Support From Members Makes Brenda Keep Coming Back

Brenda Sheldrake, founder of Biz Leads Expert, comes to the Phoenix Fridays Leadership Power Hour for the relationships and support she receives weekly.

In the beginning, she was invited by Ann Gusiff. Brenda was looking for new networking groups, she said. Ann mentioned BOSS Academy’s Phoenix Fridays Leadership Power Hour and how it was different from other groups. Brenda visited and came back.

“I like the people. That is why I keep coming back,” she said. “They have a willingness to help each other even when it isn’t in their industry or appears to be a competitor.”

Early in her BOSS Academy experience, her husband was ill. Yvonne DiVita of Book Whisperer reached out to Brenda to see how she could support Brenda during that time. This action meant a lot to Brenda.

In another instance, Jon Keel, who is an expert in LinkedIn marketing, met with Brenda. She was afraid that Jon would think she was stealing customers because she had created several programs on getting leads from LinkedIn and had become known as a LinkedIn expert. She is not a LinkedIn expert. She is a leads generation expert. However, Jon put her mind at ease. Jon works with established businesses who have some ideas on how to use LinkedIn and does not want those businesses starting their LinkedIn journey. Brenda doesn’t help those who understand LinkedIn. She wants to help those who do not have a clue how to use LinkedIn for lead generation. Therefore, both found out from talking to each other how they can help the other one. Their relationship has grown into a collaborative and supportive one instead of a competitive one.

BOSS Academy and its Phoenix Fridays Leadership Power Hour work because it shows that people trust each other enough to become vulnerable in the group. However, it can be difficult to find a voice sometimes when in the group.

“Entrepreneurs often find their resilience fading,” Brenda said. “They need the support from Phoenix Fridays to ensure they keep going and the members are willing to give that support.”