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I would rather launch something and be embarrassed than be afraid of the unknown. And I realized that I've made the worst decisions in my professional life, my personal life, when I have operated from a place of fear. And I have made the best decisions in my professional life, my personal life, when I have operated from a place of courage. Hi, I'm Gina Bianchini, and this is People Magic, where I'm showing you the easiest way to create a $1 million community.
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Hey, Gina. I'm all about workshopping and finding new solutions, but I hate unsolicited advice from people. How do you handle advice with an open mind?
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Look, I think it's a great question. I start from a place of feedback is a gift. Now, sometimes I use the phrase feedback is a gift in a mocking way of like, okay, feedback is a gift. Other times I'm like, oh, my God, feedback is a gift. The difference in the intonation is the intention behind it, and also whether or not it's valuable. So, for example, we don't talk about giving advice in people Magic. In fact, advice shuts a conversation down, and it's stories, experiences, and ideas that expand a conversation, give it room to really become valuable to people. So that's just looking at it from the lens of what kind of conversations and what kind of relationships do you want to develop with people Magic at its core, when you're building a community and monetizing it with memberships and. And courses and challenges and events, then there is just advice on the Internet. I, unsurprisingly, get a lot of advice on the Internet. And that's just a function of being out there and available and running a platform that is used by nearly a million people who have created mighty networks. And what I have found is that it is always important to see it or listen under, understand what it is somebody might be getting at with the nugget behind the advice and also be able to put it in a place where it does not live in your brain and it does not live in my brain. So one of the more recent examples of this is, I have a fancy mic here. I'm set up with a fancy camera and a fancy mic and lighting and the whole thing. And somebody wrote, I can't listen to her because her mic is so bad. And so I went and I, like, researched. I'm like, is my mic actually so bad? Because I've had situations where my mic has been bad. I have learned through people writing me and DMing me, hey, Gina, get a microphone. That's awesome. So I went and checked it out, turns out this person was just being a jerk. People on the Internet are going to be jerks. They are. It's one of the reasons why people magic and having your own space that is higher quality, that has more intention to it, that has a purpose for people to come together and a set of boundaries and guidelines and culture building is really what it is of Share stories, experiences, ideas, not advice. Enter into what you are building and how to get the most out of it by starting with what you can give, not what you want to ask or what you feel like you deserve or need from other people in the community and just those two things alone. This ability to not have advice. Don't build a culture of advice. Don't even use the term advice. Instead think about replacing advice with ideas, with stories, with experiences. And then as you build and model a culture and this might be a culture that you have for an in person workshop. This might be the culture of a digital experience or your community model. Giving first. This is something we have to give. This is therefore also something we have as an ask. I am shocked once I made that flip from understanding that it's about leading with what you give, not what you have as an ask. I see asks masquerading as gives everywhere. The oh my gosh, don't you want to go to my free workshop? Or would you like a free assessment? Being careful that you are creating things that do come from an authentic place of giving before asking is super important. Coming from a place of confidence in why you exist, not just philosophically, why are we on this earth as you know, as human beings, but rather why are you doing what you're doing, I think is one of the most important things to be able to confidently operate in this world and especially operate in digital public worlds like social media or other places where it is about putting yourself out there. Not so much in private communities, especially in private communities or paid communities, where the purpose is really clear, the reason and ways people are interacting with each other are much more intentional and much more clear in terms of stories and experiences, not advice. Starting with gives, not starting with asks. And so when I think about why, it becomes easier and easier for me to read, sometimes mock. The unsolicited advice I get on the Internet is really because I'm clear on what I am doing and why I am doing it. I am here to bring people magic into the world. People magic as defined by the strategies that we're talking about here on this podcast as well as the software that we're building with mighty networks that is all around. How do we connect people to each other, around the things that are most important to them in ways that can be instantly valuable, instantly energizing, instantly creative, and build optimal cultures because of these agreements around what cultures ultimately expand and create value much more easily and effectively, and what cultures are going to lead to absolute terrible engagement and toxic environments that nobody wants to be a part of. And with people magic, it is about scaling those cultures that are much more valuable, that are much more energizing, that are much more fun. They're much more fun. And because of that mission, because of that purpose that I know I'm working towards with people magic and bringing it into the world and unlocking all of these incredible experiences that I invest an hour in the morning just writing on paper what that future story or what that future state looks like, it makes it a heck of a lot easier to really just take in whatever shows up, knowing that my time horizon for success, my time horizon for my purpose is ultimately two, three, four years out. So if we zoom out, I'm answering the question of, you know, what do you do about unsolicited advice on the Internet with how to build really healthy cultures and specifically really healthy community cultures, how to actually be really clear about your purpose, which makes everything else easier to navigate, especially unsolicited feedback, even just unhappy people with something that you're building. And then finally, I would offer this. The power of doing something hard, like building anything, is in taking risks, doing things that might feel scary. Because sometimes when you get that unsolicited advice, that's one thing. But when you're afraid of getting unsolicited advice, it is amazing the number of things that you can find to do with your time or reasons that you can give for not launching into the world. And so find your own small community, have a team, have a kitchen cabinet, whatever you want to call it, but have a group of people. I know I have mine. Have a group of people that you can process things with and not process things in a. In one of our traps, whether that's the victim trap, the knower trap, or the complexity trap. This is not about you're perfect and everybody else is dumb. This is about processing unsolicited feedback, unsolicited advice with humility, with humor, with the ability to look at something and say, okay, wait, are they right? Are they right? And be okay if it isn't sort of delivered in the way that, you know, would make it as easy to hear as possible, that's a skill, and it requires a clear purpose. Because, again, I'll just use myself as an example. People Magic is more important to me than anything that could possibly be a blip right now. That is embarrassing. Or somebody being critical of me. Do I care? Yes. I wouldn't. I don't want to set the expectation that I don't ever care or I don't care. I do. But because I have a group of people that I can go process that with, including different intonations of feedback as a gift, depending on what kind of feedback it is, that has allowed me to get really comfortable with, I'm going to go for it. A final mantra that's been really important to me just this week, which is, we launched something new. And right before launching it, we were getting some information that was, like, making some of the people on my team a little nervous, like, oh, my gosh, should we actually do this? And like anything, I slept on it because I'm not going to make a, you know, I'm not going to make a decision, you know, without kind of letting my subconscious process it overnight. I woke up in the morning and I'm like, we're going to go do this thing. And the reason we're going to go do this thing is because if we were to not do it, we would be operating from a place of fear. And the worst case scenario for launching and doing something is that we might be. And I might be slightly embarrassed. And what I realized in that moment was that I would rather be embarrassed than afraid. I would rather launch something and be embarrassed than be afraid of the unknown. And I realized that I've made the worst decisions in my professional life, my personal life, when I have operated from a place of fear, and I have made the best decisions in my professional life, my personal life, when I have operated from a place of courage, when I've actually taken that first small step and then the next step and then the next step, and then you look back on the steps and you're like, wait a second. Like, I thought that thing was hard. And that would be my wish for anybody watching or listening to this moment with me. It's better to be a little embarrassed if something doesn't go right than to be afraid of launching something because it won't be perfect. I'm Gina Bianchini. Thanks for tuning in. This is People Magic. Thank you for being a part of People Magic. If you want more of a deep dive in any of these topics, but certainly having the framework of People Magic, profit head on over to the website. The link is in the show notes. Have your own burning question about creating people magic. Well, I want to answer it. So here's what you're going to do. You're going to just drop your question in the review section, wherever you're listening to this podcast and keep tuning in.
People Magic: How to Build a $1M Community
Episode: Feedback Is A Gift
Host: Gina Bianchini, Founder and CEO of Mighty Networks
In this insightful episode of People Magic, Gina Bianchini delves deep into the intricacies of building a thriving $1M community by focusing on the power of feedback, fostering a positive community culture, and overcoming the fear of launching new initiatives. Drawing from her extensive experience in guiding over 10,000 entrepreneurs, brands, and creators, Gina provides actionable strategies and profound insights to help listeners create communities that are not only profitable but also invaluable to their members.
Timestamp: 00:00 – 00:41
Gina opens the episode with a powerful personal revelation about the impact of fear and courage on decision-making:
Gina Bianchini (00:00): "I would rather launch something and be embarrassed than be afraid of the unknown. And I realized that I've made the worst decisions in my professional life, my personal life, when I have operated from a place of fear. And I have made the best decisions in my professional life, my personal life, when I have operated from a place of courage."
This foundational mindset sets the tone for the episode, emphasizing the importance of taking bold steps despite uncertainties.
Timestamp: 00:51 – 04:30
Addressing a common challenge in community building, Gina explores the concept of unsolicited advice and how to handle it constructively:
Gina Bianchini (00:51): "I start from a place of feedback is a gift."
She distinguishes between valuable feedback and unproductive advice, advocating for conversations that revolve around stories, experiences, and ideas rather than direct advice. Gina emphasizes that advice often shuts down meaningful interactions, whereas sharing personal narratives fosters deeper connections and value within the community.
Key Points:
Timestamp: 04:31 – 09:45
Gina underscores the significance of cultivating a community environment that prioritizes giving over asking. She discusses setting clear boundaries, guidelines, and cultural norms to maintain a high-quality, intentional community space.
Gina Bianchini (05:30): "Don't build a culture of advice. Don't even use the term advice. Instead think about replacing advice with ideas, with stories, with experiences."
She advocates for authenticity in interactions, ensuring that contributions come from a genuine place of wanting to provide value rather than seeking something in return. This approach not only enriches the community but also fosters trust and engagement among members.
Timestamp: 09:46 – 12:15
Gina highlights the importance of initiating interactions with generosity. She warns against "asks masquerading as gives," where offers appear altruistic but are fundamentally self-serving.
Gina Bianchini (10:50): "Be careful that you are creating things that do come from an authentic place of giving before asking is super important."
By leading with what members can give to the community, leaders can build a more sustainable and engaged member base. This strategy ensures that contributions are grounded in genuine desire to help, fostering a more supportive and collaborative environment.
Timestamp: 12:16 – 17:00
Navigating unsolicited feedback can be challenging. Gina advises building a support system—such as a small inner community or a "kitchen cabinet"—to process and evaluate feedback constructively.
Gina Bianchini (16:45): "Have a group of people that you can go process that with... have a group of people that can help you take in whatever shows up."
This internal team can provide perspectives that help discern useful feedback from baseless criticism, fostering resilience and maintaining focus on the community’s core mission.
Timestamp: 17:01 – 21:30
Gina connects the ability to handle feedback effectively with having a clear and confident purpose. Understanding why you exist and what you aim to achieve provides a solid foundation for navigating challenges and criticisms.
Gina Bianchini (19:10): "Clarity of purpose... makes everything else easier to navigate, especially unsolicited feedback."
This clarity not only guides decision-making but also reinforces commitment to the community’s goals, ensuring that temporary setbacks do not derail long-term vision.
Timestamp: 21:31 – End
In her concluding thoughts, Gina shares a mantra that encapsulates her approach to launching new initiatives:
Gina Bianchini (23:45): "I would rather be embarrassed if something doesn't go right than to be afraid of launching something because it won't be perfect."
She recounts a recent experience where she chose to proceed with a new launch despite team concerns, reinforcing the belief that taking action is preferable to being paralyzed by fear. This courage to act, even imperfectly, is presented as essential for successful community building.
Throughout the episode, Gina Bianchini provides a roadmap for building a million-dollar community grounded in People Magic—a philosophy that prioritizes meaningful connections, authentic interactions, and a clear sense of purpose. By viewing feedback as a gift, fostering a culture of giving, and embracing courage over fear, Gina equips community leaders with the tools needed to cultivate vibrant, profitable, and enduring communities.
Notable Quotes:
For those looking to delve deeper into these topics or seeking personalized advice on creating their own People Magic community, Gina invites listeners to engage further through Mighty Networks’ platform.
Join Gina Bianchini in her mission to bring People Magic into the world, fostering communities that are valuable, energizing, and fundamentally designed to thrive. Visit Mighty Networks for more resources and to become a part of this transformative movement.