Podcast Summary: Ep 182 | Unlocking Feminine Soft Power to Grow Your Business – with Ariel Senya

Podcast Information:

• Title: How to Sell Your Stuff on Etsy
• Host: Lizzie Smiley
• Guest: Ariel Senya
• Release Date: May 22, 2025

Introduction

In Episode 182 of "How to Sell Your Stuff on Etsy," host Lizzie Smiley welcomes Ariel Senya, a feminine soft power coach and creator of the Goddess Blueprint. The episode delves into the concept of feminine soft power and its pivotal role in business growth, particularly for women entrepreneurs on platforms like Etsy.

Understanding Feminine Soft Power

[08:28] Lizzie Smiley: Introduces the topic and poses a critical question about the significance of shifting to feminine soft power for achieving better business outcomes.

[09:17] Ariel Senya: Defines feminine soft power through the lens of influential women like Vera Wang and Princess Diana. She emphasizes that soft power is about leading with presence and influence rather than force.

• Notable Quote:
  Ariel Senya [09:55]: "Soft power is about leading with presence and leaning into influence instead of force and hard power, which is what we are so used to."

Examples Provided:

1. Vera Wang: Revolutionized the male-dominated bridal industry by focusing on how brides wanted to feel, introducing modern and elegant designs that emotionally connected with clients.
2. Princess Diana: Demonstrated soft power by showing empathy and compassion, notably her interactions with HIV/AIDS patients, which shifted global perceptions without direct advocacy.

Impact of Feminine Soft Power in Business

[13:01] Ariel Senya: Shares a success story of a university professor who, after embracing feminine soft power, experienced significant professional growth and external validation.

• Notable Quote:
  Ariel Senya [16:26]: "The biggest shift that she spoke about that she really has appreciated is that internally she feels calm, like she can handle anything."

Key Insights:

• Leading with feminine soft power leads to a natural flow in business operations with reduced resistance.
• Authenticity and internal alignment result in external successes, such as speaking invitations and enhanced reputation.

Masculine vs. Feminine Leadership in Business

[18:02] Lizzie Smiley: Asks Ariel why women tend to lead with a more masculine side in business.

[18:20] Ariel Senya: Attributes this to historical conditioning, where men have predominantly shaped business practices and environments.

• Notable Quote:
  Ariel Senya [18:45]: "Everything has been designed and led by men for so long that that becomes our default setting for what leadership looks like."

Discussion Points:

• Environmental Design: Offices often cater to male standards, such as cooler temperatures.
• Energy Cycles: Women have different hormonal and energy cycles, which are overlooked in male-centric business models.
• Leadership Styles: Men often lead with decisive energy, while women can benefit from integrating nurturing and intuitive approaches.

Defining Feminine Soft Power

[22:42] Lizzie Smiley: Seeks a clearer definition of feminine soft power and its practical implications for Etsy sellers.

[22:42] Ariel Senya: Describes feminine soft power as the ability to influence and attract through presence and emotional connection.

• Notable Quote:
  Ariel Senya [23:51]: "Feminine soft power is having people say yes to your energy before you ask them a question, simply through your presence or your product."

Key Characteristics:

• Emotional Connection: Creating products and experiences that resonate deeply with customers.
• Presence and Influence: Attracting clients and building relationships through genuine engagement rather than aggressive marketing.

Subduing Feminine Soft Power

[26:03] Lizzie Smiley: Inquires about ways women may inadvertently suppress their feminine soft power.

[26:12] Ariel Senya: Highlights two main areas:

1. Individual Level: Women often live in their heads, disconnected from their bodies and intuition, leading to increased anxiety and rushed actions.
2. Business Level: Overemphasis on output and productivity can overshadow the quality and emotional resonance of products and services.

• Notable Quote:
  Ariel Senya [26:14]: "Living in the head and being disconnected from our bodies... creates that calm."

Practical Applications for Etsy Sellers

[51:32] Lizzie Smiley: Shifts the conversation towards actionable strategies for Etsy sellers to leverage feminine soft power.

[51:32] Ariel Senya: Offers practical advice:

• Stop Rushing: Adopt a more strategic approach to energy management, focusing on quality over quantity.
  • Notable Quote:
    Ariel Senya [51:39]: "Stop rushing. One of the things that's in my program is called feminine strategic planning."
• Feminine Strategic Planning: Planning work in alignment with energy levels and allowing creativity to flow naturally.
• Nurturing Practices: Creating a pleasant and sustainable work environment to enhance creativity and product quality.
• Embodied Communication: Improving body language and presence in online content to attract and engage customers effectively.

The Role of Community and Support

[43:23] Lizzie Smiley: Highlights the surprising avenues women take, such as pole dancing, to reconnect with their feminine energy.

[43:42] Ariel Senya: Explains that activities like pole dancing offer a fun, community-driven environment for women to embrace their femininity and build confidence.

• Notable Quote:
  Ariel Senya [46:36]: "It was word of mouth. Like, it was this incredible momentum that I... I'm so proud of."

Importance of Community:

• Provides support and a safe space for women to express themselves and grow.
• Facilitates the sharing of experiences and mutual encouragement, enhancing the effectiveness of feminine soft power.

Ariel Senya’s Journey and Expertise

[35:57] Ariel Senya: Shares her personal journey overcoming an eating disorder and how it led her to discover and develop feminine soft power techniques.

• Notable Quote:
  Ariel Senya [37:29]: "If I was conditioned to believe this about myself, then couldn't I equally condition myself to believe something else?"

Background Highlights:

• Education and Teaching: Nearly a decade as a school teacher, where she observed and practiced soft power in managing classrooms.
• Pole Dancing Instructor: 15 years teaching pole dance, which deepened her understanding of feminine confidence and presence.
• Development of Goddess Blueprint: A Six-week program aimed at shifting women into their feminine soft power, drawing from 15 years of coaching and mentoring.

Current Offerings and Resources

[67:05] Lizzie Smiley: Asks Ariel about the resources she provides for women looking to harness their feminine soft power.

[67:33] Ariel Senya: Details her flagship program and online presence.

• Goddess Blueprint: A six-week program focusing on body language, communication, and identity shifts to embody feminine soft power.

• Online Platforms: Available on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and soon potentially LinkedIn.

• Notable Quote:
  Ariel Senya [70:01]: "When we plant a seed, just because you can't see doesn't mean it's not growing."

Additional Resources:

• Upcoming Programs: Expanding into executive presence and leadership for business.
• Social Media Content: Engaging and educational content that integrates pop culture to illustrate soft power concepts.

Conclusion

Lizzie and Ariel wrap up the conversation by emphasizing the importance of embracing feminine soft power in business. They highlight the need for women to reconnect with their authentic selves and leverage their innate strengths to build successful and sustainable businesses on platforms like Etsy.

• Final Thoughts:
  Lizzie Smiley [62:33]: "This is such an unexpected topic for this group and I love it so much because it forces us to go inward when we're so busy on the outward productivity."

  Ariel Senya [72:53]: "Always as women, my biggest tip before you try to control or micromanage the external, go internal, go internal, go to the unseen."

Key Takeaways:

1. Embrace Authenticity: Leading with genuine presence and emotional connection enhances business relationships and customer loyalty.
2. Strategic Energy Management: Focus on quality and strategic planning over relentless productivity to avoid burnout and maintain creativity.
3. Community Support: Engaging with supportive communities fosters growth and confidence in leveraging soft power.
4. Internal Alignment: Prioritizing internal balance and calm leads to external successes and reduces resistance in business endeavors.

Resources Mentioned:

• Ariel Senya’s Programs: Goddess Blueprint
• Social Media: Instagram, YouTube, TikTok (@RedRubyGoGo)
• Podcast Show Notes: howtosellyourstuff.com

Don’t Miss:

• Upcoming AI Workshop: Hosted by Lizzie on June 5th at 7pm Central, focusing on creating SVGs using AI.
• Coaching Group Launch: A community for serious Etsy sellers offering monthly coaching calls and ongoing support on Skool platform.

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