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Rachel Rodgers

3 lessons learned from my first book tour


Dear Reader,

I am fresh off of my very first book tour for my new book, Million Dollar Action, and I have things to report! I want to share some of the magical moments that took place on this tour and some of the lessons I learned along the way. I think these stories will inspire you and these lessons will help you with your own promotions of future projects.

But before I get into any of that, I want to say a GIANT, BIG ‘OL THANK YOU!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to every single person who showed up to one of my book tour stops. I do not take it for granted that you left your house, busy life, to do list, family and other plans in order to spend the evening with me and for that I am incredibly grateful.

There was a time where I could not fathom having over 300 people in a room enthusiastic to hear little ‘ol me speak about my new book.

And now that has happened. And it was better than I could have imagined.

I also want to give a special shout out to those who drove hours, flew on planes and otherwise traveled far and wide to be there. I truly hope you got what you came for.

Now onto the magical moments and beautiful lessons:

New York: Wow. Y’all truly showed up and showed out. I could only describe this stop as “rah rah” in the best way. The enthusiasm from

my hometown was truly stunning and to see my Mom, cousin, childhood friends, long term clients and influencers in the crowd was so very special. And the beautiful gothic church built in 1847 was the perfect backdrop (to think this is a church that once held enslaved Black people in the basement and now two Black women were leading a conversation about wealth and financial well-being there). I had the best conversation with my sis, Tiffany Aliche. We talked about our winding journeys to becoming millionaires, we talked about why I wrote Million Dollar Action (hint: because I truly want to see y’all win and the only way you can win is by acting with vigor and verve on your dreams) and we walked attendees through two Million Dollar Actions from the book.

Most Magical Moment: A young woman stood up and said she didn’t have a money-generating idea she could do. Through some brief questioning I discovered that she is a social media manager - a very marketable skill. Many people in the audience expressed interest in her services and she launched her business right there in the room with nothing more than a set of skills, a willingness to be coachable and an email address.

Lesson: Be quick to ask for help. Your million just might be on the other side of that ask.


Atlanta: If New York was a party, Atlanta was full of heart. At this stop I was joined by the delightful Mattie James, and we discussed my entrepreneurial journey, my favorite part of being wealthy and who would play me in a movie. The audience showed up ready to learn and take vigorous notes (and dance breaks thanks to our beautiful DJ who kept it lively). It was such a supportive environment where friendships were forged. I heard from a joyful doctor who told me my first book caused her to start her own practice where she serves women of color and has a work life balance that is hard to come by in medicine. A domestic violence survivor was almost shaking as she whispered that the chapter on Million Dollar Boundaries gave her the power to leave and it saved her life (this brought me to tears). And a young girl named Juniper (she was not even 10yo) courageously stepped up to the mic to tell us about her jewelry business. I coached her and gave her some solid marketing advice and an audience member made a small investment in her business on the spot!

Most Magical Moment: As you can see, there were many, but this is the one that took me out. A woman named Yvette stepped up to the mic to let me know that she is the first mom funded by the Hello Seven Foundation. She told me and the crowd that the doula and childcare provided helped her to feel supported during the birth of her son. She was also supported with a ticket to ROI and Club membership. Now, just a year or so later, she has a thriving six-figure business and she wound up donating her services to another attendee who needed help with her fledgling business!! Her story proves the entire thesis of the Hello Seven Foundation, which is that when Black women are supported, we can accomplish extraordinary things and we can then lift up others. (I’m gonna go sob now).

Lesson: Launch your idea! That business you want to build, that offer you want to create, that book you want to write, that story you want to tell - get it out into the world! Your work could change people’s lives for the better. Where would Yvette be if I hadn’t launched the Foundation? Do not let fear stop you - the world needs you.


Los Angeles: I must admit that my family, team and I rolled into LA exhausted from the travel, early mornings and late nights. But it was

nothing that a nap and some coffee couldn’t fix. In LA, I had perhaps my favorite conversation of the tour with my girl, Shan Boodram. Shan was unpacking her own personal money stories while interviewing me and it was beautiful to see her unraveling old stories in real time. If you’ve never met Shan, she is a gifted and enthusiastic presenter and basically a shot of adrenaline (I didn’t need the caffeine after all). We also had an amazing DJ in LA who was vibing with us as we walked attendees through Million Dollar Actions.

Most Magical Moment: I was introduced by my dear friend, Susan Hyatt, and then I walked on to the stage to claps and cheers. Shan was not impressed. She told the crowd that we needed to do that over. She said “a few years from now, you are going to look back on this day as the day you unlocked a lesson that helped you become a millionaire.” She insisted that the crowd needed to do better for the woman that was going to help them become a millionaire. With that, she sent me backstage again, and this time when I came out the crowd went ballistic!

Lesson: Don’t be too shy to own your impact. If you are out in the world, doing work that matters and helping people - don’t walk around with a fake humility. Own your accomplishments. Own your success. And, most importantly, own your impact. Owning it is not haughty, it’s important. The more you own it, the more people will find you and the more people you can help.


The tour was such a beautiful experience. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so appreciated, loved, and supported. And I cannot tell you how many laughs I got at every stop (y’all didn’t know I got jokes!) While it was a challenge to go on tour with all four of my kids in tow, it was worth the logistical challenge. My children each had their own special reactions to seeing mommy at work and hearing the stories folks told about their mother.

In fact, the tour was so magical that I’ve decided I am not done. The tour will continue with one more stop on these internet streets. That’s right, my next tour stop is virtual! That means no matter where you live you can participate in the magic. Just like the in person tour stops, the virtual stop will include a fireside chat with a special guest and a workshop where I walk you through Million Dollar Action that you will take right there in the room. Hey, I might even have a DJ.

The virtual tour stop is happening on June 25th at 6:30pm EST/3:30pm PST. Click here to register.

All you have to do is purchase two physical copies of Million Dollar Action from a retailer of your choice and then upload the receipt to get your ticket. But act fast as you have to purchase your books by 5pm EST on Monday, June 17th (that’s tomorrow!) in order for it to count.

I’ll see you at the last stop!

With immense gratitude,

R


PS: Thanks to you the book tour for Million Dollar Action was a huge success - but it’s not over. Join me for the virtual tour stop on June 25th. Details here.

Rachel Rodgers

CEO: @hello7co | Author: "We Should All Be Millionaires," "Million Dollar Action," and "Future Millionaires" (Coming Soon) | Investor | New Yorker | Mutha

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