Erin King learned quickly how important it was to discount the voices that said, “No girl,” and to tune into one voice in particular who said, “Go girl.”

“I remember when I was 25, I was offered an opportunity to move across the country away from my entire clan for a dream job,” she says. “I came home and was so pumped for the adventure. I knew in my heart it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! But everyone shot it down, mocked it. My parents even tried to ‘forbid’ me from going. Nana was the only one who told me to go with my gut.”

Thank goodness she did, King says, because that one decision changed the course of her entire life. 

“It takes guts to go with your gut, especially in a world where everyone’s opinion is just one comment or click away,” she says.

That was the moment King became hyper-aware that cultivating audacity is the secret sauce that determines whether you find yourself existing in an ordinary life or unlocking an extraordinary one.

“Nana used to say, ‘It’s better to be someone’s shot of whiskey rather than everyone’s cup of tea.’ I never forgot that,” King says. “I’ve used that mantra to call on my Big Deal Energy (BDE) whenever I was tempted to be intimidated by Fortune 500 executives, insecure about being ‘ready enough’ to make a change or even dealing with the dark side of having a lot of social media followers.”

King says we’ve all been dealt tough hands in our lives or had moments where the world wants us to play small, but radically dialing into our intuition and tuning out the rest is the only way to overcome those insecurities and play BIG.

Trust your own voice

King will be a keynote speaker at IMEX America in Las Vegas, Oct. 17-19. Her session, “Unlock Your Big Deal Energy,” will be a transformative experience designed to help you level up how you show up online, offline and all the time.

She is a three-time digital entrepreneur and current co-founder of Strikepoint Media (twice an Inc. “5000 Fastest Growing Company in America” digital marketing agency). She has also spent the last 15 years observing technology’s impact on how we view our place in an ever-evolving world.

“From search to social to artificial intelligence, constant connectivity means that sometimes we find ourselves scrolling away our self-awareness and allowing the world’s noise to drown out our ability to hear and trust our own voice,” she says.

King uses vibrant storytelling to help guide audience members on how to use their inner GPS boldness to overcome obstacles keeping them stuck or holding them back from their potential for great things. She’ll show IMEX America attendees how to unlock who they are destined to become. 

Big Deal Energy

For King, BDE describes someone with a strong and confident presence who organically commands attention and respect from others. It’s a blend of boldness, charisma, leadership, authenticity, personal confidence and visionary thinking. 

“The difference that someone with BDE delivers is that they know it’s not just about being in the spotlight, but it’s about using their power of presence to inspire, lead and effect powerful, positive change,” she says. “The real difference is that BDE is essentially about mission-driven magnetism.”

People with BDE, King says, are the individuals you know who are excellent at shaping others’ opinions and inspiring tangible action. Through compelling storytelling and engaging content, they are the tastemakers that can change the world. Also, unlocking your BDE makes it easier to maintain a consistent image and voice across various platforms.

“The charisma and confidence of someone with BDE facilitate strong human-to-human connections through comments, live videos and personalized content,” King says. This leveled-up engagement is how you (or your event) can ultimately build a truly loyal community around your brand.”

King says, though, there are several misconceptions about BDE. One of those is based on ego and arrogance. 

“While confidence is a key component, it doesn’t necessarily translate into arrogance,” she says. “BDE typically includes a sense of self-awareness, authenticity and empathy—traits that are the exact opposite of arrogance.”

Another misconception is that BDE is all about outward appearance and superficial charm. However, BDE often involves a deeper understanding of oneself, one’s values and the ability to connect with others on a meaningful level.

Also, BDE may be viewed as a gender-specific trait, but everyone can exhibit it, she says. 

For those who aspire to embody BDE but struggle with self-confidence or assertiveness, King offers some helpful advice. 

“In a world of automation, AI, social media and growing screen time, it has never been more important to double down on our radical humanity,” she says. “Expanding out empathy by truly exploring the emotions of others is the fastest way to increase your ability to connect and engage with the people who need you most.”