Tea with the Queen

Stress is often given a bad rap. But what if we start viewing it as a catalyst for success? 

With the right approach, we can make stress into a powerful tool that enhances our performance and helps us achieve our goals. Intrigued? Then listen up because today I’m sharing actionable strategies to harness stress and supercharge your business. 

1. Reframe Stress as a Challenge
2. Channel Stress into Productivity 
3. Set Clear Goals 
4. Develop a Resilient Mindset 
5. Enhance Focus Through Stress
6. Leverage Stress for Creativity
7. Build a Supportive Network
8.  Practise Stress Management Techniques 

It’s time to reframe how we view stress and consider it a tool rather than something to be avoided. By harnessing its energy, we can enhance our performance and resilience.  So, what steps will you take to leverage stress in your business? Will you let stress drive you, or will you drive it to achieve your goals? The choice is yours.

LINKS:

Day with the Queen

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For a copy of Emma's book, 'Go-getter: Raise your mojo, shift your mindset and thrive' – https://www.emmamcqueen.com.au/book/

Do you feel safe to walk around your neighbourhood in the dark?

I don’t. And I have a feeling it’s not just me.

It’s ridonkulous that in this day and age, a woman doesn’t feel safe to go for a walk on her own! It’s a very real problem - I wish I had an answer, but I don’t. So the least I can do is share my personal experience to shed some light on the issue.

At the start of the year, I set a goal to up my steps to 20,000 steps a day. That’s a lot of steps! To make that happen, it meant waking up at 5 am. Do you know how dark it is at 5 am?! It’s dark. And I don’t feel safe.

One afternoon, my friend Mary was in town for a short visit and we decided to take a stroll along the Yarra River. It was around five in the afternoon, and everything was lovely until we witnessed two gangs of teens going really hard at each other. 

I was paralysed with fear. I wanted to help but fortunately, Mary pulled me away. It was clear that these kids were high on drugs, and any attempt to intervene would have ended badly, especially considering I’m only five foot two!

So, I had to think hard about how I was going to feel safe while on my 5 am walks. If you’re feeling unsettled like I am, maybe these ideas will help you too.

• I went out and bought a bright yellow rain jacket. You can’t miss me!
• I walk with my dog—a 15-year-old Maltese who, let’s be honest, wouldn’t scare anyone off, but his presence is comforting. 
• I bought myself a big torch - a really heavy one. Even though I don’t think I’d have the guts to bop someone on the head with it, it gives me a little comfort.
• I also bought a personal alarm that I carry with me. 

After about four weeks of solo early morning walks, my husband, Mark asked to come with me. Seeing how dark it was at 5 am, he asked me if I felt safe and of course, I said “No!” So now he comes with me every day and that makes me feel very safe. He’s an amazing husband. But not everyone has a partner to go with them. 

This is a very real problem, and I wish I had a clear solution. I’m increasingly curious about what other women are doing to feel safe. If you’re experiencing similar feelings of unease, please know you’re not alone.

At the end of the day, I’m not going to let fear get in the way of me getting out and doing what I need to do. Don’t let fear get in your way either.

LINKS:

Day with the Queen

Website

For a copy of Emma's book, 'Go-getter: Raise your mojo, shift your mindset and thrive' – https://www.emmamcqueen.com.au/book/

When you picture a thriving woman, do you automatically think about how much money she makes?

To me, a thriving woman pays attention to every single aspect of her life, not just her business. She is surrounded by a community of like-minded women and is open to learning and growing. She cheers others on and understands that life works in seasons.

The Birth of Thriving Women

I started Thriving Women because I wanted a group of women - like me - to connect, coach, and build a community with. When I began my business, I found it lonely, especially now that many of us are working from home. Interaction with others, especially like-minded women, is essential. More heads are better than one—for creative idea-making, problem-solving, cheerleading, and even giving a good butt-kicking when needed. There is an extraordinary power in community.

How to build a great program

1. Stack it with more value: If you’re not convinced of your offer or service, stack it with more value. 
2. Do your market research: Before launching any program, you need to understand your audience and know that they’re going to buy what you have to offer. 
3. Evolve and adapt: Thriving Women has undergone several iterations over the years. Year one was a basic version and we built it out from there. 

The Magic of Community

We’ve seen the women in our community achieve some remarkable results - business growth skyrocketing, publishing books, going from a one woman business to managing a team of 12 people. But the one thing everyone keeps coming back for is the community. 

So, whether you’re part of the Thriving Women network or another community out there, I encourage you to keep investing into the people around you. Keep being a cheer leader of others to help them flourish. That’s what a thriving woman does!

LINKS:

Day with the Queen

Website

For a copy of Emma's book, 'Go-getter: Raise your mojo, shift your mindset and thrive' – https://www.emmamcqueen.com.au/book/

For women blending motherhood and work, often one of the hardest parts of the mental load is that it’s often not shared. 

We feel like we can’t talk about it, which makes it hard for anyone to really be able to help. But the reality is, there are so many roles each of us can play to help ease the burden for each other. 

All those little (and not-so-little) tasks that pile up in a working mother's brain can cause a heavy mental load. 

This never-ending list can make anyone feel like they're losing their mind. If you’re struggling with any of the following, know that you’re not alone in experiencing these symptoms of burnout: 

1. Brain fog
2. Trouble sleeping
3. Anxious thoughts
4. Having a short fuse
5. Family drama
6. Not being present
7. Lack of motivation 

We’ll take a look at some tips on how to combat this overwhelm and make sure we stay on a healthy and sustainable track. 

Women,  I see you, and I hear you and I am you. To those amazing men who listen to this podcast, please check in with the women in your lives and ask them how they're going. 

Let’s not be afraid to keep these conversations going so that working women everywhere can feel safe to unload their burdens and begin to thrive, one step at a time.

LINKS:

Day with the Queen

Website

For a copy of Emma's book, 'Go-getter: Raise your mojo, shift your mindset and thrive' – https://www.emmamcqueen.com.au/book/

Have you ever felt like you're juggling a hundred balls at once, teetering on the edge of burnout, and questioning if it's all worth it? Welcome to the messy middle of your business. This is an intensely stressful but immensely educational phase that typically occurs around the third year of business or when annual revenue hits about $300,000. Today I’m sharing the tips and tricks that helped me navigate through my own messy middle, so you can steer your business toward sustainable success.

My biggest lesson from this journey was the need to pause and reflect.  If you’re in the messy middle, I recommend you pause, evaluate your current business landscape, and take actionable steps for a clearer and more manageable future. Remember, the messy middle is temporary. With the right strategies and a willingness to make tough decisions, you can transition from chaos to clarity.

LINKS:

Day with the Queen

Website

For a copy of Emma's book, 'Go-getter: Raise your mojo, shift your mindset and thrive' – https://www.emmamcqueen.com.au/book/

When is ‘enough’ enough?

Recently, my client showed up to a coaching session. She was wrecked.  She had spent the good part of the last two years delivering, showing up and serving her clients  really well.  

I was so proud of and thrilled for her - and then she dropped the clanger on me: “Em, when is ‘enough’ enough?”

I fully understood what she meant. We all need to make money. But how do we choose between the relentless hustle of work and our own wellbeing?

Is it one or the other, or can we find a healthy balance? 

Today, I’m sharing the questions I asked my client in order to uncover the root of her exhaustion, and the strategies we discussed to help her re-prioritise her own sense of wellbeing. 

We’ll explore redefining what success looks like to you, how to implement self-care to avoid burnout and regularly adding something to your diary that you can look forward to. 

Remember, success isn't solely about achieving those financial goals; it's also about maintaining mental, emotional and physical health to keep you on the right track. 

So, what does success look like in your own life? And when is ‘enough’ enough for you? 

LINKS:

Day with the Queen

Website

For a copy of Emma's book, 'Go-getter: Raise your mojo, shift your mindset and thrive' – https://www.emmamcqueen.com.au/book/

I’ve now been in business for 7 years. Crazy! What’s even crazier is how far I’ve come given I started out with no cash, no clients and zero visibility. 

In the beginning, I knew I was a great coach, yet I felt stuck as the world’s best kept secret. So, how did I get myself out there? 

Today, I’m taking you behind the scenes to share what I did to maximise my visibility in my space. Some wins were easy and some tricky, but all of them have proved to be incredibly effective. 

We’ll explore my favourite cost-effective strategies that helped me kickstart my business: blogs, newsletters, social media and networking. I’ll break down each of these tools to help you get started. 

We’ll also take a look at investing in some professional touches when the time is right or you have the means. This includes annual photoshoots and quality stock imagery for varied social media content, case studies to showcase your services and book writing/publishing. 

While some of these strategies can feel daunting, they’re the kind of tactics necessary to break through the noise we find ourselves up against. We just have to hack our own brains and remember that absolutely no one is judging us in the way we think!

If you want some help with any of these ideas, I’ve got a whole directory of cool people to introduce you to. So reach out and let’s get you and your business visible today!

LINKS:

Day with the Queen

Website

For a copy of Emma's book, 'Go-getter: Raise your mojo, shift your mindset and thrive' – https://www.emmamcqueen.com.au/book/

Did you know that 92 per cent of women in business make less than $100K a year in revenue? A large part of this is simply due to not knowing how to price their service offers properly. 

I want to see more women making more money—not just for the sake of it, but because it leads to more choice and freedom in your business and life. 

First things first, I want us to stop charging an hourly rate. Charging by the hour can cap your earnings and make it difficult to scale your business. Let’s say you want to make $100K a year, work 40 weeks out of the year, and work for 30 hours each week. Your initial calculation might lead you to believe you need to charge $84 an hour. But remember, you won't be billing all 30 hours. Between marketing, social media, bookkeeping, and other tasks, you'll likely only be billing 20 hours each week. So let's revise that to an hourly rate of $125.

Even though we don't want to charge by the hour, understanding this helps us see the value we need to attach to our time and services.

Introducing Tiered Pricing Models

Now, let’s talk about a tiered pricing model. This involves offering multiple levels of your service, each at a different price point. Money psychology teaches us that if a person is presented with three options, most people will pick the middle option. Your tiers could look something like this:

- Basic: $100 per month

- Standard: $200 per month

- Premium: $400 per month

You can offer different sets of features or benefits for each tier. For example, your basic tier could offer essential services, the standard tier offers more comprehensive services, and the premium tier provides the complete package for those willing to pay extra. This way, you attract a broader range of clients and maximise your revenue without significantly increasing your workload.

Consider implementing a tiered pricing strategy in your business to give yourself more stability and focus on trying to achieve the MRR (monthly recurring revenue) number that will get you to the 100K per year goal. It can take some time to figure out the perfect tiers for your service, but the effort is well worth it. 

LINKS:

Day with the Queen

Website

For a copy of Emma's book, 'Go-getter: Raise your mojo, shift your mindset and thrive' – https://www.emmamcqueen.com.au/book/

Scaling a business is a buzzword we often hear in the entrepreneurial world. Yet, many of us don't fully understand what it means, how it differs from growing a business, or how to implement it effectively.

I recently worked with one of my clients who wanted to scale her membership service, and I realised just how much there is to consider. So today I want to share my insight on what it actually means to scale and whether it's the right move for you.

Let's start by breaking down the differences between scaling and growing. Even though these words are often used interchangeably, they don’t mean the same thing.

1. Resource Allocation: Growing involves a proportional increase in resources such as capital, workforce, or operational capacity. In scaling, the goal is to achieve more with less. This means a focus is on increasing revenue without significantly increasing resources.

2. Efficiency: Growth tends to be less efficient due to its linear expansion of resources and costs. Scaling emphasises efficiency and sustainability, aiming to increase revenue while minimising costs.

3. Strategy and Implementation: Growth strategies may include hiring more employees, opening new locations, or increasing production. Scaling requires strategic planning and innovation to handle increased demand without proportional cost increases.

To make things clearer, let’s look at some examples! A restaurant that opens new locations to serve more customers experiences growth. It doubles its revenue but also doubles its costs for rent, staff, and supplies. Meanwhile, a software company that automates customer support with AI can serve more customers without hiring additional staff. This is scaling because they’ve significantly increased revenue with minimal cost.

There are several benefits to scaling your business, like an increased market demand, greater revenue potential, and a competitive advantage.  However, scaling is not just about the upside; there are risks involved. If your business isn’t ready you can overextend and expose it to unnecessary risks.

Remember, scaling isn’t for anyone. Like any decision in business, it’s important to be well-informed before diving in. Whether you decide to scale or grow, I hope the information I’ve shared will help you make the best decision for your business.

LINKS:

Day with the Queen

Website

For a copy of Emma's book, 'Go-getter: Raise your mojo, shift your mindset and thrive' – https://www.emmamcqueen.com.au/book/

Are you scared to invest in your business?

Seven years ago, I bootstrapped my business with my own savings, not taking out loans or relying on investors. It was just me, making things work under pretty tight conditions. When I started the business, I had one rule: don't spend money until you've made money. There were, however, two exceptions: one was a terrible website I made on my own and then quickly discarded (because it was atrocious), and the other was investing $26,000 per year into a business school. 

It felt like an enormous sum at the time, but I had faith that the work I would generate from being in that business school, would more than pay for the investment I was making. That decision turned out to be one of the best I ever made—I felt secure as I transitioned from my corporate role into my own business.

Now, let me ask you: would you have taken that risk? I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences in the comments. Women are quick to invest in our children, beauty routines, and family holidays, but when it comes to our businesses, we often hesitate. In this episode, I break down why I think this is the case and some strategies to help you feel more comfortable investing in your business.

Fear of investing in your business is understandable, but the potential rewards far outweigh the risks. Build a supportive network, seek mentorship, and continually educate yourself. Prioritise your wellbeing and finances smartly. With these strategies, you'll be well on your way to overcoming the fear that holds you back.

I hope my tips have been helpful. Pick one and try it. Give it enough time to work, and if it does, let me know

LINKS:

Day with the Queen

Website

For a copy of Emma's book, 'Go-getter: Raise your mojo, shift your mindset and thrive' – https://www.emmamcqueen.com.au/book/