Behind-the-Scenes: How I Get Creative

by melissa on May 22, 2013

One of my favorite things about my TV obsessions (ummm…Game of Thrones) is the behind-the-scenes featurettes where you get to hear all of the actor’s “real” accents and score a delicious glimpse into the action.

Sooo addictive.

Early on in my business, I always wished that my business idols would offer this same peek into their world. Occasionally, the truly awesome folks would reveal little tidbits here + there that made me super giddy.

To give back, I’m ready to reveal some candid details of my life as a successful online business owner, PR + Marketing virtuoso, and actress. My hope is this behind-the-scenes look will give you the inside scoop on how I run things, stay motivated + focused, and make the whole process feel like a guilty pleasure (so you can do the same.)

First up:

How do you come up with super-creative ideas for classes, programs, blogs, etc?

Let’s start with what I DON’T do.

:: Check out what other people are doing (creative envy totally blows)

:: Waste time diddling on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram or Google+

:: Sit + stare at my laptop screen

:: Sit + stare at an empty word document

:: Sit + stare out the window

:: Throw something across the room in a creative hissy fit

:: Eat an entire bag of salt + vinegar potato chips

:: Pick out all the Heath Bars in a pint of Ben + Jerry’s Heath Bar Crunch Ice Cream

:: Read articles, buy books, or sign up for programs on “how to be creative”

All of these activities spell the death of my creativity.

I’ve tried every.single.one at some point, and several I’ve tried multiple times.

But, instead of bringing on creativity + success, they just brought on stress, frustration, anxiety, and stomach aches.

So…what does bring on an explosion of creativity + good ideas? Here are my go-to sparks:

WALKING MY DOGS

Exercise fuels the brain with all kinds of goodness so, luckily, my pooches require lots of walkin’ each + every day. These breaks always give me a much-needed dose of energy and inspiration. Plus, my dogs are just so.darn.cute.

photo copy2 300x239 Behind the Scenes: How I Get Creative

Lily [aka: badness]

READING FICTION

Reading fiction makes you a better writer, and one of my favorite weekly activities is to head to the local bookstore and get lost in a genre. Magic, Wizards + Epic Fantasy? Bring it on! Historical, Bodice-Ripping Erotica? Ummm…yes. Angsty Teen Paranormal Romance? No shame here.

MUSIC

Music gets your blood pumping and your wheels turning. I love downloading epic soundtracks + trailer music from movies, TV shows, and video games to get my creative adrenaline going.

DAYDREAMING

Letting your mind roam to those deep, dark + exciting places provides an instant boost in creativity. Go ahead and indulge in those fantasies, it’s for the sake of your business…after all.

TRYING SOMETHING NEW

Expanding your comfort zone is an excellent way to break through creative blocks. I try to do something that makes me feel a little uncomfortable. This week, I ate alone, slowly, in a cafe. I tasted every bite of my delicious meal. I watched people walk by. I chatted up the waitress beyond “can I have more water?” I reflected a bit in my journal. It felt a little strange in the moment, but once I arrived home I had a burst of creative energy that led to this blog post and a brand-new class I’ll be debuting in a few months!

photo 300x225 Behind the Scenes: How I Get Creative

A delicious meal alone in Napa

YOUR TURN:

What’s your favorite way to get creative? Share it in the comments below!

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What’s your {Business} Fantasy?

by melissa on May 14, 2013

2130 1037819940941 511 n 199x300 What’s your {Business} Fantasy?

Yes, that’s me in a blonde wig!

The word “fantasy” is usually married to the word “sex.” And while sexual fantasies are totally delicious, healthy + natural, we’re dishing on a different type of fantasy today.

What I really want to know? What’s your BUSINESS fantasy?

You know, that arousing fantasy you conjure up when your imagination runs wild.

Here’s one of my many business fantasies: HBO creates a series based on my TV pilot pitch for a 1940s paranormal political thriller. I write and star in the series. The show also stars Henry Ian Cusick (because Desmond from LOST needs to be back in TV in a killer role), Timothy Olyphant (Justified fans – let me hear you scream), and Ed O’Neill (because Al Bundy/Jay Pritchett would be soooo good as a bad-ass character.) And in a shocking decision, Eminem is cast as a supporting player to bring his fire + intensity to a truly demonizing character. Ben Affleck produces and directs the first episode (and we’ll toss Matt Damon in there as a producer for good measure.) Florence + the Machine creates the soundtrack. We sweep the Emmy’s, winning Best TV Drama, Best Actor/Actress and Supporting Actor.

That’s all.

The best part about this fantasy? It provides an endless loop of entertainment in my imagination. If even a small part of this fantasy became a reality, I would probably run screaming around my house, then have a panic attack…and faint.

In the meantime…the dreaming is so.much.fun.

Fantasies are an essential part of making your business feel like a guilty pleasure.  TWEET IT

Fantasies provide daily stimulation that you can tap into anytime, anywhere. They help you breathe easier and provide a pleasant distraction from the swirl of craziness that happens while running your business.

And those recurring fantasies that play on a constant, stimulating loop in your imagination?

Those are the fantasies you most desire to come true. And every little step you take to make that deep, dark + delicious fantasy a reality feels like an instant hit of intoxication.

If you’re ready to turn up the heat and free your imagination, go ahead and share your business fantasy in the comments section.

By divulging just one of your business pleasures, you’ll add more fun + steam to your business right away!

Go ahead + share…if you dare icon smile What’s your {Business} Fantasy?

Here’s to your sizzle, spark + stardom,

:: Melissa

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iStock 000022832532XSmall How to Write Hot + Juicy Blog Posts (and other types of content)

Ever read a hot + juicy blog post and think, “Why can’t I do that?!”

You’re not alone.

A couple weeks ago, I popped a couple questions to my crew — I wanted to know how people felt when they sat down to write blog posts + newsletters for their businesses.

The answers were pretty heartbreaking. Words like “migraine,” “vomit,” and “panic attack” came up, for more than a few of you! Yikes.

Here’s the thing: if you want to become a business celebrity, you’ve got to learn how to write in a way that’s juicy, compelling and totally addictive.

And no, you don’t have to be Shakespeare reincarnated (I’m certainly not!) but you do have to figure out what your clients are craving, and then serve it up — with plenty of personality.

In other words: you’ve got to become your clients’ ultimate guilty pleasure.

Here’s what happens when you start writing content that feels like a guilty pleasure — the kind of stuff that YOU’D want to read, till 3am in the morning:

:: People get to see you — the real you — and start to know, like + trust you.

:: Your “wrong” clients go running for the hills (‘cause you’ll be a total turn-off, for them. Good riddance!)

:: Your “right” clients come crashing onto your front lawn, and lining up ‘round the block (‘cause you’ll be an insane turn-ON, for them. Aw yeah!)

:: You get to have FUN with your writing — which will show up 1,000% in everything you create. (Fun is visible, infectious, and cannot be faked!)

Bottom line: if writing for your business feels like a drag, then running your business will feel like a chore. And that’s no way to attract your ideal clients — or live your life!

So: are you ready to learn how to create content that’s fun to read — and even more fun to write? While indulging in celebrity gossip, amazing contests, and pump-you-up music playlists, curated by moi?

Then consider yourself invited to my latest ‘n greatest class: How To Be A Guilty Pleasure. The party starts on May 6th, and we’ll be rolling for 4 weeks.

One-time, ridiculously-amazing beta-pricing of $149 is in full-effect.

Get all the E! Entertainment-worthy details + sign up, right here: http://guiltypleasurecontent.com/

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Where’s The Fun In Your Business?

by melissa on March 31, 2013

The other day, I was chatting with a client who hired me because she wanted a dose of my PR expertise.

But just between us? She was equally excited to swap a lil’ gossip about our shared obsession: pop culture.

“I love how you talk about celebrities and TV shows and stuff. It’s so fun!” she said.

I responded: “Um, I have to do that, because I need to have FUN in my business.”

If you’re dragging your booty to your desk chair every morning, only to stare at your to-do list in shame … then running your business probably isn’t feelin’ very fun.

And your customers can smell lack-of-fun from fifteen miles away.

The easiest way to have FUN with your business? Simple: take your hobbies, passions + guilty pleasures and swirl ‘em right into your business model.

Take me, for example.

I’m obsessed with Hollywood + pop culture, so I created a whole brand around turning business owners into business celebrities.

I regularly work pop culture references into my blog posts (sparkly vampires, anyone?) and I give my products + services E! Entertainment-worthy names — like Make Headlines, Center of Attention and The Starmaker Session.

Sometimes, I even write my sales copy in the style of a Hollywood screenplay!

Here are a few more examples:

My mentor Marie Forleo is a former Nike dance instructor who loves hip hop music, so her brand is laced with swank + swagger — including promotional videos that belong on the MTV Top-40 countdown! Hot.

Alexandra Franzen is the hottest wordsmith you’ll ever meet, and she swirls in her passion for yoga, Tarot + improvised performances into her live writing workshops.

Tonya Leigh is a certified life coach with a flair for French living + the finer things in life.  (Don’t you just want to lick her site? I bet it tastes like pink champagne.) Tonya’s passion for all things Parisian is reflected in her tagline (“French Kiss Life”) and in her luxurious travel adventures for women.

These ladies are having an absolute BLAST running their businesses — and it shows.

So: how can YOU have more fun in your business?

First thing’s first — what does FUN mean, for you? Maybe you love competing in gritty mud runs, or consider yourself a connoisseur of spas + steam rooms. Or maybe you have a not-so-guilty obsession with watching back-to-back (to-back-to-back) episodes of Gossip Girl on Netflix streaming (OK, maybe that’s just me.)

Right this second: make a list of all the things that feel like the exact opposite of “work.”

Now — it’s time to get a little creative. How can you weave all that fuuuuun into your business?

A couple ideas:

:: Share your all-time favorite activities in your bio (check out my “10 Things You Don’t Know About Me.”)

:: Create programs + classes anchored around your hobbies + guilty pleasures.

:: Design special promotions around your obsessions (ahem, I mean, “strong interests.”)

:: Weave your “non-business” hobbies into your blog posts (for example: “What Running A 5K Taught Me About Running A Business,” or “The Tipsy Wine-Lover’s Guide to Makin’ Friends On Facebook.”)

:: Reveal tidbits about your hobbies + passions on social media (it’s wayyy more interesting than babbling on about business all day.)

:: Think of words + phrases that relate to your hobbies, and weave them into your copy (for example: if you’re running a finance business — but you’re a closeted fashionista — tell us how a high-interest savings account can feel like a sexy little black dress. icon wink Where’s The Fun In Your Business?

What’s the point of all this FUN, you ask?

Well, besides the obvious (keeping you engaged + excited about your work) …

:: People will be wayyy more attracted to your brand because it’s interesting, exciting and human.

:: Customers will be delighted about working with you (having fun is infectious!)

:: You’ll wake up every day super excited to get to work, because it’ll feel more like playing hooky.

:: You’ll attract unbelievably perfect customers who have fun the same way you do! (I have no shame in the fact that several people have hired me simply because I’m a True Blood fanatic.)

Bottom line: show me an irresistible business, and I’ll show you a business owner who knows how to have FUN.

TAKE ACTION: How do YOU like to have fun? Share it in a comment below, along with one way you plan to weave mo’ fun into your business.

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4 Ways to Run your Business Like a Guilty Pleasure

by melissa on February 25, 2013

I love guilty pleasures. Dark and sexy HBO original series. Scrumptious dark chocolate. Watching (and re-watching) epic movie trailers. Reading gossip sites.

It took me a few years to figure out how to run my entire business like a guilty pleasure. Now, whenever I’m taking up “work” time to read E! Online (to research celebrity trends for media pitches) or treating my Irresistible Business Challengers to yummy chocolate or decadent spa gifts, I deviously smile and giggle with glee.

Today I want to share with you a list of fresh + playful ways you can inject more ‘guilty pleasure-ness’ into mundane, everyday tasks. Enjoy!

1. Stay on top of trends.

Want to read trashy tabloids, watch a Game of Thrones marathon, or bite your lip through the latest juicy novel? In my book, there’s nothing better than having a hot + trendy business and the ONLY way to do it is to stay on point with what’s hot n’ trendy and work those trends into your business through content, offers, or special promotions.

2. Make a business soundtrack.

You know those songs that get you completely pumped + inspired to get stuff done? Yup, those need to go on your business soundtrack – your personal playlist of songs that help you plow through tasks quicker than your favorite superhero.

3. Shake up business meetings.

Tired of business meetings stuck in a conference room or at some stuffy lunch joint? Grab some fresh air during a hike-meeting, rent out a room at a spa or museum for a change in atmosphere, or kick-off a meeting with a fun game.

4. Mix your hobbies into your biz.

My specialty is helping business owners mix all of their seemingly disjointed passions into one exciting business that feels like a 24/7 guilty pleasure. I’ve personally swirled my love of pop culture + PR together into a biz I love. You can do the same!

Dig this article? Tweet it to your posse!

I’m runnin’ my business like a guilty pleasure thanks to @casseracomm. Wanna join me? http://wp.me/p1vGtt-AB

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The Right (and very wrong) Way to Ask for Peoples’ Opinions

February 20, 2013

It’s an epidemic. I see it every single day among even the savviest of business owners. I’ve even been guilty of it myself (gulp.) What the heck am I talking about? Asking for opinions about your business. From the wrong people. Or, in the wrong way. Take a gander at the following scenarios and see [...]

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Marie Forleo RHH B-School Review (Rich Happy & Hot B-School)

February 13, 2013

B-SCHOOL IS NOW OPEN FOR ENROLLMENT! IF YOU’D LIKE TO SIGN UP THROUGH MY AND ACCESS MY SPECIAL BONUSES, YOU MUST CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINK ONLY: http://rhhbschool.com/join-us/?orid=20720&opid=71 Details on my bonuses + my experience with B-School can be found below Oh, hey there!! If you’ve stumbled on this post, you probably either 1.) Saw me [...]

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Hot Trends Worth Trying :: February 2013

February 8, 2013

DOWNLOAD THE FEBRUARY 2013 HOT TREND REPORT HERE: Hot Trend Report Feb 2013 Is your business hot? Or not? If you’re looking for some quick ways to steam up your business success, I’ve got a sweet treat for you. One of the best ways to attract customers and the media is to piggyback your business [...]

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Are you hiding your dream?

January 30, 2013

You might already know that in addition to wielding around my PR magic wand I also love to act. I happily admit this to you today, but I wasn’t so open with my “second life” years ago. I actually used to hide the fact that I was an actress like it was some kind of [...]

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Why Waiting To Get “Discovered” … Doesn’t Work. (And What Does.)

January 15, 2013

Ever wonder why certain people seem to have it all? They are showered with praise + recognition. They sell out launches and nab book deals. Their face is splashed on the cover of glossy magazines. They even have the Oprah “stamp of approval.” Most of the time, we try to process the success of others [...]

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