77 : Business lessons learned from COVID-19 with Alana & Co

Welcome to the first episode of a series of interviews with entrepreneurs reflecting on the lessons they learned from COVID-19.  Today I am speaking with Alana from Alana & Co, a New Zealand based maker of hand poured and hand crafted soy candles. Alana turned her hobby into a business in the middle of the lockdown in August 2021.In this episode Alana shares her experience of starting a business in lockdown, the power of collaborations and what she has learnt about herself along the way. Alana has such an amazing story with so many serendipitous turns Alana & Co was just absolutely meant to be! Connect with Alana at www.instagram.com/alana.and.co www.alana-co.com Connect with Kirsty : www.instagram.com/kirstyobrienofficial www.teamko.com.au If you'd love to share your story email me at [email protected]

When you get stuck in your head too much you become ungrounded. Grounding brings you back to your back and centers your energy.  This short breathing practice (less than 5 mins) will help you come back to your body and bring your attention to the present moment.  You can use this simple grounding technique anytime throughout the day when you feel your mind racing and your energy becoming fatigued.  www.teamko.com.au www.kirstyobrienofficial.com.au

This short practice will help you to calm a racing mind and relax tense and tight muscles.  Throughout the day we can become unaware of how much tension we are holding in parts of our body. This stored tension affecting our mental clarity, overall wellbeing and sleep quality. As you focus on your breathing you can create a safe space for your mind and body. Calming the mind helps the muscles to relax and tension released.   A few minutes nothing to do, nowhere to be.  Connect with me : www.instagram.com/kirstyobrienofficial Free resources and book a free coaching call : www.teamko.com.au

How can a business thrive when it’s team is exhausted? Burnout has become a key issue for business throughout the pandemic and impacts owners and employees in all industries and roles. This episode is a recording of my free lunch + learn session REINVIGORATE A TIRED TEAM, that was ran as a part of the NSW Small Business Month initiative in march 2022. Over the next 25 minutes you will gain some valuable insights and actionable strategies to bring a new focus to your leadership and               re-energise your team. Connect with me on socials : www.instagram.com/kirstyobrienofficial Book a free coaching call : www.teamko.com.au Connect with me on LINKEDIN and be the first to find out about other free online lunch + learn events : www.linkedin.com/in/kirstyobrien https://www.smallbusinessmonth.nsw.gov.au/

We tend to get really good at thinking that we end up spending most of our day stuck in our heads and disconnected from our hearts. When the body relaxes the mind calms and the heart opens. In that space we are able to experience more wellbeing, deepened connection, clarity of thought. An open heart is a cheerleader and friend.  In this episode I take you through a very quick breathing practice using the mantra RELAX THE BODY TO CALM THE MIND. CALM THE MIND TO OPEN THE HEART. Helping you to get out of your head and into a calm and relaxed state www.teamko.com.au www.instagram.com/meditatewithkirsty 

Our mind is constantly wandering and in this episode I share how knowing when to set your mind free is a powerful tool in business. Strategic daydreaming, rather than wasting time,  actually helps us to solve problems, unlock our creativity and think without limitations.  Connect with me on Insta : www.instagram.com/kirstyobrienofficial Free resources for mindful entrepreneurship : 

Healthy boundaries are the key to creating a business you love leading and a life you love living. In the daily running of your business it can be easy to say yes to everything and end up depleted and stressed. Creating and maintaining boundaries are crucial to your success. In this episode I share  4 tips for building healthy boundaries in your biz and protecting your energy as an entrepreneur. 1. Choose your partnerships carefully 2. Stop being on call 24/7 3. Set time limits 4. Have clear daily objectives. Thanks so much for listening. Find free resources here : www. teamko.com.au/stresstools Connect with me : www.instagram.com/kirstyobrienofficial

Self doubt is a natural part of life but as an entrepreneur it's vital you learn how to challenge your thinking so that you build the confidence you need to succeed. In this episode I share a simple exercise to help you stop self doubt in it's tracks and change the way you talk to yourself. Free resources for mindful entrepereneurship _ www.teamko.com.au/stresstools Follow me www.instagram.com/kirstyobrienofficial

It's the first episode of 2022 and let's kick it off by talking about your goals. I'm sharing with you a simple but powerful coaching tool that will help you close the gap from where you are to where you want to be. Create clarity around your priorities and pinpoint goals in the areas important to you for a successful and fulfilling life.  Download my LEVEL 10 LIFE AUDIT worksheet for free on my website : www.teamko.com.au/stresstools Connect with me on Insta : www.instagram.com/kirstyobrienofficial If you're ready to smash your personal and business goals this year with the support and accountability of an expert coach book your first session in with me today :  https://www.teamko.com.au/coaching 

What are you anticipating when you approach most conversations? Stress is one of the biggest barriers to communication and it can have us approaching even the simplest conversations expecting a fight. In this episode Crystal Hinton, a theta healing instructor, talks about how the stories we are holding onto affect the way we communicate. Sharing actionable ways you can begin to joyfully approach communication. Helping you express how you feel clearly and confidently, even in difficult situations. We chat about  How Crystal's Lupus diagnosis led her to theta healing (4:15) What are you anticipating? Setting the tone and energy in our communication (9:00) Building confidence in your communication (17:00) Interrupting our stress state with play (25:00) Theta healing downloads for confident and clear communication (37:00) Connect with Crystal :  www.instagram.com/thelovejourneybycrystal www.facebook.com/thelovejourneybycrystal www.crystalignexperience.com Crystal Hinton helps driven entrepreneurs and leaders enjoy the heck out of their life by elevating their mindset and energy. She believes that self-love is the foundation for having guilt-free play and enjoying your life instead of working 24/7. She's living proof that you can have a wildly fulfilling personal life and career success. www.teamko.com.au www.instagram.com.au/meditatewithkirsty