Are you ready to turn your unique voice into your greatest competitive advantage? In this episode, Jess Sato discusses how women can harness the power of their big ideas to create lasting impact. Jess shares her BOLT framework - Bold, Original, Loud, and Tenacious - and breaks down how to assess if your transformative vision has what it takes to change the world.
Jess will guide you through the process of identifying your expertise, passion, and the unmet needs you’re primed to address, then crafting a core messaging strategy to powerfully communicate your ideas. Learn the strategies for leveraging big ideas to drive meaningful change, the importance of building a supportive community, and overcoming common challenges women face when stepping onto the global stage. Jess also gives us a behind-the-scenes look at her "Big Idea Intensive" program, which helps women turn their passion projects into actionable plans.
Whether you're an aspiring thought leader or a seasoned entrepreneur, this episode is packed with insights to help you amplify your unique voice and use it to make your mark. So, get ready to think big, get bold, and create the change you want to see.
Key Takeaways in this Episode:
"A big idea is essentially a bold or audacious thought or concept that we use to create impact in the world… At the core, it's an idea that forces other people to take notice. It's something that catches your eye… And that's the goal for us as business owners, to have an idea that really cuts through the noise and allows people to take notice. - Jess Sato
About our Guest:
Jess Sato is passionate about helping women globally use their unique skills, expertise, and voice to create opportunities for themselves and others. As the founder and CEO of Jessica Sato Consulting, a speaker coach, and business growth strategist, Jess guides female thought leaders and entrepreneurs in the social impact space through a unique process to hone in on their big idea, create a core messaging strategy, and boldly leverage it as their competitive advantage.
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Hello everyone, and welcome to this week's episode of the marketing media money podcast. Really excited to have you here with me today, because we're going to be talking about a topic that I find near and dear to my heart. Let's start with a question. Is your big idea bold enough to change the world? Well, today, we're going to be discussing how to turn your unique voice into your greatest competitive advantage and learn the secrets to crafting a big idea and how to overcome fear, embrace authenticity and create a lasting impact in today's world. And my guest today is Jess Sato, and she is passionate about helping women globally use their unique skills, expertise and voice to create opportunities for themselves and others. As the founder and CEO of Jessica Sato consulting a speaker coach and Business Growth strategist, Jess guides female thought leaders and entrepreneurs in the social impact space, or a unique process to hone in on their big idea, create a core messaging strategy and boldly leverage it as their competitive advantage. Thanks so much, Jez for being here, because I'm really excited about that, because I just love everything about big idea.
Thanks for having me. I'm so excited to be here.
Thanks. So let's just dive right in. So I have to tell you, I love big idea. I have so many of them. My process is like, what do I do with all the big ideas that I have? Right? But for the audience, can you explain what you mean by a big idea and why it's crucial for female thought leaders to articulate this clearly in their journey?
Yeah, so I actually love that you started out by saying, like, I have so many because I actually think that is a challenge that a lot of people have. So for me, a big idea is essentially a bold or audacious thought or concept that we use to create impact in the world. And for most of us, we do have a whole plethora of ideas, partly because we're all experts in our field. And so it's, it's really hard to, like, narrow it down into something that you're like, Okay, this is it for me. And so, you know, I know we're going to get into the conversation about big ideas, and how do we know if they're big and bold and audacious and all of that, but yeah, at the core, it's an idea that really forces other people to take notice, right? It's something that, like, catches your eye and you're like, oh, wow, I've never really thought of it that way before, or, oh wow. That's a completely unique perspective that I I would never have thought about that on my own. And that's really the goal for us as business owners is to have an idea that really cuts through the noise and allows people to take notice.
And I think it's really interesting about where people's Big Ideas show up. Like I know that I get a lot of them when I am sleepy. I keep a pad next to my bed, because it used to wake me up and I wouldn't get any sleep. Now I know just wake them up and write them down, and then I can go back to sleep. I also get them in the shower, if I I actually keep a waterproof little marker thing in my shower, and I'll write on this shower wall and stuff, though. So you never know when you're going to get struck by a great idea. And it only takes one idea to be a million dollar idea, right? So I totally that, you know, sometimes they kind of whisper, and sometimes they just kind of slap you up beside the head, and they come from everywhere, like every single day, it's knowing which are the ideas that you should act on, right, and which ones that, for me, I have a parking lot. That's what I call it, where I put them, because I just don't have the capacity right now. I don't want it to go away, because you just never know, right? Yeah, you just never know. So I know that you've developed the bolt framework, which I love, right? And I have to tell you, I just love a framework. Whenever somebody has a framework or a process or a roadmap, whatever, they just think it is beautiful, because it's so much easier to follow, like, it takes away a lot of stress, right? You know, it's like, oh, there's a framework. Oh, fabulous, right? Exactly. So you develop this bold framework, can you tell us what it stands for and then kind of walk us through each of the elements and kind of explain to us how they contribute to this powerful, big idea?
Yeah, well, before we jump into that, I want to clarify one thing that I think is important for people to think about, and that is, you're right. As entrepreneurs, we actually do get tons of ideas, like you said, in the shower, out walking, while you're sleeping, and those are important because they, you know, kind of feed the fodder for business growth. They give us some sense of newness. When I'm talking about a big idea for a business, this is almost a more foundational concept. And if I use this in the in the in the context of like social impact or social impact entrepreneurs, which happens to be the space I'm in, it's really. About how you are going to or your unique perspective on how you're going to shift the narrative around whatever is happening in your industry, in the world, in your community, whatever space you happen to be in. So when it comes to the bold framework, the question I got a lot is, How do I know if my idea is big enough? Because more often than not, I have found that for women, we tend to minimize our own ideas. In fact, I was on a call earlier today with a client, and I could hear her starting to tamp down or sort of like, assume that other people knew her perspective, or that they it was kind of like common knowledge, when, in reality, it's not. And so this, this question kept coming out, like, Isn't my idea big enough? Like, what if it's not bold enough? And so as I started thinking more and more about big ideas, right? That's where this idea of audacious, bold came forward. And I thought, you know, you can't always, you can't always just create a big idea. A lot of times you need a way to know when it's happening. And I thought, How do you know when that's happening? And this idea of a lightning bolt came down, right? We think about light bulbs and ideas and all this stuff. And, you know, funny enough, I know that you love a framework, and I do, too, but I don't usually think in frameworks like that. And so this came out of nowhere for me, and so bold like a lightning bolt. You know, you have a lightning bolt idea when it is bold, original, loud and tenacious. So what do I mean by each of those? A bold idea is an idea that makes you uncomfortable, like, if your idea doesn't make you squirm a little to be putting it out into the world if you're talking about something, and it's just like run of the mill, if everybody else is talking about it, it, it doesn't have any real effect. And so I look at boldness as a measure of discomfort. Like we don't want to be too bold, right? Because sometimes the message can't be received. It can't be heard. Sometimes it's too ahead of its time. But if it doesn't make you uncomfortable at all, I encourage you to really, like, dial it up a little like, how can you frame that idea in a slightly different way? How can you talk about it in a way that is a little bit more audacious, not because you want to, you know, get clicks, or any of that sort of, like, false stuff. This is really about, how can we say it in a way that has an impact and that gets people thinking about whatever your big idea is, the change that you want to see, the approach that you're trying to challenge. How can we get them to think about it differently? The second is original, and you can argue that there are, in some ways, no original ideas, but the way I like to think about this is your idea has to come from you. It has to be authentic to you. And usually that is a product of your experience, your expertise, the passion, like how you came to that idea, honestly, and that that becomes really important because, again, it's a it's a thing that allows you to start to shift and different differentiate yourself in the marketplace. Loud is not necessarily volume, although sometimes it is. What I mean by loud is, does the message cut through the noise? Right? There's 1,000,001 people out there talking about everything under the sun, and probably a lot of people in your own industry. So how are you framing your message in such a way that it lands differently than everybody else's message? Some of that could be the way you have framed it based on your own unique story. Some of it can be the actual words that you're using. So it can be the stories, right? There's a lot of ways to impact that loudness component, but again, it's all about how you cut through the noise. And T is for tenacious, and that is because, and you know this very well, ideas need to have legs. They need to have staying power. And more often than not, a couple things happen. Either people give up on their own idea before it's actually they had a chance to work. So it's like, you put it out there a day later, you're like, nobody responded. I guess this isn't isn't good enough. That's not the case. A lot of times people just need a chance to a allow that message to percolate, or to, you know, for them to sit with it, but it has to have some level of tenacity. The other component to that, that I think is important, is we need our ideas to be resilient. They again. They have to have some staying power. And that means that as the idea is being challenged in the marketplace, as people are providing feedback and ideas, our idea is growing and evolving as well. So it's kind of two pronged in that case, but again, bold, original, loud and tenacious. And when we take all of those concepts together, we can ask ourselves a whole series of questions that allow us to be really honest about what our idea is all about and how is it showing up. In the marketplace.
You're going to give us an example of at least one of those questions that we could ask. I'm sure that whole bunch of them, and that's why people hire you. Like, I didn't give us a sneak peek of at least one.
Yeah, well, I mean, I'll go back to the the idea of bold, you know. I mean, this is just you doing a gut check. Like, does it make you a little bit uncomfortable to say this idea, and part of that is you having some perspective about looking out into the marketplace and seeing like, How is everybody else saying this? What would happen if I just dialed it up a notch and I said it just a little bit bolder, if I, you know, framed it in a way that does make people go, or to sit back and think, wow, I need to chew on that for a little bit, right? Like we know that intuitively. And if, if you don't feel that little buzz or that little twisty feeling in your stomach, like there's probably room, room to grow, I think if you look at like original, it's like, where did this idea come from? So I'll use my my own right. I believe very strongly in the power of women's voices. And a big part of the narrative around my work is that I have been in places where women's voices have been diminished, from religious places to the Middle East where I grew up, I have seen what happens when women are not allowed to speak freely, either because legally they can't, or because culturally it's inappropriate. We see that in a lot of the structures that we deal with as women, minimize fit in, play it small, etc. And so for me, when I look at the power that women's voices have, all of that comes through. So it's it's like being honest with yourself about your idea, and like, I have a whole guide that will take you through a bunch of these questions, so that you can actually ask yourself these hard questions and get perspective from other people.
I think that's really good, because as I'm listening to you, use the words for bolt. I really love it, and it resonates with me a lot. Because when I think about it, whenever I come up with those, you know, really bold ideas that even scare me, it's like, oh, dare I right, you know? And it is original, right? And it is loud. And for me, it's loud because, like, it just won't shut up, right? You know? It's like, right there, and it's tenacious, because it won't go away. And whenever you try to put it to the side, it's like a bolt, no, no, no, and it's a bolt. So what a great use of words and verbiage for it. So I really like that, and I like what you say, and 100% agree with you. I've been in one of those places where I wasn't able to use my voice, and I get that, and I love that you're about social impact, because I know for me, a lot of times, and I'm sure there are more than that, but for me, I like to think of three, like sometimes when people are in business, they're still in the startup, or the hustle scale type of area in their business. But also really, then there's like, legacy, right? Where you get to the point where now it's like, you're building a legacy. But there is a space in between those two things, where I play, where it's like, you know what? I'm not ready for legacy yet. I still have a lot of things that I want to do, but I'm not driven by money. You know, money is not the deciding factor for me of whether I will do something or not do something, right? And so for me, I want, I care more about making a difference, right? I feel more important to me is contribution, yeah. So I care about those type of things. So it's more important to make a difference in $1 not that we're all not, you know, whatever we do going to make money, right? We're a for profit business. However, with that said, I think it's really important. So every time I'd ever heard you speak, or the conversations that we've had, I love that social impact is such an important part of that, and I think now more than ever, it is really needs to be important. So how can women identify and literally embrace their unique voice as a competitive advantage in their industry, and what impact does this have on their personal and professional Okay,
I gotta write that down so I don't forget it all.
I'll send you then.
So let's start with, how do you identify it? Because I do think, you know, if I go back to what I said earlier, you know, there is this tendency to sort of downplay our own ideas, and I think that's, I mean, there's a lot of reasons we do that, so we don't have to get into that, but I do think this is a challenge that we have, and so I always encourage people to start with their expertise. What is it that you can be a credible where can you be a credible contributor? You know? What is your personal and professional background that gives you the credibility to be able to talk about something? Right? Like, I can have an opinion about some kind of medical practice, but I'm not a medical doctor. I don't have any medical experience, so there's not, I'm not a credible contributor in that space, right? The next piece of the puzzle, and I think of this almost like a Venn diagram, is, what is that unmet need? Like, what is the thing that you're seeing in, whatever space you happen to be in, that's not being addressed, or is being addressed in a way that you're like, I don't agree with that, right? Like, there's tons of talk in the marketing space, in the coaching space, and all these different spaces, and we're all like, I don't like what I'm seeing, and I need to say something about that, right? So we pull that component in, and part of the reason we do that is because if nobody cares, if it's not really a problem, it's not going to land right. It's not going to cut through the noise in that marketplace. And then the third part of the equation is, what are you passionate about? Right? There can be an unmet need. There can be an expertise. And if I'm not really that passionate about it, it's going to be hard for it to have that tenacity that we ultimately need it to have. So that intersection of those three things, expertise, unmet need and passion becomes a really important starting place to be able to figure out, wow, okay, this is my big idea. And you know, I say expertise, one thing I want to add here is that this is also your experience, right? So we give a lot of credibility to professional expertise, but sometimes it's our lived experience that actually starts to shape the narrative, right? So in my case, it started out with my lived experience being in, you know, religious environments that were not supportive of women, being in countries where, you know, people weren't allowed to speak up, and then being in professional spaces where I saw the power of voice come into play, right? That's kind of that mixture of expertise and experience, I think is really important. So we bring all that together, and that starts to give us some sense of, Wow, I have something really important to say, and I can't not say it, because this is a huge problem, and I am a credible contributor in this space. That's where we start to form that big idea. That big idea, idea is then used as a tool in the business. It can be used in a lot of different ways, whether it's sort of that foundational thing that connects your purpose, right, your unique approach to solving whatever problem that you're seeing in the market or in the industry or what have you now, all of a sudden, shapes the way in which you do business. So I think of it as almost like an operational filter that you know is used as a tool. It's also used as a tool for marketing and shaping the messages that you're putting out there, framing the offers and the way in which you deliver those, the people that you're serving, right it really becomes this very foundational thing that you use to manage, run, grow and build the business. And to your point, around the legacy, it's not just about the longer term implications. It's like, How can I be of service right now with this very idea. So when you think about it in that way, now, all of a sudden you have this very unique thing in your business that allows you to show up in the marketplace authentically, uniquely. And that is where the competitive advantage comes in. Because all of a sudden, now the people who are attracted to the approach, the values, the mission, come to you, and those who are like, yeah, not for me. Great. Bye. Not for me either.
And I really like that too, because I think that some of the things that we're hearing in the marketplace right now are that you know, you need to have a point of view, right, you know, and I believe that, and it needs to be your authentic point of view. What I'm also hearing from a lot of salespeople is that in order for you to give your point of view, it needs to be polarizing, and I don't believe that's true. It doesn't have to be polarizing. It just has to be unique and authentic, right? And I love the way you just wrap those three things I think are really powerful, right? And I think it's really important to remember that I have seen some of the quietest, you know, people who don't really speak up and really have something that they really believe in. And it's powerful, right, you know. And I I really like that. So what would you say are some effective ways to test, but I'm all about testing, right? What are so effective ways to test whether your big idea is big enough to make a significant impact, both in business and in the world, if you choose? Yeah?
You know, I want to say something about the whole polarizing piece, because I wholeheartedly agree with you, right? I do not think it makes any sense as a business to just drop a bomb for the sake of dropping a bomb. Right now. Are there times where you may need to be a little bit polarizing, or sometimes a lot polarizing, possibly, but I don't think being polarizing for the sake of being polarizing serves us. And I. Have seen a number of instances where it really backfires. So I really want to validate what you're saying here, which is that polarizing is not what we're talking about here when we talk about bold, audacious, big ideas, you know, cutting through the noise, it's finding your unique way of doing that. So how do you test that I I always start by looking inside, not necessarily inside myself, although occasionally that makes sense. What I mean is, let's look at the business. Let's actually audit the business and make sure that everything is in alignment. Because a lot of times and we feel this before we actually see the effects of it, right? But when your business is kind of running out of alignment, right, there's a there's a grinding feeling to it, right? So it's like, I care a lot about X, Y or Z mission, but nothing that I'm doing in my business supports that we can feel that grind. But it takes some actual introspection to be able to figure that. So I always encourage people to do a really hard look at the business. If your big idea is all about voice and women's voices, like minus then me, marketing to men, serving men, etc, is a little bit out of alignment. Does that mean I can't actively and purposely choose to do that? No, it doesn't, but it means that everything in the business should be given should be geared toward the big idea, right? So we start with an internal audit. Everything from your operations, your offers, your marketing, the clients that you're serving. Does it all fit together? The second way that I encourage people to think about how to like, get some some validation or some feedback is to just talk about it, right? And if it's too scary to talk about, right? If that big, if it feels too big, too bold, then let's start the conversation with people in your inner circle. What's their reaction? Do they hear what you say? You know, and especially if your inner circle is made up of people who don't look and think like you even better, right? So we can really start to, you know, get the idea out there in little ways and and that can be on public stages. It can be on social media. It can be conversations that you're having. The third way I like to encourage people to do it is just write about it, right? Sometimes it's hard, especially with big ideas, to articulate them in a really coherent fashion. I mean, that's the work that I do, and I help people do that, but sometimes it can help to just write it. So I'm a huge blogger. I have been blogging for a long time, and I find that I can get my thoughts out more clearly when I write about it, and then putting that out in spaces where I can get feedback is important. And then the last thing I often encourage people to do is just try to identify partners in this process with you right? There are a lot of people who share the mission, who share a similar perspective, even if it's different and unique from yours. So identifying who those people are, and then using that as a sounding board to get feedback, to, you know, massage the idea, to allow the idea to grow and more that. I think those are some really powerful ways to actually take that idea and do something with it right this very second.
I think that is really important. It's always great to have that trusted circle of people that you can do that with. So how do you guide women in creating core messaging strategy that effectively communicates their big idea, specifically to, like a global audience? You know, we live in a in a global world now, right? And so when they are creating that and right now, you know, messaging is such a huge component, especially with, you know, the onslaught of AI, and wanting to have keep that human connection, right, you know, but we really wanted to effectively communicate our big idea, right? So, how would you say you guide women in that?
Yeah, this is like the magic, the magic, I guess. I mean, I have found that most of the time we do not give ourselves the space to actually sit down and say the things that we really want to say. Right? If I had a mantra, it would be, say what you want to say, because most of us are not doing that. And so the way I do that with my own clients is, you know, I give them some deep thinking work that I really want them to sort through, that's that's honing in on that Venn diagram I talked about, expertise, experience, passion, you know, the larger mission, the unmet need, like all of those things. And we're digging into that work together. And more often than not, it's me holding space for them to ask and asking them really hard questions, like really forcing them to articulate what they want to say. And, you know, it's kind of messy. I often say it's the sausage making part of the work, because a lot of times, as experts, we have a lot of ideas. They're scattered. We have depth, and it's really hard. Hard to sort through that on our own. And so by creating a container for people to actually be free, to speak, to be messy, to play around with what that idea might look like, that's like I said. It feels a little bit magical, because we get to the other side of that work and it's like, wow, I now have a clear, coherent, concise statement that, you know, captures what my big idea actually is. And then from there, we can build out a whole framework for how this shows up in their mini stitching, everything from, you know, the basics, like content pillars, to where am I actually going to deliver this message, right? It's not necessary to do it on all the platforms. Like figuring out what's the right platform for you is a really important part of that. And the empowerment piece for women's voices is you know comes as a result of that work, because the more clear you are in your own mind about what you think, why you think it and why you are the right person to do it. All of a sudden, it makes it that much easier, not less scary, but easier, to actually say the thing. And figuring out where you can do that, sometimes in baby steps, especially if it is a big, audacious idea, is really important. And so we look at where does this message need to land and build out a whole strategy and plan for doing that very thing. For some people, that's going to be big, big stages like TEDx, disrupt HR, some of these other places could be big keynotes. For others, it might look a little bit different, but again, it depends a lot on person's goals as a business owner, their professional goals, as a human, the impact that they're trying to make, we kind of factor all of that in to the process.
And I think that is really important too, because I think not everybody wants the same thing, and we don't always think about that. Because I know that as a marketing strategist, you know, I hear all the time that, you know what? Everybody doesn't want to have, you know, travel the world and own their own plane and make, you know, $5 million right? You know, yeah, and so, you know, when I'm working with my clients, like, I always want to say, well, let's kind of talk about lifestyle. What's the lifestyle? Then, although we build a business that supports that lifestyle, not the other way around. But with that said, I think a lot of times people try to put us, specifically, women, I find more, more often than not, into a space, right? Because I really feel like when we have this idea, sometimes, in the beginning, we're still trying to figure out how to leverage it, right, you know, like, oh, okay, but what I love that you're saying is we're talking about audience, right? We're talking about core messaging right now, but if we go even further than that, right, and we do care about change and making an impact and making a difference, you know, if you wanted to take your idea, right, your big idea, and leverage it to maximize this impact and to really drive meaningful change in today's world. What are some strategies that you would have for how to leverage that big idea? Yeah,
I think, like you said, it kind of comes down to, like, what the goals are, but I find probably one of the most effective ways is through speaking right people really getting out there and having a cohesive, coherent message, and doing it on stages where the people who have the ability to make that happen and to run with it are actually going to be able to do something with it. And that could be, you know, impact partners, but it also could be people who have the cash to invest in whatever it is you're doing, and that could be just purchasing your services, depending on the business model you have. Could be, you know, partnering with you, from, you know, a donor perspective, if you are a non profit leader, like, there's just a lot of things there, but I have found almost consistent, consistently, and this is why I always say, you know, using your voice as part of it is because people do need to hear and see you saying the thing, right? It's not enough to just kind of be behind the screen. So, you know, for a lot of my clients, these are, you know, true thought leaders and experts in their field who are out on the TEDx stage, who are speaking at, you know, disrupt HR, really trying to challenge the narratives of those who are delivering big keynotes because they are leading the conversation in the spaces that they happen to. You know, work and serve and so, you know, again, for the vast majority of the clients I'm working with, they are not in the startup phase. These are businesses much like yours, where you've been at it for a long time. You know how to deliver results, and it's no longer just about the money. The money is an important part, because it's a tool, right? It allows us to continue to grow and create impact. But part of it is, what is it that I want, ultimately, in my legacy, to be? How do I want to show up as a human who is serving or. In whatever capacity makes sense for me, and so, you know, getting yourself on stages or in sometimes publications could be PR related work. All of those can be a factor in this process. But when you take that core idea and then put it to use in the context that makes sense for your business and the ultimate goal you have, that's where we start to see people really being able to leverage it as a competitive advantage, because it's no longer just about it's no longer just about the impact itself. It's also, how do we use it as a tool within the business, right? So that beautiful tension between purpose and profit and bringing those together in order to move the needle forward in whatever space we happen to be in,
I think that is really important. So one of the things that is also really important to me, because some of my core values are contribution and connection is very important to me. So how important do you think building a supportive community for women entrepreneurs, and how can that community amplify their message and accelerate their impact. Yeah,
I love this, because, you know, if we're talking about big change, you cannot do that alone. So having a community of other people around you, whether they're women or a mixed group, right, sort of doesn't matter, except that it's kind of comes down to preference and what you're trying to do. But I have found, for me personally, when I surround myself with other people who look different, think different, all of those things become a really important factor and allow our respective ideas to grow together. And you know, I don't want to get too hung up on the whole like minded thing, because I do think there is a lot of benefit to being surrounded by people who are also challenging your thinking and your your idea, right? Again, that's how the ideas evolve and mature and continue to be relevant. But having a group of people that are, you know, who believe in you, who want to support you. I think that's invaluable, because it is very hard to be in spaces where you are on the leading edge. And so if you, if you don't have a community around you, and you're out there challenging the status quo, and you feel like you're the Lone Ranger, it's pretty exhausted, exhausting, and it, you know, that's where we start to see burnout, etc. So having that community becomes a really important tool for growth, but also for, you know, providing protective factors that allow you to kind of persevere, or for other people to help carry the load.
I think it's important, you know, I think for a long time, you know, that was kind of like a phrase, right? Like minded we want to be in rooms with like minded people, right? It's also true that, as a general rule, when we're hiring or when we're hanging out with people, we tend to hang out with people who think like us, right? You know? I mean, there's so much talk right now about how when you're hiring a team, we tend to hire people who think like us. But that's not necessarily the best thing, right? You know, you want people who don't think like you. Actually think that when I'm masterminding or in my trusted board, I don't want somebody who's going to think like me because I thought many, many times I could just clone me, right? But the reality actually is that just keeps me going where I am, I don't want necessarily some like minded but I really want diverse minded people who don't think like me, who don't look like me, who are going to challenge my perspective and give me a new way to think about it, so that it's disruptive and you get different insights and perspectives from their expertise, you know, their knowledge, their experiences. And I think that's kind of where that whole they'll be the smartest person in the room, be in rooms with people who aren't just like you. And I have to tell you, that's where I look, for for sure, in everything that I do. And I I get tired of just looking through my lens. You know what I mean? I want to just look in my lens. I want to look at somebody else's lens and say, Oh, wow. You know, I don't like to hear like most people, you should do this, and you should do that. Nobody wants to hear that. But I love it when somebody challenges it and says, Well, Patty, have you ever thought about or whatever? It's like, No, I haven't like, Tell me more. Like, I'm so open to that, right? And so I think that that can be one of the greatest things that we can have is to have a community of people who support you but challenge you as well. And I just think that is really, really important. So with that say, What would you say are some of the we're talking about challenging? What would you say are some of the biggest challenges that women face, especially if they're stepping on a global stage, right, with that big idea, and how can they ever overcome those obstacles so that they feel confident? Because, right? You know, when you can confidently share your message, I mean, that's you're halfway there, right? You know, but we do face challenges, yeah, with our big idea. So like, what are some of the ways that you would say that you could help? And to overcome those?
Yeah, it's a great question. I mean, we've talked to a degree already, but, you know, a lot of times I think we're too expert for our own good. And, you know, it's, it's like, oh, I want to be an expert, but like, being an expert comes with its own challenges, right? Because as an expert, that means you have such depth and breadth of knowledge. So, you know, a lot of times the challenge I see is people will step onto stages with too much expertise that isn't called down into something actually usable. And so the result of that is just confusion. And you know, if you're on a big stage like that, then that, you know, just it has its own little ripple effect that doesn't really serve us. So that's one that I expert. Itis, I guess, is a fun name. I can, we can call it, I think, you know, on the opposite side, we have people who are questioning whether or not they're the right person to do it right, you know. So you could call that imposter syndrome. Sometimes it's, you know, I actually think of it sometimes, not from a I don't think I'm good enough or deserve, deserving enough, but more like, I care too much, what if I'm not the right person? Right? There's kind of a double edge on that.
You want to make sure that that gets out there the right way. And sometimes you question, you know, am I the right way? Should
I be the flag bearer?
Surround yourself with other people who we exactly do it together.
That's exactly right. Well, and that's what that community that community comes in, right? Yeah, if you're going to be the flag bearer, if you're going to be the one leading the conversation, there is usually, I hope, for more often than not, that there is a level of care that goes into that, especially if you're talking about sensitive topics or things that you know have a ripple effect beyond yourself. So, you know, those are probably two of the biggest sort of imposter syndrome, like caring too much, being too expert and not clear enough. Like, those are probably the biggest challenges I see, plus figuring out, like, where is the right stage? Like, that's a whole different kind of conversation, you know that well. So I think addressing the challenge. You know, some of it is as on the expert side, is making sure that you have worked with someone who has been able to help you take that expertise and package, package it. And, you know, one one aside here I'll say is, I think sometimes we think we have to pack it all in. But if this is my only opportunity, like, how am I going to say all the things I know, and I often encourage my clients to think about, like, what's that gateway talk and the next talk and the next talk and the next talk, because you're never going to be able to get all of that out in one go, in a way that people receive. So, you know, really right exactly, because
I know that I have heard people say something and they're talking about this, and then I won't, I won't run into them for like, six months, and then they're still talking about the same thing, and then, and then they're talking about the same thing. And then you kind of have to ask yourself, well, is that the only thing you know, like, right?
You want that, like, kind of, like, staggered, staggered approach. So I think everyone can only receive so much, totally, totally right. Like, and especially if you're talking about something that's really audacious, people are like, wow, I need to sit with that promo, because I have never thought about it that way. Wow. That that shifts my whole perspective. Right? When we're doing that kind of work and we're out on stages talking about it, we have to do it in bite sized pieces. So I think you know, on the expert side is make sure that you have already or you are working with someone who can help you break it down into bite size, approachable pieces. And I think on the other side, you know, you finding that community of support who can help you address the different angles and the nuances of an idea can be really important from addressing that care perspective. And then on the imposter side, you know, I think this is where I really encourage people to ask themselves a very simple question, What in the world would change if you said what you wanted to say? Oh, I mean, if you really think about that, if you are on the leading edge of a conversation, if you are trying to bring forward a unique perspective, and you're sitting there asking yourself or wondering, like, am I the right person? What if people don't, you know, all those impostery kinds of questions, I just want you to really think about what would change if you did say it, because that is the reason we do it right, if we can really move the needle. And, you know, have the conversation shift the perspective, man, talk about powerful and so, you know, that's again, that where that community of support comes around you and says, hey, you've got this, you know exactly what needs to be said, get out there and do it.
And sometimes it's like, well, if not you who, right? If not you, like, who wants to be sitting back thinking, You know what? I was going to do something about that. And this happened, and I could have helped, and maybe I should have stepped up sooner. And who wants to do that, right? You know so. But again, if you have a supportive community around you, so you're thinking yourself. No, I'm not alone, right? Yeah, yeah. You know when I am just one thing.
If I could just add one thing. I do want to acknowledge that sometimes we are in circumstances where it's actually not safe for us to say the thing, Oh, for sure, right? Where maybe you live in a country where you're not free to do that, or maybe, you know, you saying that thing is, you know, potentially detrimental to your career, etc. So I want to acknowledge that there is some nuance here. It's not just as simple as, don't be an imposter. You know, say the thing like. I do want to acknowledge that, you know, there is nuance to this conversation. And so that's another reason why, if you have the space to say it, and you're in shared community, we can provide cover for one another in a way that you know sometimes the person who really should be saying it doesn't feel like they can say it.
No, I think that makes a lot of sense. So I know just that you help people in a lot of ways, like I know that you do, but what is the thing that you're the most excited about? What's the project or the thing that you're doing right now, that if you just really kind of giving you the microphone, right? That if you want to talk about that one thing, what's the one thing that you're doing right now that is really helping women to transform their passion and their ideas into actionable plans, right? That actually leads to tangible results in their business and beyond. What would that one thing be?
I call it my big idea intensive. It really is this work that we're been talking about this entire time. It is helping a woman and creating a space for a woman to really dig into her expertise, her purpose, her passion, and then figure out what is her big idea, and then building out all the elements that are necessary for her to use it as a tool to grow her business, yes, and to create The impact that she really wants. So that big idea, excavation the marketing and messaging framework, and then figuring out what those visibility opportunities are for her, and uniquely for her, that is a space that I could just bathe in. I adore being in process with people, as they are coming to clarity around what their big idea is and how they can actually use that to create real change in the world that
Is so beautiful, and you showed up with a gift that's going to get them all of that, right? So Right? Is your big idea big enough? Right? So tell us a little bit about the gift that you have. And so whether you are watching this on YouTube, and please subscribe if you're there, or you're listening to it, whichever one of those, just look down and there's a button right here where you just have to push the button to get the gift. But tell us about the gift.
Yeah. So we talked about the bold framework. And like I said, one of the biggest questions I get from people is, is my idea big enough? And so I put together an entire I'll just kind of kind of call it a framework or tool to help people assess the four different areas. So it's like, take your idea and run it through the bold filter, the original filter, loud, tenacious filters. And use that as a way to judge up your idea, to dial it up, or in some cases, dial it down, because maybe it's too audacious, right? But figuring out, like how to bring more life to the to the idea, so you can grab that at Jessica sotto.com forward slash, bolt B, O, L, T, and like you said, it'll be, it'll be in the show notes.
It'll be right there, yes, but so I have to tell you, you were so generous with your expertise, as always, just right, you know, but this is the portion of the show where I always like to say, you've shared so much, but it is the marketing, media money podcast, right? So if we had to narrow your strategy down, what would be your number one strategy?
If you had to give I guess, aside from having the big idea, I would say, show up consistently, right? That seems like super obvious, but you know, and I know that being consistent is not always easy, and I like to differentiate consistency with constancy, right? A lot of people think I've got to be on social media. 24/7, I've got to be on all the platforms. That is not effective. So for me, it's pick your thing, pick your platform, pick your message, and then show up consistently. Don't disappear. Don't be sporadic. Be upfront with people about where you're going, why you're doing that, why you're taking a hiatus, whatever that might look like. Because consistency builds trust, and if you're dis. Peering all the time. If you're a post here, a post there, but no cohesiveness, people are going to question whether or not you're actually in it with them, right? And from a client pipeline perspective, from a business growth perspective, consistency is the key.
Oh, that is so important. Jess, thank you so much for being here with me today and for being so generous with your brilliance. What is the best way for people to connect with you?
Yeah. Well, I spend most of my time on LinkedIn, and you can find me over there, Jess, sotto and on my website, jessicasato.com
That is fabulous. So again, thank you so much for being here with me today. It has been an absolute pleasure to have you.
Thank you so much. I loved this
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