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I Wanted a Million Dollars and Instead Got a Million Dollar Network
 
Recently I had the honor of interviewing Racheal Cook for The Biz Chix Podcast and we had a very real and at times raw conversation on what it is like to be a Work at Home Mom, run a business, a home and take care of our children.  I felt immediately like I had connected with a kindred spirit across the country (a cool bi-product of this job and not the first time I have bonded quickly and deeply with a guest).
 
When Racheal asked if I would participate in her Biz That Loves You Back blog tour, I couldn’t raise my virtual hand quick enough. In fact, be sure you check out Claire Pelletreau (http://clairepells.com/biz-love-blog-tour/) who posted yesterday and Kimberly Riggins( kimberlyriggins.com) tomorrow.
 
Back when I “only” had one business and two kids in 2013, I got the idea to launch a podcast. There are many reasons I wanted to become a podcaster. 
 
Podcasting fulfills a childhood dream I have of being a talk radio host.  I also wanted to give voice to more women’s stories and create the kind of content I was yearning to hear.  Of the male hosted podcasts I was listening to at the time, women were only being interviewed about 10% of the time.  When they were interviewed, the young, single male host didn’t ask the types of questions I wanted to have answered.  
 
But if I am honest, really honest with you, the truth is I thought I could do all the above and have another big bonus.  I thought I could make piles of money too. There are a few podcasters out there right now that are killing it and making multi-six figure and 7 figure incomes from their podcast
 
So fast forward from my launch Januay 2014 to now April 2015. Am I rolling around in piles of cash simply from launching a podcast.
 
No.
 
I am not a millionaire.  I am not making a six figure income from my podcast.  In fact, I am not even making a 5 figure income from my podcast and the BizChix brand. It took me a full year to even start monetizing in any way.
 
I could have monetized a lot sooner, but Baby Jett changed my focus.  Towards the end of my pregnancy the time was right to test the monetization waters.  But I was too tired and trying to prepare for a maternity leave from interviewing.  Once Jett arrived, I didn’t feel like hustling to work with clients or build a digital product when I had a newborn to hold and cuddle.
 
At the beginning of this year, I began working with the Biz Chix community. I have launched two paid masterminds, engaged a few coaching clients and  even experimented with sponsorship of the show for one month.  I decided not to continue with sponsorship for now because I want to promote programs I am offering through Biz Chix or have my other biz ScheduleMAX.com sponsor the episode.
 
 
While I have certainly been disappointed with the slow build to monetization, podcasting has had a surprising effect on my life. I haven’t built a million dollar bank account, but I have built a million dollar network.
 
The show has expanded the depth and breadth of my network.  I have been able to interview women that I would never meet otherwise or even have access to.  A special report is built during interviews and almost every time the guest ends our call by asking me to let them know how they can support me in the future.  I have called in a few of those favors with winning results.
 
The podcasting community is another huge bonus.  I have never been part of a more supportive or collaborative community and the women in this community are the best. I have new besties all across the country that completely understand my business and my life in ways many local friends can’t.
 
The best thing I did relating to the Biz Chix brand was launch a private Facebook group for my audience that is filled with female entrepreneurs and women that want to be entrepreneurs.  I get to see relationships developing and women doing business with each other all as a result of th