The Part-Time CEO

“When people ask God for something...and then they don't get it...they automatically think they asked for too much or that God doesn't love them.”

Janelle Lara (7:05-7:16)

As I get ready to spend quality time with my family for the holidays and give my brain the white space it needs, I’m reflecting on a simple yet powerful idea: God wants you to ask for more. 

I think about my daughter, how much I love her, and how I want her to have everything. I know that I could never hold anything back from her as long as it was good for her. That’s how God’s love works. 

His capacity to love is so much greater than our own. There's nothing wrong with asking for what you want, especially when you know that God has access to the resources you need. 

“You wouldn't feel annoyed at your children asking for good things so that they can give to others. So why do we feel like we annoy God when we ask?” - Janelle Lara  (8:50-9:07)

God is abundant. He has a never-ending supply of love and grace, and he makes sure that we also have an abundance of what we need.

Have you asked God for more energy...more joy? Have you asked God to help you establish healthy boundaries while managing the expectations that others have of you? 

Giving God More Hands to Bless Others

It’s okay to ask God for more. When we ask for more, we give God help in blessing others. This is where the idea of tithing comes into play. 

Tithing is the act of giving to the less fortunate. Tithing could be something as simple as buying gifts for a single mom who may need some extra help. It could be donations you give to your local homeless shelter. Tithing could be giving your time through volunteering. 

Creating the “Why” of Your Business

As you move through this holiday season and prepare for the New Year, I want you to create the “why” of your business. 

Why exactly are you running a business? What’s your goal? How do you want to help others? What impact do you want to make on the world beyond your family? 

“Sometimes the abundance we need looks like an abundance of patience, money, friends, or grace.” - Janelle Lara (12:28-12:42)

How do you want to change the world? How do you want to make people's lives better? 

Put that audacious goal in the front and center of your business and give God the prerogative to say yes...or no. If it isn’t God’s will, that’s okay. But learn to ask for more. The Bible tells us that if we ask, we can receive. 

How to get involved

• Follow @theparttimeceopodcast on Instagram for special, podcast related updates!
• For more resources, information on my coaching services, and a whole community of Part-Time CEOs, find me on Facebook at Janelle Lara, my website, or email me at [email protected]. 

If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!

As I get ready to spend quality time with my family for the holidays and give my brain the white space it needs, I’m reflecting on a simple yet powerful idea: God wants you to ask for more. 

I think about my daughter, how much I love her, and how I want her to have everything. I know that I could never hold anything back from her as long as it was good for her. That’s how God’s love works. His capacity to love is so much greater than our own.

“If they’ve never heard of you or your business, then you need to find a way to pique their interest quickly.”

Sani Nielsen (17:27 - 17:37)

Does reaching out to someone who knows absolutely nothing about your business sound intimidating?

As a Communications Strategist, Sani Nielsen understands how painful promoting to a cold audience can be. It’s a completely different animal, and it’s one that every business owner must face. 

The trick is to create something so emotionally promising that it’s irresistible You can endear even the coldest of audiences with Sani’s proven formula. 

“You want to target the people who are already aware of the problem you solve. That’s when they find your resources valuable.” 

- Janelle Lara (10:09 - 10:16)

It’s true that a cold audience is trickier to win over. But it’s not impossible. 

There are three variables you need for a cold audience to fall in love with you:

1. An Aware Prospect. Many entrepreneurs try (and often fail) to convince anyone they come in contact with that they have a terrible problem. Why waste your breath? There are plenty of individuals who actually have an issue that they are  aware of and need a viable solution for. Sift through the cold audience to find those who are open to your message. 

 

• The Best Platform. Once you’ve established who to target, then you must focus on how to connect with them. Facebook advertisements are an easy place to start. But the effectiveness of your marketing depends on the location of your audience. Consider all demographic factors before choosing a platform (whether online or not) and investing your time, money, and energy.

 

 

• Emotionally Driven Messaging. Aim to pique interest as quickly as possible. Cold audiences don’t know who you are. The best way to grab their attention is by driving home the emotional transformation your product or service can yield. Not sure what that is? Complete the phrase, “I provide ______, so you can ______.”

 

“All marketing is messaging. But not all messaging is marketing.” - Sani Nielsen (8:48 - 8:52) 

Effective marketing can only be accomplished through a crystal clear understanding of your message. This week, ask yourself, “What am I trying to provide through my business?”

Is it more time for families to be together? Or women to feel confident in their own skin? Whatever it is, learn to dig into and emphasize the emotional transformation in your messaging. When you connect on a deeper level, you capture the hearts of your audience. 

How to get involved

• Follow @theparttimeceopodcast on Instagram for special, podcast-related updates!
• For more resources, information on my coaching services, and a whole community of Part-Time CEOs, find me on Facebook at Janelle Lara, my website, or email me at [email protected]. 
• For more on impactful messaging, check out Sani’s free resource HERE.

If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!

Does reaching out to someone who knows absolutely nothing about your business sound intimidating? As a Communications Strategist, Sani Nielsen understands how painful promoting to a cold audience can be. It’s a completely different animal, and it’s one that every business owner must face. The trick is to create something so emotionally promising that it’s irresistible You can endear even the coldest of audiences with Sani’s proven formula.

“High-quality content is belief-shifting content. You need to build a ‘belief bridge’ for your clients.”  - Janelle Lara (19:18-19:33)

Just the other day, I was going through my morning journaling routine—inspired to plan out my next two years in business. I wanted to know what the future was going to look like as my business evolves and I look to move in different directions. 

This brought me to the realization that my goal is to invest 80% of my time in my business on creating content. This is something I didn’t even know I wanted, which is a testament to the importance of creating space to dream about what’s possible. 

“Creating content is the meat and potatoes of my business. And if you are an online business, then it's probably the meat and potatoes of yours.” - Janelle Lara (6:04-6:11)

If you’re an online service-based business that isn’t running off of referrals, then you need to understand that you are a media company. Your content has to do most of the legwork for you in building your business. This includes blog posts, Facebook live streams, YouTube videos, podcasts, email marketing, and your paid ads. 

Creating a Shift in Your Audience’s Beliefs

A media company’s job is to churn out high-quality content that creates a shift in the beliefs of your audience. It doesn’t mean you need to have the perfect backdrop, lighting, or editing in your videos. It simply means that the content of your message takes your audience from point A to point B.

The belief bridge you create through your content has to take someone from where they are now, including their struggles and desires, to the point where they recognize that they need your help. 

“The content your company is putting out should be doing most of the leg work in terms of client acquisition.” - Janelle Lara (9:05-9:13)

When your content creates a shift in beliefs, your audience sees that they can't afford NOT to work with a coach because they can’t afford to spend more time trying (and failing) to find the solutions and answers they need. 

They can’t afford to lose more time with their kids. They can’t afford to miss another dinner with their spouse. They need you to help them get their business where they want it to be.

Creating high-quality content has to be consistent. But this doesn’t mean it has to be constant. When you set up the right systems in your business, you can create hard-hitting impactful content without having to show up any more than you want to. 

My Home for the Holidays Challenge takes you deeper into the steps on how you can do this. But if you need someone to look over your shoulder to hold you accountable., then my 2020 Biz Kickoff is what you need. 

Go to https://www.2020bizkickoff.com to get more information. Putting your content strategy in place can help you reach your next level of success and create a massive shift in the lives of the people you serve. 

How to get involved

• Follow @theparttimeceopodcast on Instagram for special, podcast related updates!
• For more resources, information on my coaching services, and a whole community of Part-Time CEOs, find me on Facebook at Janelle Lara, my website, or email me at [email protected]. 

If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!

Just the other day, I was going through my morning journaling routine—inspired to plan out my next two years in business. I wanted to know what the future was going to look like as my business evolves and I look to move in different directions. This brought me to the realization that my goal is to invest 80% of my time in my business on creating content. This is something I didn’t even know I wanted, which is a testament to the importance of creating space to dream about what’s possible.

“In order to survive, thrive, and fulfill your purpose, you need a plan.” Janelle Lara (11:22 - 11:42)

Is your business economically sound?

A recession is coming, whether you like it or not. When it does, only the strongest will survive. Here’s your small-business owner's survival plan for the coming recession. 

Dan Nicholson, known as the Unconventional Accountant, is the CEO of Nth Degrees CPAs. He’s been preparing for the inevitable ever since the recent inversion of the yield curve, and now he wants to help you. 

“If you’re trying to start a business, money cannot be priority number one out of the gate. Otherwise, you’re setting yourself up for failure.” - Dan Nicholson (18:23 - 18:32)

Get a survival plan in place before the economy collapses.

You might think your business is strong enough to withstand the coming recession. But let’s review what makes a start-up business recession-proof. 

Three Elements to Focus on When Starting Your Business:

1. Your Lowest Tolerable Salary. Making lots of money shouldn’t be your priority. You’ll just be setting yourself up for failure. Instead, figure out the least amount of money you need to make to cover all your bills.
2. Operations & Self-Development. As profits finally roll in, you may be tempted to splurge on unnecessary items. Instead, invest in the tools that widen your expertise, mature your business, and accomplish your long-term goals.
3. Lift-off. Now you’re ready to launch. The foundation is now set for you to focus on realistically increasing your revenue. 

Two Ways to Prepare for the Recession:

1. Get a line of credit. Banks tighten up their lending when the economy is crashing. Go out and get a line of credit locked in now while everything is still peachy.
2. Put together a “plus and minus” list. Are there things you want to add and subtract in your business? Maybe you want more talent on your team? Or perhaps there are some vendors you could cut? Don’t wait to make those improvements.  Start taking action now. 

“The businesses that are prepared for the recession will dominate.” 

- Dan Nicholson (37:04 - 37:11) 

A recession is inevitable, and many businesses won’t survive. But yours can. This week, use Dan’s expertise to triple-check the security of your business. 

Make the necessary adjustments so your business has the fighting chance it deserves. You don’t have to be a sitting duck. Prepare for the worst so you can guarantee the best. 

How to get involved

• Follow @theparttimeceopodcast on Instagram for special, podcast-related updates!
• For more resources, information on my coaching services, and a whole community of Part-Time CEOs, find me on Facebook at Janelle Lara, my website, or email me at [email protected]. 
• Interested in learning more tricks of the accounting trade from Dan Nicholson? Request a Profit Priority Workbook! 
• For more on how to recession-proof your business, click HERE. 

If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!

A recession is coming, whether you like it or not. When it does, only the strongest will survive. Here’s your small-business owner's survival plan for the coming recession. 

Dan Nicholson, known as the Unconventional Accountant, is the CEO of Nth Degrees CPAs. He’s been preparing for the inevitable ever since the recent inversion of the yield curve, and now he wants to help you.

“Everyone needs dedicated time away from work. We are not machines. We are human beings. We need dedicated ‘off’ time.”  

Janelle Lara (4:12-4:42)

Taking time off for the holidays is critical to your success as a Part-Time CEO. That’s why I’m taking a full week off for Thanksgiving and a full two weeks off for Christmas. This includes deleting email from my phone and avoiding all social media. 

Taking dedicated time away from work helps you maintain the ferocious intensity you need for long-term success. Our bodies and minds need complete rest and recovery to operate at their full potential. 

“When you’re distracted, you can’t completely let go and lose yourself in the work you're doing. And that’s what produces the absolute best work and the best results.” - Janelle Lara (8:15-8:51)

That's why I encourage moms to leverage childcare, even though I’ve had many of my clients push back when I say this. They assume they can just park their kids in front of the TV in order to have the time they need to work. But that won’t cut it if you’re trying to achieve a high level of success. 

I work two and a half days a week, and I'm a stay-at-home mom the other four and a half days. I want to be present as a mom so I can completely check out from work. I even delete my social media apps to get rid of the temptation on those days. 

If you think about exercise, when you work out and lift heavy every day, you’re actually going to do more damage to your body than good. Your body needs rest to get stronger and healthier. 

Your Online Business is a Media Business 

There’s a simple truth that most people don't know and almost no one is talking about in the online business space: If you’re running an online business, you’re running a media company. 

Unless you’re running your business 100% off of referrals, then you need to understand and accept this simple fact. That’s why you have to create a simple content strategy that can run in the background of your business. You just have to put in the work on the front end to make it happen.

“If you’re running an online business, you’re running a media company, there is no way around it. You’re producing content that brings in clients.” - Janelle Lara (13:10-13:31)

That’s how I was able to successfully launch a program and get nine clients in the course of a weekend...even while I was traveling. I would land in the airport on my connection flight and have to onboard people because I was getting new clients consistently, and it was because I’d set up my content strategy and my launch strategy beforehand. 

You can earn more profit with less work when you know what steps to take. That’s what my Home for the Holidays Challenge is all about. I’m going to share the exact strategies and tactics I use to give myself (and my family) the time off I need to give them 100% of myself while still running a successful online business. 

If you want to learn more, head over to homefortheholidayschallenge.com and sign up to participate in this FREE challenge. You’ll learn how you can take 2 full weeks off with your family without losing momentum in your business. It’s five days of insider holiday secrets delivered straight to your email inbox. 

How to get involved

• Follow @theparttimeceopodcast on Instagram for special, podcast related updates!
• For more resources, information on my coaching services, and a whole community of Part-Time CEOs, find me on Facebook at Janelle Lara, my website, or email me at [email protected]. 

If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a quick review on iTunes. It would mean the world to hear your feedback and we’d love for you to help us spread the word!

Tptceo57tptceo57 - Transcription

Taking time off for the holidays is critical to your success as a Part-Time CEO. That’s why I’m taking a full week off for Thanksgiving and a full two weeks off for Christmas. This includes deleting email from my phone and avoiding all social media. Taking dedicated time away from work helps you maintain the ferocious intensity you need for long-term success. Our bodies and minds need complete rest and recovery to operate at their full potential.