Yvonne Silver: Flourish with the Growth Catalyst

Yvonne Silver is a growth catalyst, helping women in business flourish as CEO and founder of We Flourish. An entrepreneur with 8 startups to her name, she shares with WINGS’ Melinda Wittstock how she helps social enterprise entrepreneurs transform themselves, their business and the world.
Melinda Wittstock:         Welcome to Wings Yvonne Silver.
Yvonne Silver:                   Good morning Melinda.
Melinda Wittstock:         Well first of all, thank you for all you’re doing for women with Flourish. Tell me, what was the inspiration moment that led you to share your entrepioneering knowledge to lift up women?
Yvonne Silver:                                   Hmm, well it does, it does go back quite a while when I was growing up in England. My mother actually was a stay at mom after the war and I literally watched her get whipped and she drained right out of her, as she … as I was growing up. And she was dominated by my father and that always stuck with me and when I burned out myself cashing the money … about three years ago, I realized there had to be a better way to do business and that’s when Flourish was born. And my passion is working with women to make sure that no other woman loses their dignity like my mom did.
Melinda Wittstock:         Ah, how beautiful. It’s so interesting how our moms can be positive and negative role models in that sense, right? How much do we in up replicating what they have taught us, whether it’s good or not and whether we’re conscious of it or unconscious of it?
Yvonne Silver:                   Yeah, she was an amazing lady, very gentle and yet very strong internally. She just didn’t have the positive language to be able to stand up to him. And I think PTSD was really the issue after he almost took a bullet in Dunkirk and there was just no support available for large numbers of men coming back from the war that were traumatized, so it came out as being very angry and she didn’t have the language to stand up to him.
Melinda Wittstock:         I like what you mentioned about language ’cause so much of your work really is about ensuring women … yeah, have the right language to be in their power. Tell me a little bit about that and give me some examples.
Yvonne Silver:                   Mm, well I’m currently writing my first solo book. I’ve done a couple of anthologists already and what I’m finding is, over and over with my coaching … female coaching clients, I’m giving them many of the same tips of language. So, an example would be … many of my clients are trying to expand their business and want more sales. And we’ve been taught these integrated sales approaches that deal with objections and prospects, and it doesn’t resonate with me. I’ve seen positive language be much more powerful, so I use an approach called appreciative sales kinetics.  And it’s about helping a potential client to look at what’s working really well in their business, and then how could it be even better and starting with that conversation versus what’s your biggest challenge, what’s your greatest paying point.  And that starts the conversation in a negative spiral. And it’s been so successful; my clients love it ’cause they’re serving not selling.
Melinda Wittstock:         Oh, that’s beautiful. You know, it’s interesting this … how we women sale differently than men. You know, when you think of our kind of more traditional roles. Way, way back in time, you know, the men going out to hunt the wilder beast and bring it back and women, you know, having much … You know I was going to pick up this answer. I’m going to pick up this question here so Florence and Philippines and it’s here. When it comes to sales, this is really interesting because men have always been about the pursuit, bring back the wilder beast. Women more about the relationship and the attraction, and so I see you applying that in a way to the sales: Do women get kind of out of whack when they go for this kind of, like, I’m going to pursue, pursue, pursue rather than I’m going to set the circumstances to attract my clients?
Yvonne Silver:                   I believe they do. That’s what I was doing and that’s why I strived and burned out ’cause it wasn’t in alignment with who I was as a female entrepreneur. And when I stepped into my new business, which is … it’s called Flourish. It had such a different energy that I can actually show up with integrity and be kind throughout the sales process and still being strategic but it is an invitation to work with me. It’s not an assertive, sorry, an aggressive chasing of a client or potential client.
Melinda Wittstock:         Now you even changed the name of the business to Flourish. Tell me that story because the original name wasn’t working and why wasn’t it working.
Yvonne Silver:                   Well when I started my coaching business seven years ago, I named it The Shattered Ceiling, which was a lovely name; women got it right away, breaking through the glass ceiling. In reference, Hillary Clinton’s speech and it was all about striving and breaking through and then I had five incidences show up in one day as I was about to burn out.  I was feeling very frustrated and I called up the universe, and it sent me five signs of breaking glass all around me, which I interpreted as it’s time to let it go, you’ve already broken through and then you can do your real work. Five times breaking glass around me all on the same day. It was amazing.
Melinda Wittstock:         Seriously, seriously, like, glasses would just break like that?
Yvonne Silver:                   Well my son dropped a glass off the counter with his elbow. He dropped a vase next to me in a flower store a couple vases. A little girl knocked something over next to me that was glass and it broke. My Feng Shui bowl dropped in the sink as I was cleaning it and then finally I dropped my mirror off the bathroom tile floor and it smashed. This is all in one day.
Melinda Wittstock:         That’s amazing.
Yvonne Silver:                   The universe as a way of knocking you over the head with a two by four if you’re not getting the message quickly.
Melinda Wittstock:         Yeah exactly, if you’re not listening and that is actually a really important point were entrepreneurs … the most successful, I think that I see have some sort of practice were they are kind of in touch, not only with themselves but very observant of what’s going on around them, looking for a sign, like, these little synchronicities or serendipities or whatever. When did you come to notice things like what the universe is telling you? Was it on that day with all the shattered glass or before?
Yvonne Silver:                   I have been noticing before when I attracted my husband it was actually through a law of attraction, magnetism type of strategic action. So the big things I’ve always paid attention to when I’ve got these messages coming through, but that was an incredible day and it sped up because I’ve actually stopped striving and started creating more space in my life so I have time to see things.
Melinda Wittstock:         Mm. Time to see things. This is so important because women, men to, I mean we can all to often get stuck on a task treadmill, you know? Where we’re ticking off things on our list but as we go through the punch list and we get it done, we get this kind of dopamine release for getting it done but we can miss the bigger opportunity.
Yvonne Silver:                   Yes, and that was me, I was in striving mode, I was getting some really big contracts but it was very hollow feeling and the last one I did where it was an oil and gas client, which isn’t my normal ideal client, which was a male; had me working a H & R harassment case and they didn’t take my advice and then they got called into court. I won’t mention any names; however, it was very unfulfilling and that was my turning point to say this is not working. And then very shortly after the five glass episodes occurred and it was clearly time step right back, retreat, and make space for something better. It’s kind of like cleaning your closet in spring, if you have a jam-packed closet and you can’t even see where that red dress is.  You just can’t see what you have to choose from. And that’s what I needed, space.
Melinda Wittstock:         Right, so you changed your whole approach to one of the law of attraction. Some people call it enrollment sales are much more positive message and a whole new name, Flourish, really focusing on, you know, the positive. How has this transformed your business and your life?
Yvonne Silver:                   Well it’s much more ease and flow. Initially I was thinking I don’t like the way that my current career is heading, so I’m going to step back, create some space, and have more joy. And I went looking for more joy. And then I realized very quickly that it was actually there all along, I just had been going so fast, I had not been able to see those magical moments. So, when I stepped back and started inviting people to come to a conversation and working with me, there’s no expectation; I’m not setting myself up for disappointment because I didn’t go into it with an outcome in mind that was not mine to own. It makes such a huge difference to how you show up. It’s more grounded. It’s deeper. It’s kinder. And the social enterprise element really combines so nicely with that. Because if you have a heart in your business, and you have a goal that is bigger than just you making money, it is so fulfilling. You spring out of bed in the morning ’cause you know that you’re impacting so many more people. You know this too.
Melinda Wittstock:         Oh I sure do. It’s interesting ’cause I went through a very similar kind of transition, I think, with me current company, Verifeed. Because I found myself striving, striving, striving same like you, you know, for clients and for revenue and for outcomes and all that stuff that you’re suppose to do.
Yvonne Silver:                   Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Melinda Wittstock:         And I ended up also with clients that weren’t necessarily the right fit. But you give all this amazing advice to and it was incredible and this case, social intelligence data, we’d be finding them there, ideal customers and doing all this sort of stuff. And if you have the wrong client they don’t really appreciate it necessarily.
Yvonne Silver:                   Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Melinda Wittstock:         And it was interesting in this process ’cause I, like you, have gone through this big kind of personal growth trajectory where I’ve changed my whole attitude to sales and very, very similar story. And now Vera Feed primarily works with people and entrepreneurs and founders who have a social enterprise mission.
Yvonne Silver:                   Yes.
Melinda Wittstock:         Because I have that mission to, so there’s much more of an alignment. It’s a lot more fun. You’re both doing work that you want to do. It is much more of an invitation. It’s much more of a positive mission and that’s really transforming a company and is really transforming my life as well. So, what you say really resonates.
Yvonne Silver:                   Yes, I took Ricky a couple of years ago and had been working with my coach now on my own energetic business for the past four years. So, I mediate daily. I’m a powerful manifestor and the writing of the book, is really that compilation of the tips and techniques especially around powerful language and confident conversations that I’ve been sharing with my coaching clients over the past seven years, so I know what works ’cause I keep saying the same thing and they keep nodding and saying, “Oh, that’s really interesting. I’ve never thought about that” or, “I never heard of that before.”
Melinda Wittstock:         Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Yvonne Silver:                   So starting to get it out in a bigger way.
Melinda Wittstock:         It truly is. And so, when you mention powerful language and especially in the context of the sale, I think women sometimes … I mean sometimes we just undervalue ourselves, whether consciously or more often than not, unconsciously. So, we don’t actually ask for what we want or we can sometimes put ourselves last. Or sometimes we don’t even ask for the sale.
Yvonne Silver:                   At all.
Melinda Wittstock:         And so what are so of the examples, some concrete examples of where women go wrong and how you could replace out the language and have a different outcome?
Yvonne Silver:                   Mm, well I think the main thing … I had to mention before is going into the conversation with a male sales attitude of I’m going to sale you Mr. or Ms. Prospect and I’m going to keep hammering on you and coming back with why is that and what are your objection, and being really aggressive and chasing; verses letting the conversation naturally unfold. In coaching, I might have a really strong commitment from the company if it’s a three-way triangle, where the company is sponsoring a client to do the work. But if they aren’t willing to step into making changes and personal growth, it doesn’t matter whose paying for it, they’re not going to get engaged and; therefore, we’re not going to have a great conversation.
So, I think it’s important that women honor our natural, nurturing abilities. We have these qualities and characteristics so let’s use them in a way that feels right to us and invite conversation ’cause that’s what women are great at; conversing and helping to care and nurture to someone’s needs and that’s what sales is all about so I switch sales into serving and it works.
Melinda Wittstock:         Mm, yeah and so for all the women who are listening, you know you have start up companies where you may or may not have investors or certainly stakeholders and you have revenue targets and you, right, and you have a whole bunch of folks … say if you’re not just doing your own business but you have lots of other people that you have to serve and a mindset that wow, I gotta meet my numbers this month, this quarter, whatever. How do you reconcile those two things?
Yvonne Silver:                   I think it’s about the stakeholders understanding that this is a long-term game. This is not just a quarter-by-quarter focus because if you’re building community, it will take you much further than if you’re going it alone. And I think the stock market and the financial analyst and a lot of shareholders have been taught about it’s a short term measurement and we need to switch things into a longer term mindset and recognize that if you have a premature ask, you’re going to probably ruin that sale. Whereas, if you had nurtured the relationship a little bit longer and built the trust, you’re going to get a bigger sale and it’s-going to be much more likely to generate referrals. And that’s what you want is the long-term relationship. You don’t want thousands of one-time conversations. You want deep meaningful relationships, the longevity and sustainability.
Melinda Wittstock:         There’s so much potential I think as women step into our authentic power, our authentic strength as women but you mentioned the word nurturing, and other people say empathy. Some people say much more of a relationship based web thinking. All those qualities that we have coincide with the need to change some of those kind of wider dynamics in society. Like the short term thinking on the stock market or whatever. But I guess in a way, that our timing is right. Women, now stepping into leadership roles have the real opportunity to apply those skills in a way to change society, I suppose, in a way that would be more beneficial to our planet, our environment. Is this your wider mission, to be able to encourage women to be able to do that for society as a whole?
Yvonne Silver:                   Well, when my meditation led me to a conversation one morning, it was in essence a download of what my purpose was to uplift the spirit of humanity. At the time it seemed like a big, hairy, ovation goal but I had no idea how I was going to do; however, I think the book is one way to empower more women with both powerful language, approaches, techniques, concepts. The example I gave with appreciative inquiry with the sales kinetic approach, it’s something that is much more natural. We’re not having to force it, so we can stand in our power as women. So, yes I believe I am on a bigger mission. And I’ve also seen how my son, who’s a special-needs 22 year old, has made a huge difference in looking at business from a social enterprise model and has had great success ’cause he’s selling his paintings and raising money for Operation Smile. Everybody wants to get involved with it ’cause it’s such a lovely, heart-based story and it’s still a business for him.
Melinda Wittstock:         So tell me a little bit more about Alex and how he came to do this. I think it’s just beautiful what he’s doing.
Yvonne Silver:                   Mm, well he looks to paint and he had seen an Operation Smile telethon; come running in to me with, “Mom, mom I need a credit card.” Whoa, okay, financial independence signal, “what do you need the credit card for?”  And he pulled me into the living room and showed me what the difference was with the before and after surgeries on kids in third world countries through Operation Smile. And, I mean, that was touching enough that he wanted to get a credit card specifically so she could make a donation and buy a kid a smile.
And then he took it further when we had a challenge with his qualifications as a special needs age candidate; getting a credit card. And decided he was going to sell his art instead and raise money that way. And that’s what’s flourishing and now we have a little book. We went on a Dragon’s Den audition and matched it up with the book for an investible resource and some speaking engagements. Didn’t get to go live into Toronto but we did do a first round pitch, which he was thrilled about. And now he wants to be on Ellen and Oprah.
Melinda Wittstock:         Oh, that’s fantastic! Oh wow, that’s wonderful. I’m sure he’ll get there. That’s fantastic. So what do you look back at all the challenges you’ve had, I mean, you’ve been involved Yvonne Silver in like eight start ups, right?
Yvonne Silver:                   Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Melinda Wittstock:         In your career, so personally, what have you had to overcome to get where you are right now with all your insight?
Yvonne Silver:                   Mm, well I think that recognizing persistence is a highly valued trait; it’s key. ‘Cause we’re all going to have experiences in life that are going to knock us down and if we take the approach instead of standing … very often I describe with my clients, if you stand like a stiff stork, when I windstorm comes along … a strong windstorm, you’re going to get snapped off, blown over. But if you remain flexible and can bend like a willow stock in the breeze, and stop trying to control everything, you are much more likely to be able to weather the storm and be resilient. So, I try not to control things and look how the situation and ask myself, “What is it that I have control over?” And usually it’s only my attitude. Everything else is outside my control. So, I stick with that.
Melinda Wittstock:         That is a beautiful way to say it because as an entrepreneur, there are so many things beyond our control and at the end of the day, the only thing we can really control is how we show up in every situation.
Yvonne Silver:                   Yeah.
Melinda Wittstock:         How do you –
Yvonne Silver:                   How we choose to respond versus reacting is one other components that I was actually teaching on the weekend. It’s something that we can choose to press the pause button. We don’t have to instantly respond to somebody. We can take a deep breath and choose our words and create a window of space so we can think clearly about how we’re choosing to respond versus getting caught reacting and then having to regret it or go back on a conversation to try to make things right again. So, it’s about taking a deep breath and asking, “I really need to give that some serious thought and I’ll be back in touch with you.”
Melinda Wittstock:         Yeah, giving ourselves that chance to pause.  I mean, so often we can be triggered in situations and often it’s that person triggering us in someway into judgment or irritation because we have some old memory or old belief within ourselves.  And so this dynamic is so interesting, I mean, how it plays out when managing a team or being part of a team or in a sales situation or whatever. And really getting into that enlightened state where yes you can take a pause, you can breathe and you can be mindful.
Yvonne Silver:                   Mm-hmm (affirmative). And if I look at this and some of the research to back up what I’m experiencing with my clients as being a better way; if we look at the Harvard research that was done through three of their lady PhD candidates, there’s some great research around the three C’s. What women in particular are looking for in their leaders is consistency, confidence and caring and if we can demonstrate those three things, even in our interactions with men, I think we’re really honoring our own personal strengths as women in a new way.
Melinda Wittstock:         So give me an example of either in a sales situation or a team leadership situation where a woman is using, say certain language that isn’t working for her and then how you would transform that language. Can you give me an example from, you know, recent work or something that’s very practical so that women listening to this can really, you know, get it?
Yvonne Silver:                   Certainly, well one of the big things I first do with my clients is not using the word why. And I know there’s a lot of books and Simon Sinek’s, Why Know Your Why; however, what happens when we asking, “Why did you do this?” Or “Why did this happen?” It gets people being defensive ’cause they have to explain how they came to that result. So, just taking that one word out of the conversation and focusing on the situation, not the person, makes a big difference. Mm, this is interesting. We’ve got this outcome, this result, which isn’t a great one. How did we get to this point?
Melinda Wittstock:         Mm.
Yvonne Silver:                   Is a much kinder way of asking your team to look at what’s happened and how could it be even better. And that appreciative inquiry approach I used earlier, if you come to a meeting with that as the key question. Well we’ve done some great work this month, what’s working really well? How could it be even better? Instead of let’s look at where our biggest challenges are this week.
Melinda Wittstock:         Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Yvonne Silver:                   It’s a whole different positive energy that fills the room because nobody can be wrong about something that hasn’t happened yet. How could it be even better is a futuristic question. So, I use those questions and that type of language fostering that with female clients quite a lot. Not asking why, but asking how. And then carefully listening and feeding it back to the person. So, I think I heard you say this is what you’d like to do, great. When can you get started?
Melinda Wittstock:         That’s awesome. So, the women that you work with, when they start doing this, what kind of tangible impacts does it have on their business and their business bottom line?
Yvonne Silver:                   Mm, empowerment is a big one because a lot of … especially when we’re starting up, if we’re stepping into leadership 101 with our first or second employee, we’re not used to delegating. We want to give the high standards consistently to our client, but we need to let go. So if we can empower a strong team by not micromanaging them; giving them the latitude to run with something, it makes a huge difference.  ‘Cause we then are not a bottleneck in stopping things from flowing.
We want people to take independence and run with it versus coming back to us and asking for confirmation or asking for permission all the time. So, I ask my clients to give the task, delegate the task. This is the outcome, this is when we need it by and how do you think you might approach this to get started on it, which is a question to validate that the person has a good idea of how to get going and they’re not stuck there. And if they’re going off on a tangent, to bring them gently back at the beginning. Oh, have you thought this might be another approach, I might’ve started there. How ’bout we start off in this direction first and let me know when you get stuck or let me know when you need help.
Melinda Wittstock:         Okay, so a lot of women do fall into this trap of micromanaging or trying to do everything themselves and fall into the trap of not being able to delegate very easily and this of course stands in the way of being able to scale a business. Okay, so I’m going to violate your rule by saying why do you think that we do that and how, I guess, can we avoid doing that? And again that was sort of a negative question, so I’ve got me all self-conscious now. I’m not even asking the question but I’m curious, though, in understanding what it is that makes us feel that we have to do everything or that we can’t ask for help.
Yvonne Silver:                   Mm, well there … I can’t quote the exact time it was written or the author, but I remember there was some Stanford research that talked about women wanting to be the good little girl, the people pleaser, and that’s how many of us were raised, that we wanted to … especially please our father. So, when we look at trying to please people all the time, we fall into that trap of going the extra mile, wanting to make sure everything is high, high quality and if we don’t trust ourselves than we can not trust others. So, it is a learning opportunity when we step into leadership to look and say, “How much of my time is actually on strategic business building or revenue generating activities and where is something that’s repetitive, that’s really not using my genius and I have to hand it off?” But as Michael Gerber says in the E Myth, systemize it so that there’s no way that the quality can drop, nothing can fall through the cracks because you have a system in place as well as a resource to actually take over that task and execute it.
Melinda Wittstock:         Yeah, that’s so important. So, let’s go back in time a little bit to when you were a little girl. Did you always know that you wanted to be an entrepreneur?
Yvonne Silver:                   Well, I didn’t know that’s what it was at the time. My dad, as I’ve mentioned, was a very controlling man. My mom had a very meager housekeeping money. I didn’t get a whole lot of pocket money, so at age, I think I was seven or eight, I had to get creative ’cause I wanted to buy things and my allowance just wasn’t giving me what I needed. So, when the neighbor down the street injured her leg, I saw an opportunity to offer to walk her dogs for a small fee. So, I was dog-walking Chihuahuas at age seven or eight and that was my first entrepreneurial gig. I then went on and did the typical paper route, at age 11. I was working in the store at 12. So, I think I’ve always been very adventurous, independent, and not satisfied with being put in a box.
Melinda Wittstock:         Yes. That’s exactly right. I think entrepreneurship in many ways is ideal for somebody that literally does not want to be put in a box. ‘Cause every day is different.  It’s about constant transformation and evolution in that case and almost to the point, I think, if you want to grow as a person or go on a personal growth trajectory, become an entrepreneur because it does make you … it test you in such interesting ways.
Yvonne Silver:                   That’s very true. My personal development journey, I mean, I think I’ve always had a lot of test and measure kind of attitude. Looking back, I went on a major adventure when I started taking so of Tihar McInns, rare wizard camp and working with different personal development and growth activities.  Certainly entrepreneurialism will test you. Absolutely. And it will bring you to your knees and help you get back up again when you are on your right path. You were talking about transition a minute ago and I’m chuckling ’cause I’m sitting in my office looking at my three foot by three foot butterfly that’s on the wall, which is obviously a symbol of transition and that is my sign. When I look back at things … a poem I wrote that I found on a paper back from when I was 22, 23 when I first came to Canada. And I looked at it, not only is it a beautiful poem, but its on paper with butterflies on it. My dinner plates have butterflies on them. Everywhere there are butterflies, which is a signal of transition and –
Melinda Wittstock:         How … Oh, that’s so interesting. I started seeing a lot of butterflies in the last couple of years and quite aggressively when I was in the Amazon rainforest a little bit over a year ago.
Yvonne Silver:                   Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Melinda Wittstock:         And yes, the butterfly is a symbol of transition and note the name of this podcast, I mean.
Yvonne Silver:                   Yes.
Melinda Wittstock:         Wings of Inspired Business because wings is really … not only is it about kind of lifting up women but it is about this transition. I think our society is transitioning in many ways. I think we are. I think we have the capacity to lead it in a really exciting way and it’s also a little bit of super shero, you know?
Yvonne Silver:                   Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Melinda Wittstock:         Going on with that. But I want to go back to this thing that this moment of like when you’re on your knees and you get up and in those moments it’s where so of the biggest eureka moments, like, where there’s some kind of pain or problem or something in your life. Those moments, if you’re listening, can often lead you get on the right path if you weren’t already. Has that been true in your life?
Yvonne Silver:                   Definitely and I haven’t done it this fall yet but last summer or the summer before, I actually went through Michael Brown’s presence process, which is a … it’s a course in a book but it helps you to become much more present and aware. So, you don’t have any alcohol or wine. No drugs of any kind for a 10 week window and you go through a series of questions and you ask yourself daily and breathing, meditation activity and you become really, really present. And when we can catch ourselves when those dips hit and just ask, “Okay, there’s something here that is causing me to be upset, it’s a growth opportunity, let me just sit with it and let the energy of that negative experience run through my body and integrate together.” It’s amazing how quickly an answer will come of what you need to do to step out of it.
Melinda Wittstock:         What was that called again?
Yvonne Silver:                   It’s Michael Brown’s book and it’s called The Presence Process.
Melinda Wittstock:         Mm. Michael Brown, The Presence Process. Okay, so I’m going to put that into … and oh wow you caught be being all-Canadian. I said, “Pro cess instead of process.” That’s funny. For those of you who don’t know, I was born in Toronto for full disclosure. I’m all very Americanize now expect when I say process. Anyway, I will put that in the show notes ’cause that’s really great advice. And so, where you sit now, Yvonne Silver and everything you’re … If there were three big takeaways on this show, I mean, ’cause you’ve given so much advice already. What would your … in addition to all the wisdom that you’ve shared, what would be some other pieces of advice that you would give our listeners today?
Yvonne Silver:                   Mm. As a kid, I learned very quickly that if I gave my dad a choice of two things, then I was increasing the chance by 50% that I would get a yes. So if I asked something that required a yes or no answer versus an open answer –
Melinda Wittstock:         Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Yvonne Silver:                   … I think that makes a big difference, so whatever it is that you’re wondering about, just ask for it ladies. Just go for it. The worst thing that can happen is the person says no then you’re exactly in the same spot that you are right this moment anyway. But if they say yes, it could open up an incredible opportunity.
Melinda Wittstock:         So, yeah a really great sales mentor of mine actually gave me permission, in essence, to go and get as many no’s as possible and it was sort of liberating for me because, I mean, if you’re getting a no, it means at least you’re asking, you know? At least you’re asking for the sale or you’re asking for what you actually want. And that was helpful to me, but, yes, so Yvonne Silver says, “Don’t be afraid to ask.” What’s your second piece of advice?
Yvonne Silver:                   So, the second piece of advice is to build in a social enterprise element in your business because it really will keep you from burning out. On those days were uncertain things happen and you start to wonder, am I doing the right thing in my business? If you have a mission or a purpose that is greater than just your bank account, it will keep you going if you know how many different people you’re impacting. And Victor Frankel who wrote the Man’s Search For Meaning book, he was in a concentration camp but he had a lot of time to think about what is the purpose of life and that was one of the three things he identified as when we are working on something that supports a bigger community, it’s really meaningful.
Melinda Wittstock:         That is so true. And so, number three.
Yvonne Silver:                   So, number three, for leaders who are scaling up their business or have a dream to grow, don’t wait to long to hire. I recommend hiring your team member early because if you wait to long; wait until you’re so busy that you have no time to, first of all, screen and hire a great fit. But then no time to properly on board them. You’re really doing yourself and them and disservice, so hire early. As soon as you have enough revenue to support an extra person, hire. Okay.
Melinda Wittstock:         So, Yvonne Silver, thank you. Those are three pieces of excellent advice. In fact this whole interview is jam packed with advice. So, I’m really excited to read your book. When is your book coming out and what it’s called and how can women find it?
Yvonne Silver:                   Mm. Well this … I’m going to loosely say this fall. It has a working title of Word Powerful Women and it’s looking at some of these word concepts at a deeper level where psychology, behavior, and language all knits together with the intention to give women some more powerful tools to have for more powerful conversations.
Melinda Wittstock:         That’s fantastic and we’ll put that in the show notes to, so Word Powerful Women, working title. I can hardly wait to read that. I think it’s going to be so helpful for everybody. And so, tell us, how can women find you and do you have a special offer or anything for our listeners today?
Yvonne Silver:                   Well, what I’m going to offer is … I developed a quiz and it’s actually on my website. It’s called the Super Woman Syndrome quiz. And it’s a self-assessment for women leaders. And we’re just offering that as a free gift to your members, to the listeners. To find it on my website homepage and take that quiz and then you’ll be eligible to get on my VIP connections list as soon as the date … release date for the book is available, you’ll get to hear about it and have an option to join the movement that is uplifting the spirit of humanity for women by having more powerful conversations.
Melinda Wittstock:         That’s wonderful. So, the quiz is called the Super Woman Syndrome and that’s a good thing for super sheros to take for sure and what is the website?
Yvonne Silver:                   It’s on my website, which we-flourish.org. So, double it –
Melinda Wittstock:         We-flourish.org?
Yvonne Silver:                   Yep.
Melinda Wittstock:         Okay and ladies we will have that on the show notes as well so you can find Yvonne Silver, take the quiz. I’m going to take the quiz and I’m going to share my results of Yvonne Silver’s quiz for me at a later episode. I think it’s going to be awesome, so everybody do that. So inspiring Yvonne Silver. Thank you so much for putting on your wings today and flying with me.
Yvonne Silver:                   My butterfly wings.
Melinda Wittstock:         Yes, that’s right. Your wings of transition!
Yvonne Silver:                   Well, I think the role of the butterfly is to pollinate and I believe this show is an excellent way to pollinate and share information for those who are ready to receive it and grow into something fabulous. Grow even more than they are today into a role that really showcases how powerful women can be in this business.
Melinda Wittstock:         Ah, thank you so much. Yvonne Silver Silver, the founder of Flourish. With experiences in eight startups, she now helps females social enterprise visionaries lead women’s organizations.
 

Subscribe to Wings!
 
Listen to learn the secrets, strategies, practical tips and epiphanies of women entrepreneurs who’ve “been there, built that” so you too can manifest the confidence, capital and connections to soar to success!
Instantly get Melinda’s Wings Success Formula
Review on iTunes and win the chance for a VIP Day with Melinda
Subscribe to Wings!
 
Listen to learn the secrets, strategies, practical tips and epiphanies of women entrepreneurs who’ve “been there, built that” so you too can manifest the confidence, capital and connections to soar to success!
Instantly get Melinda’s Wings Success Formula
Review on iTunes and win the chance for a VIP Day with Melinda
Subscribe to 10X Together!
Listen to learn from top entrepreneur couples how they juggle the business of love … with the love of business.
Instantly get Melinda’s Mindset Mojo Money Manifesto
Review on iTunes and win the chance for a VIP Day with Melinda
Subscribe to Wings!
 
Listen to learn the secrets, strategies, practical tips and epiphanies of women entrepreneurs who’ve “been there, built that” so you too can manifest the confidence, capital and connections to soar to success!
Instantly get Melinda’s Wings Success Formula
Review on iTunes and win the chance for a VIP Day with Melinda