Ep 34: Taking a Break

I have some big news!I’m taking a break from the podcast.I have spent the last 5 years putting out weekly episodes (sometimes even more) and it’s time for a change.I know many of you are diehard listeners, and I love you for that. I appreciate you so much, and I’m sorry that this news will be hard. So, for this week’s episode, I talk about my decision and how it came about, what is next for me and how I see myself and my business being an example for others. You’ll learn:Why it’s okay to take a break from things that no longer light you upHow to view your results and other people’s success storiesHow to not let the fear of change hold you backFeatured on today’s episode: Work with me in 2023! CLICK HERE to learn how. Looking to be part of a community? Join my Online Business Building Women Facebook Group HERE Haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is head HERE.

I am convinced that the biggest red flag that turns people off from an entrepreneurial mindset is this idea of, “Retiring your husband”. And rightfully so, I get it! It seems like some empty dream, right? How could this possibly work? There are multiple scams, business models, MLMs, you name it, that dangle the promise of being able to “retire your husband”, without sharing what that actually might look like for all members of the  family. So, for today’s episode of the podcast, I invited my husband, Stuart, back to discuss this idea of “retiring your husband”. We chat more about specifically what “retiring your husband” looks like in our family dynamic, what it actually entails from both sides of the relationship, and how to make it work for you and your family, if and when the time comes.You’ll learn:Why the mental load of letting go of the household responsibilities might be the hardest shift you’ll make as a business ownerHow communication is the most impactful part of switching roles in a family settingWhy it’s important to define your new family dynamics if and when the roles are reversedHow to feel fulfilled as a stay at home parent, and sharpen your personal identityFeatured on today’s episode: Work with me in 2023! CLICK HERE to learn how. Looking to be part of a community? Join my Online Business Building Women Facebook Group HERE Haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is head HERE.

This episode you’ll hear me talking a lot about this word, permission. Permission to opt out of tools that are feeling heavy, outdated, and cumbersome to your business. Permission to change the processes and systems that you might have liked in the beginning of your business, but have outgrown overtime as a business owner. But most importantly, permission to work with the way you're wired, stay true to your authentic self, and stop negative self-talk about decisions you make in your business.This week on the podcast, I’m coming to you  from my phone in my hotel room in Boston last week. After much procrastination towards recording this episode,( and then an unexpected flight cancellation,)  I was put in a pickle where I had to record an episode on the fly without my normal equipment. But I hope that my experience is a great lesson for you; One that you truly don’t have to be perfect or different than you are to create an amazing, profitable business. You’ll learn:How working with the way that you are wired is the best way to make smart, effective business movesWhy adapting processes from other successful business owners isn’t necessarily the best business strategy for your businessHow embracing your weaknesses as a business owner can springboard you into being a stronger, more level-headed business ownerWhy and when you might need to remove some tools/systems  from your process as a business owner Featured on today’s episode: Work with me in 2023! CLICK HERE to learn how. Looking to be part of a community? Join my Online Business Building Women Facebook Group HERE Haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is head HERE.

Business owners are forever questioning every single step they take in their  business. Correction…Every single breath, movement, and step…you name it, is brought into question on a daily basis. But why? Why do we do this to ourselves; why do we question our ability to create the perfect storm of both appropriate steps forward, and decisions to take a step back?Without feeling the guilt, or fear, of other people’s opinions about the actions we have taken.This week on the podcast, I invited my client Kirsten on to dive into the topic of decision making (that’s her specialty!) We’ll be chatting about how we make decisions as business owners, how you’re not alone in the fear of FOPO, (fear of other people’s opinions), and why it’s important to get fluent in your fear. Business building can get really exhausting, really fast, based on how you make decisions. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, overstimulated, and just clueless when it comes to business values, and not letting the fear of other people’s opinions paralyze you, this is the episode for you! You’ll learn:How decision making mistakes are not necessarily a bad thing as a business owner, and how some decisions might subconsciously be being madeWhy FOPO can paralyze a business owner, and why you shouldn’t let it happen to you How there is a purpose to fear, and more importantly, a way to handle it as a business owner Why core value awareness can help you build self trust Featured on today’s episode: Work with me in 2023! CLICK HERE to learn how. Looking to be part of a community? Join my Online Business Building Women Facebook Group HERE Haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is head HERE.

This question is undeniably the question I get asked the most in my coaching sessions:Where’s the line between selling yourself short, undervaluing what you provide, and charging too much?And the answers to these questions are…There’s really no right or wrong answer. Frustrating, right? There’s no secret formula, or hidden pricing guide somewhere that you should be following to determine your pricing. It is constantly changing. So if you're questioning your pricing, especially if you’re a newer business, the hesitation and anxiety surrounding pricing is completely normal; you’re in good company.I invited my sister, and COO, Brenna back to the podcast this week, to chat more about this topic. We will chat more about the idea of creating prices, and how to measure them accurately for your personal needs of your business.  My goal with this episode is for you to get the perspective and tools you need to feel really great about what you offer to your clients and how it’s priced.You’ll learn:Why the  conflicting messages we get from multiple coaches make formulating a  pricing guide that much  harderHow to make sure both you and your potential client are really clear on what is being promised in your work relationshipWhy depending on what “season” you are in your business, will determine fluctuation in your pricing How to utilize multiple varied milestones to consider the flow of your pricing in your business Featured on today’s episode: Work with me in 2023! CLICK HERE to learn how. Looking to be part of a community? Join my Online Business Building Women Facebook Group HERE Haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is head HERE.

Full disclosure if you’re any kind of  business owner:You can have a successful business with bad copy. I’ve been there…almost every single person that has a successful business has created bad copy once or twice before.(Think of it as almost a rite of passage as a business owner, LOL). And I really feel like this is such an important place to start because so many people feel like their business is suffering from bad copy. When in reality, because business owners believe they create bad copy, so they don’t create content.So then what happens? You get no clients, no sales, no business. But bad copy is better than no copy. Crappy content can still help and inspire people.You just have to know how and when to use it for you and your business. And once you find your voice, your area of expertise, and your groove, it will get easier.This week on the podcast, I invited my friend and client, Erica, to chat about all things related to copy. Together, we talk about how bad copy is better than no copy (and you can still get clients with it!), the different phases of copy skills development we’ve been through personally, and give lots of tips and prompts to help you up the value on the content you create. Learn More About Erica:Erica is a former therapist and certified life coach. She helps really busy professionals get more confidence and battle any sort of burnout. Erica also helps her clients manage their time so that they can enjoy all of the things that they’ve created and achieve even more in their professional and personal lives.You’ll Learn:How there are phases of copy that are “liquid”-meaning, you will flow back and forth through them in different times of your businessWhy sometimes the problem isn’t that people aren’t connected to your content…they aren’t connected to youHow the technique of “copycat” copy doesn’t work for every industryWhy learning how to be authentic but relevant to your audience will lead to success in your businessFeatured on today’s episode: Work with me in 2023! CLICK HERE to learn how. Looking to be part of a community? Join my Online Business Building Women Facebook Group HERE Haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is head HERE.

What was the reason you wanted to become a business owner?I know for me, I wanted to be able to have a way to use my training, and degree, while simultaneously being at home while my kids were young. I wanted a way to have both freedom and flexibility, while still financially contributing to my family.Having my own business, I was able to accomplish all three of those things. But here's the problem for pretty much all business owners…We started our business for freedom, and for flexibility. But are you actually experiencing the freedom and the flexibility that you wanted when you first decided to start ?I would say probably for every single business owner, the answer is no at some point. So it's not that it’s always going to be this terrible situation, where you're not having freedom and flexibility…But most of us will have periods of time where we are not experiencing as much of that as we would like, and it's important we focus on the reality of working for ourselves. In this episode of the podcast, I’m solo, which felt pretty necessary based off of the conversation we would be having today about our businesses. I will be taking you through some pivotal shifts in mindset work you need to make as a business owner. But most importantly, I will be giving you realistic and actual approaches to implement into your business today, to set yourself up for success. You’ll learn:How business owners carry baggage of past jobs, and societal norms, into their “mental image” of what a business from home should look likeWhy business owners tend to have feelings that they’re not “doing enough” in their businessHow most business owners feel like they’re the only ones struggling, and how to handle the hard in their businessWhy creating kind and realistic plans and expectations for yourself will benefit your business in the long runHow working with “tangibles” instead of “feelings” will create a positive business mindsetWhy it’s important to work with yourself,how you actually are, and question the way you are actually doing things in your businessFeatured on today’s episode: Work with me in 2023! CLICK HERE to learn how. Looking to be part of a community? Join my Online Business Building Women Facebook Group HERE Haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is head HERE.

“What if you quit?”This is a question I ask many of my clients during 1:1 coaching sessions.  It usually branches from our initial conversation of the “Maybe” game that they’ve been playing. The “Maybe” game is probably one of the worst games that business owners play with themselves in the back of their heads….You’ve probably played it before,you  just didn’t know it had a name.“Maybe I should be more patient.”“Maybe it’s never going to work.”“Maybe I should pivot into a different direction.”“Maybe I should just quit altogether.”If you’ve felt any part of the “Maybe” game before, you are in good company.I invited my client, Sarah Waggoner, both a successful Etsy Seller and Etsy Seller coach, to the podcast today to chat more about this “part of the process' ' in both of our businesses.  We have both doubted many twists and turns in our businesses before. She and I are ready to chat about the challenges, successes, and feelings around these fluid movements in our businesses.In this episode of the podcast, we’ll chat more about how you’ll know that it's time to quit, pivot, or stay the course as a business owner. If you’ve been playing the “Maybe” game more than you’d like, then this episode is for you! Learn More About Sarah:Sarah owns Heartland Lettering, a product business selling on Etsy and Amazon. She also teaches Etsy sellers how to get more sales on Etsy simply and efficiently. You can find her on Instagram or in her free Etsy seller Facebook groupYou’ll Learn:Why it might be important to question the entire “thing” that you are feeling unsure of in your business, instead of just making micro-changes How just because something isn’t working, doesn’t always mean it’s time to quitWhy if you’re someone that truly wants to run a successful business, that is enough of a qualification to be successfulHow as a business owner you need to identify the actual reality of running a businessFeatured on today’s episode: Work with me in 2023! CLICK HERE to learn how. Looking to be part of a community? Join my Online Business Building Women Facebook Group HERE Haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is head HERE.

How many times have you questioned the way you run your business? Better yet, how many times have you felt embarrassed for even thinking you needed to question your business?Having the opportunity to work so closely with thousands of women creating businesses for themselves, I feel confident in saying this  statement: YOU are not ALONE in your feelings. In fact, I would be so bold to say that I believe every single business owner at some point or another has had doubts about their business, and then felt guilty about having them. But why? Why do we feel the need to impose this idea of perfectionism on ourselves, or business, etc. When there are SO many of us that have the SAME kinds of emotions/feelings?This week on the podcast, I have my COO and sister, Brenna, on to talk about business shame and how we see it showing up for people. We also give you a peek behind the curtain of my business to help normalize pivots, changes, and all the ups and downs that come with business.You’ll learn:Why it is important to embrace the different seasons in your business How shifting in your business to something that excites you might mean changing your original plans (and there isn’t anything wrong with that!)Why wanting something more for yourself, your family, and your business, isn’t a bad thingHow you should never assume that your business is over just because you have one bump or failure on your path to successFeatured on today’s episode: Work with me in 2023! CLICK HERE to learn how. Looking to be part of a community? Join my Online Business Building Women Facebook Group HERE Haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is head HERE.

How many times have you had that light bulb moment in your business, for it to only burn out as fast as it came in?Then, what were you left with when the idea didn’t pan out, or took longer to achieve, besides a burnt out light? You’ve probably felt one, if not all of these: insecurity, unworthiness, frustration, anger, unmotivated, and sadness, just to name a few.There’s this  narrative that's out there that if you don't keep taking action towards your goals, then you're lazy or you don't want it enough, or you aren't cut out for business. And more often than not… that’s just not true. In fact, you can thank your hormones for most  of those feelings.This amazing, yet harmful fascination is what my friend, (and one of the incredible coaches on my team), Crystal Agyei, calls the “Dopamine Hangover”. I invited Crystal to join me on my podcast this week to talk more about this concept so we can help you feel less like an unmotivated lazy person who isn’t cut out for business…And help you to realize this happens because you’re a regular human with a regular human brain.In this week’s episode, you’ll learn why this “Dopamine Hangover” happens. But more importantly,  tips and tricks to help you make it through. (or avoid!), the Dopamine Hangover to actually stay engaged with your goals and continue moving  forward. This is a podcast episode everyone needs to listen to!You’ll learn:How exactly causes this “Dopamine Hangover” from a scientific perspectiveWhy just because someone has had something work for them in the past, doesn’t necessarily mean it will for youHow avoiding Dopamine Hangovers stems from a feeling of sufficiencyWhy it’s important to Assess the mental, energetic, and physical capacities of the Dopamine Hangover, and how they specifically relate to youFeatured on today’s episode: Work with me in 2023! CLICK HERE to learn how. Looking to be part of a community? Join my Online Business Building Women Facebook Group HERE Haven’t left a review yet? All you have to do is head HERE.