In this episode of the Flourish Academy Podcast, Heather Lahtinen is joined by Michelle Crandall for an honest and insightful conversation about the mindset traps entrepreneurs face around productivity, rest, and redefining what it means to be “done.” If you’ve ever felt like you should be doing more, this episode is for you. Together, they unpack the invisible pressure we place on ourselves to always be working and offer a powerful reframe to help you feel more in control, focused, and at peace with your business.

Join our next free coaching workshop: www.getcoachedbyheather.com

Show Notes:

• The real challenge behind “not being able to shut off”
• What “done” really means in entrepreneurship
• Why productivity guilt is hurting your success
• How to stop letting unfinished tasks define your worth
• How to create flexible structure in your day
• The truth about working on weekends: Choice vs. obligation
• Letting go of the “course guilt” and owning your season
• Why your business is flourishing—whether you see it or not

How to Support the Podcast:

• Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or wherever you listen to podcasts. Please like, share, and leave a review.
• If you like the content, please share with your friends by posting on social media so that we can reach and impact more people.

Connect:

Heather Lahtinen: Website, Facebook, Instagram Michelle Crandall: https://www.petsinfocusphoto.com/

In this episode, Heather Lahtinen shares a deeply personal story about managing anxious thoughts in the middle of an airport meltdown—and how she coached herself through it using a tool called The Model. You’ll hear a real-time chat between Heather and her custom-built Model GPT (available exclusively inside Elevate), and you’ll learn just how powerful your thoughts are in shaping your emotions, your behavior, and your results.

Whether you’re stuck in stress, facing a delay in your business or life, or just feeling like “you can’t handle it,” this episode offers a hopeful, practical path forward. And spoiler alert: you can handle it. Register for the next free Fast Track Coaching Workshop

Show Notes:

• Discover how Heather created a custom GPT to help you coach yourself
• Hear how a delayed flight turned into a life lesson in emotional resilience
• Get powerful reframes like “I don’t like this, but I can handle it”
• Learn why the stories we tell ourselves matter more than the facts

How to Support the Podcast:

• Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or wherever you listen to podcasts. Please like, share, and leave a review.
• If you like the content, please share with your friends by posting on social media so that we can reach and impact more people.

Connect:

Heather Lahtinen: Website, Facebook, Instagram

In this eye-opening episode, Heather Lahtinen delivers a powerful masterclass on what she calls "Financial Fortune Telling"—the habit of assuming what clients will (or won’t) spend based on their appearance, lifestyle, or words. Spoiler alert: it’s not helping you. In fact, it's holding you back.

She breaks down how these assumptions originate from your own beliefs about money, and how they sabotage your confidence, your service, and ultimately, your sales. Heather shares real-life stories, practical mindset shifts, and five steps to help you drop the judgment, stop playing mind reader, and start showing up as the empowered business owner your clients deserve.

This is a must-listen for every photographer who wants to shift from scarcity to service and grow a thriving, values-based business. Show Notes:

• How your assumptions about money are actually projections of your own beliefs
• 5 tools to drop judgment and embrace service-based selling
• Reframe that will change how you think about every inquiry
• Why "the less you assume, the more you sell" might be your new business mantra

How to Support the Podcast:

• Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or wherever you listen to podcasts. Please like, share, and leave a review.
• If you like the content, please share with your friends by posting on social media so that we can reach and impact more people.

Connect:

Heather Lahtinen: Website, Facebook, Instagram

Every photographer, no matter how experienced, will eventually face a challenging client. In this episode, Heather Lahtinen sit down with Alison Shamrell, a talented pet photographer and long-time coaching client, to discuss how she handled an unexpected situation with an unhappy commercial client. We talk about mindset, communication, and the importance of having a coach to navigate these tough moments. If you've ever struggled with imposter syndrome or worried about client feedback, this episode is for you. Join Heather for a free coaching workshop to uncover what’s really keeping you from moving forward. Sign up at www.getcoachedbyheather.com

Show Notes:

• Why handling client issues is part of business growth
• The unexpected challenge: What went wrong with the commercial shoot
• The emotional impact of client criticism and self-doubt
• Shifting the mindset: Taking responsibility without self-blame
• The role of coaching in overcoming business roadblocks

How to Support the Podcast:

• Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or wherever you listen to podcasts. Please like, share, and leave a review.
• If you like the content, please share with your friends by posting on social media so that we can reach and impact more people.

Connect:

Heather Lahtinen: Website, Facebook, Instagram

Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “I’m not that good” or “My photos aren’t good enough”? These thoughts might feel true, but they’re actually holding you back from building a thriving photography business.

In this episode, Heather Lahtinen challenges the limiting beliefs that keep photographers stuck and explains why your self-concept is the foundation of your success. You’ll learn how to shift your mindset, focus on your progress, and take action with confidence.

Join Heather for a free coaching workshop to uncover what’s really keeping you from moving forward. Sign up at www.getcoachedbyheather.com

Show Notes:

• How your thoughts impact your success
• The most common limiting beliefs photographers have
• Why you can’t build a successful business with self-doubt
• The power of self-concept and how it shapes your decisions
• The truth about being “good enough” in photography
• The experiment: What if you couldn’t think “I’m not good enough”?

How to Support the Podcast:

• Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or wherever you listen to podcasts. Please like, share, and leave a review.
• If you like the content, please share with your friends by posting on social media so that we can reach and impact more people.

Connect:

Heather Lahtinen: Website, Facebook, Instagram

Do you ever feel like success is just out of reach? That no matter what course you take or strategy you try, nothing seems to work? The truth is, it's not the strategy that’s broken—it’s our mindset that’s keeping us stuck. In this episode, Heather Lahtinen talks about the self-doubt loop, why our brains sabotage us, and how a simple mindset shift can change everything. Plus, she shares a 30-day challenge to help you start thinking and acting like success is inevitable.

Show Notes:

• Why self-doubt keeps you stuck in a cycle of inaction
• How our primal brain holds us back to “keep us safe”
• The key difference between successful and struggling photographers
• A simple mindset shift that can help you break through self-doubt
• A 30-day challenge to start thinking and acting like a successful photographer

How to Support the Podcast:

• Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or wherever you listen to podcasts. Please like, share, and leave a review.
• If you like the content, please share with your friends by posting on social media so that we can reach and impact more people.

Connect:

Heather Lahtinen: Website, Facebook, Instagram

Success intolerance is one of the biggest hidden barriers to growth, yet most people don’t even realize they have it. In this episode, Heather Lahtinen and Nicole Begley break down the difference between fear of success and success intolerance. They explore how subconscious resistance to success can manifest as self-sabotage, imposter syndrome, and procrastination. If you’ve ever felt stuck in your business despite wanting more, this conversation is for you.

👉 Want coaching to break through your mindset blocks? Join Heather for a complimentary live coaching workshop at www.getcoachedbyheather.com!

Show Notes:

• The key difference between fear of success and success intolerance
• How subconscious resistance to success leads to self-sabotage and doubt
• Why photographers might unknowingly block their own growth
• The psychological reasons behind feeling uncomfortable with success
• Actionable steps to reprogram your mindset and embrace success

How to Support the Podcast:

• Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or wherever you listen to podcasts. Please like, share, and leave a review.
• If you like the content, please share with your friends by posting on social media so that we can reach and impact more people.

Connect:

Heather Lahtinen: Website, Facebook, Instagram

Nicole Begley: https://hairofthedogacademy.com/

Are you charging what you're worth, or are your prices making you resent your clients? In this episode of the Flourish Academy Podcast, we dive into the real reasons you should raise your prices—and it’s not just about profitability. Heather Lahtinen explains how resentment is often a sign that it’s time for a change and why shifting your thoughts around pricing is just as important as raising your rates. If you’ve ever felt underappreciated, undervalued, or frustrated with your pricing, this episode is for you. Show Notes:

• The biggest reasons to raise your prices (it’s not just about profit).
• The #1 mistake photographers make when setting their prices.
• Breaking down toxic thoughts that keep you stuck at low prices.
• How to shift your mindset around pricing and value.
• 10 powerful thoughts to replace resentment with confidence.
• Where to go for coaching & deeper support.

How to Support the Podcast:

• Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or wherever you listen to podcasts. Please like, share, and leave a review.
• If you like the content, please share with your friends by posting on social media so that we can reach and impact more people.

Connect:

Heather Lahtinen: Website, Facebook, Instagram

Perfectionism is often praised as a sign of high standards, but what if it's actually holding you back? In this episode of the Flourish Academy Podcast, Heather Lahtinen breaks down the truth about perfectionism—why we cling to it, how it keeps us stuck, and what we can do to overcome it. You'll learn why perfectionism is really just a strategy to avoid looking bad, how to reframe your fears, and practical steps to start moving forward today. Plus, Heather shares her top 10 tips to overcome perfectionism and start embracing progress over perfection.

If you've ever hesitated to take action because you were afraid of doing something wrong, this episode is for you!

Show Notes:

• The real definition of perfectionism and why it’s more harmful than helpful.
• How perfectionism leads to procrastination, fear, and inaction.
• The connection between perfectionism, self-worth, and fear of judgment.
• Why perfectionism is a strategy to avoid uncomfortable emotions (and why that doesn’t work).
• How to shift your mindset to embrace imperfection and make progress.
• Heather’s 10 practical tips to overcome perfectionism and start taking action.
• The power of coaching to help you break free from perfectionist thinking.

How to Support the Podcast:

• Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or wherever you listen to podcasts. Please like, share, and leave a review.
• If you like the content, please share with your friends by posting on social media so that we can reach and impact more people.

Connect:

Heather Lahtinen: Website, Facebook, Instagram

In this episode of The Flourish Academy Podcast, Heather Lahtinen explores a groundbreaking discovery she calls Photo Dysmorphia—a condition affecting photographers who struggle to see their own brilliance. Through real-life examples and a deep dive into the root causes of self-doubt, she reveals why so many talented photographers dismiss praise, seek constant validation, and obsess over imperfections. Heather offers a powerful mindset shift and practical strategies to help photographers evaluate their work objectively, gain confidence, and stop relying on external approval. Show Notes:

• Why Photographers Struggle to See Their Own Talent
• A Real-Life Story: Award-Winning Photography and Persistent Self-Doubt
• The Root Causes: Comparison, Perfectionism, and Validation Addiction
• Why External Validation Will Never Be Enough
• How to Objectively Evaluate Your Work (and Finally Feel Good About It)
• Practical Steps to Build Self-Approval and Confidence

How to Support the Podcast:

• Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or wherever you listen to podcasts. Please like, share, and leave a review.
• If you like the content, please share with your friends by posting on social media so that we can reach and impact more people.

Connect:

Heather Lahtinen: Website, Facebook, Instagram