84: The Final BB Episode

Welcome, Bombshell! This marks the FINAL episode of the Bombshell Business Podcast!

In this episode we cover:

The history of the Bombshell Business Woman sub-brand.
What’s next!
Reflection on some awesome moments of learning and guest experiences.

The History of the Bombshell Brand

When I left my corporate job I earned my ICF certification and set out to become an executive coach, which evolved into training, keynote speaking and consulting.

Many female friends took notice of my marketing efforts and wanted to learn, so I decided to offer a one-day live event. That evolved into a seven-week bootcamp that included 30+ women business owners from five Middle Tennessee counties. (Not all are pictured above.) Then, we turned that into an online bootcamp, and soon I realized to really make an impact I needed to write a book to help solve these routine problems I kept seeing come up with small business owners.

Before I could do that, though, I wanted to be super clear on challenges faced by all Bombshells, not just those in Middle Tennessee. So I started this podcast, which was life changing.

The feedback from listeners was amazing. You shared your souls and businesses with me, became customers, and I felt very confident in the overall problem: so many women are great at what they do, yet they still don’t feel like “legit business women.” Aimed to do what I could to help solve that problem, I wrote the book so that anyone with $14.99 could access straight-forward business advice mixed with real-talk and inspiration. We learned so much doing this and even went on a national book tour.

Yet, all the while I was still working in the corporate and general business world outside of the Bombshell world. In fact, even though The Bombshell Business Woman: How to Become a Bold, Brave, Female Entrepreneur was written to an entrepreneur audience, it has been used as a book study in corporate environments, most recently at Tractor Supply for their amazing Women Out Here program they created for their female employees. I am so lucky to be a part of their program through speaking and my book.

The thing is, I never could pick between my babies. I love both! My corporate work is the majority of my revenue, and I never felt led to try to make an empire out of Bombshell, much to the frustration of others who saw its potential.

The reality is two-fold. The majority of my Bombshells aren’t in a position to make huge investments, and only teaching and coaching at a super small business level isn’t maximizing my experience and gifts. The complexity of medium to super large businesses, and the problems they have, is where I perform best. Not that they are better, their problems are simply bigger and more complicated, and that’s my jam. When it’s a hairball, I’m happy! Let’s do this!

But we hit a tipping point…

With finite time I had to make a choice.

When men were coming up to me after a corporate engagement saying, “That was amazing, but I have to be honest, I didn’t think I’d get anything out of this because I’m not a Bombshell,” I knew I had to not let the Bombshell brand eclipse my overarching Amber Hurdle Consulting brand.

So here is the future of this sub-brand: It’s not dead! I’m just focusing on my master brand because there isn’t time to do it all.

That means I need to write, podcast and use social media to distribute information about what I do everyday: branding from the inside out. Connecting people strategy to business strategy. Teaching leaders how to develop strong personal brands so they can lead strong employer brands…so that happy employees are serving happy customers, which strengthens business brands. I unite science and branding to amplify human capital potential. I leverage psychoanalytics, as well as other data, AND branding, marketing and public relations principles to ensure my clients are barreling towards their operational goals. That is what I totally geek out on!

But I’m not going to leave you hanging.

Where to Access Bombshell Resources

*The The Bombshell Business Woman book is still out there.

*It’s even on Audible! (affiliate link)

*Get the free workbook to accompany the book.

*Listen to all the archived BBW podcast episodes.

*I’m delivering the Bombshell Business Woman keynote multiple times in the coming year. If you want me to speak at your women’s event, visit my speaking page to learn more or email us at i[email protected].

*We shut down the app. We weren’t using it to its capacity because of the demands on our resources. You weren’t using it beyond the podcast notifications and listening. With the podcast coming to a close, so did the app. And I want to pause here because I want to lead here in the area of experimenting within your business. We had the app for a year. It didn’t really serve the purpose it was created for, and that was to give the Bombshell community a place to thrive as we refocus the website and online presence. We couldn’t make it happen, and that’s ok. That was data. It was part of the evidence I needed to wrap up our attention in this area and really focus on the thing that commands our highest and best use.

So, you aren’t being left behind! You are invited to grow with me! And if you are new to business or new to me, go back through all of the resources I mentioned and get to work! 🙂

So that leads me to a heads up for everyone!

Velvet Machete Business Branding Course

In November, we launched the Velvet Machete Business Branding course. Some of you have flown in or drove to Nashville to do a VIP experience to get your brand guide built out, so you have a solid foundation for many things:

Marketing
Decision making
Visual direction
Brand messaging
Appealing to the RIGHT ideal customers
Staying in the same page as your creative vendors
Ensuring your brand is consistent, no matter where people find it
Hiring right
Onboarding and training new people
and more!

This is not a business plan—you can find that in the free Bombshell Business Woman workbook. This is a brand guide — the foundation of your business identity so you always have a consistent guiding force.

It is normally $499 with payment options. But, for YOU, our loyal listeners and fellow Bombshells, it will be half off at $249 with the code: AMBERSINSIDERS. So, go get it now before those code run out!

Get it here: http://amber-hurdle-coaching-training.teachable.com/p/velvetmachetebusinessbranding

Reflecting on Amazing Bombshell Business Podcast Guests

There were more amazing experiences than I can recount on the podcast, but I did come up with a handful of moments I really loved:

Chatting with the three gentlemen who helped me launch and get this whole thing going, Paul Colaianni, Aaron Pierson and Anthony Tran. That’s a little fun fact! The first three guests on the Bombshell Business Podcast were men! (See, I told you I’m not a man hater!)
My last guest, Deborah Lee James, the 23rd Secretary of the Air Force, was just fullll of value-ad advice. But the pre-interview was where I experienced her true self. She is an amazing woman and leader and I was blessed to spend time with her.
Talking with Jacki Kuehne and Renae Keller, both listeners-turned-VIP Retreat clients. It was awesome to interview them after their retreats because they both worked so diligently to ensure their business brand matched their expertise and actual brand experience. I’m so proud of the hard work all of my VIP clients put in. These two just put in a LOT of elbow grease on their journeys.
Getting to know Ali Brown not only sparked a friendship, but many other friendships because of our connection. She is the real deal. I point anyone who is gunning toward a 7-plus figure business to her–I promise you won’t regret it.
Another great collaboration was with Christy Wright. We loved being on each other’s podcasts and showing the world that competition doesn’t have to be a thing if you are standing in your truth and sharing your unique gifts with your unique audience.
Of course, reality TV star, Steve Harvey Show super guest and QVC powerhouse, Kim Gravel, was hysterical and a bright spot in our show history. She may have me beat on speaking her truth without filter.
Of course, experimenting with the BB Experts was fun and rewarding to be a part of a brilliant team.
And getting to know and become friends with or collaborating with so many of our guests was an enormous blessing. <3

The Greatest Bombshell Business Podcast Gift was YOU, the Listener

The real reward from this podcasting experience was hearing from you all. I tried to be diligent in reading reviews and thanking you for your feedback on air, not to mention thank you for inspiring other Bombshells to do the work to get the results like you did by sharing your stories in the reviews. The private messages on social, the emails and even the gifts and notes sent to my office, were truly what kept this going.

I recently heard from a listener, Natalie Hayden, who specifically invited me to share this, so I will. And I’m not sharing it to take any credit. Listen, we can read books, listen to podcasts, buy courses, read blogs and watch YouTube videos 24/7, but if you don’t DO THE WORK and stay the course, it will all be for not. So see what this Bombshell accomplished through sheer diligence mixed with a healthy amount of faith:

“I just want you to know I’ve listen to your Bombshell Business Podcast about 18 months now. I sent you an email at the start of 2018 telling you I was inspired by you, and I how I wanted to sell my business. You replied to my email, and offered encouragement. Good news: 12 months after that email to you, I successfully sold my business five weeks ago. I got a really good price it was a great deal. I want to say thank you!! Thank you to your podcast. I literally did it based just off your Bombshell podcast!!! And all your advice!!! I took note, I listened carefully—some podcasts I listened to over and over again. I also worked on myself as a leader, read a lot of books, and got myself really aligned with what it took to sell a six-figure yoga and Pilates studio. What’s next? Building a yoga retreat center in Belize!! You haven’t heard the last of me 🙂 Namaste, mamacita, and may the good LORD bless you, your family and your business beyond your wildest dreams!!” – Natalie Hayden

Y’all! What the what?

First, isn’t she amazing? And second, I so needed that. It’s been an abundant year! I won multiple business awards from the Nashville community. I received additional certifications, increased revenue and made major shifts…and at this point I’m TIRED. So while I am ridiculously joyous for Natalie and what she says I did for her, let me assure you that in that moment, she sent me exactly what I needed to put a little more wind in my sail.

Final Thoughts and Gratitude for the Bombshell Business Podcast

Finally, remember, as you are going out there, sharing your gifts and stepping into your inner-Bombshell: that bold, brave, unwaveringly confident woman in business, remember to lift up every woman around you as you rise.

So with that gratitude, I say goodbye to the Bombshell Business Podcast. If you want to stay in the loop, text AMBERSNEWPODCAST to 44222.

If you want to leave a final review so women can find and trust this podcast for years to come, I encourage you to do that in iTunes, Google Play, Sticher or wherever you listen.

I appreciate you so very much for being a part of my journey, for lifting each other up, and for shining brightly in a world that needs your impact. I love you all, and now I’m signing off on this final episode.

December 26, 2019