The Soulful Business Show™ with Cailen Ascher

Happy Holidays!

One of the most important gifts we can ever give to ourselves is the gift of inner peace.

For me, inner peace comes from knowing, with unwavering certainty, that I'm on the right path.

This season is the time of love and miracles, and I want nothing more than for you, too, to feel the deep peace that comes from knowing you're on your right path.

With that in mind, I'm sharing with you 10 things that I recognize as communication from the Universe/guides/angels/God/spirit/energy. When you start to see ALL the ways that the Universe is making herself known and guiding you on your path, you can't help but feel supported and excited for the journey.

If you're ready to fully open your eyes to the beauty, comfort, joy and overwhelming peace of being supported -- this one's for you :-)

In this Dose of Clarity episode, I'm sharing…

• 10 signs that the Universe is communicating with you -- when you learn to recognize the signs, you'll begin to trust them. That's when life really flows!
• A little holiday gift! Free PDF download which outlines all the signs so you can remind yourself of them daily. Just fill out the form below to receive your PDF straight to your inbox!

P.S. I'm hosting a 3-Day Workweek Challenge in January! If you're ready to work less, make more and live better in 2018, click here to be the first to hear when the challenge kicks-off :-)

P.P.S. Don't worry, The Clarity Confessions aren't going anywhere! I'll still be bringing you amazing interviews every other week, but these Dose of Clarity episodes will give you a chance to learn more about my personal (never-ending) journey towards Clarity :-)

• Share your insights and comments about this episode in 3-Day Workweek: Work Less, Make More, Live Better, my private community of over 1500+ female entrepreneurs
• Want more tips, strategies, and resources for creating your own 3-Day Workweek? Subscribe, rate, and review The 3DWW Podcast
• Join the #3DayWorkweekMovement by grabbing your FREE 3-Day Workweek Guide - just complete the form below!

With 2018 just around the corner, I've been thinking a lot about my plans for the new year -- and I'm guessing you might be, too.

Having a clear framework for my working hours ensures that I'm my most productive, efficient, focused self, and I know from experience that's how I achieve my BIGGEST goals!

BIG goals are reached with consistent, feel-good action, and having a schedule that honors you, your lifestyle and your business is the single best way I know to hit those new milestones you've got your sights set on.

In this Dose of Clarity episode, I'm sharing…

• The way I structure my 3-day workweek to ensure I have plenty of time to work on NEW projects and ideas (and not just constantly be serving my current clients)
• How I keep focused and avoid "shiny object syndrome"
• How you, too, can create your Ideal Schedule for 2018 that'll set you up for reaching your biggest goals in the new year

P.S. Don't worry, The Clarity Confessions aren't going anywhere! I'll still be bringing you amazing interviews every other week, but these Dose of Clarity episodes will give you a chance to learn more about my personal (never-ending) journey towards Clarity :-)

• Share your insights and comments about this episode in 3-Day Workweek: Work Less, Make More, Live Better, my private community of over 1500+ female entrepreneurs
• Want more tips, strategies, and resources for creating your own 3-Day Workweek? Subscribe, rate, and review The 3DWW Podcast
• Join the #3DayWorkweekMovement by grabbing your FREE 3-Day Workweek Guide - just complete the form below!

One of the things that comes up over and over again when women consider working LESS is guilt.

"I should be giving this business my all!" "I should be busting my butt to make this work." "I should be hustling 24/7 otherwise this won't take off!"

I feel ya. Before I had my kiddos, I felt totally guilty giving myself time to attend a yoga class, have a lunch date with a girlfriend, take an afternoon walk or sometimes even just shower!

In today's Dose of Clarity episode, I'm sharing…

• The big, bad F-word related to guilt
• A powerful reframe when you're feeling guilty
• One word you need to start using TODAY to release guilt once and for all
• A key thing to remember when guilt rears its ugly head

P.S. Don't worry, The Clarity Confessions aren't going anywhere! I'll still be bringing you amazing interviews every other week, but these Dose of Clarity episodes will give you a chance to learn more about my personal (never-ending) journey towards Clarity :-)

• Share your insights and comments about this episode in The Clarity Crew, my private community of over 1500+ female entrepreneurs
• Want more Clarity Confessions? Subscribe, rate, and review the Clarity Confessions Podcast in iTunes.
• Join the #3DayWorkweekMovement by grabbing your FREE 3-Day Workweek Guide by completing the form below!

I am so excited to introduce you to my wonderful friend Jenny Fenig in today's Clarity Confession! Jenny is an award-winning coach and entrepreneur, best-selling author, spiritual brand strategist, yogi, wife, and mother. Her bestselling book is Get Gutsy: A Sacred, Fearless Guide for Finding Your Soul's Calling and Living Your Dream. and you can also find her hosting the Get Gutsy Podcast.

During this interview we trace her journey from moving to New York to pursue a career in public relations, landing in the "conference production" industry after a move to Massachusetts, and deciding to make a major career shift to coaching in 2008. Jenny is truly inspiring, and this episode of The Clarity Confessions will help you to learn to let your own "freak flag" fly!

Check out Jenny's Clarity Confession to learn…

• The winding path that brought Jenny to her current career as a coach
• How Yoga Teacher Training served as a catalyst for success and influenced Jenny's entrepreneurial journey
• Her biggest self-care secrets (which may surprise you!)
• What her day-to-day schedule looks like (and how she manages to fit everything in!)

• Connect with Jenny on her website www.jennyfenig.com
• Share your insights and comments about this episode in The Clarity Crew, my private community of over 1500+ female entrepreneurs
• Want more Clarity Confessions? Subscribe, rate, and review the Clarity Confessions Podcast in iTunes.

I was an entrepreneur for 7 years before I implemented a 3-day workweek. During those years I worked a typical 40ish hour week and made a part-time income, anywhere from $18,000 to $25,000 a year.

Then I found out I was pregnant with our first daughter (surprise!), and I immediately realized that I didn't want to be working all those hours for so little money...and I honestly questioned whether I wanted to keep running my business at all.

I remember thinking, "If I can't figure out a way to make this work better for me and my family, I should just give up and be a full-time mom to our baby girl!"

After taking off a few months after her birth to think things over, I came to decision to give it one final go. I was able to find childcare (thank you Mom and Hannah!) for 3 days -- Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays -- and I liked that I would have 4 non-working days with my family.

It felt like the right work-life balance, but now the question was…

The short answer is NO. I made more. Way more. Not immediately, but as I found my groove I made more in less than 6 months than I did the whole previous year. And, by the next year I had my first 5-figure month which led to my first 6-figure year. (Yes! While working just 3-days a week!)

After living a 3-day workweek for the last 3 years, I've come to truly understand what took place. I went from having no structure around my working hours and therefore my schedule, productivity and focus were lacking structure too. When I gave myself a clear container to fit my business into, I maximized my efficiency, found my flow because I wasn't burning out and ultimately started acting like the CEO of my business instead of an entrepreneurial hobbyist.

It wasn't magic -- but it kinda felt like it :-)

My life and business are what they are today because of my 3-day workweek. Now after living it and enjoying it for 3 years, I feel ready to teach you how to create your own ideal workweek so that you can capitalize on the 3-Day Workweek principles I've uncovered.

I would be completely honored and delighted to have you join me for this inaugural round of 3-Day Workweek.

I'm limiting the group to just 25 women (only 14 spots are left as of today) because I want to get to know each and every one of you and make sure that you step away from this program with a clear framework for working LESS and making MORE.

Before I wrap this up, here are a few important things to remember…

• The Extended Payment Plan (the most affordable way to experience 3-Day Workweek) expires tomorrow night!
• I'm capping the group at 25, and 11 spots are already filled.
• We'll have 4 group coaching calls so you can receive personalized support from me to ensure your success in the program.
• You get LIFETIME access when you enroll, and all the suggestions and feedback you provide for this pilot round will be used to improve the program in the future (and you can come back again anytime you're ready to make a lifestyle upgrade!)

Check out all the program details here. It's a really gorgeous program page -- and definitely worth a visit :-)

I believe in this program so freakin' much!!! I cannot wait to share it with you!

• Share your insights and comments about this episode in The Clarity Crew, my private community of over 1500+ female entrepreneurs
• Want more Clarity Confessions? Subscribe, rate, and review the Clarity Confessions Podcast in iTunes.
• Join the #3DayWorkweekMovement by grabbing your FREE 3-Day Workweek Guide by completing the form below!

Who wouldn't want a 3-day workweek, right?

It offers you plenty of time for family, friends, travel, self-care and to simply enjoy life! Hello, 4-day weekends, need I say more?!...

But, despite desiring a more fulfilling work-life balance, few women successfully find a way to work LESS, make MORE and live BETTER.

I surveyed my community (you!), and here's what I found…

The number one reason women in my community gave for not working just 3 days a week was money (which is totally understandable). When we subscribe to the idea that we need to trade hours for dollars, working more hours means more dollars in the bank. Pretty simple math, right?

But, the problem is that this is an antiquated belief, and one that I strongly believe we're ready to move beyond. There are countless ways to leverage our time, energy and creativity to make MORE while working LESS especially in the entrepreneurial world.

This also stems from the idea that more money automatically equals more happiness, but time and again in study after study it's been shown that once our basic needs are met our happiness only increases incrementally when we make more money. The truth is, when we work ourselves ragged in the pursuit of money we're putting our lives and our happiness on HOLD.

To reframe, I offer you this simple question: what is the value of your TIME?

Time for family and friends, simple pleasures, afternoon walks, weekday lunchdates, long weekends, morning yoga. Time for doing the things you love most right NOW. Time for living.

To me time is priceless.

So, with that way of thinking a 3-day workweek makes you more abundant and successful than anything else possibly could because you get to enjoy the immeasurable value of your time.

This block presented itself in a few different ways in the women I surveyed…

Some women felt that they had to hustle (especially in the early phases of their business) in order to "earn" success.

Others felt guilty when they weren't working.

Still others doubted their ability to be able to make more money and serve more people while working fewer hours.

All totally valid. Yet, all -- at their core -- are just self-imposed limitations.

Here are the facts:

• :: A recent study found that when subjects worked over 25 hours/week cognitive performance decreased as fatigue and stress took over
• :: The 40-hour workweek is an antiquated model designed by the unions for industrial workers who have "8 good hours a day" (not for gorgeous women entrepreneurs like you!)
• :: Longer hours are often more about "proving yourself" than about productivity
• :: You fill whatever hours you have -- more hours means more time to waste (boy, I know this one is all-too-true…)
• :: When you work just 3 days a week, you can save money on things like childcare, healthcare (because you aren't working yourself ragged and chronically stressed), take-out dinners, house cleaning services, etc. and have more time for yourself, your family and the things you love most!

The reality is you can build your business and your life any way YOU want, because there's no ONE path to success.

If you choose to believe that you can work fewer hours and still be wildly successful, you can be.

Your mind is the most powerful business-building tool you've got!

Another factor that came up again and again was not knowing what to do. Women desire a 3-day workweek, but then have no clue how to implement it.

I get it. When you're an entrepreneur running the show and still have responsibilities outside of your business like a family or full- or part-time job, it can feel impossible to think about getting everything done.

But, lucky for you, I've already walked the path from full-time hustle to 3-day workweek flow, and it's something that I know you can do, too.

When we get caught in overwhelm or find ourselves analyzing our ideas and options to the point of total paralysis, here are two things that I find helpful mentally, emotionally and productively :-)

1. Just do ONE THING. Any one thing that would feel good to get accomplished, and then bask in the good feeling of its doneness. It could be anything from writing an email, scheduling your weekly social media content, getting a proposal out to a prospective client, outlining a new program or offer or booking a massage (because you totally deserve it!).

2. Take something OFF your to-do list. This is a very liberating exercise. Look at your to-do list (or evaluate the mental to-dos you've been carrying around) and land on a task that you've been putting off again and again and again. And ask yourself, would anyone notice or care if I didn't do this? 99% of the time the answer is NO. No one would notice. No one would really care. So, perhaps give yourself permission to simply remove it from your to-do list all together!!! Ahhh….sigh of relief! (If you truly feel that you can't remove it, see #1 and do ONE THING to move it toward completion. Or, see if there's somebody in your life who could handle it for you!)

I guarantee that if you apply these two exercises to your daily to-do list, you'll immediately begin moving through your day more efficiently and productively. And that feels pretty darn good.

One last thing! As you reflect upon the "myths" mentioned above, I invite you to share what's coming up for you. Head on over to our private Facebook Group and tag me with a question or comment there!

I want to make sure everything I'm sharing is super useful!

P.P.S. Don't worry, The Clarity Confessions aren't going anywhere! I'll still be bringing you amazing interviews every other week, but these Dose of Clarity episodes will give you a chance to learn more about my personal (never-ending) journey towards Clarity :-)

• Share your insights and comments about this episode in The Clarity Crew, my private community of over 1500+ female entrepreneurs
• Want more Clarity Confessions? Subscribe, rate, and review the Clarity Confessions Podcast in iTunes.
• Join the #3DayWorkweekMovement by grabbing your FREE 3-Day Workweek Guide by completing the form below!

For the last month or so, nearly every day before I start working I make a to-do.

But, not just any to-do list -- a very unique to-do list.

And, this special to-do list that I've taken to creating has brought me some really powerful results in the last few weeks like…

• Bringing me unexpected cash from unexpected places (always fun right?!)
• Landing me 2 new clients
• Bringing me several new potential clients effortlessly
• Connecting me with the right people at the right times for the right opportunities
• Making me feel completely at ease with everything that's going on in my life + business
• And, countless smaller wins :-)

After reading that, I'm sure you're wondering what kind of hocus pocus to-do list could possibly deliver these results.

Well, in truth, it's more about what I'm taking OFF of my to-do list that's bringing in these wins.

As business owners, we are experts at making super loooong to-do lists.

Lists that are never-ending and completely overwhelming leave us feeling depleted and like we're never "ahead" of it. It's exhausting!

So, I've taken up a new kind of delegation.

Each morning before I start my work day, I open my journal, and on the left hand page, I write down the 3-5 things I will do that day. Simple things, like sending an important email, contacting 3 people about an idea, writing a new blog post, or submitting an application for a speaking opportunity. Specific things that I know I'll be able to handle given my allotted time and that will feel really good to complete.

Then, on the right hand page, I write down ALL the things I want to stop thinking/worrying about that I want the Universe to handle. (Ok, so I know that may sound a little "out there", but this is a practice in releasing worry, stress and anxiety about the things that are out of your control. Stick with me. It works.)

On that list I write things like, get 2 yeses from potential clients this week, be invited to speak at such-and-such event next month, enroll 35+ people in my upcoming group program, bring me 2 unexpected compliments today, get an inspired idea, send unexpected cash to me...you get the idea, right? (Everything you write on this side of the list should feel like a sigh of relief since you no longer "have to worry about it".)

The items on the Universe's To-Do List don't necessarily need to have a timeframe, but they can if that's helpful to you. This is more about removing any items you really can't control from your headspace and trusting that if you do the stuff on your list (the tangible, actionable, strategic steps), the things on the Universe's list will work themselves out in the absolute best way possible for you!

Try this out. I think you'll really like it. (And then, let me know how it's going for you by connecting with me in The Clarity Crew Facebook Group.)

Can't wait to hear what wins this process brings you!

P.S. I've officially declared October "3-Day Workweek Month"! To celebrate, I'll be sharing tons of valuable (and fun!) content throughout the month that will help you to create your own 3-day workweek. Be sure to download my FREE guidebook to get started.

Inside this FREE guidebook, you'll find...

1. My Schedule an hour-by-hour breakdown of my successful 3-day workweek schedule.
2. Task List a detailed description of each of the tasks on my schedule so you know precisely what I'm doing during that block of time.
3. Your Ideal Schedule Template your very own 3-day workweek template so you can design your amazing 20 hour workweek!
4. Bonus Tips additional tips and information about how to make a 3-day workweek work for you and your business.

The value of this guidebook is $97, but today it's my FREE gift to you!

P.P.S. Don't worry, The Clarity Confessions aren't going anywhere! I'll still be bringing you amazing interviews every other week, but these Dose of Clarity episodes will give you a chance to learn more about my personal (never-ending) journey towards Clarity :-)

Do you ever get to the end of the workday and think,

Well, if that's ever happened to you (it's happened to me more times than I can count!), I'm really excited to share this teaching with you today.

I want to let you in on a super simple technique that I learned from productivity guru, Todd Herman, the creator of the 90 Day Year. Todd's a genius when it comes to doing less and making more, and he's helped Olympians, CEOs and entrepreneurs harness the power of productivity and effective goal-setting for mega-success.

When I started doing this at the end of each of my workdays, I realized that my days naturally became more and more productive, and I was ending my days on a "high note" which left me feeling great and ready to jump into work again the following day.

So, here's the deal...at the end of your workday, I want you to take stock of what you've accomplished. Make a list and write down everything you did, big and small, that you took action on.

Here's a peek at one of my lists from a few months ago:

1. It enables you to clearly see all the action steps you took (Yay for you!!!)
2. It highlights when/where you may have wasted time or procrastinated
3. It allows you to notice where you're spending the bulk of your time and energy

1. What did I enjoy most today and why?
2. What did I not enjoy that someone else could handle for me?

These 2 follow-up questions are crucial because they show you where your clear strengths are (i.e. the things you really enjoy doing) and what you can think about outsourcing.

(If you think you're not in a place to hire a virtual assistant yet, I want to gently challenge that belief. You can find great people at really reasonable rates to help you out for even just 5 hours/month. What would it mean to you to be able to hand-off the stuff you really hate doing and just focus on what you love? If you said "priceless", let me assure you, you can find someone for way cheaper than that!)

When I started tallying up my daily accomplishments, I found that I was more often than not ending my day feeling really, really good about everything I did instead of sitting with that uncomfortable feeling of "What did I do today?".

Better yet, this will take you mere minutes to implement so you really don't have any excuse not to end your day feeling great!

Try it out, and let me know how it goes for you :-)

P.S. I've officially declared October "3-Day Workweek Month"! To celebrate, I'll be sharing tons of valuable (and fun!) content throughout the month that will help you to create your own 3-day workweek. Be sure to download my FREE guidebook to get started.

Inside this FREE guidebook, you'll find...

1. My Schedule an hour-by-hour breakdown of my successful 3-day workweek schedule.
2. Task List a detailed description of each of the tasks on my schedule so you know precisely what I'm doing during that block of time.
3. Your Ideal Schedule Template your very own 3-day workweek template so you can design your amazing 20 hour workweek!
4. Bonus Tips additional tips and information about how to make a 3-day workweek work for you and your business.

The value of this guidebook is $97, but today it's my FREE gift to you!

P.P.S. Don't worry, The Clarity Confessions aren't going anywhere! I'll still be bringing you amazing interviews every other week, but these Dose of Clarity episodes will give you a chance to learn more about my personal (never-ending) journey towards Clarity :-)

Adrienne Dorison is a business consultant + operations expert who helps companies get double the results in half the time. She's obsessed with helping businesses turn effort into real results so that they make more money, get their precious time back and do more good in the world. Businesses all have one thing in common...lots of moving parts, and Adrienne works with clients to tame them all and create true operational excellence. I had the pleasure of sitting down with Adrienne to learn how she started her business back in January 2015 as a side hustle, and as a result has been able to pay off $48K in student loan debt AND donate over $100K to charities over the last two years. Her "pay-it-forward" attitude is truly inspirational.

Check out Adrienne's Clarity Confession to learn…

• How she was able to quit her corporate job after only six months of running her side hustle
• The importance of having strong mentors in your professional and personal life
• Why Adrienne believes it's important to pay-it-forward as entrepreneurs, and some of the charities she supports
• More about the movement Adrienne is creating around giving and how you can get involved

• Connect with Adrienne on her website, www.AdrienneDorison.com
• Share your insights and comments about this episode in The Clarity Crew, my private community of over 1500+ female entrepreneurs
• Want more Clarity Confessions? Subscribe, rate, and review the Clarity Confessions Podcast in iTunes.

I'm here today with a super special Clarity Confessions episode. On today's show, I took the hot seat and was interviewed!

I often get asked by my clients and members of my community to dive deeper into...

• How my 3 day workweek actually works and what it really looks like
• How I organize my schedule as a mom of 2 little girls
• The difference in my life and business before my 3 day workweek and after
• How I'm able to run a successful, 6-figure business working less than 20 hours a week
• The movement I'm starting and how YOU can be a part of it :-)

So, I shared all of that and more on today's show! If you're curious about any of that (or the laundry list of entrepreneurial endeavors I dipped my toes into prior to the work I do now!), check out today's episode.

• Grab Cailen's free 3-Day Workweek Guide at www.CailenAscher.com
• Get more info about Cailen's True Clarity 1x1 Program right here. Applications must be submitted by September 7th, 2017.
• Check out Hannah's New Parent Coaching + Pregnancy Mentorship at www.TheBabyMaven.com
• Share your insights and comments about this episode in The Clarity Crew, my private community of over 1500+ female entrepreneurs
• Want more Clarity Confessions? Subscribe, rate, and review the Clarity Confessions Podcast in iTunes.