I wanted to take a few minutes and introduce myself and explain why I’m here and what kinds of things I want to talk about on the Ballyhoo Bridge Podcast.  My name is Heather and I’ve been working in marketing, PR, graphic design and the like for about 30 years. 

Just a few short years ago I began a spiritual journey by complete accident.  Of course, I don’t believe in accidents… I believe everything happens for a reason and this is no exception. 

It started when I took a class to help me grow a side business I was trying to get off the ground.  It was a mindset class.  the truth is, I didn’t even really know what that meant.  What I am doing now is nowhere near what I thought I would be doing or how that side hustle started… I learned so much… for one thing, why I don’t want to hustle… I ended up learning what I really want out of my life and what I want my life to be. 

I finally began to understand my intuitive gifts and began to develop them and use them to help the people in my life. 

Like so many other people of my generation, really any generation I guess, when I was young and graduating high school, I did the thing that was expected of me.  I said I wanted to go to school for art, my mom said, that’s fine but it needs to be something where you can actually make a living… not be some starving artist.  And That was just ONE example of the typical conditioning statements from my parents.  I would venture to say from most parents…So I did that… I never became a film maker or animator like I had dreamed of for so long.  I only sang in my car, not on a stage… and the reality is, when I struggled to let go in painting classes or choir or anywhere, I think that conditioning was taking hold of my brain and my paintbrush.  It told me to do the right thing and to NOT let go.  When I started this journey, I didn’t even know what conditioning was, much less how much effect it had on my life and my decisions.

So, I got the degree that I enjoyed but I didn’t love.  I did the corporate jobs that don’t fit how I’m wired and are difficult for me to focus and not get bored in… I changed jobs a lot… trying to find where I was supposed to be. 

When it comes to the marketing I do everyday, the truth is I’m good at it and I really do enjoy it.  And through this journey I’ve come to understand more of why.  I both like and need to be creative and I both like and need to help people.

I find I am still shifting into the alignment of who I am and my purpose and I’m ok with that, it means I’m growing. 

So many of us spend our lives trying to understand why we don’t fit the expectations of those around us.  And for many reasons, we don’t try to discover what our real fit in life is. 

But then something happens and causes the shift that makes you start your journey. 

See, I’ve taken a lot of classes and met a lot of people.  One thing I’ve noticed is, the ones in a class on a spiritual journey always end up wanting to open a business… they find something they love they want to share with others… AND the ones in the class to help their business almost always end up on a spiritual journey. 

Running a business on your own can be rewarding and freeing and fulfilling and all the ing words, but it can also be brutal.  When you hit dips, and you will, you start to question everything, not just about your business but about your very existence.  You aren’t good enough – that’s imposter syndrome.  Everyone was right about you and doing this crazy thing – that’s conditioning… do you see where I’m going here?  Finding yourself and your inner strength, aligning with what’s right for you and what truly makes you happy can play a vital role in your success and all the ing words we talked about earlier. 

I grew up a Christian. I went to church every Sunday. My relationship with God was solid.  I thought…  I thought I had this “love myself, strength thing” under control.  The further I went, the more I realized I didn’t and that part of my conditioning actually kept me from being open enough in my spirituality. 

I won’t lie, there are things I heard people talk about and partake in that as a Christian, and using my conditioning to hear, I questioned. I have learned more and understand more than I ever thought possible.  I learned that many times we are all saying the same things, just using different words.  I am closer to God than I’ve ever been.  Part of that is because I opened my mind and allowed Him in, in ways I hadn’t before. 

I am aware many Christians hear woo” and spiritual things and they run for the hills.  But the truth is the parallels are staring us all in the face if we can choose to let go and see. 

These are the things I will talk about in my podcast, the myths, not just of spirituality and how we are not so different, but the myths of business and with a little help, the next steps aren’t as hard and overwhelming as they may seem.

Most solopreneurs I’ve met need help.  Not just in getting their head and their heart straight but how to do this business thing… finding your thing, figuring out how to plan it and market it.

But business isn’t just about marketing and branding and social media algorithms.  It’s understanding your true, authentic self and then showing up as THAT person, not the one you think you’re supposed to be. 

So we will explain the jargon, clear up some misconceptions, address confusion and discover we are all not so different.  No matter what your background is, we are here to bridge the gaps between what you think you know and what you think you don’t.

Oh and one more thing… this name, ballyhoo bridge. My son suggested it and I kind of love it!

Ballyhoo means extravagant publicity or fuss

A Bridge is something intended to reconcile or to form a connection between two things.

So, let’s make a fuss!  And bridge some gaps…

I hope you’ll join us!

You can listen here or anywhere you find your podcasts!