Denise Duffield-Thomas's Blog, page 16

How to have a life and business

EPISODE 153
How to have a life and business
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On this week's episode of the Chill and Prosper podcast I'm talking about how to balance life and business and how you can have both! 

Now, I'm no expert in this, and it's something that will constantly change as you evaluate your business and your goals. But there are some tried and true tips I've learned along the way that I think you'll love.

It's ok if you're out of balance right now - it happens to all of us. 

Where are you getting pleasure from in your life or business right now?

What's next? Where can you find more joy and richness?

xx Denise

How to close the sale

EPISODE 152
How to close the sale
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Don't freak out. We're going to talk sales, but not in a sleazy or pushy way. 

If you don't like sales and you're thinking of skipping this episode, don't worry—I've got some chillprenuer tips that actually work. 

Let's make it as easy as possible for you to close the deal and make more money. 

This is not about advanced Jedi mind tricks or hustle but finding a way to grow your business that is more fun and less stressful for YOU. 

Listen to this new episode of the Chill and Prosper podcast to learn:

Valuable lessons from my early sales experiences 
Tips to make it easy for people to buy from you 
Why enthusiasm and simplicity beat salesy tricks
How to follow up with leads and close more sales

When you love what you offer, you don't have to be scared. 

And when you're next following up, remember this Jack Canfield quote:

"SWSWSWSW

Some will, some won't, so what, someone's waiting." 

And one I've told myself recently that's so good when you've got doubts about the economy... 

"They would if they could, and they will again." 

I'd love to hear what you found most useful in today's episode and what you'll use in your next sales chat—hit reply or send me a message. 

Have a fantastic week! 

xx Denise

I’m now making more money than I ever did!

MONEY BOOTCAMP REVIEW
Mel Lathouras

Singer & Coach
Australia
Member since 2022

 

 What was your money situation when you joined Money Bootcamp?

I was hanging in there money-wise before Bootcamp. But, JUST…. I would always be surprised that when my monthly payment to Bootcamp came around, I could actually cover it.

What is your money situation like now?

Even though things were tight, the Bootcamp work not only improved my financial situation but also made me increasingly proud to be a full-time creative business owner who could pay my bills. After 12 months of doing the work (and not perfectly) - tracking, decluttering, interrupting old patterns - I now have structure around my finances and am consistently bringing in $8K/month of revenue. Last month (Feb 2024), I came close to $15K. Not bad for a Singer and Teacher living in Queensland. I’m now making more money than I ever did with a full-time high school teacher salary. 

What's been the biggest lesson you learned?

The two biggest takeaways are that you can be 100% yourself and be a millionaire - I love Denise's mirror exercise; looking at yourself and saying, 'This is the face of a millionaire' and the other is TRACKING! It's become a game for me, and I love it. The more you track, the more you see your money numbers grow.

What are your top 3 wins?

One of my most significant achievements since joining Bootcamp has been the transformation of my business model. Previously, I offered $900 for 10 X 1 hour of singing lesson packages, with uncertain payment schedules that left me feeling insecure and unable to give my all.  I transitioned to a membership model. This model, which includes 1:1 sessions, offers upfront yearly or monthly payments, providing me with a more stable and predictable income. This change has improved my financial situation and overall sense of security and confidence in my business.
I also increased my prices to 1:1 sessions from $100/hr to $247/hr. My 1:1 members invest in a package that works out to be $170/hour. 
I also added tiered pricing - if members cannot invest in 1:1, they still get significant value from being in the group coaching at $47/month.

How would you describe the Money Bootcamp community and Facebook group?

The Money Bootcamp community Facebook group is inspiring and worth the price of Bootcamp alone. It's powerful to see other female-identifying people normalising wealth and making big numbers. Not only that, but normalising money conversations. It's such a triggering subject for most people, so to be in a collective that is not only honestly talking about it and overcoming their blocks to increase wealth is refreshing but also starts to rub off in a good way.

What's your advice to someone considering joining Money Bootcamp?

I believed I couldn't afford Bootcamp and wouldn't commit because, in the past, I was terrible at sticking to courses. Even if you took one principle from Bootcamp and stuck to it, you would receive an ROI. It's one of the best courses and communities I've invested in, so if you are considering it, do it! You'll make your money back!

 

 

 
Ready for a Money Breakthrough?
This could be you too!

With the right mindset training and mentor you can break through your income plateau, and elevate your business to next level success!

Money Bootcamp is THE proven and practical comprehensive money mindset training, with an awesome private community of entrepreneurs.

Click here to find out how you can transform your relationship with money and move towards financial freedom for you and your family.

 

    

Demystifying the Millionaire Mindset

EPISODE 151
Demystifying the Millionaire Mindset
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Are you a millionaire? Have you hit $1 million? Or is this a goal for you?

For most people who follow me or listen to my podcast, hitting a million dollars or becoming a millionaire is a big, audacious goal. 

It might not be the money itself, but the lifestyle or ability to help others that you dream of, but I’ve found it helps to have a number to aim for. 

Yes, we have a few millionaire listeners and many millionaires in my Money Bootcamp course, but most are working towards their first million. 

Whether this is a goal for you this year or one day in the future, I want to talk about Millionaire Mindset so it can feel more attainable, relatable, and real to you. 

One of my biggest lessons, and something I know I did when I was starting, was learning not to put millionaires on a pedestal - I thought they must be different from me in some way to be able to do this. 

But that’s not the truth; every millionaire still has strengths and weaknesses, blocks and fears. 

The millionaire version of you will still be you with all your stuff, just with more money! 

There are so many different ways to be a millionaire, and you can find the right one for you, so listen to today’s podcast to learn: 

The mindset shifts I had to make to reach a million dollars 
The beliefs we share about how millionaires “should” think or act
Harmful judgments and limiting beliefs you need to let go of
My tips on celebrating your progress and milestones 
And much more…

As I say to my Bootcampers, there is no Bootcamp 2.0 - there’s no advanced work you qualify for as your business grows - the work is the same no matter where you’re at. 

This is why I advocate so much for doing inner work and learning to love and accept yourself because this is the foundation of a truly abundant mindset. 

And I’m here every step of the way to support you as you continue to overcome your money and mindset blocks. 

So even if you’ve heard some of today’s tips before, where are you still holding on to beliefs that you’re not ready or that YOU can not be a millionaire? 

It’s a pretty cool goal. It’s fun to be a millionaire, so why not you? 

xx Denise

P.S. I just want to help people make money and change the world. It’s my life’s purpose and what I’m most passionate about. My work has already helped thousands of people like you around the world. 

If you want my help, come over and join us in Money Bootcamp - we’re waiting to cheer you on. I promise you won’t regret it. 

It’s your time and you’re ready for the next step.

Millionaire Mindset Lesson #4 - A wealthy entrepreneur looks like YOU!

Today I’m sharing my favourite Chillpreneur Millionaire mindset lesson and one of the most powerful mantras my community uses in my Money Bootcamp program.

Becoming a millionaire doesn’t really make you special or clever, but the truth is that my biggest secret for becoming one is focusing on some very specific mindset upgrades.

So here’s one lesson to think about…

A Wealthy Entrepreneur Looks Like YOU!

One of the most powerful speakers I’ve ever heard was Suze Orman at the Hay House “I Can Do It” conference (I was lucky enough to see Louise Hay herself the same weekend).

Suze introduced her speech by saying slowly and deliberately, “I stand before you a very, very, very wealthy woman.”

It gave me goosebumps.

It stuck with me because I’d never seen a woman claim her wealth and success like that before.

Oprah is obviously a very wealthy woman, but she doesn’t talk about her wealth a lot.

Bragging isn’t generally seen as a positive trait for women, but what was so compelling about Suze’s declaration was that it was so matter-of-fact and without apology.

This mindset lesson is giving yourself permission to be wealthy and successful, exactly as you are now.

Most of us have a perception of what “wealthy” means, and it’s probably really outdated.

Part of working through your money blocks is identifying your money stories and limiting beliefs.

Identifying your money stories and limiting beliefs

In this section, we’re going one layer deeper, into claiming ourselves as wealthy women.

When you Google “define wealth,” some of the definitions include:

An abundance of valuable possessions or money
A plentiful supply of a particular desirable thing
Well-being

Well, what if you’re a minimalist and don’t want an abundance of possessions—can you still be wealthy?

What if you care deeply about the environment—doesn’t being wealthy come with a big carbon footprint?

What if you hate fancy clothes and have no desire to buy a big house or an expensive car—does that mean you won’t have a big enough “why” to generate more money?

Not at all, but it’s going to take some de-programming because, in our society, we often get incredibly mixed messages about wealth.

In our culture, money becomes a personal attribute or failing.

Wealthy people are often perceived as being more clever, ambitious, and hardworking than the average population.

You might have very fixed (but misguided) views on what a wealthy woman looks like.

I talk openly about being wealthy because I want to showcase a young(ish) self-made millionaire who is a reasonably nice person (most of the time), and dresses, looks, and acts like an average person.

I’m just not that fancy, and honestly, I think it disappoints some people that I’m not living a more glamorous life.

I drive a mid-range minivan full of sand and McDonald’s crumbs.

I’m not impressed with eating in super-fancy restaurants. I own very few expensive shoes, handbags, or clothes, and I’m just boringly normal.

Nobody who meets me would automatically think I’m rich, and most of the advisors Mark and I meet automatically assume he’s the breadwinner in our family (I put them straight pretty quickly).

Most people have a fixed idea in their mind about what “rich” looks like.

I know I still do (an older white lady at the country club wearing white or beige linen clothes, gold leather sandals, blonde perfectly-coiffed hair, and lots of gold jewelry).

In reality, there’s no dress requirement for wealth!

Steve Jobs wore jeans and a black turtleneck practically every single day, and Mark Zuckerberg wears jeans and a grey T-shirt daily.

My style? Chillpreneur. My Summer uniform is shorts and a caftan, my Winter uniform is jeans and a caftan.

But you can do it your way! You can pick and choose the kind of wealthy woman you want to be.

You can mix up high-end and low-end. Who cares?

There aren’t any rules about how to be rich anymore, and together, we’re changing the conversation so other women can join us.

In the town I live in, you definitely can’t judge people’s wealth by the clothes they wear, or even by the car they drive.

It’s a beach town—someone might be driving a beat up 30-year-old VW Kombi van (like the one I have) or a top-of-the line Range Rover. We have a lot of “undercover millionaires” here who look like regular people (because they are).

If you want to open your eyes to “real wealth” and not “TV wealth,” read Thomas J. Stanley’s book, The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America’s Wealthy.

It details an extensive study of wealthy people and identifies seven common traits. They’re not what you think!

“Many people who live in expensive homes and drive luxury cars do not actually have much wealth,” he writes. “Many people who have a great deal of wealth do not even live in upscale neighborhoods.”

Stanley’s book changed my view about who I had to be to make more money because the more-is-better lifestyle just didn’t sit well with me.

I thought I had to “fake it until I made it” but I discovered that designer stuff just wasn’t my bag (literally).

I’m not judging people who love fancy things (a lot of my friends do).

I just realized that it wasn’t for me, and that’s okay. I could redefine wealth my way and so can you.

By the way, Stanley wrote two follow-ups that are just as good: The Millionaire Women Next Door: The Many Journeys of Successful American Businesswomen (his first book is mostly focused on male millionaires) and Stop Acting Rich … And Start Living Like A Real Millionaire—all highly recommended in helping you redefine what wealth means to you.

If you ignore all the other money blocks and try to get to the core of the issue, you’ll find that many women think being wealthy just isn’t their destiny—that they somehow lack a magical ingredient.

What do you think that magical ingredient is?

Intelligence? Ambition? Hard work? Great grooming?

It could be all those things, but I’ve met some dumb people who are wealthy.

I’ve met humble wealthy women who don’t consider themselves overly ambitious or competitive, and I’ve also met a lot of Chillpreneurs who don’t work that hard, love what they do, and have a healthy work/life balance.

Maybe you think you have to look or act a certain way.

Get honest and dig deep to find out what you think you have to change about yourself to be a wealthy woman:

Your hair?
Your face?
Your skin?
Your clothes?
Your house?
Your car?
Your weight?

Here's an exercise we can do together.

Visualizing the Rich

Close your eyes for a minute and conjure up what you think a “rich woman” looks like.

Do you even know anyone who dresses like that, or is it an old cliché from TV?

What is the woman you conjured up wearing? What are her defining characteristics? How old is she?

Write it all down, and then do the same exercise for how you perceive as a “successful entrepreneur.” Is it the same? Or different?

Now Visualizing Yourself as Rich

Stand in front of a mirror, say to yourself, “This is what a wealthy woman looks like,” and see what comes up for you.

Does it feel weird? Braggy, arrogant, untrue, impossible?

Don’t be afraid of the little voice that answers, because it’s just giving you an insight into your beliefs. Ask it “Why else can’t I be rich?”

The more you do this exercise, and the more you decide to claim for yourself the mantle of a wealthy woman, the more you’ll start to believe that it’s possible for someone like you.
Because, guess what?

There are no height, weight or skin color requirements for wealth.

You don’t have to look or sound a certain way.

There’s no dress code, purity test or other conformity required.

There’s only what we tell ourselves.

Now, I’m not saying that you won’t face some challenges or that it’s easy for everyone.

There are real discriminatory problems in the world that make it harder for some women than others, but it’s not impossible. It’s probably already been done, so why not you, too?

You are what a wealthy woman can look like, especially now. There’s nothing about you that precludes you from being rich.

You can be wealthy and wear sweats every day if you want. You can be rich and kind. You can be rich and normal. You can be as rich and as fabulous as you want.

Go and look for wealthy role models who have a similar life story as yours, or who look like you. They’ll help you believe it’s possible.

And if you can’t find any, guess what? It’s your job to fill that gap! It’s your destiny to be a money role model for other women.

Has nobody done it from your town, country, industry, or with your accent? Then it’s your job!

You can be scared by that, but as Glennon Doyle often says, “We can do hard things,” and honestly, the journey is not going to be anywhere near as scary as you think.

You’re not alone.

You’re part of an ever-growing community that’s completely redefining what it means to be a wealthy woman, because we know the worlds needs us.

You are what a wealthy entrepreneur looks like.

If blocks and doubts are coming up for you when you hear that, then I can help.

I've got a free workshop all about identifying and clearing the seven most common money blocks.

Jump over to denisedt.com/blocks and watch it today to start upgrading your mindset and embracing being wealthy.

It’s your time! You’re ready for the next step!

View previous lesson

Honoring the lifecycle of your business

EPISODE 150
Honoring the lifecycle of your business
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☀️ It's always sunny in Lucky B land! ☀️

I used to have a saying in my business, especially about my brand and photos, that it's always sunny summertime in my world. 

I love bright, breezy colors and the chill and ease feeling of summer, so I want my brand to embody that.

But for a long time, I tried to live that energy too, of always being in summer - constantly growing, blooming, and being active.

And it got exhausting.

I've realized that there needs to be times of rest and regrowth in the lifecycle of life and my business. 

My business can look and feel vibrant and sunny, even if I'm personally in an autumn or winter season. 

A period of shedding, releasing, or hibernation can be valuable to refresh your business and your own energy and well-being. 

It has taken me (and my Ruler energy) some time to accept that I need some periods of downtime where I'm not always in growth mode. I really need this to imagine and create what's next.

So today, we're talking about the lifecycle of your business and honoring where you are and what you need.

In this week's episode, you'll learn: 

How to identify the stage of business you're in
Why the seasons of your life and business may differ
The common money blocks at different stages of your business lifecycle
How to overcome the fear of moving to a new level or season
How to surround yourself with the right people to help you up level 

And much MORE.

When I imagine the future of my business and want to do everything, a helpful affirmation for me has been, "There's time." 

There's time. You have time. 

Billionaire Martha Stewart started her first business at 50 years old. 

Whatever season you're in, we have time.

Hit reply or message me @denisedt and let me know where you're at right now and how things are going with money and your mindset.

xx Denise

Millionaire Mindset Lesson #3 - Know Thyself and Prosper

Hi gorgeous, I'm Denise Duffield-Thomas, money mindset mentor, author and founder of The Money Bootcamp.

Today I’m sharing one of my key Chillpreneur Millionaire mindset lessons.

Becoming a millionaire doesn’t really make you special or clever, but the truth is that my biggest secret for becoming one is focusing on some very specific mindset upgrades.

So here’s one lesson to think about…
Know Thyself And Prosper

People are always surprised when I tell them I’m an introvert. They say:

“But you film so many videos!”
“But you’re so bubbly and confident!”
“But you have a big business!”

Yes, but I make those videos alone in my home.

No human interaction needed.

Yes, I can be bubbly on stage, because I’ve learned how to protect my energy between speaking gigs (and take days to recover from them.)

Yes, I have a big business, because it’s set up to enhance my strengths.

I’ve outsourced and delegated my weaknesses and embraced the Chillpreneur philosophy of “there are easier ways to make money.”

The internet is a perfect business vehicle for introverts.

You can run a global business without having to interact directly with other people.

In fact, you can work in your pajamas every day if you want to (and I do, a lot).

But this chapter isn’t about being an introvert (that’s a whole other book).

It’s about uncovering your unique superpowers and using them to create your ideal life and business.

That’s the third mindset lesson to master. There is a path of least resistance for you, and your job is to find it.

When people ask me what the secret to my success is, the answer is simple: Know thyself.

Know what makes you tick.
Know exactly how you sabotage yourself.
Know your path of least resistance.
Know what’s fun and easy for you.
Know your warning signs of burnout.

The Chillpreneur way is to know yourself so profoundly that work doesn’t feel like work; it feels like a natural extension of your personal preferences.

The Chillpreneur way is to find the logical path (for you) and reduce any unnecessary friction in your life and business. That doesn’t mean it’s smooth sailing every minute of the day.

I still get scared to go out of my comfort zone, but I’m mindful of doing things that work with my personality and not against it.

In their book, The Astonishing Power of Emotions: Let Your Feelings Be Your Guide, Esther and Jerry Hicks expand this into an upstream/downstream analogy.

“...feel for a moment the sensation of relief that you would experience if you had been paddling against the current in an upstream direction and then suddenly just stopped paddling, in an attitude of giving in to the stream and letting it just turn you and take you downstream.”

Going with the flow doesn’t mean you’ll never work.

I work a lot, and when I’m not working, I’m often thinking about my work.

But it doesn’t feel stressful to me (most of the time). Occasionally, I get out of balance, but it doesn’t take long to switch directions, make some tweaks and float downstream again.

The first step is to know who you are.

The second step is to accept it lovingly, knowing that your personality is perfect for you and your business.

We’re all different for a reason.

Thank God there are people who have figured out how bridges hold up and planes fly because that isn’t my bag.

For me, the internet works by “magic.”

But the world would be a little boring if it was full of only engineers. It needs creative people, too.

It needs dreamers and organizers and listeners and artists and visionaries of all types.

There’s a spot in the world that’s exactly your size and shape, so there’s no point wishing you were different.

The idea behind personal development isn’t to change everything about yourself, it’s about polishing your true, inherent beauty. Self-acceptance is way more profitable than self-help.

Knowing more about your real personality—mainly how it expresses around money and business—will help you:

Make or save more money naturally, without feeling like you have to work harder than necessary or sell out.

Feel like you’re “enough” and won’t have to prove yourself continuously.

Attract clients who naturally want what you’re giving.

You’ll stop twisting yourself into knots trying to please everyone, which is a sure recipe for failure and dissatisfaction.

Experience less friction in your life and business.

You’ll feel like you’re in the flow and won’t have to “force” yourself to do anything.

Trust your own decisions and not follow the herd or be tempted to try the latest marketing fad.

You’re enough. Exactly as you are.

I honestly spend zero time these days working on my weaknesses.

It’s so much easier to maximize my strengths and not try to change my fundamental personality.

That’s way too hard and a waste of energy.

I know this goes against the grain of personal development, but I see too many entrepreneurs wasting time on overcoming their weaknesses for marginal returns.

They do this by taking course after course or pursuing yet another certification (procrasti-learning!)

You’re way better off outsourcing, delegating, or eliminating the impact of weaknesses altogether than you are changing your behavior (pursue the path of least resistance, remember?)

Yes, you can adapt, but you really can’t escape your natural personality type. Chill out and accept it.

That doesn’t mean you can’t change habits or beliefs.

That’s something entirely different.

I’ve been able to change my mindset to be more optimistic and positive, but I always fall back into certain personality traits, and that’s been true no matter which job or industry I’ve tried.

This theme will come up again and again.

I’m going to encourage you to find the business model that feels easy to you, the clients that are the most pleasurable to deal with, and the marketing techniques that feel the most natural, regardless of what other people are doing.

That’s the Chillpreneur way.

It’s not about being lazy, it’s just going with the flow for maximum results.

And guess what? You might resist it because it feels too easy or obvious.

Or because your business guru told you it had to be a certain way.

But their way might not be the best for you—and you need to do some self-exploration to figure out what works better for yourself.

The path to Chillpreneurship begins by giving yourself permission to be exactly the way you are.

Knowing yourself is an ongoing process, and you’ll start to see nuances when you apply your self-knowledge to your business.

It doesn’t mean you have to start your business again from scratch or throw the baby out with the bathwater.

I just keep carving and carving away to create even more pleasure and less friction in my business. Sometimes the tweaks are incredibly subtle, but they can make a world of difference.

You could use new-found self-awareness to make micro-shifts in your business, for example, in the types of clients you work with, the products and services you offer, the branding you use, the team you hire, and the processes you run your whole business around.

Tweaks could make all the difference.

What Feels Good?

A really simple question to ask yourself is “What feels good?”

“What kind of clients do I enjoy working with most?”
“What work feels best to me?”
“What did I like about my last project?”

When things feel bad, you have to learn from it too. For example, as a favor to a friend, I gave a keynote at her conference, an entirely different audience than usual and not even close to my target market.

Although the speech went well and was well-received, I came off-stage feeling horrible and used up. As if I had pimped myself out for someone else’s gratification. I vowed never to do it again because it felt yucky.

Each time something feels good or bad, you can adjust your business in big and small ways.

You can re-evaluate your target audience (and change up your marketing accordingly).

You can put boundaries in place (for example, I now have a speaking request form that spells out the type of audience I’m right for), or you can eliminate product or service offerings. You have permission to make things easier or more pleasurable for yourself!

There are loads of tips and resources on how to know yourself better and prosper in my book Chillpreneur.

Pick up a copy today in all of the usual places or at denisedt.com/books

It’s your time! You’re ready for the next step!

View the previous lesson

What does freedom mean to you?

EPISODE 149
What does freedom mean to you?
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Hey there, 

Freedom is my number one value and the absolute best thing I’ve bought with my money. 

But freedom often means different things to different people. It can be so overused in the online marketing industry that it loses meaning or is misunderstood.

So today we're talking balancing life and business and what freedom means to you.

For me, freedom is being able to do what I want, when I want to do it. I hate being told what to do and hate feeling obligated to do things. 

What does freedom mean for you? Where are you at on a scale of 1-10 on how much freedom you have in your life? Hit reply or message me and let me know. 

Then listen to this new episode of the Chill and Prosper podcast for more on:

The difference between freedom and financial freedom
How I define freedom and the areas I prioritise to feel most free
How boundaries and support create more freedom and ease
How your business model and products can massively impact your freedom

And much MORE. 

A good way to get clearer on what freedom means, is to first ask where do you currently not feel free? Where do you have resentment or lack boundaries? 

What comes up when you imagine more freedom, ease and joy? 

Creating more freedom is a constant mindset challenge, so take some time to work out what you want to focus on. It doesn't need to be forever, or set in concrete - start with how can you feel more free this week, month or year? 

xx Denise

How we plan in my business and what my role is

When you start a business or are looking at earning more money in your business a lot of advice out there is to create a really clear comprehensive business plan.

Well, over the last decade in my business and revenue topping $30m, I’ve never had a business plan. 

The planning I do is really simple. I look at planning for my business very differently. 

Every quarter my Marketing Manager and I meet with a business coach and we plan our year by breaking the business down  into daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly tasks.

We’re preparing for another planning meeting in a few weeks so here’s a look at how we plan our business priorities: 

Daily Tasks

In the business, we share something on social media every single day without fail. 

It might be an inspirational post, it might be a question, it might be a quote, it might be a new resource, or a fun lifestyle picture. As part of our business, we show up every single day. 

Now, here's where the distinction lies. I'm not doing that every single day. I batch those things, so the business is consistent. An old business coach and mentor Hiro Boga, taught me that my business and myself are separate because I used to see them as one and thought that I was my business. So even though my business needs consistency, it’s ok if I’m less consistent. 

Then I plan my business activities around my personal and family commitments. There's no typical day or week for me, but this gives you an idea of a “standard” week:

Mondays: I usually catch up on errands. I go to a movie with a friend or go to the chiropractor.

Tuesdays and Wednesdays: I have ballet class and often get my hair blow dried, so I tend to do my video content on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. This is also when I can batch podcast and social media content for the quarter if I need to. It doesn’t happen every week.

Thursday: I like to go to see a movie or catch up with a friend for lunch. I’ve also been adding in more self-care, like IR saunas or massages. 

Friday: I might have a call for Money Bootcamp or I catch up on writing or batching social media content.

It is important for me to have personal tasks separate from business tasks to ensure that I am looking after myself and having the space to create content which is my role in the company.

Weekly Tasks

Each week we send a newsletter including a piece of content. It could be a blog post, a longer form article or extract from one of my books. We also publish and promote a new podcast episode each week. 

That's every single week, without fail, and again, it gets batched. I'm not doing all of the things for it. For example, with the podcast, I show up and batch 10-15 episodes in the recording studio, then my team makes sure that it is put together and goes out on email and shared.

Monthly Tasks

Every month, Mark and I look at what we are marketing in the month ahead. We might have something we are promoting or have a free opt-in that is adding value. 

At the end of every month, we have a mini promo inviting people to come and join Money Bootcamp because that's when the monthly live calls are. 

A few times a year we promote an affiliate partnership and theme our monthly content on a specific topic, such as launches or PR, to warm up our audience to engage with the partner content we’re promoting. 

Sometimes we promote one of my books because we know that when people read my book, they are more likely to come and join Bootcamp. Or it might be sharing a freebie, such as a training video, workshop or PDF, which gives great content and help while reminding people what I have to offer and how I can help them.

Quarterly Tasks

Then, once a quarter, or 2-3 times per year, we run one of our own larger launches or sales events. 

This might be for Money Bootcamp, our Sacred Money Archetypes® business course or a package offer of my best courses. Depending my book schedule, we might have a new book to launch or an event or speaking appearance to promote. 

Finally, we’re running evergreen automated processes that are selling all the time like ads and email sequences, but we don’t have to focus on them because they are already set up.

We keep the business plan simple and continually examine what we can eliminate, automate, delegate, and outsource.

Eliminate: We're always eliminating by looking at what we and our team are doing in the business and assessing what they don’t need to be doing right now. For us, whenever we're tempted to add new things or complicate anything with more events or more retreats, we hold close to our boundaries and say no because we do not have the bandwidth for it.

Automate: The next thing we look at is tasks we can automate. We try to make as many repetitive tasks as possible run on automatic. A great example of this is online calendar scheduling. I see so many people, still doing this manually. It's such a pain for me because being in a different time zones can be tricky and my brain finds it difficult to work out the time difference. Things like that can just free up so much time in your business.

Delegate: Then I look at what I can delegate to someone on the team or what can I outsource to a contractor. Especially if they can batch a lot of tasks at once. 

My role in the business is to make sure that we have that regular stream of content and that I'm on camera and recording podcasts regularly and then so we can automate posting and sharing. That's really it. My main role is being the creator - I'm the talent. And you are the talent in your business too!

Outsource: When I started my business, I did everything. I was making my own website, my own handouts, graphics, and doing the recording, editing, tech and so on. I felt like I had to do everything myself to save money and because I was a jack of all trades and could work out most things. 

Then, as I earned more money, I pulled back from the things that I wasn’t doing well and eventually, I outsourced anything outside my zone of genius or that I didn’t want to do!

Some people think that having a business plan means that you're in business, and that is not true. 

You’re in business when you focus on getting clients and making money. You're in business when you sell something. So don't feel like you're a hot mess if you don't have a fancy business plan that's printed out and perfect, because I still haven't got a good one. 

Focus on money-making tasks, not procrasta-planning.

Try only planning what you do on a daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly basis and look at what you can eliminate, automate, delegate and outsource in your business. 

Making money trumps planning all day long!

How to set and honor your boundaries

EPISODE 148
How to set and honor your boundaries
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Setting and holding boundaries is ongoing work for me and something I know most entrepreneurs must consistently work on.

There’s no denying that boundaries can be difficult and often involve awkward conversations, but they are vital. 

Boundaries do not make you a b*tch. They’re essential for you to be a boss. 

So, let’s do an inventory of where you’re at right now with boundaries. 

Where are you feeling resentful? 

This could be in any area of your life, big or small - ask yourself, where has something crept in that does not feel good? 

What’s causing stress or not working for you right now? 

I’ve got lots of ideas to help, so listen to today’s episode of Chill and Prosper to learn:

How your money personality affects how you navigate boundaries 
New boundaries I’ve set recently to help me switch off at home
My tips for improving your time and scope boundaries with clients
How to tighten up your terms and expectations to remove confusion
The link between boundaries and pricing 

If you’re unsure where to start with boundaries and awkward conversations, grab my free ebook here: “Awkward Money Conversations Made Easy.” 

Boundaries and pushback are all part of the process, and I hope today’s episode helps you honor what you need and want in your business.

Remember, clarity is kindness. Clear boundaries help people feel safe and will help you feel supported and empowered.

Your business, your rules. 

xx Denise

P.S. My favorite resource for working on your boundaries is my friend Randi Buckley, who has a course to help nice people set boundaries; you can follow her and find out more here. 

P.P.S. Boundaries are highly recommended and endorsed by yours truly; click here to watch my Boundaries commercial. 🤣🤣🤣