Insights from Kristina Bartold on Aligning Business with Personal Values, Engaging Audiences, and Embracing Collaboration
In a recent episode of I Wish I Knew That Earlier, I had the pleasure of engaging in a rich conversation with Kristina Bartold, the co-founder and co-CEO of Social Snippet. Kristina, who also co-founded High Vibe Women, shared invaluable insights into the importance of aligning business and personal values, building authentic community engagement, and the power of collaboration over competition. Below, we delve into some of the key takeaways from their discussion.
Aligning Business with Personal Values
Kristina begins by emphasizing the concept of putting a “heart of service” at the core of your business. This approach is not about prioritizing profit; instead, it is about adding genuine value to others. By leading with service and building relationships grounded in care and concern, businesses tend to see organic growth and increased loyalty from their community.
She underscores the importance of breaking limiting beliefs, notably the notion that one has nothing valuable to offer. Kristina highlights that everyone has unique experiences and perspectives that can be an asset to others, regardless of their stage in the business world. She illustrates this with her own experience with Chris Harder, where she initially felt she couldn’t offer him anything due to his success. Through referrals and promoting his programs, she found ways to add value, proving that contributions don’t always need to be financial or monumental to be significant.
Understanding and Building a Community
One of the most enlightening aspects of Kristina’s discussion was her distinction between “community,” “audience,” and “followers.” According to her:
- Community: These are highly engaged individuals who are genuinely interested in your offerings and are likely to invest time and money.
- Audience: A broader group who may admire or consume your content but isn’t deeply engaged.
- Followers: People who follow your social media out of casual interest and may not actively engage with your content.
For Kristina, prioritizing community over simply amassing followers is paramount. She asserts that building a community is essential for feedback and development. Through platforms like Instagram, fostering genuine engagement by responding to messages and comments can convert passive followers into an active community.
The Power of Social Media Presence
Kristina shares a personal anecdote underscoring the significance of social media as a modern-day “handshake.” Before dining at a restaurant, she checks their Instagram page to gauge the ambiance and offerings, illustrating how social media acts as the first impression for many businesses. Having an engaging and authentic social media presence is crucial, as it facilitates visibility and shapes public perception, which is vital for businesses of all sizes.
Moreover, Kristina advocates for the thoughtful use of a personal brand in social media. She discusses a case where a successful entrepreneur faced challenges post-business-sale due to a lack of personal brand development. This highlights the importance of maintaining both personal and business social media accounts, where personal branding serves as a constant despite business changes.
Embracing Collaboration Over Competition
Kristina passionately discusses the benefits of collaboration, sharing her journey of how embracing collaboration led to significant opportunities. She debunks the myth of competition as a threat, promoting the idea that mutual mentorship and support can be highly rewarding. By forming genuine connections and facilitating introductions, Kristina found that small actions can yield substantial impacts.
She further illustrates the importance of nurturing relationships through non-monetary engagement, such as commenting on posts, sharing content, and making professional introductions. These small but meaningful gestures can develop strong relationships and foster a supportive community.
Mindset, Investment, and Continuous Learning
A key theme in Kristina’s message is the importance of mindset, especially the idea that “done is better than perfect.” She addresses how the quest for perfection can hinder progress and emphasizes the value of authenticity in content creation. Overcoming perfectionism and focusing on what truly resonates with the audience can lead to more genuine and effective engagement.
Kristina also places high value on personal and professional development, sharing her positive experiences with masterminds and continuous learning. Investing in oneself, even if it seems financially challenging, often provides significant long-term benefits and opportunities.
Conclusion: Planting Seeds for Future Growth
This episode encapsulates the essence of building a business steeped in community and authentic relationships. Kristina’s insights offer a roadmap for entrepreneurs to build strong, service-oriented businesses. By understanding the distinctions among followers, audiences, and community, leveraging the power of social media, embracing collaboration, and maintaining a mindset geared towards continuous improvement and authenticity, entrepreneurs can create lasting value and foster meaningful growth in their ventures.
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