How To Be Awesome At Everything

This episode is filled with 40 awesome ideas of things to do to celebrate LOVE and Valentine's Day this year.

I'm breaking them down into 4 categories to make it so easy. Things to do with your romantic partner, things to do with your girlfriends, things to do with your kids and things to do at school in your kids classes.

The goal of this podcast is to give you ideas to make special moments with your people that aren't too complicated and aren't cheesy… but special and memorable and all about love.

This is your go-to guide this year for all things love and romance around Valentine's Day!

SO MANY AWESOME ideas to celebrate LOVE and Valentine's Day!!

When I was looking up ideas for new things to do this year, everything was soooo cheeeessyyy.

Like I want ideas that will be fun and create the best memories!

Romantic

1. Adventure - hike, horseback ride, hot air balloon - something you've never done, or somewhere you've never done it -make sure it sounds fun for each person

2. 24 hours in a new city that you've never been

3. Find a new restaurant with a tasting menu for a special meal (maybe wine or drink pairing too) or tequila or wine tasting then dinner!

4. Set-up a private dinner for 2 at home where you wouldn't usually or ask a restaurant to do it for you.

5. One day- one favorite thing you each like to do as a date. Can be extremes like couples massage and shooting range or tequila tasting or yoga class.

6. Go to dinner, decide one thing you each want to go this year just the 2 of you and book it that night. Go to a concert, overnight to Vegas to see a show, whatever it is.

7. Catch the sunset somewhere cool that you wouldn't normally.

8. At home massages and dinner.

9. Make your room soooo romantic with a ton of candles - can add roses - but just lighting and candles makes your room 100% different

10. Have a candy / drink / treat taste off

With Girlfriends

1. Cooking class - Sur La Table or Williams Sonoma has great ones!

2. White elephant gift exchange

3. Have your group print a bunch of photos of you guys, and bring frames and do a girls party to make frames or photo books. Can bring Ikea frames or do books and bring stickers.

4. Order matching heart jammies

5. Take a class or bring an instructor in! Dance, yoga, or learn a new skill like pottery or paint class!

6. Make charcuterie board - or learn how to! Have everyone bring supplies and have fun learning how to put them together. Do one big sweet and one big savory!

7. Fill out self love books about yourselves together

8. Make flower bouquets

9. Decorate full size cakes

10. Everyone bring something they LOVE for each girl attending - set a price limit depending on how many girls to make it reasonable

With Kids

1. Scavenger hunt

2. A few days ahead have everyone in the family write down something they would love to do - that's an hour or less. And dash to all of then on Vday.

3. Create a jar that everyone puts things in to do over the next few weeks - loving things.

4. Game night with prizes!

5. Family valentine's puzzle

6. Baking/ cookie decorating

7. Make a family love scrapbook

8. Everyone make a love theme dish for dinner or dessert. Vote and winners pick prizes.

9. Take a Valentine's themed cooking class

10. Hire a teppan chef to come to your house!

Class party/ activity ideas

1. White elephant gift exchange

2. Valentine's Day card craft set-up

3. Cookie or cupcake decorating or strawberry shortcake making

4. Make boxes for valentine's gift exchange

5. Valentine's bingo

6. Take pictures of the kids, buy target or Ikea frames, put pictures inside and kids decorate with puffy heart stickers- best gift or take home item!

7. Make a punch board with prizes inside

8. Musical hearts instead of musical chairs

9. Printables! Word searches, games, quizzes.. Pinterest has endless options. Also - target dollar section can be a great start to an idea!

10. LOVE for teachers! Have kids make little love notes and put together books for the teachers!

CHEERS!! To your most AWESOME Valentine's Day with the people you LOVE!

Once a year I re-read the best habits book there ever was, Atomic Habits, and always have new take aways. I'm so inspired and motivated by the way James Clear takes the concept of BIG GOALS and breaks them down into habits. We are going to be hyper focused on our daily habits more than our long term goals. Now the goals are the North Star, but the daily habits are what are what moves the needle - so that's where we put our attention. By getting clear on what is important to us, it becomes easy to ask ourselves.. What would a person like this do? If you want to be a person who avoids distractions - ask yourself, what would a focused person do to avoid distractions right now? If you want to save money, what would a person who wants to spend less do? If you want to lose weight, what would a healthy person choose right now? It's SO MUCH easier than having these massive goals you try to keep your eye on. Instead, decide the type of person you want to be in different aspects of your life and set-up your daily habits and make decisions based on this. It's genius!! -I just read Atomic Habits again and have two HUGE take aways to share with you. First, James Clear is a genius when it comes to habits and he breaks it down so it's so useable. He also sites lots of other experts and says most of these ideas aren't even uniquely his- he's just putting them altogether so we can make the best plan. 2 things…. 1. I want to be the type of person who What would a person who is _______ do right now? Or do today? RATHER than the big goals… How do I want to spend my days? What type of person do I want to be? Rather than I want to lose 40 pounds - it's I want to be the type of person who doesn't miss workouts. GOALS- we set unrealistic goals - we set arbitrary targets then we get bummed when we don't hit them. Goals can play with our minds!! That's why we think… what type of person do I want to be… and are my actions supporting this? What would a healthy person do? 2. HABITS over goals Write down your overall goals then have your habits check lists for the day. Small things you do everyday. Increase sales - make 100 calls a day. ACTION! Optimal health Optimal fitness Romantic relationship with your spouse Write a book Run 500 miles this year Have close relationships with girlfriends And then plan in the habits on the daily that support these things. I realized last year I had a few BIG GOALS in my ideas book- but to be honest - they sat there. I never made forward motion on it. It was like this big goal that I was going to get to- but never did. It's often not these HUGE big life moments that move the needle. It's all the little things When I decided I wanted to get my sunless tanning line into the major retailers - every. Single. Day. I reached out to the decision makers. I made movement in the form of a habit towards the big goal. So the goal wasn't this big scary thing - it was a target - but that's not what we want to focus on - we want to focus on what we are going to do on the daily to support it. SEASONS- James Clear talks about seasons. Some seasons When your seasons shift, your habits need to shift too. If you have kids, things change. How do you perform at a high level under a new set of circumstances? Sometimes things need a restructure. All of this also helps you figure out What are you optimizing for? Is this REALLY what you want? Or society or what other people want for you? *****Will my current habits get me there? ****How am I contributing to the situation that I say I don't want? Example: Most of life is in your control! Luck and randomness and misfortune play into it. But we influence the situation more than we often realize. ****What season am I in right now? Sometimes we outgrow seasons, sometimes we move on and need to realize that. Maybe it's going out to bars and drinking a few times a week. Maybe it served you for a time and no need to feel badly about it. But maybe this is a new season to focus on other things. ****Do I need to spend more time researching what I need to do? Better info? ****OR do I need to spend more time acting on the info I have? Is the bottleneck strategy or execution? ****The question is not will I succeed? The question is what should I attempt? TRY BIG THINGS We can talk ourselves out of trying things that are worth attempting. People often talk themselves out of things before they should. We are usually the bottle neck before the world tells us it's not working. There is rarely no small action to take - there is always something else you can try. We talk ourselves out of it. Try to not be your own bottleneck. CHEERS!! To planning your small daily habits to make BIG strides towards your BIG goals!!

This is not a resolution podcast episode - it's the opposite. It's your road map for planning a 2023 where you live life FULLY. More of whatever you want and less of what you don't want. More money, more self care, more freedom with your time, more adventures, more focus on health… Maybe it's less time spent in the car or under fluorescent lights, less time being resentful or holding onto something, less time with people who don't make you feel your best… Whatever it is that you want more of and less of in 2023, we are designing a road map today to get there. Because we know… it's rarely the big actions that move the needle, it's the small things we do everyday over and over, even when you don't feel like it. Success is relentless execution. Every year we are older and wiser so let's lean into what we really want this year, and work backyards and make a plan to get there. Here are some key points Lindsay makes: -3 questions How do you want to feel? What are your peak experiences thus far? What do you love? -Put things on your plate with the people you want to do them with -Let's make a plan and work backwards -Make money in a new way -Put things on your calendar that you wouldn't normally do Take a cooking class Learn a new type of fitness -Spend 18 minutes a day on something you want to be good at At the end of a year that's 100 hours - and that's what it takes to be significantly good at something new -One big challenge for the year -Prioritize health -Eliminate the stuff you dont need -Prioritize your time -Prioritize the things that fill you up Your 10s!! Make sure you get a few 10s everyday. -Make sure you do things that you love -Get uncomfortable and say yes to things that you would normally say no to -Do things instead of watching them! CHEERS TO YOUR MOST AWESOME 2023!!

I hesitate to do podcast episodes on certain topics because there are experts that are far more wise and on these topics and can explain it in great detail… but here's the thing. The point of this podcast is to bring up topics that I think will make you and your life more awesome. Today's episode is one of those. I think that for most people, if you increase the amount of protein you intake, you will feel more awesome, in lots of ways. Sleep better, feel more satisfied and have more energy! I really believe that high quality protein intake is a total superpower. If you don't make any other change to your diet- just add more protein- ideally 30 grams per meal- you will feel more satisfied, eat less junk, have more regulated blood sugar levels and build more muscle. Again, I'm not an expert, but I read and listen to a lot of them. And today, I'm sharing all the best tips on how to actually eat enough protein. Here are a few things Lindsay talks about! -I believe that losing weight the right way- the healthy way- and slow and steady is not to overly restrict calories. -Yes, you lose weight by being in a calorie deficit - fact. -But by eating more protein, you are getting high quality sustainability. You have energy and brain clarity. -When I was younger and I'd try out diets, I'd just feel so wiped and low on energy! -You feel satisfied and you lose weight!! -And you get off the sugar rollercoaster -Grassfed meat Pastured eggs Wild salmon Protein powder Steak, chicken, fish, turkey -Limit refined carbs, sugar and seed oils. -This is about fueling your body throughout the day!! -It's crazy that we all have to learn this on our own, and if you're like me, not until full on adulthood to really get it. We should learn blood sugar balance in health class. -And here are some more!! Sugar is the enemy- not salt or anything else Eating fat does not make you fat Vegetable and seed oils are not healthy Refined grains are not healthy -We should learn how to really read a nutrition label. We learned calories and carbs- but not -Protein, Carbs, Fats- 3 macronutrients that we can eat. Many are a mix- like nuts have all 3 - but sometimes a food is primarily something - Chicken - protein Orange - carb Avocado - fat -We have hunger hormones that scream at us all day - protein is the most satisfying macronutrient to satisfy over half of our hunger hormones. -When you eat enough protein, and an optimal amount, not only is it not having an effect on your blood sugar It is satisfying you in a way that your body We will continue to eat until we get the amino acids that your body is craving. -It's so interesting how important protein is. -Blood sugar is important to understand because it affects our mood and -The proteins and the fats -Protein is the slowest to digest so it keeps you fuller!! Meals should keep you satisfied for 4-6 hours. Your meals should sustain you through the day! -To work and take care of kids and have fresh thoughts! -And it keeps our blood sugar level regulated! -The first meal of the day is so important One egg - 6 g of protein -Never want to eat naked carbs- spikes your carbs and makes you crave more carbs - within 2 hours of just having toast -It won't sustain you for 6 hours - its not enough to get you there. -30 grams per meal and breakfast is most important time. -Afternoon we crave - cookie, brownie, sugar coffee -Eating Whole Foods and getting the right mix of macro nutrients on your plate PRODUCTS mentioned: Clean protein powder https://www.shopflavcity.com/products/protein-smoothie Mid Day Squares https://amzn.to/3PEtods Minimally processed popcorn https://amzn.to/3YyMwOe CHEERS to up-ping your protein for overall awesomeness!

Throughout my 20 year journey as an entrepreneur, I've seen more growth, progress and profits from one project, than any other.

If you are looking to take your business or your life to the next level, I think you should start a podcast.

And here's why…

If you do it right, the logistics are simple and it's so fulfilling and rewarding and inspiring. And it is a long term strategy for whatever you want more of in your life.

Being the host of your own podcast is like writing a book, it makes you an expert on your topic. Whether you want to start a lifestyle brand or generate more sales something you already have going on, or maybe you have no idea where you would want the podcast to go, but you know what you would be awesome talking about.

Yes, let's do that!

First, I'm going to jump inside your head and give rebuttals to all the things that would stop you from starting. Aren't there already too many podcasts? Am I late to the game? Would anyone even listen?

Guess what- everyone who's ever started a podcast has thought those same things- and then did it anyway.

In this episode I'm going to explain why I think you should have your own podcast, the benefits it can bring to your life, how we can make the steps simple so it doesn't seem impossible to start, and how it can make you money.

I am sharing how to start your own podcast!!

Do it now - you will wish you did in 2 years.

-Complexity kills execution!!

Let's make it simple!

-If you have no idea where you want to go..

It puts you out there!!

-I've helped a few women that I mentor start podcasts and I"m telling you - it is the next level move. I'll tell you more about what this led to at the end but I'm telling you everything you need to know here. And I'm starting a group to do it together.

-Breaking through all the reasons you tell yourself why you can't do it or why you shouldn't.

Aren't there already too many podcasts? Am I late to the game? Would anyone even listen?

STEPS!

1. To record

Set-up a free account on Zencaster!

1.

Planning your podcast

Brain dump! Podcast titles, ideas and topics for episodes

2.

Recording

Use Zencaster

This is the format I use

3.

You need a professional voiceover person!

Have them do your pro intro and exit

Blend that in.

I use www.Fiverr.com to find talent!

4.

Editing

I used to pay $150 an hour

And I have friends who rent studios

I pay $35 per episode! Or you can do it yourself in GarageBand or another similar one.

Email Audrey! [email protected]

5.

Publishing

On all podcast platforms and on your website

Dont have one? Start one! I like Shopify best!

6.

Launching

It can take some time for it to be approved through Libson

Contact them and set it up ahead of time

7.

How to get people to listen

Be on other peoples podcasts

8.

How To Make It Your Favorite Thing

Do it in a way that sets your soul on fire and you connect with people you wouldn't otherwise

9.

Making money!

Sponsored episodes

Make yourself a media deck

Start a lifestyle brand and use affiliate links to make commissions

Use it to provide value over and over and over (asking for nothing) then tell about what you have to sell.

LINKS to things Lindsay mentions in this podcast:

Microphone https://amzn.to/3XJiQNL

Adaptor (if you need it): https://amzn.to/3XML2P7

Voiceover talent:

www.Fiverr.com

Podcast Recording: (use Chrome)

www.Zencaster.com

Podcast Hosting:

https://libsyn.com/

Online Course & 6 week Coaching Group

https://howtobeawesomeateverything.com/pages/the-courses

PING me when you start your own podcast and I will post in my IG stories!!

@LindsaysCloud on IG!

CHEERS to YOUR podcast!!

Today I'm interviewing a few of the women that I mentor in business. They are each so interesting and have achieved a level of business and personal success… but are striving for more. More progress, new projects, more profits, greater personal fulfillment. All the good stuff.

We're talking about their journey in business and the work we are doing together.

Mentoring women in business sets my soul on fire. I haven't worked this many hours a week since I started my business 20 years ago but I love it. It's so much fun and so fulfilling to see the progress we can make together.

Grab a snack, we're chatting with some really awesome women today.

LINKS from today's episode!

Listen to Nora's podcast here:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/upside-down-entrepreneurship/id1655978544

And follow Nora on IG here:

https://www.instagram.com/nora.farhat/?hl=en

Listen to Emme's podcast here:

https://emmediane.com/blogs/skin-theory-podcast

And follow Emme on IG here:

https://www.instagram.com/emmediane/?hl=en

Discount code:

20% off all Emme Diane products using code: Lindsay20

And fill out the free consultation skincare form here:

https://emmediane.com/pages/consultation

For more information about Business Mentoring with Lindsay:

https://howtobeawesomeateverything.com/pages/just-for-gifts-guide

Thanks for listening!!

If you would like to get more done and reach your goals faster, this podcast is for you!

I'm obsessed with being efficient and maximizing time and getting things done in a week, that would normally take a month.

We're talking about strategies that will help you shift the way you do things. So you spend less time "planning" to do something, and get right into actually doing it.

In my years of running my company and also being present for my kids and family, I had to learn how to crunch every hour of the day and be as productive as possible. It's all about your ability to avoid distraction, simplify the process and execute.

These concepts can be applied to all parts of business and in life too. It's about being very strategic with your productive hours and keeping the momentum going.

We're talking about how to master your time on the daily.

STRATEGIES!

-Learn, then execute!

-Simplify! We make things too complicated!

-Do the hard things first.

-Tackle the plan.

-Don't allow distractions.

-Don't allow yourself to take time "planning"

-MOMENTUM- speed moves things forward.

-Think of things by day instead of by week.

-Don't make things too complicated.

-Decide and move, you can always pivot later.

-Stop "planning" to do something and start doing it.

-People say to me… I've been planning to build a website.

Here's the thing- with templates and programs now… you can learn what you need to know in one full day. And build it in 2 more days. In 3 full days you have a complete website.

-People take months or YEARS to build a website.

I need a designer, I don't have the money, I'm not good at tech… ALL invisible HURDLES. They just slow you down. That's all they do!

-Valuing your time is everything. Is this worth my time? How can I be more efficient with this?

-The micro - the speed of activity

-At the end of the year they have 40x the output.

-It's micro mastery of your time

-Imagine that the default time to get things done is a week

-But let's say the new default is end of day. That's the new norm.

-Here's what happens - you simplify the process! You cut out the non-essential.

-The project that would be two months, takes someone 2 days. Because of mastering your time on the daily.

-MACRO- big picture

Ask yourself - Are all of the things I am doing acting in alignment with my goals?

-One other thing!! Get an assistant - I'm constantly having help to move the needle when someone else can do parts of a project.

You can totally get a virtual assistant!

CHEERS to charging your goals and getting things done in a fraction of the time!

We are going into what's usually the most packed month of the year for most of us. With holiday parties and school performances and get togethers… it can feel non-stop!

So how do we do all the things… but also… be present in the moment and enjoy it?

Less craziness, more laughter and connection

Less racing around and more time to yourself before events

It's all about planning ahead, eliminating what you don't want to do or what's not necessary and being organized.

The goal of today's episode is to hit pause on life for a bit to think about what we can do now to be sure the holidays don't just fly by. And we don't spend the next month racing from one thing to another instead of soaking it all in.

More holiday awesomeness, less holiday craziness.

The holidays are one the most stressing times for people!! Harvard study shows 62% of people have elevated stress levels during this time.

TIPS!

-Only say yes or sign up for the things you really want to do

-Plan ahead of time! To avoid the last minute mad dashes!

Being organized adn putting yourself in the shoes of you waking up the morning of an event is everything.

DO you need outfits for everyone?

The craziness comes from thinking of these things JUST before you need it - then you race around to find it.

-Same goes with gift giving!! Support local stores but do it online and with organized lists.

Make your lists - and have a date to be DONE by. Get some extras!!

-Accept that not all experiences will be what you thought. That's part of the process. Accept imperfection and don't make that the goal.

-Here's the reason why… it's SO easy to be so busy being busy and for what? To not enjoy it?!

-Prioritizing your health

Sleep enough

Move your body

Just splurge during holiday parties - not all month

Don't overdo sugar or booze

-Keep your downtime!! This is why we feel CRAZY because we have NO downtime! Plan ahead and you will have it again!

-Be clear about your number one priority this holiday season. For me it is connection.

Overall and in the little moments.

Connection doesn't always happen by accident.

Can plan for games or conversation games if you think it will prompt your crew to get more in the groove.

-Don't get so caught up in the craziness that you forget to enjoy your people.

-Shake off what's annoying. Don't pick the battle. Protect your headspace.

CHEERS to all the magic of the holiday season… MINUS the craziness!

How to be awesome at walking away from an argument.

This is something that requires major self control and deep clarity in a moment that you probably don't feel like not having either of those.

Here's what I'm talking about.

When you are a heated back and forth with someone you love, I've learned that most of the time, the very best things you can do for a positive outcome, is to pause and give it some space. There is a very low probability that you are going to come to a good resolution if you are both so heated and hashing it out. Best thing ever - take a beat. Walk away, change your physical state and know that some space is the best thing for the situation. With time and space apart comes clarity.

So that is our, walk away and come back to it situation.

Then there are the other situations that are just… completely walk away. It's not worth it, walk away and let it go.

Someone cuts you off in a parking lot or tries to argue with you at your kids soccer game or leaves a super triggering comment on social media… none of it is worth your energy. You can't control what they say or do but you can control how you react to it and how you label it. We are labeling it as not worth it, and we're walking away.

We're talking arguments today.

-Here's the hack- when you are IN THAT MOMENT… tell yourself… WALK AWAY.

-My husband used to say- just give me space and I was like NO why drag this on… we can fix this now and go on and have a good day together!!

-Your body remembers stress! You have to control your stress and head space!!

Once you stop arguing as much - it's easier to keep it going.

-WHY IT WORKS

Time to cool off

Lose the ego

See their point of view (or not)

Have time to get back to the person you want to be

You have time to come back and show you care

-And then with strangers… you want to make a point - but often times - you have to understand they won't see your point and it's not worth it!

-Never text argue!!

-It's about controlling your emotions so this thing doesn't get worse

-If you're a hot head, this will be super hard.

-Here's the gold ready… you feel like you are LOSING when you walk away because you didnt make your point.. but you're WINNING by ending it.

-Examples : Someone says something rude to you on the soccer field. First, your kids are there so that's enough to control ourselves … but also, not worth it. You gain nothing!

-Rude text : NEVER reply right away.

-The bottom line is that you can't let the behavior of others steal your joy. But if you do, it's your choice.

-Focus on being the best and happiest that you can be – that's where your energy should go.

CHEERS! To walking away!!

I've made my life a bit more awesome lately by making TO DO and DON'T DO lists.

It's 10 things I want to be sure I do and 10 thing I want to be sure I don't do and it makes me have overall happier and more fulfilling days.

The goal of today's podcast episode is to inspire you to make a TO DO and a DON'T DO list… that you put on your bathroom mirror and you do your best to follow it everyday.

It's like the best practical way to do the things you know are best for you and avoid the things that waste time or make you feel crappy or anything else negative.

It's a great way to keep your goals front and center each morning and keep your priorities straight. First we're going to make your list… then we're going to make you stick to it.

What do want more of? What do you want less of? What habits do you need to kick? What habits do you want to start?

It's all on these 2 lists that give you laser clear direction for the day and help you stay aligned with what's really important to you.

Here are some key points!

-It may change at first

-It may take you time to get it right

-Then once you master things it may not need to be there anymore

-HOW to make your list

Write down what you want more of and what you want less of!

-Brain dump!

-Listen to your favorite people!

-Write down lessons learned from your own mistakes.

Put it up, read it everyday as you brush your teeth.

Today I will…

Today I won't….

CHEERS to your lists making your days more AWESOME!!