IAM2115 – Best-Selling Author and Workshop Facilitator Helps People Transition from Timid to Tenacious

In this episode, we have Phyllis Williams of progresspromoter.com.

Phyllis, a workshop facilitator, bestselling author, and blogger shares her journey from being timid to tenacious, and how she empowers others to do the same through speaking and writing.

The episode delves into Phyllis's CEO story, her unique approach to helping clients through workshops like ‘Authenticity and Authority,' and her insights on being relatable and funny as her secret sauce.

The discussion also covers effective entrepreneurial habits, with Phyllis recommending ‘One Word That Will Change Your Life' by John Gordon, and sharing her personal mantra to excel, not just exist. Phyllis emphasizes the importance of overcoming fear to unleash potential and defines being a CEO as being dedicated to one's dream and vision.

The episode concludes with Phyllis inviting listeners to reach out for personal or digital connections and reminding everyone of the excellence within themselves.

Website: http://www.progresspromoter.com
Instagram: Instagram.com/progresspromoter
Facebook: Facebook.com/progresspromoter

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Transcription:

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Phyllis G. Williams Teaser 00:00

That's what I do. I help want to become the bold and better authentic version of themselves through community building.

Intro 00:07

Do you want to learn effective ways to build relationships, generate sales, and grow your business from successful entrepreneurs, startups, and CEOs without listening to a long, long, long interview?

If so, you've come to the right place. Gresham Harkness values your time and is ready to share with you precisely the information you're in search of.

This is the I AM CEO Podcast.

Gresham Harkless 00:35

Hello. Hello. Hello. This is Gresh from the I AM CEO podcast. And I have a very special guest on the show today at Phyllis Williams of the progresspromoter.com. Phyllis, it's awesome to have you on the show.

Phyllis G. Williams 00:46

Thank you for having me.

Gresham Harkless 00:48

No problem, mam. What I wanted to do was just read a little bit more about Phyllis so you can hear about all the awesome things that she's doing.

Phyllis G. Williams is a workshop facilitator, bestselling author of the book, the art of me. and a blogger. She went from timid to tenacious, and now she's helping others do the same through speaking and writing. She's a small town girl with big dreams and an even bigger heart. Phyllis, are you ready to speak to the I am CEO community?

Phyllis G. Williams 01:14

Yes, I am ready.

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Gresham Harkless 01:15

Awesome. Let's do it. So the first question I had for you was to hear a little bit more about your CEO story and what led you to start your business.

Phyllis G. Williams 01:22

My business started out of a, an extracurricular activity. Actually, I never imagined that I would be a speaker or lead workshops or anything of that nature because I was very timid and to myself, however, I joined a Local Toastmasters, which is a speaking club.

And as I grew, more people would invite me out to speak at different events. I spoke at a graduation and some workshops as well. So, that's how my story became it. My story came into existence as a extracurricular activity.

Gresham Harkless 02:01

Awesome. It's funny how those things work themselves out where sometimes you're doing something just as a hobby or just something to try out.

And then next thing you know, it's become, addicted to it. And it manifest itself from there.

Phyllis G. Williams 02:12

Yes.

Gresham Harkless 02:12

Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. And now I wanted to drill down a little bit deeper and hear like exactly like what you do and how you help and how you serve the clients that you work with.

Phyllis G. Williams 02:22

One example is I have a workshop called Authenticity and Authority. It's based on my book, The Art of Being, and I come into a group of women between 8 and 15, and I do performances from the book, and I also talk about bonding, financial aspects, and the women do fill in the things of that nature, and vision.

Visionary things. And the one that I had in December was very successful and the women loved it. And that's what I do. I help want to become the bold and better authentic version of themselves through community building.

Gresham Harkless 03:01

Interesting. So it is like the idea because I guess you feel more empowered and maybe more comfortable and being yourself and being like tenacious.

I know you mentioned during your bio because you're in that community around those people participate in those activities.

Phyllis G. Williams 03:14

Yes, I think that's a big part of it. And for me, When I first started becoming more social, I avoided big groups of women because I just felt it was catty and all of that extraness, but these are group of women that you are more familiar with, but sometimes we're not even vulnerable with people that we know.

So it allows you to bond in that way too.

Gresham Harkless 03:37

Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. No, that's definitely good and great that you're doing that. I always love the fact when, you get the opportunity to, get over maybe what is a fear or something that might be holding you back. And the next thing you're able to help other people do the exact same thing.

Phyllis G. Williams 03:51

Yes.

Gresham Harkless 03:52

Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. And now I wanted to ask you for what I call your secret sauce. And this might be something that you feel distinguishes you or sets you apart or makes you different. Or some people even call it their superpower. So do you have a secret sauce that you can give us?

Phyllis G. Williams 04:06

I think my secret sauce is actually being relatable and funny.

I think more than anything, instead of the business plan or the outline of it is that people can relate to me. And I make them laugh while also thinking deeply. Those are two things most people who come in contact with me will say. I never looked at it that way, and you always make me smile.

Gresham Harkless 04:29

That is an incredible secret sauce or superpower, I should even say, because, sometimes, especially when people are maybe you know, feeling some type of fear and they're not really sure about things.

If you're able to let that guard down or help get that card down by, making somebody laugh, that's, that seems like a great way to build that relationship and the connection so that people can, be their authentic selves.

Phyllis G. Williams 04:49

Yep.

Gresham Harkless 04:49

Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. And now I wanted to switch gears a little bit and ask you for what I call a CEO hack.

Phyllis G. Williams 04:56

The CEO hack could be an app or a book or habit that you have, but if it could be a few things that you think makes you more effective and efficient as an entrepreneur and business owner.

Okay. I'm going to use a book for today's example. The book was introduced to me by coach Billy. C is called 1 word that will change your life by John Gordon.

I've had 1 word experience since 2000 and I think 14. yes, 2014. and I leave my word for that year will speak. I believe this book is very powerful because it's a spiritual book. And it's applicable to different parts of your life is applicable to relationships, to business, to occupation. But I think no matter what you read, you have to transform into a different person.

And that's what truly makes your business successful is who you are at the core.

Gresham Harkless 05:48

Very, very true. Yeah. You have to be authentic to yourself. And I think sometimes when people go down a path and you're not being true to yourself, as you mentioned, that sometimes you can't get as far as you would have gotten if you stay true to yourself.

Phyllis G. Williams 06:00

Yes, that's so true.

Gresham Harkless 06:02

Yeah, that makes perfect sense. And now I wanted to ask you for what I call a CEO nugget and CEO nugget could be like a word of wisdom or a piece of advice that you might have for entrepreneurs and business owners.

Phyllis G. Williams 06:12

My CEO nugget is a quote by me, not because I'm self-centered, but because I think it can apply to everyone.

No matter what field you are in, an entrepreneur field, is we should excel and not just exist. I think sometimes we become complacent and we start to not put as much effort into things or not try to do it with excellence. So I think the going day by day part is what really not only hinders growth, but it plummets you into a senseless vibe of familiar being familiar and that causes you not to grow.

So we should excel and not just exist.

Gresham Harkless 06:57

I love that. I love that, especially because it speaks to the idea of continuing to grow and to get better and improve and not be okay with the status quo, so to speak, and take things as they are, but always look to grow ourselves. And do you find that a lot of that happens when you work with the clients that you work with?

Phyllis G. Williams 07:13

I think when it comes to things of being a better version of yourself, I think people become fearful. of who they could become. So I think they become fearful and they prefer being mediocre. So I think that's part of it that at least this is comfortable.

Gresham Harkless 07:32

That makes sense. It's like a, are you saying like a fear of the unknown, so to speak?

Phyllis G. Williams 07:36

A fear of the unknown and a fear that I'm greater than I could ever have imagined.

And who am I to think that I think sometimes that's the case with people that are at different speaking events.

Gresham Harkless 07:49

Wow. That's powerful because I think sometimes, I always think about that quote. Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate and deepest fear that we're powerful beyond measure.

And it always is a reminder that we're a lot. Stronger, better and more talented than sometimes we even give ourselves credit for. So you just have to let your light shine and be great.

Phyllis G. Williams 08:07

Yes, that's that is exactly a great summary of it because that's what I think of the quote about our deepest fear.

It's not that we're inadequate.

Gresham Harkless 08:16

Exactly. Exactly. Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. So now I wanted to ask you, which is my absolute favorite question, which is the definition for what it means to be a CEO. And on this show, we're hoping to have different types of quote-unquote CEOs on the podcast, whether it be startup founders or people that have been running businesses for years or solopreneurs.

So I wanted to ask you specifically, Phyllis, what does being a CEO mean to you?

Phyllis G. Williams 08:38

A CEO means being dedicated to your dream and vision even when no one else is. That's what I think a CEO is in essence. No matter if you're a solopreneur or have LLC or run a more corporate business, corporate type business, I think that's what a CEO is.

Gresham Harkless 09:00

That makes perfect sense. Yeah. And sometimes when you're the only one that believes in your why and then your how as much sometimes you have to be able to push through no matter what's going on outside of you. So I think that's incredible definition of being a CEO. And Phyllis, I truly appreciate you for taking some time out.

What I wanted to do was pass you to the mic, so to speak, to see if there's anything additional you want to let our readers and our listeners know. It could be a little bit more about the Progress Promoter or also about your book or your blog or just anything additional as far as advice or words of wisdom that you can give to us as readers and listeners.

Phyllis G. Williams 09:35

Okay, I would just like for everyone who's listening to feel free to reach out to me to come to your living room, whether it's in person or in a digital form. So you can bond with your tribe. You can find me on social media platforms under progress, promoter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. And I just want everyone to know that you have excellence inside of you and you should continue to water it.

Gresham Harkless 10:03

I love that. I love that. Phyllis, thank you so much for all the awesome things that you're doing to help out so many people. And I truly appreciate you and I hope you have a phenomenal rest of the day.

Phyllis G. Williams 10:13

Thank you so much for having me.

Outro 10:15

Thank you for listening to the I AM CEO podcast powered by CB Nation and Blue 16 Media. Tune in next time and visit us at iamceo.co. I AM CEO is not just a phrase, it's a community.

Be sure to follow us on social media and subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google podcast, and everywhere you listen to podcasts. Subscribe and leave us a five-star rating. This has been the I AM CEO podcast with Gresham Harkless, Jr.

Thank you for listening.

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