150: I am building an Online Business Summit in public (here’s why!)

In this milestone episode of Online Business Uncovered, I’m joined by Coach Tammy Appleton for a real, honest conversation about something new we’re building together… the Online Business Growth Summit happening this October.

This isn’t just another online event. It’s our response to what we’re seeing everywhere right now... brilliant entrepreneurs feeling overwhelmed, stuck, burnt out and quietly wondering if there’s a smarter way to grow!

In this episode, we share why we decided to create this summit, what we believe is missing in the online business space and why we’re choosing to build it in public (messy moments and all!). 

No hype. No inflated promises. Just clarity, practical support and genuine connection.

We talk about the real challenges business owners are facing… LIKE fear, frustration, perfectionism, the pressure to “have it all figured out” and why building a scalable, sustainable business requires both strategy and inner work.

You’ll hear how we’re designing this summit to help you:

• Move beyond trading time for money
• Clarify your next steps
• Create repeatable offers
• Build systems that support your life
• Show up with visibility and intention

And perhaps most importantly, you’ll hear us navigating this process in real time, sharing what it actually takes to bring an idea to life.

If you’ve been craving a smarter, more grounded way to grow your business then this episode is for you!

Transcript

Karen [00:00:00]:
Hello and welcome to Online Business Uncovered. This is episode 150, and today I am joined by my guest, Coach Tammy Appleton, and we're going to be talking about an online summit that we are going to be hosting in this October called the Online Business Growth Summit. So we're going to be diving into why we've decided to do this, who this is for, and how this is going to be a game changer. So if you are looking for inspiration a way forward, and a place to feel supported, then this episode is a must-listen. So let's jump right in and let's get started.

Karen [00:00:48]:
Welcome to Online Business Uncovered, the show.

Karen [00:00:51]:
That lifts the lid on what it.

Karen [00:00:53]:
Really takes to turn your brilliance into digital products, passive income, and time freedom. I am your host, Karen, an online business strategist, course creation expert, and your.

Karen [00:01:04]:
Your go-to for building a business that.

Karen [00:01:05]:
Works for you and not the other way around. If you are an ambitious entrepreneur feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, or maybe you're just ready for a smarter, more sustainable way to grow, then you're in the right place. Because each week I'll be bringing you inspiring conversations, practical strategies, and step-by-step guidance to help you create scalable, repeatable digital products that sell even while you sleep. So if you're ready to stop trading your time for money, reclaim your time, and finally build a business that gives you the freedom that you deserve, hit subscribe and tune in every Thursday. Let's uncover what's truly possible for you starting now.

Karen [00:01:51]:
Hello and welcome. Thank you for joining me today. I am your host Karen, and I really do appreciate you hitting that play button to listen to today's episode. Now, if you've been feeling like the traditional way of building a business, it just isn't working for you anymore, more, more clients, more hours, more pressure, but not necessarily more freedom, then this episode is going to be perfect for you because today I'm joined by coach Tammy Appleton and we're going to be having a really honest conversation about what, why we've decided to host the Online Business Growth Summit this October. Now this isn't just another online event. It's a response to what we're seeing in the online space right now. Burnout, overwhelm, and brilliant entrepreneurs entrepreneurs like you being stuck in business models that simply aren't sustainable. So in this episode, we're going to be sharing why we believe it's time for a smarter way to grow and a way that focuses on clarity, scalable offers, visibility with intention, and building an ecosystem that actually supports the life that you want.

Karen [00:03:02]:
So let's jump right in and let's get started.

Karen [00:03:05]:
Today I've got a bit of a special episode because I am with Tammy Appleton, who is a coach, and we're actually going to be talking about a collaboration that we're, we're currently working on and kind of really get into the heart of why this has come about and how we're going to help other entrepreneurs to really create the business that they set out to create at the beginning. So we're going to be uncovering a lot of juicy stuff today, which I'm really excited about. So Tammy, welcome. Thank you for joining me today. Do you want to just start by letting the listeners know exactly who you are, what you do, and how you help?

Tammy Appleton [00:03:54]:
Sure. Okay. So my name is Tammy Appleton. I have, uh, been starting, building, scaling, and selling businesses, oh, for about 25 years. I am currently a Tri-Crest coach. I'm the president actually of Tri-Crest USA. I am also a Go-Giver speaker. That is the book, The Go-Giver by Bob Burg.

Tammy Appleton [00:04:16]:
So I stay pretty busy. So Karen is the wonderful person that I have met that has made my online, my online world come into fruition. So I am so excited to be here and be part of this journey.

Karen [00:04:31]:
Oh, I'm so excited about today's episode because I know we've spoken about this multiple times, haven't we? And it's interesting when we talk about what we do, you know, we have such synergy that, you know, it was, it was a matter of time really, wasn't it, before we actually came together to create something joint. So I'm super excited about this. So thank you for, for sort of introducing yourself.

Tammy Appleton [00:04:59]:
Not only that, I think it's so exciting the fact that really our bottom is that you and I truly, in an authentic way, want to help people genuinely. And I, and I think that, you know, us coming together, discovering that that's really hard to find. There's a lot out there, but having something that's real, authentic, genuine. Um, so I'm really excited to be here. Super excited.

Karen [00:05:23]:
I, I think the conversations that we often have are absolutely real. And I say that because you're absolutely right. I think in the online space, there's a lot of fluff. And there's a lot of hype around what is seemingly possible. And what I love about our conversations is that it is just kept real. You know, we, we kind of avoid that, that sort of overhyping what is possible. And we just— I, I just love the fact we, we both see it for what it is and what is possible, but in a way that, that kind of serves us both. So, so we're not, we're not in, you know, up in the clouds this.

Tammy Appleton [00:06:06]:
And we're gen— like I said, we genuinely are out there to do nothing but help people. So, you know, when your goal is just to change people's lives, to help them, to put them to another level, it is exciting. You want it. So, you know, I think the idea of us bringing together this summit for that purpose is magic. So I cannot thrilled to be part of this and the people that come into this as far as speakers.

Karen [00:06:38]:
Yeah, absolutely. So just for the context, um, for our listeners, so Tammy and I, we are going to be hosting our very first online summit this October. So this episode is being recorded in February. So we are currently at the very start of this journey. Now, I think it's fair to say that neither of us have hosted a summit before. So we are taking on, you know, something that's going to be a challenge. But I think it's also fair to say that we are both very much up for this. But the idea about this summit is really to create an event that really supports people in a way that, that helps them to actually move forward and achieve their goals in their business.

Karen [00:07:27]:
And I think there's a lot of online events and summits that currently exist. But I, I think we're going to try and do it different. So do you want to kind of share a little bit?

Tammy Appleton [00:07:39]:
Actually taking the journey with you. So I think you just left me. Did you just leave me?

Karen [00:07:46]:
Yes.

Tammy Appleton [00:07:46]:
Sorry.

Karen [00:07:47]:
My, my dog is at the door. And he's like, can you let me in, please?

Tammy Appleton [00:07:54]:
Speaking about being there for you.

Karen [00:07:57]:
Honestly, if it's not dogs, it's children.

Tammy Appleton [00:08:01]:
So the idea of taking this journey with you, and what I mean by that is we haven't hosted a summit before and we're going to do this with you. We're going to be honest about what's working, what doesn't work, what failed, what doesn't fail. So I think the genuineness of us coming together to create something to truly help people, but not only that, This is the first time we're doing a summit, so we're going to be very honest about, you know, what struggles we're having, what highs we're having, what lows we're having. And we are going to be honest about that and give that to you so you can see that, you know, not all journeys are fluff, that it isn't, you know, one day you're gonna walk in and take this course and make, you know, $1 million the next day or $1 million within a week. This is something we're doing with you. We are going to be in real time, live. We're going to be answering questions. We're going to be assisting you in this journey.

Tammy Appleton [00:09:06]:
So while we're doing this, we're going to be guiding you in what we know. So I think that's pretty, pretty rare and pretty new because normally you get people who either know it or pretend to know it and want the money either way. We are not focused on the money. We are focused on assisting, taking you through the journey, being authentic, being real, letting you see behind the curtain, the eyes and the curtain. So that, I think, is a unique perspective.

Karen [00:09:41]:
I think so as well, because I think you're right. I think often when you go to these events, you're met with you know, great speakers. They know their stuff, but they're slightly removed from their audience because they're there to deliver and then they go. And I think what I, what I love about what we're going to be doing is we're going to be supporting throughout the event and thereafter. And I think what works really well is we come at it with very different skill sets that complement each other, but also will provide such a, um, you know, sort of a wealth of experience for our attendees. Yeah, exactly. And I think that's really important because there is so much information now that exists online. You can pretty much go and do anything online.

Karen [00:10:34]:
You can, you know, there's information.

Tammy Appleton [00:10:36]:
Come up with your roadmap.

Karen [00:10:38]:
Yeah, absolutely.

Tammy Appleton [00:10:40]:
And like I said, we, we all use ChatGPT. Please, I know we do. But here's the thing, it can't take you from A to Z. You actually need to have action. You need to have real implementation. You need to have not just your ChatGPT cheerleader. And we were just talking about this. So you actually need real-time action.

Tammy Appleton [00:11:03]:
You really need to understand that because you're taking a course, because you have maybe acquired a certain title, That doesn't mean that this journey is not going to need action, that it's not going to need to struggle to, you know, have those experiences of win-loss frustration. But that's what we're here for. Now, we are an expert at what we do, so that information will always be provided for you fully, 100% of ourselves. We will be giving the summit aspect because that is new to us. We came together with our experience. And mind you, we've been working together for what, 3 or 4— 2 years?

Karen [00:11:44]:
Yeah, I think it's about nearly 3 years. It's been a long time now.

Tammy Appleton [00:11:49]:
Oh, it's been a while for us to get to know each other and know that this is a great fit and something that we actually have a purpose and can actually, because of our passions to help people— we're both in that field, and that is truly my genuine goal, is to change people's lives. Come together to actually make it happen and make it happen with something we really don't know exactly how it's going to turn out. I think it's pretty exciting.

Karen [00:12:15]:
And I think so.

Tammy Appleton [00:12:17]:
Yeah, for me, there again, if anything fails, learns, wins, it's all a lesson. A failure is only a failure if you don't learn from it. So I'm pretty excited.

Karen [00:12:27]:
Yeah, 100%, 100%. I think what I love is this idea of having a seed of an idea having a thought and then somehow bringing it to life. And when you think of how powerful that is, you're literally giving birth to an idea, and that idea can have a huge impact on the people around you. And I think that's incredible. And I think it's not lost on me that through the work that I do, I'm often asking people to trust in themselves, to take the idea that they have and to bring it to life. And that can be really scary because they don't know if what they've got is going to work for them. They can do their due diligence, they can validate their idea, they can have conversations, they can speak to their audience, they can do all the things. But until they launch that idea, they don't really know if it's really going to take form, if they're going to actually do the thing that they want to do with it, make the money, create the impact, whatever.

Karen [00:13:32]:
So I think there's something really exciting in kind of doing what we're going to be doing in plain sight to kind of show as well that, you know, again, we're bringing these ideas as entrepreneurs. We are constantly bringing these ideas to life. And that fear that everybody feels when they start something new, like, I don't know about you, but I'm excited. But I feel the fear because there's always that risk of failure. There's always that risk of being judged. There's always that risk of, you know, up messing and taking on too much and not being good enough and all of that other stuff that goes on in your head. But then the excitement of literally giving birth to an idea and bringing it to life that is going to impact so many people, for me, kind of, that's the driver. It, it outweighs— that's the truth.

Karen [00:14:23]:
Yes, yes, it outweighs that, oh, can I do this? Hell, I can do this. You know, it's that kind of energy. And, and, and I like to say, I'm always asking people, you have a brilliant idea, let's bring it to life, let's do this. And then the fear creeps in. So I hope, I hope by kind of almost being on the sidelines watching us with this event, bringing it to life, will, will, will help other people to feel inspired to be able to back themselves so that they can start really investing in themselves and doing this as well, not in terms of a summit, but even if it's an idea for an online course or a membership or a digital product or, you know, starting their business or doing something that takes them out of their comfort zone. Because that's like, you and I both know this, that is where the growth happens. That's where you start to, to really elevate yourself.

Tammy Appleton [00:15:20]:
You make a good point about the fear because even in my world, you know, of coaching, That's, that's the problem. That's the biggest element I come across, fear and frustration. You know, when you have an idea and sometimes you have 1,000, so it's kind of narrowing that down. Um, but anyways, that fear and frustration, that's where I see coaches being held back. That's where I see the growth stops. That's where I see, you know, I am worried about what people think. I am, you know, worried about failure. But here's the thing I never understand.

Tammy Appleton [00:15:55]:
Wouldn't you be more concerned about the fact you never tried?

Karen [00:16:00]:
Yeah, absolutely.

Tammy Appleton [00:16:02]:
Wouldn't it be more powerful to know that even if you tried, you put your time and energy in, but you really put your time, you put your action, you actually worked on something and you did it? Isn't that more of an accomplishment than sitting in fear never doing it. So I, I think for me, I don't have a ton of fear, only because I'm okay with people seeing whether something works or doesn't work, because I think that's only going to help them.

Karen [00:16:31]:
Yeah, yeah, absolutely, absolutely. I have this thing that, you know, when you're older and you're in your old folks home that your, your lovely children have chosen for you, and you're reflecting back on your life and you're reflecting back and sitting there and thinking, oh, if only I'd— if only I'd done what, you know, I knew I could have done that. If only I'd given it a go. And, and that, that in itself creates a fear for me because I don't ever want to have those regrets. I'd rather try and learn, not fail, but learn. And then, you know, do whatever.

Tammy Appleton [00:17:16]:
But like you say, no, the statistics— just when you talk about being— it just cracks me up, being in, you know, an older home and sitting in your rocking chair. Did you know this true fact? The biggest regret, if you talk to these people that are there, is that they were concerned about what other people thought. They wish they had no fear to go and do what they want and live the life they want, but they were consumed with what other people would think. So just an interesting fact. So that's why I said it's interesting, isn't it?

Karen [00:17:45]:
Because I, I think it's, it's something that is very rife in society. I think we're put, you know, society puts these constraints around us, and, and, and we're, we're almost brought up to, to, to be mindful of what other people are thinking, which, when you really break it down, who cares? People are going to judge you regardless. Do you know what I mean? You know, and, and the ones— exactly. And the ones that are going to.

Tammy Appleton [00:18:16]:
Criticize anybody's name, are you never going to change anybody's mind?

Karen [00:18:19]:
No, but the ones that are going to sit there and they're going to criticize and they're going to judge are most likely the ones that are not doing anything. They're not, they're not, they're not creating anything for themselves. They're not, they're not putting their energy into something that's meaningful. They're just sitting there judging and criticizing other people. And, and who what cares what people think. Isn't it better to have a more fulfilled, enriched life by having experiences and, and following what you actually want to do? And, and, you know, it's putting.

Tammy Appleton [00:18:56]:
Glasses.

Karen [00:18:57]:
Those.

Tammy Appleton [00:18:57]:
On and focusing on you.

Karen [00:18:59]:
It is. But it's also, I think, connecting to your deeper purpose. And we talk, you know, obviously in the coaching world that's very much spoken about, like, what is your purpose? Why are you doing this? But I think there's be said that when you have a real kind of dark, deep, you know, deep down, this is what I want to do, this is what my legacy is, this is what I want to be known for. Like you say, it's easier to put those blinders on and be like, you know what, I'm doing this come hell or high water because this matters to me. And I don't want to be in that rocking chair thinking back on my life, thinking, why didn't I? Because what, I was worried because Yeah, exactly. Who cares? So I guess what I suppose what we're both trying to say is that the fear thing is natural. You're gonna feel it, and it's going to probably, you know, fear of failure, fear of judgment, all of that stuff. But, but it's just really about connecting to what it is that you want to do and, and just focusing on that and put your energy into doing that.

Karen [00:20:03]:
And, and that's what we're going to be doing. And that's what our intentions are, because I know, and you know, that if we can really make this event work, it'll impact so many people, and it will really help other people to, to get unstuck and to grow and to.

Tammy Appleton [00:20:22]:
Build a business and make it their purpose.

Karen [00:20:25]:
100%. Build a business that works for them. Yeah, definitely.

Tammy Appleton [00:20:30]:
And make it your purpose.

Karen [00:20:32]:
Yeah, absolutely.

Tammy Appleton [00:20:33]:
That doesn't come without work, Karen.

Karen [00:20:36]:
It just doesn't. Externally and of course internally as well, which you and I both know. So, you know, I mean, I talk very much about the external stuff, you know, create, you know, get out of the time for money trap, build yourself scalable offers, build out ecosystems, put systems in place. All of that fun stuff that can create you a business that works for you. But you really work with people on the inside, don't you?

Tammy Appleton [00:21:08]:
Yes, we work with the mindset. We work with where you are, where you want to be, how we're going to get there. But I will say, it's so funny because, you know, you see so many different titles, and I would never say mindset coach because I'm definitely, you know, a coach that scales. But it's so interesting. That's where I find the blocker. That's always where I find that blocker. So once I think that blocker is gone, or, you know, it takes growth, it takes time. So once that you work on that with me, or we find the tools that will help you, the idea is to get those tools because you're going to need them daily.

Tammy Appleton [00:21:46]:
I still use my tools daily, and when I don't, I know it. So it's taking that seeing where you are, but now it's at a different scale because we're doing it in real time together. So you have both the internal, the external, you are really covered from every end. You know, we will be there at all turns to support you, you know, along with having these amazing speakers in these amazing categories. So I just think it's going to be a unique experience of bringing I wouldn't say truth, honesty, and authentic in that manner, but it is actually bringing something that you can use, that is for you, that will change your life. Taking the steps with us. It's not about preaching to you, it's not about quoting to you, it's not about giving you, you know, a to-do list. There'll be some actions to take, of course, but the idea is that we are right there with you.

Tammy Appleton [00:22:47]:
This isn't a fluff. We are actually there with you making this happen on both sides and then bringing in others that have their expertise that can also support you. So this isn't— for me, this isn't a rah-rah, let's see what big names we can get. It is really about seeing who's interested in helping you in your journey, who is all about supporting you. Like I said, make sure we change lives. That's, you know, I, I have a purpose for each business I do, and that is the purpose. If I'm not making a difference, I probably shouldn't be in that business.

Karen [00:23:22]:
Oh, I, I suspect you're making a difference to a lot of people. Um, and, and I think that's why we do what we do, isn't it? Because of that impact that we want to create in other people's lives. And it is, it very much is, you know. And when I'm doing my work, this is what, this is what's going on in the back of my my mind is what legacy do I want to create? What role model do I want to be to my, my, my girls? How do I want them to view me and how do I want them to feel about the work that I do? And, and I never wanted a 9 to 5. I wanted something where, you know, what I did actually made a difference. And I believe in the work that we both do individually, but also together, because it creates that ripple effect of change. You know, and I think that's what's really important and that's what this event is going to be about. So just to give the listeners some context as to what this event is, it's a 3-day online business summit.

Karen [00:24:22]:
And over the 3 days, we have created a pathway to help you to kind of move out of the time for money trap so that you can actually build a business that works for you. So this is about sort of meeting you where you're at now and giving you the support, the tools, what you need to be able to make that shift. Because it's scary. It's scary when you, you only know one way, but you know that way is not serving. So how do you then get unstuck? And that's exactly what we're going to be doing over the 3-day event. So we're going to be bringing some amazing speakers on board. And we're in the process at the moment of working through that. So we are at the gates.

Karen [00:25:12]:
We are literally at the start mapping this out. And what we both know is that the topics that we're going to be covering are going to be very specific. There's going to be no fluff. It's going to be about teaching and giving you exactly what it is that you need so that you can make the change that is right for you. Where you're currently at, and I'm really excited about that.

Tammy Appleton [00:25:40]:
Absolutely. I am so thrilled. I'm really excited. Like I said, I just think this is such a unique perspective.

Karen [00:25:46]:
It is. It is. And, and we are, we are laying it bare, aren't we? We're literally— so this is— so what was interesting is last week on LinkedIn, I, you know, you and I had a meeting, didn't we? And I thought, right, this has been in my head for years. Okay, so probably like a lot of my listeners who have ideas, this has been an idea in my head for years. And we've obviously sort of spoken about it over, over the years that we've been working together with the work that we've been doing. And we had a session last week where we met and we were talking about it, we're mapping things out. And then I felt really inspired at the end of obviously our meeting. So I, I took a deep breath, and I just opened up on LinkedIn and I started to speak about this event, this, this idea that I've had and how we're going to be collaborating and bringing this event to life.

Karen [00:26:43]:
And, you know, I, I write a lot of content online, but I, you know, I did definitely feel the fear because it's almost like I'm putting it out there. Yeah, but I'm also putting the line in the sand. I'm doing— we're doing this. This is, this is going to be a thing. So what we then decided is that we're going to just crack it open and be really upfront along this journey so that we can let you, the listeners, in on what it actually takes to create this event, um, and the challenges, the successes, and everything in between, so that you can see something come together in real time. So do you know what I mean? Because often we see the polished version.

Tammy Appleton [00:27:28]:
But bad and ugly. Yeah, yeah. But this is gonna be the.

Karen [00:27:35]:
The.

Tammy Appleton [00:27:35]:
Ugly.

Karen [00:27:35]:
Bad, the messy.

Tammy Appleton [00:27:41]:
So we are up the same challenge they are, and we are— yeah, I'm gonna walk this with you.

Karen [00:27:47]:
Exactly. So we're gonna do this, and it is going to be messy, and I'm okay with that because it'll get better, but we need it to be messy at the beginning so that we can have something to work on going forward. Because, I mean, I've sort of said this to you, I would like this to be an annual event, and if we can nail it, then, then I think this will be— this will work really well. And but there's a lot of unknowns.

Tammy Appleton [00:28:11]:
Did you notice that your line in the sand was well received, by the way? Just wanted to throw that out there. I did throw it out there.

Karen [00:28:19]:
Yeah, I did, I did. Yeah. And I just sort of felt like it's about accountability, isn't it? We're doing this, we're putting it out there for accountability. There's nowhere to run now, there's no.

Tammy Appleton [00:28:32]:
Way to backtrack it.

Karen [00:28:35]:
And then I went to a networking last week— it was the last week, I get my weeks messed up— afterwards, and, um, I mentioned it, and, and like, people came, like, they were like, oh yeah, we know about your event, you know, this is, this is great. And I was like, oh God, I've really now I've said it.

Tammy Appleton [00:28:54]:
Speaking of fear.

Karen [00:28:58]:
But I just said.

Tammy Appleton [00:28:59]:
You and I are going to have to have a talk.

Karen [00:29:01]:
Yeah, that's it.

Tammy Appleton [00:29:02]:
That's it.

Karen [00:29:02]:
But I just said in my thing, I just said, look, I— this is— this is going to be messy because I have no idea what I'm doing. And you and I, we're going to figure it out together and we're going to— it's going to be a lot of fun, but there's going to be a lot of work involved and a lot of challenges. But I'm up for it. I just want to— and I guess this is part of reaching out to your network— to say, I'm doing this, just please support me where possible. And that's where you then get that reciprocal, yes, we're here, we'll support you, what do you need, let us know. And I've had people already reach out to me about being potential speakers, um, which, you know, I appreciate.

Tammy Appleton [00:29:44]:
Well, I think that, Karen, people who know you and me, they know that there is fluff. They know our goal is truly to make that difference, to show you how to do this, to create the action points for you, to support you, um, you know, mindset coaching, whatever. That people who know us know that. So I think that's why it's being well received.

Karen [00:30:08]:
Yeah, absolutely. And I think you can't be in business— you cannot be authenticity or integrity. And I, and I like to think that both of us demonstrate that in every angle of our business. And I think when you put stuff out and whenever over the years where I've reached out to my audience and I said, can you help with— I've always had things come back to me. And I think it's because of the way we, we show up and we support and the way we do our work. And I'm hoping that will come through this event. So if people are thinking, yes, but there's a lot of scams that go on in the online space and people ripping people off and all of that stuff, we, we are the anchors, you know, like it doesn't— it's not like that at all. You know, not everybody's out to scam or to, you know, make money off the back of, you know, absolutely.

Tammy Appleton [00:31:05]:
This— I mean, there is— there's no guarantee. We are taking this journey with you. So we are not aware, obviously. You know, monetize. That is not our goal. Our goal is to take this journey with you and show you if it worked, if it didn't work, what we can do to make it better, what we did in this process. So right there, that shows you that, you know, this isn't about the fluff. This isn't about the angle of, oh, you pay this and this.

Tammy Appleton [00:31:31]:
And it is truly about, here we are, here's the journey, here's what we're going through. We've been through your journey. Here's the people that can help you. And we are here to support you completely, 100%.

Karen [00:31:44]:
Absolutely. Absolutely.

Tammy Appleton [00:31:45]:
At least that's how it is in my mind.

Karen [00:31:47]:
Yeah, definitely. So, so let me ask you, what are you seeing that is a common challenge with business owners right now?

Tammy Appleton [00:31:57]:
Well, I did mention that the fear is the biggest one. I think it's the frustration. The frustration comes is from one or two things. It's the fact that they're either in their business and struggling in what direction to go, or they're struggling just to run their business. They, you know, they, they haven't had that full of experience on actually how to build, scale, run a business. Um, so that's the struggles I see a lot, the frustration, of knowing the next step, you know, whether it be exit, whether it be grow. It's that next step. They seem stuck.

Tammy Appleton [00:32:37]:
They're just not sure what direction to go. And the other is the fear that we spoke about, the fear of rejection, failure, can't do this, what will other people think, which for me again is such a— I understand it. But even if you have something, you can make a pivot, you can make a turn. Maybe something— well, there's just so many different options that nobody should go through life living in fear. I just think it's such a— I want to say wasted emotion. It is an emotion that is needed, but it should not be applied to your everyday life. So that's where actually where I see two of the biggest struggles. So knowing that we can address them with you during this, I'm pretty excited about it.

Tammy Appleton [00:33:23]:
I'm pretty excited to do it on a scale where we are doing this for the people who truly want it. Because you're not going to come to this summit if you're not willing to put the time and energy in it and finally say, all right, I've tried everything, I've been to everything, I've seen every email, every event, everything that tells me they're going to 10x it and I can make millions tomorrow. Let me know how that goes for you. And trust me, I am not saying there are people out there who don't make this money. I'm never going to say that because that's— I'm sure there are, but there was a lot of steps. It didn't happen overnight. And, you know, you and I know behind the scenes what that actually takes.

Karen [00:34:05]:
Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. I think there's a— I think there's a lot of fluff. I think there's a lot of overpromising. And I think that sometimes people present a reality that isn't true to form and people buy into that. And then they then end up— yeah, they're then disappointed because they haven't got the reality that they've been promised. And I think that, you know, being really upfront and honest about what it takes and having that conversation is really important. That's why I started this podcast, because I wanted to be really upfront about what it takes to create an online business.

Karen [00:34:47]:
I'm in the trenches, I'm doing it. I'm not the finished product by any means, right? But, but I'm doing it. I'm moving the vehicle, you know. I've got, you know, I'm achieving my own successes, but, but it doesn't come without putting in the work. And I think that's the point. But then, like you say, even if you're prepared to do the work, what does that work even look like? What is it that you're supposed to be doing? How are you supposed to get from here to there and know what those steps are?

Tammy Appleton [00:35:17]:
Yeah, sometimes you're just lost and not sure what direction to go. But like I said, I think in this current state we're in with AI and, you know, where we're headed, I think it— well, first of all, I know for a fact that people are looking for that real connection. They are looking for truth. They are looking for the right steps. So I think that's why so many scams or so many of those those people that offer these, you know, fake hype offers work because people are desperate. They want to know the steps, they— but, and they really want that connection, um, but they're just sometimes grabbing it in the wrong space. But now I will tell you, you and I— I know you and I are very much avid learners, so I will never stop continuing to learn, to take courses myself, to learn as I go. So when I, you know, I know we've kind of hammered this, you know, really well, the fact that we are here to support you the whole journey.

Tammy Appleton [00:36:18]:
But I learn every day. And if I stop learning, that's when I need to start getting worried about what I do. So I think also having the mindset of personal growth for us in this journey is also relevant. So it's real time showing you personal growth. Real-time steps, real-time action. So I think it's unique. I think it's powerful. And, you know, that's kind of where I see this landing.

Karen [00:36:47]:
Yeah, absolutely. It's interesting you mentioned the whole learning because I think that was one of the things that when I started my business, it never occurred to me because I had a skill. You know, I'd create websites, I'd do design work, branding, all of that stuff. So I, I kind of approached my business in a sense of I just needed to find clients to do XYZ so that I could make money. And then you start on this journey and you, it's almost like you see what is possible. And then in order to get what is possible, it's like, okay, I've got to, if I want what I want, I've got to invest. Not necessarily in spending on, you know, things that don't matter, on me. I've got to invest in me and I've got to learn and I've got to do what is necessary to be able to get myself into a place where I can do the thing that I want to do.

Karen [00:37:46]:
And I know that's something that I— it was unexpected to me, but it's something that I know that through my own personal journey I have had to embrace. I mean, I'm a life learner anyway. I mean, I did my art degree late, and, you know, so I've always had that level of education that's kind of run in the background. But, but there's something to be said about running a business business, we don't know everything that needs to be known. Like, we don't. We, we're often good at the thing that we do. Yeah, but we're often— we, we often start business because we have a certain skill set, and that's why we run it. We want to run a business, so we want to share that skill set with the people we want to work with.

Karen [00:38:29]:
But then in order to actually run a business and scale a business into achieve, you know, the freedom that you want, you have to uplevel yourself. You have to be prepared to invest in yourself and do that additional learning and education. And I think that there's something really powerful about that personal growth because I— yeah, because I know the person that I was when I started to the person I am today, like, we're worlds apart because of that journey. So What I love about what we're talking about is we're going to be facilitating that growth because we're going to be providing the, the information and the training and support and guidance, all of that good stuff that's going to help elevate where people currently are to, to move them to they want to get to. So I feel personally, for me, it's a real privilege to be on somebody else's journey. Yeah, because I know what it's done for me. Do you know what I mean? Like, it's an absolute game changer. And everything changes.

Karen [00:39:34]:
Your perspective changes. What you deem to be possible changes. And it's so incredibly powerful. And I think that's what we— that's what I like to think that we're able to give people is that shift in perspective so that they can see what is available to them, what they can have.

Tammy Appleton [00:39:52]:
I love the fact that you brought up the investment in yourself. That is not really tapped on a lot. I actually spoke to someone last week and she was so emotional over the fact that she was actually investing in herself for the first time in 50 years. She was actually doing something for herself that had to do with education and learning for herself. So it's an extremely powerful tool. I will say that she made the right choice because she chose the right people. So you that, know, choosing people who really are in it and want to give 1,000% of themselves, they want to just empty into you. That's where I feel we hover.

Tammy Appleton [00:40:36]:
I mean, I know my goal is to, you know, give everything I've got to make your life change, to bring you that purpose where you are now presently and move you to your purpose. So that is a huge thing for you. To take the time, to make the investment, to really know that this is your time. This is your time to make a change. When are you going to do it? Are you continuing to wait? What are you waiting for? That's the other thing I see. People are so afraid, and I've been there. I, I have certainly been there where you're afraid to make that move, not so much for fear what other people think, but, but again, frustration, not knowing what direction to go. And not to have the right tools.

Tammy Appleton [00:41:20]:
It needs to be perfect. Trust me, it doesn't need to be perfect. If I've learned anything, it doesn't need to be perfect. So, and that's the other thing. You don't have to come out of this with this idea that I have the perfect thing and it's great. It still will evolve after the summit.

Karen [00:41:37]:
So that's definitely— yeah, I think it's important to recognize that when you start something new, it's a starting point. It's not the final destination. You've— sometimes you have to do the first draft of something in order to have something to work with. And you're absolutely right. I see it in the work that I do, is that people get hung up on the thing being perfect. It has to be perfect before I get it out into the world. Well, perfection doesn't exist because what I deem to be perfect, well, it's going to be subjective. So then you're waiting And like you say, what are you waiting for? The best starting time is now.

Karen [00:42:18]:
Because if you can start now, 30.

Tammy Appleton [00:42:20]:
Days down the road, I know.

Karen [00:42:23]:
Yeah, yeah, definitely. My— for me, the things that I deem to be most successful are the things that I've done with them being messy. Like when I look back, when I, when I, when I pivoted into the online course space and I started teaching, I had no idea what I was doing. I just had a framework and I knew I knew I could create an online course that sold because I'd done that. And I kind of had this inkling that I could teach somebody else, but I didn't know what I was doing. And it was messy, and it was like I was learning as I was going. And same with this podcast. You launch a podcast, you've never delivered a podcast before.

Karen [00:43:05]:
Like, when in your life have you ever on a weekly basis jump behind the mic to deliver content on a— like, like, who does that? Who does that in their day-to-day life? Exactly. But, but the only way to really learn and to master that skill is by taking action and doing. So, so the best things for me definitely have been born out of the times where I've had no idea, I've just had a desire to do something, I've given it a go, and then I've just refined and tweaked as I've gone along.. And, and, and I think that's worked.

Tammy Appleton [00:43:41]:
And that's kind of where I feel, to be honest, most of the people who will be interested in coming to the summit hover.

Karen [00:43:48]:
Yeah, I think so.

Tammy Appleton [00:43:49]:
Um, but I love when you brought up the word pivot because I have been involved with so many businesses that don't see the value of what they already have. And when they live in fear, they don't know that you've already got something there that you can actually take a pivot. So that's why I said there's just so many great option. But that starting point, you're never going to be able to make any decisions to pivot, to grow, if you don't have that starting point.

Karen [00:44:14]:
So such a valid— absolutely, absolutely. So no, it's going to be great. So, so the summit, I just want to really kind of clarify exactly what this summit is going to be about in terms of what, what our attendees are going to walk away with. So we're focusing on clarity. I think that is key. You can't do anything if you don't have the clarity you need to get things done. So we're going to be focusing on helping people to get really clear, not just about what they want to create, but also about their purpose, why they're doing what they're doing and why it matters to them. Because I have this real kind of like, we need to be anchored to our why.

Karen [00:44:56]:
You know, there needs to be something there.

Tammy Appleton [00:44:59]:
The only thing that carries you through. 100%.

Karen [00:45:02]:
Honestly, those days where you want to throw it all in because you've had a crappy email.

Tammy Appleton [00:45:09]:
Yeah.

Karen [00:45:10]:
You know, why am I doing this? Why am I really— why am I putting myself through this? Well, well, actually.

Tammy Appleton [00:45:18]:
Okay, I got it.

Karen [00:45:20]:
So, so we're gonna help people to get really clear on exactly why they want to do this. What it's for, and what they can create in their business that's really going to set them on that path to creating a business that works for them. And when I say that, what I mean by that is getting unstuck, you know, you know, not having a business that takes from you, having to be there to serve clients all the time, creating a business that, that gives you the life that, that you dreamed of essentially when you started your business in the first place, you know, however many moons ago. But yeah, yeah, do it, definitely, 100%. Yeah, absolutely. So we're going to focus on clarity. Then we're going to be looking at repeatable offers and things that you can create, the expertise that you have, the knowledge that is highly valuable that people are going to pay for. So we're going to be focusing in on that as well and helping people to clear on what those offers look like, but how they can start creating them.

Karen [00:46:25]:
And then it's going to be looking at systems, ways to automate and create things in your business that allows you to be consistent, supports you getting the right things in place at the right time to support you with bringing your goals to life. And then we're going to be also focusing on visibility, but with intention as well. So where do you need to be? How are you going to show up? And all of that good stuff as well. So we're going to be talking about building a brand online and using— I've got an amazing Canva expert that, you know, will, will come and do a session about using Canva to really elevate your presence so that you can really show up as your true authentic self. And then we're going to stack on that, look at our platforms and how you can leverage social media platforms to bring people into your world. So there's going to be a lot of juicy stuff that we're going to be covering, but it's all going to have one goal in mind, and that's helping you to build a structured business that is going to support you in a practical way that is doable. That I'm so excited about.

Tammy Appleton [00:47:45]:
Absolutely. Absolutely. You can tell we're a little excited. Just a tiny bit.

Karen [00:47:49]:
We are really excited. So what I'm going to do is I'm not going to bore everybody every week on the podcast, but what I will be doing is sharing updates. And in the next, I'd say, let's say a month, we're going to be opening up a Facebook group where we're going to be inviting people in to kind of get those updates, to meet the speakers. Um, we're putting a call out at the moment for speakers as well. So if you currently offer, um, support in the online space that you think would be of value, then please reach out to me at Karen, um, underscore Digital Coach on Instagram. I'd really appreciate that. But we are going to be interviewing speakers and creating a really powerful lineup of the right people that are going to provide the right, you know, support at this event. Yeah.

Tammy Appleton [00:48:48]:
And for coming the right purpose.

Karen [00:48:51]:
Absolutely. Absolutely. And I just love the idea of building a community around this and bringing people together to have that real conversation about what it actually takes and what is needed to make this a success. So, so yeah, I'm really excited.

Tammy Appleton [00:49:05]:
Honestly, those shared experiences are powerful. I use them.

Karen [00:49:09]:
Yeah, yeah, you can't build a business alone. I don't think we're meant to. I think it, you know, being in isolation doing this is lonely.

Karen [00:49:19]:
Powerful.

Tammy Appleton [00:49:20]:
It's— that's exactly it, that's exactly it. It's lonely, it's very lonely. It's so powerful to have a community, a tribe that are like-minded, that have the same goals. It doesn't need to— yeah, end goal, but the same goals. So that's, I think, again, who we will grab, who will gravitate towards us.

Karen [00:49:40]:
Yeah, absolutely, absolutely. It's funny because I, um, I'm part of two, um, accountability groups, um, and I really value— I meet them, I meet one group every other week and I meet one group every week, and we're all split around. So, you know, a couple of people are in the US a couple of people in the UK. Um, but, but what I really value is the conversation and the accountability, and I need that because life happens and sometimes you can, you can sort of veer off track. And I think it's really important to— I don't think it's just about having cheerleaders. I think, I think it's really important to have people in your camp that call you out on your BS and the excuses that you make but also do it with love and with meaning because they, they want to see you succeed. Um, but also having those kind of real hearty conversations where you're like, this, you know, I'm feeling like this, and knowing that you're not alone.

Tammy Appleton [00:50:44]:
I don't— I have the same thing. I have an accountability, so it's a group where I mentor and I also, you know, get mentored. So That is valuable. Like I said, I don't think we should ever think we know it all because I certainly don't. So having, having that tribe, finding those people that are the same wavelength that are there to support you is powerful. So I think that's really the, the, the crux of this. The very foundation is going to be.

Karen [00:51:13]:
Absolutely— yeah, it's, it's going to be the place to be.

Tammy Appleton [00:51:20]:
Yes.

Karen [00:51:21]:
Tammy, Tammy, thank you so much for coming on to today's episode and talking about this. And as I said, we're going to be providing updates and stuff, and I will put your details in the show notes so that my listeners can reach out to you, find out more about you. And, and when we have set everything up, like the Facebook group and all of this stuff, we'll be inviting people in to come and just be a part of this. Um, we're— there's not going to be a charge for it. We are wanting to build this community, um, of like-minded entrepreneurs that, that have the same goal. And, um, and I think that is something that's going to be really powerful. So we're going to be sharing our journey, the highs, the lows, the good, the bad, the ugly, and everything in between. So, so thank you for coming on today.

Tammy Appleton [00:52:09]:
Hopefully we will still be talking by the end of it. Like I said, we're gonna share everything.

Karen [00:52:16]:
Time will tell.

Tammy Appleton [00:52:19]:
Thank you, Karen. I, like I said, I'm so thrilled that we've, you know, finally decided to do this. I, I do think, uh, this is really for real change.

Karen [00:52:28]:
Thank you so much for tuning into today's episode. If you are listening to this and something inside you is saying there has to be a smarter way to build this business, then the online Business Growth Summit is going to be for you. In October, we're bringing together experts to walk you through clarity, selling, and visibility so you can stop relying purely on one-to-one income and start building a business that supports your life. 

We'll share more details very soon, but for now, make sure you're following along, join my email list, and keep listening because this is just the beginning. To receive latest news and updates, head on over to www.sellyourbrillianceonline.com/community. 

I will be back with another episode next week, but until then, have a great rest of your week.

Karen [00:53:22]:
Thanks for tuning in to today's episode of Online Business Uncovered. If today's conversation has sparked an idea or gave you a dose of clarity.

Karen [00:53:31]:
Then please make sure to check out.

Karen [00:53:33]:
The show notes for all the links and resources mentioned. New episodes land every Thursday, so hit follow or subscribe to stay in the loop. And if you're loving the show, a.

Karen [00:53:44]:
Quick rating or review goes a long.

Karen [00:53:46]:
Way in helping more brilliant entrepreneurs like you find this show. Until next time, keep showing up, keep sharing your brilliance, and remember, freedom in.

Karen [00:53:56]:
Business is possible, and it starts with.

Karen [00:53:58]:
Taking the next right step.