The Road to Seven

A former wildlife biologist, Carla Wainwright now helps women connect with the divine feminine.

Carla believes that the wisdom we tap into when reconnected with our bodies and the divine feminine can guide us in running our businesses, navigating our relationships, and raising our children. 

“When we recognize that the body has this wisdom that we can listen to, this really then begins to radically shift how we operate in the world,” Carla explains. “Because we are able to connect to the deeper ‘felt-sense’ — that inner knowing.”

Leveraging this connection helps us as entrepreneurs, as we will operate from a place of deep inner knowing, rather than just letting our egos make guesses... and hoping for the best!

Carla herself made an unlikely decision based on this wisdom. The day after deciding to make the leap from biologist to bodyworker, she received an offer for a government job — one that just a year earlier would have been a dream job! 

But Carla knew that it wasn’t what she needed to do. She turned it down and now runs a successful business that she finds extraordinarily fulfilling!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode of the Road to Seven podcast,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• How Carla reclaimed her power after two traumatic events — and why this lead to a transformation  
• Steps that you can take today to begin reconnecting to your divine self
• How to tell the difference between your instinct and the story you tell yourself 

About Carla Wainwright

Carla runs a yoga studio in B.C. and heads a global movement called Embracing Shakti. She is a breathworker, an earth priestess, and a healer. For more than 25 years, Carla has been in service to women on the path of embodiment. 

Highlights:‌ ‌

• 00:26  Introducing Carla Wainwright
• 03:51  Biologist to breathworker
• 06:43  The divine feminine
• 07:41  Student to teacher
• 09:03  Leveraging the divine self
• 11:18  First steps
• 13:16  Unconventional moves
• 15:13  Being wrong  
• 16:40  Highlights
• 18:09  Lessons
• 19:17  Telling the story
• 20:30   Working with Carla

Links:‌ ‌

Carla Wainwright

https://carlawainwright.com 

Embracing Shakti

https://www.embracingshaktitemple.com 

To work with me and make your next power move, visit:

https://www.theroadtoseven.com/

 ‌Stay Connected

Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it! 

You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.

I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!

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Twitter: @shelaghcummins

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“It’s not the programs that you offer or the products that you sell… it’s about the bigger picture.”

—  Shelagh Cummins

Does your brand need a refresh?

I’d known for a while that something intangible was missing in my business, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on what.

I’d run my business under my own name for over ten years. And honestly, I’ve been THRILLED with its success, the revenue it’s earned, and — most of all — its impact on my clients.

But deep down, I’ve been feeling an itch to expand my business and add a new vertical — and I realized I was having trouble figuring out what that could look like within the Shelagh Cummins brand.

That’s when it hit me: my business had gotten much bigger than me.

My role in my business is as the visionary. My goal has been to become a global leader in educating, supporting, and financing women entrepreneurs.

It was during an education session for my clients that I myself learned something new!

I hosted a seminar on branding for a group of women entrepreneurs, and listening to my expert guest speaker turned out to be an eye-opening experience. 

I realized that my brand was… just a little bit stale.

I had brand consistency, but I needed a new infusion of heart.

I had to make a transformation.

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode of the Road to Seven podcast,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• The intangible elements that give your brand heart 
• How to visually express your brand
• Why women-led businesses tend to fall into the micro-business category

Highlights:‌ ‌

• 02:01  Something missing
• 03:15  Heart in branding
• 05:14  The difference
• 05:53  Core values
• 07:21  Micro-lending
• 10:10  People first
• 10:44  Always a way
• 11:28  Impact & value
• 12:16  Visual expression
• 14:04  Vision & mission
• 16:12  Should you rebrand? 

Links:‌ ‌

To work with me and make your next power move, visit:

https://www.theroadtoseven.com/

Stay Connected

Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it! 

You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.

I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!

Follow me!

Instagram: @shelaghcummins

Twitter: @shelaghcummins

facebook.com/ShelaghCummins

linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins

“My biggest challenge is probably myself... in terms of growing, I think I felt like ‘Who am I to get too much bigger?’” —  Laura Bonnett

If you discovered your true, fulfilling purpose in life, would you be ready to embrace it?

My guest for this episode, Laura Bonnett, is the founder and CEO of YellowTree Grant Writing. Laura worked for the federal government for nearly 10 years and now uses that experience to make an incredible impact on the world by helping organizations access grants that help them effect change.

Shifting from academia to entrepreneurship meant letting go of structure and embracing a level of fluidity. While she was used to a requirement of absolute perfectionism in her former career, she found that entrepreneurship is more fluid and adaptable — and you’re allowed to fail and learn from it.

As she grew, she developed her own structure by putting systems in place for bookkeeping and time management, and creating a schedule that worked for her.

But what she really struggled with was believing that she deserved to have more and get bigger.

When it was time to transition from solopreneurship to agency, she felt frozen. “I had to increase my belief in myself and in my company, to trust that this growth will continue,”  Laura says.

She soon realized that she didn’t just need to expand her business, but the industry itself.

“We grant writers are few and far between in Canada. But in doing this hiring process, I realized that I need to start creating the pipeline,” she explains. “Because the pipeline’s not there… I’m going to have to start teaching more, because I need to develop this industry even further.”

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode of the Road to Seven podcast,‌ ‌you’ll discover‌

• The #1 mistake that organizations make when it comes to grant applications
• How to become comfortable with creating and embracing a new role in your company as you scale up
• The common money mindset challenge faced by entrepreneurs and small business owners

About Laura
Laura Bonnett founded YellowTree Grant Writing Services in 2018 to help organizations find their funding. She is passionate about social justice and generally making the world a better place — on a small or large scale.

Highlights

• 00:07  Introducing Laura Bonnett
• 03:26  The journey to CEO
• 06:32  Getting the first client
• 07:16  The biggest mistake organizations make
• 08:20  Setting up systems
• 09:44  From structure to fluidity
• 15:15  Biggest challenge
• 16:34  From solopreneur to agency
• 18:20  Creating your new identity
• 20:14  Support networks
• 21:43  Company culture
• 23:16  #1 piece of advice
• 24:37  Next steps

Links

Laura Bonnett https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-bonnett-phd
Yellow Tree Grant Writing Services https://yellowtreegrants.com [email protected]
Twitter: @YellowTreGrants

To work with me and make your next power move, visit https://www.theroadtoseven.com/

Join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.

I would be grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” Thank you!

Follow me!
Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
facebook.com/ShelaghCummins
linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins

What do you have to let go of in order to create a bigger impact?

My guest Laura Beauparlant ran a custom stationery business for 12 years. She was highly successful, and her innovative wedding invitation designs had been featured in many magazines.

Laura was making good money and building a name, but she knew that she wanted to leave the wedding industry. She wanted something bigger and better. She’d been doing design work for small businesses and soon realized she was making more money from small business branding than from her wedding invitations.

She knew she needed to shift where she put her energy.

In November of 2015, she quit doing wedding design completely and within 5 or 6 months she’d launched her new company, Lab Creative, and started her Brand Camp program.

The lesson? Sometimes, you need to let go of something in order to grow.

As Laura scaled up, she realized that couldn’t move beyond a certain revenue point without hiring a team and letting go of having full control.

She needed to recognize that her role in her business is that of a visionary, and that the only way she could thrive in that role is by having a team to support her.

She also needed to heal a money mindset that caused her to feel guilty about building wealth.

Once she let go, she achieved some truly incredible results!

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌

• The power in claiming your role as a visionary in your business
• The importance of recognizing when it’s time to hire — and how to be okay with bringing on new team members
• How shifting your money mindset can free you from limiting beliefs and guilt about building wealth

“I have it in my calendar to pay myself every two weeks, just like I would pay anybody else... I’ve learned that I have to pay myself. The work I do is valuable and I deserve to get paid in my business.” —  Laura Beauparlant

About Laura Beauparlant

Laura Beauparlant is author of the book Brand Chemistry, an award-winning keynote speaker, and the founder and creative director of Lab Creative, whose branding and design process offers their clients a unique blend of experience, personality, and style.

Highlights:‌

• 01:51  About Laura Beauparlant
• 03:46  Transitioning to a new business
• 07:49  Reflection & pivotal moments
• 11:40  The challenges of hiring
• 14:53  Key players Laura hired & why
• 18:42  The finances of hiring
• 21:32  Mindset shift

Links:‌

Laura Beauparlant https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-beauparlant-4304381
Lab Creative https://www.labcreative.ca
Instagram: @labcreativeinc
Brand Audit Offer https://www.labcreative.ca/brandaudit
Brand Chemistry by Laura Beauparlant https://brandchemistrybook.com
Brand Camp: https://www.labcreative.ca/virtual-brand-camp - Use code CUMMINS for $250 off!

To work with me and make your next power move, visit: https://www.theroadtoseven.com/

Join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.

I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review,  thank you!

Follow me!
Instagram & Twitter: @shelaghcummins
facebook.com/ShelaghCummins
linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummi

“‘One day’ doesn’t have to be far away. ‘One day’ can be today.” —  Shelagh Cummins

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the importance of flexibility. Perhaps you have, too.

2020 was full of new challenges and new problems, which required new solutions and ways of thinking.

In this pandemic age, it’s important to cultivate flexibility in what you offer, how you offer, and how you show up. The truth is, we don’t know when or if things will ever go back to “normal.” It is very likely that they won’t.

We need to start living flexibly in this new reality.

Think of the fable of the oak and the reed — one bends with the wind and survives, while the oak tree falls. As an entrepreneur or business owner, the way of the reed is the route to success.

I see many store owners who are hesitant about moving online or speakers who are resisting moving to delivering speeches online.

They tell themselves that they’ll do it “one day.” And this “one day”-ism isn’t exclusive to the pandemic — it’s always been a way to avoid the things you want but are afraid to have.

“I can’t launch because it’s not perfect” or “I can’t go after that client, because I’m just not ready yet.”

Instead of putting things off until “one day”, start considering one thing you can do today to get you closer to your goals.

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode of the Road to Seven podcast,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• The importance of cultivating flexibility and adaptability in both practice and mindset 
• The ‘three ugly stepsisters’ that can hinder us when it comes to growing and scaling our businesses
• Why ‘today’ is always a better answer than ‘one day’ — and how to make the decision to take action less daunting

Highlights:‌ ‌

• 01:13  Flexibly living in the today
• 04:03  The “one day” trap
• 05:40  Adapting to circumstances
• 07:54  Push through the fear
• 09:27  The benefits of moving quickly
• 12:39  Shift your mindset  
• 14:40  What’s your new “today” goal?  

 ‌Links:‌

To work with me and make your next power move, visit: https://www.theroadtoseven.com/ 

Stay Connected

Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!

You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.

I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!

You can also listen at:

iTunes — Google Music — Stitcher — Spotify

Follow me!

Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
facebook.com/ShelaghCummins
linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins

Don’t forget to rate and subscribe! I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too!

2020 was a very tough year for most of us. A devastating year for others. Personally and professionally, we’ve all been trying to weather the storm.

But 2020 has also presented us with a number of hidden gifts.

For many of us, the pains of 2020 are still too fresh and it’s too soon to appreciate these silver linings — and that’s okay! For those of us who are ready, I’d love to look back on the way that this challenging time has changed us for the better, revealed new strengths, and highlighted the importance of support.

We’ve tapped into new heights of RESOURCEFULNESS as we figure out how to evolve and work around brand new challenges. We will not go back to life as we knew it — so now is the time to make amazing pivots and shifts, rather than waiting for the old normal to return.

We’ve tapped into the power of COMMUNITY by reaching out to members of our own community or joining new ones. We’ve found new ways to socialize and come together online, making new connections with other women entrepreneurs and gaining new forms of support.

We’ve discovered STRENGTH that we didn’t know we had: handling higher workloads, incredible challenges, and increased demands on our time, as well as the psychological impact of living through a global emergency.

And we’re still standing.

And that isn’t even half of the list. Celebrate all 10 of 2020’s hidden gifts with me in this episode!

You’ll discover:‌ ‌

• How the hidden gifts of 2020 have actually helped us to grow and evolve as entrepreneurs and members of our communities
• The importance in learning how to adapt to our changing business and social landscape
• The power of recognizing and appreciating moments of micro-joy

Highlights:‌

• 01:43  The hidden gifts of 2020
• 03:01  Surrender
• 09:24  Resilience
• 10:42  Resourcefulness
• 12:27  Empowered action
• 14:26  Adaptability
• 15:56  Community
• 19:34  Strength
• 20:23  The power of teams
• 23:14  Micro-joy
• 26:07  Relationships

Links:

To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://www.theroadtoseven.com/

Stay Connected

Like what you’re hearing? Click here to subscribe in iTunes for more episodes to boost your Road to Seven today! I have more episodes with great tips and conversations with women that are revolutionizing the way we do business - don’t miss it!

You can also join the Road To Seven Facebook group to meet other like-minded entrepreneurs who want to band together and help each other rise up.

I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” I’d also love to hear what your favourite part of this episode is in the comments below. Thank you!

You can also listen at:

iTunes — Google Music — Stitcher — Spotify

Follow me!

Instagram: @shelaghcummins
Twitter: @shelaghcummins
facebook.com/ShelaghCummins
linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins‌

Don’t forget to rate and subscribe! I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too!

“The human side of your team and business can sometimes be the hardest to manage.”

—  Shelagh Cummins

Laura Tolhoek grew up in a family that owned a small business, so from an early age she was familiar with the tenacity, resilience, and hard work that go into growing a livelihood. After going to school for HR, she worked for large companies in hospitality and food service.

She desired a healthier work-life balance and requested that her role be made part-time — a request that her then-employer balked at.

She looked at different part-time opportunities, but realized that she was already doing a lot of unpaid consulting work.

So, she decided to strike out on her own.

Laura realized that many small businesses can’t afford or don’t need a full-time HR person on their payroll, but could still benefit from having someone they can turn to for HR support.

She started her own agency offering flexible and customized outsourced HR options.

It wasn’t an instant success.

When she first launched her business, it took some time to generate revenue. She dealt with negative thoughts telling her that she was a failure — but then realized that she hadn’t done any marketing!

She reached out to her contacts, who spread the word to other business owners in need of her unique services.

And within just a year, she started building a team and scaling up!

Learn all about her journey — and her top HR tips — in the latest episode of the Road to Seven podcast.

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• The number one thing to remember when interviewing a new hire
• Why learning to delegate is one of the most important things that you can do as a leader
• Why waiting to be ‘ready’ will never work

“You didn’t open your business to be a human rights expert. But if you can have somebody in your back pocket who can say ‘Yup, you’re on the right track’ or ‘Let’s tweak it this way,’ it makes you have more confidence and know that you’re doing the right thing.”

—  Laura Tolhoek

About Laura Tolhoek

As a Certified Human Resource Leader (CHRL) and the proprietor of Essential HR, Laura Tolhoek knows that when a business faces HR problems, there is no room for ambiguity, only positive results. For the last 15 years, she has blended sound HR practices with her pragmatic approach to improve business performance. 

Highlights:‌ ‌

• 00:55  Introducing Laura Tolhoek
• 01:47  The business growth journey
• 05:40  The HR gap for small business
• 08:43  Landing the first (and second and third) client
• 13:35  Networking in a pandemic
• 14:30  Take advantage of learning opportunities
• 18:20  Pivotal decisions that fuelled growth
• 20:26  Laura’s #1 piece of advice

Links:‌ ‌

Essential HR

https://www.essentialhr.ca 

Instagram: @essentialhr.ca

LinkedIn: essential-hr-canada

To work with me and make your next power move, visit:

https://www.theroadtoseven.com/

Follow me!

Instagram: @shelaghcummins

Twitter: @shelaghcummins

facebook.com/ShelaghCummins

linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins

Don’t forget to rate and subscribe! I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too! 

• What you need to learn and invest in when you’re starting your own business
• The surprising health impacts of common household products — and where to look for information on healthier choices
• How to avoid being discouraged by controversy and negativity 

• 01:39  Introducing Emma Rohmann
• 04:07  Why Emma started Green at Home
• 08:35  The journey from blog to business
• 11:10  Managing the mindset shift to entrepreneurship
• 13:26  Key elements for selling online
• 15:41  Dealing with controversy
• 18:35  The ‘cord-cutting’ process
• 20:10  The Fifth Pillar of Health
• 24:00  What Emma wishes she knew earlier

To work with me and make your next power move, visit:
https://www.theroadtoseven.com/

• The biggest lie that entrepreneurs tell themselves when they are setting goals
• Why millennials want and expect more out of their professional lives
• How to show up every day the way that you WANT to show up

• 01:13  Introducing Christen N. James
• 05:47  From corporate to entrepreneur
• 08:38  How to choose a coaching field
• 10:30  CJ’s familial inspiration
• 13:23  Why millennials want more
• 15:32  Key strategies for shifting to coaching
• 17:59  Tapping into your inner strength
• 20:25  Reconnecting in the moment
• 21:54  CJ’s favourite client
• 23:10  The lies we tell ourselves
• 24:58  CJ’s top three lessons & 2021 power word

https://www.theroadtoseven.com/

Are you using gratitude the right way?

There are some major misconceptions out there about how we should experience gratitude.

Gratitude can be experienced in ways that can drive your business growth, but a lot of people approach gratitude in ways that can actually hinder growth, based on this misunderstanding.

It’s easy to compare our lives to the lives of people less fortunate and feel as though we should be grateful for what we have, and that wanting MORE would be greedy. Being too full of gratitude for the life that you have can stop you from acting on your hunger for more.

Many of us question whether wanting more is in alignment with living in gratitude for what we have.

In this way, gratitude can act as a cage instead of a path.

Please remember that wanting more isn’t greedy and that you shouldn’t feel guilty about it.

We can live in gratitude AND still want more. And work toward it.

In fact, working toward more can be an act of generosity, as having more for ourselves can create a positive snowball effect for our family and the people that we work with.

Identity what MORE looks like for you, and your path will start to show itself.

In‌ ‌this‌ ‌episode of the Road to Seven podcast,‌ ‌you’ll discover:‌ ‌

• The #1 misconception that people have about gratitude
• How to use gratitude to fuel your business… instead of letting it hold you back
• Why gratitude isn’t incompatible with wanting MORE — and the amazing snowball effect that having more will have on those around you

“Growth isn’t always more … growth can mean different things for different people. It might mean fine-tuning a system, or status quo but liberating more time, or keeping your business running at the same level but having a higher profit margin.”

—  Shelagh Cummins

 Highlights:‌ ‌

• 01:40  Are you using gratitude in the wrong way?
• 02:19  The gratitude epiphany 
• 05:14  Is wanting more greedy?
• 07:11  What will ‘more’ do for you and those around you?
• 08:36  Case study: Latondra Murray
• 09:45  Your path appears when you declare your MORE

Links:‌ ‌

To work with me and make your next power move, visit:

https://shelaghcummins.com 

Follow me!

Instagram: @shelaghcummins

Twitter: @shelaghcummins

facebook.com/ShelaghCummins

linkedin.com/in/shelaghcummins

Don’t forget to rate and subscribe! I would be really grateful if you left a review on iTunes so that others can find and boost their business too!