30 days.

That’s how much time we have between now, and the day that we know the name of someone who is headed to Miss America 2017!!!

Considering the fact that state pageant season is RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER – I thought I’d go ahead and write this week’s post about the best way to use your time between now and your your state competition…

Doesn’t matter if you only have 30 days or 2.5 months until your state pageant – The truth is, your ability to perform well – and perhaps even win your state title – has much more to do with the 4-12 weeks BEFORE your state pageant – than at any other time.

It’s called momentum.  And it’s awesome. 🙂

Ladies who have momentum on their side are a zillion times more likely to do well, as opposed to those who don’t!  So – the question is, how do you get the “MO” you need to finish well at your state pageant?  Here’s a few thoughts…

PERFECT YOUR ROUTINE

All of it.  Your workout routine – Your Talent routine – Your waking/posing routine – Your ‘this-is-how-i-stay-updated-on-current-events’ routine.  And don’t forget – part of your routine is your ability to practice each and every one of these things listed above, on a daily/regular basis.

Right now – it’s all about the routine.  Make sure you’re doing the right things over and over again – whether that means cardio on M-W-F and weight training on T-Th… Or whether that means asking yourself potential interview questions every day on your lunch break… Or whether that means Talent practice 3 days a week… Whatever it is, establish a routine for yourself – and stick to it!

Make “your routine” your best friend.  Don’t stray from it.  Don’t slack off.  Don’t cram everything into the two weeks before you leave.  DO YOUR ROUTINE NOW!  I promise, you’ll be AMAZED by how much progress you make – and how genuinely prepared you will truly feel – once your state pageant rolls around!

OFF-STAGE MATTERS

While establishing a routine is great – You’ve got to make sure you prepare yourself beyond the areas of on-stage competition.  If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times… The best way for me to tell if you are a serious contender for the job of Miss State, is to see if you are currently fulfilling the role of Miss State, RIGHT NOW.

That means, you should be doing things like promoting your platform, speaking in front of classrooms and other groups, networking and connecting with new potential sponsors, fundraising for CMN and your favorite causes.  THESE THINGS ARE NOT PART OF THE ON-STAGE COMPETITION – but they are the exact things that prepare you to fill the role of Miss State!

When you succeed in these “off-stage” areas, you’ll have a crazy amount of legitimate confidence… Why? Because you’ve already been doing the job! And when you know, that you know, that you know, that you’ve got the “off-stage” goods to do the job of Miss State…  Guess what that’s called???  You guessed it – MOMENTUM!!!

DEVELOP YOUR BRAND

If you’re a strong public speaker, and you’re great at fundraising, and you’ve been getting booking requests right and left through your platform, then congratulations!  You’ve got a lot going for you!  However, if any of these things are a struggle for you, it’s likely because you haven’t clearly defined your Pageant Brand.  What makes you different than everyone else (pageant contestant or regular joe-schmo off the street)?  What’s the clear message you want to send to others?  How does that message resonate with people who hear it?  Who benefits the most from your message?  Why now?  What happens if/when people don’t hear your message?

If you have trouble answering any of those questions (in no more than 8 words each), then you need help focusing and/or developing your brand.

When you have a clearly defined brand, it’s like walking into your interview with a secret weapon!  Here’s why…

First – It’s much easier for the judges to remember you… Mainly because you’ll stand out from everyone else who simply wants to “help just one child.”  And trust me – standing out, is a decidedly important, yet generally over-looked, part of the competition.

Second – It’s also easier for your own comfort level come pageant week… Mainly because you’ll know exactly who you are, what you stand for, and how you can introduce Miss Fill-in-the-blank to new audiences.  You’ll know exactly how you can take the title to new heights and who you’re going to impact the most.

If you’re still not sure your pageant brand is as strong as it should be, or you’ve never thought about what’s going to make you stand out from everyone else on stage – We have a very limited time offer right now at Pageant Junkies University. Check it out here…

IT’S NOT ABOUT MISS AMERICA

Right now, you may be tempted to see yourself as Miss America 2017.  But I would caution you about thinking that far ahead. At this stage of the game, thinking of yourself as the next Miss America, is a lot like walking into a job interview to work at the front desk, and assuming you know enough to take over the whole company as the CEO.

The truth is, your year as Miss State, has very little to do with your time at Miss America.  Yes – it’s exciting and it’s rare – but even your state knows winning Miss America is a crapshoot (and we use that term as affectionately as possible). 🙂

That’s why thinking too far ahead can actually hurt you.  Staying focused on what you can do for your state is the best preparation for determining what you can do as Miss America (if and when the time comes). Out of the nearly 1500 state qualifying contestants, only 52 ladies will need to think about competing at Miss America this year!!!  First things first: Keeping your perspective on the ‘here and now’ allows you to build your momentum stronger and faster than those who are worried about going to Miss America.

AND THERE YOU HAVE IT!!!  Some awesome tips to help  you create the momentum you need before your state pageant!

As always – we love reading your comments and hearing from you!  If you have any questions, feel free to email me at ThePageantJunkies@gmail.com!  We’ll see you again next week!

#BigJunkieLove

Carrie Lakey

To see more #ThursdayBlogDay posts like this one, please click here…

Carrie Lakey is kind of obsessed with Miss America…
So are 15,000 of her closest friends.

As an avid fan of the Miss America Organization, Carrie began
publicly predicting pageant winners over 10 years ago.
Now, she’s galvanizing an online movement of fans
known as “Pageant Junkies”.
Learn more about the Junkie Nation
by clicking here.

So – I’m recently chatting it up with a “pageant person” when it hits me.

All successful pageant contestants have 3 things in common.

~ They know who they are
~ They know what they believe
~ They know how they’re going to do the job of Miss ______ when they win

Well that seems a little elementary, Carrie… Like – “That’s just a little too simple to be profound”… Right?

I get it.

Those 3 things do sound simple.  And fairly easy to accomplish.  But, I gotta say, there’s a WHOLE LOT more behind each of those 3 items than you might originally think! Therefore, let’s do what I love to do and break it down a little bit more… 🙂

DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE?

It’s crazy.  Pageant contestants are notorious for actually “trying to be” a pageant contestant.  It happens ALL THE TIME! Rather than just being ourselves, we try to emulate who we think we’re SUPPOSED to be on-stage.  We try to look/act/walk/talk like someone else – and you know what happens?  We lose ourselves in the process.  In short – we are no longer ourselves – instead, we become someone who looks like a pageant contestant.

Are you funny or artistic?  Are you goofy or silly?  Are you a book worm or do you have a quirky hobby? Are you serious and contemplative?  Do you enjoy things that other people think are a little bit weird?

If so – then guess what?  You’re going to be tempted to hide those things… To tuck them away so the judges don’t see them.  You’re going to wonder if you really should show each and every little-bitty part of yourself – or if you should just offer the parts of you that seem to “fit” on the pageant stage.  After all, you want to make sure you “look” like a pageant contestant, right?

I’m here to tell you – Don’t do it.  Don’t hide.  Don’t try to “be” what everyone else seems to “be”.

Instead, know who you are, accept it, and be strong enough to show it.

Now – I fully realize, that’s a whole lot easier said than done!  But after speaking with 120+ state titleholders through our podcast, I can confidently tell you, that it’s the secret to doing well.  Without it, you’re sunk.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU BELIEVE?

You know that phrase, “If you stand for nothing, you’ll fall for anything…”?  It couldn’t be truer – especially in a pageant. Judges are instructed to push contestants in the interview to find out what they believe – But, as contestants, they are to be judged based on how they communicate what they believe.

Where do you stand on social issues?  On the current presidential race?  On the matters that mean the most to you?  You need to know what you believe before you ever walk into the interview room.

And while knowing what you believe is a great thing – I’m afraid it’s not enough.  You also need to know how to communicate what you believe without sounding crazy-confrontational or completely spineless.  The Miss America Organization isn’t looking for robots, but they’re not looking to purposefully offend anyone either.  The balance is found between those two extremes and here’s why…

As a titleholder, you need to know how to handle yourself in all types of pubic situations – In front of crowds, in front of tv cameras, on social media, in front of anyone with a handy-dandy video recorder on their cell phone, etc…  It’s of supreme importance that the judges find someone who can handle herself in those situations and many more.  That’s why the woman who knows how to communicate what she believes, without offending anyone, is going to score big each and every time – I guarantee it.

Communicating without offending people doesn’t make you a wall-flower – it makes you relatable to ALL kinds of people… Which is pretty much the summary of your job as a major titleholder.

DO YOU KNOW HOW YOU’RE GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

This is a tricky one because EVERYONE in pageantry wants to make a difference.  Everyone has a platform and everyone has a passion for it.  Everyone wants to serve others and everyone knows they could absolutely do it better, stronger, and more effectively, if they just had the crown.

In order to separate yourself from the pack of “EVERYONE”… You need to know more than WHAT difference you want to make… You need to know HOW you’re going to make a difference.  HOW are you going to reach more people than your predecessor?  HOW are you going to impact people who’ve never met a Miss State before?  HOW are you going to make the title of Miss “Whoever You Are” relevant to people who think you’re just a beauty queen?  HOW do you plan to bring in new sponsors and support the Children’s Miracle Network?

Do you have a new idea? Can you reach a new audience? Are you able to come to the table with something that your state has never seen before?  Do you have personal experiences that suddenly open doors which have never been open to Miss Fill-in-the-Blank before?

I realize – that’s A LOT of questions… But if you don’t know HOW you’re going to make a difference – then you’re just going to sound like everyone else in the pageant.  And ladies who blend in, rarely win.

However – when you know who you are, what you believe, and how you’re going to make a difference with the title – do you know what we call that?

We call that – A dynamic pageant brand that’s eye-catching and unforgettable!

Lots of ladies know they need these things listed above… But let’s be honest… Many of you don’t know how to do it – And you certainly don’t have the time to figure it out before your state pageant takes place.

That’s why I created Pageant Junkies University.

Through PJU, you have the ability to come up with your own answers that clearly define who you are, what you believe, how to communicate who you are/what you believe, AND – How you plan to make an impact with the title.

Nearly 50 women have been working on their pageant brands through PJU since we opened the doors.  Their responses to the course have been amazing… Some say it’s opened their eyes to things they never realized they were doing wrong… Some say it’s confirming they were on the right track originally, but fell off course for different reasons… Some say it’s motivated and encouraged them in a greater way, because they’ve  stopped wasting time doing the wrong things.

And right now – we’re offering FIVE bonuses when you join PJU before the end of the month…

 – The Pageant Brand Study Guide
– The Ultimate Brand Planner
– The Interview Course
– 30 Minutes via FaceTime/Skype with me
– 2 Months of Pageant Junkies Premium at no charge

Plus – There’s now 3 different payment plans available… To learn more, just click here…

Time is ticking away… If you don’t know who you are, what you believe, and how you plan to make an impact, then may I highly suggest that you begin to focus on these 3 questions with laser-like intensity!

Clothes and hair and makeup and shoes, can all change.  But the core of who you are, what you believe, and how you plan to make an impact, are part of your character.  And character reveals who you REALLY are…

With – or without a crown.

#BigJunkieLove

Carrie Lakey

To see more Thursday #BlogDay posts like this one, just click here…  

Carrie Lakey is kind of obsessed with Miss America…
So are 15,000 of her closest friends.

As an avid fan of the Miss America Organization, Carrie began
publicly predicting pageant winners over 10 years ago.
Now, she’s galvanizing an online movement of fans
known as “Pageant Junkies”.
Learn more about the Junkie Nation
by clicking here.

I didn’t even know what the Sophomore Slump was until I hit it.

After finishing as the 2nd Runner Up in my state (and watching the winner go on to win Prelim SS and make the Top 10 at Miss America), I came back my second year – only to finish out of the Top 5 altogether and only made the Top 10.

It was rough.

Now, I can easily see the reasons why I fell victim to the Sophomore Slump in my second year of competition… And although there are LOTS of things you can’t control during your upcoming pageant, there are a few things you can do to avoid the Sophomore Curse.

Fair Warning – Most of these things I’m about to suggest are counter-intuitive.  But that’s why they work. 🙂  So without further adieu… Here are 3 things you can do to avoid the Sophomore Slump…

DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT

If you’ve just done a fabulous job – and you’re super happy about your placement in your last year’s state pageant, you might be tempted to “do the same things” that allowed you to finish so high in the first place.  After all, if it’s not broke, don’t fix it, right?

Unfortunately, that’s a recipe for disaster.

Why?  Because doing the same thing over and over again makes your comfortable.  And appearing “comfortable” in front of the judges usually translates to one of two things…  Boring – or Crazy-Cocky.

If you’re Boring – that’s when you hear people say, “Ugh… She’s lost her spark… She looks like she’s just going through the motions now… ”  In essence, they’re saying – “There’s nothing NEW here… She doesn’t even look excited to be here…”

On the other hand – if you’re Crazy-Cocky – You’re wondering why there’s even a pageant in the first place.  After all, you’re the best thing that’s walked on that stage in decades – let’s just move on to the crowning ceremony and get this thing over with!

Judges can spot Boring and Crazy-Cocky a mile away.  Boring doesn’t win because you’re not memorable and you’re not going to take the title to new heights…  you’re just boring.  Crazy-Cocky doesn’t win because being “Selfish” is not the 5th point of the crown.  Plus, sponsors hate Crazy-Cocky.  As do little girls.  And pretty much anyone whose dedicated any portion of their life to your state program.

So – even though everything went well last time, you’ve got to challenge yourself.  You’ve got to “increase your game”… You’re got to try something new that causes you to grow, if you’re going to avoid the Sophomore Slump.

YOU STILL HAVE SOMETHING TO PROVE

Let’s be honest, you might’ve done well last year, but the reason why you didn’t win, is because someone else was better.

It doesn’t matter if you won overall talent – or if you were the top interview – or if you beat out 28 veterans in your first year competing – YOU DIDN’T WIN – Which means, you still have something to prove.

Here’s the pickle.  You know you did well at something… But you have to find a way to challenge yourself to be even better.  When I hit my slump, it’s because I knew what I was capable of – and I assumed I’d be able to prove it when the time came.  Honestly, I didn’t challenge myself to get any better – I thought I was already good enough.

What I didn’t realize, was that there were plenty of other ladies who thought they should’ve done better at last year’s pageant – and they had “something to prove” as well!    In short – “Something to Prove” means you fully recognize the fact that nobody owes you anything based on last year’s performance.  Today – It’s a new ballgame.

Oh – and by the way – You can’t all of a sudden decide you have “Something to Prove” when you walk into your state competition. If you’re not motivated to prove yourself in the months leading up to your state contest, you could very well get eaten alive when the big week comes around.

Deciding you have something to prove gives you an edge.  And after a strong finish last year, that “edge” may be the very thing you need to take home the crown this time.

DON’T DWELL ON THE CROWN

I know A LOT of ladies who use visualization to help them in the process of reaching their goals.  Nothing wrong with it – Unless you’re visualizing the wrong things.

Most ladies I know visualize the moment when their name is announced and the crown is placed on their head.  That’s good – but I’m here to tell you, there’s something better.

When you spend all your time visualizing the RESULT of what you want, your brain actually begins to “coast”… it begins to believe the event has already happened.  And while that may offer you a great amount of relaxation during pageant week, it’s AWFUL preparation for the 4-6 months before your state pageant.  Here’s why…

If you begin to believe you’re the person in your vision receiving the crown, you’ll never be driven enough to win it.

Instead, your brain will tell you – that you don’t need to do anything – because you’ve already won!  It’s ok to skip your talent rehearsal… It’s fine to skip a workout… It’s no big deal if you don’t attend that event for your platform… Why?  Because your brain says you don’t need to work at it.

But nothing could be farther from the truth.

Instead of spending all your time visualizing the crowning moment, you’re better off visualizing your Talent being performed PERFECTLY (hitting all the right notes, all the right leaps, etc).  Visualize completing each step of your work-out routine which leaves your body looking off-the-hook-fabulous.  Visualize your ability to offer personable, relatable, and well-informed answers during your interview, that blow the judges away.

Don’t visualize the result.  Visualize the process.  THEN your brain will jump into high gear to fuel your preparation towards your goal!

And there you have it!  Three Ways to avoid the Sophomore Slump at your state pageant!

Do you have any questions about the the Sophomore Slump?  I’d love to hear from you at ThePageantJunkies@gmail.com!

#BigJunkieLove

Carrie Lakey

To see more #ThursdayBlogDay posts like this one, just click here…

Carrie Lakey is kind of obsessed with Miss America…
So are 15,000 of her closest friends.

As an avid fan of the Miss America Organization, Carrie began
publicly predicting pageant winners over 10 years ago.
Now, she’s galvanizing an online movement of fans
known as “Pageant Junkies”.
Learn more about the Junkie Nation
by clicking here.

Junkies are big fans of goals!  Mainly because we know the power of goal-setting when it comes to achieving the things you want in life…  Vision Boards, Written Goals, BHAG Goals, Systems, Rewards, Visual Reminders – Bring ’em on – I LOVE THEM ALL!!!

And there’s one particular phrase when it come to goal setting that ALWAYS gets me at my core.  I don’t know where it comes from… I’ve tried googling various versions of it… If you know more, please pass it along because I would love to properly attribute it to the correct source/s…

Here it is…

Peace and harmony is not the goal.
Progress is the goal.
And progress is rarely achieved
in the midst of peace and harmony.

That. Phrase. Makes. My. Soul. SING!!!  And – it applies to soooooooooo many situations in life, it’s not even funny!  How?  Well – let me count the ways (starting in pageant-land of course…)

PEACE AND HARMONY is NOT the GOAL

So…. think about this… If “peace and harmony” was the true goal of your pageant life, I’d venture to say, you’d never get off the couch.  Why?  Because “peace and harmony” means keeping things exactly as they are!  Peace and harmony means never working out to improve your body.  Peace and harmony means never pushing yourself academically.  Peace and harmony means taking a nap when you should be practicing your talent.  Peace and harmony means desperately trying to get along with everyone instead of standing up for your platform issue and never offering an opinion of any kind during your interview.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t try to get along with people... That’s not what I’m saying at all.

What I’m saying – is that you need to make sure you’re not constantly chasing after peace and harmony.  If so, you’re going to have a pretty short stint as a pageant contestant… Because…

Pageants, are about improving yourself.

Pageants are a vehicle you can use to become something better than you are right now.  They have this bizarre way about them that refuses to let you settle for less than your best…  It’s as if a pageant allows you to strive for something that YOU KNOW exists deep within you!  Something that matters.  Something that will cause you to be better than you are right now.

So – if ‘peace and harmony’ isn’t the goal… What is the goal?

PROGRESS IS THE GOAL

Making just a small amount of progress each day adds up to a whole heck of a lot of progress by the end of the month!  Think about it!  Let’s say you start with 20 push-ups on the 1st day of the month… And you decide you’re going to add 1 more pushup a day, every day, until the end of the month.  By the end of the month, you’ll be doing 50 push-ups a day instead of just 20!  Same thing with squats or running or cardio or planking or whatever (going just a little bit longer each day).

But if all you want is peace and harmony – I’m afraid none of that is gonna happen.  The whole point of exercise is to PUSH YOURSELF!  You should be focused on MAKING PROGRESS!  It’s not about the status quo – it’s about GETTING BETTER!

So – How do you know if you’re chasing peace and harmony over progress?  Well, if you find yourself making decisions just because it will “shut someone up” – or if you spend a lot of your time trying to determine “what’s fair” – you’re officially chasing peace and harmony over progress.  Your job isn’t to make peace and harmony for other people.  Your job is to make progress on your own goals.

Now again – does that mean you should trample all over other people to get what you want?  NOOOOO!!!  Of course not!

It means – when you make decisions for your own life – you need to make the decision that offers the most amount of PROGRESS towards your goals — NOT the most amount of peace and harmony once the decision is implemented.

And guess what…?

YOU RARELY ACHIEVE PROGRESS in the MIDST of PEACE and HARMONY

It’s pretty much impossible to see “progress” in your platform – or with your talent – or in the shape of your body – if you’re not willing to work for it.  If all you’re doing is trying to “keep the peace” – then, honestly, it means you’re not working very hard and I don’t expect you’ll make much progress.

Anything worth having, is worth the fight to get it.

Nobody walks on the Miss America stage without significant time, effort, energy, and money devoted to reaching that goal.   And nobody reaches the Miss America stage without making progress from the place they were – to the place where they are right now (ask any titleholder – they’ll tell you!).

You’ve got to go through a time of “change” – a time of “pushing” – a time that goes AGAINST the balance of peace and harmony, if you’re going to achieve any sort of progress in your life.  Substantive, legitimate, life-changing progress doesn’t happen in the midst of peace and harmony.  It only happens when you tell yourself that your personal progress (and the pain/sacrifice associated) will offer you the ‘peace and harmony’ you’re seeking, once you reach your goals.

Most of us – myself included – would prefer to live a peaceful and harmonious life.  Progress is hard  whereas peace and harmony seems easy.  But your strength does not come from peace and harmony in your life.  Your best “you” only comes when you require more of yourself.

From Douglas Malloch’s poem called, “Good Timber”

Good timber does not grow with ease:
The stronger wind, the stronger trees;
The further sky, the greater length;
The more the storm, the more the strength.
By sun and cold, by rain and snow,
In trees and men good timbers grow.

Do you want to be someone who progresses in life?  Do you truly want to grow and become a better version of yourself?

Then don’t make decisions based on what brings peace and harmony.  Make decisions based on what brings the most progress.

Progress is the goal.

#BigJunkieLove

Carrie Lakey

To see more Thursday BlogDay posts like this one, just click here…

Carrie Lakey is kind of obsessed with Miss America…
So are 15,000 of her closest friends.

As an avid fan of the Miss America Organization, Carrie began
publicly predicting pageant winners over 10 years ago.
Now, she’s galvanizing an online movement of fans
known as “Pageant Junkies”.
Learn more about the Junkie Nation
by clicking here.

You know… Social Media is a lot like deodorant.  You know you need it, you know it helps people want to be around you more often, and you don’t fully realize the impact it has until you go a day without it!

Yeah, yeah, yeah… Most people don’t necessarily equate “deodorant” to something like social media… Social Media is a fun time waster… A great promotional tool… And an amazing way to stay in touch with people you haven’t seen in a thousand years (but, ummm yeah – deodorant???).

I’m here to tell you that pageant contestants should realize social media can be used for much more than just “keeping in touch” or tagging your sponsors in your latest photos.  The truth is…

Social media creates awesome pageant contestants.

Personally, I call it the “Social Media Super Cycle” – and here’s how it goes…

YOU CREATE A FOLLOWING

When you’re good at social media, people can’t wait to see what you post next!  They wanna know what you’re going to post tomorrow.  They begin to identify your posts simply by looking at the photo (before they ever see your name).  They’re drawn to you – and they don’t want to miss anything that comes from YOU!

Likewise – When you’re bad at social media – It’s easy to forget you, or worse yet – it’s easy for people to un-friend you, because you’re wasting their time (ugh).

Not to state the obvious – But, if people are constantly un-friending you, I’m afraid you’re not very good at social media.  Soooooooo – what’s the best way to create a following???

Post Frequently.

You can’t create a following if you’re only posting every once in a while!  The best way to increase your following is to post regularly… However – be sure to post stuff that matters (not just what you ate today… or how sweaty you are after your workout today… )

Why not create your own content?  Maybe a blog or a podcast?  You can create your own hashtag (for your platform or for something you post regularly about). Make an effort to create your own campaign that draws people to you.  I promise – The more you to do it, the better you’ll get.  And the better you get – the bigger your following will become!

Once you create a following, something else inevitably happens…

YOU BECOME FAMILIAR

Think about your favorite celebrity’s social media account.  Chances are, you kinda feel like you “know” them… That’s why people make creeper comments like, “I swear, Taylor Swift and I would be total besties if she only knew me!!!” 🙂

When you’re good at social media, people will begin to solidify their following of you, because you’ll be familiar.  It will seem like you’re friends – even though you may have only met once (or maybe never at all!).  In fact, don’t be surprised if random strangers come running up to you in the grocery store and wanna have a conversation about your life!  What makes someone do that?  Comfort and Familiarity through social media. 🙂

Here’s the good news – Becoming familiar to your audience is a HUGE plus!  You show that your life isn’t perfect.  You’re not a plastic figure with a crown.  In fact, you’re no different than anyone else… You’re not up on a pedestal – You are fully accessible… touchable… and utterly familiar (in the digital sense). 🙂

When you master the art of familiarity on social media, this is when the cycle gets good!  The more familiar you are, the more your following will increase.  And once that happens…

NOW, YOU’RE THE FAVORED CHOICE

Anybody can get appearances because they wear a crown.

But if you want to speak in front of organizations that matter and connect with people who can help you make a real difference – Then you need to get good at social media.

Let’s be honest here.  People usually choose to interact with someone they know.  Rarely does anyone get hired from a flyer or without any recommendations whatsoever.  Why?  Because people want to know you’re not a wacko!  I’m sure you’re a lovely person – but nobody wants to be the one who booked a wacko… And one way for me to determine if you are in fact, a wacko, is through your blog/website/podcast/social media.

So – Wanna book more appearances?  Then get good at social media.

That way, people will see who you are before they ever meet you!  They’ll read your blog and ask you to come speak (trust me – it happens!).  They’ll see your tweets about articles that are important to you (aka – become familiar).  They’ll see your website and learn how it aligns with the goals and values for the organization they represent (which usually means, “not a wacko”).

If you want to expand your networking base – and get appearances that matter – people need to know who you are.  They can’t know who you are if you’re not frequently posting on social media.  They can’t trust you if the last blog update you wrote was 4 months ago.  And I’m sorry – but they won’t even consider booking you if they’re even slightly unsure about what you might say (*cough – wacko*).

But once you start becoming the favored choice – Do you know what happens?

THE CYCLE CONTINUES…

Yup!  Once you get the chance to speak, then you’ll gain more people who want to follow you!  And once more people start following you – then you’ll become more and more familiar to them!  And once you become more and more familiar – You’ll become their favored choice to be at an event or speak to a group of people! 🙂

Lather, Rinse, Repeat (to continue our hygiene analogy).

In summary, the “Social Media Super Cycle” isn’t just a tool… Social Media really does create AWESOME pageant contestants!

Just like deodorant. 🙂

So, do yourself (and the rest of us) a big favor… Make sure you don’t forget either one of them, today!!! 🙂

#BigJunkieLove

Carrie Lakey

If you’d like to read more Thursday BlogDay posts like this one, just click here…

Carrie Lakey is kind of obsessed with Miss America…
So are 15,000 of her closest friends.

As an avid fan of the Miss America Organization, Carrie began
publicly predicting pageant winners over 10 years ago.
Now, she’s galvanizing an online movement of fans
known as “Pageant Junkies”.
Learn more about the Junkie Nation
by clicking here.