Transcript: Sprinkle Some Pixie Dust Into Your Business with Lindsay Dolliner

Joanne Bolt (Intro)

The power of a podcast extends well beyond plugging in the mind. So if you're ready to learn how it can help you build a big business, then I’m your best friend, Hi, I'm Joanne Bolt and I am obsessed with all things podcasting, and creating an unapologetically big revenue business with it from podcast guesting to podcast hosting and everything in between. We're gonna dive into it all and show you step by awesome step how using a podcast can and will grow your business. So grab a glass of wine and pop your headphones on. Cuz, Girlfriend, happy hour has begun here on the B-Word.

 

Lindsay Dollinger 

Oh, for sure. Oh, my gosh, Joanna, thank you so much. You're so sweet. And I love it, too. I mean, that's like one of the things that I love the most about our industry is those connections that we can make with people and just finding people that I mean, your states away, I'm in Ohio, you know, and we would probably not have an accident the other way. So How fun is that? But yes, my name is Lindsey Dollinger. I am the host of the purpose and pixie dust podcast. So Disney is very heavily in my branding. And it worked out really well because I you know, I? Well, okay, let me back up. I started an online business with network marketing in 2016. And that's really where I got my first taste of everything business wise, because full time I'm a high school Spanish teacher, I still do do that. But over time, once I decided that, you know, I was committed, I was all in with network marketing, I saw my business grow and explode there. And really built a community of women who are not only my clients, not only my teammates, but were other women in business. And I realized that so many of the principles that I was applying to my business, the network marketing business, applied to every business because I was really taking it seriously. I was treating it like a business, it was not a hobby for me. And because of that I started falling into very organically crowds of women who were online coaches, tutors, real estate agent, you know, all of the things and we just had so much in common and I was like, This is so freakin amazing. So that's how I pivoted to become a business coach. I started that in 2021. I also started my podcast. And where was I going with that with Disney? Oh, but at the time when I yeah, I'm like, Well, that was long story short for like how I got to do what I was doing. But the Disney piece came in because I took a I was in a mastermind for specifically for branding. And I think that is one of the things that has allowed me to pivot so naturally from, you know, thing to thing that I've done, because I really focused on building a personal brand. And then I was finding myself going to Disney frequently. But then, you know, being very drawn to not only you know, the magic and joy of Disney and the fun, and the creativity, but also Walt Disney himself and this freaking empire that he built. And so I would find myself walking into like Epcot and seeing, you know, all these inspirational quotes up on the wall, especially since they've been doing construction. And just really thinking about, you know, how, like, how could I build a business and a brand like Walt Disney did, like not the same sort of thing at all, like, I have no interest in running amusement parks, you know, entertainment, that sort of deal. But how could I build a brand that people love? And it was something that was in people's homes, you know, and so that's when I was like, Okay, I need to start adding Disney into my branding. So yeah, that's kind of how the pixie purpose and pixie dust podcast got transformed. It was originally the social selling sisterhood, and how I have been really able to, you know, scale and grow my business by finding that alignment with what I really loved.

 

Joanne Bolt 

So I guess I answered, No, I love it. That's totally fine. I love that you said your business took off because you were treating it like a business and not like a part time hobby 100% So many people, we start doing those digital online businesses or the network marketing or running the podcast or whatever it is. And then they get frustrated, because they're like, it's not making any money. It's not doing anything. And the answer staring them in the face is because they don't treat it like a real business. So yeah. What steps did you take to make sure that you were remembering it was a real business as you got it up and running? Because you're still teaching high school? Right?

 

Lindsay Dollinger 

I mean, yeah. Yeah, that's such a good question. So the first thing for me and I know it sounds very overrated now, with the way social media is working, but mindset was huge. And it really was that shift like, Okay, I'm actually going to do this. This has potential because I'm watching other people do it. Like, there's hardly anything that no one has done. Right? So if someone else in the world has done it, why can't you do it? Why can't I do it? And I distinctly remember sitting at my company's conference in 20 I think it was 2018. And, and listening to these women on stages, and they were sharing their journey, and they were sharing, you know, strategy. And hardly any of it was new to me. And I'm like, I know everything that I need to know, like, what is stopping me from creating massive action. So I went to my hotel room that night, and some people went to the bar, and we're doing things. And I was like, you know, I'm going to sit and I'm going to put up a social media posts, like really sharing all of this, like that was going through my mind my story. And I'm also going to message some people that I think would I would love to work with. And because I sent those messages, they were not spammy. I was not like multiple, you know, sending them to every single person on my list. It was people genuinely that I had a relationship with already, that I was able to just reach out and put no pressure on them. Like I took complete pressure off of the outcome. But I just wanted to let them know, Hey, this is on my heart, and I want to reach out to you. And so many people either join me, book parties with me, you know, buy my product with them. And then I realized, okay, if I do that now, and I just started coming up with activities in my business that actually got me results. So I really analyzed Okay, am I is me spending time, you know, an hour and a half making a Canva graphic? Is that getting me a result, or what's getting me result is that going live. And another thing that I did was I started looking and drawing inspiration from a bunch of different industries. So you know, my friend that was in real estate, I'm like, okay, she does open houses. And that's how people buy her product. So how could I do something like that in my business, and do like an open house sort of deal and let people know, like what this is all about, and let them see behind the scenes. So I was really getting creative and pulling from other people that I saw who were successful, who were not selling the product that I was selling. So that was a huge thing that I did. And then the second thing was that I invested in coaching. And it's very rare, I think still to this day to find someone who is just doing network marketing, investing in a coached and investing in so I would be like the only network marketer, or maybe there would be like one other one. So the man coaching. Yeah, yeah, sitting in the, in these masterminds and these small group coaching containers, I got a one on one coaching as well. And the other thing with that was it, it forced me to have that accountability, where I'm like, Okay, I don't want to get on a call, with my coach, after we've come up with this list of things, you know, that I'm going to do, or my next action steps and not have done them, like, that's not the kind of person I am. And that's just a waste of my money. So investing in myself also was super, super helpful. And then just making sure that I was actually working my business, the days that I said, I was going to work my business, like I didn't let any other thing, you know, obviously, emergencies or whatever, come up. But you know, just because I didn't feel like doing it that day doesn't mean that I wasn't going to do it that day, like I put it in my calendar, time blocked. And I started planning my time super wisely. So that, you know, I was actually showing up. And then I started because that was while I was in network marketing, inviting my team to do the same. So it was like, hey, jump on a co working hour with me or a power hour with me. And, you know, if anyone listening is not familiar with network marketing, there's definitely a product side. But there's also a side that you get paid for based off of your team growth. And so my team exploded, because they wanted to be in the community they wanted, you know, someone to be on a call telling them what to do. So I started leading these for my team, and it just was so natural, you know, the progression because everyone kind of wanted to do it, I made it fun. And then those are the things that I was able to apply to my current coaching business, which is really fun.

 

Joanne Bolt 

I love that one of the first things you did was invest in coaching. And yes, now you're currently a coach. So some people could say, oh, well, that makes sense. She was naturally drawn to coaching. But the truth is, I mean, you weren't naturally drawn to it. However, many, many, many entrepreneurs, especially in the beginning days, you know, they know that they've got to spend some money and coaching or mentorship or masterminds is not where they think, you know, their money should go to bars and I tell people all the time I'm like, Listen, if I was going to start my business from day one, all over, ignore the hiring mistakes ignore any other things that I did that I did really well or really bad. I would get into masterminds and coaching so much faster.

 

Lindsay Dollinger 

Yeah, 100% Because I've probably.

 

Joanne Bolt 

Those right groups, man, it explodes your business in ways that I personally until I gotten to my first mastermind that was the right one, I had no idea when it could do for you. 

 

Lindsay Dollinger 

Oh, in finding the right one is key too because I had to have definitely been in ones where I'm like, I don't know if I got as much out of this as other ones but you know, just the networking, the support the accountability, and like I said, getting ideas from what other people are doing, or maybe what didn't work from them and then you can look at it from a very We don't know what the word is, my words aren't coming to me today. But, you know, like that outside point of view, and just be like, Okay, I think maybe that didn't work for her because she did this three times, and I probably would have done it seven, you know, like different things like that. And, yeah, masterminds. And like you said, the small group coaching is definitely something that I recommend as soon as possible. And I've heard leaders actually discourage it in network marketing. And it makes me really sad. Because, you know, I did get a lot from my team, I did get a lot of resources for my company, but there's just something to be said, for getting outside of that as well. Getting that inspiration and accountability. It's just, it's a must do. And my god, think about it.

 

Joanne Bolt 

Part of what made you so successful is that you did not pull all your pieces from the network marketing. You didn't look at that and say, well, What have y'all done? That was successful? I'm just going to replicate. You went out and looked at other industries, what is a real estate agent do? What is the loan officer do? What is this person and like you picked the bouquet, if you want to, you know, put it that way of what appealed to you, and then put your own message and voice around it? And that, I would guess that is what really set you apart from the other network marketers and your community, which grows your business.

 

Lindsay Dollinger 

Yep. 100%. That and the branding piece, I think was helpful, too, because so many people were posting, you know, the graphics from the company. And I very rarely, if ever did that. If I did, it might have been on my stories, because I sold a little more directly in my stories. But I had people reach out to me, they're like, are you even with a company? And I'm like, oh, yeah, yeah, we're thriving, but I just am not posting, you know, the 10 times a day. Join me join my company by this by that I'm like, that's not, that doesn't feel good to me.

 

Joanne Bolt 

And that repels people, and you get them instead? Yep, yep. All right. So then you shifted and pivoted a little bit into the coaching world walk me through that, like journey.

 

Lindsay Dollinger 

Oh, man. So that was a hard pivot, because I felt called to do it for a really long time. And I actually I was working with my coach and my network marketing business at that time, and she had transitioned out of network marketing, to be a coach. And now she does. Like, like, not meditate manifestation. So she's like, completely, you know, shifted a lot. But anyway, she was working with me. And one day, she was like, what's coming up for you, because I sense like, this, like, almost resentment toward working my business, I was like, I was finding excuses not to work it. And that was not me. And I was like, you know, I really am feeling called to end this chapter and start, you know, coaching women and either, and I started with network marketers at first, but then I started having people come to me and be like, Well, can you help me with my craft business? Can you help me with my tutoring business? So that's how that kind of naturally evolved. But it was such a hard transition, just because I had grown this community and I was such a face of the brand and my team. And, you know, I had hundreds of women on my team, and I'm like, How do I go to them and be like, Peace out, guys. Yeah, and the cool thing was, and you know, her, and I talked to her and she was like, I've been feeling this shift from you for months, and I've been waiting for you to tell it. Tell me it. And I'm like, Why didn't you tell me, but you know, that's not how coaching works. And so that was a lesson for me as a coach, like, I've seen my clients struggle with some of the same things. And I'm like, it's not for me to tell them, like they will figure it out, it will naturally come. But the cool thing was, was when I had that conversation with my team, the majority of them are like, this is so you like you're gonna rock this 100% Go for it. So because I had built that brands online, and I wasn't just my company, I was able to very naturally, you know, I think I was making the pivot in my content before I even knew it. But I was very naturally able to be like, Okay, now I'm going to shift and share a little bit more business strategy tips, you know, I started my podcast around that exact same time and so it was just a very natural progression. That's why I'm such a proponent of the personal branding because I think you know, as you start adding in those things that are really interesting to you and that you also want to share everything just naturally falls into place. So I know that's not like the best answer for someone wanting something cut and dry for that. But I think it when you trust your gut, trust your energy and what you really love doing and you share that hopefully your business is a part of that.

 

Joanne Bolt 

Oh, girl, I I aligned with that so much because when i i was so invested in the real estate community ran the big team, you know, did all the things for so long. Yeah, that when I when I started realizing that my passion was not any longer buying or selling homes and leading other agents like shifting out of that I had such a fear that you know, people would I think I was crazy. Or they would really question what I was doing. And I knew ultimately, I'd have to almost rebuild my community. Yeah, I love real estate agents, but they're not really big on podcasting. And so as I, I made the shift, it was like, Well, how do I do this in a gracious manner? And I still remember, like, thinking and feeling that along the way. Yeah.

 

Lindsay Dollinger 

And that that was something that I tried to be very intentional about as well, because I'm like, I never want to burn bridges. Like, I didn't have a bad experience. It's just my heart was not Yeah, in it anymore. And I'm like, Nope, that, you know, that helps no one, if I'm showing up, and I don't really love, right, you know what I'm like.

 

Joanne Bolt 

If I'm leaving a team meeting, and I don't care about my own answer to you, then I'm not being an effective leader for you in your career. And it's just, I needed to shift, you know, and it was not them. Not the industry. It was me. Right, right. Yeah. But

 

Lindsay Dollinger 

I went through like a hardcore, like, it was almost like a grieving process. Like I felt. And I mean, you probably felt that too, like, I just felt like very, it was like a bittersweet feeling. But just like really sad, because I'm like, I will never again, you know, walk a stage at a national conference, or host retreats for this group of women. However, I do host retreats, you know, I do speak on stage. So it just looks differently. 

 

Joanne Bolt 

Yeah, it just takes a little bit of different alignment. And I feel like you just have to know kind of, like, anytime you start a new job, you know, it takes a little bit of like, okay, let me get my footing back in. And I'm going to do the same things with this new community that I did with the old community. It's just, it's going to take a little bit of sand shifting in order to get there. Yeah, yeah. I love that. That's great. All right. So you have some events coming up, you've got one in Disney, right? Like, talk me through some of the cool things you do.

 

Lindsay Dollinger 

So I've always loved retreats. And that's one of the things I actually think I went to a retreat before I dived into coaching. That was kind of my first experience with it. And, and at the retreat, there were some, you know, coaching practices and stuff. So I love retreats myself. So again, you know, I'm hopefully attracting women into my community who are very similar to me or have similar interests. So I started hosting retreats in 20, I think it was 2019. Because I think we got one and before the pandemic hit. So 2019, I just went on Airbnb, I found a house that had, you know, several beds, and Northern Kentucky, so it was about two hours ish from my house, planted in the fall. And it sold out, you know, I just put it up. It was pretty easy marketing for me at that point. Also, though, because over the years before that I had shared, I went to this retreat, it was amazing. I had a great time, and I talked about it a lot. And so I decided that retreats, were definitely going to be part of my business model. So I posted one every year at that same house, actually, I love the property. It's amazing property. And we go back every year, but this year, because my membership that I created the end of 2021 is the magical membership for women entrepreneurs. And I did a retreat. It would probably be two summers ago now, maybe three. I don't know what year it is maybe three for my network marketing team at Disney because our annual conference was in Orlando. So I actually did two down there that summer, I did one that people on my team could earn. And then I did one. It wasn't really even retreat. But we just got a house while we were at the conference and then went to Disney World. So it was like that would be really fun if I took my Fall Retreat, idea and concept, but we did it at Disney World. So yeah, in a couple of weeks, we're going to Disney. We're spending two and a half days, you know, at the Airbnb or around that area. And then our last full day we're going to Magic Kingdom together. Because I just had a blast and I went with my team. And I'm like, this is such like a fun way to tie up our two and a half days of like, intense retreating, you know, is to have that magical touch at the end. So yeah, and have that go on par for your brand. Yeah, yeah, it is. And a lot of the women I got feedback have either never been or they haven't been for 20 years. And so they're like, who better to go with and someone who goes all the time who does these really their thing. So I'm super excited for that. So I made my shirts. I got my shirts in the mail from Canva i We got everyone little ears like Mickey ears to wear. So I'm excited to make this goodie bags and I get down there and you know, get all that going. 

 

Joanne Bolt 

Oh, I can just imagine what your swag looks like. Oh, it's so awesome. I'm so. Alright, so now let's we always end the podcast with talking about your podcast and in particular, what is it about who its target audiences and how have you used your podcast to grow your coaching business?

 

Lindsay Dollinger 

Love it. Okay, so, the podcast is the purpose and PixieDust podcast And like I mentioned, it's just been that name for about a year. Before that it was a social selling sisterhood. A lot of my content in the way I set up my podcast is the same, though. So again, it was just like that natural transition as I was transitioning. But what? Okay, let me back up. The podcast is for women who are building their dream business while also working full time. So obviously, not everyone falls into that category, but maybe they're stay at home moms full time, or they're just busy people, right? So my pillars we talk, strategy, productivity, and systems is the main three that I talk about when I do my solo episodes. But I also share a lot of my journey. So like, you know, I had a coaching call this morning with a client. And one of the things that we're working on is adding a small course that she is doing as some passive income. So coming up, I'm going to do a podcast episode about how to add, you know, a small, or I keep saying small, I don't know what I'm saying small, but add a course into your product suite. And so it's very organic, and like, I like to share what is going on in my business or my clients business. And ways that, you know, you can apply those to your own business as well. But then I also have really inspiring women who are also building a business on my show, like how I interviewed you this week. And because not only do I learn so much from you know, talking to people, but I know that there is someone who is listening, that is completely aligned with that journey, or is feeling the same things that that woman has gone through or shared. Even if it doesn't apply to me, you know, so I have had, I can't think of something right now that doesn't, so Oh, I had a like a marriage coach on one time, and she shared how but I'm not married. So, you know, that doesn't necessarily apply to me. But there are pieces from her journey that definitely do. But also, you know, a lot of my listeners are married. Like, that's like, that's the fun thing about, you know, picking and choosing a variety of guests to have on my show, their journeys are always different, what they're sharing is always different. And I know there is something that you can pull away from their interview that you can apply to your business. So that is half of it. And then the other reason that I have guests on is just very strategic, like I want to network, I want to grow my own network. But I also pick us that suppose share my show out, I share their show out, and it just becomes a very organic collaboration, you know, I get more visible to your audience, you get more visible to my audience. And because there are always going to be people, even though they're in their audience that are not necessarily going to work with you right now. But maybe they're going to work with someone that you No, you know, like they might mesh better with them, their, their offering might be more aligned, whatever it looks like. So I think having that abundance mindset, like there is more than enough clients and everything to go around. And it has really helped my ability to collaborate as much as I do. So I share all the things that all the time. But that's kind of been my strategy with particularly guests on my show.

 

Joanne Bolt 

Okay, so you guys, if you, if you didn't really pick up on that, I'm just gonna go ahead and like re pointed out to you. Her podcast is they're not necessarily to generate clients for the coaching business, that's a byproduct. The podcast pours into people and really allows her to then bring guest on that she can then collaborate and network with and grow her business that way. And I think that that's a very important thing for people to realize. And I talk about it a lot here on the pod. So I'm probably beating a dead horse here. But it's really not about monetizing the podcast is about how the podcast can monetize your business. And I think Lindsey just does a fantastic job of that. I know I plan on having you in my life for quite some time, just because we met through interviewing on podcast and so a great, great way to hit six and seven figures and build that tribe of women around you that you need to help you along the way. 

 

Lindsay Dollinger 

Yeah, 100% and I just had someone that we like did a podcast guest swap probably from January, February. We have stayed in touch on Instagram. We share each other stuff out all the time. She just tagged me in LinkedIn which it was so funny, she tagged me and someone that I used to work with like 15 years ago. Like this is such a small world. How is it even a thing like I didn't even know she was a business coach. Now she's a business coach. But she tagged both of us on LinkedIn for someone that is in our area who is starting a podcast and she's like, it doesn't pertain to me but I you know, I think it might be something for you and like you just never know like it's such a cool network that you can build social media but especially in the podcasting world. I feel like as podcast hosts we're like in our her own special little community.

 

Joanne Bolt 

And for sure, especially the girls, I think we miss. We've all just formed this little tribe together now. 

 

Lindsay Dollinger 

Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

 

Joanne Bolt 

All right, Lindsay. So we'll make sure that we get obviously your link to your podcasts in our show notes. But if someone wants to just connect with you on a different level, which social media platform Do you play on the most? And where would you like them to find you?

 

Lindsay Dollinger 

Oh, that's such a good question. I actually play the most on Facebook. To be perfectly honest, I have a group for my podcast on Facebook, but I'm also super active on Instagram. And I'm Lindsay Dollinger. On both. Okay, so I don't think there's another one. So if you type, you will find me. Feel free to send me a friend request, follow, um, send me a message. And I'd love to chat more.

 

Joanne Bolt 

You know, I used to think that there wasn't another Joanne bolt. And ironically, not only was there another Joanne bolt, but she was also a real estate agent. Oh my gosh, I mean, this was years ago. So when I first started my career, I mean, I'm off topic now. But true story. I was like, oh, there's no way like I never even meet other Joanne so there's no way there's another boy involved. And I got into real estate here in Georgia. I was with Keller Williams. Sure enough, I go to start doing stuff and I started getting mail for Joanne bolt. She was in Colorado and a REMAX agent, but the national associations would send me her stuff by accident and I'm like, oh my god, this is so weird. But yeah, like a normal, you know, everyday not everyday name. Like it's not special, but I'm sure if you have a name that lots of people have. That's not weird for you, but it really was for me.

 

Lindsay Dollinger 

Yeah, that's so strange for real. And my name. My last name is or my first name is spelled a Y instead of EY so a lot of people do that. So there might be another Lindsey there's no a wise I don't think that I know.

 

Joanne Bolt 

All right. Well, thanks, Lindsay, I appreciate it.

 

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