Jennah Lear is the Owner behind Blue Loui Studio. As a Brand + Biz Strategist, purpose driven entrepreneurs hire her to create + grow a powerful brand that positions you as the go-to expert, so you can attracts dreamy clients to your business. Blue Loui Studio is fiercely devoted to empowering women and promoting confidence in all aspects of life and business. We know it starts with believing in yourself; when you do that, magical things start to happen.
FWM: You were swimming in the murky waters of corporate America and had an epiphany, take us back.
I was in my 4th year in corporate when I had “the” moment, I’ll never forget it….it wasn’t a special day, like all the others,, sitting in the cube farm, surrounded by polyester walls and feeling like: “this is so not what I hustled my way through college for.” I remember taking yet another jaunt to the break room for a pepsi (my go to vice), and thinking there’s something missing here.
When I got back to my desk, I started surfing some blogs I followed and found an advertisement for a program called “Boss School”. I know now, I totally manifested it! I had always thought about going back to school for business, but stopped at the harsh reality that I never paid off my first set of loans so I probably shouldn’t do it. But, this program…it was the answer to everything I wanted at the moment: a 90-day bootcamp to teach women how to become entrepreneurs and break free from their 9 to 5. That was the catalyst to it all. Before the program, and through all my schooling, I knew I was always meant to do bigger things, help in a bigger way, I just didn’t know how. So learning business, self-development, and what I was truly able to create; I knew my time at corporate wouldn’t last much longer. Long story short, I stepped out of my job (which is the nice way to say, I went into my boss’s office and asked for higher compensation (after a year of doing 2 jobs at the price of 1), and was told “you’re not worth that.”). I’ll never forget walking out of those blue doors with a smile on my face because I was on my way to building something so much bigger.)
What are the challenges you faced when setting out on your own?
All of them? Ha!
I didn’t leave a 6-figure corporate job to figure it out on my own; my parents aren’t entrepreneurs, so I wasn’t following a family legacy; and I really had no safety net. I don’t necessarily suggest others take that same route….I just….couldn’t do it anymore. I thought: “If I can’t make 36k in a year ON MY OWN, I might as well throw in the towel. I know there’s a way and I don’t want to hate how I’m spending my days anymore.”
I sacrificed a lot. Most told me I should just “go get a job.” And those overnight success stories were a real vision killer for me, as I compared myself often thinking: “I’m out of my league.”
But…through all of that…..I credit my annoying resiliency as to why I just couldn’t give up.
FWM: You are considered one of the best Branding Experts. What do you say to entrepreneurs who say, “I don’t think I need branding.” How can branding benefit entrepreneurs when starting out?
I actually hear this a lot, along with the most common, “oh I have a logo already.” this is where I get excited because a big piece of my job is teaching and leading entrepreneurs about what a brand actually is and how it can impact your business. I believe it’s truly legacy work!
Here’s the truth….
Your brand is your business identity and is the cornerstone to all your marketing. It’s how you clearly communicate why you’re the go-to expert, who you serve, and what’s your movement (aka: what you believe beyond the products and services you sell). You don’t have to be Nike to have a successful brand; a common misconception for entrepreneurs and small business owners. Your brand does the heavy lifting for you whether it’s your message that you share from a big conference stage, or through your website where clients go to learn more (and buy from) you. Regardless of how you choose to market your business, your brand is a movement that you get to lead and has the power to attract dreamy clients + opportunities so you can scale with confidence.
FWM: What happens when people don’t pay attention to branding when starting out?
It inevitably becomes a block later on.I like to think of it as, you’re creating all these pieces to grow your business (marketing, a pitch, a network + connections, a website, etc.); but how does it all connect? Like puzzle pieces without a complete puzzle; regardless of the 100 ways you try to piece it together.
Your brand is what connects everything.
FWM: You were quoted, “You’re building your Empire.” How are you helping clients to build a foundation to position and sell more?
I teach client attraction + base it on doing the foundation work to your brand. So it really comes down to knowing the core 3 of your brand in order to market and sell anything….
- Why are you the go to expert?
(because you’re not the only one in the world doing what you’re doing)
- Who do you serve?
(because you can’t serve everyone, so who can you make the biggest impact for)
- What’s your message/movement?
(what you believe beyond your products + services)
I believe in working smarter, not harder. I’ve narrowed it down to 5 key steps, going deeper with the core 3 principles; and I call this process (which I’ve turned into a program): “C.A.S.P. – the Client Attraction Strategy Program”. I wholeheartedly believe in this work and after going through it myself, I’ve shifted from inconsistent low 4 figures months to building a multiple 6 figure business that I love. Whether purpose- driven women entrepreneurs do this work with me or someone else, or somewhere else, just do it! It’s too important to the empire you’re building and really will save some headaches along the way. It’s a game changer!
Who do you work with?
Purpose-driven women entrepreneurs who are ready to play bigger in their business. They’re ready to grow, go BIG, but don’t know how to share who they are and attract those dreamy clients they truly want to work with.
Throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks, just isn’t cutting it for their marketing strategy.
FWM: To be a great Branding Expert, you must be a great listener. What are the common concerns from entrepreneurs?
It takes practice, but I like to think I’ve definitely done the work to be a great listener. The most common concern from entrepreneurs are actually based in the mindset realm:
Concern: “I’ve got too many ideas and I don’t know which to focus on first”
My 2 cents: “In your heart, you know. Let’s get clear on your vision first, then we can reverse engineer the strategy to make it happen. This is how we create a business that’s aligned to how we want to spend our time.”
Concern: “What if I’m not good enough to do this?”
My 2 cents: “Do you trust yourself to be a success story? If you know, in your heart, there’s absolutely a way to make it happen, then you’ll be able to create anything.”
Concern: “What if I do all this work and I don’t find any clients?”
My 2 cents: “Do you believe in what you offer (product or service) and how it can help transform someone’s life? Then, there is without a doubt, people out there who need what you have; the question really is…can they find you?”
I always say: “I could put a million dollar strategy in front of you, but if you don’t have the right mindset to see it through, it doesn’t matter how amazing you are.”
FWM: Share a few success stories.
If you’ve ever felt like your marketing strategy is just throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks, I can relate. That’s how I connected with Niké (through a mutual friend and chatting about going BIG).
Niké is such a powerful visionary, so I was so excited to hear about her big plans for her business: including growing a team, a well known brand in the community, and helping as many women as possible. She’s an ALL IN type personality, just like me.
The problem?
She didn’t know how to reach the right people, or how her messaging and business structure coincide, or how people will get to know her as more than just a “zumba class instructor”?
I so get that — how do we communicate our big vision…..beyond the products and services we sell? It’s really a movement – you want to make a big impact….but how do You even go about sharing that, let alone marketing that?
I told her, the gap is 3 main pieces, defining…..
• Why you’re the go to expert
• Who you can make the biggest impact for (and want to work with) – dreamy clients 😉
• What’s your message – your movement…the vision
….if you can clearly + consistently communicate that, that’s when you can create growth that feels aligned and ATTRACT (vs. chase) your dreamy clients.
After Niké did this work with me, she went on to fill her programs, filled a retreat, and then went on to create her highest month yet ($10k)! She’s been shifting her model to work for her so she can scale — the coolest thing…in my opinion….is her team.
Together, they’ve cultivated this whole community around Niké’s movement and that’s the power of this work. Clarity before taking action so you can be strategic!
Short + Sweet:
Amy Schultz of Smart Girl Money, skyrocketed her business from inconsistent low 4 figure months, to hitting 5 figure months. She stepped into owning her movement, and continues to grow as she takes on a second business.
Christine Harmon of Body Acumen has shifted from in person classes that were never full, to selling out her class series, giving herself a raise, and working digitally so she can maintain her vision of family time being priority one.
Regardless of number wins, all my clients walk away with huge transformations, and that’s the most rewarding because we get to believe we’re worthy of being wildly abundant and seen, before we actually are.
FWM: You have built a community of successful women entrepreneurs. Tell us about your vision for 2021.
My vision for 2021…hmmm. As I look at what’s on my plan and also keep top of mind that the most magical things happen unplanned, I think my big vision is to help as many women entrepreneurs play bigger in their business as possible; because I know when more women level up to become wildly successful and abundant, more lives are changes for the better. That’s what it comes down to for me, however that manifests or ends up looking.
Although I do love a good plan, so coming up is…
-Launching my CASP program again
-Opening the doors to my mastermind (“Monday Mavens Mastermind”)
-Creating a couple of workshops, including teaching on organic growth + the secret behind $30k launches
…and my big crazy idea….(we’ll see if it happens this year)….
-An confidence empowerment fashion show for boss ladies
This journey is mostly about taking yourself on; so I want to continue to push myself outside of my comfort zone and create more magical experiences for my community.
FWM: Please share your social media links.
instagram: @bluelouistudios
Facebook: @bluelouistudio
