I participated in aTwitter chat using the #EncoreChat hashtag hosted by Judi Bonilla targeting female entrepreneurs, 50+ . These were the questions I was asked along with my 140 character response (s) on twitter. Each line is a response.
Judi: Welcome! This afternoon’s #EncoreChat is with Patricia Patton @BoomerWiz writer, publisher, and reinvention strategist.
Hello everyone.
Patricia : Thank you for the invite Judi.
Question: How would you describe yourself
I would also refer to myself as a self-made woman who finally embraced her what’s next.
I pushed past my fear to trust that I could provide services that both individuals and organizations would pay for because of their need and the ROI
I create playbooks to help individuals identify their platform and create strategies that reshape their future & express a deeper dimensions of the self.
I help non profits in transition reinvent their social strategy and messaging in order to reach wider segments of their targeted population.
I help Aging 2.0 start ups communicate with mature audiences so they are not insulting the very people they hope to service
Question: What was your “why” for launching your business?
As a mature black American woman I had difficulty integrating my life perspectives, which in fact were quite broad, into paid branding opportunities as a blogger.
I wanted to do something in my prime that gave me goosebumps
I understood how marginalization can silence older adults
Life was not 95% work and 5% vacations.
Question What were your steps for launching your business?
There are people with MBA’s much better suited to give a book answer to this question than me and no disrespect is intended here.
I JUMPED on my dream to create the lifestyle I wanted perhaps more out of fear than anything after 911.
My dream initially was to work hard 4-5 months out of year then travel, write and serve from wherever I was in the world.
Remember I believe work and leisure coexist in my definition of lifestyle
I studied the market. I talked to everyone. I learned the language of change. I understood where I fit.
Questions: Did you use local resources @sbagov @scorementors #mentors #coaches?
I did not use the traditional methods using the SBA or SCORE
I did pay for laser coaching with varying degrees of success
I am engaging at the moment with a Mastermind group
I have not had traditional mentors
Question: What’s been your biggest challenge?
Securing and building a sustainable platform
Distribution of product.
Marketing and Growing distribution chain
Question: What was your solution?
I kept looking for the next step even though I have failed many times
I spent last 5 years attending blogging and now subject matter conferences
I learned to a) assess/understand the landscape, b) identify the gaps in the landscape c) figure out strategies to transform my gift into something clients would pay for and with service to others
I continue to work on a solution. How to change your life. How to make sure What’s Next is What you Want
Technically I am still building
Learning how to create products, how to sell, redefining what strategic clarity is to me
Developing Signature products
Question: What keeps you motivated?
Lifelong learning
This is what I learned the hard way Rich in your niche
The broad category of people I work with are those who sometimes feel unsure of their direction,
Those who want to make this half of their life better than the first half
I am also part of a Facebook Group of mature black, African and Caribbean boomer bloggers who have helped me better understand one segment of my ideal prospect
They are Black and African American boomers and bloggers is an online community of entrepreneurial women who are recreating their lives through co-creation and support. It is also a safe space for lifelong learning, a place where it is okay to not know and to get answers. This will take place in an environment where the values of sharing, reciprocity, and compassion are practiced and not talked about.
They have allowed me to become more clear on signature products for an identifiable market
Because I have failed so many times and I am not embarrassed by this fact I am comfortable sharing and learning from #LeanStartUp that goal is to fail fast Impatient yes but that’s it.
This is not to the exclusion of other boomers, just a targeted group that does not have as much support elsewhere
Question: What is your best advice for #Encorepreneurs?
Become rich in your niche
(SNAP)Snap super networking at an accelerated pace. Lisa Nichols
Discover what you can do for others, then do it whenever you can
Don’t try to do too many things at once.
Find one thing. Do it great. Then Scale that thing
Work against your FEARS
You need a commitment from yourself not just a decision.
https://hbr.org/2015/05/the-art-of-evangelism
Temptation is to try to do what has taken others years to do
There are lots of people who are more skilled at this like @SmallBizLady
You need a commitment from yourself not just a decision. Not enough to be smart or have skills
Measure
Increase level of impact-how to make a difference
What kind of systems
Question: What is your best resource(s) to share with our audience?
Based upon who I am, demographics etc, power networking has become my greatest resource.
I learned that People I have networked with
Question: What’s next for @BoomerWiz?
I am hosting an intimate What’s Next Bootcamp for 10 mature women on Martha’s Vineyard Sept 9-12, 2015
This is only for women this go round who are committed to making the second half of their life better than the first half
At the What’s Next Bootcamp 10 women will be creating Playbooks for what’s next in their lives and learning how to extend their passion for life via social media/
They will come with a goal and leave with a playbook for executing this goal with 2 months follow up
These are women who are walking Toward their What’s Next
If you are interested in participating in the upcoming BootCamp/Retreat email me at BomerWiz@gmail.com with Retreat in subject line. There will be room for 10 women.
Judi: Thanks and closing
What keeps you motivated?
Janeane Davis says
This was a very interesting conversation. I liked the reminder that it is never too late to become what you want to be or to dream a new dream.
Patricia A Patton says
Thanks for reading. After I went back over my answers in prepping, I felt pretty good about where I am.Twitter Chats can sometimes go awry. Thanks again for sharing on Pushing Lovely. Over time perhaps readers will gain some understanding of what an encorepreneur is (smile)
Janeane Davis says
I