Oct. 9, 2024

Pivoting to Prosperity with Lori Lyons : Midlife Reinvention, Podcasting Triumphs, and the Power of Collaboration

Pivoting to Prosperity with Lori Lyons : Midlife Reinvention, Podcasting Triumphs, and the Power of Collaboration

Imagine pivoting your career at 54 and finding success in an entirely new field—Lori Lyons did just that. Join us as we sit down with Lori, the dynamic founder of Igniting Your Business and host of the Encore Entrepreneur podcast. From her inspiring transition from school teacher to digital marketing maven, Lori shares how her passion for helping midlife entrepreneurs fueled her journey. Discover the pivotal moments that led her to become a self-taught website design expert and the unique podcast format she developed during the pandemic to share her expertise.

Ever wondered how a prank could turn into a thriving podcast? I unveil my own unexpected podcast journey that started as an April Fool's joke in 2022. With no initial plan, navigating the waters of podcasting was challenging yet rewarding. Get a behind-the-scenes look at my innovative strategies, including conducting Facebook Live sessions and the essential role my team plays in editing and social media management. I'll also share some practical tips for new podcasters, emphasizing the importance of standout podcast titles and visually appealing tiles.

We wrap up this episode by focusing on the power of collaboration and the importance of persistence in podcasting. Lori and I share strategies for podcast growth, from clear branding to consistent content creation. Listen to personal stories that emphasize the joy of trying new things, like learning to ride a motorcycle at 62, and the inspiration that comes from continuous learning. This episode is a rich tapestry of insights, aimed at empowering midlife service providers and consultants to harness the full potential of podcasting.

Connect with Lori Lyons
https://lorilyons.me/

Stay tuned for the next episode of Ready Set Collaborate with Wanda Pearson. Subscribe - Follow and Like Ready Set Collaborate with Wanda Pearson

Chapters

00:00 - Exploring Networking and Collaboration Podcast

10:54 - Creating a Successful Podcast Process

15:40 - Podcast Growth Strategies and Collaborations

18:53 - Collaboration and Podcasting for Midlife

Transcript
WEBVTT

00:00:00.620 --> 00:00:15.576
Welcome to Ready Set Collaborate podcast with Rhonda Pearson, where we will dive deep into the world of networking, collaboration and partnership, unlocking the secrets to a successful team working within innovation.

00:00:15.576 --> 00:00:28.495
Whether you're an entrepreneur, a creative professional or just someone eager to understand the power of networking and collaboration, this podcast is your go-to resource.

00:00:28.495 --> 00:00:41.929
Join us as we explore the stories, strategies and insights from experts, entrepreneurs and thought leaders who have experienced the magic of networking and collaboration to achieve successful results.

00:00:42.799 --> 00:00:44.246
Tune in to Ready.

00:00:44.328 --> 00:00:51.548
Set Collaborate podcast on a journey towards achieving your goals with host Wanda Pearson.

00:00:52.871 --> 00:00:53.212
Welcome.

00:00:53.212 --> 00:00:56.904
Welcome to the Ready Set Collaborate podcast with Wanda Pearson.

00:00:56.904 --> 00:01:03.947
I am so excited to have this series of our podcast and I got an expert podcast with me, Lori Lyons.

00:01:03.947 --> 00:01:08.725
I've been on her podcast and she's on my podcast, so I'm excited to have you here.

00:01:08.725 --> 00:01:10.188
Say hi, lori, to the audience.

00:01:10.689 --> 00:01:13.765
Hi audience, I'm so happy to be here and, wanda, I can't wait.

00:01:13.765 --> 00:01:14.427
This is going to be fun.

00:01:14.908 --> 00:01:16.451
Yes, yes, definitely, definitely.

00:01:16.451 --> 00:01:18.143
I said I got to have Lori on my podcast.

00:01:18.143 --> 00:01:22.629
You had your podcast before, so I don't know God, just let me to do podcasts.

00:01:22.629 --> 00:01:29.248
And I said okay, so I just do what he tells me to do and it will be a year, lori, in November, wow.

00:01:29.608 --> 00:01:35.808
That's awesome, yeah, yeah, so it's different series here, but I'm definitely happy to have you on my podcast.

00:01:35.808 --> 00:01:36.971
Thank you, I'm happy to be here.

00:01:36.971 --> 00:01:39.641
Yes, let me talk a little bit about Lori.

00:01:39.641 --> 00:01:49.795
Lori Lyons is the founder of Igniting your Business, a premier website design agency specializing in crafting digital experiences that captivate and convert.

00:01:49.795 --> 00:01:57.281
Lori empowers businesses to elevate their online presence Through a personalized experience.

00:01:57.281 --> 00:01:59.903
Lori ensures clients enjoy a seamless and effective digital journey.

00:01:59.903 --> 00:02:11.852
Lori is the host of the popular Encore Entrepreneur podcast, where she and her guests translate the complicated side of marketing speak into simple, everyday language for her audience.

00:02:11.852 --> 00:02:15.615
Once again, lori, thank you so much for being on my podcast.

00:02:15.615 --> 00:02:18.156
I feel honored to have an expert podcaster.

00:02:18.576 --> 00:02:23.901
Thank you, yes, so tell us a little bit about you.

00:02:23.901 --> 00:02:47.203
Yeah, I have a long journey and it's a varied journey, but all roads lead to one, and I started as a school teacher and then eventually loved teaching and went to work for a marketing company and that's where I got my start and all the marketing and learning, all the graphics and all the stuff that go into website design and marketing and having a marketing agency.

00:02:47.203 --> 00:02:52.807
And then in 2010, I went to work for a digital marketing company and that's really where I got my start.

00:02:52.807 --> 00:02:58.967
It all came together with the marketing strategy through an online presence is at the website company.

00:02:59.489 --> 00:03:04.147
And when I tell you, wanda, I knew nothing about website stuff when I started.

00:03:04.147 --> 00:03:05.532
I really knew nothing.

00:03:05.532 --> 00:03:12.306
So he actually hired me to set appointments for him and I'm like I don't know if you need for me to set appointments, I need to know a little bit about what you do.

00:03:12.306 --> 00:03:22.705
So I just slowly started learning and YouTube was really starting to become a force for education at that point and a lot of it was technical stuff.

00:03:22.705 --> 00:03:37.433
So I had YouTube, I'd watch videos, I got WordPress for dummies to show me how to do stuff and ultimately I just I learned and I played and I six months later it was like where's this been all my life?

00:03:37.433 --> 00:03:43.908
Because it really brought everything together, all my experiences on my background together, and my agency took off.

00:03:43.908 --> 00:03:45.030
So it's have it.

00:03:45.030 --> 00:03:45.510
Look back.

00:03:45.991 --> 00:03:46.834
That is awesome.

00:03:46.834 --> 00:03:49.181
That is awesome, actually.

00:03:49.181 --> 00:03:52.325
You learn from your mistakes, and your mistakes help you to become better.

00:03:52.567 --> 00:03:54.850
Absolutely, absolutely Made many.

00:03:55.292 --> 00:03:57.074
Yes, yes, yes, definitely definitely.

00:03:57.074 --> 00:04:06.372
It's funny because my daughter our youngest daughter she's a graphic designer and she created my website as well as my son-in-law, so they met in college.

00:04:06.372 --> 00:04:11.948
I actually had them on my marketing series, so go back and look at my podcast with them there.

00:04:11.948 --> 00:04:15.207
I love to do that, so let me, how did you get into podcasting?

00:04:17.581 --> 00:04:18.505
My sweet spot.

00:04:18.505 --> 00:04:27.644
I love working with seasoned midlife entrepreneurs those of us who have because I didn't start my website design business until I was 54.

00:04:27.644 --> 00:04:31.692
So I and that's when I started, at 52, I started teaching myself.

00:04:31.692 --> 00:04:41.600
So we're teachable, and it doesn't mean that just because we're leaving a corporate job or we're leaving something, that we can't do what we want to do and I can't tell you that this was my dream business.

00:04:41.600 --> 00:04:43.425
But it became that.

00:04:43.425 --> 00:05:03.045
And but I really wanted to find a vehicle to elevate my expertise, to really put myself out there, and at the time when the pandemic was happening and stages weren't really available, you, you could speak online, but as I don't know if that's okay, but that's not what I wanted to do.

00:05:03.125 --> 00:05:07.432
I wanted to do something I control and I discovered podcasting.

00:05:07.432 --> 00:05:17.012
I actually went to a podcasting event and I was at going to this event to learn about podcasting for my clients as a way to market their business.

00:05:17.012 --> 00:05:18.884
Maybe this is an option for them.

00:05:18.884 --> 00:05:24.348
Let me learn a little more about it and I left so psyched about podcasts Forget my clients.

00:05:24.348 --> 00:05:29.932
I'm doing this, but it was a way to reach my target audience, which is midlife entrepreneurs.

00:05:29.932 --> 00:05:41.586
It was a way to elevate my expertise and I wanted to do it in a way that promoted other and bring on experts who had different expertise than I did.

00:05:41.586 --> 00:05:47.922
But yet if I gave away all my expertise to a guest, I was giving away my expert.

00:05:47.922 --> 00:05:49.324
So I wanted to do it.

00:05:49.324 --> 00:06:02.192
So now what I do is my format is I have a guest and then I teach to something or bringing that education background, I follow up with another episode that relates to something that we've talked about, so I'm able to elevate my expertise.

00:06:02.819 --> 00:06:03.482
That's awesome.

00:06:03.482 --> 00:06:04.165
That's awesome.

00:06:04.165 --> 00:06:04.625
I love it.

00:06:04.625 --> 00:06:09.428
I love how you did that and that actually is my question how you inspired to start your podcast.

00:06:09.428 --> 00:06:10.291
So you just told us that.

00:06:10.291 --> 00:06:13.649
So what is the biggest influences in the podcasting world for you?

00:06:14.459 --> 00:06:14.940
Watching.

00:06:14.940 --> 00:06:16.425
There's so many.

00:06:16.425 --> 00:06:19.232
There's so many influences in the world of podcasting.

00:06:19.232 --> 00:06:22.225
There's the big names I love Amy Porterfield.

00:06:22.225 --> 00:06:25.230
Ed Milet is my podcast crush.

00:06:25.230 --> 00:06:32.913
He could read the alphabet and I'd listen and just go oh, you're so good, he's so uplifting and I just love him.

00:06:32.913 --> 00:06:41.567
So they were like the inspiration and after leaving this event that I did that was in early 2019, I actually drove.

00:06:41.567 --> 00:06:44.297
It was down in Florida and I drove down there and I listened to podcasts the whole way back and I can't.

00:06:44.297 --> 00:06:51.600
I drove down there and I listened to podcasts the whole way back and I can't tell you that I'd ever listened to a podcast before that at all so.

00:06:51.680 --> 00:07:01.122
I binge listened to podcasts the whole way and I'm like this is really cool, this is really inspiring, and there were several people I met there, and one of the gentlemen that I met is named Adam Shibley.

00:07:01.122 --> 00:07:05.112
So kudos to Adam, and he's really been a big influence.

00:07:05.112 --> 00:07:17.367
Lately I've been listening to a lot of his podcasting too, because I'm working on making a shift in my own, which I know we'll talk about in a little bit, but I'm working on making a little bit of a shift in mine and he's been a real big influence for that.

00:07:17.367 --> 00:07:31.923
But I would say for anybody looking to go into podcasts, find podcasts you like, find podcasts that you don't like, what don't you like about them, what do you like about them, what bothers you, what's good to you, and that's where you start.

00:07:32.504 --> 00:07:33.247
That's awesome.

00:07:33.247 --> 00:07:35.271
That's awesome and that makes a lot of sense.

00:07:35.271 --> 00:07:41.884
As far as I wasn't a podcaster either, I never listened to podcasts so I'm like, okay, why am I doing this podcast again?

00:07:41.884 --> 00:07:49.471
But I was doing a lot of webinars and seminars so that actually helped me to be able to speak, and I like to talk anyway, so this is a good thing.

00:07:49.471 --> 00:07:55.028
Then it's like an education to help other people that are experts in fields to bring them on your podcast, so-.

00:07:55.800 --> 00:07:56.081
Absolutely.

00:07:56.081 --> 00:07:56.925
You make connections.

00:07:57.882 --> 00:08:01.322
Yeah, yeah, exactly Because my husband said why are you doing a podcast again?

00:08:01.322 --> 00:08:09.031
I said I think that's the next stepping stone, because I'm an author now, I'm an entrepreneur and I think podcasts I've been reading up on a lot of things.

00:08:09.031 --> 00:08:10.793
That's one of the things they say you should do.

00:08:10.793 --> 00:08:12.795
So that's why I'm doing a podcast.

00:08:12.795 --> 00:08:19.766
You don't get paid for it, but still you can share your knowledge and share other people's information, and that's why I call it collaboration.

00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:37.142
So that's how you collaborate.

00:08:37.142 --> 00:08:37.682
Ready set collaborate.

00:08:37.682 --> 00:08:38.803
I was trying to ready set what should I name it?

00:08:38.803 --> 00:08:40.446
And actually Diane Freeman, she actually helped me get to that point.

00:08:40.446 --> 00:08:41.288
Wanda, don't you like to collaborate?

00:08:41.288 --> 00:08:41.827
That's it, so I branded it.

00:08:41.827 --> 00:08:42.870
Ready set collaborate with Wanda Be months.

00:08:42.870 --> 00:08:50.448
But if I meet somebody that I really like and they have a really cool story or they have a really cool technique, it's like oh, be on my podcast, it's really cool.

00:08:50.448 --> 00:08:51.392
I've never heard that.

00:08:51.392 --> 00:08:54.942
Or it's a different take on something and I try.

00:08:54.942 --> 00:09:18.991
It's not a selling podcast, so people will offer a lead magnet, but they don't come on and they sell their services because they either have a marketing tool that they've used to grow their business and we talk about what that tool was and how they used it or mistakes that they made, or it's something that can support the midlife entrepreneur in their business, so they can talk about what they do, but they're not pitching their business, so to speak.

00:09:19.399 --> 00:09:27.033
Yeah, yeah, and that makes sense as far as you're doing that, because it's funny, because I retired from corporate and I said, ok, what am I going to do?

00:09:27.033 --> 00:09:30.890
And God has just been throwing me into different things that I said I would never do.

00:09:30.890 --> 00:09:32.945
This is one of the things I said I would never do.

00:09:32.945 --> 00:09:34.649
That he said, yes, you are.

00:09:34.649 --> 00:09:37.563
You're going to do that, so I just follow his lead.

00:09:37.563 --> 00:09:43.114
So tell us how you walk us through the process, creating the episode from start to finish.

00:09:45.240 --> 00:09:45.360
For me.

00:09:45.360 --> 00:09:47.870
I do mine a little bit differently and just a little bit of a backstory.

00:09:47.870 --> 00:09:53.447
One of the things that I found was very difficult was actually getting started.

00:09:53.447 --> 00:09:55.030
I was worried about being consistent.

00:09:55.030 --> 00:09:57.424
I was worried about blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

00:09:57.424 --> 00:10:04.548
So I was getting ready to get ready, to get ready, and did that for probably a good two to three years In fact.

00:10:04.548 --> 00:10:28.753
Funny story when I was coming up with the concept and where I wanted to go, I was watching Project Runway and at that season there was a woman on there who was in her 60s, had just left design school, named Nancy Ballpay Beringer, and I was watching her story and I'm like she's my encore entrepreneur, she's the person that I want to be my audience or that I want to have on the show, that I want to tell their story.

00:10:28.753 --> 00:10:38.791
And so I reached out to her and I'm thinking, you know, and Project Runway's over, and I'm thinking, hmm, it's going to take months to probably coordinate all this.

00:10:38.791 --> 00:10:41.970
Her assistant responded back and she said how about next Tuesday?

00:10:43.481 --> 00:10:47.621
And I'm like okay, you got it you can't lose her.

00:10:47.642 --> 00:10:53.333
You got it Right, so that was in July of 2020.

00:10:54.255 --> 00:10:54.716
Okay.

00:10:54.917 --> 00:10:58.664
I did not launch my podcast until April of 2022.

00:10:58.664 --> 00:11:03.884
In fact I did on April 1st, cause it was my own little private April fool's joke because it took me so long.

00:11:03.884 --> 00:11:09.663
But so I sat on this interview and it was an amazing interview, and that's because I really didn't know what to do with it.

00:11:09.663 --> 00:11:12.672
I didn't have a plan, I didn't figure out what was going to happen.

00:11:12.672 --> 00:11:21.224
So finally I figured out how to, because by then my podcast had changed and I wasn't doing the background and the telling of the story so much.

00:11:21.224 --> 00:11:24.808
I was doing more strategy, and so I couldn't figure out how to use it.

00:11:24.808 --> 00:11:30.155
So finally I figured out how to use it and started a series called Encore Stories Within the Podcast.

00:11:30.660 --> 00:11:32.716
And I was able to finally make her live.

00:11:32.716 --> 00:11:38.910
As of this recording, it was about 10 months ago, so the end of 2023,.

00:11:38.910 --> 00:11:45.634
I made her live and I emailed her and I said, okay, here's what happened.

00:11:45.835 --> 00:11:46.677
It's not immediately.

00:11:46.677 --> 00:11:50.409
You got to go through the editing process because people think, okay, it's going to be on tomorrow.

00:11:50.409 --> 00:11:52.421
No, it's not going to be on tomorrow.

00:11:52.480 --> 00:12:05.134
And for me, what it did was it told me that I didn't have a process and I didn't have a system to make this happen, and so one of I met somebody who said I do mine on my Facebook lives and.

00:12:05.154 --> 00:12:07.341
I'm like, but now that's interesting.

00:12:07.341 --> 00:12:10.707
So I said that I could be accountable to.

00:12:10.707 --> 00:12:20.883
So I set myself up to do my podcast interviews as a Facebook live in my private Facebook group once a week it was scheduled.

00:12:20.883 --> 00:12:32.323
It was announced I could hold myself accountable to that and my group held me accountable to that, and so that's what I did and I'm still doing to this day in my Facebook Live group when I can.

00:12:32.323 --> 00:12:35.650
90% of the time it's in my Facebook.

00:12:35.650 --> 00:12:37.761
So that starts my process, which is different.

00:12:37.761 --> 00:12:42.522
Then, once we do the interview, then it goes through, I send it to.

00:12:42.522 --> 00:12:50.039
I've got a team that will edit the audio for me, add the intro and outro, because I screw them up every single time.

00:12:50.379 --> 00:12:51.703
That is not my zone of genius.

00:12:51.703 --> 00:12:53.230
Me too.

00:12:53.230 --> 00:12:55.246
I had to get somebody expert that can do that.

00:12:58.605 --> 00:13:00.169
I can't figure out the scissors where to cut it.

00:13:02.282 --> 00:13:03.145
I know that's right.

00:13:04.380 --> 00:13:10.864
So then and now my VA is taking over, like she's doing all my social media posts and we've utilized a.

00:13:10.864 --> 00:13:13.951
I've got a system called PodSqueeze that I love.

00:13:13.951 --> 00:13:21.186
We were an early adapter of them and they're they're growing and they're doing all the transcripts and they're giving me all kinds of AI assets.

00:13:21.186 --> 00:13:22.128
That are amazing.

00:13:22.128 --> 00:13:31.173
So really, right now, all I'm doing, having to do which is awesome is just do the talking which I really enjoy.

00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:32.722
Yeah, just do the talking.

00:13:32.722 --> 00:13:34.707
And what is that called Pod squeeze?

00:13:34.707 --> 00:13:36.643
I got to learn about that Pod squeeze.

00:13:36.722 --> 00:13:39.594
Yes, and for those of you in the audience, I have an affiliate link.

00:13:39.594 --> 00:13:40.176
Just reach out.

00:13:40.176 --> 00:13:42.405
Okay, I'll be happy to give you that.

00:13:42.405 --> 00:13:46.010
But yeah, there are two gentlemen in Lisbon, portugal.

00:13:46.010 --> 00:13:51.542
They've been I guess this has been around for about a year and a half, two years now and they're really awesome.

00:13:51.542 --> 00:13:54.066
They're very responsive and have been very.

00:13:54.066 --> 00:13:56.708
It's been very cool.

00:13:56.969 --> 00:14:10.285
Apparently, I have one of the most podcasts on the system Because I went back and squeezed all of my episodes and caught them all up.

00:14:10.285 --> 00:14:11.909
That's good, so I'll be contacting you on this podcast.

00:14:11.909 --> 00:14:13.673
We learn from each other, right, we do.

00:14:13.673 --> 00:14:16.000
What do you use?

00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:18.971
And that's what I've been learning from my guests who are podcasters.

00:14:18.971 --> 00:14:20.886
It's teaching me different things.

00:14:20.886 --> 00:14:24.908
So I said, oh okay, that's cool, that's good, you're just never too old to learn is what I said.

00:14:24.927 --> 00:14:29.350
You're not, and the other thing is that you have to find something that speaks to the way you work.

00:14:29.350 --> 00:14:40.821
There are systems out there that I can go on and they make me cross, and now I do website design, so I am not untechnical.

00:14:40.821 --> 00:14:45.091
But if you get put me into a system that doesn't work with the way my brain works, I can't use it.

00:14:45.091 --> 00:14:45.932
I don't want it.

00:14:45.932 --> 00:14:49.308
I don't, even though it may be simple or cheap or whatever.

00:14:49.308 --> 00:15:01.772
Pod squeeze immediately was user friendly to me and talk to my brain, so that that was a big help when I was looking at some of the AI, because there's other stuff out there and they just didn't speak to me really well.

00:15:01.812 --> 00:15:02.360
So, this one did.

00:15:02.881 --> 00:15:05.229
Yeah, it's got to click with you to say, okay, I can work with this.

00:15:05.249 --> 00:15:06.341
So let me ask you something.

00:15:06.841 --> 00:15:10.532
So what advice would you give someone who is just starting out in podcasting?

00:15:11.080 --> 00:15:13.043
A couple of things.

00:15:13.043 --> 00:15:25.413
The first thing that I would do is make sure the name of your podcast and your tile design, which is both extremely critical to the success of your podcast.

00:15:25.413 --> 00:15:27.947
We want to be really cute and really oh.

00:15:27.947 --> 00:15:31.778
This means a lot to me, but if people don't know what your podcast is about, they won't listen.

00:15:32.461 --> 00:15:36.611
And if they can't see your podcast tile on a phone, they won't listen.

00:15:36.611 --> 00:15:40.240
So make sure your title is very clear with what you do.

00:15:40.240 --> 00:15:52.352
Mine is called the Encore Entrepreneur, but I added a tagline to it business strategies for midlife service providers and consultants so that it'd be more clear what my podcast is about.

00:15:52.352 --> 00:15:58.287
So that's one of the first things that I do is, don't go for the cutesy, unless you're going to be talking about wines or hobby stuff.

00:15:58.287 --> 00:16:03.163
But if you want to grow your business, be very clear on what you do and who you're serving with your podcast.

00:16:03.163 --> 00:16:08.201
And the second thing I do is make sure you have a good process, because I learned that in the hard way.

00:16:08.822 --> 00:16:10.807
And then the third thing is be consistent.

00:16:10.807 --> 00:16:18.710
If you can shoot for once a week, you're really going to grow your podcast and your business with that.

00:16:18.710 --> 00:16:22.511
If you can't do every other week, worse if you can't do once a month.

00:16:22.511 --> 00:16:24.561
But be very consistent with what you're doing.

00:16:25.666 --> 00:16:27.653
So those are the three things I'd really recommend.

00:16:27.953 --> 00:16:40.048
Yeah, and I agree with that because actually I went through education to this and one of the guys who he teaches he does masterclass and he told me the same thing you want to do it once a week, you want to do every other week, but you got to be consistent.

00:16:40.048 --> 00:16:42.032
So I do mine every week.

00:16:42.032 --> 00:16:48.961
That's why I'm constantly putting it in my box to say, okay, we're going to do this one this week, we're going to do this one this week.

00:16:48.961 --> 00:16:50.962
Just being consistent, it makes a big difference.

00:16:51.283 --> 00:16:52.966
Absolutely, and it keeps you in the flow.

00:16:52.966 --> 00:16:55.048
Yeah, flow of it, yeah.

00:16:55.109 --> 00:16:57.672
Yeah, yeah, it really does, it really does.

00:16:57.672 --> 00:17:00.816
So what strategies do you use to grow your listener base?

00:17:01.561 --> 00:17:03.106
I will let you know as soon as my strategy.

00:17:03.106 --> 00:17:12.642
You know, because of the way I started, because I started as to boost expertise and to give myself an avenue.

00:17:12.642 --> 00:17:17.028
I can't tell you that Download Growth was one of the top of mind for me.

00:17:17.107 --> 00:17:50.993
It has become more recently and it's become more, that I've got all of this body of work out there along with my guests, that I really want to start taking advantage of more, and so that's my goal for 2025 is, I'm slowly working toward finishing up the interviews that I have scheduled for this year, so I'm scheduled out to the end of the year and then for 2025, I'm retooling so that I'm focusing more on downloads, I'm focusing more on audience growth, I'm focusing more on use it to build my business, and so I'm really excited about that.

00:17:50.993 --> 00:17:55.372
It's a shift, but it's going to be a good shift because I can still use the episodes that I have.

00:17:55.372 --> 00:18:00.050
I'm not totally rebranding the podcast, I'm just retooling the format.

00:18:00.490 --> 00:18:03.628
And I was going to ask you what are your future goals for your podcast.

00:18:03.628 --> 00:18:09.342
So you just kind of gave us a little insight, a little hint yes, yes yes, yes, yes, Definitely definitely so.

00:18:09.342 --> 00:18:12.487
Do you have any upcoming projects or collaborations you're excited about?

00:18:15.300 --> 00:18:17.304
I mentioned Adam earlier Adam Shibley.

00:18:17.304 --> 00:18:18.184
I mentioned Adam earlier Adam Shively.

00:18:18.184 --> 00:18:22.712
I met Adam at this event that I went to in early 2019, and he has since become.

00:18:22.712 --> 00:18:30.492
He's a podcast coach, and so I've just today, as of this recording, started working with him on a limited basis.

00:18:30.492 --> 00:18:42.727
I'm hoping that he'll help me look at it from a different vision, see it with a different set of eyes, which, when we get too close to things, we don't tend to open our eyes very much.

00:18:42.727 --> 00:18:51.372
I'm looking forward to some wisdom and some collaboration with him, and I'm collaborating more with potential clients.

00:18:51.372 --> 00:18:53.203
That's one of my goals is to.

00:18:53.203 --> 00:19:00.561
I'm putting a lot of time into this and, quite frankly, it's a lot of money into this, and I'd like to start seeing some return on my podcast.

00:19:00.561 --> 00:19:06.266
So if you're out there thinking I'm going to start a podcast and get rich, it takes a while.

00:19:06.707 --> 00:19:07.086
It's a slow burn.

00:19:07.146 --> 00:19:23.403
It'm not getting paid, but it's giving me that, that connection as far as how we can help each other and educate each other.

00:19:23.442 --> 00:19:26.730
So my thing is educate, empower each other and collaborate.

00:19:26.730 --> 00:19:29.646
And then you actually you've been asking some of my questions.

00:19:29.646 --> 00:19:36.467
I was going to ask you anyway, oh yeah, so how has collaborating with other podcasts influenced and influence your podcast?

00:19:37.509 --> 00:19:38.471
You always learn.

00:19:38.471 --> 00:19:41.063
You always learn from other podcasters.

00:19:41.063 --> 00:19:46.261
Invariably, we get onto tools, we get onto how do you do this, what do you do with this?

00:19:46.261 --> 00:20:01.186
And for me, one of the biggest collaborations was when I was talking to the podcaster that did Facebook Lives, because she immediately and unknowingly solved a problem that I had which was how do I stay consistent, how do I hold myself accountable?

00:20:01.700 --> 00:20:03.688
Because that had been happening for a long time.

00:20:03.688 --> 00:20:05.847
Oh, let me, I'm going to work on it next Tuesday.

00:20:05.847 --> 00:20:11.508
Next Tuesday comes up and oh, I'd much rather go to Trader Joe's, so I would put off and put off.

00:20:11.508 --> 00:20:15.290
But finding a way to hold myself accountable came from a collaboration.

00:20:15.290 --> 00:20:20.943
And then this collaboration with Adam talking with other podcasters.

00:20:20.963 --> 00:20:37.807
you just you learn their tips and their techniques and what's working with them and and this you can teach this old dog new tricks it's so funny that you say yeah, and that's so true, because we get caught up into other stuff and but we learn so much from my guests yes, on there, and that's right, if I wanted the guys.

00:20:37.807 --> 00:20:38.309
He said.

00:20:38.309 --> 00:20:43.481
He said I and he's a podcaster, so he said I was wondering about something that the guests on my pod actually gave me.

00:20:43.481 --> 00:20:45.250
Oh okay, that's how you do it.

00:20:45.250 --> 00:20:46.797
So, yeah, so we learn from each other.

00:20:46.797 --> 00:20:47.901
That's a good thing about it.

00:20:48.340 --> 00:21:04.183
And I also find that if I'm wondering something or if I want to know about something, I might go seek out a guest that's an expert in that field and invite them to be on my podcast, and then I can ask them every question that I want to know.

00:21:04.183 --> 00:21:04.585
That is so true.

00:21:04.585 --> 00:21:08.609
I really didn't mean to just hammer you with questions, but I wanted to know that.

00:21:08.990 --> 00:21:11.693
Yeah, that is so true.

00:21:11.693 --> 00:21:12.515
I love it.

00:21:12.515 --> 00:21:13.096
I love it.

00:21:13.096 --> 00:21:18.912
So let me ask you can you share a fun fact or something unique about yourself that your listeners might not know?

00:21:20.020 --> 00:21:21.487
Oh, I learned, I taught.

00:21:21.487 --> 00:21:23.193
I didn't teach myself.

00:21:23.193 --> 00:21:24.619
That would be impossible.

00:21:24.619 --> 00:21:32.253
I learned to ride a motorcycle when I was 62, and I'm a card-carrying licensed motorcycle driver, all right.

00:21:32.273 --> 00:21:32.894
Motorcycle rider.

00:21:33.662 --> 00:21:38.210
I had my own motorcycle and when we took the course I was older than the instructors.

00:21:38.210 --> 00:21:43.366
So that was like yes, so that was, that's a fun fact and it was fun.

00:21:43.647 --> 00:21:47.287
And then Great, I love that I can see you on a motorcycle, lori.

00:21:47.902 --> 00:22:04.106
It was funny because I was sitting in my living room because my husband has always had a love of motorcycles and my son had just gotten one several months before, and they were going out and doing these fun trips and come back and tell me about it.

00:22:04.106 --> 00:22:06.394
And I was sitting in the living room, I was reading a Michael Hyatt book and he was talking about fun.

00:22:06.394 --> 00:22:06.935
What do you do for fun?

00:22:06.935 --> 00:22:07.919
And I thought I don't know what I do for fun.

00:22:07.919 --> 00:22:09.883
And this was I don't know four or five years.

00:22:09.883 --> 00:22:16.477
It was just like we were coming out of COVID and I'm like I don't know what I read.

00:22:16.477 --> 00:22:21.046
Okay, that's solitary and that's fun for me, but that's not fun fun.

00:22:21.046 --> 00:22:24.896
And I'm like I know what I'm going to do.

00:22:24.896 --> 00:22:30.759
So I walked out into the garage where they were tinkering with their motorcycles and I said I want to learn how to ride.

00:22:30.759 --> 00:22:37.442
And my son, who was 26, 24 at the time, looked up and he said no, bleep, bleep, mom, really.

00:22:38.530 --> 00:22:40.337
And I said yes, I do.

00:22:40.337 --> 00:22:49.210
So we went out that afternoon and, you know, went to a church parking lot and they got me started and I didn't wreck anything or break anything.

00:22:49.210 --> 00:22:53.019
So they said they keep teaching me.

00:22:54.142 --> 00:22:54.823
That's awesome.

00:22:54.823 --> 00:22:58.601
I remember when I was in college I had a friend that actually had a motorcycle.

00:22:58.601 --> 00:22:59.973
He would take me on his motorcycles.

00:22:59.973 --> 00:23:01.559
But I'm a scary cat.

00:23:01.559 --> 00:23:04.678
I like my four wheels.

00:23:04.930 --> 00:23:11.780
I do confess it lasted about two years and I just my son had a really bad motorcycle accident.

00:23:11.780 --> 00:23:15.681
Praise God he's still here, because it could have gone very badly.

00:23:15.681 --> 00:23:20.521
And it just scared me enough to say I know this is not something I need to be doing anymore.

00:23:20.521 --> 00:23:29.494
So it was fun at the time and I can say I did it and I was very proud of myself for getting my license and I'm never getting rid of my license because it was too hard to get.

00:23:30.651 --> 00:23:34.997
And every now and then I think, okay, maybe I'll take it back up again and we'll go up to the mountains and ride.

00:23:35.672 --> 00:23:36.797
But that's an accomplishment.

00:23:36.797 --> 00:23:46.458
I'm really proud of you that you did that, because, as we get older, we want to do something to keep ourselves lively, keep ourselves going, so that is exciting and I am so happy that you did that though.

00:23:46.458 --> 00:23:48.842
So what do you do outside of podcasting?

00:23:48.842 --> 00:23:52.974
That helps keep you inspired and motivated, and then you ride your motorcycle, right.

00:23:53.517 --> 00:23:54.339
I'm a huge reader.

00:23:54.339 --> 00:24:05.574
I have always been a big reader and I remember when I was 12, saving my allowance money for Nancy Drew books, waiting for them to come out so I could go get a bag of barbecued potato chips.

00:24:05.574 --> 00:24:08.558
So ever since then I've been a big reader and I read a lot.

00:24:08.558 --> 00:24:10.080
I love reading business books.

00:24:10.080 --> 00:24:20.112
I'm reading the new Ryan Serhant branding book now, which is awesome.

00:24:20.112 --> 00:24:20.393
I love him.

00:24:20.393 --> 00:24:20.875
And what was another?

00:24:20.875 --> 00:24:21.458
I just I'm I just finished.

00:24:21.458 --> 00:24:23.688
A couple months ago I finished Dan Martell's book, Buy Back your Time, which was really good.

00:24:23.688 --> 00:24:33.023
So there's some really good experts out there that have written some really good books that are helpful to us, that they can give us ideas and inspiration, and that's fun.

00:24:33.023 --> 00:24:34.490
And I love to garden.

00:24:34.490 --> 00:24:40.650
I love to plant, I don't like to weed, so I've got a really nice garden full of plants that need weeding.

00:24:41.171 --> 00:24:44.694
Yeah, yeah, I had my husband do that because my allergies are so bad.

00:24:44.694 --> 00:24:48.419
I said I love flowers, I love how to go, but he's why don't you come?

00:24:48.419 --> 00:24:49.861
I said no, that's okay.

00:24:51.823 --> 00:24:52.544
I did the hard work.

00:24:52.544 --> 00:24:53.204
I planted them.

00:24:53.204 --> 00:24:54.346
Now you can go take care of them.

00:24:58.789 --> 00:25:00.153
I know, that's what I tell my husband.

00:25:00.153 --> 00:25:10.015
You know, my biggest thing, girl, when I remember me and my mom, we actually was trying to do vegetables and we were living in Cincinnati then and worms I just can't deal with worms, but when I moved to Georgia, what?

00:25:10.035 --> 00:25:10.315
do you call it?

00:25:10.315 --> 00:25:11.459
Instead of squirrels, there was a what is it?

00:25:11.499 --> 00:25:12.321
Chipmunks, yeah, chipmunks.

00:25:12.321 --> 00:25:16.476
And the other little, yeah, I scream and I go in the house.

00:25:16.476 --> 00:25:19.623
So I couldn't, I couldn't do that.

00:25:19.623 --> 00:25:21.334
But I mean I love the outcome of it.

00:25:21.334 --> 00:25:23.921
So if I can get somebody to do that for me, that'd be great.

00:25:23.921 --> 00:25:28.911
That is awesome.

00:25:28.911 --> 00:25:29.291
I am so happy.

00:25:29.311 --> 00:25:30.634
So tell us your future plans again that you planned on doing.

00:25:30.634 --> 00:25:35.271
Yeah, we're doing a little bit of a retool on the format of our podcast and it's going along with.

00:25:35.271 --> 00:25:39.079
I'm really going to be focusing much more on the midlife.

00:25:39.079 --> 00:25:41.192
Most of my clients are over 50.

00:25:41.192 --> 00:25:55.000
We just relate to each other, we talk to each other and I'm really going to be focusing on that group of entrepreneurs, because we learn differently, we absorb differently, we were different technically.

00:25:55.000 --> 00:25:58.615
We weren't born with smartphones in our hands is one of my favorite saying.

00:25:59.998 --> 00:26:16.718
So it's a very different and a lot of coaching programs that are out there now are geared for younger people and they go fast and they're talking to that age group and I've heard so many of us that are over a certain age said they just they're trying to tell me what to do, not listen to what I want.

00:26:17.140 --> 00:26:18.042
So, it's.

00:26:18.203 --> 00:26:21.013
it's interesting, so that's really where my focus is going to be in.

00:26:21.013 --> 00:26:22.459
The podcast is going to reflect that.

00:26:22.598 --> 00:26:31.373
Yeah, I love that Cause actually I want to, I want to start doing and that's my next project is actually helping seniors, because actually I want to start doing and that's my next project is actually helping seniors, not seniors, seasonal people, seasoned midlife.

00:26:31.453 --> 00:26:31.835
Yes To do.

00:26:31.835 --> 00:26:34.037
Yes, yes To start doing seminars.

00:26:34.269 --> 00:26:36.538
When I retired from IBM, I was 60.

00:26:36.538 --> 00:26:43.118
I had that and I didn't stop at what I was doing because I looked at my father, who had dementia, and said OK, I don't want that to happen to me.

00:26:43.118 --> 00:26:49.563
So I want to actually educate seniors and let them know there is something beyond there.

00:26:49.563 --> 00:26:52.799
Don't just sit at home and not do anything, because that's when your mind starts going down.

00:26:52.799 --> 00:26:57.821
I like to do that I like to collaborate with you on that to see how we can do that and make it happen.

00:26:58.471 --> 00:27:28.721
As far as seminars, Last week I was in a room of almost 500 women at a conference and if you look around the room, probably more than 60% of that room had graying or gray hair and there were some a little bit larger percent of under 50 that I've seen in some of the other mixed rooms, and so many of the women were saying I can't see myself retiring, what am I going to do?

00:27:28.721 --> 00:27:31.482
I don't want to retire and do nothing, and this is great.

00:27:31.482 --> 00:27:35.463
So they're building business that they've always wanted to build and that's what we're here for.

00:27:35.944 --> 00:27:57.686
Absolutely, and that's why I came in with doing COVID, why I actually did my webinars about helping people with my brand, wd Fitness Associates helping them actually grow their business or start a business, launching their business and how can I do that with coaching them, but also with our services to help them get legally protected, socially successfully and financially protected.

00:27:57.686 --> 00:28:00.213
So that's really what my goal is you protected my business?

00:28:00.615 --> 00:28:02.459
Yes, definitely.

00:28:02.459 --> 00:28:05.031
That's why I gave my LLCC, so protecting it.

00:28:05.031 --> 00:28:05.814
Yes, so definitely.

00:28:05.814 --> 00:28:09.102
I would love to do that, lori, I am so excited about it.

00:28:09.102 --> 00:28:10.615
Tell people how they can get in touch with you.

00:28:11.178 --> 00:28:26.578
Sure, I think the easiest way is if you go to lorilionsme it's L-O-R-I-L-Y-O-N-S dot M-E me, and it gives you all my contact information, tells you a little bit about me and and there's a link to the podcast you can go everywhere from there.

00:28:26.578 --> 00:28:28.362
You go to the website design business.

00:28:28.362 --> 00:28:29.683
It takes you everywhere.

00:28:30.545 --> 00:28:31.086
That sounds good.

00:28:31.086 --> 00:28:32.592
So that was Lori Lyons.

00:28:32.813 --> 00:28:36.077
L-O-R-I-L-Y-O-N-S.

00:28:36.077 --> 00:28:37.941
Dot me M-E.

00:28:38.962 --> 00:28:41.616
Okay, okay, and you can contact Lori at that.

00:28:41.616 --> 00:28:43.795
Is it a website or is it just yes?

00:28:43.875 --> 00:28:44.458
it's a website.

00:28:44.919 --> 00:28:49.913
Okay, it's got a contact form and everything on it.

00:28:49.913 --> 00:28:54.262
So, yes, okay, great, and if you want to be on Lori's podcast, reach out to her, because it's a great podcast.

00:28:54.262 --> 00:28:56.085
Really I love what you're doing, lori, yeah.

00:28:56.931 --> 00:29:01.281
One of the things that I'm going to add, which I'm looking for guests for, is I'm going to do speed coaching.

00:29:01.281 --> 00:29:05.713
So we'll do a private coaching episode online on the podcast.

00:29:05.713 --> 00:29:08.837
So I'm going to be looking for that, absolutely.

00:29:09.617 --> 00:29:10.578
Awesome, I love that.

00:29:10.578 --> 00:29:11.359
I love that.

00:29:11.359 --> 00:29:15.565
But thank you so much for joining me, lori, on my Ready Set Collaborate podcast.

00:29:16.065 --> 00:29:17.105
Well, thank you for having me.

00:29:22.710 --> 00:29:23.352
Oh, absolutely, absolutely.

00:29:23.352 --> 00:29:23.531
Audience.

00:29:23.531 --> 00:29:29.686
I want to make sure that you follow, share, please make sure you share episodes and listen to our podcast on the Ready Set Collaborate podcast on all platforms.

00:29:29.686 --> 00:29:36.042
I'm sorry podcast platforms, especially Spotify, apple, Apple podcasts they're all over the place.

00:29:36.042 --> 00:29:37.432
Lori, I found that we're on Audible.

00:29:37.432 --> 00:29:38.756
I had no idea I was on Audible.

00:29:39.277 --> 00:29:39.897
Yeah, definitely.

00:29:39.917 --> 00:29:46.236
So, yeah definitely listen to it, but thank you once again, lori, for being on my podcast.

00:29:46.236 --> 00:29:47.597
I finally got you on here, girl.

00:29:47.657 --> 00:29:49.340
Yes, yes, we finally made it work.

00:29:49.942 --> 00:29:51.483
Yes, yes, thank you.

00:29:51.483 --> 00:29:55.278
Until then, ready Set Collaborate podcast with Wanda Pearson.

00:29:55.720 --> 00:30:00.573
Thank you for tuning into this episode of Ready Set Collaborate.

00:30:00.573 --> 00:30:11.464
For more information about the host, head to to WDPearsonAssociatescom and that's P-E-A-R-S-O-N.

00:30:11.464 --> 00:30:12.826
Want to connect?

00:30:12.826 --> 00:30:26.960
Send an email to Wanda at WDPearsonAssociatescom and, as always, stay tuned for the next episode of Ready Set Collaborating.