The Simplifiers Podcast

Last week we focused on how to start something new, and uncovered what causes us to procrastinate… maybe binge watching RuPaul's Drag Race from start to finish, rather than doing the thing.

We've all been there, huh?!

Therefore, I'd like to build on the topic of 'starting' with this week's episode, as this is a question I get a LOT from our listeners…

"How do I start my own business?"

So - let's simplify that!

Anna Lundberg is a success coach and business strategist.

• At what point you should decide 'enough is enough' with your corporate 9-to-5 job and exit stage left… and when you should stay
• 5 steps to start your own business;
• • define your foundational values
  • address your fears
  • find your tribe
  • build your confidence
  • set goals
• How to tell if you're built to be a successful entrepreneur (and/or) business owner… or not
• The 5 mistakes to avoid when leaving your corporate 9-to-5 job:
• • narrowing down your options too soon
  • rushing into action
  • taking no action at all
  • focusing on the wrong things
  • doing it all yourself

This talk really drills down into the nitty gritty, so if you've been thinking about launching a new business, you may want to take notes. The girl knows her stuff.

We break it down in simple ways to help you gain greater clarity and increased confidence to take action, and… #DoTheThing!

Show notes available with all LINKS mentioned here: https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/043-anna-lundberg

I'm a world-class champion at procrastination! Been there, done that, got the t-shirt and then dragged my feet until the very last minute on doing something about it.

Do you have a new project to launch? A book to write? A brand new business idea to get off the ground? Maybe you've dreamt about quitting your 9-to-5 to become a freelancer, but something is causing you to pump the brakes.

What's that about!!?!

How do we stop the vicious cycle of procrastination and figure out what's really underneath it all?

My guess is it's one of three things…

2. Perfectionism

3. Overload and overwhelm

Set a 7-minute timer and journal out the underlying fears.

'What's stopping me from taking action right now and why?'

Ask yourself 'What are the first 5 steps I need to take in order to begin?'

Even if you don't have a clear path to completion, just take the next step. Remember, done is better than perfect. You got this.

Tell somebody what you are doing.

Tell the Universe, tell your clients, tell your business coach, trusted partners and colleagues. Ask people to hold you accountable along the way, so you hit your key milestones, big and small.

Procrastination stinks.

I mean, c'mon… even as I sat down and wrote out the talking points for this episode, I found myself subconsciously being pulled away to surf the internet and got distracted by notifications.

It happens to the best of us.

And sometimes, that's your body or mind telling you that it's afraid. Afraid of failure. Afraid of not getting it absolutely perfect. Afraid of the changes that will come when you #Dothething.

I get it.

But what I also know is true is this…

You are capable of great things.

You are full of radiance and inspiration… and you know when it's time to 5-4-3-2-1-LAUNCH! like Mel Robbins says in her amazing book. And get up and take action.

Everything you need already sits inside you.

You can do this, I believe in you.

It's time to SIMPLIFY.

Show notes available with all LINKS mentioned here: https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/bonus-039/

The new year is right around the corner, and it's a great time to start something. You may be thinking, 'well, I've got time… I'll do that later' or 'oh, I'm super busy right now, I couldn't add another thing to my plate.'

I feel ya. I've said those things myself over the years too.

But why do we do that?

It baffles my mind - we know what we need to do to root in a new, healthier habit. Or to get a new initiative off the ground… but something seems to always stops us. Makes us pump the brakes. Or keeps us from even taking the very first step.

What's that about?

I wanted to get to the bottom of this and decided to invite a friend and CEO of four brands onto the podcast to talk about what she's learned over the years.

• The most important step when starting something new
• How to overcome the fear, instead of letting it paralyze us from getting something off the ground
• Why you need to STOP some things in order to make room for something new…

Kristy shares the key lessons she's gained over the years as an entrepreneur.

PLUS, she shares her personal health story. Finding her health slipping away from her in 2017, Kristy had her implants removed. It's an incredible story. If you've got breast implants and a few inexplicable health problems right now, you'll definitely want to listen through to the end of this episode.

As it's the holiday season, we're keeping this episode short and sweet for you. We know you're darting to and fro, so I hope this episode inspires you to get your new business idea or shiny new project off the ground in the coming months.

Remember, sometimes all it takes is the courage to keep going and take the very next step. You can do it, I believe in you!

#DoTheThing.

Show notes available with all LINKS mentioned here: https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/042-kristy-dickerson

You may have listened to the episode where I chatted with author, Jennifer Dukes Lee. If you've not yet tuned in, download it now!

We talked all about how to let go of control.

I think what happens to most of us Type A, card-carrying control freaks, is that we start with good intentions.

When we launch a new business, it's all about us doing the heavy lifting. It's all about us making things happen. Taking the initiative. Taking the risk. Moving the needle along.

But what happens when things start to really take off? I hate the saying, 'you've got as many hours in the day as Beyonce' because like Beyonce, you can't do it all. Well let me clarify… you can't do it all, all by yourself.

Beyonce has got people. Loads of people. An agent, a social media team, a tour manager, a housekeeper, a nanny, a personal assistant, a personal trainer, a personal chef, a financial advisor, a bookkeeper, a vocal coach, a spiritual advisor, a nutritionist, a costume designer and I'm willing to bet, she's also got a therapist or two.

A reason she is so great, is because of the team she has around her, helping her every step of the way.

While we don't all necessarily have Beyonce's bank account, we can learn a lesson or two from her success journey.

In the beginning, it took determination, repetition, grit, persistence and a little bit of luck as she did ALL the things. Then, as it started to take off in her work, I'm willing to bet she had to learn how to do less of the little stuff. That would allow her to accomplish more of her bigger goals, and to step into the spotlight more.

She had to learn how to delegate.

• When you take inventory of the weekly tasks you need to accomplish in your business, which tasks on your plate totally, utterly annoy you?
• Which are a pain in the butt?
• Which are tedious and have way too many steps to complete?

Be honest.

When you jot these down, notice if there are any patterns to these tasks. For example, is it all related to paperwork - invoicing, bookkeeping, timesheets, taking meeting minutes? If so, you'll start to work out the exact type of Virtual Assistant you might need to hire next to help takes these off your plate.

Do you have a voice in your head that says, 'never mind, it'll be faster if I just did it myself.'

It may be keeping you stuck. All those tedious little tasks eat up all your valuable time, leaving you less time and energy to do the higher yielding tasks (like sales and client relations).

Let's stop that vicious cycle. It may be what's keeping you playing small.

Instead, ask yourself:

• 'What training do my team need, in order for me to let go of this task?'

It might seem daunting at first, but hear me out.

Maybe at your next team meeting, you allocate 30-minutes to train your team on one or two weekly tasks. Do it in-person or via a video conference call. Have someone document the steps in a Google Doc and place it in your company handbook.

And then... re-assign the task, right then and there. Sure, the first time they do the task for you, there might be a few fumbles. But with repetition comes mastery. And a sense of relief that this task is now off your plate.

Every team member works differently.

Some are super organized project managers, some are more creative, blue-sky thinkers. How you manage the spectrum is really important, once you've delegated the task.

When you've got a task-tracking system in place, you can rest assured that the work is getting done to the caliber you expect. Some tools we use at The Simplifiers are:

• Trello - a free project management software that is browser-based.
• Google Sheets - online spreadsheets which can be shared. My VA has a weekly task list where she checks tasks off and I can easily track for accountability.
• Slack - a free message board communications tool where you can have conversations by project, topic, client or team.

Use what works for you and your team. That ensures buy-in from colleagues, which helps them stay motivated to update it regularly. With the right technology in place, you'll learn how to delegate more and more, with ease.

Turning off your Type A control freak status is easier said than done. Trust me, I know. But once you identify the tasks you want to let go of, train your team and put a tracking system in place… just imagine the headspace you will create!

If you're worried that you can't afford to hire another full time person on your team, start small. Find a Virtual Assistant that can help you with one or two tasks to start with… and build from there.

Letting go is not easy.

It requires trust.

It requires faith.

It requires a new way of thinking.

But just like Beyonce, you are destined for greatness. And in order to step up and into the spotlight of your own life, you need to surround yourself with a team who believe in you, and help you to shine.

Becoming an undercover superhero for your clients means you need to delegate more of the little stuff, so you can simplify the big stuff for them.

You can do this, I believe in you.

It's time to SIMPLIFY.

Show notes available with all LINKS mentioned here:https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/bonus-038/

Raise your hand if you consider yourself a card-carrying Type A control freak.

Don't worry, no one is looking, I promise.

How can you tell? Inc. suggest 8 Signs You're a Control Freak.

Here are the first 4:

1. You believe that if someone would change one or two things about themselves, you'd be happier. So you try to "help them" change this behavior by pointing it out, usually over and over.
2. You micromanage others to make them fit your (often unrealistic) expectations. You don't believe in imperfection and you don't think anyone else should either.
3. You judge others' behavior as right or wrong and passive-aggressively withhold attention until they fall in line with your expectations. Sitting in silent judgment is a master form of control.
4. You offer "constructive criticism" as a veiled attempt to advance your own agenda.

Any of this sound familiar? (Harsh, right!!?!)

Jennifer Dukes Lee is the author of It's All Under Control: A Journey of Letting Go, Hanging On, and Finding a Peace You Almost Forgot Was Possible and other books.

• What is underneath the illusion of control and what causes us to crave it
• What happens to us if we DON'T change, but continue attempting to carry everything in our work and life
• When to say "NO" and discover the "Delegate, Dismiss, or Do" framework
• What type of control freak are you - Driver, Devoter or Darling, and what to do about it
• What it means to live a 'surrendered life'

Plus, Jennifer shares a few simple tips for overcoming the overwhelm during the winter holidays. (Lord knows, we could all use this!)

My children gifted me her book for my birthday earlier this year. (Jeez, what are they trying to tell me!!?!) I committed to read a little bit every night before bed, instead of scrolling on my phone. I absolutely adore this book and know you will too. Witty, down-to-earth and my kind of gal, so enjoy!

#DoTheThing.

Show notes available with all LINKS mentioned here: https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/041-jennifer-dukes-lee/

Let's make the most of the quickly approaching Small Business Saturday. If you're based in the US, it's on Saturday, November 24th. And in the UK, it's on Saturday, December 1st.

This is notoriously the day after the big brands do their big push on Black Friday and a chance for small business owners and solopreneurs to get a little piece of the action.

Now, if all of this marketing talk gives you the hives, no problem. Just skip right past to another episode we've released recently. But if you're looking for a simple way to make a big splash in sales, I've got a few ideas for you...

A limited offer will entice people towards one of your top-selling products or services online. Could you run a 24-hour promotion of 25-50% off the price if purchased on Small Business Saturday? You could suggest:

• They gift it to their spouse or co-worker or friend
• They reserve their spot on your next course
• They could lock in this special rate for future use

Remember, this offer is only for 24 hours, so they need to act fast if they want to save money or get the extra bonuses you provide.

• Do you have an online shopping cart on your website?
• Could you create a BUY NOW button using PayPal or Square?
• Can you sell your wares on Etsy or some other 3rd party network?

The point is, make it super simple for people to buy your products and services.

I had to buy airline tickets from a local travel agency recently and couldn't believe how TEDIOUS the process was. I just wanted to click on a link, enter in my credit card details and be done with it. It took 2 hours on customer service calls and 24 hours later, I got a confirmation email. Not ideal.

Bottomline - people want to buy your stuff. Make it easy for them to give you money through safe, secure online payment options.

Now more than ever, people are doing their holiday shopping online.

Encourage your customers and clients to 'Go Local' this year, rather than spending ALL their money on Amazon.

Maybe shoot a short video reminding them that when you buy from local businesses, you're making a real difference to people's lives; putting food on the table, new shoes on children's feet, and helping a real, live entrepreneur in the community thrive.

When you buy from big box retailers, sure those are humans too, but by the time they pay off their massive overhead and marketing budgets, the factory workers get a fraction of the reward.

And—here's an idea—when someone buys local from you, give them a badge they can post on social media (similar to the 'I Voted!' stickers). Help customers see this as something they can be proud of!

Ok, I know what you're thinking… "Crap - I don't have time to pull this off!"

Wrong.

You do. Here's how:

1. Create a graphic using one of Canva's pre-built templates
2. Create the promo code in your online shopping cart
3. Schedule a few posts in social media
4. Maybe shoot a quick video (60 seconds, tops) on your phone with your elevator pitch and your offer
5. Start telling the world!

What have you got to lose?

Show notes available with all LINKS mentioned here: https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/bonus-037/

I'm willing to bet you've either heard someone mention "The 5 Love Languages" recently, or you've read the book, or you've given the book as a wedding gift to a beloved friend. This book has taken the world by storm, remaining on the New York Times bestseller list consistently since 2009!

Dr Gary Chapman is the author of The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts® and many other books.

• More about the 5 Love Languages:
• • Words of Affirmation
  • Quality Time
  • Receiving Gifts
  • Acts of Service
  • Physical Touch
• How you can tell which your primary love language is
• Why it's important to 'keep our love tank full'
• What couples can do when they are drifting apart
• What some couples believe about marriage and relationships that simply isn't true
• How you can share the love languages with a partner who has a different belief system
• How you can apply these principles at work and in your family

Dr. Chapman is an absolute delight. He's funny, down-to-earth and shares so much wisdom in this episode. I hope it brings a smile to your face, and offers you a compass to help navigate tricky relationships this season.

I can only hope that I'll be this bright, warm and full of sparkle at age 81 like he is.

#DoTheThing.

Show notes available with all LINKS mentioned here: https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/040-gary-chapman/

Holidays are coming! REALLY. It's coming at us like a runaway steam train and there's no denying there's a chance a few of us might jump aboard the Hot Mess Express.

Between juggling:

• running our business,
• the kids,
• the in-laws,
• the social schedules
• don't forget to make a reindeer costume for the school play,
• buy everyone who sits within a 1/2 mile radius of your desk a thoughtful, kind, gluten-free but delicious holiday gift
• oh and the budgets,
• the clients who are more on edge than usual,
• did I mention the friggin' IN-LAWS,
• finding the start of the Scotch tape (AGAIN)

Oh crap! I broke another nail. When will they all just leave me alone? Will they notice if I lock myself in the bathroom for the next 30 minutes?

Ahhhhhhh, the holidays.

Why not try something different this year? I am proposing that every listener to The Simplifiers Podcast vows to have a SIMPLE Christmas (Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, insert whatever you're celebrating this winter here) this year.

Your mental health might thank me later.

No, I mean, REALLY… let's SIMPLIFY, you guys!

For me, the most important thing this holiday season is to spend quality time with my family. That's it. That's my compass.

The beauty of being an adult is that you always have a choice.

This year, I'm not asking for things on my wishlist.

For one, we're headed to the states and not taking much luggage. For two, besides a few books that would bring me joy, I'm much more interested in having new experiences in the new year rather than a house full of stuff.

Nourish Yourself Like a Boss

Don't buy in to the frenzy. Keep your 'love tank' full. And slow your pace way, way down.

You are not responsible for everyone else's needs. Everyone else's drama. And you've chosen NOT to take a ride on the Hot Mess Express this year. Well done, you.

It may not look perfect. But it will feel simpler. I promise.

You can do this, I believe in you.

It's time to SIMPLIFY.

Show notes available with all LINKS mentioned here: https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/bonus-036/

Hey parents, can I ask you a silly question? Is your life zooming by on a wing and a prayer these days? I mean, c'mon… between…

• shuttling the little ones to football or after-school activities,
• beating the rush hour traffic without having a panic attack,
• wrangling the 80 billion things on your to-do list, AND
• remembering to order groceries so you're not just ravenously feasting on rice crackers, peanut butter and leftover Halloween candy tonight for dinner…

Can I just say… Girl, I feel ya.

Life these days feels like it's going lightning fast and there's no stopping (or even slowing down) the crazy train.

Or is there?

Author Bernadette Noll is the co-founder of Slow Family Living.

• What is 'Slow Family Living' and what does it look like, in the everyday messiness and busyness of parenting and life?
• How 'Slow Family Living' can work with little ones and how it evolves as they age
• How to create a 'Family Mission Statement' and why it's so important
• How a 'Creative Family Journal' can capture your family memories
• How to be more intentional about the things we bring in to our household - the 3 important questions to ask

As cliche as it sounds, time flies by SO FAST, and our children are only children for a such a short time.

What if you could slow down time a little? Learn how to sit and savor the tiny moments together? What we do now (while they are little) is potentially forging lifelong, loving relationships. Modeling a different way of parenting and living that I'm guessing is WAY different from how you were raised.

Just imagine what life will be like 20 or 30 years from now when our littles are all grown up and not so little anymore. What would it feel like to have rich relationships with these incredible adults. I have a feeling THAT will be one of life's big rewards.

Let's do this together.

#DoTheThing.

Show notes available with all LINKS mentioned here: https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/039-bernadette-noll/

Today, I want to talk to the men in the room. Or at least, the ones who are male-identified. And yes, this topic might ruffle some feathers, but hey, in the name of opening up tricky conversations, let's go there.

Let's simplify how to be a great male ally for the women in your life. I'm going to go ahead and assume—that if you're a guy and a follower of The Simplifiers—that YOU are one of the good ones.

The good guys.

The guys who love, appreciate and respect the women in your life and in your workplace.

And we appreciate you, too.

Like a WHOLE lot.

So, thank you for all that you do.

Thank you for helping other men in your circles see the light, too.

You might just happen to be in the car with a lady-friend who… just happened to have this podcast playing. And if that's the case… Well hello! Welcome! My name is Mary and I'm glad you're here. If I could somehow send you a taco through the speakers, I totally would.

I'd also like to offer you a few simple tips on how you can continue to boost the women and the female-presenting people in your life, so that we ALL can be heard and treated equally.

In my mind, that's the end goal we should all aim for. Equal rights. Equal pay. Equal equals.

Listen before speaking Respect women's boundaries Break old patterns Squash male silence

Thank you.

Thank you for wanting to be a male ally for women.

This makes you a decent human being. And someone who's interested in making the world a better place.

So, thank you.

Thank you for standing up for us when others try to knock us down. Thank you for saying ENOUGH when others oppress us. Thank you for choosing to be a good man.

You can do this, I believe in you.

It's time to SIMPLIFY.

Show notes available with all LINKS mentioned here: https://thesimplifiers.com/podcast/bonus-035/