Denise Duffield-Thomas's Blog, page 17
November 8, 2023
How to come up with more content ideas
How to come up with more content ideas
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Whether it’s for your podcast, social post, or videos - being in business means constantly coming up with new content ideas.
And I always get asked how I come up with ideas and keep things fresh.
So, I’ve put together all my best tips and tricks to inspire you to get into the content-creation groove.
As you listen today, grab a pen or the notes app on your phone to capture your ideas for podcasts or emails.
Listen to today’s episode for more on:
How to ask your audience for content and even product ideas
Staying focused on your pillar topics and avoiding distraction
The “know, like, and trust” process and how content can nurture your leads
How to repurpose old content and mine for new inspiration
My strategy of creating content for new valuable niches
And, of course, as always, I cover lots of mindset and batching tips related to content and being visible in your business.
You don’t have to create everything or talk about every topic, but trust me, you’ll never run out of ideas if you think about your business from all the angles in today’s episode.
What would you like me to talk about? Are there any money mindset and marketing topics you’d love me to cover on a future episode?
Send me a message at @denisedt to let me know.
xx Denise
November 1, 2023
My “New Money” mistakes
My "New Money" Mistakes
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Thankfully, I don’t get a lot of hate mail.
Well, actually, I don’t know because my team gate-keeps my emails, but I hope not 🙂
But the inspiration for today’s podcast episode does come from a comment I got online…
“Denise, you’re so new money.”
I think it was intended as an insult, but I didn’t take it that way because it’s kinda true. I am new to money and have made a few classic new money mistakes since becoming wealthy.
So, I’ve got some insight and cautionary tales to help you acclimatize to having more money.
Listen to today’s podcast to learn:
Why we need to become accustomed to holding more wealth so we can attract more
Common mistakes me and other entrepreneurs have made after a significant surge in income
How old money blocks often derail new money
The dream v reality of impulse purchases
My next money priorities - family, debt-free freedom and joy!
I love hearing success stories from our community about making more money, growing businesses and investments.
As Sara Blakely said, “Money is fun to make, spend, and give away.”
And after making my new money mistakes, I’ve learned that money is also fun to SAVE.
Make sure you’re saving some of today’s riches to make your tomorrows more chill and prosperous.
I’ve made a big shift in this direction in the last 12 months. It feels adult, but it’s the calm security my nervous system needs! So freeing!
Please let me know what comes up for you during today’s ep and your current money goals.
Let’s build abundance and legacy together. We’ve got time.
xx Denise
P.S. Obviously, I’m teaching money mindset, and I’m not a financial adviser. Get your own advice - it’s worth the investment, and be kind to yourself. I’m still making mistakes and learning too.
If you want more conversations like this and support from like-minded people walking this journey, then check out my Money Bootcamp course - we’ve got an epic community cheering each other on.
October 25, 2023
Ghosts, zombies and how to handle other scary clients
Ghosts, zombies and how to handle other scary clients
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Do you like Halloween? Are you dressing up and trick-or-treating? I love it and can’t wait for some fun and candy with the kids.
Today, we’ve got a spooky topic on the podcast - scary clients.
Whenever I speak to entrepreneurs about their fears, many of them are around having scary conversations with clients or dealing with difficult clients.
It’s a rite of passage on your business journey to have a few nightmare clients, so hopefully, today’s advice will make that a little easier when they pop up for you.
Or if you’ve had nightmare clients in the past, this is an excellent opportunity to heal and let go of any horror stories.
Difficult clients are often a very small percentage, but they do happen, and the experience of dealing with them can be traumatic, so listen to today’s podcast if you need some help:
How to spot and recognize types of potential problem clients
Setting boundaries to protect yourself from scary clients
Creating client policies to make awkward conversations easier
Understanding the money blocks behind your fears and your clients
How to protect your privacy and energy from ghost and zombie clients
These type of client conversations can be scary - it’s scary when someone asks for a refund or threatens to sue or bad mouth you.
So, these are valuable lessons to learn early in your business so your fears don’t hold you back.
I’d love to hear which of the clients in today’s episode you’ve experienced and what actions you’ll be taking next week to work on your boundaries or policies. Send me a message on social @denisedt
Have a great weekend, and Happy Halloween if you’re celebrating!
xx Denise
October 24, 2023
Feeling scared about your business? Here are 7 ways to snap out of it - fast!
It’s pretty normal to feel scared about your business – but you can’t stay there long! Here are 7 ways to snap out of it and get back to business FAST.
I’m preparing for a couple of speaking gigs and one of the questions I know I’ll get asked over and over again is…
“Denise, do you ever get scared?“.
Spoiler alerts…
Yes
All the time
Yes, but I don’t let it derail me.
Sometimes I want to run away from my business screaming .
I understand the question because it stems from an incredibly useless belief that we have to be perfect before we’re allowed to have our dreams come true.
Not true at all.
It’s entirely normal to feel scared when you’re doing something out of the norm, like having a successful life and business.
Why is it that we alone think we’re scared? Even though most successful people look like they have it together all the time, it’s not true or even necessary.
Fear is inevitable because business is the best personal development ever! Don’t believe me?
Nothing will…
Bring up your money issues quicker than asking for the sale
Test your personal boundaries faster than the first time a client tries to overstep them
Unearth your fear of being a bitch quicker than saying NO to a non-ideal project, client or request
Expose your fear of being seen like having your first blog go viral
Some days I’m so scared, I just want to curl up on the couch, watch Netflix and never look at my inbox again.
Surely it goes away eventually?
No, never.
Millionaire Ali Brown is one of my business mentors and surely she’s never scared? Nope – she told me that every stage of her business has been filled with fear too. Not every day, but enough to know that there’s never truly a time when you’re 100% fearless.
“One of my escapist fantasies is to run away to Mexico and make jewelry. I know when that sounds good to me, it means I am working way too hard!” – Ali Brown.
Guess what? Even millionaires and billionaires sometimes feel like frauds. That’s okay. We’ve established that there’s nothing wrong with feeling a little fear, but what to do about it?
Here are my 7 tips:
1. Call a friend
Have a few business besties who you can call or message when you’re feeling scared. I connect with my friends most weeks.
Sometimes it’s just a quick, “I’m about to send out this sales page, and I’m crapping myself” or “Guys, this person is being aweful, what should I do?“.
Either way, having other entrepreneurs who have your back or can talk you off the ledge is invaluable for those scary days.
Don’t try and get through your fear by yourself.
By the way, have you ever told your husband/friend/parent that you’re scared or feeling crappy about your business, and they replied “oh, maybe you should just get a job then”?
GRRRRR.
Obviously, they meant it with love – afterall, they can’t understand why you can’t just make your life a little easier and just live a “normal life”.
Not everyone understands the fears associated with running a business, so be careful who you speak to when you’re feeling down.
If you need some business reassurance, talk to someone who is qualified to help you (Qualified = non attached, sees you as your highest potential and someone who has achieved success in their own life).
Don’t take advice from people who aren’t successful – it’s literally not their business and don’t use your friends and family as mastermind partners.
Action – set up a date with someone awesome or start your own mastermind.
2. Declutter
I am super messy, I’ll admit it. (My mum never gets tired of reminding me I used to stash wet and dirty towels under my bed in an effort to “clean up” my room)
After a few days of feeling stagnant, I clean up my office and burn some sage - damn, that feels so good.
Being surrounded by mess can make the fear feel worse. You feel like you’re literally trapped under a pile of crap.
Clearing clutter really works.
Action – spend 5 minutes cleaning up
3. Deal with that emotional stuff
It’s okay to get emotional and have a day or two feeling sorry for yourself. But you don’t have to stay there for long.
Most fear stems from this yukky feeling that we’re flawed or not good enough.
Yup – that totally sucks and can start a shame spiral which is the exact opposite of awesomeness.
Break that pattern of being hard on yourself and remember that everyone is human. Just because you have a bad day doesn’t mean that you’re a bad person.
Just because your article had a typo in it, doesn’t mean that anyone is going to die (not even of embarrassment) and just because you’re scared, doesn’t mean that you’re not meant to be successful.
Action – forgive yourself and move on. Put your hand on your heart and recite, “ It’s my time and I’m ready for the next step “
4. Make a list
Sometimes you’re scared to start or complete a project because you really don’t know what needs to be done. I’ve sat at my desk many a time, freaking out about something when the reality was actually really easy and painless.
Shining a light on what’s stressing you out is the quickest way to eliminate the “False Evidence Appearing Real” syndrome.
I love stationary grids to organize my to-do list - any “month at a glance” grid will do. Each square gets it own action item and you can tick them off as you go.
Write a list of…
Everything you need to do to finish off the project
Everything that’s bugging you in your business
The worse case scenario of That Thing you’re scared about
10 things you can do to manifest money quickly
30 solutions to your problem
Action: ease your fear by writing a list
5. Write some love notes to yourself
Grab a whiteboard marker and write love notes to yourself all over the house, on windows, closet doors and bathroom mirrors.
(My bathroom mirror used to say “Smile, you’re beautiful” and “Today is your lucky day!”)
Sometimes that fear comes from thinking ugly thoughts…
I can’t do this
I’m really a failure
I’m not as good as X
Who am I to be this successful?
Remind yourself that even though you’re scared, you deeply and completely love and accept yourself.
6. Self care works wonders
Spend $20 and get your nails done, two bucks in one of those mall massage chairs or take yourself on a movie date. It’s a great way to break the pattern of wallowing in your fear.
This goes doubly if you’re working from home by yourself. Days and days without a shower or changing out of your yoga pants can make the fear seem even worse because you’re basically isolating yourself from the real world.
It doesn’t have to cost that much money, in fact, you’ve probably got a bunch of unused gift vouchers hiding away in a desk drawer.
By the way, spending $50 on a professional blow dry will make you feel like a million bucks. It’s totally one of my manifesting secrets. Good hair = manifesting mojo.
Action: Get out and do something that will make you feel good.
7. Reconnect to your purpose
To get deep for a second, I truly believe that business is a vehicle for the most intense personal development in the world (maybe second to having a baby).
So, next time you feel fear, tell yourself it’s a completely normal reaction to living your life in an extraordinary way.
Your purpose only has to be greater than your fear by a little bit to create a truly extraordinary life.
Need more support?
Message me on social media with what money or business fears are coming up for you right now @denisedt
And if you’re interested in working with me and getting more mentoring and support for your money mindset, I’d love to welcome you into the Money Bootcamp course and community.
Click here to find out more and see if Bootcamp could be the source of inspiration and practical coaching you need to create your First Class life and business.
October 18, 2023
How to simplify when feeling overwhelmed
Let’s face it: so many of us are stressed out.
The last couple of years have been a lot, and running a business while having a relationship, family, and self-care isn’t straightforward.
I’ve seen more of our community sharing their health challenges, and I’ve talked a lot about my ADHD diagnosis and peri-menopause journey.
As we get older, things like aging parents, chronic illness, and parenting can cause upheaval.
So it’s no wonder we’re feeling overwhelmed - not to mention pending climate change doom, political instability, and inflation! 😅
In today’s podcast episode, I’m sharing how I simplify when I’m feeling overwhelmed, and I hope there are a few tips that can help you chill and prosper.
Listen to this week’s podcast episode for more on:
My elimination process when I have too much on my plate or can feel the business taking on too many projects
How simplification helps you manifest more of what you want quicker
How to set up systems and automation to remove friction from your life
My Keyless Life philosophy and changes I’m making at my new house to make this happen
Whatever your reason for needing to simplify, this is a great episode to help when you’re overwhelmed.
Even though I’ve written a book called Chill and Prosper, I still get out of balance and have to watch myself and my anxiety constantly.
It’s safe to drop the perfectionism and embrace doing what you can with what you have.
Simplification will help shift the energy, create a vacuum, and create space for something new - a lighter way of working.
Just start with one thing to create more bandwidth and ease.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN
October 14, 2023
3 big money worries and how to fix them
Are you worried about money right now?
Or maybe you’ve been worried about money for a long time, and you don’t know how to deal with it or change things for the better.
Well, there’s no time like the present to sort it out.
I’ve helped tens of thousands of people with their money blocks for over a decade, and I’ve seen three common fears that pop up repeatedly.
These are:
There’s never enough money
I’m not good at managing money (even if I have it)
It’s not safe for me to have money
If you have any of those worries yourself, today I’m going to give you some practical techniques to deal with them.
Plus, by clicking here, you can access a free workshop that will help you identify your money blocks and manage any other money worries you’re dealing with right now.
Ready?
It’s your time and you’re ready for the next step.
xx Denise
4 Easy Steps To Stop Money Stress
Your weekly pep talk today is all about how to stop worrying about money.
You might think, “Hey, Denise looks pretty chill. She never worries about money.”
Well, that is true about 80% of the time for me.
But, I didn’t grow up like that. I grew up in a situation where we were always worried about money.
I spent my twenties always worried about money, so I know exactly how it feels.
So I’ve got some really good tips about how to stop money stress and take your income to the next level.
No matter how real and permanent your money worries feel, working on your mindset is crucial for you own well-being and learning how to reduce money stress.
Have you noticed that when you’re really stressed out about money that suddenly it gets worse?
You have more bills come in, you find all these unexpected expenses or maybe your car breaks down.
All this “bad” stuff happens and it seems to compound. It’s not that you’re necessarily creating it, it’s just that you’re not in the mindset to do anything about it.
Each problem feels like it’s getting worse and worse. So what do you do when you’re worried about money?
Let’s get started with Step 1…
#1 Voice your fears.
Actually talk or write about it, but at least acknowledge what you’re worrying about.
Sometimes you can just go around with this low level feeling of dread, but you don’t even know WHY you’re feeling that way.
Sometimes there’s nothing actually wrong, but you might be experiencing an upper limit problem.
If you haven’t heard about that before, you must read the book The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks. He talks about how everyone has got their own upper limit of happiness, success or even money.
When you hit that, you start to feel uncomfortable and you might even start to sabotage it.
So – it’s really important to voice your fears.
What are you worried about right now?
Are you worried about bills?
Are you worried about not attracting enough clients?
Are you worried about something that hasn’t even happened yet?
Better out than in like farts.
#2 Know your numbers
How much do you really need right now?
How much do you want to make? Do you even know?
Often, when we are feeling worried about money, it’s just this vague feeling and they really don’t know what they’re scared about and they really don’t know how they can even fix it.
But – they often don’t know how much they need. They just say, “Universe, send me more money,” and then they find a penny in the street and think, “That’s not what I had in mind,” and the universe is like, “Be more specific.”
So find out …
How much do you need to stop worrying?
Put a figure on it, and know what you’re asking for. Otherwise, your vague requests are going to return vague results.
If debt is a major source of stress for you, check out my free Debt-free Blueprint to put together a plan to get out of debt and clear up your mindset around debt.
#3 Make a plan
After you voice your fears and know your numbers, you can make a plan to make you feel better about it.
You can buy insurance, you can look at one of those specific fears and try and come up with a plan to lessen your fear.
Maybe you fear you’re going to lose your house if you don’t get more clients this month (that might be true, or it might be a completely unfounded fear). Maybe you think something really bad is going to happen if you aren’t successful in business this year.
Rather than walking around with this vague fear, make a plan about how you’re going to get those clients.
If you need to do an honest assessment of where you’re business is at right now, grab my simple business assessment spreadsheet here.
#4 You are enough
You are enough.
You’re doing enough.
You’re doing great.
Because, if you don’t get rid of this feeling now, money is not going to solve that problem.
That sounds really harsh because you think, “All I need to do is win the lottery and all my dreams will come true and everything will be perfect.”
The truth is that when people suddenly get a lot of money, they’re still the same person with the same fears and worries.
Money doesn’t solve the problem at all.
The problem is solved from the way you feel from the inside out.
When you feel good about yourself and feel good about your money, then you can take action to do something about it.
You can grow your abundance because you’re not coming from a place of lack.
To recap:
When you’re worried about money:
1 Voice your fears
2 Know your numbers – Know how much you need and know how much you want to make;
3 Make a plan – What’s going to help you overcome some of those fears
4 Know that you’re enough. You are enough and you can do it.
You can also listen to my podcast episode on this topic here:
Episode 90: How to stop worrying about money
It might seem unrealistic now, but you can totally get to a place where you don’t worry about money anymore and where the amount of money that you have in your life is just a tool for you to create your dream life!
It’s your time and you’re ready for the next step.
xx Denise
October 11, 2023
Ask Me Anything: Longevity and staying motivated
Ask Me Anything: Longevity and staying motivated
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Whether you're feeling burnt out, lacking motivation, or need inspiration, I'm here to help!
One of the things that sets me apart in the online marketing industry is my longevity - I've been running the Money Bootcamp course and community for over a decade, and we have over 9,000 members.
So I get asked all the time, how do I stay interested and focused?
How do I stay motivated and not break my business?
On today's podcast, we're talking about longevity in business.
Most small businesses fail within the first five years, and even fewer make it to 10. and for someone with ADHD, it hasn't always been easy to maintain the discipline needed to sustain a simple long-term business.
I've done my fair share of procrasti-learning and procrasti-branding. Still, along the way, I've learned some powerful lessons that helped me set up my business to fit my personality and lifestyle.
Listen to this episode to learn:
Simple strategies from running a decade-long online course
How to avoid breaking your business because you're bored
Tips for setting boundaries so you can balance service and self-care
How I'm planning for financial retirement and simplifying our business
Why desire and simplicity beat feat and self-doubt
If you're feeling overwhelmed, constantly juggling tasks and losing sight of your passion, then you are not alone!
Many entrepreneurs find themselves caught up in the hustle, sacrificing their well-being and joy for the sake of their business.
If you're stuck in a cycle of exhaustion and disillusionment, it's time to find out what would make your business easier.
Because if your business doesn't work for you, it won't last.
How would you set up your business today if you knew you would be running it for the next ten years?
It's your time and you're ready for the next step.
xx Denise
P.S. If you've been listening for a while and are enjoying the Chill and Prosper podcast, please jump over to Apple or Spotify and leave a review - it helps us help more people and grow the podcast. Thank you!
October 4, 2023
Talking property, creativity, and money with Naomi Findlay
Talking property, creativity & money with Naomi Findlay
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If you’re a regular listener to my podcast, you’ll know I don’t often have guests on the show. I batch like 12 episodes in a day and the logistics of having guests usually doesn’t work with that.
But today I’ve got something special - a chat with my bestie, interior designer, and set designer, Naomi Findlay.
Naomi and I have done a LOT of renovation projects together and partnered in a few businesses, so this is a juicy chat all about creativity, money, and friendship.
This is also my first-ever sponsored episode!
Don’t worry, I’m not going to start pushing vitamins or life insurance, but we do have an epic partner for one of the projects we’re working on together. (Free tiles… yay!)
You may have seen on my socials, that last year Naomi and I bought an old bank in a small town to renovate and turn into accommodation and event space.
Of course, as a money mentor, I had to buy a bank! 💰💰💰
The Blue Space, Australia's largest online dedicated renovation retailer, came on board as our partner and provided beautiful tiles, taps, vanities, handles, just so so many things! If you’re in Australia and planning a renovation, check them out and use the code Chill10 at checkout for a 10% discount.
And follow along on @branxtonbank to see what tiles we chose for the bank.
Listen to today’s podcast episode to hear Naomi and I chat:
How I work with my best friend and the ways our personalities enable each other in good and bad ways
More about the numerous property projects I’m excited about
How to set boundaries when partnering with versus hiring someone
Cautionary tales from going into business with your spouse (JUICY!)
Our lessons in motherhood and business as CEO-mamas
This is an honest and beautiful conversation and I’d love to hear what stands out for you in this episode.
Watch this space for more photos of our Branxton Bank renovation with the awesome products from our partner @thebluespace - thank you!!
xx Denise
September 27, 2023
How to balance faith and fear
How to balance faith and fear
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Does this sound familiar? Have you been constantly told to get over your fear to succeed in your business?
But despite trying to bury your fear, you still feel anxious and uncertain, unable to move forward with confidence.
I’ve been there too - stuck in that constant struggle between faith and fear, it can be painful and overwhelming.
And how can we tell the difference? When should we listen to fears from our intuition, and when should we push through?
On today's podcast, we're talking about how to balance fear and faith and how to discern between wishful thinking, fear, and scarcity.
Listen to this episode for more on;
Why a positive mindset is so important when starting your own business
How to look for self-fulfilling prophecies and attract positivity
How to avoid gas-lighting yourself and slipping into toxic-positivity
Understand the importance of self-love and acceptance in overcoming fears
Learn how to channel your fear into a driving force to take action
If you're stuck in fear right now, start by trying to love and accept yourself just a little bit more. This was a massive game-changer for me, and it's something you can start right now, no matter your circumstances.
Give yourself the gift of love and acceptance.
xx Denise
