Wobbly Girl: Recent Episodes
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My special guest today is someone I’ve known for quite a while, and I’m excited to have him on the show. Ryan Hanley is the founder and president of Rogue Risk and the founder of Hanley Media. He’s a fabulous writer and has a newsletter called Finding Peak, which you should find on Substack or his website, ryanhanley.com.
Ryan also hosts podcasts and has his own called the Ryan Hanley Show, which is well-known in the insurance industry and beyond in various roles throughout his career. Most notably, CMO of TrustedChoice.com and the face of the Agency Nation brand through August 2018.
Ryan started his media company while at Agency Nation and has created some of the most interesting and widely followed content in the industry.
He began his scratch insurance agency in January 2020. However, you can still find his face and voice all over social media as an insurance industry thought leader on small business insurance and technology. However, on this episode, I get to peek behind the curtain and talk with Ryan about his personal life and a few things he had not shared previously.
Join us on this episode of This Wobbly Life with Ryan Hanley.
- Stacie’s introduction. (1:43)
- Feeling like an outsider. (5:49)
- Being authentic and not afraid to be yourself. (11:36)
- Why are word games, not the answer? (16:04)
- How do we find purpose? (19:42)
- Finding out that you have something different. (24:18)
- The importance of finding your gift. (31:41)
- Culture is a different world. (39:09)
- How to deal with hate. (43:09)
- Shining the light on the not-so-pretty side of insurance. (48:25)
- How the insurance industry has changed. (53:52)
- Podcasting is fun. (59:57)
- The fun part of being a speaker. (1:06:14)
- Finding purposeful ways to connect to others. (1:11:11)
I have been waiting for the right moment to share this with you, and I’m excited that it is finally here. For episode 8 of This Wobbly Life, my extraordinary guest is Renee Bruns.
Renee left her executive role at a Fortune 500 company to travel the world, and her story is truly inspiring. One of the most impressive parts of her journey is that she holds a Guinness Book of World Record for having traveled to more countries than any other person in history who uses a wheelchair.
She’s truly an inspiration to me, and her ability to see past her disability and just do what she loves makes me so happy! Her story represents hope for the disabled community. Please listen to her story and let me know your thoughts.
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗯𝗯𝗹𝘆 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲, Episode 8 with Renee Bruns
Journey to becoming a traveler. 1:30
Physical disability. 7:10
Traveling the world with a disability. 12:39
How to prepare for the worst. 18:45
The financial aspect of the trip. 25:40
The importance of taking time to reflect on life. 32:40
Finding time to be in school. 35:43
Living authentically and living authentically. 41:04
Connect with Renee here: https://wheelstravelstheworld.com/
Connect with Stacie King (aka Wobbly Girl) here: wobblygirl@wobblygirl.com
In today’s digital age, having a website that is accessible to everyone is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed in 1990 to ensure that people with disabilities are provided with equal access to employment, public accommodations, and other essential services. The act has been extended to include digital platforms as well, meaning that businesses must ensure their websites are accessible to individuals with disabilities.
Insurance agency owners and other small business owners must recognize the importance of having an ADA compliant website in 2023. A website that is not accessible to individuals with disabilities can result in lost business and legal consequences. Accessibility is not just the right thing to do; it is also good for business.
One of the most significant benefits of having an ADA compliant website is the ability to reach a larger audience. The World Health Organization estimates that over one billion people in the world have some form of disability. By making your website accessible, you are opening your business to a new and often underserved market. This increased access can lead to increased revenue and growth opportunities for your business.
The most important aspect of having an ADA compliant website is that it helps to protect your business from legal liability. The Department of Justice has consistently ruled that websites must be accessible to individuals with disabilities. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in lawsuits and other legal penalties. Small business owners, including insurance agency owners, must be proactive in ensuring their websites are accessible to avoid any legal consequences.
Now, you might be thinking that making your website ADA compliant will be expensive and time-consuming. While redesigning an entire website to meet accessibility standards can be costly, there are affordable solutions available that can make your website accessible. For example, Accesibe is an ADA-approved plugin that can be installed on your website to make it accessible to individuals with disabilities. Accesibe uses AI technology to make your website accessible in real-time, providing an affordable and easy solution for small business owners.
The cost of redesigning an entire website can vary widely depending on the size and complexity of the site. On average, the cost of redesigning an entire website can range from $2,500 to $50,000 or more. Using Accesibe, however, can cost as little as $490 per year for small business owners.
Not only is it the right thing to do, but it is also good for business. By making your website accessible, you can reach a larger audience, protect your business from legal liability, and create a more inclusive online community. Whether you choose to redesign your entire website or use an ADA-approved plugin like Accesibe, the cost of making your website accessible is far outweighed by the benefits it can provide.
As a female marketer with a disability, I can tell you firsthand that a unique voice is never a bad thing. In fact, it’s one of the most powerful tools you have in your personal branding toolkit.
With the new year upon us, now is the perfect time to take a fresh look at your personal brand and think about how you can make it stand out in a crowded market. Here are a few suggestions to get you started:
Embrace your differences. Whether you’re living with a disability, are a member of a minority group, or simply don’t fit into the traditional mold, your unique perspective sets you apart. Don’t be afraid to share it with the world.
Be authentic. It’s easy to get caught up in trying to be someone you’re not to fit in or be more “marketable.” But the truth is, people are drawn to authenticity. They want to see the real you, flaws and all. So don’t be afraid to show your true colors and let your personality shine.
Share your story. Every person has a unique journey that has brought them to where they are today. Sharing your story can help people connect with you on a deeper level and understand what makes you tick.
Collaborate with others. Working with others can help you tap into new audiences and bring a fresh perspective to your personal brand. Don’t be afraid to reach out to others and see how you can work together to achieve your goals.
Stay true to your values. It’s important to remember that your personal brand is more than just a marketing tool. It’s a reflection of who you are and what you stand for. So stay true to your values and let them guide your actions.
As you embark on a new year, remember that your unique voice is something to be celebrated, not hidden. Embrace it and let it shine through in everything you do.
Stacie
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Progress is good! As most of you know, I had hit another wall early in November and had begun to feel really poorly about how I looked and how I felt from day to day. Sam has been extremely challenged as well. Since running his Ironman, he has gained about 50 pounds. What is most important, he is not feeling well and has injured his back, so is not sleeping well and it is severely impacting his quality of life.
Well, since deciding we would “Get back on it” as of November 6th, it has been a hectic couple of weeks! In the past ten days, we attended a UGA Football game, I have traveled on business and have worked late most every night for over a week. In times like these, sometimes you can just use a little help! Luckily for me, in this case, my help came from family. My sweet Sister-in-law Laura was willing to help me out.
Since our schedules have been so crazy and we needed to stay on plan, Laura has been helping us out by doing my grocery shopping and cooking for us over the past two weeks. Although she was a little apprehensive at first, and I think overwhelmed her with all of my “plan rules”, I think she has finally found her groove. I am seeing her progress so quickly, that I told her she has seriously found her calling. I can see a future business blooming for her. Let me add too, that Laura is an excellent cook. She had a great foundation as a former school cafeteria worker and has good knowledge of healthy cooking because of cooking for my niece, who is Diabetic.
Laura has learned how to limit carbs and schedule the number of days in between heavy starches and red meat, and believe me, that can take some getting used to! She also said that she is learning to adjust recipes she found so that they are salt-free and low sugar, but it has been challenging. She has even made sure that buys enough of everything we will need for the entire week while also helping us to conserve our costs by checking our stock and planning around what we already have. She filled in the gaps with fresh fruits and veggies and weekly dairy.
It has been awesome to have Laura do the grocery shopping while I focused on work. It’s been terrific to have enough food cooked for the entire week, with easy grab and go options that I can create lunches and dinners from. It has been such a relief during these stressful weeks!
Let’s be honest Sam still needs a good amount of to keep him on schedule and I usually help him pack up his food for the day or tell him what he needs to do at each meal. He is in the beginning phase where your cravings and “wants” can easily sway your judgement and ability to stay on track. I have been able to just give Laura an outline of what our week should look like with some menu suggestions, and then wallah- it is there! She even cut up extra veggies for adding to salads and she labeled everything so we can easily see what we have to choose from.
While I am not sure how long Laura will be up to the task, or how long we can afford to have her help out, we sure have gotten spoiled with it all. With all she has learned these past two weeks, she is also now following the plan (along with my niece, Amanda). The big benefit for it all is that it is working like it always has. I am down six pounds so far and Sam has lost twelve pounds! If we can keep it up, I know we will be feeling much better and I will be back to a more comfortable place in no time. It really is just science!
A BIG THANKS GOES OUT TO LAURA! I love you and appreciate you very much.
Stacie