One of the fundamental things that I teach as part of Be Brilliant, and I want you to cultivate for yourself, is to become very protective of the life that you want.

  Think of your time as your most precious asset. How you spend your time will determine what you create in your life. You need to be the gatekeeper of your time and energy, so that you have the capacity to  build what you really want.   Saying no is a necessary skill. And there are two ways to say no - unintentionally and intentionally. In this episode we are talking about trade-offs, unintentional ways that we say no. I'm walking you through 4 steps to help you uncover both your yes's and your no's, so you can be more empowered with your time and energy.   And I've got 6 examples of sneaky trade-offs that most of us are doing, so I want you to be on the lookout for these in your life!   Ps, make sure you are subscribed to the show, and I’d love to hear what you think of this episode! Take a screenshot in your player and tag me @linsibrownson on Instagram.     Key Takeaways:

1. There are two kinds of no – intentional (a.k.a. boundaries) and unintentional (a.k.a. trade-offs).
2. Be protective of the life you want - honor the time and energy that is required to have what matters to you.
3. Follow these 4 steps to make powerful choices in your business: Aim, Uncover, Investigate, Champion.
4. 6 sneaky tradeoffs to watch out for.

   If you're saying yes to obligation, you're saying no to joy.   Links 

• I mentioned Episode 62: Clarifying questions and Episode 63: How visualization changes your life. Put those on your playlist to listen to next! These will both help you with clarity.
• Sound editing is provided by Erik Hulslander at hearnoevilmedia.com.  
• Schedule a coaching consultation at https://www.linsibrownson.com/get-started

For transcript and show notes, visit https://www.linsibrownson.com/podcast/74

  What do you struggle to keep up with? Maybe it's managing your daily schedule, completing a course or embracing a healthy habit.   Whatever it is, one of your obstacles is definitely the thought "I'm behind." In this episode, I've got two examples to show you exactly how this plays out and why it's not useful. And good news, it's also never true! So you can stop thinking it immediately, and start moving forward a lot faster.   "You'll never get ahead while thinking you're behind."   Ps, make sure you are subscribed to the show, and I’d love to hear what you think of this episode! Take a screenshot in your player and tag me @linsibrownson on Instagram.   Links 

• Sound editing is provided by Erik Hulslander at hearnoevilmedia.com.  
• Schedule a coaching consultation at https://www.linsibrownson.com/get-started

For transcript and show notes, visit https://www.linsibrownson.com/podcast/73

    In the community of Hoedspruit, Limpopo in South Africa, people's lives are interlinked. The adage "it takes a village" is a truism here. People depend on each other, as they each contribute something valuable as well.     The town is both farm and safari; The perfect setting for travelers looking for both simplicity and adventure within nature. Giraffes (Twiga in Swahili) make everyday appearances.     So naturally, the global impact of COVID-19 has been devastating to this travel-based community. And yet, many of its residents are looking for possibilities rather than worries.     Which is exactly what my guest, Bianca Black, has done. Her Mission has always been to celebrate people and contribute to her community. She has an eye for beautiful things, and a desire to share stories. She also has access (resources, privilege, and language) to create a platform that brings people together.     In this episode, Bianca and I are talking about creating community through commerce. We talk about the mission behind all of her businesses (what led to this pivot) and where they are going next with Africa Unboxed. I hope you enjoy this brilliant conversation with Bianca Black.     Ps, make sure you are subscribed to the show, and I’d love to hear what you think of this episode! Take a screenshot in your player and tag me @linsibrownson on Instagram. Also, I'm doing stories all week of the gorgeous items from my box! Be sure to tune in there.     Links 

• Visit Africa-Unboxed.com
• Follow @kuku_interiors and @AfricaUnboxed on Instagram
• Sound editing is provided by Erik Hulslander at hearnoevilmedia.com.  
• Schedule a coaching consultation at https://www.linsibrownson.com/get-started

Today I am sharing a powerful tool for relationships - or what I like to call "people problems." And it's not only relationships, this can be useful for pretty much any problem where something or someone is making you miserable.   Ps, make sure you are subscribed to Be Brilliant In Your Business Podcast, and I’d love to hear what you think of this episode! Take a screenshot in your player and tag me @linsibrownson on Instagram.   Key Takeaways:

1. We believe that our life experiences are simply observations about what is true in the world.
2. Positive relationships require us to own our own stories and manage our own emotional life.
3. Trying to be accommodating is not being accommodating. It's being manipulative.
4. When a story is highly charged, separate out the facts.   

Links 

• For transcript and show notes, visit https://www.linsibrownson.com/podcast/72
• Sound editing is provided by Erik Hulslander at hearnoevilmedia.com.  
• Schedule a coaching consultation at https://www.linsibrownson.com/get-started

Hey Mavericks, today I am sharing a piece of business advice that I recently gave to a friend of mine. This is my personal experience after spending lots of time and energy doing it the hard way.   The reason I am sharing my story is because the advice itself sounds simple...almost like a platitude. But I promise you it's not. My hope is that this will help you notice where you're doing this in your business, so you can move forward faster.   Ps, make sure you are subscribed to the show, and I’d love to hear what you think of this episode! Take a screenshot in your player and tag me @linsibrownson on Instagram.   Key Takeaways:

1. No matter what you sell, your MINDSET IS HOW you will confidently back up your offer.
2. What makes something easier or harder to sell is your belief that it's the best option.
3. If you don't know what you want to sell, choose one anyway. It will move you forward versus keeping you stuck in "I don't know" land.

Links 

• Sound editing is provided by Erik Hulslander at hearnoevilmedia.com.  
• Schedule a coaching consultation at https://www.linsibrownson.com/get-started

We all want to enjoy our life. We want to feel proud and satisfied with the work we do, and delight in the small moments that give us meaning.   But as much as we hear, and conceptually understand, that "this is all there is," the idea of sufficiency trips many of us up...Because it causes us to question "What's the point of ambition if we already have sufficiency?"   Many of us are afraid that if we allow ourselves to truly love our life exactly as it is, then we will lose our desire for more. But the opposite is true.   In this episode I'm talking about how sufficiency creates more, not less. Ps, make sure you are subscribed to the show, and I’d love to hear what you think of this episode! Take a screenshot in your player and tag me @linsibrownson on Instagram.   Key Takeaways:

1. The best we will ever feel is the same as the best we feel now.
2. Why being satisfied with things exactly as they are will NOT stop you from creating or having more.
3. Our inner critic serves a valuable purpose, unless you use it against yourself.

  Links 

• For transcript and show notes, visit https://www.linsibrownson.com/podcast/70
• Sound editing is provided by Erik Hulslander at hearnoevilmedia.com.  
• Schedule a coaching consultation at https://www.linsibrownson.com/get-started

Call it ambition, perfectionism, logical thinking....whatever you call it, the desire to know the fastest and best way to achieve things often makes them harder to achieve.   In this episode I'm sharing some hindsight wisdom that I use to help me keep moving forward even when I wonder "am I doing this right?"   Key Takeaways:

1. Trying to figure out the right way to do some thing is the slowest way of doing some thing.
2. The right way only exists in hindsight (and only if you choose to label it as "right").
3. Your future self would rather have you be committed than right.

   Trying to figure out the right way is the slowest and most painful way to do it.   Ps, make sure you are subscribed to the show, and I’d love to hear what you think of this episode! Take a screenshot in your player and tag me @linsibrownson on Instagram. Links mentioned

• The book I mentioned (updated since the one I read): Get Clients Now! A 28-Day Marketing Program for Professionals, Consultants, and Coaches.
• Sound editing is provided by Erik Hulslander at hearnoevilmedia.com. 
• For transcript and show notes, visit https://www.linsibrownson.com/podcast/69

Let's talk about fluffy thoughts! These are positive thoughts that sound lovely, but don't actually help you create the things you want in your business.   We have collectively labeled positivity as "good" or "right," and adopted this idea that positive thinking is the golden rule of success.   But positivity is not inherently useful. Sometimes it is a sneaky saboteur that stops us from reaching our goals. Today we are exploring some of these fluffy thoughts, and looking at what really happens when you think them.   Key Takeaways:

1. Your thoughts create your feelings, which drive your actions.
2. Instead of labeling a thought positive or negative, take a look at the outcome it produces to decide if it's a useful thought, or not.
3.  5 fluffy thoughts to be aware of, and exactly why they aren't useful.
4. How to find new thoughts that move you forward right away.   

Ps, make sure you are subscribed to the show, and I’d love to hear what you think of this episode! Take a screenshot in your player and tag me @linsibrownson on Instagram.   For transcript and show notes, visit https://www.linsibrownson.com/podcast/68

Let's talk about systems! My guest today is Shannon Baker, an expert at organizing and creating systems that simplify the way you run your business.    Our time matters. It's the one thing that we cannot create more of. As business owners, we are constantly working to manage our time better, so we can live the way we want to AND get things done.   Enter, systems and processes. So why is it that so many small business owners AVOID building systems that would free up time, earn them more money, and make everyone's experience better? Because it seems hard to do.   It can sound complex, which makes it daunting for anyone who already feels pressed for time. But it doesn't have to be, which is why I wanted to bring Shannon on the show. She makes it simple, and today she is sharing a 3-step process to help you become a master at building relationships with potential new clients.   Key Takeaways:

1. You need a client database.
2. You're more likely to use a simple system than a fancy one.
3. Clients form their opinion of your relationship fast - so responsiveness is key.
4.  The best news ever - you can build these time-saving systems a few minutes at a time. No matter how busy you are, you'll definitely have time for this.

   Ps, make sure you are subscribed to the show, and I’d love to hear what you think of this episode! Take a screenshot in your player and tag me @linsibrownson on Instagram.   Links 

• Visit Shannon Baker's website
• Download Shannon's free process template and message swipe files.
• Trello [What Shannon uses for client process]
• Acuity [What Shannon uses for online scheduling]
• Zapier [Connects multiple platforms together. Acuity to Trello, etc.]
• Dubsado CRM [What I use for everything]
• Connect with Shannon on Instagram
• Sound editing is provided by Erik Hulslander at hearnoevilmedia.com

In this episode I am inviting you into my coaching session with Carol, a life coach who is feeling stretched thin and wishing she had more time to work on her business.   I asked Carol questions to help us really uncover what she's feeling and doing right now, and what she wants to be doing for her business. And then we looked at what's really getting in the way.   She thinks that "there just isn't enough time" and has a lot of reasons to back that up. But as we'll explore, time is not keeping her from having fun, being creative, bringing in more clients, or any of her desired results.   Notice how Carol's energy shifts from exhausted to inspired as we talk through this. It's really a powerful experience, and I hope you'll enjoy listening and walk away inspired too.   Key Takeaways:

1. Time is always sufficient. Your relationship with time will determine whether it feels scarce or abundant.
2. Busy-ness produces a net negative result, because you spend more energy than what you receive in desired outcomes.
3. Entrepreneurs often try to solve problems by taking different action. But this only intensifies the urge to keep taking more action instead of taking better action.
4. You will spend every minute that you have. Every minute you spend intentionally creating your business lifestyle, is a minute that you are being successful.

"You will spend every minute that you have, either on creating something you want or something you don't want."   Visit https://www.linsibrownson.com/podcast/66    Ps, make sure you are subscribed to the show, and I’d love to hear what you think of this episode! Take a screenshot in your player and tag me @linsibrownson on Instagram.