Work Less PROFIT More Business Podcast

Toss the confetti – it’s Week 1 of my 5-day podcast series The Ultimate Focus & Freedom Masterclass!!

I’m super excited to be offering this free training – Some of you who know me, may have done a similar training with me; however, I’ve updated this one for you.

It’s all about helping you reduce your workload and free up 10+ hours/week without hiring a new employee. So if you feel overwhelmed, and frustrated that you can never seem to get enough done in your day or week – then this is for you!!

(Grab your workbook here: www.dianalidstone.com/takenotes)

Here’s what we are going to cover:

• Ep 155 – Get Focused: Build your business with purpose
• Ep 156 – Which activities move the needle?
• Ep 157 – Free up time: Why it’s Systems BEFORE Team 
• Ep 158 – Save Time & Sanity: 5 Productivity Strategies 
• Ep 159 – How to Reduce Your Workload: A 7-Step Sequence

By the middle of next month, if you take this information and implement it, you’ll know exactly how to reduce your workload, prioritize your most important tasks AND have a roadmap for your journey forward.

In today’s episode, I share a Mad libs formula i.e. fill in the blank template that will allow you to create more focus in your business – it actually acts as a GPS for you and for your team!

Be sure to have your workbook (here) and a pen so you can jot down notes and build your own Vision Statement!

I also give you 2 tips on how to use this statement to increase your focus.

Grab your workbook here   www.dianalidstone.com/takenotes

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Read:  Vivid Vision by Cameron Herold
• Listen: https://dianalidstone.com/blog/podcast/ep-71-99-of-small-firms-dont-do-this/
• REGISTER: QUARTERLY BUSINESS FREEDOM PLANNING DAY – next date – September 16

Share your feedback with me by clicking here and leaving a short voice message!

If you’ve ever been the surrogate to a group of young kittens, you’ll learn that they have boundless energy to run in every direction without really accomplishing anything – are you running around like that?  I don’t want that for you because it ultimately leads to burn out!

You don’t have to look very far to hear about entrepreneurial burnout – you can read about it in major news outlets, major magazines, podcasts and you’ve probably hear from someone close to you about how they’ve ended up in the hospital or tanked their relationships because of it.

If it’s so prevalent – why does it happen?

In this episode, I outline 7 common reasons/myths that I’ve seen that lead to the dramatically overworked business owners!

As I’ve been coaching the overworked and often underpaid business owner, I have seen that to significantly reduce their workload – the answer doesn’t come from productivity apps, webinars, or complicated planning journals. 

This episode is the background to my upcoming 5-part masterclass series entitled The Ultimate Focus & Freedom masterclass….. and it’s free!

Starting Monday next week, I’ll be releasing 5 episodes to help you dramatically reduce your workload and reclaim 10+ hours a week, without hiring an employee.

Be sure to subscribe so you won’t miss this valuable content.

Head over to www.dianalidstone.com/takenotes to download the workbook!

OTHER EPISODES related or mentioned:

• Ep.71 - 99% business owners don’t do
• Ep. 72 – Unsexy truths about growing a 7-figure business
• Ep. 43 – What my husband’s retirement taught me about my business

ACTION STEPS:

1. Stop – spend 10 minutes really thinking about how you run your business.
2. Which of the 7 WHY’s is causing you to lose control of your business?
3. Mark your calendar for the 5-part, free training series – The Ultimate Focus & Freedom Masterclass.
4. Grab your workbook here - www.dianalidstone.com/takenotes so you can follow along and customize your strategy.

Here’s the graphic of my WorkLessPROFITMore framework with the 9 essential elements of a self-running business engine.

Share your feedback with me by clicking here and leaving a short voice message!

You’ve heard it before – the riches are in the niches! Narrowing your niche makes your marketing easier and when your marketing is easier, you’ll close more sales!

Or in the case of a real estate investor, he attracted more deals and more capital!  Two things real estate investors are always looking for!

Listen as my special guest shares his story!

ABOUT SIBTAIN PANJU

Sibtain Panju and his wife Insiyah are the co-founders of PRAGMA Incorporated, a real estate investment company focused on acquiring & developing multifamily real estate in Canada.  They help professionals and high-net-worth individuals protect and grow their wealth in a tax-efficient manner using real estate.

Before becoming a full-time real estate investor, Insiyah was a high school math teacher.  She is also a realtor and a youth empowerment coach.

Sibtain has a finance background and over 20 years of banking experience.  He leverages his experience in corporate finance and business strategy for his real estate business.

PRAGMAN Inc. has a strong commitment to giving back on a monthly basis a portion of their proceeds and making a lasting impact.  Believing in universal access to clean water, food, and education, they actively contribute to the construction of water wells, sponsorships for orphans and support education initiatives for underprivileged families.

Contact: https://www.pragmaproperties.com/

Work Less PROFIT More program mentioned in this episode – Differentiate to Grow (here)

ABOUT ME:

Hi friends,

Want to escape the chaos of the day-to-day running of your business?  Then I’m your gal.

I’m a champagne lover and a sought-after business coach for small business leaders who want to grow and scale their businesses.

I’m also a best-selling author, award-winning speaker and podcast host. After almost 40 years as an entrepreneur, I’m best known for my straight talk, no BS and the simple business and marketing strategies that bring my clients more joy, profit and freedom.  My podcast, Work Less PROFIT More business podcast offers tips and strategies for small business owners who are tired of working too hard for too little profit and having little or no free time.

You can do this!

Connect with me here:

• [email protected]
• www.dianalidstone.com
• https://www.facebook.com/diana.lidstone
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/hiredianalidstone/

Work with me:

Currently, there are 2 ways you can work with me:

I am only accepting private clients in my 12-month Business Accelerator program (here) or

By booking a VIP Grow Day which is an intensive session designed to give you my undivided attention and acceleration to accomplish something extremely fast. More information here.

Share your feedback with me by clicking here and leaving a short voice message!

Whether you’re a lawyer, accountant or other professional – it's important to realize that we are currently in a global marketplace. With today's technology, no longer is our business growth stalled or capped by our location. For instance, there was a time when bookkeepers or lawyers only worked with clients within a 5-10 mile radius. It’s no longer true today. Some of my clients have bookkeepers overseas.

If we have a global marketplace – that means there’s more competition than ever.  Your competition is global!

So, how do you stand out from your competition? How do YOU get chosen?

It’s easier when you consider the 9 strategies I’ll share with you today!

ACTION PLAN: 

1. Which of these 9 differentiators could your business improve upon?
2. Is there 1 or 2 you need help clarifying?
3. Book a Growth Strategy Session – www.dianalidstone.com/apply

ABOUT ME:

Hi friends,

Want to escape the chaos of the day-to-day running of your business?  Then I’m your gal.

I’m a champagne lover and a sought-after business coach for small business leaders who want to grow and scale their businesses.

I’m also a best-selling author, award-winning speaker and podcast host. After almost 40 years as an entrepreneur, I’m best known for my straight talk, no BS and the simple business and marketing strategies that bring my clients more joy, profit and freedom.  My podcast, Work Less PROFIT More Business podcast offers tips and strategies for small business owners who are tired of working too hard for too little profit and having little or no free time.

You can do this!

Connect with me here:

• [email protected]
• www.dianalidstone.com
• https://www.facebook.com/diana.lidstone
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/hiredianalidstone/

Work with me:

Currently, there are 2 ways you can work with me:

I am only accepting private clients in my 12-month Business Accelerator program (here) or

By booking a VIP Grow Day which is an intensive session designed to give you my undivided attention and acceleration to accomplish something extremely fast. More information here.

Share your feedback with me by clicking here and leaving a short voice message!

While it is true that customers are attracted to the best marketers, not necessarily the best products, it is our job as business leaders to turn prospects into customers, in other words, to close the sale.

My guest on this episode is a master storyteller AND communication specialist.

We chat about:

• Two necessary ingredients of storytelling.
• What communication intelligence is.
• How you can decode your prospect's communication to close more sales faster and more effectively.
• How to power script or how to write a message for different value codes and combine them in a single email.
• Clues on how to identify your prospect's B.A.N.K. value codes.

ABOUT HELEN HARWOOD SNELL 

Helen uses her expertise as a storyteller and certified communication coach to create messaging that reaches the right audience and closes sales faster. She develops web content, marketing materials, blogs, presentations, signature talks and books. She also teaches the structure of clear communication and storytelling in workshops for those who want to master their writing craft. She understands you are your brand. She is an International Best-selling author and speaker. Many of her stories come from parenting her three children, being in nature, and being mastered by her dogs. Her audacious dreams include writing a book series for special needs adults and living on a sustainable property.

Contact info: https://linktr.ee/helenharwoodsnell

FREE GIFT: https://my.bankcode.com/helensnell

Crack your code into your own personality values in less than 90 seconds!

ABOUT ME:

Hi friends,

Want to escape the chaos of the day-to-day running of your business?  Then I’m your gal.

I’m a champagne lover and a sought-after business coach for small business leaders who want to grow and scale their businesses.

I’m also a best-selling author, award-winning speaker and podcast host. After almost 40 years as an entrepreneur, I’m best known for my straight talk, no BS and the simple business and marketing strategies that bring my clients more joy, profit and freedom.  My podcast, Work Less PROFIT More business podcast offers tips and strategies for small business owners who are tired of working too hard for too little profit and having little or no free time.

You can do this!

Connect with me here:

• [email protected]
• www.dianalidstone.com
• https://www.facebook.com/diana.lidstone
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/hiredianalidstone/

Work with me:

Currently, there are 2 ways you can work with me:

I am only accepting private clients in my 12-month Business Accelerator program (here) or

By booking a VIP Grow Day which is an intensive session designed to give you my undivided attention and acceleration to accomplish something extremely fast. More information here.

Share your feedback with me by clicking here and leaving a short voice message!

Having sales conversations that convert and that aren’t an hour long is vital to a successful and profitable business! In this episode, I want to share my journey with sales and how one simple change can increase your conversion rates and reduce the time you spend on sales calls!

ACTION PLAN: How to increase your conversion rates & reduce the time spent on sales conversations:

1. Read Anatomy of a Sales Conversation (here).
2. Identify the gaps in your sales conversations.
3. Adjust your format.
4. Measure & monitor your conversion rates.

ABOUT ME:

Hi friends,

Want to escape the chaos of the day to day running of your business?  Then I’m your gal.

I’m a champagne lover and a sought-after business coach for small business leaders who want to grow and scale their businesses.

I’m also a best-selling author, award-winning speaker and podcast host. After almost 40 years as an entrepreneur, I’m best known for my straight talk, no BS and the simple business and marketing strategies that bring my clients more joy, profit and freedom.  My podcast, Work Less PROFIT More business podcast offers tips and strategies for small business owners who are tired of working too hard for too little profit and having little or no free time.

You can do this!

Connect with me here:

• [email protected]
• www.dianalidstone.com
• https://www.facebook.com/diana.lidstone
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/hiredianalidstone/

Work with me:

Currently, there are 2 ways you can work with me:

I am only accepting private clients in my 12-month Business Accelerator program (here) or

By booking a VIP Grow Day which is an intensive session designed to give you my undivided attention and acceleration to accomplish something extremely fast. More information here.

Share your feedback with me by clicking here and leaving a short voice message!

Pricing your services for profit can be a challenge for most business owners.  And in some industries like bookkeeping, accounting and legal, it’s been tradition to price by the hour.  But this week, my special guest will challenge you to think differently about your pricing, especially if you’re a lawyer!

Special guest from the United Kingdom, non-practising lawyer Shaun Jardine and author of Ditch the Billable Hours and I have a lively discussion on pricing and how value-based pricing can be beneficial not just to law firms but others who traditionally price by the hour.

We also talk about:

• How lawyers and other experts are no longer the gatekeepers of knowledge and why pricing can no longer be based on knowledge.
• The principle of ‘our ice is melting’.
•  Value-based pricing as a brand differentiator.
• Who has ownership of pricing in your business?
• Giving your clients a choice of service level.
• When you go through the process of changing your pricing structure, it’s best to have two pairs of eyes on your new structure.

ABOUT SHAUN JARDINE

As a lawyer and former law firm CEO of a top 250 law firm, he has a unique insight into what makes law firms tick.

Shaun founded Big Yellow Penguin (BYP) in 2021 with the aim of encouraging and helping lawyers and law firms to move on from the 20th century and adopt practices, including value pricing, which will make their futures more secure, both financially and operationally, and enjoy practising their craft again.

Shaun has recently finished writing his first book  ‘Ditch The Billable Hour’ !  which was published in January 2024.

https://www.bigyellowpenguin.co.uk/

ACTION PLAN:

 1.        Download 125+ steps to implement Value-based Pricing here.

ABOUT ME:

Hi friends,

Want to escape the chaos of the day to day running of your business?  Then I’m your gal.

I’m a champagne lover and a sought-after business coach for small business leaders who want to grow and scale their businesses.

I’m also a best-selling author, award-winning speaker and podcast host. After almost 40 years as an entrepreneur, I’m best known for my straight talk, no BS and the simple business and marketing strategies that bring my clients more joy, profit and freedom.  My podcast, Work Less PROFIT More business podcast offers tips and strategies for small business owners who are tired of working too hard for too little profit and having little or no free time. 

You can do this!

Connect with me here:

• [email protected]
• www.dianalidstone.com
• https://www.facebook.com/diana.lidstone
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/hiredianalidstone/

Work with me:

Currently, there are 2 ways you can work with me:

I am only accepting private clients in my 12-month Business Accelerator program (here) or

By booking a VIP Grow Day which is an intensive session designed to give you my undivided attention and acceleration to accomplish something extremely fast. More information here.

Share your feedback with me by clicking here and leaving a short voice message!

Raising your rates can be one of the most uncomfortable activities you do in your business and yet, it can be one of the most satisfying too!

In this episode, I talk about:

• Money set point
• 10 signs it’s time to raise your rates
• Client stories of how and when to raise your rats

ACTION PLAN:

1. Which of the 10 signs applies to you?
2. Decide how much you will raise your rates
3. Raise them now!

ABOUT ME:
I’m a best-selling author, award-winning speaker and podcast host. After almost 40 years as an entrepreneur, I’m best known for my straight-talk, no BS and the simple business and marketing strategies that bring my clients more joy, profit and freedom.  This podcast offers tips and strategies for small business owners who are tired of working too hard for too little profit, and having little or no free time.

Connect with me here:

• [email protected]
• www.dianalidstone.com
• https://www.facebook.com/diana.lidstone
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/hiredianalidstone/

Want to turn your goals into easy-to-follow weekly & monthly action steps?  Attend the next Quarterly Business Freedom Planning Retreat -- register here (https://dianalidstone.com/shop/quarterly-retreat/)

Finally, you'll know exactly where to focus your time, money & energy not just for predictable profits but also for the freedom you've always desired!

Share your feedback with me by clicking here and leaving a short voice message!

(This podcast was inspired by an article from E-myth)

One of my deepest held core values is ‘life before business’.  As I’ve moved to the farm, my life has changed and so has my business to be in alignment with my desired life.

In this episode, I share 4 actions you can take to build a business that supports your desired life!

I also share the story of the Donkey & the Lion – how and why we sometimes have to walk away from those who drain our energy!

I hope you enjoy it!

DOWNLOADS: Freedom Scorecard (here)

ACTION PLAN:

1. Write down specifics on what you want your life to look like
2. Create a vision for your business that supports your life
3. Change the way you spend your time
4. Understand the relationship between people & systems

ABOUT ME:
I’m a best-selling author, award-winning speaker and podcast host. After almost 40 years as an entrepreneur, I’m best known for my straight-talk, no BS and the simple business and marketing strategies that bring my clients more joy, profit and freedom.  This podcast offers tips and strategies for small business owners who are tired of working too hard for too little profit, and having little or no free time.

Connect with me here:

• [email protected]
• www.dianalidstone.com
• https://www.facebook.com/diana.lidstone
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/hiredianalidstone/

Podcast Series to Grow & Scale Your Business:

• Get out of the Weeds & Back in the Driver’s Seat (downloadable workbook here)
• Episode 134 – The Growth Trap: A normal part of the journey (here)
• Episode 135 – The M-Myth: Why doing more isn’t the answer (here)
• Episode 136 – 7 Costly Scaling Mistakes to Avoid (here)
• Episode 137 – Research proven elements of a sustainably scalable business (here)

The Ultimate Focus & Freedom Masterclass (downloadable workbook here) 

• Ep. 86 – Get Focused: Build Your Business With Purpose (here)
• Ep. 87 – Determine Your Most Impactful Tasks (here)
• Ep. 88 – Free Up Time: Systems BEFORE Team (here)
• Ep. 89 – Simple Strategies to Skyrocket Your Productivity (here)
• Ep. 90 – 7 Step Roadmap to Dramatically Reducing Your Workload (here) 

Share your feedback with me by clicking here and leaving a short voice message!

Welcome to the 3rd part of this podcast series – The Path to Predictable Profits & Sustainable Success!!!

To summarize, this series is filled with gold nuggets to help you build a predictably profitable business.

Episode #144 – Where to focus your time,  money and energy right now?  I shared the 7 elements of the Freedom Stack.

Episode #145 – #1 Mistake keeping your business from being predictably profitable -- I shared my favourite F word and 3 areas of your business to simplify & streamline for sustainable success.

Today Episode #146 – My favourite strategy for creating a predictably profitable business & a life I love – I share how to get off the cash flow/revenue roller coaster!

In this episode, I mention:

• Year at a Glance template (here)
• A simple method for ensuring consistent cash flow
• How to fill in the revenue gaps

ACTION PLAN:

1. Draw a 12-month calendar or download Year at a glance
2. Insert your Core Offer launch dates and possible payment plans
3. Consider how you can best fill in the revenue gaps
4. Register for Business Freedom Quarterly Planning Retreat here (use coupon – save100)

ABOUT ME:
I’m a best-selling author, award-winning speaker and podcast host. After almost 40 years as an entrepreneur, I’m best known for my straight-talk, no BS and the simple business and marketing strategies that bring my clients more joy, profit and freedom.  This podcast offers tips and strategies for small business owners who are tired of working too hard for too little profit, and having little or no free time.

Connect with me here:

• [email protected]
• www.dianalidstone.com
• https://www.facebook.com/diana.lidstone
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/hiredianalidstone/

Want to turn your goals into easy-to-follow weekly & monthly action steps?  Attend the next Quarterly Business Freedom Planning Retreat -- register here (https://dianalidstone.com/shop/quarterly-retreat/)

Finally, you'll know exactly where to focus your time, money & energy not just for predictable profits but also for the freedom you've always desired!

Share your feedback with me by clicking here and leaving a short voice message!