As business owners and as human beings, we really need to be taking care of ourselves. But it can be hard! And if you’re struggling to do that (as I think we all do a lot of the time) you’re really going to like this episode. This is a relaxed and casual conversation sharing what I’m doing to take care of myself and what keeps me feeling good so I can show up for myself, my loved ones and my business.

I have become really good at implementing a range of different strategies across my life and business to support myself so that I can stay focused, productive, rested and on my A-game. I  share what works for me, in the hope that it might inspire you to think about your own self-care routine.

First up is exercise. Exercise has always been a big part of my life - running and high-intensity workouts are my thing. They keep me feeling good, both in my body and my mind.

Next is alcohol. Seven months ago, I gave up alcohol for good. I explain how, even though I’ve never had a drinking problem, it would still affect me, leaving me unrested and anxious. Giving up alcohol has been such a good move for me, my well-being and my self-care.

When I think about self–care, I think about self-compassion as the barometer. So - cultivating a deep sense of self-compassion is a big part of my self-care routine. I reveal how, with practice, nurturing a practice of self-compassion allows you to look after yourself in a way that no one else can for you.

Nootropics, anti-ageing supplements and eating well are also a component of my self-care. I share how on the days I miss these, I really feel it! Supplements are such a great way to keep your focus, maintain that feel-good energy in your brain and stay focused on the work.

Structure, systems and simplicity in my business are vital for my self-care. After going through burnout, I am determined to never go there again, so maintaining simplicity is vital.

Lastly - sleep! I am very guarded about my sleep habits and need on average nine hours of sleep. This keeps me rested and performing at my best.

While none of those practices are particularly groundbreaking, combined they are powerful. A consistent effort with self-care all adds up. I hope this encourages you to think about your own self-care and take the time to work out how you can start implementing what might work for you.

LINKS:

Previous episode mentioned:

Ep 101 - Thriving as a parent AND a business owner with Yara Heary

Connect With Me:

• 90 minute Business Strategy Intensive
• Free Download: Ideal Client Avatar Workbook
• Work with me: Business Strategy Workshop | 1:1 Business Accelerator Program
• Join the waitlist:  The Run Your Business Like a Boss Academy
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There are a lot of expectations and shoulds on our shoulders as business owners. At times, we have the capacity to take everything on board and really push the needle forward, and there are other seasons when we just don't have the bandwidth to show up in the way we’d like to. 

With the demands of life and business, our capacity fluctuates, and that’s okay. There will always be ebbs and flows in business. So today, I’m diving into five things that will help you be more consistent across your business, even when your capacity is limited. 

In this episode, I’m focusing on how to stay consistent across three main areas that are sticking points for many business owners. These are showing up online, working towards your goals and client work. I discuss some specific examples of what this looks like within my business and also share some tools and prompts to help you create consistency in yours. 

I talk about setting habits and systems to create a pattern of behaviour that helps you to stay on task. This is something that has specifically impacted the way I show up on social media and I share how this also relates to your goals and client work. I also talk about outsourcing and looking at tasks that aren’t just outside your zone of genius.

If you are feeling bored, you’re procrastinating, and struggling to stay consistent in an area of your business, think about the purpose behind what you’re doing. I talk about how taking a step back and really thinking about why you’re doing what you’re doing will help you gain clarity and create meaning behind your work. I also discuss the concept of attaching intrinsic and extrinsic meaning to your goals and how this can benefit you. 

As I coach, I understand the power of accountability and how this can really help business owners go from strength to strength. Whether it be through a business coach, a family member or outsourcing like I do with my podcast producer, accountability is a great way to help you stay consistent in your business. 

Last but certainly not least, I talk about keeping things simple. This is something that is intrinsic to the way I run my business and it means that I can show up for the things that are really important without feeling drained. I share some questions to ask yourself about how you can simplify the processes across your business and why simplicity is underrated.

I hope you find some great takeaways from this episode and that it helps you to think about where you could make some tweaks in your business to create the consistency you need in your business. 

LINKS:

Previous episode mentioned:

100 Episodes: The ins and outs of running a podcast with special guest host Bec Buchanan

Book mentioned:

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Connect With Me:

• 90 minute Business Strategy Intensive
• Free Download: Ideal Client Avatar Workbook
• Work with me: Business Strategy Workshop | 1:1 Business Accelerator Program
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In order to create any meaningful change in your business, you first need to understand what problem you’re trying to solve. My goal for this conversation is to create awareness around 5 common mistakes that I see business owners in the messy middle make and what you should do instead to nurture a sustainable business aligned to the life you want to live. 

Growth is essential, but growing too quickly can actually be detrimental to your business. I talk about making sure you have the systems, operations and structure in place to sustain your level of growth and what can happen if your business grows too fast. 

Another important aspect of business is strategy. Without a solid strategy in place, you’ll find yourself following the advice or tactics laid out for you online, which is a quick path to shiny object syndrome and a mismatched content strategy that doesn’t land for your clients. I talk about why you need to deeply understand what your business is, who you want to serve and the vision you’re working towards.

Another easy trap to fall into is making things too complicated. I talk about overhauling your entire business to simplify and make things manageable for you, not just creating offers for the sake of it. The great thing is, you don’t need to do business the way it’s been modelled to you. You get to rewrite the rule book. 


Something I’ve often spoken about on the podcast is the importance of designing a business for the type of life you want. You are not designed to work around the clock for years on end. This isn’t sustainable and it certainly won’t allow you the time and energy to enjoy life to it’s fullest.


I also talk about embracing the journey and not getting fixated on the destination. Yes, goals are important, but destination addiction will stop you from finding joy where you are at now. I encourage you to think about what is bringing you joy in your life and business today, and celebrating the wins along the way. 


I hope this episode resonates with you and that it brings some insight as to where you might be needing to tweak things in your business today. 

LINKS:

Previous episodes mentioned:

• 21 - The downside of fast growth (the impact no one’s talking about)
• 22 - Coffee Chats: Looking after yourself during busy seasons in your business
• 33 - Stuck in busy work? 3 ways to simplify your business & create greater impact!
• 40 - What is a sustainable business and why aim for it
• 42 - Build your business YOUR WAY!
• 44 - What to focus on when preparing for next level business growth
• 48 - Growth Strategy: Why Business Transformation is necessary for small businesses
• 55 - Pep Talk: What's the rush?

Connect With Me:

• 90 minute Business Strategy Intensive
• Free Download: Ideal Client Avatar Workbook
• Work with me: Business Strategy Workshop | 1:1 Business Accelerator Program
• Join the waitlist:&nb

There are many difficult aspects of running a business, but none much harder than things going pear-shaped with a client. Managing a challenging client relationship is lonely and triggering, and can leave you feeling rattled at best. So if you've ever found yourself ruminating over a tough situation with a client, I know you're going to get a lot of support from today’s episode.

The truth is, most business owners will experience a tricky interaction with a client at one time or another. But when you have a long history of client satisfaction, it can really catch you off guard. You beat yourself up or end up feeling really alone. So what do you do when it all goes wrong?

I talk about normalising challenging client experiences and step you through a few things that I’ve personally found helpful in the past. I discuss taking an objective view of the scenario to understand what was in your control and what was outside it. Was there something you could have mitigated from the outset? Did you and your client have mismatched expectations? Or perhaps there were external factors that you just couldn’t have anticipated.

I speak about imposter syndrome and the danger of using negative experiences to validate our fears. Taking the emotion out when analysing a situation is important to be able to approach the issue with a clear head and sound mind. 

There are times when clients may push boundaries or overstep on things you’re firm on. What are your values when it comes to not succumbing to your client’s demands? I encourage you to stand strong and never lay down your value system. I also share some practical ideas on how you can salvage a difficult client relationship without betraying your own principles. 

I encourage you to take the time to review and reset when you face a hard encounter. Remind yourself of the evidence that shows things are working for you. Think of the amazing results your clients have achieved with your help. Define yourself by all the times you have shown up, and not by the situations that were less than ideal. 

If you have been facing a difficult challenge with a client, I hope this episode offers you some valuable support. With the right perspective, you really can move forward through a hard time with clarity and a renewed sense of confidence. 

LINKS:

Previous episode mentioned:

101 - Thriving as a parent AND a business owner with Yara Heary

Connect With Me:

• Free Download: Ideal Client Avatar Workbook
• Work with me: Business Strategy Workshop | 1:1 Business Accelerator Program
• Join the waitlist:  The Run Your Business Like a Boss Academy
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A lot of my listeners are juggling parenthood and running businesses, with many others looking to start families in the next twelve months. I myself know the challenges this balancing act can present. So for today’s episode, I sat down with the lovely Yara Heary who shares her insight into thriving as both a parent and business owner in today’s busy world. 

Yara is a therapist and owner of Life After Birth Psychology, where she works with mothers both one-on-one and in a group program. Yara believes that we deserve joy and to thrive as mothers, and her vision is to support women’s growth, healing and connection with their authentic selves.

When we’re in the messy middle of life and business, there’s often a sense of upheaval. It can be tough to keep moving forward, and in this moment we tend to become hyper critical of ourselves. Yara believes self-compassion is key to leading a fulfilled life, and applying it is critical when we fail to meet our own expectations. We talk about the inevitable ebb and flow of life, and how being gentle with ourselves through life’s varying phases will help us push through. 

When we have dreams to pursue, children to raise and businesses to run, a million different things vie for our attention. So how do we make space for the things that bring the most meaning to our lives? We discuss the importance of boundaries, and how truly knowing what our values are will enable us to clarify and set the right ones.

What is it that brings you joy? What is it that makes you feel fulfilled? What do you engage in that fills you up and that lights you up? When you get clear on what matters to you most, being able to say no becomes so much easier and leads you to being in true alignment with yourself and your values.

We delve into experiencing the ‘big emotions’ that comes with parenting, often triggered by the pressure of the ‘shoulds’ and external expectations of our society. Yara discusses bigger emotions like anger, and how this can be useful in informing us about what is happening internally. 

Yara defines the inner child and explains why being in touch with this aspect of ourselves is key in bringing nurture and care when our nervous system is activated. We discuss how our past experiences and family of origin can determine our attachment styles, and Yara gives advice on recognising when our inner child is causing us to react abnormally.

There is a season for everything, and that the compassion we show ourselves will hold us when life gets big and we see our businesses grow. 

I got so much out of this conversation and I hope you feel encouraged to grant yourself the grace and kindness you deserve, balancing life as a thriving parent and boss.   

LINKS:

Connect with Yara:

Website: https://www.lifeafterbirth.com.au/ 

Instagram: @lifeafterbirthpsychology

Podcast: Life After Birth With Yara Heary

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• Free Download: Ideal Client Avatar Workbook
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• Link

Giving away content for free in the context of a podcast can be a bit of a scary idea - and so can putting your ideas out there in such a vulnerable way. However, through the experience of running my own podcast, I’ve learnt that it has the power to enhance your thought leadership, grow your impact, build a community and of course grow your business. 

Today is Episode 100 of this podcast and to mark the occasion, I invited Bec Buchanan to join me to celebrate. Bec is a longstanding client of mine, as well as owner of Straight Up Bookkeeping. She is also the host of her own successful podcast, Straight Up Small Business.

In this episode, I’ve put myself in the hot seat and handed over the reins to Bec as host. Bec asks some insightful questions about how I started and have grown my podcast, and we discuss the ins and outs of running a successful podcast.

Launching anything new is scary, especially when you’re unsure if it will have longevity or even go anywhere. Starting a podcast requires commitment and a whole lot of planning. But over time, I have found the more of my perspective I put out in the world, the the more I understand my own brand. 

In turn, I have found a flow that reduces the stress of it all and I now recognise my place as a valuable support to my listeners. I see how the content in my podcast complements the work I do in my business, rather than takes away from it. 

Bec and I discuss how sharing thoughts and ideas in a podcast can not only support clients who already know and love you, but will help potential clients decide if you’re the right fit to guide them on their business journey. 

We speak on having the mindset of serving others, and that by having this goal, we’re willing and excited to be able to share our perspective and knowledge with the world. 

I am so grateful to everyone who has continued to listen to this podcast, and I hope to give back by supporting you to step out bravely and no longer put off your goals. You have so much value to add to other’s lives, and the world needs more of what you have to offer. So what are you waiting for? 

LINKS:

Launch the Podcast Course

Connect with Bec:

Website: https://straightupbookkeeping.com.au/

Podcast: Straight Up Small Business

Connect With Me:

• Free Download: Ideal Client Avatar Workbook
• Work with me: Business Strategy Workshop | 1:1 Business Accelerator Program
• Join the waitlist:  The Run Your Business Like a Boss Academy
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I know how easy it is to look at other businesses and entrepreneurs online who seem to be absolutely nailing it with all of their amazing launches, sales, programs and offers and feel like you’re just failing in comparison. It’s a very easy rabbit hole to fall into and can lead us to spiral into feelings of inadequacy, confusion and despondency. We can then start to quiet quit and give up on our goals because - how can we ever be as amazing as our competitors?

In this episode, I’m discussing hard truths around how comparison, perfectionism and quiet quitting are impacting your business and I’m giving you some very practical tools to prevent you from being in this situation and what to do when you can feel that familiar tug to deep dive into hundreds of reels.

It’s so important to remember that perfectionism isn’t possible. We all want our business to be perfect in every way, just like everyone else's social media posts, but the reality is that perfection is unattainable and you have no idea what is happening behind the scenes. When we strive for perfection, we set ourselves up for failure because we can never live up to our expectations so we just give up. I’m taking you through exactly how to pick yourself up and appreciate the amazing job you are doing every single day and the amount of work you are putting into creating an incredible business.

Quiet quitting is something that many business owners do without even realizing it. We set goals for ourselves and our business, but when things get tough, we give up quietly and move on to something else. This can be so detrimental to our business because we're not giving ourselves a chance to succeed and adds to our feelings of inadequacy.

So, how can we avoid these pitfalls? Listen in for my own great tools that have worked for me every time I can feel myself starting to fall down the comparison path.

Remember, don’t compare someone’s everything to your something, focus on your own journey, embrace imperfection, hold yourself accountable to your own realistic goals, and find support from others when you need it and you’ll build a successful business that fills you with pride, energy and joy.

Previous episode mentioned: 

• Turning 43: The life and business lessons learned along the way

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• Free Download: Ideal Client Avatar Workbook
• Work with me: Business Strategy Workshop | 1:1 Business Accelerator Program
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Today I'm joined by special guest Emma McMillan, a copy coach who believes that every business deserves great copy. While all the different copywriting requirements in a business can be overwhelming, Emma believes that great copy doesn’t necessarily need to be outsourced. Today, Emma shares how you can uplevel your own copywriting skills to grow your business. 

Emma has 12 years experience as a teacher where she developed a deep understanding of how people learn. For the last 7 years she’s run a successful copywriting business, Emma McMillan Copy, where she equips small business owners with the skills, confidence and accountability to write expressive copy. 

There is so much writing that goes into running a small business, and working with a copywriter may seem like the obvious path to tackle this. However, no one else can climb inside your head and articulate your thoughts quite like you can. 

Equipping yourself with the skills, confidence and accountability to write your own copy really is possible. In our conversation, Emma shares tips to ensure your voice as a business owner is coming through authentically in your copy. 

There may come a point where having a copywriter translate your message achieves the most productivity. However, having great base level copy for someone else to elevate will put you in a much better position than outsourcing from the get go. 

We talk about how to understand and communicate with your audience, how to grab attention in a saturated social media platform and how to build momentum in your content creating process. We also discuss the most important aspects of copywriting that business owners should master when it comes to DIYing.

You will want to have your notes app handy or a pen and paper because Emma shares so many incredible tips throughout our conversation. 

I hope this episode gives you the inspiration to challenge yourself and let your authentic voice shine through your communication.

Connect With Emma

Instagram: @emmamcmillancopy

Website: https://www.emmamcmillancopy.com/  

Connect With Me:

• Free Download: Ideal Client Avatar Workbook
• Work with me: Business Strategy Workshop | 1:1 Business Accelerator Program
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There is so much expectation on business owners and founders to build their businesses a certain way. I’ll bet you know what I’m talking about - the set of criteria the internet tells you to check off in order to achieve success. This topic is huge for me, and today’s episode was inspired by a multi seven figure business owner who is winding back and taking a permanent sabbatical.

Vanessa Lau is an online business owner who achieved one hundred thousand YouTube subscribers and a six figure business within a year. She was ticking all the boxes and from the outside, it looked like she had everything - the greatest speaking engagements, digital products and huge success on social media.  

However, Vanessa found herself on a hamster wheel that she knew would never get off.  Although she had achieved so many goals, she found herself losing her quality of life and her mental wellbeing. So recently, Vanessa announced she was retiring her signature program to step back and reassess her life.

I love the courage and vulnerability that Vanessa showed in admitting her truth, and it provokes the questions that we as business owners should be asking ourselves too.

Am I actually enjoying the work I do? Have I structured my business with as much ease and simplicity as possible? Am I squeezing time with my loved ones around the limited time left over from my business?

If you’re regularly overworking and finding that your business is constantly causing you anxiety, I encourage you to ask these questions and get really honest with yourself. Reflect on what you can do to stay in alignment with your life goals while cutting out the noise of external pressures. 

You are the expert on you, and I encourage you to get really clear on what you are looking to achieve. I hope this episode challenges you to stay on course and build a life and business you truly love. 

LINKS:

Vanessa Lau's Statement

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Today we’re talking membership sites and how through them, you can build a rich community of dedicated, like-minded people around your business.

I am joined by two-time business founder Chris Edwards. Chris identified a gap in the market for expats living in Hong Kong and Singapore and as a result, created the digital platform and community known as Launchpad. 

With a background in marketing and publishing, Chris shares her experience and all of the valuable lessons learnt along the way while building a successful membership model in her business. 

Stepping into the business world 15 years ago as a female entrepreneur, Chris found a distinct lack of supportive resources or networks to tap into. Driven by the challenges she faced and her need to give back, Chris endeavoured to create a community of conscious entrepreneurs who strive for better businesses.

Whether or not you’re interested in introducing a membership site to your business model, I know you’ll find so much value in the wisdom Chris has to offer. She shares her advice on where to start when building a business, such as doing deep research, upskilling through online resources and ensuring you find solid support. 

I absolutely loved hearing the joy that Chris has for her community members as well as her business. My hope is that you glean as much valuable insight from this conversation as I did, and that Chris’s story inspires your own pursuit of growing your business community. 

Connect With Chris:

• LinkedIn 
• Good Business Podcast
• Instagram: @chris_edwards_au
• Website:    www./thelaunchpad.group 

Connect With Me:

• Free Download: Ideal Client Avatar Workbook
• Work with me: Business Strategy Workshop | 1:1 Business Accelerator Program
• Join the waitlist:  The Run Your Business Like a Boss Academy
• Instagram
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