Our current interview feature* is Keri Murphy.After 20 years as an on-camera talent with major networks like E!, The Golf Channel, MTV, and TV Guide, Keri Murphy followed her entrepreneurial spirit and founded Inspired Living. In less than three years, she created a six-figure business helping women live inspired lives.
Keri offers years of experience and a passion for helping others succeed. In addition to owning several businesses and working on TV, she has been an actor and model since childhood and has traveled the world as a speaker and teacher. As the CEO and founder of Inspired Living, she uses celebrity interviews and mentoring programs to help clients find their “it” factor and create the lives and businesses of their dreams.
Recently, Keri partnered with the California Women’s Conference, the largest women’s conference in the country, and the Oregon Women’s Conference in Portland, Oregon. She is natural-born leader who can help others shine on-stage, on-camera, and in their everyday lives.
Can you tell us a little bit about Inspired Living TV?
Sure! Inspired Living TV came about after closing a business that I really loved in 2008. The recession hit and I wasn’t prepared for it by any means. I moved out to L.A. to pursue my childhood dream of television hosting, which is something that I had always done locally in Portland, but never believed that I could do full-time. So it wasn’t until I had no other resource or choice but to step into that calling and see what would happen. So I filled up my car, moved to L.A. and was signed by an amazing agency. I started working for E! and TV Guide, and had already worked for MTV and the Golf Channel at this point.
I was hosting and doing some celebrity “red carpet” interviews when it dawned on me, I was no longer fulfilled asking celebrities about what they were wearing or about a movie premiere. I felt like there had to be a bigger reason or calling that brought me to LA. I’m fascinated about the stories of success and how successful got where they are. Each person that I have interviewed—and I’ve interviewed many really successful people—had an unwavering belief in what was possible for them. Their story always entailed belief and commitment, however the journey was always different.
They each overcame huge obstacles to get where they are. Never give up! They believed in themselves and sought out great mentors. I love those stories and that’s what Inspired Living TV is all about. It’s about helping other people see, through the stories of others, what they are truly capable of.
That’s awesome! So do you think that significance of creating your own live platform versus waiting to be on somebody else’s platform is huge? What’s the significance of you doing your own show?
That’s such good question. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be on someone else’s platform however we often have to wait for the “right” opportunity. That was one of the tipping points for me. I was heading out to an audition…I spent a couple hours getting hair and make up ready, drove there (which in LA can take hours), walked up the stairs and saw over 250 girls waiting for their 2 minutes with the Casting Director. My entire day was spent waiting for someone to tell me that I was good enough. And I think so many women have that conversation with themselves: “Am I good enough?” “Should I really be doing this?” “Who am I to be going out there to start my own show or video series?”
It was after waiting 3 HOURS that I decided I was not going to wait anymore for someone to validate my skill or talent. That if I wanted to create my own platform I was going to, and that’s really when Inspired Living took off.
If you constantly wait for the opportunity, for someone to find you, or for the sky to part for you to finally get your opportunity, you will be waiting for a long time. I think that Oprah is such a great example of that. She started her own show. She built it and people followed because she knew what she was called to do, and that is amazing! No, don’t wait. Start today!
What is it about TV, behind-the-scenes and entertainment that you’re drawn to and do you think that telling your story on TV makes it more personable versus a book or other platform? Do you think it’s more impactful to be on the camera?
Well, There’s definitely no doubt it, video is the fastest growing segment of online marketing tools. So if you are an entrepreneur, or if you are an aspiring business owner, if you have a message that you want to get out into the world, video is the best way to do that. We can only speak on so many stages and it’s more and more difficult to reach the people who really need our message. I love to speak; it’s probably one of things I love to do the most, but I can’t travel every day and I can’t be on a stage every day, so video is the 2nd best way to reach people.
Eight out of ten views online are video. The “bright, shiny object syndrome” is more apparent in everyone’s lives today so I think it’s much more difficult to sit down and read a book or a long email—even though I still love to do that—it’s much easier to watch a short video.
I grew up wanting to be like Mary Hart on Entertainment Tonight- it was that or a Supermodel. I knew I wanted to be in the entertainment industry. My grandmother was a professional singer and model and my uncle is an incredible musician. Let’s just say I have the “entertainment” gene. For me, it’s a comfortable place to be.
I was on your site and it said that 80 percent of those who own computers watch videos, basically YouTube, something like 4 billion videos a day. What do you think people are attracted to? What are we looking for?
People love to be entertained. So, as a business owner our videos have to be entertaining. I call it “edutainment,” it has to be educational and entertaining. You said it: There are 4 billion views on YouTube every day. Thousands of videos are uploaded every second. It’s crazy the amount on content we have access to! We can go online and look up anything. You can put in “how-to,” along with a video topic, and a video is going to come up. So it is about educating and entertaining people, making videos viable and also resourceful.
How do you prepare for the camera? Is it the same as when you would go for auditions?
Yes and no. I started modeling and acting when I was 11. I taught acting for years. I’ve spoken on stage for years and have traveled the world as a speaker. When it comes to Inspired Living, more than anything, I need to come out of being a host because when you are a host on a show, you carry yourself differently. When you are doing the interviews, it’s much more real and raw and intimate. So I have to get out of performing myself. I have to get out of being a host and I have to get into serving and reaching that one person that needs it, and that’s the space that I always try to be in when I do my Inspired Living interviews or when I do my newsletter videos each week. I’m not trying to really host a show. I’m trying to connect and there’s a difference. So for me, I’m just constantly working on connections.
In addition to your videos, you offer many types of training on mentorship and on-camera training. How do you adjust your coaching style with someone who is camera shy, like me, or may not be the camera type but has a great mission or vision that should be shared? How would you build their confidence and work with them?
I work with a lot of people just like you. A few months back I had a lady contact me and say that she was terrified of the camera, it was her greatest fear. She said, “I’m going to invest in this.” I guaranteed her that she was going to walk away with no more fear and a video she was proud of…and she did.
My training really is for anyone who wants to learn how to authentically show up on camera to build their brand and business. Whether you are a seasoned speaker or have no idea what your message is, you will walk away confident in who you are, the message you have to share and the people you want to serve. You can go anywhere and pay someone to shoot a pretty video of you, I teach you how to BE on-camera.
So do you suggest that all businesses have some type of video presence?
Absolutely! Research shows that people are 65 percent more likely to do business with you if you have a video. It’s the quickest way to build rapport with people. We’re in a very noisy world right now with so much information. If we’re looking for a coach, an attorney, a bookkeeper or whatever it is, we can go to their website and tour around, or we can press play and get to know them in two to three minutes. This way, we can quickly determine whether we connect with that person or not. It’s a much quicker way to build relationships. If you’re not using video, you’re pretty much giving your clients to those people who are. So using the camera is imperative; it’s an absolute must.
So the other coaching that you offer, is it always built around inspiration or is it business-building? What about it is different than what you do as far as on-camera coaching?
I also work with people on how to build a high-profile, high-income business so they can make a big difference doing what they love. I work with women on building that go-to “celebrity” brand that really allows them to be the spokesperson and catalyst in their business. People can work with me one-on-one or in a group setting. I love helping women step into their vision and create an extraordinary life.
I find that a lot of people don’t have clarity around what it is they want to create in their life. If there’s no clarity, you can’t create it! So I work with people on getting clear on who they want be and what they want to create, and then we work out a plan of action to get them there.
What words best describe the legacy that you want to leave?
“Dream it. Live it. BE it!” It’s never too late to dream a new dream, live a life that you love and become the person that you KNOW you’re called to be.
How can our readers stay connected to you?
You can find me just about all the social media channels and on Facebook under “Keri Murphy’s Inspired Living.” If they go to my website, www.inspiredliving.tv, they can sign up for my free Gifted TV where I share more of my stories and strategies. They will get Inspired Living interviews, success tips and inspirations. It’s really a great community to be a part of!
Do you have any words of encouragement or to leave with the readers as we close out?
Don’t be afraid to fail. “Failure” can be your greatest stepping-stone to success. Everything that you need to succeed is inside of you. Decide who you want to be and then start moving forward in creating that and find the right people to support you. Don’t try to go at it alone! It’s really important that you surround yourself with like-minded people. It is key to your success, happiness and fulfillment in life.
Well, Keri, this has been a great interview. I’ve been inspired by you and maybe I’ll get my courage up to take part in your camera training because what you’re talking about is really huge. It’s really needed and it’s in tune with what’s going on with today’s technology. Thank you for your time!
*Original Interview Condensed for Online Publishing.
To hear the complete interview
CWM INTERVIEWS KERI MURPHY from ALEGNA MEDIA on Vimeo.
Live Interview facilitated by Sharisa Robertson ( sharisarobertson.com ).Stay tuned in 2014 for live full presentation of all 2014 interviews!
