Leonie Dawson's Blog, page 13
June 26, 2023
Giving Up On Motion And Celebrating My Magic Mess
CONFESSION TIME
My loves…
For a good month, I was OBSESSED with a task management software called Motion. I was SO sure it would change my life! Save me from my ADHD wilderness and the tyranny of multiple task lists! It was all I could talk about for weeks on end.
But then, but then… I noticed I was feeling more anxious about work. Started feeling caged in by having my days dictated so strictly to me. Felt guilty when I had a low energy day and spent hours in bed instead of working at my to do list. My self esteem kept depleting with every missed task deadline.
I went to my osteopath, ostensibly to have my bones re-aligned but more often than not to get my head sorted. She listened to my ails before saying:
“So you’ve basically turned the job of your dreams into one that’s stressing you out?”
And so I had a long talk with myself. Reminded myself that me and my ADHD paper piles and mess aren’t a failure. Me being me in all my creative, all over the place self is the REASON for my success, not my downfall! What’s more – I’m not meant to fit the tools. The tools are meant to fit ME. And if they don’t fit me and uplift me, they need to be removed from my life.
This week, I took a deep breath and deleted Motion. Returned to my piles of paper, following the whimsies of my energy and inspiration. Some days, I take to my bed. Some days, I get a stint of deep focus and crank out more in 4 hours than most get done in 40. Some days, like today, it’s art day. And I paint and I write and I see what wants to be birthed next. And I take a deep breath… because I’m reclaiming my life and my business again.
This isn’t about Motion, and whether it’s a good tool or not. It wasn’t for me – not right now, not in this incarnation. What’s better instead is to keep reminding myself that what I need is inside me. There’s nothing flawed about me – there’s magic to be found in this mess of mine. There is divinity in this ebb and flow of mine, and I won’t push this star-shaped being of mine into a square-shaped hole.
Here’s to doing the work that fills you up… and letting go of anything that doesn’t.
All my love,
FREE GOODIES:
Weekly love lettersPodcast: Leonie Dawson Refuses To Be CategorisedA library of free treasuresBOOKS:
My Brilliant Year workbooks for 2023 & beyond!Calm Christmas PlannerSalt: a hottttt romance novella (published under my pen name Lola Leigh)COURSES:
The Brilliant Biz & Life Academy – JOIN THE WAITLIST Get Organised!Work Less, Earn MoreBehind The Scenes of a Multi-Millionaire’s Finances (only $7!)Sales StarMarketing Without Social MediaMoney, Manifesting & Multiple Streams of Income40 Days To A Finished Book40 Days To Create & Sell Your E-CourseThe post Giving Up On Motion And Celebrating My Magic Mess appeared first on Leonie Dawson | Goals, Marketing + Creativity For Glorious Humans.
June 14, 2023
Moon Manifesting Podcast
My loves,
Another absolutely wonderful interview to share with you all today!
I sat down with the sparkling Kyra Howearth to have an indepth conversation about manifestation and goal setting.
Want specifics? Easy! This is what we covered:
How to set goals in all areas of your lifeWhat to do if you get stuck with manifestingGoal setting processes to help you achieve those BIG goalsReady to listen?
Let’s get manifesting!
Big love,
FREE GOODIES:
Newsletter with absoloodely everything I createWeekly love lettersPodcast: Leonie Dawson Refuses To Be CategorisedA library of free treasuresBOOKS:
My Brilliant Year workbooks for 2023 & beyond!Calm Christmas PlannerSalt: a hottttt romance novella (published under my pen name Lola Leigh)COURSES:
The Brilliant Biz & Life Academy – 24 HOURS LEFT BEFORE DOORS CLOSE Get Organised!Work Less, Earn MoreBehind The Scenes of a Multi-Millionaire’s Finances (only $7!)Sales StarMarketing Without Social MediaMoney, Manifesting & Multiple Streams of Income40 Days To A Finished Book40 Days To Create & Sell Your E-CourseThe post Moon Manifesting Podcast appeared first on Leonie Dawson | Goals, Marketing + Creativity For Glorious Humans.
June 8, 2023
ADHD Families Podcast
Sweetplums,
Gosh I love that I get to share so much goodness with you!
Today’s incredible interview is brought to you by Sharon Collon on the ADHD Families Podcast.
Here’s just SOME of what we covered (with handy timestamps from Sharon!):
Leonie’s journey with autism and ADHD (3.00m)Leonie’s journey with mental health (8.45m)Establishing boundaries (12.40m)Avoiding the shiny shit and dopamine addiction (17.30m)Leonie’s $100,000 lesson (18.50m)Leonie’s tips for a happier life with neurodiversity (21.15m)Ready to listen?
Here’s to our happy & healthy neurodivergent lives!
Big love,
FREE GOODIES:
Newsletter with absoloodely everything I createWeekly love lettersPodcast: Leonie Dawson Refuses To Be CategorisedA library of free treasuresBOOKS:
My Brilliant Year workbooks for 2023 & beyond!Calm Christmas PlannerSalt: a hottttt romance novella (published under my pen name Lola Leigh)COURSES:
The Brilliant Biz & Life Academy – JOIN THE WAITLIST!Get Organised!Work Less, Earn MoreBehind The Scenes of a Multi-Millionaire’s Finances (only $7!)Sales StarMarketing Without Social MediaMoney, Manifesting & Multiple Streams of Income40 Days To A Finished Book40 Days To Create & Sell Your E-CourseThe post ADHD Families Podcast appeared first on Leonie Dawson | Goals, Marketing + Creativity For Glorious Humans.
June 7, 2023
Self-Growth Nerds podcast
Darlinghearts,
I have such a delicious goodie for you today!
I sat down with Marie-Pier Tremblay from the Self-Growth Nerds podcast (I love the name SO MUCH omfg) and we talked all things, well, self-growth!
Marie-Pier sums up the ep best:
In this episode, we explore:
How Leonie transitioned from her government job to full-time entrepreneurWhat it’s like to have a biz when you’re autistic, have ADHD, and have gone through postpartum depressionHow Leonie gradually and playfully built her business, which now makes 1 million a year!Why taking care of your needs is non-negotiableWhy perfectionism is actually quite selfish…AND MORE!
It’s a must listen!
Ready to listen?Let’s live a joyful life while we can.
Big love,
FREE GOODIES:
Newsletter with absoloodely everything I createWeekly love lettersPodcast: Leonie Dawson Refuses To Be CategorisedA library of free treasuresBOOKS:
My Brilliant Year workbooks for 2023 & beyond!Calm Christmas PlannerSalt: a hottttt romance novella (published under my pen name Lola Leigh)COURSES:
The Brilliant Biz & Life Academy – JOIN THE WAITLIST!Get Organised!Work Less, Earn MoreBehind The Scenes of a Multi-Millionaire’s Finances (only $7!)Sales StarMarketing Without Social MediaMoney, Manifesting & Multiple Streams of Income40 Days To A Finished Book40 Days To Create & Sell Your E-CourseThe post Self-Growth Nerds podcast appeared first on Leonie Dawson | Goals, Marketing + Creativity For Glorious Humans.
June 1, 2023
My experience with a networking marketing company: why I started in one, why I left & my apology
Dearests,
This has been something to write for a long time.
I wanted to share with you about my experience with a network marketing company. Specifically, why I started working with one, why I left, what I learned, and also an apology. Because I’ve been wildly proud of what I’ve been able to create over the last 20 years, and this one feels like my big regret.
I will say – I won’t be able to get into the nitty gritty of details in this for legal reasons. I won’t identify the network marketing company or anyone in it. Please excuse me if I get any of the dates wrong in this as well – I’m trying to look back through my archives, but deleted a bunch of them in a fit of rage at some point.
How it startedI’d never considered network marketing before. I had the same beliefs about it that everyone does. Plus, I’d already created an incredible business which was hugely successful.
And then I went through a bloody awful time.My business was growing explosively (yay!) but that meant my joyful creative business had become a whole other beast to manage. I hired the wrong people in my business, and I was really struggling with having a large team of 20+ staff. I also experienced narcissistic abuse about the same time which fucked me upppp. As an Autistic person, I was heartbroken at how little I could cope with managing people.
My kids were still tiny, and my husband and I spent most of our days putting out fires in the business. I dreamed about running away from my own business even though it was my DREAM BUSINESS before the crazy busy and big team!
I was also going through a really shit season in my health, and spent 6 months in and out of bed with raging fevers being tested for everything from tuberculosis to lung cancer.
It was kind of the perfect storm really.I knew I had to streamline my business somehow and make it a joyful place for me to exist in again. And I also had to find a way to somehow get out of the pool of sweat in my bed and recover.
A friend at the time sent me something in the mail to see if it would help with my fucked up health. It was a natural therapy. I want you to know: I was cynical as fuckkkkkk by that point. Nothing had worked. No strong antibiotics. No magic water blessed by alien fairies. Nada. But my friend got on the phone with me, walked me through how to use it and how it had helped her in a similar health situation. And I thought “Fuck it. I have nothing to lose. I’m sick as shit already, and nothing else has helped.”
So I started using the product. And within a couple of days, I could feel a difference. A week later, my symptoms abated. And they didn’t return. I was awestruck.
I returned to the doctor a month or so later.
She reviewed my old blood tests and new ones.
Blanched a little and said:
“Did we not call you after your old blood test?”
“No?”
“We should have hospitalised you! These numbers are awful… if I was to guess, you had a long-lasting Swine Flu. You really were very ill. I’m glad you’ve recovered though. Whatever you are doing, it’s working. Your tests now are so much better.”
It felt nothing less than miraculous. I started doing a deep dive into what else the products could help with, and started trying them out for those things as well. I started telling my mates about how much they had helped.
And because I’m a business nerd, I decided to research how network marketing worked as a business model because I didn’t know much about it apart from the usual preconceptions about MLMs. I started getting curious about whether it did work, how it worked, and why I had some friends who had businesses in them. It was fascinating! I love learning new things!
By that point I’d been blogging for 12 years, selling e-courses for 9 years, running my Academy for 7+ years, grown that part of my business to nearly $3m a year. I’d created about 150 e-courses and dozens of books. As much as I loved it, I was feeling burnt out (especially since having the large team), and I wanted to do business differently. I started wondering: Maybe I want to actually add another income stream to my business? Maybe it would be interesting to learn a different business model? Maybe it would help me learn about business and marketing from a different industry?
I was still suspicious of network marketing though, so I contacted a few business friends who were in network marketing and in that company to ask for their honest advice. They were super positive and encouraging (of course, much later I realised they may not have been able to express their concerns to me, because their sole income was tied to it). I reviewed the company’s systems and appreciated their philanthropic and fair trade focus. I consulted with business advisors and mentors who thought it could be a good idea to try out.
I started thinking that if I DID do it, I would try to do it MY way. Bring over-generosity, creativity + integrity into it. Approach it like I did with the rest of my business, on my own terms with my own spirit. I naively and optimistically thought this kind of energy would be enough to fix any possible issues I did find when working with the company.
I also knew it would only ever be a side-project for me. It was an additional income stream, not my only. I wanted to bring back whatever I learned into my usual teachings. And I knew it would be a short-term project. I thought I would only commit to it for 12 months. I ended up being involved for about 2 years before exiting.
Why did I leave?I don’t want to talk too much about the details of my network marketing journey when inside. Basically: I committed to doing it completely my own way. I was excited to share about the product that had helped my health so much. I tried to overdeliver with wild generosity by creating lots of helpful free training, coaching and mailing bonus goodies to people who used the product or wanted to grow a business with it.
I helped other people build an extra income stream that supported them when they needed it most. I donated a portion of my cheque every month to a children’s orphanage in Kenya – about $45,000 all up. (I ended up learning later that orphanages are problematic in themselves and started donating to other organisations instead. This really was the time of me learning things the hard way!) I ended up breaking that company’s record for building to their highest rank in the fastest time possible.
Along the way, I started seeing more and more cracks. Each time, I’d raise it with head office. Each time, I didn’t get a helpful response. Things got worse on so many levels. I met with an expert business advisor, and I paid him $1,000 an hour to help me craft a 5 page document outlining all the systematic and company culture issues I saw. The head honcho of the network marketing company flew in to meet with me & my advisor. We presented the report. They promised to do better. And I never heard from them again.
So that chapter ended. I wasn’t able to make change. I’d done my best, and it wasn’t the right place for me to continue. I was no longer happy putting my name beside something which wasn’t what it said it was.
I always knew it wasn’t going to be a life-long passion for me.Creating is that for me. I regard that as a momentary side-quest where I learned big lessons.
It’s been about 4 years or so since I’ve been involved with the network marketing company. It was always a side project outside of my usual business. I’m still creating books and courses, and trying to follow that voice inside me of how I can help people next.
I do want to be transparent that I still receive passive income from that company, despite not being involved for 4 years. I regard it as backpay, as network marketing is cumulative payments not a once-off. And I like that I can funnel some of that cash into other philanthropic projects to transform it into something positive. I get that this might still feel icky for some of you because I’m still somehow connected. I’m happy to answer any questions you might have about this.
Do I regret it?It’s hard to say it was a complete mistake. I have compassion and understanding for why my younger self chose it. I was so burnt out and physically ill, and it helped me with those things. I still use the products pretty much daily, and even my farmer dad is a convert.
Trying the networking marketing model did give me a broader perspective of business and marketing which I found useful. I’m grateful I was able to do whatever good I could while I was in there. I’m grateful that the side project helped me take a break to try something new so I could return to creating and teaching enthusiastically again.
At the end of the day, I would have preferred to have learned all these lessons without having to go through the hard thing!
What I do deeply regret, and want to apologise for is that I know many people felt turned off by my decision to try network marketing at the time. I completely understand that ick factor. I also know that I was hyperfixated by the product, and I’ve never met a hyperfixation that I haven’t wanted to talk endlessly about. A lot of my free content at the time probably became about the product, and that would have been soooooo fucking annoying for anyone who didn’t like the product or business model or wanting me to go back to only original Leonie-style content!
I’m so sorry if I disappointed or hurt you when I took that side adventure. I think as well, because I haven’t talked about it publicly for so long, many of you might be wondering what the resolution of that side adventure is. I hope this post will in some way give you clarity or understanding.
Would I still recommend doing a network marketing company?This one’s a hard one to answer.
If you were thinking of doing it as your solo income stream, I advise against it and have always advised against it. I’ve always told everyone in sight to have multiple income streams, and don’t link your income to one company only.
If you’ve already got a business or income stream and want to add an extra one in, you could consider it. Sometimes the products are a complimentary fit for your business. It’s ALWAYS important to research the company before you begin however, and decide what you will do and what you WON’T do. With network marketing companies, there are often a huge amount of unwritten expectations of what you SHOULD be doing if you’re selling for them. I highly recommend you keep your boundaries and do what works for YOU, your business and your people!
Further reading:
Predatory behaviours of MLMs to be aware of. LulaRich documentary was fascinating. I didn’t see that level of WTF in the company I was with, but I think it’s important to be aware of the levels of shittery it can get to.Sustainability issues of essential oilsI don’t want to throw judgment at anyone who does network marketing and is committed for life. I still have friends and clients who do it, adore it, and do it in a way that is in integrity for them. I’m supportive of any soul making informed decisions for themselves!
The business coach makes a mistake!It would be freaking MAGICAL if I could tell you that over my 20-ish year career of teaching and selling online, I’ve made no mistakes. I would JIZZ IN MY PANTS RIGHT NOW if that was possible. But unfortunately, it’s not the truth. I’m a human. I’m fallible. I make mistakes. I wish I hadn’t, and yet it’s an impossible endeavour. Humans and businesses make mistakes. The only thing we can do is learn from them, and hope to do better next time.
I hope this has helped bring a deeper level of understanding. If you’ve got more questions, please let me know.
I’m here. I love you. I am grateful. I am sorry.
Love,
The post My experience with a networking marketing company: why I started in one, why I left & my apology appeared first on Leonie Dawson | Goals, Marketing + Creativity For Glorious Humans.
May 30, 2023
gossip time!
Lovebugs,
Last week I joined Tash Corbin at her annual Heart Centred Business Conference with a smorgasbord of absolutely amazing speakers, including some of my biz besties!
It was an incredible experience and I am so glad I left my cave to be there, hohoho.
Listen above, or subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, PocketCast.
I’ve also made my conference video workshop AND hand illustrated notes available to you for freeee!
Enjoy!
Love always,
FREE GOODIES:
Newsletter with absoloodely everything I createWeekly love lettersPodcast: Leonie Dawson Refuses To Be CategorisedA library of free treasuresBOOKS:
My Brilliant Year workbooks for 2023 & beyond!Calm Christmas PlannerSalt: a hottttt romance novella (published under my pen name Lola Leigh)COURSES:
The Brilliant Biz & Life AcademyGet Organised!Work Less, Earn MoreBehind The Scenes of a Multi-Millionaire’s Finances (only $7!)Sales StarMarketing Without Social MediaMoney, Manifesting & Multiple Streams of Income40 Days To A Finished Book40 Days To Create & Sell Your E-CourseThe post gossip time! appeared first on Leonie Dawson | Goals, Marketing + Creativity For Glorious Humans.
May 29, 2023
How to Goal Plan for a Successful Year in Biz
Hi darlings,
I am so thrilled to tell you all about Mim Jenkinson’s Planner Craft Pro Summit! This is one of my faaaave summits of the year, so buckle up because I’m about to GUSH!
The main goal of Mim’s summit is super different than most. We’re saying a big ol’ buh-bye bitch to planning overwhelm because YOU get to choose your own planning journey. It’s like one of those “choose your own adventure” books we read as kids omg.
You get to pick from a mahooosive 30+ expert lessons, tutorials and presentations that relate to things at the stage of skill level you feel you are at. It might be improving productivity or researching planners, learning planner-themed crafts or sharing and selling your planner-themed crafts to other delightful peeps.
Basically, you get to tailor your summit experience to perfectly suit you.
Which is fucking bonzaaa if you ask me.
So! If you’ve found yourself thinking:
I want to find planning inspiration & learn planner-themed crafts but I don’t have the time or the experience.I’ve tried to research the best way to use a planner but it just gets too overwhelming and time-consuming.UGH! Trying to find the best planner is hard enough let alone sticking to a weekly schedule (WTF even IS that?)I want to create planner-themed crafts that thrill me but aren’t frustrating (cue finding glitter in the most random of places because of a collage you made 6 years ago)Then maaaaybe, just maybe the Planner Craft Pro Summit is for you…For 4 days, June 12-15th, the marvelous, magnificent Mim from Paper Planner Club is bringing you the most incredible presentations from 30+ industry experts (including moi!) who have found ways to make planning BEYOND fun, enjoyable & sustainable. You’ll hear about everything from choosing a planner, to decorating a planner, to planner-themed crafts, to selling planner-themed crafts & so much more.
It’s a crafty babe’s DREAM I tell you.
Can you believe I actually haven’t even told you the best part yet though?It’s literally free. Yep. Free.
ALL of these presentations are totally free to you for the first 24-hours as long as you’re registered and you can grab your free ticket right HERE!
My presentation is on how to goal plan for successful year in biz.It’s an absolute WHOPPER of a workshop, absolutely packed with all the best goal planning tips & tricks to make your next 12 months a dream come true.
And that’s just my presentation… Don’t forget the other 30+!
Just look at all the other incredible speakers!
But maybe you’re feeling a little bit fancy… Maybe you already know you want access to this for longer than 24 hours. I feel ya babes.
You can grab a VIP pass for a discounted price of $59 for a verrrrry limited time!
Told ya Mim’s magnificent.
Get your free ticket for the Planner Craft Pro Online Summit and join us!
See you there!!!
Psst. Just FYI this blog contains affiliate links! All that means is if you register or purchase through one of the links Mim will send me a lil thank you, best deal everrrr.
FREE GOODIES:
Newsletter with absoloodely everything I createWeekly love lettersPodcast: Leonie Dawson Refuses To Be CategorisedA library of free treasuresBOOKS:
My Brilliant Year workbooks for 2023 & beyond!Calm Christmas PlannerSalt: a hottttt romance novella (published under my pen name Lola Leigh)COURSES:
The Brilliant Biz & Life Academy – JOIN THE WAITLISTGet Organised!Work Less, Earn MoreBehind The Scenes of a Multi-Millionaire’s Finances (only $7!)Sales StarMarketing Without Social MediaMoney, Manifesting & Multiple Streams of Income40 Days To A Finished Book40 Days To Create & Sell Your E-CourseThe post How to Goal Plan for a Successful Year in Biz appeared first on Leonie Dawson | Goals, Marketing + Creativity For Glorious Humans.
my confidence is low rn
You can also listen to me talk about this on the poddy, if that’s more your thing.
Listen above, or subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, PocketCast.
Right. Onwards.
[image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error][image error]FREE GOODIES:
Newsletter with absoloodely everything I createWeekly love lettersPodcast: Leonie Dawson Refuses To Be CategorisedA library of free treasuresBOOKS:
My Brilliant Year workbooks for 2023 & beyond!Calm Christmas PlannerSalt: a hottttt romance novella (published under my pen name Lola Leigh)COURSES:
The Brilliant Biz & Life AcademyGet Organised!Work Less, Earn MoreBehind The Scenes of a Multi-Millionaire’s Finances (only $7!)Sales StarMarketing Without Social MediaMoney, Manifesting & Multiple Streams of Income40 Days To A Finished Book40 Days To Create & Sell Your E-CourseThe post my confidence is low rn appeared first on Leonie Dawson | Goals, Marketing + Creativity For Glorious Humans.
Life, Organized podcast
Baberinos,
Another scrummy podcast interview for you today! #blessed
Join me and the gorgeous Lisa from the Life, Organized podcast for a very, VERY useful and fun chat about all things organising, time management and how to be uber successful while not working yourself to the bone.
It’s a dang good’un!
Ready to listen?You can listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more!
Let’s get our shit ORGANISED!!!!
Big love,
FREE GOODIES:
Newsletter with absoloodely everything I createWeekly love lettersPodcast: Leonie Dawson Refuses To Be CategorisedA library of free treasuresBOOKS:
My Brilliant Year workbooks for 2023 & beyond!Calm Christmas PlannerSalt: a hottttt romance novella (published under my pen name Lola Leigh)COURSES:
The Brilliant Biz & Life Academy – JOIN THE WAITLIST!Get Organised!Work Less, Earn MoreBehind The Scenes of a Multi-Millionaire’s Finances (only $7!)Sales StarMarketing Without Social MediaMoney, Manifesting & Multiple Streams of Income40 Days To A Finished Book40 Days To Create & Sell Your E-CourseThe post Life, Organized podcast appeared first on Leonie Dawson | Goals, Marketing + Creativity For Glorious Humans.
May 28, 2023
Find Your Calling
Morning doves,
I’m absolooodely THRILLED to share another incredible interview with you all!
I sat down with the beautiful Mandie Kai for her podcast Find Your Calling. Mandie described our chat perfectly:
Ready to listen?
Leonie shows that building a business while working a full-time job is not only possible, but can be a joy.
They share how they had the time of their life blogging and creating, while infusing their stale workplace with joy and love.
We get real and honest about:
✨️ Shifting mindsets
✨️ Overcoming self-doubt
✨️ Pursuing creative passions
✨️ Experiences with loss
✨️ Influence of elder women in their life
and the importance of embracing life’s challenges and finding meaning in the midst of them.
We also discuss philanthropy and the role it plays in Leonie’s life, highlighting the importance of giving back (and how much easier it is to do when you are wealthy!).
Leonie’s story reminds us to pursue what sets our hearts and souls on fire, injecting joy wherever we can, appreciating the preciousness of life, and living life to the fullest.
You can listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more!
I hope you enjoy listening to this as much as I enjoyed recording it!
Big love,
FREE GOODIES:
Newsletter with absoloodely everything I createWeekly love lettersPodcast: Leonie Dawson Refuses To Be CategorisedA library of free treasuresBOOKS:
My Brilliant Year workbooks for 2023 & beyond!Calm Christmas PlannerSalt: a hottttt romance novella (published under my pen name Lola Leigh)COURSES:
The Brilliant Biz & Life Academy – JOIN THE WAITLIST!Get Organised!Work Less, Earn MoreBehind The Scenes of a Multi-Millionaire’s Finances (only $7!)Sales StarMarketing Without Social MediaMoney, Manifesting & Multiple Streams of Income40 Days To A Finished Book40 Days To Create & Sell Your E-CourseThe post Find Your Calling appeared first on Leonie Dawson | Goals, Marketing + Creativity For Glorious Humans.
