Most business owners don't start their businesses thinking about hiring (and firing), managing people, or growing teams. It’s a new skill most need to learn as their business grows, and I love helping clients do this and do this well. The good news is, it is a skill, and you can learn it. Sure, it can feel like daunting—whether you’re hiring your first part-time Continue reading...
Stop Working So Hard
My Three-Year Hiatus from Working: Why I Was Forced to Step Away from My Business and How I’m Finding My Way Back
I never imagined that after spending more than 10 years growing a business, hiring employees, training a team of coaches, creating multiple products and services, and serving large groups of clients in a signature program, I’d be forced to shut it all down. But that’s what happened in 2021. My health took a steep decline, and I no longer had the capacity to maintain the Continue reading...
How to Hit Your Goals and Also Honor How You Feel
I hear you: You want success on your terms … but you’re not clear on how to achieve it. For example, you want to hit your business goals and also honor how you feel on a daily (or even hourly) basis. But from where you are today, you don’t know how to make it happen. The question is, how do you do this? How do you go after something when you aren’t sure how to Continue reading...
How to Fall Back in Love with Your Business Again
A reader asked me to help her with this: I want to fall in love with my business and be interested in it again. Aw, I feel you on this one. As someone who's been self-employed since 2009, I can assure you that the ebb and flow of love, excitement, enthusiasm, drive, motivation, you-name-it in business is real. Whether this is something you’re experiencing now or Continue reading...
Steal This! New Client Intake System and Email Scripts
Is your new client process a bit chaotic? Could it have a bit more of a professional feel? Let's streamline your system for booking new clients and automating as much of the process as possible (without over-complicating it). Use the checklist below to create and implement a system that works for you. 7 Steps to Your New Client Intake System Here are seven Continue reading...
Steal This! Boundary-Setting Email Scripts
Having trouble setting boundaries with clients (and non-clients)? These email scripts will help! You can use the templates as-is or tweak them to suit your personal style. These emails tend toward the more firm tone because, in my experience, when most women realize it’s finally time to set a firm boundary, their clients have gone way overboard and firm is more Continue reading...
7 Secrets to Working Less Without Making Less
Back in 2012, I taught a totally free class called The Secrets to Working Less Without Making Less. Although some of the specific wording I use today to talk about these ideas has shifted, the core concepts are still applicable to anyone wanting to build a thriving business without working to the bone. Heck, it even works great if you're an employee who wants to work Continue reading...
How to Take a Break from Work—Guilt-Free!
Entrepreneurs are a funny lot. Many of us say we’re overworked and need time to rest and recharge. But when we do get downtime, we’re too guilt-ridden to make the most of it. Can you relate? Do you feel massive guilt when you’re not working all the time? If you answered yes, then you know what it’s like for a lot of business owners. You’re exhausted. You’re Continue reading...
How to Take Extended Time Off—With or Without a Team
At some point in your business, it’s going to happen: You’re going to want to take extended time off. Maybe it’s to have a baby (like I did). Maybe it’s to travel. Maybe it’s to take care of a sick loved one or to recover from illness yourself. Whatever the reason, you need to still have income, even if you’re away from your business. The question is, how do you Continue reading...
How to Delegate Effectively (Even If You’ve Never Done It Before)
As your online business takes off, you may find yourself thinking, “I’m too busy. I’m stretched too thin. I need to delegate…. But what tasks do I delegate and how?” Maybe you’ve been putting it off, because the idea of having to recruit, onboard, and train a new person can feel overwhelming. Or maybe you’ve gone as far as to actually hire someone … but they ended up Continue reading...
3 Simple Yet Powerful Beliefs That Help You Get What You Want Faster
I was thinking about you the other day. About how some days our enthusiasm supports us in doing the hard things, facing the big challenges, and keeping going no matter what stands in our way. And how other days, there isn’t a drop of motivation to get us moving even the tiniest bit. This came to mind recently after I got some disappointing news about my health. Continue reading...
The Secret to Building a Business You Truly Love
You thought that running your own business would be an all-day good time. You imagined waking up every day feeling like it’s the best day ever, full of gratitude and excitement that THIS is what your life looks like now. You thought sitting down at your computer would feel magical. Like you couldn’t wait to get started. Like you’d be so happy you’d have a hard time Continue reading...
Want to Host a Private Retreat for Your Clients? Read This First
A few months ago, 35 incredible business owners traveled from across the globe to Make It Work Live, an in-person retreat in Corvallis, Oregon. What they didn’t know—and what they learned at the start of the retreat—was that the retreat almost didn’t happen… but not for reasons you might think. You see, I had HUGE fears around running a retreat. And to make things Continue reading...
Real Numbers from a Real Launch: What You Probably Don’t Realize About Running a Business at the Next Level – Launch Debrief Part 3
This is the third part of a three-part series where I take you behind the scenes of my most recent program launch. Before reading on you might like to read Part 1 and Part 2. For the last two posts you got a peek behind the curtain of my first six-figure launch. I told you what went right and wrong and everything in between. I also told you why one-on-one Continue reading...
The Biggest Lessons from My Biggest Launch Ever: What Went Right, What Went Wrong, and Everything in Between – Part 2
This is the second part of a three-part series where I take you behind the scenes of my most recent program launch. Before reading on you might like to read Part 1 here. Last week I let you peek behind the curtain of my business, sharing some of the biggest lessons I learned from my biggest launch yet. We covered: Lesson 1: Keeping it “the same” is still a ton Continue reading...
The Biggest Lessons from My Biggest Launch Ever: What Went Right, What Went Wrong, and Everything in Between – Part 1
There’s one thing you have to know about business: The “inside” of someone’s big launch never looks like you think it does. No matter how glamorous the videos or how big the launch numbers seem, you simply can’t know what’s really going on until you get a peek behind the curtain. You can’t know how easy (or hard) it is to run a big launch. You can’t know Continue reading...
You Tell Me: What Classes, Programs, and Products Do You Want Me to Create for You This Year?
Wow! It’s been a wild few months, hasn’t it? Between Make It Work Online Prep School in November and December and the Make It Work Online Workshop in January, you’ve been doing an intense amount of learning, clarifying, and action-taking. Go you! Thank you for being part of this community of smart, generous, kind, supportive, thoughtful, open-minded action-takers who Continue reading...
The Ultimate Overwhelm-Busting Guide: How to Stay Focused, Work Smarter, and Systematize Your Online Business
There’s one thing that every business owner, from the newest rookie to the most famous billionaire, must deal with... OVERWHELM. No matter how big or small your team is, no matter how much money you make, no matter what you’re selling, you can’t escape it. Unfortunately, I’ve seen far too many business owners let overwhelm stop them dead in their tracks. This Continue reading...
Misophonia & Misokinesia: Going Public with the Personal Secret I’ve Tightly Held onto for More Than 28 Years
I remember the day—the moment—it all began. It was April of 1989, and I was on vacation with my family. We spent another day soaking up the warm Caribbean sun and swimming in the salty, turquoise water. By all accounts, I was a darn lucky kid to be on a trip like this. As the sun softened in the sky, dinnertime drew near. The evening meal was BBQ chicken on the Continue reading...
Rough Day? How to Take Back Control When You’re Feeling Distracted, Stuck, and Overwhelmed in Your Business
Don’t you love when you’re “in the zone” with your business? Ideas are flowing, you feel confident and in control, and you’re checking off your to-do list like a boss. If only every day were that! But there are other days where you’re stuck in a funk. You struggle to make decisions, you get sidetracked easily, or you feel generally pessimistic about the future of Continue reading...
One Small Change That Will Reignite Your Creativity, Double Your Productivity, and Help You Get More Done
You’ve been here a time or two (or ten) before: You worked hard to achieve a big goal and are left feeling utterly tapped out. Your creativity is zapped. Your energy is flat. And your mojo has disappeared. But business doesn’t just stop because you’re tapped out. You have clients to serve, revenue to generate, and blog posts to write! So how do you keep the Continue reading...
Downtime, Rest Time, and Sleeping In: How I Incorporate Breaks into My Work Day, Even When It Feels Impossible
For the longest time, I thought that the most successful business owners were those who had Energizer Bunny energy. They woke up at 5 a.m., worked out like they were the lead instructor on a kickboxing DVD, meditated for an hour, ate a power breakfast, and dressed to the nines…. all before 9 a.m. With this in mind, I figured I was doomed for failure. Although I’m Continue reading...
I Never Thought It Would Be Like This: The Hard Truth of What It Really Feels Like to Run My Online Business
“But they don’t know what it’s really like.” A friend made that one simple comment, and things unfolded in a way I could have never anticipated. She was talking about you, and how you don’t know what it’s really like for me to run my business. (By the way, she wasn’t being mean or critical. She was simply stating a fact.) When she said it, a mixed emotional Continue reading...
How to Identify, Set, and Hold Boundaries in Life and in Business: Tips From My Friend and Teacher Jess Ryan
I’d like you to meet a woman who profoundly impacted my life and business in so many ways on so many levels because I know she’ll do the same for you. When I was still finding my legs as a newbie business owner, this woman showed me how to tune into and trust my intuition. And as I’ve grown my business, she’s helped me hone this skill and access deeper truths, guiding Continue reading...
You Can’t Have It All (And That’s Okay): How to Build Your Business Without Feeling Like You’re Settling for Less
A woman on Instagram snapped a picture of Gwyneth Paltrow’s cookbook called It’s All Easy. She posted it in jest because, at that moment, things didn’t feel so easy! She was shuffling around town with three kids, nursing a teething baby, and craving a much-needed cup of coffee. I get it. In a world that tells us we can have it all, do it all, and be it all, on days Continue reading...
How to Dominate Your Day So You Can Build a Business You Love and Still Have Time for What Matters Most to You
How can you run a sustainable, profitable business you love while simultaneously living a life of joy, connection, and prosperity? It’s the dream that most of my clients have, and as you probably know by now, the dream that I had when I quit my corporate job in 2009 and stepped out on my own. But I quickly learned that running an online business isn’t as easy as most Continue reading...
Success On Your Terms: One Small Thing You Can Do to Ensure You’re Spending Your Time on What Matters Most
Do you ever look at the clock and wonder where the time goes? Does your to-do list look just as long at the end of the day as it did in the beginning? Do you have a list of things that you’ve been meaning to get around to but just can’t seem to find the time? Life is full. And you often feel like you have to compromise something somewhere, whether it’s your Continue reading...
Success On Your Terms: What It Means and How You Can Create It in Your Life and Work Starting Today
One of the things that excites me the most about my work is that I get to help women like you create a business that supports your life. It looks different for everyone, but it typically involves being able to… Have more space in your life to enjoy family, fun, travel, hobbies, health, or whatever YOU want most Know that you can create more success without Continue reading...
Desperate for New Clients? Putting Too Much Pressure on Your Business Could Be Chasing Your Prospects Away
Depending on how long you’ve been following me, you may or may not know the story of how I failed my way to success. The short story is that I quit my corporate job with (what I thought was) a solid plan to hit my six-figure corporate salary within one year. But after six months of running my own business, I had only made $830. (Things were pretty bleak to say the Continue reading...
The Power of Deliberate Choices: What to Do When You Wish You Could Say NO But Feel Like You Have to Say Yes
A friend recently confided in me (and she said I could share this story with you). “I’ll be talking to a client,” she said, “and they’ll ask if I can do such-and-such for them. And in my mind I’m saying ‘No, no, no, no,’ yet I blurt out, ‘Sure, no problem!’” We both laughed. After all, who hasn’t been there?! The way she sees it, she doesn’t have a choice. She Continue reading...
Overwhelmed & Underappreciated: What to Do When It Feels Like Your Business Has Taken Over Your Life
Last week, I saw a photo on Facebook that made me grin from ear to ear. One of my Make It Work Online clients snapped a picture while playing Go Fish in Starbucks with her 7 year old. This is what success without sacrifice is all about: making time for what matters most to you. As entrepreneurs, even though we desperately want moments like these, we don’t always Continue reading...
Creating Success Without Sacrifice: Is It Possible? Have You Achieved it? And How Can I Help?
When you’re the boss of your own business, you have the freedom to choose your hours, your projects, and your clients. You decide what you say yes and no to. Then why is it so common for business owners to burn out, stretch themselves far too thin, and live their lives utterly exhausted? As you probably know, this stop-at-nothing approach to business is simply Continue reading...
Do This, Not That: What I Did Right and Wrong During My Latest Make It Work Online Program Launch
I love peeking behind the curtain of other people’s businesses, uncovering what works, what doesn’t, and what lessons they have to pass along. You’ve told me you like those things, too, so today I’m going to share the mistakes and smart moves from my latest Make It Work Online launch. But it’s more than just giving you the behind-the-scenes look. It’s also about Continue reading...
Stop Playing It Safe: Why Getting out of Your Comfort Zone Will Lead You to a Highly Successful Business
You’ve heard me say countless times that you must put yourself out there to get more clients. So you try. You try to be of service on social media, but you second-guess everything you write. You see everyone else obnoxiously pitching, and you don’t want to be one of those people. You research places to guest post, but when you sit down to write your pitch, you feel a Continue reading...
“I’m Not Ready” & Other Lies I Tell Myself: What to Do When You Have to Make a Leap But You’re Scared Sh*tless
I sit down to write a pitch email requesting to be a guest on Amy Porterfield’s podcast. My leg shakes. I squirm in my chair. I wipe my sweaty hands on my jeans, get up, and pace around the office taking deep breaths. My gremlins are out in full force. What if she says no? What if she says nothing?! I’m not a big enough name to be on her show! Will she even see Continue reading...
Information Overload: How Too Much Research Is Hurting Your Business and What You Can Do About It
I’m curious: How many business-related newsletters and blogs are you subscribed to? How many webinars have you attended in the last month? Podcasts listened to this week? Blog posts saved to Evernote? There’s certainly not a shortage of business-building information out there. Run a quick Google search, and you’ll find millions of suggestions on how to create great Continue reading...
Success Without Sacrifice: How to Have Wealth and Success Without Giving Up the Things That Matter Most to You
You know that little voice that sometimes tries to speak to you? No, I’m not talking about the one that shouts mean shit and tells you you suck. I’m talking about the one that whispers… very… quietly. It says, Slow down. Take a break. Go to bed. Close the computer. Get off your phone. Go outside. Take a nap. Take a bath. Have some fun. STOP Continue reading...
I’m Shy, Awkward, and a Little Odd: All the Reasons I’ll Never Be *That* Successful (And How I Succeed Anyway)
Someone once said that I wasn’t “edgy enough” to be successful. That I needed a more extreme personality to stand out online. (That same person, incidentally, makes far less than I do and can be mean as fuck.) And truth be told, I’ve been given a lot of reasons why I’ll never “make it” very far. I’m not very attractive. (Been kinda funny looking since day Continue reading...
What to Do When You Have to Go Back on Your Word in Your Business (Plus, the Reason I’m Going Back on Mine)
In business, we make countless decisions every single day. Some end up being inconsequential and others change the course of our businesses forever. Earlier this year I made and announced a big decision. Now, after wrestling with it for months, consulting with a $2000/hr business consultant, and checking in with my intuition, I’m going back on that decision and telling Continue reading...
Why Anxiety Holds Me Back in Business and How I’ve Learned to Make Peace with It (Another Personal Story)
Two months ago I shared a story about the impact Lyme disease has had on my life and work for the past four years. In your responses to that post, I heard you loud and clear: Keep saying the things no one else dares to say. Your comments struck such a deep chord within me that I made a commitment to myself—a commitment to you, really—to dig deeper and keep sharing Continue reading...
7 Most Common Obstacles to Making Six Figures And the Exact Steps You Need to Take to Overcome Them for Good
Business is a tricky game, especially when you’re like my clients and running a solo online service-based business doing work you love. You have to be good at the work you do PLUS understand business, marketing, social media, copywriting, sales, and so much more. You’ve got to have the right mindset, keep your finances organized, and turn on your A-game most days. It’s Continue reading...
9 Surprising Things I Had to Give up to Grow a Successful Business (And Why You Might Need to Give Them up Too)
You’ve heard me talk about my deep-rooted belief in success without sacrifice. That your business should support the life you want, not strain it, and you shouldn’t have to give up what matters most to you in life to have a successful business. But recently I realized something: I actually did give up a lot to get where I am today, but not necessarily in the way you Continue reading...
Running My Business with Lyme Disease: What the Last 4 Years Have Really Been Like (A Deeply Personal Story)
There’s a pretty pervasive myth out there that says in order to be successful online, you need to be peppy, extroverted, beautiful, outspoken, lively, and endlessly energetic. It sets up a horrible feeling of an uphill battle for everyone who doesn’t feel like a million bucks every day of the week. It makes the feeling even worse if you’re trying to build a business Continue reading...
Slow Down… Or Else: The Surprising Truth Behind Why Working Less Can Actually Be Better for Your Business
To keep giving you relevant and timely content, we update our most popular posts. This article was last updated in May 2021. What would happen to your business if you just… stopped? What if you took a month off? Or reduced your hours to 20 a week? What if you took a hiatus from social media while on a two week vacation... or maybe longer? Does this bring up a Continue reading...
Busting the 4 Persistent Online Business Myths That Every New Business Owner Believes (Are You One of Them?)
Not to be a total downer or anything, but have you ever noticed just how much…well, crap… is out there lurking, just waiting to come between you and your success? There are pitfalls, slip-ups, miscalculations, rumors, myths, trends, fads, bad advice, and the all-too-familiar overwhelm. It’s a jungle out there, and it seems there’s a threat around every corner. Which Continue reading...
My Super-Simple Strategy to Stop Overwhelm and Start Focusing on the Exact Right Things to Grow Your Business
Is there anything more daunting, more puzzling, and more exhausting than building an online business … from scratch … on your own? You have 3,487 things to do, are constantly thinking over (and maybe over-thinking!) every single aspect of running your business, and are terrified you’ll ultimately fail. Not knowing what to focus on next or seeing how you’ll get Continue reading...
4 Common Mistakes Business Owners Make That Crush Your Chances of Making Money (And How to Get Back on Track)
You’ve officially started your business. You have a website, and you know what kind of work you want to do. You’ve read a lot of articles on business-building and told friends and family what you’re up to. Maybe you’ve even made some money from a few paying clients. You have big plans for your business, and you’re ready to really get things moving. You want to make Continue reading...
Dreaming vs. Doing: How to Strike the Perfect Balance So You Can Create a Business That Supports Your Life
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been talking about a shift in the way you run your business that can bring the calm, clarity, and control you need to make it online. First, we discussed what challenges you’re up against and what you need to overcome. Then we talked about getting past them and not letting them stop you… all so you can create a business you love that Continue reading...
You Have Questions, I Have Answers: Readers Share Their Small Business Challenges and Get My Proven Strategies
Last week you shared the biggest challenges that you’re currently facing as you run and grow your online businesses. You said you’re currently grappling with situations ranging from the ridiculous amount of time it takes to get things done and working long hours... to knowing how to actually build your business, connect with potential clients, and get paid for your Continue reading...
You Tell Me: What’s Your Biggest Business Obstacle? Share Your Biggest Challenges and Get Personalized Advice
Today’s post is all about you. I always write with the goal of helping you build an incredible, profitable business that you can be proud of. This month I’m excited because I’m going to be writing my posts on the feedback you give me (today!) on where you’re stuck, what you need, and how I can help, so I can focus on giving you what you need most. Specifically, I’m Continue reading...
Want to Take Time Off? The Most Effective Way Savvy Business Owners Manage Work & Family Time Over the Holidays
The holidays are coming up fast, and by now many of us are starting to feel the pressure. There’s the traditional pressure that anyone with a TV, radio, internet connection, or magazine subscription is familiar with – that right now we should all be focused on decorating our homes, baking the perfect desserts, buying more stuff, and spending lots of time with Continue reading...
Want to Increase Your Productivity? The Experts You MUST Follow Online (And Those You Should Drop Immediately)
Which business-building experts, trendsetters, and websites do you follow online? Are you sure you’re subscribed to all the right people? How do you know? Today I’m getting into the nitty-gritty of who to follow, who to not bother with, and how to know when you’re getting all the right updates from all the right people. Plus, I’m sharing a step-by-step plan for Continue reading...
Wanting the Perfect Business Is Holding You Back: How to Manage Your High Expectations And Still Feel Fulfilled
I was talking with a friend the other day about expectations, and specifically how they can set us up for disappointment, depression, and even self-destruction. We’ve all had times in our lives when people we’ve cared about or looked up to – our friends, siblings, partners, bosses, teachers, mentors, etc. – have totally let us down. That deep-down sinking feeling (you Continue reading...
If You Don’t Have a Niche, You’re Working Too Hard! How Narrowing Your Niche Makes Marketing And Selling Easier
Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been talking about how to actually get paying clients for your service-based, online business. (In fact, last week I even have an awesome free training on that very subject.) In the first post, I talked about how, when it comes to booking clients, it’s absolutely essential that you get the word out about your business, boldly Continue reading...
How I Got My First Five Clients: The Surprisingly Simple (And Free!) Strategies I Used to Build My Business
When I was first starting out as a career coach for people who hated their jobs, I didn’t have any specialized training in how to build my own business from scratch, and I wouldn’t have claimed at the time to have much “business acumen.” What I didn’t know then – especially in the dark, scary days of dwindling bank accounts and seemingly endless bills – was that I had Continue reading...
Steal This! My #1 Strategy for Selling More Without Actually Selling (So You Can Feel Good About Your Business)
Imagine a world where… … Marketing your business doesn’t feel like a sleazy, salesy thing you have to force yourself to do. … Simply helping others freely and doing the work you love could make you a magnet for new clients and customers. … You can transform every prospect you come into contact with into ambassadors for you and your business. That’s a world Continue reading...
Raise the Bar: How to Be an Unstoppable Force for Your Business by Getting Out of Neutral and Taking Action
A while back, I did a series called Raise the Bar where I challenged you to step up and professionalize your businesses in practical and important ways. (Refresher: We talked about accepting credit cards and getting real about money and getting organized with your cash flow.) Today I’m bringing that series back by calling out one of the most pervasive and destructive Continue reading...
Which Business Trends Are Right for You? Here’s How to Know When to Follow the Crowd and When to Rebel
Happy fall, everyone! I know a lot of people look forward to this time of year as the season of crisp days and warm drinks, but I have to admit that – despite my love for pumpkin-spiced goodies – I dread when the summer heat disappears. The good news is that what I lack in excitement for cooler, shorter days I make up for in motivation and productivity. It’s always Continue reading...
Want to Make More Money? Learn The 7 Myths That Could Be Holding You Back from a Successful Six-Figure Business
Here are a few things I know to be true: You (yes, you!) have what it takes to create a thriving online, service-based business. Your core business of helping clients directly with whatever obstacles stand in their way is enough — and you can earn six figures doing just that. You do not have to make your entire life about work to achieve this kind of Continue reading...
Self-Doubt, Comparisonitis, and More Harmful Lies That Can Halt Your Business Success and Cost You Money
There’s an ugly rumor floating around in the entrepreneurship blogosphere that, if you buy into, can really damage your chance at success in your business. And yet I see so many brilliant, ambitious women struggle with it. This thing hangs like a heavy, dark cloud over everything we business owners are trying to accomplish, and it can destroy us at any moment. And Continue reading...
Stop Working So F*&%ing Hard! How to Grow a Successful Online Business Without Working Yourself into the Ground
Do you feel like you’re always working? If you’re like most online businesswomen I hear from, your work week creeps well beyond 40 hours most weeks. The irony is that you still feel like you’re underachieving, even though you’re working your ass off! You dream of working far fewer hours while still building your business, but it seems like an impossibility. You’ve Continue reading...
Success Without Sacrifice: How to Succeed in Business Without Struggling or Giving up the Things You Love Most
For the past six weeks, I took a break from business-as-usual. I had a few expectations of what might happen upon my return (projects would magically be done! and creative inspiration would pour in!). Unfortunately, reality didn’t match up. Instead, as happens when you’re not looking for it, clarity came fluttering in. Insights and realizations landed gently on my Continue reading...
You Need a Break! How to Avoid Burnout, Find Balance, Refuel Your Creativity, and Boost Your Productivity
We all know that one of the major perks of running your own business is being your own boss. That means you get to choose your salary, decide how much work and what types of projects to take on, and set your own schedule. It. Is. Awesome. But one aspect of being the boss that almost all entrepreneurs forget is to plan for their own down time — and plenty of Continue reading...
Overwhelmed by Too Many Tasks, Ideas, and Conflicting Expert Advice? My Strategy for Getting Past It (Part 2)
This is the second of two posts that explore the issue of overwhelm. If you haven’t read Part 1 yet, you should definitely go back and start there since it explains what overwhelm is really all about (spoiler alert: it’s all in your head!) and how it can affect entrepreneurs who are just starting out. As business owners, we all have the tendency to get overwhelmed from Continue reading...
Overwhelmed by Too Many Tasks, Ideas, and Conflicting Expert Advice? My Strategy for Getting Past It (Part 1)
I’ve been asked by a number of you if I ever get overwhelmed. The short answer is yes. The better answer, though, is yes, all the time, but never for long, and it never wins. Feeling overwhelmed is totally natural when you’re taking on something as huge as building and running a business. But leaning into that feeling can spell disaster. The way I see it, describing Continue reading...
How to Bring More of Your Superpowers to Your Business So You Can Expand Your Reach and Grow Your Bottom Line
Last week I told you how authenticity is the cornerstone of fulfillment and success in these very personal online businesses we run. Without it, we don’t stand out from the crowd; we’re airbrushed models; we’re someone people don’t want to work with. With it, we’re unique. We draw people in. We build our following and expand our reach. Getting clear on what makes Continue reading...
Truth Time: I Haven’t Been Fully Practicing What I Teach! (How to Embrace Your Unique Coaching Style)
Ever had one of those moments where you realized you’d been living a lie? There's an emotional cocktail of shame, anger, and panic that courses through your veins. You're not sure whether to run and hide, play pretend, or blurt out the messy truth on Facebook. I had one of those moments a few weeks ago. It certainly wasn't my first, and I know it won't be my Continue reading...
Saying No Without Sounding Like a B*&%#: How to Decline Offers That Don’t Align with Your Business Strategy
There’s something unexpected that you have to do as your business grows. When first faced with this, most people avoid it because it’s challenging. Eventually, you reach a point where it’s so in-your-face that you can’t ignore it any longer. People still try to hang on to the old way as long as they can… to their own detriment. I must develop this muscle if I want Continue reading...
3 More Common Mistakes I Made Early on in My Business and My Hard-Won Strategies for How You Can Avoid Them
A few weeks ago, when I was writing about my four business mistakes for my fourth anniversary, I ended up identifying a several more mistakes I frequently see new business owners make. The blog post had the potential to reach novel-length, so I decided to focus on my personal mistakes for that post. At the same time, I couldn’t not share some of the other all-too-common Continue reading...
Is Free Advice Is Squelching Your Success? 4 Undeniable Signs That You’re Suffering from Information Overload
I love that the internet has allowed us to access so much fantastic information for free. Learn to eat better, lose weight, and grow your business with spot-on, free tips straight to your inbox as often as you like. It’s amazing! And it can be overwhelming… so overwhelming that it can actually slow you down. It happened to me, and here’s what I’ve done about it. You Continue reading...
4 Essential Components You Need for Business Creation and Growth (No Matter What Stage of Business You’re In)
No matter what kind of business you want to create or grow, there are four unavoidable pieces you must have in place. These four pieces aren’t just for newbies, either. They’re essential components of business creation and growth at any phase. Today I’m going to share these four essentials with you, so you can see if you’ve got all bases covered or if there’s one or Continue reading...
Want to “Make It” In Your Business? Successful Women Do This (Even When It Scares Them), And You Should Too
Launching a business is scary, and it comes with nearly endless unknowns. We often wonder if we’ll “make it” and what it actually takes to get there. I had these same thoughts when I was first starting and a friend gave me the best advice I’ve ever heard. (And I still count on her today to set me straight.) Today I want to share the advice she gave me and how I’ve Continue reading...
More Money, More Clients, More Time! You MUST Take This First Step If You Want to Achieve Big Business Goals
Can you believe we're nearly a week into 2015? Part of me feels like I'm still back in 2012... Time keeps moving forward, and we do, too. That’s why today I want to help you keep moving forward toward your big goals for this year. I want to talk with you about an essential first step toward hitting your big goals. You MUST start here if you want to be Continue reading...
Do This, Not That: Discover the Right Way to Take Action So Can You See Massive Results in Your Business
With a new year comes a fun new series I’ve been dreaming about for awhile: Do This, Not That. Today’s topic: action-taking. That’s right, we’re going to discuss the do’s and don’t’s of action taking. Because how you take action plays a key role in the results of your actions. I know you’re someone who wants to take action and see results, and that’s exactly what Continue reading...
See Your Business Soar: Get My Three Easy Steps for Making This Your Most Productive and Profitable Year Ever
This time of year everyone is putting their Big Ideas into motion, from lofty 6-figure business goals, to simple commitments like eating better or hitting the gym. January sparkles with possibility and determination, but as the months and year wane on, we quickly find ourselves and our goals derailed. Factors like bad time management, lack of motivation, and a general Continue reading...
Feeling Bogged Down By Your Business? How to Simplify, Streamline, and Systematize Your Most Common Tasks
During the holidays many of us set business aside and enjoy family time and down time. For others, you’re finding some solitude and quiet to make some big progress on your business while everyone else drinks egg nog and exchanges presents. Whichever way you roll, you have my full support, because I do a little bit of both! In order to create space for the holidays Continue reading...
Steal This! My Personal Business Building Action Plan For a Successful New Year [2nd Edition with Free Download]
As we near the end of another year, you’re probably doing what most smart business owners do: planning for next year. You’re looking at your goals, your action steps, your marketing plan, and your financial aspirations. And like the business owners who hire me, you’re a little uncertain about your plan. You think you know what you want to do, but the ideas also come Continue reading...
The Three A’s of Success: How to Dramatically Increase Your Chance of Succeeding in Business (and Life)
Two weeks ago we talked about how you could predict your own success with five simple questions. (If you didn’t take the quiz or if you need a reminder of how you scored, you can retake the quiz here.) Based on your score, you can adjust three things (I call them the three A’s of success) to increase the likelihood that you’ll succeed in business (or at anything!). Continue reading...
The Business Success Quiz: Do You Really Have What It Takes to Create a Thriving Online Business? Find Out Now
The big question on everyone’s mind when they’re starting or growing a business is: Will I be successful? What if I told you that you could know the answer in advance? That’s right; I believe it’s possible to predict your own success. Think about how much time, effort, and stress you could save if you knew how it would all turn out before you put in all that hard Continue reading...
Why I Chose to Forego $144,000 in Revenue (And How You Can Make Tough Business Decisions a Little Bit Easier)
Business is full of tough decisions. Decisions about clients, marketing, blog posts, finances, and so much more. Nothing equips us for all of the decisions we have to make, yet we still have to face them when they show up. There’s one recent decision I made that was just about the hardest I’ve ever faced. Why? Because it cost me $144,000 in revenue. My Difficult Continue reading...
The Worst Business Advice I’ve Ever Heard (That Stops New Business Owners from Having the Success They Deserve)
One of the phrases that I heard over and over during my early days as a life coach was this: If it doesn’t feel good, don’t do it. I understand that those who preach this are well-intended. They really do want the best for you and your business. But it’s honestly the WORST BUSINESS ADVICE you could ever give someone who’s starting a new venture. Why? Because Continue reading...
Dread Blogging? Hate Pitching Yourself? Tired of List-Building? What to Do with the Tasks You Love to Avoid
If you’ve been here for awhile, you likely know that I have chronic Lyme disease. Although I have been fortunate that it hasn’t impacted my life to the degree that many have experienced, I nonetheless have much less energy, stamina, and overall vitality than I used to, among numerous other challenging symptoms. This has caused me to change how I run my business, and of Continue reading...
6 Figure Success: Where to Start When You’re Just Starting
One of the biggest mistakes I made when I first launched my coaching business was trying to figure out how to replace my corporate income. Yes, you read that right. Trying to figure out how to make the money I needed to quit my job was one of the biggest mistakes I made. I realize this sounds completely counter-intuitive. After all, since I was starting my business Continue reading...
The Surprising Business Model Idea: Predictably Boring vs Big Drama
When you think about the best and fastest way to make money in your business, what’s your first thought? Maybe your mind automatically goes to creating a group program, designing a course, or developing products to bring in passive income. And maybe that leads to you dreaming of a big launch with all kinds of glitz and glam. I used to think the same thing. Courses Continue reading...
Have You Been Sold a Load of Crap? The Truth Is, Running Your Own Business Isn’t All Rainbows and Unicorns
When I was a new coach, I heard lots of things about the way building a business should be. Things like: If you coach, they will come. Do what you love and the money will follow. If it doesn’t feel good, don’t do it. Although those who shared these rules with me had the best intentions, these statements had me living in happy-unicorn-hopeful-ville for a few years Continue reading...
How to Achieve Every Goal You Set (And Why So Many Business Owners Fail to Reach Their Full Potential)
Can you feel it? There’s something about this time of the year that gets me ridiculously excited about setting goals for next year. If you’re the goal-setting, to-do list checking type you probably know the feeling well -- when you’re bubbling with excitement about your next big project. But after the planning buzz wears off, you’re stuck with having to actually make Continue reading...
How Many Failures Can One Woman Survive? You’d Be Surprised (How I Eff’d up My Way to Making Six Figures, Part 2)
Last week I shared with you more details of my entrepreneurial story than I’ve ever before shared publicly. You learned that my first half-year in business I only made $830 but spent $23,026.81 to get there. You learned that my first business actually failed! And that when I stopped focusing on income and started playing the hot-or-cold game, things started to Continue reading...
I Eff’d Up: The Story Behind How I Failed My Way to Creating a Successful Online Business That I Love (Part 1)
Five years, two months, and one day ago I left my corporate job forever. I didn’t have a website, and I didn’t have any paying clients. But I did have a plan to make big bucks fast. When I announced my departure, some coworkers thought I was leaving to get pregnant. (I wasn’t.) Others thought I was quitting to enjoy life as a well kept woman to a sugar daddy husband. Continue reading...
The Controversial Truth About Making It Online: It Takes More Time, Effort, and Tenacity Than You’ve Been Told
Starting a business is an emotional experience. No one can argue with that. There is, however, something that we all argue about. Whether you realize it or not, there's an internal battle waging within you. You're conflicted by two messages: first, the messages you read about how easy it is to make money online; second, your actual experience of how challenging it Continue reading...
Easily Distracted? How I Cut My Distractions By 90% and Increased My Focus (Hint: It’s Easier Than You Think)
Running an online business from a home office is a setup for mega distractions. One simple idea I implemented cut my distractions by 90% and doubled or tripled my focus. In today’s Build Your Business Challenge, Actionable Advice in 60 Seconds or Less, I’m going to share with you the simple thing you can do to cut your distractions and increase your focus. You can’t Continue reading...
Freedom. Good Money. Creative Expression. Can Entrepreneurs Really Have It All? The Answer Might Surprise You
Entrepreneurs want it all. Freedom. Autonomy. Good money. Great work. Creative expression. Downtime. And more. Can you really have it all? In today’s Build Your Business Challenge, Actionable Advice in 60 Seconds or Less, I have the answer for you in a simple 8-letter word. I can’t wait for you to watch my controversial opinion and tell me what you Continue reading...
Want to Sell Digital Products and Create Passive Income? You Must First Consider This Commonly Overlooked Element
Many new entrepreneurs get excited about creating passive income by selling digital products and online courses. There's one important thing most of these folks forget when they go to create their next big thing. If you don’t keep this in mind, I have a feeling you’ll fall woefully short of your revenue goal. I certainly don’t want that to happen! I give you the full Continue reading...
The Big Blunder I Made When Scheduling My Client Coaching Calls (And the Wildly Simple Way You Can Avoid It)
I teach my clients and you, my viewers and readers, to block out times for things like client sessions, blogging, social media, and anything else you regularly do in your business. This ensures you get everything done that needs to get done each week without stress, hassle, or worry. In case you missed it, be sure to read the post on being a calendar master. Although Continue reading...
“That Won’t Work for Me!” How These 5 Words Will Kill Your Business and What You Should Start Saying Instead
A few weeks ago someone emailed me a marketing question. I didn't know the exact answer, but I did know how to help them find the answer they were looking for. I replied with a few questions. Within an hour, I got a reply with the 5 deadly words that will kill your business. In today’s Build Your Business Challenge, Actionable Advice in 60 Seconds or Less, I’m going Continue reading...
Have You Caught Comparisonitis? It Halts Your Creativity & Business Growth, So I’m Sharing My Simple, Go-To Cure
When I was first starting out, I caught a common illness that strikes many entrepreneurs: comparisonitis. This disease halts creativity and leaves you immobilized. Have no fear, I have the cure for you today! In today’s Build Your Business Challenge, Actionable Advice in 60 Seconds or Less, I’m going to share with you how I caught this awful illness and the simple Continue reading...
Have You Put an Offer Out and Are Hearing Crickets? Here’s Exactly What to Do If You’re Not Seeing Results
Have you ever put something out there and got nothing but crickets in response? It’s a downer! My question to you is: What did you do next? In today’s Build Your Business Challenge, Actionable Advice in 60 Seconds or Less, I’m going to share with you the important next steps you must take if you aren’t getting the results you want in your business. Check out the Continue reading...
My Mastermind Blunders: How Your Mastermind Is Holding You Back (If You’re Not Watching for This Common Trap)
Just a few months ago, a client told me a story that really got me thinking about how a mastermind group -- even great ones with great intentions -- can hold us back. My client (I’ll call her Betsy) joined a mastermind group for all the right reasons: the network, the advice, a tight-knit community of like-minded women working toward similar goals, and open-minded Continue reading...
Steal This! My 3 Step Formula for Making Smart Business Investments (Plus, My Worst and Best Investments)
You’ve probably seen ads like these in your Facebook sidebar or just about anywhere else on the web: “Buy this cash machine formula, and triple your profits in 24 HOURS!” “Unlimited wealth. Total freedom. 2 hour work week. Guaranteed.” Ads. They’re everywhere we go – and they promise the world. And for the most part, things like this are bogus. I know you’re too savvy Continue reading...
Are You Ignoring This Like I Did? How to “Go Pro” and Embrace the Unsexy Parts of Running Your Own Business
When it comes to our work, who doesn’t l-o-v-e diving into the sexier side of things? Writers adore writing. Coaches are obsessed with coaching. Designers dig their art. Our work is the sexy stuff in business. Doing the things that are aligned with our specific slice of genius feels fantastic and puts us in an awesome frame of mind about what we do. While it’s Continue reading...
Struggling in Your Online Business? Here’s What You’re Missing (And It’s Not More Business or Marketing Skills)
Ever you feel like you’ve done the best you could with something new in your business but have nothing to show for it? No sign ups, no clients, no purchases? We’ve all been there. Maybe you’ve also done everything I’ve taught you so far, like using a scientist’s mindset, tweaking your way to success, and checking to it w sure you’re determined, not desperate. But Continue reading...