Jessica Eken

As an interior architect, I was asked from time to time to assist people in getting their homes ready for the market. After designing renovations I would be asked to organize interiors as well. This was at a time when home staging was virtually unheard of. I developed my own little program to streamline the process so it would not take up too much of my design time. My little program became very helpful in the following decade at a time when staging turned into a popular aspect of selling a home. When Covid hit early 2020, I closed my design firm to focus on copywriting for the building and design industry. During this time I would think about turning the little staging program into a course for people who would like to find out what the professionals do when staging for sale. Staged homes were selling quicker and for more money. People wanted to know what to do. I did turn the program into a course but when I realized all I had to do to market it, I stalled. I subsequently purchased a couple of marketing courses in the hopes they would show me the way, to no avail. In September of 2021, I was accidentally introduced to one of Marisa's programs. I was hooked. Marisa approached setting up a course, marketing, and selling it from a completely different angle. She was talking about hormones, dopamine in particular. I was so intrigued I started gaining more information on Marisa and her programs when I found EPM. At that point, I had sworn that I would not buy another course ever again. I found so many so lacking, so light, so not inspirational. But EPM sounded very different. When Marisa, in one of her webinars, mentioned that "if anything you will have learned so much that can be used for the rest of your life...", plus her guarantee, plus her moving story about her Mom, I decided to take the course. I felt Marisa was a person I could relate to. There was no hype. It was all down-to-earth. And, I have not looked back... It was so clear from day 1 that I would learn so much, would gain so much information that I embraced the program. The program is so fulfilling. The step-by-step progress is easy to do, easy to follow. The milestones force you to think through the process and the coaching sessions give the opportunity to test your thought processes. The Monday With Marisa coaching sessions are a goldmine of information. The side door coaching alone provides so many learning opportunities. It has been exciting to be part of this experience. It is also very clear that Marisa knows what she is talking about. Her ability to formulate mission statements for her students is phenomenal. It has not always been easy though. While going through the first three modules, doing the work was fun and simple. That is until I hit the chatter boxing session. On paper chatter boxing seemed very doable. And it actually still does. The reality was very different. Chatter boxing proved difficult for me (as I know it is also that for other people...). I hit a road block. I stalled, again... Here I was with a course beautifully formulated and nearly ready to go, and no place to take it to. Or so I thought. I struggled for at least three weeks, if not more, to not only get going with chatter boxing, but also to get motivated to do it. I did start reaching out to people I had not been in touch with for some time and that actually became a fun thing to do. I was hung up though on this Facebook chattering thing. I am not a Facebook follower. I find it annoying and a waste of time. I am, in general, really not interested in the stupid things that are posted on this platform. Plus, when trying to connect with someone in a new group, I got booted out: I was promoting myself according to the admin of that group. I was floored because I genuinely offered someone help by listening to them. I was not even talking about my course. This sure did not help my confidence about chatter boxing. I then discovered that I could use Facebook for setting up free, weekly live video sessions where I answer people's questions about anything to do with their homes. I invited people from the groups I joined to attend these free sessions. At first there was one person. The next time there were three. The third time there were only two, but one of those people actually became interested in my staging program when I mentioned it in passing. She was the first person I had a full conversation with about the course. While she is planning on selling her home later in the year, she intends to take my course in the spring. I keep in touch with her to keep her interest up. :) Meanwhile I will continue giving the free Q & A sessions about interior architecture and interior design. I enjoy doing them a lot. I am loosing my hesitations about promoting my course. I am gaining confidence! I would not have been able to do this without EPM. EPM has not only given me the opportunity to think about my product in a different way, it has also assisted me in formulating it differently, making it more of an experience to go through than a course to take. After all, at the end of my course, the student will have a decluttered, organized and beautifully staged house that is photo and listing ready. As per Marisa: this is photographable result, a tangible mission accomplished. After all this time I can safely say that without EPM, my coach and Marisa's insight and input, I would still be stuck, stalled and staring at my 'little' program which is not little anymore!

It was a wonderful breeze flowing through Modules 1, 2, and 3. And then chatter boxing started... And, I stalled. While chatting in real life with people is great, chatter boxing with people on FB really did me in. I joined a number of relevant groups as recommended. In one of the groups I connected with a person who obviously was having a difficult time and I felt sorry for her. I wanted to help her and lend an empathic ear to her. However, this was interpreted as 'promoting myself'. I got bumped from the group. It freaked me right on. Now, FB is not something I enjoy. On the contrary, I loath it. It is too easy to get lost in the post and the potential for wasting time is always there. So I rarely go into FB and never check out people's posts. I stalled...and stalled....and stalled. This coincided with the LYM Christmas break and my motivation departed with huge wings, I might add. For three weeks LYM was not on my radar at all. When coaching started again, and modules 4 and 5 dropped I halfheartedly went back to the program. But my heart was no longer in it. Until just about 10 days ago I met a lady in one of the FB groups who joined my free Q&A session I had started doing live on FB. Anyone could ask a question for free and I would give them my recommendations (Interior Architecture is my profession). This lady became interested in my course Fabulous DIY Home Staging when I mentioned it in passing during our conversation. When I told her all about it, we ended up having a full "launch' conversation and she signed up for it right there and then. We start in the second week in February. Since then her friend contacted me and we too had a full 'launch' conversation. She signed up this morning. So, that's two people now signed up. I may get a third one this week. If that is the case I will have reached my target goal! I will know by Wednesday, Feb 2nd. Yahoo!!!!! I am so grateful to Marisa and the team for developing such an amazing program as EPM has been. After years of dilly-dallying, I am now on my way!