really appreciate that and Iwant to thank you, the audience,
for listening to the mosaiclife with Laura W.
You can listen to this episodeagain and get this great content
, or listen to other great hostsand their shows by going to
bizradious and click on shows.
Thanks so much for listeningand have a great rest of your
day.
Good morning.
I'm your host, lauraWagner-Kanesh, owner of Mosaic
Business Consulting, and you'relistening to the Mosaic Life
with Laura W.
A mosaic is a bunch of piecesthat, when put together, make up
the whole in a really beautifulway, and this show plans to
discuss the various pieces of abusiness throughout different
industries and how these pieces,when put together, can help
(00:37):
develop a better, more efficientand effective running of your
business.
To reach me, contact bizradious.
Today.
My guest is a fabulous one,linda Ruland, and Linda is an
experienced marketing strategist, works with business and
organizational leaders toovercome obstacles, navigate
(00:59):
change and ultimately achievemore clarity, greater
cooperation, improved results,etc.
Ruland is the founder ofSuccess Authorities, an advisory
firm for improving business andleadership success, and
Positively Asheville, apeer-to-peer network where
leaders support one another ingoal achievement.
(01:22):
She is also an accomplishedspeaker on the topics of
leadership conversation andcooperative team building and is
founder of the Western NorthCarolina chapter of the National
Speakers Association.
And what I love about her storyis that she really grew up in a
family of entrepreneurs.
Both her mother and her fatherwere successful business owners,
(01:44):
and the family seemed tofrequently engage in business
conversation around the kitchentable, so consequently, she
gained a special admiration forentrepreneurs, their passion,
their perseverance, and she haschanneled this love she has for
entrepreneurial leadership intoa vision that, with the right
(02:06):
people, processes and systems,businesses and organizations may
experience scalable andsustainable success.
So please welcome Linda to theshow.
Linda, it is so good to haveyou here.
Linda (02:20):
Well, thank you, Laura.
It's a pleasure and an honor.
Laura (02:23):
Yeah, yeah, I'm so glad you decided to join us and thank
you, laura, it's a pleasure andan honor.
Yeah, yeah, I'm so glad youdecided to join us.
And you know, I was wonderingabout the whole entrepreneurial
journey and thinking about howwe tend to, as leaders, find
ourselves struggling at times,and I'm curious to know a little
(02:44):
bit more about thispeer-to-peer support you
mentioned with PositivelyAsheville.
Linda (02:49):
Well, Positively, Asheville is, in of itself, a
journey.
It is something that I moved toAsheville not knowing I would
create.
It was inspired by the peoplehere, especially the business
community.
After talking to many of youover the course of about a year
a little more than a year Ilearned what people were looking
(03:12):
for and I learned what I'd liketo think, what I have in common
that I wanted to see more ofhappening and what the people
the business people, the leadersaround me would want to see
more of happening happening andwhat the people, the business
people, the leaders around mewould want to see more of
happening.
And about a year, a little morethan a year ago I think my URL
(03:32):
is just a year old I launchedPositivelyAshevillecom with the
idea that would be an electronicmedia platform that would
provide insights and informationfor business leaders, and I
understood at the get-go thatour small businesses and
organizations struggle with thesame thing when it comes to
(03:54):
recruiting, gaining awarenessout there, and with regard to
promoting any kinds of events orspecial achievements that they
are let's say, new product orservice launch that they are
engaging in.
So that was the impetus, and afew months ago, I added to my
(04:19):
team, an advisory group, andthey helped me kind of explode
it bigger and so we made it notonly electronic but live, and
now we meet monthly and we alsohold quarterly learning sessions
.
We call them brunches.
Laura (04:37):
Oh, wow.
Linda (04:38):
Cool, yeah, that.
That is the journey that thathas been inspired by is the fact
that we as leaders aresometimes a little isolated and
each of us are going thatdistance in our own way and in
our own timing, and it can getlonely and sometimes a little
(05:00):
bit frightening, and other timesit just would feel better to
have somebody to bounce ideas up, and so that's the idea of the
peer to peer networking that youhad mentioned.
Laura (05:09):
Well, and I like your idea about bouncing ideas off of
one another, but I also likethis idea of you know, having
collegial support from peoplewho get it, people who are those
leaders themselves andstruggling or have struggled
with those same challenges thatyou're encountering at the
(05:31):
moment.
Let's say right, yes, exactly.
Linda (05:34):
I like to say that the answers are in the room, if we
have the right people and wehave the understanding and trust
and confidence in one another.
There is just so much more thatwe can accomplish, and both
efficiently and, you know, costeffectively.
That's a big deal too,especially when you are working
(05:55):
on a tight budget, which, interms of entrepreneurs and local
organizations, clubs who isn'tyeah?
Laura (06:03):
exactly Well, and you know I'm wondering how is it
that you're able to build thattrust to?
You know, make that a spacewhere people get that they're
there to support one another.
It's not competitive.
It's intended specifically tobe supportive and to help one
another.
Linda (06:22):
There's a lot to be said about culture.
There's a lot to be said aboutculture and it is that invisible
presence of, let's say, sharedbeliefs, definitely shared
values, and a consistencythereof.
(06:44):
That is Asheville.
There is an openness about it.
I don't know if, from anortherner's perspective, if
you'd call it Southernhospitality, but I think it's
more.
It's part of being thatAsheville resident that we
understand that we are part of akind of a family of sorts, a
(07:05):
community, and that if weembrace that and we treat one
another with that kind ofrespect at least the kind of
respect that I've grown toappreciate in a very big way
that there there can be a rapiddevelopment of that trust, as
long as we play consistently andmake our intentions clear.
Laura (07:26):
Yeah, yeah, and I do think that that's such a key
element, because you go to thesenetworking meetings and you
have 60 seconds to sort of spewout your spiel and tell people
what you do and why you're there, basically, and I just feel
like in so many regards it's abit fake, a bit false, and it's
(07:51):
only the before and after thosenetworking meetings that you
have the opportunity to reallyexpress who you are and to have
those longer conversations aboutwhat you do and how you might
be able to help other people.
Right, and I feel like thisorganization this this
positively Asheville you'retalking about is is different
right.
Linda (08:11):
Yes, beyond the elevator pitch, let's call it.
Yeah yeah, you know we all needthat elevator pitch and it helps
us gain clarity, but at somepoint we all need to let our
guard down.
And again, that's important tomake sure that, if you're going
to let your guard down, you'reletting it down in a place
that's safe and supportive.
Obviously, that's a big dealfor all of us, whether it's at
(08:36):
work or at home or, you know,among family and friends.
But it's also important, ifyou're going to grow, to gain
that mutual feedback.
I want to say that for each ofus, whether we're leading an
organization or a business, thatthere's a sweet spot for us,
(08:58):
and that sweet spot is where ourinterests mesh with the
interests and needs of whoeverour clientele or constituents
are.
And how are you going to findthat sweet spot unless you open
up, ask questions, push yourselfout there a little bit more
than what you would normally dowith a classic elevator pitch?
Laura (09:21):
Yeah, and even among the networking colleagues that you
have in these other networkingmeetings, even among the
networking colleagues that youhave in these other networking
meetings, it's like that senseof vulnerability is almost in
many respects and not all groupsare like this, but some groups
where being vulnerable is noteither allowed or is seemingly
discouraged, right, and you'resaying in Positively, asheville,
(09:45):
let's lift these voices, let'sbe vulnerable, be open.
And what will people get fromthis?
What is your hope that peopleget from this?
Linda (09:56):
Well, my hope from this is that as we progress into you
know now it's AI, and beforethat we talked about the digital
revolution.
You know now it's AI, andbefore that we talked about the
digital revolution.
But more and more and more, aswe move forward in life and in
our technological universewhatever you want to call it
(10:18):
that the products and servicesand traditions that we had
around competing are no longerrelevant because people can get
what they want where they wantit, when they want it, and if
you have a price that'scompetitive today, it won't be
tomorrow.
All of that kind of turns intominutia.
It turns into the things thatare essentially commoditized at
(10:41):
a very rapid pace.
So then, if you wipe all thataway, what do you have?
And that is you, and you knowwhat you cannot.
If you try find somebody tocompete with you, there is no
competition at that level.
It's purely unique.
So then the only way people canget to know you and appreciate
(11:02):
you and want to engage with youfor whatever it is that you
specialize in, is to be outthere, to be open and to be
transparent, to coin an overusedword these days.
But that's really thedifference that I mean come on.
(11:23):
Every time you open up a linkor hear something on, I mean,
come on, every time you open upa link or hear something on the
air or on television, you cantell the difference between
somebody you know being honestand open with you versus being
very, let's just say, plasticand pre-recorded.
Yeah, salesy.
Laura (11:42):
Yeah, yeah, salesy, yeah, you know, and more and more you
keep hearing about howgenuineness and authenticity are
such a critical element ofsales, because sales is about
building relationships.
It's not about sales, right,it's relationships.
It is, it is, and so really whatyou're doing is building a
(12:02):
network of relationships.
It sounds like that is trulybuilt on this genuine and
authentic belief that we can allsupport and gain from each
other, and that you're trying tobuild that environment for
people to do just that right.
And will this model that youdeveloped, will it, somehow help
(12:28):
businesses?
Linda (12:29):
grow Absolutely.
One of the things is I don'twant to take credit for
developing.
I want to just say I'm tryingto facilitate what's happening
organically.
One of the reasons I gotinvolved with the I mentioned a
business forum that I was partof a while ago that did some of
(12:52):
this work.
The interest that I had in thatbusiness forum was that they
focused on the fact that thereis abundance right, there is an
abundance of both opportunityand wealth to be had.
if you look for and pursuethings in an honest and
(13:13):
consistent way.
If we look at competing with oneanother, then things start to
get small and the world getssmall.
We feel like we're actuallyhaving to, you know, take a
slice of the pie or not have aslice of the pie, that we're
competing for that same amountof business but, in contrast, in
(13:34):
a perspective of abundance,means that there's more than
enough for everybody to goaround.
And you know, it's just aphilosophy that changes the way
you see opportunity.
It changes the way you see oneanother.
And what I referenced, you know, rather than to sound
philosophical about this, whenyou think about the fact that
(13:55):
when somebody is out looking forsomething let's just say it's
something like a piece offurniture or an article of
clothing are they going to go tothat one place that's isolated
out amongst everything else butthat item that they're looking
for, or are they going to gowhere there's a lot of those
(14:17):
items available and they canpick and choose from it?
So when you look at yourcompetition as somebody who's
actually amplifying what you andthey do now, you're attracting
more of what you're seeking.
You're not competing for it.
Laura (14:31):
You are actually working cooperatively to bring more
business for you as a group, asan industry as whatever
affiliation you have with oneanother, but you essentially
have a strategic alliance, ifyou want to use a business term,
and yeah, you look at thingsWell, and I'm just wondering,
(14:52):
when you were saying that, youknow, it almost felt like what
you're building is a businessneighborhood.
Yeah, you know what I mean.
It felt like you know how theyhave that um application or
website next door, right, so youcan, yes, have these neighbors
that you can reach out to, hey,hey, have you seen my dog?
Or hey, be on the lookout,there's a bear in the area or
(15:16):
something like that.
Right that there's thisconnectedness that we feel to
one another and we share and wecan, you know, make sure we're
looking out for each other.
Linda (15:28):
And it means so much.
Laura (15:29):
Yes, yes, yeah, and I loved how you said you know,
when you're leading anentrepreneurial group, we're so
often by ourselves and feelinglonely, et cetera, and lonely at
the top, if you will and thatthis approach you're using to
sort of evolve the networkingexperience into something that
(15:51):
is meaningful but impactful.
Right, it's not just about me,me, me, take, take, take.
Linda (15:58):
One of the things I really love about leaders when
leaders are leaders, becausethat's how they're wired is that
they're lifelong learners.
They're always looking forsomething new, something better,
something to share, somethingto contribute, and when you have
a network of people who aredoing that and reaching out,
(16:21):
it's like having unlimitedresources.
And what's really nice about itis they're also very accessible
resources.
Very accessible resources.
You don't have to break thebank to go find that next piece
of whatever it is that you need,or knowledge base that you need
(16:42):
.
Or think of it this way If youneeded some expertise because
suddenly you lost a key playerin your organization and you
needed somebody to either helpyou in the interim or give you
some advice to replace that keyindividual, how nice would it be
to have a group of peers atyour side, at your fingertips,
(17:05):
to assist you in that unexpectedinstance.
Laura (17:08):
Yeah, yeah and yeah.
It is so critical, right whenyou're feeling down and you've
had a rough day as anentrepreneur, it is so critical,
I think, to be able to reachout to someone who gets it
number one and can then maybe besupportive and help you know,
yes, yes, and that's nice.
Linda (17:29):
And on the other side of the coin too, it's also good to
have somebody who will kind ofset you straight every once in a
while, put you in the chair andsay you know, look at it this
way.
You've got to get real or youknow.
Laura (17:42):
So you mean that accountability thing.
Linda (17:44):
Say again you mean that accountability thing, that
accountability thing, or justyou know, get in touch with
where you are and you know,stick to the plan.
And sometimes it just gets roughand you want to give up.
And you know sometimes somebodythere to say, hey, you promised
that's a big deal and it couldbe that it could be.
(18:06):
Whatever it evolves into itwill depend upon the culture
that emerges as a result of this.
But I think that there's enough.
Let's just call it, you know,love of one another and
understanding of one anotherthat this could be something
really tremendous for our groupsand for our leaders.
Laura (18:27):
Yeah, and I see this not staying local, but growing
dramatically.
What are your thoughts?
Linda (18:33):
Well, my thoughts are if this works in this community, it
can work in another community.
I can see that differentcommunities could evolve as a
result of this.
Let's just say, today it'spositively Asheville, but maybe
tomorrow there would be apositively Asheville and or a
positively Hendersonville and ora positively Minneapolis.
(18:58):
I'm not sure where that willevolve, but at the moment we are
focused on positively Asheville, because that's where we are
and that's what's blossoming atthe moment.
That's the seed planted.
Laura (19:10):
Yeah, it's great, and if people wanted to get in touch
with you and learn a bit moreabout Positively Asheville, how
can they contact?
Linda (19:17):
you If they go to the website positivelyashevillecom.
There are ways to number one,just inquire and contact me, or
you can take a look at theevents.
There's an event calendar onthe homepage and you can plug
into the events that we arepromoting and those events have
(19:40):
a registration page so you cansee when they are and they all,
by the way, all of our monthlymeetings happen at Sun Tzu
Martial Arts on the firstTuesday of the month at 10 am,
so that's a really great way toget in touch and get a good feel
for who we are and what we do.
Laura (20:00):
Excellent, excellent.
Well, linda, it is so great tohave you on the show and I can't
thank you enough for all thatyou shared with our group and
the people.
Linda (20:08):
Fantastic, I appreciate you, Laura, and everything that
you do.
You are definitely a shiningstar for people who can and need
guidance going forward.
Laura (20:19):
Thank you very much.
I really appreciate that and Iwant to thank you, the audience,
for listening to the mosaiclife with Laura W.
You can listen to this episodeagain and get this great content
, or listen to other great hostsand their shows by going to
bizradious and click on shows.
Thanks so much for listeningand have a great rest of your
day.
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