Today I'm chatting to Trudy Simmons of The Crazy Daisy Chain Group. What an inspirational lady. I am sure she will inspire you all to step out for your comfort zone and write a different type of book.
Today I'm chatting to Trudy Simmons of The Crazy Daisy Chain Group. What an inspirational lady. I am sure she will inspire you all to step out for your comfort zone and write a different type of book.
Hi, and welcome to the writing and Marketing Show brought to you by author Wendy H. Jones. This show does exactly what it says on the tin. It's jam packed with interviews, advice, hints, tips and news to help you with the business of writing. It's all wrapped up in one lively podcast, so it's time to get on with the show. And welcome to Episode 85 of the writing and Marketing Show with author, entrepreneur Wendy H. Jones. It's an absolute pleasure to have you join me once again. And I'm looking forward to you listening to another cracking Show. Today I'm going to be talking about writing inspirational books for business women or female entrepreneurs, with Trudy Simmons of the crazy daisy chain group. And you will find out why she calls herself that in a moment. She is one of the most inspirational women I know. So the best person to bring you this episode. What have I been up to? Well, I've brought a book out, I brought out a book called creativity matters, which is for writers or for anyone thinking about becoming a writer. So it's creativity matters, find your passion for writing. And it's brand new and crisply minted, as they say, and waiting for people to snap it up. You can either get it from all good bookstores you can get from Amazon, you can get copies from me if you go to my website, and you can get them signed. And this is the first one where I've had 12 other authors join me in the book. So it's my first publishing endeavour, where I publish other people as well. So I'm very excited about this book because it's moving my author and publishing career further. And that brings me to something else. I run the author printer accelerator Academy, which helps authors and people who are running their author business, to push the envelope and to take that a step further, and to move their business forward. So if you would like to join me there, if you go to the entrepreneur accelerator Academy, you will be able to find out more. So, what about Trudy? Well, Trudy, as I say, is one of the most inspirational women I know and she's just recently bought out a brand new brand new book, Trudy Simmons is a clarity and productivity business coach for women entrepreneurs. With a truckload of empathy and a little bit of hard hours. She helps you to find out what you want to do, why you want to do it and how to get it done. She loves to show our audience how to become more successful by getting clarity. Taking action and following through, truly helps people move from being stuck and not knowing the next step to getting the shizzle done. She knows what keeps you up at night, the 1000 ideas that are germinating in your brain, and she knows how to sort them into Naugle maybe later and hell yes. And get done what is really important to your access. She is the creator and founder of the crazy dizzy networking events, the accountability club, the spectacular online business symposium, the spectacular challenge to 1 million and the happy business mastermind. So without further ado, let's get on with the show. And here. So without further ado, let's get on with the show and hear from Trudy. And Hi, Trudy, how are you?
Trudy Simmons:I'm really good. Thank you, Wendy. Good to be here.
Wendy Jones:Oh, it's really good to have you on here. I knew I wanted to have you on here because the one that needs inspiration, we all need more inspiration. I've got it in bucket loads. Let's get it out there. That's what we like to hear. So you sitting comfortably wherever you are, wherever you are in the world.
Trudy Simmons:I'm in Hampshire in the UK. Hey, Hampshire. I like Hampshire. I used to live there. So I know it well. So well. I'm not here to chat to you about where you live. But much as I'd love to talk Hampshire all day. The listeners want to hear about inspiration, and they want to hear about it and bucketloads as you say.
Wendy Jones:So my first question. I say my first question, the interview questions have disappeared. But you don't need to worry about that because it always happens. Why don't I tell you about the name of the daisy chain group, you tell me about the name of the daisy chain? Well, I find where that time to the interview questions while I wasn't looking.
Trudy Simmons:So one of the things that we were chatting about is where the name of the daisy chain group came up, which is my business. And what actually happened is that I was I had my own business I had something completely different to this. And I was holding networking events for women entrepreneurs because I've always liked to create platforms. And I was having a really bad morning you know when you wake up really grumpy and you don't want to see anybody but you've got to because part of your business. And I thought right to make money. Happy, I'm going to put on my Daisy perfume, I'm going to put on my Daisy dress, I'm going to put on my Daisy necklace. And all of a sudden, I realise that everything that makes me happy has daisies. So I just there and then decided that my business was going to be called the daisy chain. And then I wants to get the collective of what that word could be in the days chain grip just fitted well. What I then realised is that throughout my life, daisies had been so important. I remember at five years old, my dad used to have those big bushy beards and the end of the 70s. I used to stick daisies in his bed, just as such a joyful memory that I had. And then I had a car that was called Daisy and I tripped over a daisy and went head over heels once. All these little things that happened through my life that had happy memories of daisies. So I just thought it makes me happy. Then every time I say it makes me smile. I'm going to call my business that. Well.
Wendy Jones:I think it's amazing. I also think it's amazing you could trip over a diasy. I think we're kindred spirits. Yeah, like a trip over political wraps. But no, I think that's really inspirational anyway, as Dasies they are such cheerful flowers, and to incorporate it into your business. Personally, I think that's pure genius. It's amazing. And you look very daisy like today, I have to say you're all bright and sunny and cheerful. Always brightens up w a dull morning and Dundee , Ah, right, I have the questions. Now. I don't know where to disappear to because I had them open. But my listeners are used to me 3d, so you don't need to worry about it. So can you tell us a bit about your book? Yes. So title would be great.
Trudy Simmons:The title of the book is shine on you crazy Daisy loving it. Because in my environment of the people that are in my Facebook groups in my communities, we're all crazy daisies. There's crazy Daisy networking. Because we're all called crazy when we when we have our own businesses for some reason. So I decided literally 10 weeks ago. So in a 10 week period, I sat in my garden and decided that I was going to pull a book together as a platform to get these inspirational stories out there. And then within 10 weeks, I have collected 28 chapters from brilliant businesswoman and got this book out. So it's shine on you crazy Daisy Volume One, which looks like it may now be six different books. So it's forever growing.
Wendy Jones:Wow, six books. That is phenomenal. Well done. Yes. Wow. I like your style. I have to say you are a crazy Daisy.
Trudy Simmons:Yes. And I don't mind that at all. If part of being crazy means that I get stuff done. And people go How did she do that? Which is what I get a lot. Then why not I say.
Wendy Jones:So people say I'm crazy, but I just embrace it. Embrace your inner crazy as they say, In your case enbrace your inner crazy Daisy.So where did this I know you had the vision because you were in your garden, you thought I'm going to pull together this anthology. And you had a vision to write an inspirational anthology. And for specifically for female entrepreneurs, which I think is great as well. Where did that vision come from?
Trudy Simmons:I've always worked with women entrepreneurs. And I do feel that, especially when you're starting out, it's really hard to find the platforms that you can be seen and heard. And when I started my business, I always wanted to be on stage. When do you can't imagine, can you but I couldn't get a speaking gig because I didn't have a speaking gig before that one. And it became this thing. So I built my own conference, to give the opportunity to other business women to have a platform to speak in. And with this, I just I know that one of my my values for my business is that I want other people to be seen and heard. And I'm a facilitator in helping that to happen. So one of the things that I do is is crazy Daisy networking, because it allows people to build that know, like and trust. And what I've pulled together in doing this book is the fact that any woman can write their story in this book from about their businesses, because any of our stories has some form of inspiration or motivation for somebody else. You never know who you can impact from your story.
Wendy Jones:I think that's great. I mean, you yourself are inspirational. I like that. I like your style. I wanted a platform. So I just built a platform. Yep. You know, there we are. That's great. That's the sort of thing we need. And that in itself is inspiring. You know, I like your style because I did a similar thing I wanted to put on a writing conference and I specifically wanted to do it glam. Castle, which is the childhood form of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother happens to be 20 minutes up the road from me. I went up there one day to exhibition saw somebody. So who would I talk to about putting a conference or putting a big writing Festival on here? And she said, me, I'm the event manager. There you go. And this is what this is the sort of thing that inspires people. It's the things that people have done in your book that are similar that inspire people as well. Because anyone can do it. This is what I'm saying. Anyone can do it. You can do it. I can do it. Yeah, people in your book can do it. And this is what people will learn through reading the book when it comes out.
Trudy Simmons:Yeah. And it's that fact that whatever anybody's background is, whatever. adversity you may have come through whatever path you've taken through your life, whether it's corporate being a mum, whatever that that background is, whatever you want to do next is possible, as long as you have the mindset around that. And that's what this book I think, will prove. Is that reading some of these stories, you go, Crikey, that's me. And I didn't know that that next bit was possible. And that's what I want everybody to get their hands on this, because I just, it is so uplifting.
Wendy Jones:Yeah, absolutely, it really is. But why do you feel this type of books important? And what do you think other business women or authors should be writing them?
Trudy Simmons:I really feel it's important because I do think that there's that feeling of having a voice being heard when you're a small fish in a big pond is very hard. And when it feels hard to you, it's for women entrepreneurs in particular, they shrink, they can shrink, whereas I'm allowed to voice. I feel like I'm not being heard. I'm like, hello. So when other people are beginning to shrink, then give being given an opportunity like this to shine in all their craziness and to be able to be seen and heard. And not just that as for the the chapter writers, but then for the people reading it, to read these stories and come away with a thought one thought of how they might do something differently, or a piece of advice that they might follow that changes how they're doing things is so important for any entrepreneur to keep gaining knowledge and inspiration. And why not from this book. That's what I say. So should other businessmen be writing them. Absolutely. But whether you want to write a whole book, or you want to write a chapter in somebody else's book, because you've got a story that you want to inspire people with, contact me, they're still going,
Wendy Jones:still another five books to go. So we'll get to where we can contact you at the end, and then we'll let them know then as well. We can contact you.
Trudy Simmons:So you've got a lot of contributors in your book, I think there's 25 different people if I remember, right, where there might be 2728. Look, I can't count. I'm an author, okay. Just forgive me. You'd never believe I've got a certificate in teaching numeracy, which, you know, anyway. But that's a lot of contributors for one book, and you see, you're going to do six. And
Wendy Jones:I'm curious about how you went about finding these and what process you went through to choose them.
Trudy Simmons:This is the wonder of knowing you're on the right path. So I had this idea, an inkling of an idea on a Sunday afternoon in the sunshine with a gin and tonic, which all my big, good ideas come to me there. And so by the end of Sunday, obviously the best idea I've ever had no. That was Sunday, by Thursday, I had, I think I'd spoken to you I had a contract in place for the chapter writers, I've written an appendix, which stated what I needed from each of the authors if they were going to commit. And then I put it out to my audience. And you whenever any of us put anything out, whether it's a product or a service, you never know what's going to happen and you hold your breath waiting to see if someone's going to buy into that thing, whether it buy buy or buy into that thing. And within that was Thursday, within three days. I think I had I think 30 people, I thought I've got a book here this is brilliant, but you just never know that all those chapters are gonna go in there. So I I then and I know these people and because I've built know like and trust cuz I put it out to my networking people first. So I know them so I knew some of their stories. I knew that it would be that their stories would be good in a book all together. And then within the next week, I called another 30 people. So I now have around 120 women on Foreigners that are waiting to write their chapter for one of these books that's going out in the next, I don't know, six months, I'm doing three by the end of this year,
Wendy Jones:well done, I'm impressed. You're the only person I know that does things faster than me. Although I do have about four books coming out in the next two months, Having this great though, and this is what being an entrepreneur is all about. And it's also about, you know, being inspired yourself, as well as inspiring others. And if others can see that things are possible for what you're doing. I think it's brilliant. You know, I think it's absolutely brilliant. Again, I'm curious whether any of you said that you had some set criteria that your office had to follow? Or did you give them a certain amount of free rein as well? Or did they have to stick to the script?
Trudy Simmons:Absolutely not. Because our stories are our stories. And if you if, in thinking of my story, there's hopefully, six chapters because I want one in each of the books of different paths and different stories and different angles that I've taken through my entrepreneurial career. So I just said to the authors write your story. I said, it's got a beginning, a middle and an end. I'm so deep. And I said that it needs to be an inspirational motivational story. And it needs to be 2000 words. That's it?
Wendy Jones:Yeah, that's excellent. That's excellent. Yeah, I think allowing people to have free rein is, is good, because you want their story to come across as vibrant and exciting and fresh. Whereas if everybody's doing exactly the same thing, it doesn't. So I think you've I think you've done the right thing there. So
Trudy Simmons:and you know, what's wonderful about you saying that is that everybody's got an opinion on something that you're doing. And when I said that, I was gonna do this. And somebody said to me, You need to give them a structure of what to follow. And in my head, I thought, Oh, do I because I'm not I wouldn't follow a structure because I'm a rebel. So I thought the people that are going to be writing, I don't want them to follow a structure, I want them to have that ability to just go this is my story in 2000 words, and it has created so much creativity actually, in the way that they've been able to express themselves. There was no limits, apart from do 1000 words. Yeah,
Wendy Jones:no, it is important. I mean, I just did an anthology and I had 12 authors contribute to it. But obviously, there needed to be a little bit of structure to that, because it needed to follow the structure of the first two books in the series, which were only written by me no one else. So I needed to kind of had the same sort of vibe. But then they were given free rein, and I agree with you, I think it's really important that people are able to come across as themselves. Not mini me's, as they say.
Trudy Simmons:Absolutely, I don't want any more of me. Crikey.
Wendy Jones:There's no room for anybody else. But you know what I mean? No, not at all. So your book, as we said, is called shine on you crazy Daisy, which I think is absolutely brilliant. What was it you wanted from the book that would help female entrepreneurs to shine?
Trudy Simmons:I think of what I've heard, yeah. What I've heard is that when these people have written these chapters, it has given them motivation and inspiration back for what they have achieved. And to hear that has absolutely boosted my little heart and my shine of, I feel like I am here to provide these platforms for people to be seen and heard. And if these brilliant chapter writers are feeling that motivated from writing their story and realising, Crikey, I have been through these things, and this is what I've achieved. And that story is going to inspire somebody else. That's that's just that means the world to me, because it means that I have the ability to facilitate people hearing about these businesses. And I don't think that's done enough.
Wendy Jones:Now, I would agree, I think, I think it's a fantastic idea. And I think it will help female entrepreneurs having read it. So what would be your top three tips for anyone wanting to write this type of book? Don't do it. No.
Trudy Simmons:Well, this is the first time that I've done anything like this. So I think that it to remember that it takes not just time but a lot of energy. Because especially when I'm juggling 28 authors in this book, I think probably 2830 in the next one, so that's 60 people on the go. Yeah, so it's a lot of time or a lot more time and energy than I thought it would be from me. I think definitely one of the things that I did within a day of deciding I was going to do this as I got people lined up. So I got help in editor, publisher, cover designer, graphic designer, social media person, so that once I knew this was coming together, I could say, this is your job, this is your job, this is your job. So that was really important. And I think getting the chapter writers involved they, these brilliant business, women, as I call them, brilliant, bubbly business, women are really excited about the fact that they are involved in this book, and they can't wait to tell people about it. And the way that I've kept that excitement going is we have a separate community Facebook group that we're able to talk to each other in about what's coming next. And getting social media graphics done for them with their headshots with their titles, and then backing all of that up with our own podcast with interviews with each of the chapter writers that to have all of that in place. In 10 weeks, it has been a real challenge, but also it has been to get them involved has been and to watch their excitement is is what is needed to keep me going. Because it's just me doing this. So yeah. No,
Wendy Jones:I know, I know where you're coming from when you're a one man band. Yeah, and you really need help. Nobody is a one man band. You know, when they say about, you know, oh, authors who self publish, there's nothing self about it. You're employing people. Yeah, ya know. So it's, it's just a different business model. Because you can't do it all yourself, or you just kill yourself. Yeah. So yeah. And finally, where can my listeners find out more about you and more importantly, buy the book
Trudy Simmons:for me is that www.daisychaingroup.com is my website and the book will be available on there. And there's the networking on there. If anybody wants to come and grow their know, like and trust and have some fun, we have so much fun in networking, it's a different way of, of getting engagement for you and your business. And on Amazon, we're going to be on Amazon. So going gone to Amazon and look up shine on you crazy Daisy, and it will all be there for you. The podcast will be on my website as well.
Wendy Jones:But you're going to be on more than Amazon, aren't you If I know rightly. It's going to be available everywhere. books are sold.
Trudy Simmons:Yes, exactly. I'm learning all of this. But yes, go into Waterstones and demand the book.
Wendy Jones:Yeah, go in and o der it. I know for a fact. And obviously we can get it on all the other ebook platforms as well. Kobo, Nook ones we' e never even heard of in count ies we've never even heard of you know, it will be availabl.
Trudy Simmons:Yes, absolutely. Thank you so much.
Wendy Jones:Well, thank you, I can honestly say that you're the first one first person I've had in us build a business, built a book on diasy's and gin. I think that's amazing. Your a world first. And I love that that sort of thing I like you know, I just woke up one morning thought, oh, I'll write a book, you know, and I did was what mine was built on getting up out of bed. And anybody can build a business out of that. You know, I mean, if you've got an idea, or just a germ of an idea, it can grow. And this is what your book is all about. And I'm sure it will inspire lots of people to do the to grow their business. So well done. And thank you.
Trudy Simmons:It's having the idea, having the drive and ambition and then getting the inspiration and motivation to keep going as you've got those things in spades. There's nothing stopping you doing anything and
Wendy Jones:how can they contact you if you want to be in one of these books?
Trudy Simmons:Connect at the daisy chain group.com send me an email. I'll be happy to have a chat.
Wendy Jones:Brilliant. Well, thank you very much for giving me your time. I know you're a very busy lady. Thank you, Wendy. Take care and have a good day. That brings us to the end of another show. It was really good to have you on the show with me today. I'm Wendy h Jones. And you can find me at Wendy H jones.com. You can also find me on Patreon where you can support me for as little as $3 a month which is less than the price of a tea or coffee. You go to patreon.com forward slash Wendy h Jones. I'm also went to h Jones on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. Thank you for joining me today and I hope you've found it both useful and interesting. Join me next week when I will have another cracking guest for you. Until then, have a good week and keep writing. Keep reading and keep learning