158. It’s Never Too Late to Start with Communications, with Expert Lee Caraher

Today’s guest Lee Caraher is a CEO, author, and sought-after speaker. Lee is an acclaimed communications strategist known for her practical solutions to big problems. Lee started her PR company Double Forte during a crisis. Her mother was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer, and in order to be with her, she packed up and started her own firm. She built her business for the quality of life.  At 58, Lee’s agency has just turned 20, and she has no plans of slowing down. As she puts it, age is her superpower. She says relevance is only as good as your ability to apply it to the current situation. You’re constantly learning and evolving. It’s never too late to learn how to communicate better – or at all.  Her business is built around the ability to communicate clearly. She says if you cannot communicate, you can’t have a business or a relationship – your life will be mired with miscommunication and disaster.  But when you’re a good communicator, not only are you good at giving direction, but you are good at taking direction. This puts you in a position to be surrounded by people who understand their role and how they impact others. Even in a crisis, everyone would know what they are meant to do.  She says everyone is and has always been, their own platform. People want to understand who they are purchasing from, who they are in business with, who they choose to spend their time with, and who they watch for entertainment. If those people don’t align with them due to something they’ve said or are against your values, there is no reason to spend your time or money with them.  Lee says one of the most common mistakes in communications is that we assume people have understood what we said. We assume that our words mean the same thing to the person listening as they do to us – and they do not. The other aspect of being a great communicator is knowing yourself – what you’re good at, what you’re bad at, and what you should lean into and stay away from. Understanding how you react and recognizing that others have different types – like Myers Briggs, appreciation languages, etc. – will help you understand how to talk and listen to them. ===== Mentioned ===== 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: https://amzn.to/3UjI0Qn  5 Languages of Appreciation In The Work Place: https://amzn.to/3OQFRdR  ===== Connect with Lee Caraher ===== Sites: https://www.double-forte.com             https://www.leecaraher.com  Twitter: https://twitter.com/LeeCaraher  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeeCaraher1  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leecaraher/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leecaraher/  ===== Connect with Sarah ===== Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahwaltonpage  Instagram: https://instagram.com/thesarahwalton   Game on Girlfriend: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_Jen-dhtrcPvkgdjasgiyAk1NgPbZYRS  Most business owners don't know how much money they actually need to make to feel free. It's time to break that trend. Download my free Freedom Calculator and figure out the perfect number for you: https://sarahwalton.com/freedom  Other Game On Girlfriend podcast episodes you might want to check out:  Changing The Conversation: Aging Is HOT with Sheilisa McNeal-Burgess: https://sarahwalton.com/sheilisa/  Staying Smart During a Crisis: https://sarahwalton.com/crisis/  Why Zigzagging Your Path Means More Success: https://sarahwalton.com/susan/  The Power of Running (You’re NEVER Too Old To Start!) with Beth Baker: https://sarahwalton.com/beth/  You can check out our podcast interviews on YouTube, too! http://bit.ly/YouTubeSWalton