Janice Porter: Hi, everyone, and welcome to this week's episode
of relationships rule. My guest today is Suzanne Taylor King.
She is a life and business coach and has been for a very long
time since 2009. And she has a 35 year career really of x of
entrepreneurial experience. I would call her a serial
entrepreneur, I don't know if she will, but she's been in this
racket for a long time. Her first business, which I'm gonna
get her to tell you about was quite an interesting and
successful venture. And she has her own approach to helping
entrepreneurs and it seems, from what I've, from what I have
experienced with her already, I can tell she is very passionate
about helping entrepreneurs be successful. So first of all,
welcome to the show, Suzanne.
Suzanne Taylor-King: Thank you so much, John, it's great to be
here.
Janice Porter: You're very welcome. So I'd like you to
share your story about your first entrepreneurial venture,
because I think it comes best from you. Oh,
Suzanne Taylor-King: my gosh, well, I was 22 years old, had no
idea what I was doing. And my boyfriend at the time, had an
idea of bringing California surf skateboard and snowboard
products to the East Coast. And we started a retail store with
$3,000. And it was in the basement of another store with
no sign and no phone. So word of mouth traveled very quickly that
we had some underground. And it really was underground,
underground. Apparel, shoes, you know, just really cool stuff.
And by the end of the first week, we had done $5,000 in
sales. Nice. We had nothing left and needed to rebuy everything.
And it was in that moment when I thought and remember this was
before social media. There was no advertising, no promotion
whatsoever. And I fully realized the power of people talking
about you in rooms you're not in. So, you know, ultimately, I
got divorced and walked away from a very successful
franchised business. But my own safety, sanity, happiness was
more important to me than money, even back then. So, but the
lessons that I learned, you know, really stem from getting
to know your ideal clients so well, that they feel like
they're friends with you. And that feeling of Gosh, it's
really just understands me, she gets me. I brought that forward
into my first coaching practice where I was a health coach. And
it turned out that I was helping many entrepreneurs with their
health, wellness, fitness. And it turned into giving some
business advice just based on my experience. And over the next
couple of years, I fully transitioned into being a life
and business coach for entrepreneurs. And it's been
incredible.
Janice Porter: Well, I've met you, I think twice now and have
one sort of conversation with you. And I can tell right away
how easy you are to talk to and how easy it is to get to feel
like your friends already. Yeah, that is fantastic. I hope that I
kind of have a little bit of that same. You do since because
and that's maybe why my why we you know, connected quite
quickly. I just knew when I first saw you at a networking
event online that I wanted to talk to you it took us a while.
But oh now why because you do have that sense that sense of
warmness and caring that I'm sure that your that your clients
experience. So, so thank you for that. A couple of things. One,
you talked about athletics. I know you were an athlete, a
professional athlete, or were you well,
Suzanne Taylor-King: in high school, I was a State ranked
swimmer. In right after college, I started snowboarding and
started competing. But I was 24 at that point when I was
competing, so that was considered Pretty old for the
competition level, but I was sponsored. So I did get free
swag and free snowboards and free clothing from a couple of
different companies and went to numerous trade shows and made
appearances to, you know, sell products for star. That's Yeah,
fun. And I remember the first time I went to, which wasn't
that long ago, I went to actually a ski shop with my son,
too. And I thought, Oh, I'm gonna get new boots and a new
snowboard. And the snowboard was like $1,200 or something. And I
was like, Oh, yeah. And my son said, Woody, what are you
thinking? I said, I don't know. I've never bought one. He said,
you've never bought one. I said, No, I used to get all my stuff
for free because people want to see me on their stuff. How did
he react to that? It was he Well, he didn't think I was any
cooler. So. Ah,
Janice Porter: that's amazing. Did you ever by the way, you
were probably in you were in the East Coast. Right? You're out of
New Jersey, New York. Yeah. Did you ever come to Whistler to ski
at all? Yes,
Suzanne Taylor-King: I did. The zoo. Okay. Yes, yes. I actually
did heliskiing there and was terrified. But I did it. And I
think it was $75 for one trip in the helicopter up to the top.
And for some reason I thought the helicopter was going to
land. Ah, yes. Didn't know. They don't land. Oh, hover. And you
jump out? Yeah.
Janice Porter: I know. I have friends who've done that. I'm
not a skier snowboarder, I think skiing at Whistler in my youth,
but I fell in love with a basketball coach and player and
so I was always going to gym in the winter after my my last
boyfriend had taken me skiing up at Whistler. And when I had to
carry my own skis, that was enough for me. Yeah. Yeah. I was
not the athlete. I caught me city most most of the time. But
anyway, I did it. And I didn't learn to ski as a kid. So it's
harder when you're an adult. Yeah, I didn't
Suzanne Taylor-King: either. I grew up surfing. So skiing was
very difficult for me the couple of times I tried and gave up.
And then trying snowboarding, you know, at about 22 because of
a boy. Yeah. Oh, yeah. And it was the same movement and
surfing. You just had to dress much warmer. Yeah.
Janice Porter: So I would think that and I didn't plan on this,
but, but it's interesting to me because I have a daughter, who
is a very good athlete is was a very good athlete. And she
played team sports, basketball, volleyball, softball, but she
learned a lot from that time. And I'm sure that you did, too,
in terms of what that what did that bring for you to business
and that you maybe share with your clients these days?
Suzanne Taylor-King: Well, I think it was a combination. So
my dad was in the army before I was born, and he was an athlete,
as well. And my first takeaway from him being an athlete was me
wanting to cycle with him. And he, he was about 45, at the
time, I started showing interest in cycling. And he was cycling
with a group of guys who were between 25 and 3540. So he was
older than all of them. And he pride he just had so much pride
in himself about being able to function at their level or or
beyond sometimes. And I so I took that was my number one
takeaway was always play with a better player. Surround yourself
with great people and great things happen. And that applies
to business as well. And then I think with snowboarding, since
it was very independent, but yet you it was very dependent on my
own meant the place I was at mentally. So if I was having a
good day, if I felt strong if I felt capable. There was nothing
I couldn't accomplish the minute I had self doubt in, say jumping
off the lift without my back foot strapped in, jumping out of
that helicopter in Whistler, when you jump out of that
helicopter. You It's not jumping to static you're jumping thing
to steep downhill immediately. It, it really showed me the
power of your mindset and your outlook. And you know, where you
focus your attention is where your business will go. And my
clients definitely benefit from that background with me.
Janice Porter: That's makes so much sense actually, it really
does. So, what would you say? I'm going to skip now to
entrepreneurship? And what would you say? I think I read
somewhere that, you know, one of the things that you talked about
is to grow your authority. So what's the best way for an
entrepreneur to start to grow their authority? Hmm,
Suzanne Taylor-King: pick one thing, one platform, and one
offer. And one ideal client, I see so many, spreading
themselves. So thin, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, tik, Tok,
YouTube, and trying to do all of those platforms. And it's
absolutely impossible to do all of those platforms, and do them
all well, until you have delegation capabilities. So I
always say, start with one platform, and you pick the
platform based on your ideal client. And that's part of the
work, you know, I do with my clients is really deciding,
where's that best place for me to find my ideal client? And
once you're making the income that you want, from, say, your
Facebook group, and your Facebook following, then you can
move on to another platform with maybe another offer? Or maybe
the same offer? Depending? Keep
Janice Porter: it simple? Yes, yeah. And hone it as you go to
make to make it Yeah.
Suzanne Taylor-King: And I, I actually, I've added four or
five things in the last maybe six, seven years. And I just
decided today, I know, I don't like it. I don't like having
this offer that offer even even though they're they're doing
okay, I want to go back to having that one thing that one
offer or that one community. And your clients naturally come from
that.
Janice Porter: It sounds so simple, but
Suzanne Taylor-King: it actually it's simpler than we allow it to
be a lot of times, because unfortunately, in the online
space, you're gonna hear so many messages, like, you need a
podcast, you need a YouTube channel, you need a Facebook
group, you need this, you need that. And it's because they're
trying to sell you something they're trying to sell you own
what they do for their clients, which I get it, I get it. But
you kind of have to have blinders on. It's
Janice Porter: really hard to and I'm very guilty of that. I
have different parts of my business. And it's frustrating
me sometimes because it's too much. And I need to streamline
and I always feel that. Yeah, live and learn anyway. So we'll
talk. Now, you've had your own? Well, just to that point, your
ideal client, I've always fought that I've always fought it.
Because the minute I say this is my ideal client, my clients that
I that come to me are completely different. So when you say that
it doesn't doesn't have to be that one persona.
Suzanne Taylor-King: Well, here's, here's what happened for
me, I like you, I was very resistant to the niche, or the
ideal client work. I did it a couple times. But I didn't
really stick to it. I would just say anybody and everybody,
whatever. And about two years ago, my mentor said to me, take
a look at who you're currently working with one on one. And
instead of defining them like, oh, entrepreneur, and they're a
coach, or they they own a bookstore, look at their
psychographics instead of demographics. I was like, huh,
all right. So I made a list of my five one on one clients, and
they were all men. They were all over 50 They all had previous
athletic or military experience. They were all spiritual, and two
of them were very Christian church going and involved have
with their church community. Then they all had a business
there their business problems or pain points, or doing too many
things needed to streamline, or they didn't have a clear,
defined offer, and a roadmap for their clients to visually see
and touch and experience. Wow. Okay. And then the the thing
that was really incredible. They were all introduced to me by
referrals. And I thought, dear Lord, what am I doing spending
all of that time creating content for social media? When
the five high end people I'm working with, we're all from
referrals, and I don't even try to get referrals. What if I just
try and ask for more of that, please? Thank you. Yeah, that's
fast. And it was a huge turning point for me. Oh, I
Janice Porter: can understand that. Totally. I mean, referrals
are usually the best kind of clients, because it's not a cold
call, even though it is right. I mean, it's not because they
trust the person that that sent them to you. And, yeah, yeah,
that's really interesting. That's what really what I meant
when I said that I, I think I want to work with or that I
attract, you know, women mid age, you know, coaches,
consultants. And then I look and I got six men that are all
financial planners. And that's happened to me a lot. So, yeah,
it's very interesting. So. So that's a really good point. And
I have to have to point this out, because I heard you say it
on your video, and you just said it now. And I'm like, Oh, God
bless you. The word niche. Most Americans say niche. How do you
get it? Right? I love that. Because I
Suzanne Taylor-King: don't know how do I get it? Right?
Janice Porter: French word and it is niche. It is
Suzanne Taylor-King: a French word. And I think niche reminds
me of itch. Awesome. Reminds me of knit. And that's what blazer
called, so I stay away from that.
Janice Porter: That's good enough. Not true. I love it.
Anyway. That's great. So um, so you talk about one of the
focuses for your clients, as you're working with them, is to
have them I think, if I'm sure you do this with them, you bring
out their their unique their uniqueness and their special
sauce that will help them grow and flourish as an entrepreneur.
How do you do that?
Suzanne Taylor-King: Oh, well, I a couple different things. So I
learned a process of extracting intellectual property. And that
was, well it was combination of unique ability from Strategic
Coach, and then part from your not to do list and your unique
genius from Tony Robbins, and then part assessments. So the
assessments I typically have somebody take our Clifton
Strengths, a positive psychology, Strengths
Assessment, which is your personality strengths. And then
a saboteur assessment, which is from a motional intelligence
program by Shahrzad Charmaine, a French person and the
combination of your personality, your strengths mentally,
emotionally. And then if you're going to self sabotage, how's
that going to look? So those three things in combination,
typically show me and then a timeline of your life. The
timeline of your life looks like your talent stack, so education,
degrees, certifications, but also your social emotional
journey. And looking at all of that from a big overhead view. A
couple things are gonna pop out. For me when I did this for
myself, I noticed that every Every time I had financial
upswing, I got less creative financial downswing more
creative. Whenever I was not challenged in my life, I was
bored. Okay, so always be challenging myself became a
rule. And I noticed when I do it with clients, that typically
they see it, it's not me seeing it or finding it for them. It's
I'm giving them the tools and the information. And then
they're looking at and saying, Wow, I can't believe I didn't
see that. I've been sick, you know, six or seven times in my
life with major illnesses. And I healed myself, every single one
of those times. And what I'm doing with my clients is
holistic healing. You didn't put that together? But they don't?
Because it's hard to see it.
Janice Porter: Yeah, when you're in the can't see the forest for
the trees, right? Yes,
Suzanne Taylor-King: yes. And then that that saboteur that
kind of lets me know, that helps me advance my coaching with
someone faster. So I've noticed when I have somebody take that,
I can tell how they're going to show up during an in a coaching
relationship. And if they're going to self sabotage the work
that we're doing, I know exactly how it's going to show up. And I
can do that quicker. And that's that kind of helps me build
rapport with my client faster. So if I know somebody is a
procrastinator, and they show up week two without week one's
stuff done. Yeah, I immediately know, it's because there are
procrastinate or don't believe any of those excuses. Let's
tackle the procrastination first, so we can move forward.
So what kind of businesses
Janice Porter: today are people starting or are in that you work
with? It isn't very completely across his charts, or,
Suzanne Taylor-King: um, I'd say my favorites are ones that are
responsible for getting their own people meaning real estate
agents, coaches, consultants, I'm so service service, service
based, even even a financial advisor who works for a company.
And he's kind of tied into the company's marketing. They can't
do their own marketing because of compliance. I help them kind
of figure out who they are. So that when they go out their
network, they stand out. Yeah. They don't lead with. Hi, I'm a
financial advisor for Janney, Montgomery, Scott. Well, yeah.
You in 10,000 other people
Janice Porter: by Yeah. Yeah. So that actually makes me ask a
question. I know that when I first saw you on screen, it was
at an online networking group that I had been invited to by
Michael Goldberg, who had been on my podcast. I don't know now
how I met him. I was I think it was a referral from someone else
who had been on because you guys are all back East. And so I know
that right. So he was great. And people were speaking highly of
you. And then it kind of took a while. But what I was gonna say
is did you go back to in person networking with a flourish?
Like, did you want to do that? I haven't gone back. So it's,
yeah,
Suzanne Taylor-King: I I always did in person. From the time I
started my health coaching practice in 2009. And because I
had a decent size local network, when I came into the online
space, I immediately had people to connect with, you know, I
just took those in person and brought them online. During
COVID, I definitely leaned into more networking groups. You
know, as part of Michael's group for years, I actually led to the
Philadelphia chapter of the networking group. Then from that
I met a Texas group from that I met a couple groups in
California. I've spoken to a lot of really large national groups
at their national convention. So I would get like, you know, 300
members from all over the country in one room and get to
speak to them virtually of course during COVID I was like,
Wow, this could really this could really do well. I don't
have to leave my house, I can wear sweatpants and slippers.
Yeah, I love that. And I have my own in person group that we meet
for lunch once a quarter. And it's a pretty small group of
about 10 or 12. And are the core members, there's six of us. And
we commit to bringing somebody new to the group, every quarter.
One person, yeah, we'll bring one new person who's awesome.
And I've tried the Chamber of Commerce and all those local
groups. And at this point, I don't really need to do that
anymore. Yeah, but I do kind of keep keep my toe in.
Janice Porter: Yeah, sure. I just find and I wonder if you
find this to that, when I'm talking to and usually in a
networking situation, newer entrepreneurs, they, they they
keep saying, like, they say things like, well, I go to two
or three networking groups a week? And I'm like, I know. Is
your target audience there? You know, like, Are these your
people? Because if they're not, to my mind, it's almost
sometimes a waste of time? I mean, totally. Yeah. I mean, so
I wonder about that with people today. And I do most of my
networking on LinkedIn. So that's why I always find it
interesting. When people say I have to be out networking, I
have to be out networking. No, well, I
Suzanne Taylor-King: think I use this measure. So I had an in
person event, we meet for lunch. At the local country club. It's
it's run by a financial advisor, friend of mine. And I would say
it's every two, two months, maybe this month, there was
eight people there. And I came home with three business cards,
they're still sitting right here on my desk, three cards from new
people that I had not met before. And I waited. They're
sitting right here. Let's see who reaches out to me. And nine
times out of 10. When I go to an in person event, no one follows
up. I know, it's huge. I don't understand why you're there. Is
it just for lunch? Like? Or are you if you're not actively
looking for me to introduce you to people or refer business to
you? Why are you there?
Janice Porter: So how to deal with that, though? They don't
know what to do. They don't know what to say. They really don't?
Well,
Suzanne Taylor-King: then what? What, then you got to figure
that out. And I have somebody to refer you to for that as well. I
went through an eight week program and took my networking
skills, not even network network building skills to the next
level. So that means I went to a chamber of commerce meeting a
couple months ago. There's 300 people in the room. I'm not
following up with 300 people. But the 10 people that were
sitting at my table, I introduced myself to, I told
them what I do. I'm a coach for business owners and
entrepreneurs who want to extract their intellectual
property and turn it into a product or a service or a
revenue stream. very concise, very specific. And two of the
people were like, oh, I want to do that. Well, of course you do.
Because I describe it in a way. That's for the people in the
room. Yeah, that's a skill. And so 10 business cards, I followed
up with the two people who asked me to the other ones, I just sat
back and waited. Nothing.
Janice Porter: And you do that? Because you don't need that
business necessarily. But you're just Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Well,
only because you want to work with people who want to work
with you. Yes. And for years,
Suzanne Taylor-King: I would be the madman after an event. I'd
have a stack of 40 cards. And I'd be like, connecting with
them on LinkedIn, emailing them, following up making phone calls.
None of it ever led anywhere because the person on the other
end didn't know what to do with it. I know. So it's almost
better to be the attractor of people. Now you're seeing my
secrets here be the attractor of people being To be be the person
that people want to hang out with. And then connecting
becomes easier. And plus you're doing it with people who
appreciate and reciprocate. Well,
Janice Porter: I used to teach networking to new entrepreneurs
at a local college. And, and I always dream and then we then I,
I did some networking, sort of role playing and so on with
them, too. But I remember I remember saying them saying,
like, they they don't know what to do, they don't know how to
follow. You know, it was important that I had a
beautiful, shiny business card, and I handed out to everybody.
No, I never, that's not what it's about. But I used to teach
that you, you go to a networking event, like a chamber event, and
you want to talk to, you know, three to five people in the
room, you want to talk to the organizer, you want to talk to
the person who who checks everybody in, because they know
everybody, usually you want to talk to the speaker, and you
want to talk to to what I call hubs, the people that are that
attracting everybody, so that you get a sense of the room from
from that. And if you're new you want that's really your goal is
to connect maybe five people but the ones who know what they're
doing because they are usually those people. So I don't know,
it's just really interesting. But you people go very, I
remember going once with a friend of mine, who was part of
a women's group, I, she didn't like networking, and she went
and got these beautiful brochures and things. She was an
interior designer, I think she was. And she came to the event
and all she couldn't talk, she was handing out stuff that was
going no garbage, and know how to talk to people. She was too
nervous. So it's really hard for some people. You know, I
Suzanne Taylor-King: feel really lucky, because I was a dental
hygienist for 20 years,
Janice Porter: which you talk to people who couldn't answer you.
Suzanne Taylor-King: Yeah, which was perfect. Right? Plus, I got
used to, you know, making people feel comfortable, who were
nervous or didn't want to be there, and kind of learned how
to talk to a wide variety of people and get other people
talking about themselves. Key. And then I went to tell you, I
met one person. And again, roomful of 100 people. And in
walks this guy who was wearing a bright blue, like really bright
blue suit, with a purple shirt, and a blue tie. Like he just
stood out. He was not in business attire, this suit was
very, very nice and very well cut and, and I saw him walk in.
And I was like, I don't know who he is or what he does. But I'm
gonna go talk to him. Yeah. And I walked up. And I said, I
noticed you when you walked in a very distinctive look. And I
wanted to just say hello and introduce myself. Turns out,
he's a personal stylist for men, and makes custom clothing for
men. And 90% of those men are business owners, or executives,
that would be ideal clients, for me. So because of how I walked
up to him, like, Hmm, I don't know who you are, but you look
like somebody I should know, in this room. And he looked at me
like, best opening line ever. And I said much I'm Suzanne.
Unknown: It was great. Yeah, that's awesome. You
Suzanne Taylor-King: know, being fearless helps a little bit.
Janice Porter: When I was little, I used to go out with my
mom all the time. And my mom was the perfect example for me. She
would make friends with the butcher, the baker, the
candlestick maker. Not only did they all love her when she came
in the store, send postcards to them when she was on vacation.
My mom loved people and dogs love people. And I learned I
swear I it's I learned it in the womb because she was like that.
And and it's it's always been easy for me to talk to people
and get them talking about themselves, which is the key
course. Okay, this has been delightful and so much fun. I
could do it for a lot longer, but we must wrap up. So I'm
going to ask you a couple last questions. One is one of my
favorite quote. Questions to ask most of the time to my guests,
because it's about my favorite word curiosity. So I want to
know, it's a two part question number one, do you think
curiosity is innate or learned? And second part, what are you
most curious about these days?
Suzanne Taylor-King: I think it can be learned, but I think most
people are born with it. And if but if you don't have it, you
can absolutely learn how to be a better listener and more
curious. Right now, I am most curious about time management,
and what that looks like for my clients. And I'm diving deep on
time management, calendar, blocking, scheduling. And I have
about six different books I'm learning from right now.
Janice Porter: Any of them that have been around for a long
time, because I used to do that. And then I fell off the wagon.
Suzanne Taylor-King: I love David Allen getting things done.
Because I'm a big list maker, whether you do it digitally or
on paper. And then I love Cal Newport. Digital minimalism. And
I also love Dr. Ben Hardy, who talks about 10x being easier
than 2x. I, I love Michael Hyatt planner system, which is just a
way of planning your day. And my coach, Dan Henry, he teaches a
daily kind of journaling thing that's personal and business.
And I'm kind of just seeing how I can incorporate all of that
into one system.
Janice Porter: Fantastic. That's great. Thank you for that. And
last question. Just your maybe favorite or best or what comes
to mind piece of advice for my listeners who are definitely
your audience, and what you would give them as their your
favorite tip of the day for business. Not
Suzanne Taylor-King: to think that you need anything else
other than yourself to help somebody else and have them pay
you for that help or that guidance. So letting go of the
belief that you need, you know, a program and a website, and you
know, all of those things. They're just assets, people will
pay you for this. And to remember that.
Janice Porter: I love it. That's a great place to stop. Thank you
so much. And I'm gonna reread re listen to this myself.
Absolutely. So thank you. Thank you for being here. And thank
you to our audience for listening. And I would ask, Oh,
one last thing, where can they find you?
Suzanne Taylor-King: Suzanne Taylor king.com. And there's a
resource tab right in the menu bar. There's actually three full
coaching courses delivered by email right there on that page.
Janice Porter: Oh, fantastic. Well, thank you again, and thank
you to my audience for being here. And remember to stay
connected and be remembered