Meet Rachel Simon

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rachel Simon a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Rachel, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
I am not sure there is anyone that doesn’t feel like a fraud at some point in their life/ career. When I started my business, Connect the Dots Digital, I had massive imposter syndrome. I was putting myself out there as an “expert” on LinkedIn and was constantly comparing myself to the bigger names in my field. I would think to myself, “why would anyone want to work with me?” or wondering if they would see through the facade. But over time, as I started seeing results for my clients, my confidence grew. And I was lucky to be invited on some podcasts early on where I practiced talking about myself, my business and the value I offered. I also built relationships with many of those LinkedIn “experts” many of whom have become friends and collaborators.

Imposter syndrome is a nasty little thing. It can crop up at the worst times but what I have come to realize over the last several years is that everyone has a unique and valid perspective on their area of expertise. And we can all learn from one another. So when I start to feel it now, I remind myself to focus on consistently showing up, building relationships, adding value and supporting my clients on their journey.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a LinkedIn Trainer, Consultant and Strategist. Basically, I help professionals – both individuals and teams to powerfully position their brand messaging on LinkedIn to attract the best talent, connect organically with ideal clients, and stand out as a leader in their industry.

Sadly, companies often do not have a comprehensive LinkedIn strategy despite the fact that LinkedIn sits at the center of many business functions – Sales, Marketing, HR/ Talent Acquisition, Events and Employee Advocacy. A cohesive, broad, and sweeping LinkedIn company strategy provides an opportunity to impact nearly every function within the organization. It works to align and amplify the company value proposition and to activate the most powerful brand ambassadors – employees!

My company, Connect the Dots Digital Services include:

● Customized Corporate Training
● LinkedIn Workshops (in-person or online)
● LinkedIn Profile Reviews – great for professional conferences!
● LinkedIn Profile Audits & Renovations
● 1-1 and Group Coaching
● Company Page Development

I am extremely passionate about helping professionals and their teams to position themselves on LinkedIn to meet their professional (and personal) goals.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
1. Build Relationships – When I started my business, I really had no idea what I was doing and where I was going to find clients. I had just left a 15 year career in nonprofit and was basically starting from scratch. But in those 15 years, I had build a great network of people who already knew, liked and trusted me. It was a matter of weeks until a friend brought me into a client of their and my business was off the ground.

2. Know when to ask for help – It is an instinct of many solopreneurs to do everything – marketing, finance, tech, etc. But it’s the rare person that is skilled at all of the various business functions you need to actually build something. It’s important to be honest with yourself and find support for the things that you either don’t have the skills to do or hate doing. Your time and energy are too important.

3. Be prepared to pivot – My business has changed multiple times over the years, I have re-written my web copy, LinkedIn profile and brand message a few times as my focus and priorities have changed. What hasn’t changed is my core values and value proposition. Flexibility is important as you have to shift with the market, needs of your clients and your own priorities.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
This past year, I invested in business coaching for the first time. I had been resisting this for a while as the expense was honestly scary. But I have gained a tremendous amount of knowledge and new skills by working with a coach. I learned how to do market research, understand clients needs better, refine my messaging, turn down the noise on imposter syndrome and much more. While I wish I had invested in this sooner, I don’t think I was ready for it. And I am about to start a new program focused on corporate sales, which I am extremely excited about. I am grateful for my coach and the community of women entrepreneurs that have supported me on this part of my journey.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Bonnie Heath

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