What if you stopped waiting for opportunities to find you and started creating your own?

Join me as I sit down with Tam Smith, founder of Studio 349 and host of Sales for Service podcast. Born from a global pandemic, family health crisis, and a hospital room Google search for "how to make money working from home," Tam's entrepreneurial journey is anything but conventional.

Our conversation explores what it means to say yes to yourself, separate your self-worth from your work, and embrace sales as a tool for creating the opportunities you actually want - not just being grateful for what comes your way.

You'll Learn:

⭐ The importance of going after what you want (not just waiting for what finds you)

⭐ How to separate self-worth from work

⭐ The power of raising your hand and asking for help sooner

⭐ Why building a business is "cheaper than therapy"

⭐ How to throw your own dinner party (aka: be intentional about your business)

Key Insights:

From Crisis to Clarity: Sometimes it takes a global pandemic and family health crisis to push you into entrepreneurship - and that's okay. Your path doesn't have to be perfect.

The Dinner Party Principle: You don't throw a dinner party by opening your front door and saying "everybody come in." Be intentional about who you invite and the experience you want to create.

Sales Isn't Sleazy: The negative feelings around sales often come from how we've been sold to - but proactive client acquisition doesn't have to feel icky when done right.

Ask for Help Sooner: The one thing Tam would do differently? Raise her hand and ask for help earlier in the journey. Working with a business coach was a game-changer.

Say Yes to Yourself: Women are great at taking care of everyone and everything - except ourselves. For Tam, building a legacy means enabling as many women as possible to say yes to themselves first.

Timestamps:

[00:00:00] - Introduction and the power of LinkedIn connections

[00:02:00] - Meeting through Réland Logan and building community

[00:03:00] - Introducing Studio 349 and Tam's entrepreneurial journey

[00:04:00] - Named after her father (born September 1934)

[00:05:00] - The hospital room Google search that started it all

[00:06:00] - From virtual assistant to digital marketing during COVID

[00:07:00] - The business coach conversation that changed everything

[00:39:00] - Why she started the Sales for Service podcast

[00:40:00] - Leading by example: the importance of consistent digital presence

[00:41:00] - Separating self-worth from work to avoid sales sabotage

[00:42:00] - Sales as exposure therapy: getting comfortable being uncomfortable

[00:44:00] - The special community of women cheering each other on

[00:45:00] - Building a legacy: enabling women to say yes to themselves

Resources and Links:

Find host Kirstin Belden on LinkedIn or at Beldenstrategies.com

Sign up to receive more insights and inspiration at Beldenstrategies.com/newsletter

Connect with Tam

• Studio Three 49

• Sales As Service Podcast

• Find Tam on LinkedIn

Mentioned in episode:

• Réland Logan (previous guest)

• Book: The Gap and the Gain

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