How do you turn personal setbacks, anxiety, and career challenges into a meaningful, impactful business?

In this episode of Inspiration Contagion, host Holly Jean Jackson sits down with Tara Hayes, founder of Tarafied Publishing, to uncover her journey of helping experts, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders turn their powerful stories into published books.

Tara opens up about the vulnerability, transparency, and perseverance required to navigate entrepreneurship, find the right audience, and define your core message. She dives into the practical side of building a lasting business—highlighting why relying on memory instead of systems like a CRM costs valuable opportunities, and how simple habits like consistent follow-up set successful creators apart.

We also explore why so many aspiring authors stay stuck in the “someday” mindset, what truly separates dreamers from published authors, and how preserving your story creates a legacy that inspires others.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Tara’s personal journey from anxiety and career pivots to founding Tarafied Publishing.
• Why vulnerability and authentic messaging resonate most with your audience.
• The power of discipline, follow-up, and simple systems (and why you shouldn't rely on memory).
• What holds aspiring authors back from finishing their books—and how to take action today.
• How sharing your transformation creates a lasting legacy.

Connect with Tara Hayes:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-m-hayes/

Join the Inspiration Contagion movement:

Subscribe to Inspiration Contagion on your favorite podcast player and share it.

Website: https://changemakerimpact.co/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollyjeanjackson/

Get your copy of the book: https://shorturl.at/gnU9S

What if the best business conversations start long before you ever send a DM? In this episode of Inspiration Contagion, Holly Jean Jackson explores a relationship-first approach to LinkedIn outreach that replaces cold pitching with trust, visibility, and genuine connection.

Holly unpacks why reaching out to strangers with an immediate pitch often feels transactional, and how building relational equity can create stronger partnerships, more meaningful referrals, and lasting business relationships. Instead of focusing on converting every interaction into a sale, she shares why showing up consistently, contributing value, and understanding what matters to people can make outreach feel more natural and effective.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Why cold pitching can damage trust before a relationship even begins
• How to build relational equity before asking for someone's time or attention
• Why consistent visibility matters more than immediate conversion
• How to engage with your ideal collaborators before sending a DM
• The importance of understanding someone's values, vision, and legacy
• How genuine curiosity can lead to more meaningful conversations
• When a direct message makes sense and how shared context changes the interaction
• How to move from being a stranger to becoming a trusted advisor
• Why values, vision, mission, and legacy alignment matter in business relationships
• Why not every connection needs to become a client, and when walking away is the better choice

Holly also shares a simple but powerful shift in perspective: stop treating every interaction as a sales opportunity and start treating people as potential partners. When you lead with curiosity, contribute before you ask, and give relationships room to develop, you create the conditions for trust and opportunity to grow naturally.

If you're an entrepreneur, consultant, business leader, or professional looking to improve your LinkedIn outreach, generate better referrals, and build meaningful business relationships without sounding salesy, this episode offers a practical reminder that trust comes before the pitch.

Listen to the full episode and let us know: What could change in your business if you focused on building the relationship before making the ask?

#LinkedInOutreach #RelationshipBuilding #Networking #RelationshipMarketing #LeadGeneration #BusinessGrowth #TrustBasedSelling #Entrepreneurship #HollyJeanJackson #InspirationContagion

How does trust drive business growth? In this episode of Inspiration Contagion, Holly Jean Jackson sits down with Mike Ashabraner, known as the Redneck Connector, to explore how trust, relationships, community, and authentic connection can create meaningful and sustainable business growth.

Mike shares his journey from self-doubt and survival mode to building a business around relationships, strategic introductions, service, and intentional growth. Together, Holly and Mike unpack why business grows at the speed of trust and what it really takes to build a network that creates opportunities without making every relationship transactional.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Why trust is the foundation of sustainable business growth
• How relationships and strategic connections can create new opportunities
• The difference between motivation and inspiration
• Why harmony may be a better goal than balance
• What peak performance looks like beyond simply doing more
• How business growth can change relationships and expose old patterns
• The role of ego, shame, and comparison in business decisions
• Why asking permission matters before trying to help or sell
• How self-awareness can strengthen your leadership and relationships
• Why letting go of the outcome can lead to greater impact

Mike also shares a powerful lesson about leaving money on the table early in his business and why sometimes the best thing you can do for someone is stop trying to convince them before they're ready.

If you're an entrepreneur, business leader, consultant, or changemaker looking to grow through relationships rather than transactional networking, this conversation offers practical insights into building trust, creating meaningful connections, and growing a business on your own terms.

Listen to the full episode and let us know: What would change in your business if you focused less on networking more and more on building deeper trust?

#BusinessGrowth #Trust #Networking #RelationshipMarketing #Entrepreneurship #BusinessStrategy #Leadership #MikeAshabraner #HollyJeanJackson #InspirationContagion