Episode 98
Ep 098: Speakeasy’s & Helicopter Rides
Experiences matter in business and in life. And creating experiences for clients in your business is the “thing” that will have your people remember you and want to keep coming back for more. In this week's episode Blair + Theresa chat about the power of experiences and why they are such a powerful marketing tool that helps fuel your success. Tune in now.
About the Hosts:
Blair Kaplan Venables is an expert in social media marketing and the president of Blair Kaplan Communications, a British Columbia-based PR agency. She brings fifteen years of experience to her clients which include global wellness, entertainment and lifestyle brands. She is the creator of the Social Media Empowerment Pillars, has helped her customers grow their followers into the tens of thousands in just one month, win integrative marketing awards and more.
Blair is listed in USA Today as one of the top 10 conscious female leaders to watch in 2022 and Yahoo! listed Blair as a top ten social media expert to watch in 2021. She has spoken on national stages and her expertise has been featured in media outlets including Forbes, CBC Radio, Entrepreneur and Thrive Global. Blair is an international bestselling author and has recently published her second book, ‘The Global Resilience Project.’ She is the co-host of the Dissecting Success podcast and in her free time, you can find Blair growing The Global Resilience Project’s community where users share their stories of overcoming life’s most difficult moments.
Transcript
You ever wonder what success actually means?
Theresa Lambert:How do you get it?
Blair Kaplan Venables:And how do you keep it?
Theresa Lambert:We all want it yet sometimes it feels only some of us get to have it.
Blair Kaplan Venables:Hi, Theresa and Blair here we are to badass entrepreneurs, best selling authors, coaches and business mentors who have had success, built success, questioned our own success and reclaimed it. Let's be real for a hot minute. 2020 has been a roller coaster ride, and many of us a start to wonder if the loser things that made them successful. So we got curious, Ron real about what success is truly about?
Theresa Lambert:Can you put it in a box?
Blair Kaplan Venables:How can you get it?
Theresa Lambert:Can people take it away? Or are you the one with the power?
Blair Kaplan Venables:Does it mean the same to all of us? Or are we the ones that create it?
Theresa Lambert:From PGA golf pros to doctors, CEOs, entrepreneurs and spiritual mentors, we get together to meet with successful people from around the globe to dissect success for vibrant conversations and interviews. Make sure you click the subscribe button on the App Store. Because each week we will drop a new episode to bust through the myths around success and dissect its true meaning.
Theresa Lambert:Hello, hello, and welcome back to another fabulous episode of dissecting success. Learn I had some technical problems starting because I forget to give us permission to record and we do this dance all the time. But you know what, it creates memories, it creates memories, even if it's not always like the thing, it creates an experience and it creates things that you laugh about and that you remember. And that is exactly what we want to talk about today how you know our success in our businesses, the way we do things, the way we create things, whether it's on your social media, or whether it's programs that you're running, like plan, I have our momentum program, which is coming back in January. And it's really about the experience that we desire to create around that, that makes it such a special container for people. And that really makes people feel like they're a part of something. And this riff today was not inspired by me for getting the permission to hit record. But from all these really cool experiences that I'm having here, and one was iris and Argentina was specifically around hospitality. And I was just literally out last night and we went to this really cool bar. I think it's called Harry's anyways, it's like all the different names, but there's a ton of really cool speakeasy bars. And so when you come in, you really have no idea where you're going like you just happen to know that there is a bar in the back, but you really don't know that the bar is there. So you have to literally come in and ask to be sat in the room in the back. It's like almost like a code like kind of language and then they like have you wait and like it's all like, like they make like a whole like experience even around you getting to the place where you can get into the back room. And so anyways, the Saba like leads us through the restaurant, it's hustling and bustling, and she opens this door and we end up in like almost like a like a hallway like a bookshelf hallway with a mirror at the end of it. And then you then she's like, I think she pulled a book even like and then you get through the mirror. And you got into another room that looked like almost like, like industrial like underground hallway. And then it opened this door this really cool speakeasy bar with a piano and like you literally feel like the second you're in it, like all the wood and like the pictures on the wall and how everybody's like dressed that's working there. Like it's literally you feel like you've just walked into like a bar in the 20s You know, like it really has that speak, easy vibe. There was somebody there like a magician sort of like card tricks person who was doing like really cool tricks. And we had this really really incredible experience like every cocktail as like an experience like I had a cocktail that literally had a deck of cards on it like it was unbelievable like that was a coolest cocktail I've ever seen and do you experience with the with the guy who was doing the card game? It was so cool, too. And yeah, like he was like one of those like, what do you call those people Blair that can like, like almost like psychically like tell what's going on but like he has these card decks and Yvonne and I my friend who I was there with, she picked hubs and I picked the number free and he was like okay, well we'll see there's only one card that's not turned around and deck. So he pulls the deck any chance to come around and it's the heart
Blair Kaplan Venables:free. I think it's called a mentalist. Oh, mentalists.
Theresa Lambert:Yeah. Thank you. That credit was so cool. Yeah, it was, it was amazing. Like, it was just a really, really cool experience. And so, like, all these experiences, and like, this is one of like many bars who have these really cool experiences here. And there are these, like, there's just something about it that really makes me BBD. Like, in love with this city with these experiences. And it it lights me Ah, like, more of it, you know, I want more of it. So I have like the most social life I've, I think I've had since my 20s was Iris, I go out to have all these cool experiences. And it's really made me realize of, it's not almost a realization, but also a deepening of appreciating the power of experiences. Yeah.
Blair Kaplan Venables:Yeah. And I think like, that's, that sounds like a really cool, like, you can't just walk in off the street, there's a couple steps to get there. And it is the entire experience. Like that sounds really cool. Like, although I don't drink I'd like to have experiences like that going to speakeasies and whatnot. Like that is cool. And, you know, as you were talking, I was thinking about it. And I don't know the actual quote, but it's true that people don't always remember what you sell them. But they remember how you made them feel. They remember how you made them feel. So how did you feel going to Harry's?
Theresa Lambert:Oh, I felt like I felt powerful and like, curious and like fun and playful. And like it was just a really fun, cool experience. Like it made me feel just really good. Like, it made me feel like I'm a part I've that's it. It made me feel like I am a part of something. It made me feel welcomed. And it made me feel special. And it made me feel like I'm a part of something very cool.
Blair Kaplan Venables:Powerful, a part of something really cool. Fun. Wow. And like, you're probably I mean, you're talking about on a podcast. So like this is free marketing for them is it even called Harry's, I don't even know. It's probably a secret name. Probably not Harry's Teresa probably signed, signed, like, a secret handshake that she can't even like, share the name of it. But you know, when you create an experience, whether it's a good experience or bad experience, you share it with people. You don't share like a math, like you know, you know, middle of the way experience. But if you have this amazing experience, you probably tell the people in your world, if you have a very terrible experience, you probably tell the people in your world. Right? Like it's like going online and reading TripAdvisor reviews or Yelp reviews. Experience is so important. Experience is so important. And you don't have to, you know, have a hallway to secret door and a handshake and like give you know, your left kidney, we do have kidneys on our left. Oh, but don't give your kids you know, keep your kidneys in. But like, you know, part of for example with me. A lot of times people follow me on social media, listen to our podcasts, you know, show up in my world because I am the experience. People like to be around because I like I you know, I don't make the rules. I just break the rules. You know, I have no filter, I tell it how it is people around Teresa for her energy and her passion and her experience. So like when you show up as you you are part of the experience you are the experience. I was just on the island of Hawaii in Hawaii. And we did some cool stuff. We did some cool stuff. And one of the things we did was I'd say like fairly expensive, but I but I really wanted to do it and most of the island like qui is like lush forest jungle volcano, whatever. And you can't access it by car. And so Shane and I decided to do a helicopter tour and we did a doors off helicopter tour. And it's funny because like hey I've never been in a helicopter so that was really cool. And be like Shane before was like okay, you're gonna be wearing a headset so don't scream and like why would I scream and the whole experience was so good. We parked our car and a lot they came and got us in this little golf cart thing. The person that was driving it super personable friendly like got a success. I did, we went and got our onboarding like, we have like our safety orientation and signed our waivers. And the staff was so amazing. Like, I didn't have a jacket. So like one of the employees just lend me his hoodie. And then it was super hot out, you know, so they had a fridge full of water and pop and everything, you know, stat stuff for us. We got to the helicopter was intimate experience shaman, I wrote the backdoors off super cool. The pilot was so knowledgeable. He knew like facts and funny stories. And it was it stuck with me, like, I wasn't there to learn, I was there just to see shit. But like, I learned, like all that red color is actually rust and the Robinson family owns the majority of the island. And like, I can't remember, like, I can remember Hip Hop lyrics to songs from the 90s. And apparently a couple facts from a helicopter tour. But the helicopter pilot was amazing. It was amazing. Like it did not feel like we were up in the air for 40 minutes. Didn't feel like that. And when we landed, then we still had that experience. You know, we got our water, whatnot, we could have bought swag. The next people who are going on the tour after us we're there. We're so excited Afghans questions, that entire experience was worth it. But then if I tell someone Yeah, I spent X amount of money, which was hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of dollars. Like in with Canadian, the helicopter tour for both of us was over $900 It was very expensive. Totally worth it. Totally worth it.
Blair Kaplan Venables:But how did it make you feel? I felt like a bird. Like I felt like I felt like I was flying. I felt like I was okay, so laid back up. I have a goal that when I when I travel, I only you know, when I fly that I always have the luxury and pleasure, the opportunity, not the pleasure, feel pleasure when I fly by having the luxury and privilege and opportunity to always fly in business class or first class or Premium Economy. I experienced that recently. I loved it. And like why not treat myself. And so I also imagined like, what if what if my life gets to the point where I can travel by private jet. So maybe like me, my friends are going on a vacation and like it's easier to charter a private jet. Like that would be great. And so when I was in that helicopter, it felt like it was like a private jet. Like, it wasn't like the luxury of a private jet. But it was just mean like the pilot and to like three others. So another couple Shane and the pilot and me. I felt like I was getting this private experience with the doors being off. Like I could literally see the ground, I felt like I was a bird. Like it felt very liberating and free. And I guess I felt successful and powerful and wealthy. Because I had the privilege to be able to afford to do that. had the time to do that. You know, I was got to do that with my husband. You know, we hadn't really been on a vacation since before his heart attack. So three years ago. And yeah, it was like totally worth all that money. I mean, also, I'm not a huge spender, like I don't shop like the only other really expensive thing we did was rent a car. That was crazy. But like, yeah, that whole experience for me. It wasn't like the Secret Knock in the hallway and whatnot. It was like, oh my god, this is very luxurious. This is a you know, it felt like adrenaline. Like, it's like I'm doing sports without doing sports.
Theresa Lambert:But it was a really cool experience. So it sounds like it made you feel wealthy. I felt wealthy. And like
Blair Kaplan Venables:yeah, I felt rich. Like I felt like this is my rich life. Not rich, like oh, look at all the dollar the zeros after like, you know, the one in my bank account. But it was fulfilling. It was like, Okay, this is success. Like, I got on this vacation. I got to the island with my husband. I you know, we paid for this treat. So to me, yeah, that was success for
Theresa Lambert:me. Yeah. So it felt like you're living your success it felt like and a visual representation of what you want your life to be like, as I guess it's not even want to that is what my life is like. Yeah, I mean, yeah, that's
Blair Kaplan Venables:not a simulation people. This is not a simulation. This is our real life.
Theresa Lambert:I love that you're saying that every day I wake up and every day I go out and I look at like this incredible few that I have of like bonus IRAs from this like apartment. And every day I say wow, this is my life.
Blair Kaplan Venables:This is my life is my life. Song right? It's my live now or never.
Theresa Lambert:That Jon Bon Jovi.
Blair Kaplan Venables:Though We can bring this feeling into business we do bring this feeling into business
Theresa Lambert:100% Like I feel like that is the this is the thing it's not like people are yes look like people want to learn. When they come into programs when they opt in for your services, there's something that they're that they are hoping to, to get from you or something that they hope you will be able to help them do a problem that you solve help them achieve a goal, right like in momentum, we help people with that with their sales goals with their PR goals, with their visibility with their communication with their social media with launching, like, like anything like between you and I we really cover like an incredible amount of knowledge and wisdom that they have access to. But above and beyond, it is the feeling that the space creates the community that it creates. And I just remember like, I think it was one of one of our ladies who's in our alumni group now. And it just outpour of gratitude Actually, both of them the outpour of gratitude, about being in the space together about being in this group, masterminding getting to share experiences, getting to witness each other, building our businesses and being a part of that and getting to feel to be a part of that and feeling like they belong and feeling like the momentum is picking up and all these these things and like the celebration that happens and the outpour of love and appreciation and gratitude, like that is the feeling. And the experience that keeps people wanting to continue to work with you. That's what keeps people talk about a space that they're experiencing with you. Not so much that they helped you do X, you know, yes, of course, like people will remember be like, Well, like I built my business, you know, like now one of our momentum alumni ladies, she's like getting close to to hitting consistent five figure months, like she's so close, but she's on her trajectory now for a six figure business, which is amazing. And, but the thing is, right, like it is the experience of being part of it and the experience that we're giving people and that is what, what people will remember. And that is what is the thing that will people share on a podcast like me, right? Like, I wanted to share this experience that I'm having, because of how awesome it makes me feel. Yes, not because of like anything else, I mean is cool, but like, it just makes me feel like so awesome. Like I'm just like, so in love with the fact that I get to have these experiences because I feel so good. And so grateful to be able to have them. That is why I talk about it.
Blair Kaplan Venables:So good. So you guys are hearing it here. First, we're kicking things off January 2023. Cohort number three into tois such time Shalosh. That's Hebrew. How would you do in German is fine, Dre.
Theresa Lambert:I like that
Blair Kaplan Venables:guy. So early and you're the EU. How was that? We know those stress? Oh, yes. Uno, dos, tres, cuatro. Cinco cinco says, I know that from an offspring song. Okay. So probably early January, maybe the second week we're kicking things off, we're going to start dropping more information about momentum. But we you know, we want to just put that bug in your ear that it's coming. It's coming down the pipeline. We've restructured it a bit. It's going to be even more potent, more powerful. You're going to get even more of us. It's going to be really amazing. And it's not just a coaching program. It's been done with you and done by you and a little bit of done for you. So that's exciting. The other thing I want to share before we wrap up is that right now you're listening to Episode 98. That means in two episodes from now, it is 100 It's 100 birthday.
Blair Kaplan Venables:Oh my gosh were Centurion Centurion, Centurion. I was really nailing key but listen, we got some cool things happening. We're gonna have some surprises. So just you know what, thank you for listening to all of us. Our episodes, all of our riffs, our guests, falling in love with us wanting to work with us wanting to follow us, downloading our episodes following us deleting us who knows what you're doing? You've been along for the ride. You know, when we started this episode, life was so different, I guess you know, almost 100 weeks ago. everyone that is but it's been almost a couple of years. And, you know, we wouldn't be here without you. So without further ado, we want to invite you to keep listening. If you're new to our world, head back to number one. I mean, let's see if you can catch up. That's a lot listen on speed. Three 3.5. But you know what? It is all about the experience. It's about how you make people feel in, whether it's business or life. We can help guide you to create those experiences for your clients, for the people in your world. I'm Blair Kaplan, Venables. Theresa Lambert, my fabulous co host all the way in Argentina. And you know, thanks for tuning in. Peace, peace.
Theresa Lambert:That's a wrap for another episode of dissecting success. enjoyed this episode. Make sure to subscribe to Blair Kaplan, Venables and Theresa Lambert's podcast dissecting success on the App Store.