The Self-Employed Life

Are you allocating your time towards what you say you value? This episode will prepare you for the next episode with Steven Griffith who offers strategies to do a time cleanse. By doing a time cleanse, you can create the time to really put your time towards what you value. Note- it seemed fitting to use this photo of me with my two dogs because my dog Milo, on the left, is very ill and I don't kno...

We spend too much time trying to "sell" to people who are not a good fit for our business. How many business cards for people who will never use your service do you need? The answer is zero. We also often use violent sports or battle analogies to describe the process of selling which creates adversarial atmosphere. Instead of these approaches, we should be thinking of selling as solving problems....

I'm fortunate to have many conversations in a single day with a diverse group of people in person and online. I'm always looking for connections between conversations as an indicator of what the world needs or how people are evolving. I'll bet you'll relate to one or more of the random thoughts shared in this episode and you'll learn about the importance of movement. And how conversations create m...

As small businesses owners, we can often put ourselves down. We say, "Oh, it's just this little thing I do." Often it's the mom or dad who is running a business but also shuffling kids around or the creative with their own small list of clients. It's so easy to minimize what we do, but we need to respect our little business. The size of your business should reflect the life that you want to lead....

My good friend, Melissa Smith happened to be visiting me in Miami so in this episode, we chat about resistance to getting help and the different types of support you need for your business. Melissa is an expert in remote work and virtual assistants and perfect for this conversation. The bottom line is this. You can say you can't afford to get help. The truth is, you can't afford not to and entrepr...

It's hard to talk negatively about positive thinking. But positive thinking means you're actually attached to the negative. If you think there was a reason for suffering it will cause you to stay in suffering. It's much better to create your own reality by thinking proactively . See the outcome you desire and then work backward to achieve it. This takes work, but you'll have much better results th...

There are so many of us driven to do big things in the second-half of our lives. Feeling driven with a strong passion combined with impatience can be frustrating. What I've realized along my personal journey and in speaking to others is that some fundamental feelings in our lives may need to be looked at differently in order to succeed as a mid-life entrepreneur. The Talking Stick is in your hands...

Artists are so often plagued by feelings of self-doubt. We're afraid to go after what we really want because we wonder if we're competitive enough to create a sustainable life. We'll talk ourselves out of pursuing a career in the thing that we love and try to fix our square peg into a round hole. But what if I told you that the thing you're most passionate about will probably be the thing at which...

We Warriors are wired to work hard. Say that 10 times fast!:) That's true in business and often in life. I wonder, though, if it's how we should be showing up in the world. I wonder if the world wants a different way. Is it really how we get what we are striving for? My sense is that's there's a new way of being arising. A way to get all we want out of our lives without it being so hard. Come expl...

A lot of creatives think we are doomed to a life without systems because that's not our natural inclination. Our business is "us," which makes it difficult to scale. I know that I personally have trouble making the connection between who I am as a photographer and my branding. Whether or not systems come easily to you, it's time to put on our "big-boy pants." All businesses need to revisit the fun...

A month into the new year, how are your goals going? In this episode, I share a new way to set goals and structure your year. A way that, I believe, accomplishes the balance between setting your sights on big dreams while also taking care of yourself and avoiding disappointment and self-criticism. With this balance, you are more likely to achieve your goals! The Talking Stick is in your hands now....

So often we get bogged down doing the daily tasks of our business. We're spending time doing the marketing, the accounting, the receivables, and on and on. We can barely get our head above water to allow us to see our bigger picture. But if you create systems that other people can take hold of and continue to implement, you'll have more space to take your business to the next level. You'll be able...

Some new thoughts on the classic phrase, "What got us here won't get us where we want to go." Perhaps it has more to do with old ways of thinking that are holding us back rather than adopting new practices and habits. I also share some thoughts about collective consciousness and manifestation. The Talking Stick is in your hands now. Let us hear from you. Be part of the conversation - Join our comm...

It's hard to come up with a good answer to the question "What do you do?" We want to respond with something that is memorable, that incites conversation, and that can lead to a referral. So how can we find a sentence that does all that? By getting clarity. A clear message travels faster. If you want to create the opportunity for serendipitous referral moments, what you have to offer has to be easy...

It's time to redefine leadership. Often when we talk about leaders, we are talking about CEOs of companies, but here's the truth: we are all leaders. It's important that we, as Creative Warriors, learn to own that fact. The basis of leadership is creativity because it allows us to make something new. As a leader, you have to be cognizant of the language that you use. If you are coming from a vulne...

Those of us who strive to grow, develop and get better at what we do seem to often thrive on feedback, self-evaluation and constructive criticism. Does it have to be that way? Can't we find a positive fuel source? Find out in this episode. The Talking Stick is in your hands now. Let us hear from you. Be part of the conversation - Join our community Facebook group, Creative Warriors Unite, at www.j...

We're often taught that slow and steady wins the race. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is based on the idea that small, incremental changes are the best way to create life-lasting change. But what if our biggest improvements actually happen in a lightning-strike moment? I personally had a big epiphany a few years ago. Typically, I would position myself in the back of the line. In a profound moment, I...

It's that time of year when you're setting a lot of goals. But are you also setting yourself up for disappointment? How do you handle it when you don't meet your goals? Does the voice of expectation make you feel bad about yourself? How do you reason the idea of setting big goals without setting yourself up for disappointment if you don't meet your stretch goals? Find out in this episode. The Talk...

I'm always the person who comes up from behind. I tend to take more time studying and can be pretty meticulous, but as the finish line approaches I sail ahead. Now, I embrace this trait- I know that it's actually those "unseen hours" of preparation that are setting me up for success. So how can you take advantage of the "unseen hours" that go on behind the scenes?  It's all about having meticulous...

It's human nature to focus on what's wrong. We're often taught to achieve balance by strengthening our weaknesses. But what if we just need to be aware of our weaknesses and not necessarily spend time on them? Focusing on your strengths will help you go further. Why? Because you can hire someone who is strong in the areas where you are lacking. That's the beauty of teamwork. When you're focused on...

As my gift to you, I offer you two exercises to bring out more in you than you can imagine for yourself. You'll have fun with these exercises and set yourself up to have an amazing 2019! Enjoy and I wish each and every one of you a magical Holiday and a prosperous New Year. Go out into the world, Create, Serve and Be Prosperous! The Talking Stick is in your hands now. Let us hear from you. Be part...

So often, the words we use around marketing are overly aggressive. We say that we want to reach a "target audience," we need to "penetrate" the market, or we need to "push" our product.  But words have energy. To attract our ideal customers we have to first stop thinking of them as a target. Business, like most things, can benefit by taking a more mindful approach. You have to be conscious of the...

The idea of changing a scarcity mindset to an abundant mindset can seem like a daunting task. Sort of like a complete makeover when all we need is a haircut. This episode offers you ideas on how to pay attention to the subtleties of your thoughts and words to build an abundant mind every day, all day long. The Talking Stick is in your hands now. Let us hear from you. Be part of the conversation -...

One thing I truly believe creatives struggle with is feeling like a sleazy salesman. We want to focus on our craft and become hesitant about the business development side of what we do. Most of the time that means selling ourselves short, and not getting the respect we deserve for our hard work. Luckily, the solution isn't too tough. You really need to just shift your mindset and realize that sell...

Common advice is to work ON your business more than IN your business. Great advice for keeping us from getting caught up in trivial tasks at the sacrifice of moving our businesses forward. Better yet though is to work OUTSIDE your business more than ON it. Found out what I mean by that and how this idea can completely revolutionize your business. The Talking Stick is in your hands now. Let us hear...