Intentional Hiring - Building your dream team

Finding the perfect team members is like choosing creative collaborators to help write your business story. Are you rushing the process or taking time to find people who truly align with your vision?In this deeply personal episode, I pull back the curtain on my transformative approach to hiring for the Daring Press. After years of sometimes selecting the wrong people, I embarked on a thoroughly intentional two-month journey to find team members who would bring the right energy to our creative container.The process began with a comprehensive application form featuring over 20 questions designed to reveal not just professional capabilities, but personal values and working styles. With 80+ applications to review across various roles. Editors, designers, formatters, and assistants, I created a methodical evaluation system against our core values of expression, integrity, collaboration, devotion, and creativity.Shortlisted candidates received custom challenges that revealed how they would actually interact with clients. For editors, I examined not just technical ability but whether their feedback language honored authors' voices. For designers, I assessed how their creative vision aligned with client needs. These practical tasks gave invaluable insight into how candidates would embody our philosophy that "your story matters" in every client interaction.This journey taught me profound lessons about business growth and authentic leadership. As I've moved away from hustle culture toward a more intentional approach, I've paradoxically seen greater success. By releasing the pressure to follow prescribed strategies and rigid timelines, I've created space for organic growth and meaningful connection, both within my team and with the authors we serve.If you're currently hiring, I encourage you to slow down, take your time, and choose people who truly resonate with your vision. Technical skills are teachable, but alignment of values and energy is priceless. Reach out via DM at the daring press on Instagram with any questions about intentional hiring, I'd love to continue the conversation!Book your complimentary discovery call here!Discover what social media platform is right for you here!Download 50 content ideas for authors here! Website: https://thedaringpress.com/

Take a breath right here, right now. Feel that pulse? That's life asking you to meet it in devotion.Devotion has long been misunderstood as rigid discipline or perfectionism, but true devotion is simply a choice - it happens when you stop waiting to be ready. You devote yourself to life not because it's easy, but because it's yours. It's not about getting it right; it's about staying in the room and living the life you've already created.My personal devotion practice revolves around three pillars that fuel everything else: expression through writing before serving others or checking emails; movement that comes from love rather than discipline; and embodiment work that regulates my nervous system so I can safely pursue my vision. When I fuel myself through these practices first, I step into serving others with infectious energy that's fully activated and alive.Trust forms the bridge between fear and flow in this devotion journey. We trust because our soul remembers something our mind keeps forgetting - we were never meant to do this alone. The more we trust life, the more life trusts us back. This co-creative relationship opens doors that seem magical but are actually the natural result of devoted, inspired action.The greatest lesson I've learned is to love life now, not when everything's perfect. We get caught waiting for healing, safety, or success before fully living, but this moment is the only real thing we have. When we embrace presence over perfection, everything changes. Today, I dare you to be devoted not to perfection but to presence, to trust not that you'll never fall but that you'll rise again, and to love your life not when it's fixed, but right now - this breath, this body, this moment. Because this is everything.Listen in, then share your devotion practice with us! What daily ritual helps you fall in love with your life exactly as it is?Book your complimentary discovery call here!Discover what social media platform is right for you here!Download 50 content ideas for authors here! Website: https://thedaringpress.com/

Have you ever diligently followed someone's "foolproof" business strategy only to watch it fail spectacularly? The problem might not be the strategy itself, but whether your soul was truly in it.Strategies won't work if they don't align with who you are at your core. That constriction you feel in your body when considering certain approaches isn't random – it's your internal guidance system sending a critical message. The best marketing formulas, email sequences, and publishing schedules in the world can't overcome misalignment with your authentic self.Think of business strategies like recipes. You can follow someone else's exactly, but the magic happens when you take what resonates and add your own unique spice. When you create from a place of genuine alignment, that energy transfers to your readers. They feel your passion, your purpose, and they connect with it in ways they never could with content created from burnout or obligation.I've learned to embrace messy action over perfect planning. We don't need rigid formulas about book length, genre conventions, or publication schedules. True creative success comes from breaking free of these constraints and taking inspired, passionate action that might look chaotic from the outside but feels deeply right within. The books I wrote while exhausted and pushing through never connected with readers the way I hoped, because that low energy was embedded in every word.The most powerful shift in my creative business came when I committed to only pursuing paths that light my soul on fire. When you write in that flow state – where you later wonder "Did I really write that?" – you're creating work that will genuinely resonate with your ideal readers.Ready to find your own soul-aligned approach? Reach out via DMs at the Daring Press and share your thoughts or revelations. Your authentic creative voice is waiting to be unleashed.Book your complimentary discovery call here!Discover what social media platform is right for you here!Download 50 content ideas for authors here! Website: https://thedaringpress.com/

Have you ever felt like you're wearing a mask when you share content online? That feeling of disconnection between who you really are and what you allow yourself to express publicly can be suffocating for creatives.My recent trip to Japan unexpectedly transformed my approach to creative expression and personal branding. The moment I stepped off the plane, I felt a surge of feminine energy, playfulness, and freedom that I hadn't realized was missing from my daily life. This awakening made me confront an uncomfortable truth: I had completely lost my authentic voice online.As writers, we excel at creating characters and speaking through their voices. We can pour our deepest thoughts and desires into fictional personas while keeping our true selves safely hidden. I discovered I'd been doing exactly this—finding it easy to post content for my pen names and business accounts while remaining paralyzed when it came to sharing my personal thoughts. The fear of judgment had effectively silenced me.What's been most liberating is realizing that most of my fears about others' judgments were simply projections of my own insecurities. When I finally gathered the courage to share unfiltered thoughts without expectations of validation, something magical happened—people connected with my words in ways I never anticipated. The authenticity created bridges where careful curation had built walls.This experience has completely transformed how I approach personal branding as an author. Bringing readers into your thought process, sharing the emotional journey of creation, and expressing genuine opinions creates meaningful connections that marketing tactics simply can't replicate. Your unique voice is the most powerful tool you have—are you ready to use it without apology?Curious about how stepping into your authentic voice might transform your creative journey? Subscribe to The Daring Author podcast and join me as we explore the intersection of authenticity, creativity, and personal branding. What would you create if you weren't afraid of being judged?Book your complimentary discovery call here!Discover what social media platform is right for you here!Download 50 content ideas for authors here! Website: https://thedaringpress.com/

Fear grips us all in different ways, but for authors, the fear of being seen might be the most insidious barrier to success. While we pour our souls into characters and plotlines, many of us freeze when it comes to marketing our work and building our author brand.This deeply personal episode explores the paradox we face as writers: we're comfortable weaving our truths into fiction, hiding safely behind screens and sometimes even pen names, yet we panic at the thought of genuine visibility. That fear of judgment and rejection keeps us molding ourselves to fit expectations, wearing masks to gain acceptance, and ultimately disconnecting from the authentic voice that could be our greatest strength.The breakthrough comes when we recognize that our thoughts and emotions aren't who we truly are. By separating our essential self from the frightened mind, we can witness our fears without being controlled by them. This separation creates freedom to show up authentically, which magnetizes the exact readers who resonate with our unique energy. These connections aren't just marketing wins—they're soul-aligned relationships that make the author journey infinitely more fulfilling.Your authenticity is the most powerful marketing tool you'll ever possess. Those raw, real posts that terrify you to share? They're precisely the ones that will connect most deeply with your audience. In a world of AI-generated content and cookie-cutter marketing, your human voice is what makes readers stop scrolling. I challenge you to post something this week that scares you—something genuine that reveals the person behind the author name. Your true readers are waiting to connect with exactly who you are, not who you think you should be.Book your complimentary discovery call here!Discover what social media platform is right for you here!Download 50 content ideas for authors here! Website: https://thedaringpress.com/

What does it truly mean to embrace fearlessness in your writing journey? The Daring Author isn't just a concept—it's a revolutionary mindset that transforms how writers approach their craft and share their work with the world.We explore the powerful identity of a truly authentic writer—one who speaks her truth unfiltered and raw, knowing her words will reach precisely those who need them most. This isn't about writing what's trending or following prescribed paths to publishing success. The Daring Author writes the stories she once feared telling, publishes without permission, and refuses to let external validation determine her worth.At the heart of this conversation lies a fundamental truth: courage isn't the absence of fear but the decision to keep going despite it. When doubt inevitably creeps in, the Daring Author acknowledges it, smiles, and continues forward. She refuses to fit into boxes she doesn't even see, choosing instead to forge her own path through the jungle of publishing—complete with obstacles, scrapes, and challenges that make her stronger with each step.Your unique voice matters precisely because nobody else in this world is you. Your stories deserve to be told in your authentic voice, not contorted to match market trends or bestseller formulas. Join us in embracing your identity as a fearless, unstoppable creator who owns her voice, shares her truth, and blazes her own trail. Are you ready to become the Daring Author?Book your complimentary discovery call here!Discover what social media platform is right for you here!Download 50 content ideas for authors here! Website: https://thedaringpress.com/

What if your vision board is just the beginning? Many of us craft these boards with hope and enthusiasm, only to watch them collect dust as the months go by. I share my personal journey of losing focus and the pivotal steps I took to align my dreams with reality. Tune in as we unravel the secrets of transforming your vision into actionable goals using the SMART system—specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Whether you're planning a book launch or starting a new venture, I provide practical strategies to organise your timeline, navigate unexpected hurdles, and stay accountable with tools like Google Sheets. Book your complimentary discovery call here!Discover what social media platform is right for you here!Download 50 content ideas for authors here! Website: https://thedaringpress.com/

Want to unlock the power of vision boards and turn your 2025 aspirations into reality? Discover how these creative tools not only help you visualise your dreams but also keep them front and center in your mind, setting the stage for your subconscious to get to work. We'll explore the benefits of refreshing your vision board to align with evolving goals and share my personal approach to digital creation using Pinterest. Whether you lean towards digital or physical formats, you'll learn how to craft a compelling visual representation of your aspirations that keeps inspiration alive all year long.In this episode, we delve into practical strategies for harnessing the motivational power of vision boards. Using tools like Canva, you'll find out how to craft boards that resonate with your dreams and inspire daily action.The key to transformation is consistency; taking small, daily steps that align with your vision is crucial. We'll also discuss the synergy of using a planner to align daily tasks with long-term goals and invite you to share your creations on social media for communal inspiration and accountability. Get ready to transform your dreams into tangible realities, one day at a time!Book your complimentary discovery call here!Discover what social media platform is right for you here!Download 50 content ideas for authors here! Website: https://thedaringpress.com/

Ever feel like you’re racing against everyone else's accomplishments? As we close out the year, we're inviting you to hit pause with a special reflection meditation on The Daring Author podcast. Imagine a space where you can release the burden of comparison and just celebrate the incredible stories you've created in 2024. This episode is a heartfelt journey into acknowledging your unique writing path and the joy it brings. Picture the early mornings, the late nights, the plot twists, and those emotional scenes that tugged at your heartstrings. Together, let's honor the soul gift of writing and the vibrant worlds you’ve brought to life.Feel the grounding power of reflection as Jenna guides you through a meditation that reconnects you with the essence of storytelling. This isn't just about counting books or measuring success—it's about cherishing the characters and universes only you could have crafted. Book your complimentary discovery call here!Discover what social media platform is right for you here!Download 50 content ideas for authors here! Website: https://thedaringpress.com/

Ready to transform your writing routine? Discover how dedicating a day to structured writing sprints can ignite your creativity and boost your productivity. Our session begins with a grounding meditation to align our intentions, followed by 40-minute sessions that are balanced with rejuvenating breaks. From tracking word counts to battling distractions and hunger, join Jenna as she shares her experience with writing sprints. Book your complimentary discovery call here!Discover what social media platform is right for you here!Download 50 content ideas for authors here! Website: https://thedaringpress.com/