When you look around at others in your field, do you see competition or a network of like minded people?  When you see someone else's posts who is a little farther on their journey, do you feel a pang of jealousy or do you see them as a lighthouse?  Do you ever wish you could just have a real, authentic conversation with other entrepreneurs, where everyone let down their guard and were willing to work through the areas they were struggling with?! {Seriously, pause for a second and answer those questions!}

This month we will be working rising together to create 10K months! How do you do that?  By investing time in creating a network that supports you, challenges you, and serves as a place to both give and receive referrals.  Business doesn't have to be a lonely place, I promise. How do I know this, because I am currently surrounded by an amazing network of fellow entrepreneurs who do just that for me.  

So what does it take to create a strong network? Making space in your schedule to form authentic relationships; admitting what areas of your business you are struggling with; being open to sharing what works for you, especially if it can help them succeed as well; and a strong understanding that there are enough clients that everyone has the ability to make money. 

In theory, those steps sounds simple but everyone I talk to struggles with at least one element of that process.  Be honest with yourself about what aspect is hard for you.  If it is authentic relationships, set aside time each day to connect with those you look up to on a people level first.  If you struggle to be honest about what areas of your business you are struggling with, challenge yourself to connect with someone you have a great friendship with and simply state: "I am really struggling with [work/life balance, finding new people to work with, keeping my finances in order, insert what you are struggling with!].  You might be surprised at the conversation that follows!  If you are struggling to share what works for you with others, ask yourself why!  Is it because you are seeing them as competition?  If you have a hard time recognizing there are more than enough clients for everyone, you need to take time to evaluate your money mindset.  Are you operating from a place of lack, instead of abundance?  

We will dive more into all of these aspects of creating a network throughout the month, but I want you to begin to see the invaluable resource a network provides.  In addition to seeing the benefits of a network in my own life, over the past month, I have had the privilege of interacting with an amazing group of women in my Six Figure Society.  I have watched them open up to one another, support one another, refer one another, and hold one another accountable.  I think if you talk to them, they will say they have found a safe place where they feel supported, challenged and encouraged.  The result: their businesses are growing at a rapid pace!  

So spend some time today and reach out to friends, colleagues, mentors, or anyone else that will help you to feel supported and encouraged.  I promise you won't regret it. 

Have you ever heard of a money anchor?!  Even if you have, it is always good to refresh on what they are and how they can help you to reach your money goals!

So what is a money anchor?! It is a tangible item, typically with the image of money on it.  It should be something you carry with you or see often, like a keychain, mousepad, phone cover, actual money displayed in glass jars, etc.  It can also be the passwords for your accounts - for example, changing your email password to "future millionaire." While most money anchors are directly associated with actual money, they can also be a visual representation of one of your money goals - for example, if you want to save enough money to take a trip to Disney World with your family, a mickey mouse keychain that you carry with you daily could be used as a money anchor.

Now that you have a clear understanding of what they are, lets talk through the top 3 reasons you need them in your life!
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1) Money anchors serve as a visual cue, triggering your subconscious mind and providing a concrete image to you of your money goal.  A non-money example of this phenomenon is the method most teachers use to teach people how to read -- you hold up a card with a picture of an apple, with the word apple written below it.  Your mind learns to translate the written word with the identifying picture.  Why is that important?! When you get your subconscious mind on board, it goes to work for you to meet your goals without you even consciously thinking about it!  This subconscious shift has huge implications on your money mindset, which we will talk about next. 

2) Having a money anchor changes your money mindset, eliminating the taboo aspect of money and helping you to address the often deeply engrained idea that money shouldn't ever be talked about.  By removing the idea that money should never be talked about, you remove the stigma of charging the value of your services, asking for raises, and just talking about money in a way that feels comfortable.  The constant presence of money anchors neutralizes your nervous systems response and allows you to talk about money in the same way that you would the weather.

3) Neuroscience of Visualization!  Not only do money anchors impact your subconscious, they also cue your brain to visualize your next money goal!  A money anchor literally activates the parts of your brain that make you seek out the opportunities to make your goals happen.  I call this the “red car syndrome” - you never see another red car on the road until you drive off the lot in a red car, now they are everywhere!  Money anchors help you to see various ways to make money, encourage you to seek out the opportunity to make connections and all of a sudden you have clarity, one step leads to another and your moving closer to your money goal.

So take some time today to pick out some money anchors to add into your daily life!  Surround yourself with your money anchors to create the visual cue, acclimate your nervous system and release your limiting money beliefs, and allow the neuroscience of visualization to go to work in your life, helping you to consistently reach your money goals! Here are some of my favorite money anchors* - I can't wait to see what you pick as your money anchor, be sure to let me know!

*Please note these are affiliate links and I receive a small percentage from each sale.

Now that you've rewritten your money story, let’s talk budgeting. A budget for your business and home finances is so important!  I like to picture money as a mischievous toddler, you need to take control of it and tell it where to go or it will just disappear.  Being proactive with your budget allows you to take control of your money and helps with so many other aspects of your money mindset.

When creating your budget, you have to budget for your real life and not your ideal life. For instance, in my ideal life my family is eating healthy, home cooked meals seven days a week BUT in my real life we’re definitely eating out at least two nights a week.  When I am creating my budget, I need to make sure that I am accurately accounting for how my food budget will be spent.  Be honest with yourself and budget for real life.  

As you create your budget, you need to be aware of your money doubt backpack.  Didn't you know you are constantly walking through life carrying a money doubt backpack  full of bricks that include all of your money anxiety, your generational money mindset, the things your friends have said to you about money, your money beliefs, and your money doubts.  You’re carrying this weight with you all the time?!  

Now I want you to envision that backpack, and look ahead to your new relationship with money - do you want to carry all of that weight with you into the next month? Do you want to carry your doubt and anxiety and fear?  Or do you want that backpack to be full of just the essentials?

Here is the awesome thing: You get to choose what you carry in your backpack and you can choose to eliminate some of the weight. To do this, you start by removing the bricks and naming them.  Just like you name your children, you name the bricks.  I recommend creating an actual visual to look at and decide what you will carry with you (or not) into the next month.  

And just as a reminder…  it is ok have nice things, it is okay to own your wants and you don’t have to justify them. Not everything is going to be justifiable, and when you try to justify your wants, you only validate your fear, so you have to be mindful of that.  

So let me know, which bricks will you be leaving behind? 

We talk a lot about rewriting our money story and choosing a new belief system, but what does that actually look like? I want to share a few tips with you on how to do it the right way.

In reality, most of our money beliefs are not actually ours to begin with, they are a mix of beliefs that have been instilled in us from our grandparents, parents and families.  Add in what we receive from social conditioning (social media, our co-workers, our friends, etc.) and it can be difficult to discern what it is we really believe for ourselves.

So, when you choose to rewrite your story you need to create a regression timeline.  Take time and look at your life year by year, beginning with your earliest memories from childhood to identify common money stories that might exist in your life.  For example, maybe your father lost his job when you were 7 and that had a great impact on your family.  Now when you look at how you handle money, you are extremely frugal even when you don't need to be because you do not want to find yourself in the same position as your parents.  Take a careful look at all of the patterns of behavior that may be repeating cycles in your life because you haven’t changed your perspective on the past. 

Now that you have identified your money stories, look for what was amazing in those stories. For example, reframe your thought pattern to: even though my dad lost his job and we were eating rice & beans, I was spending every afternoon in the park.

Find the goodness in your story, see how the things that happened made you more resourceful or more caring.  Reframe the story into a new and better story that made you the amazing human being that you are today.  

I have my own story on reframing my past; when my family had to leave everything behind in Brazil to come to the to the US. Not only did they have to leave their possessions, they also left behind their community and who they were. So instead of saying my parents had to leave everything behind and they had nothing, I say “my parents invested all that they had to make room for more.” 

Make sure you do not skip over this examination of the past as the first step in rewriting your money story.  Why? Because you can't move forward without this deep understanding of where your beliefs came from.

Now, as you start to plan for the future you get to choose a new money system and belief.  The key will be actually acting on that belief, because remember your life doesn’t change by inspiration and motivation, it changes by the actions that you take.  The thing is, that even though you are taking on this new money mindset, it doesn't mean that all of your money struggles will disappear, but now you will make a change in the way you respond to them.

So how do you do that? You have to actively act on your new belief system - you have to believe that when you’re paying bills that you’re just making room for more money to come in. You have to prioritize being generous and allowing yourself to buy the things you want and need.  You have to normalize investing in your business.   

Make sure you also look for the wealth in other areas of your life as well, see the abundance that doesn’t come from money, but from the world around you. Celebrate that you can sleep late and wake up without an alarm clock, celebrate the crafts that you make, celebrate the conversations you have with friends and family.  See all aspects of your life as abundant.

Now, here is something I get asked all the time -- if I am content and celebrating my abundance, am I able to still crave more? The answer is YES! You can live in a state of contentment and gratitude and still have desires for bigger and better things.  Why? Because who benefits from your playing small? Who benefits from you downplaying your gifts? Who benefits from your lack mindset? The answer is: No One, except your comfort zone! 

Now lets look at it from the other perspective.  Who benefits when you are ready to really step into your marketplace and show up with your skills and talents?  Who benefits when you are ready to have success? When you are ready to live a life that is full of abundance? Everybody Wins! What you might not immediately see is that there is a ripple effect -- your children are watching, you get to invest in your community and the causes you care for.  

So now is the time to show up for yourself, to step into your new money mindset, to believe in the difference you can make and to put you and your business first.

Did you know it’s possible to gain clients without following the “standard” procedures of making connections?  In a world of instant gratification, there isn’t time for getting to know each other and there definitely isn’t time to build trust.  Lucky for you, I am going to share with you the three steps you can use to bypass the know, like, and trust factors and go directly for the relationship. 

The first step is go deep. On that very first call dig deep into that person’s life, don’t be afraid to get to know them on a very personal level. Sometimes the conversations can get awkward, but that’s ok; the most awkward conversations can turn into the most amazing breakthroughs! 

The second step is to show them what you can do for them, rather than tell them. Create a strategy, develop mindset and show them the plans to solve their problem. Allow them to see themselves in the solution. 

The third step is make it easy. Make it easy for your clients to sign up for your services, make it easy for them to reach you when they are in a bind. Doing so will make it easier for them to continue to sign a contract with you. 
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Now let’s talk about the value ladder; in reality the value ladder is an old business motto that nobody has time for now a days.  The value ladder tends to create layers of band-aid’s rather than going straight for the surgery. 

And when that first band-aid doesn’t solve the problem, do you really think they’re going to invest more? Probably not. 

So go for the surgery! Stop offering band-aid’s and go straight for the surgery.  For those of you that are offering a service that changes lives, think of yourself as a brain surgeon, we change the way people think of themselves, we change the way people think of the world, we change their perception of what is possible for them, and that is truly what creates the transformation. 

So don't think of yourself as a band-aid keeper, but as a brain surgeon where you’re going to be able to change their lives forever. 

So go big, move fast, and watch your business go to the next level!

I would like to share 3 strategies with you on how I SHOW my clients what I can do for them. I say show vs tell because people are always being told what can be done for them, rather than being shown exactly what they need. People like to see themselves in the solution so give them everything they need to picture themselves achieving their goals and experiencing success.  

First, it is so important to meet your clients exactly where they are on their journey.  Do not have the focus of the conversation be all the things your program has to offer or that you are going to give them the newest secret to success, instead do less talking and more listening. We are all constantly surrounded by people talking at us, it is rare for individuals to really stop and listen - be the one to hear your client. When you hear them, that is where the connection will take place and then you will begin to get at the heart of what isn't working in their business.  Here is the thing, the majority of coaching strategies focus on how the coach knows how to run the business better than the individual they are coaching but here is the thing, your client knows how to run their business, they are just stuck right now.  Once you can really hear them and really validate their feelings, then they will feel empowered and unstuck. 

The second strategy is to touch on your clients current pain points in an empowering way - ask them what is hurting, how can we fix it, what have you tried.  Then begin talking about aspirations and really empower your client.  Talk about how it’s going to feel when they don’t have the pain anymore, talk about what will be possible, and talk about how different their lives will be. They don’t want you just as a coach, they want you to also be their cheerleader, their friend, the person that is going to be there with them through the whole thing.  

And last, show them what you can do for them, show them the possibilities.  To do this you can show them the before and after of other clients you have helped, show them your laid-out plan, break down the trajectory and show them step 1, 2, and 3. Show them the possibilities without getting stuck on the how.  

Now let me just add a little something here… It is not bragging when you’re telling your clients all the great things you’ve done for others. You have a gift, you are changing lives, and you should share that with people.  You can be humble and still brag about the results. 

 January is halfway over - how is that even possible?! I know what you are thinking, now it is too late for me to pick my word of the year, create my vision board or set my intentions.  I am here to tell you that you are wrong -- it is never too late! 

I do want to challenge you to be thoughtful when selecting your word though, there is more to it than just picking something that will inspire you. It is important to select a word that will push you to action. Why?! Action translates to results, and the actions you take are going to change your life. 

​Ok, lets start with some concrete examples - my word for 2020 was “disrupt.”  By the way, feel free to blame me for all the disruption that took place in 2020.  In truth, my concept for choosing disrupt was that I wanted to disrupt the way people thought about success, I wanted to disrupt the way people thought about themselves and the way they saw their business. I really wanted to disrupt the way people overcomplicate things and disrupt that pattern of thinking.  There was a solid connection between the word I selected and the actions that I would take in relation to it.  This means that if I was ever faced with a situation where I wasn't sure what was the right decision for me, I could ask myself "will this help me to disrupt?"

This year I selected a combination of words for my word of the year - intentional balance.  As I created my vision board and thought through how I wanted to focus my time and energy this year, I want to make sure that I am being intentional with my time, with my business, with my family, with my financial decisions.  I also want to maintain levels of balance, ensuring that I am devoting time to all of the various parts of my life.  Again, because my word(s) are associated with an action, when I face difficult times or am in the process of trying to make decisions I can ask myself whether I am being intentional and if it maintains balance in my life.

Let’s go through one final example using the word “growth.” Growth is a great example of an action word. When you find yourself in that obstacle, you can come back to your word and ask yourself: will tackling this issue create growth?

So I challenge you - sit down and start to think about your word for the year.  What changes do you want to make to your life and your business and how can your word drive you to action. How will your word help you when times get tough and obstacles arise, because it isn't a matter of if but when! Do not choose a word that will only be inspiring - I want you to be able to default to your word so that you can change your pattern of behavior and your word can really have an effect on your life. 

Be mindful when choosing your word, it’s going to be your moto for the year, it’s going to be what you fall back on in the midst of your obstacle so really put some thought into it.  If you are struggling to wrap your head around any of these concepts, feel free to reach out to me.  Remember, it is never too late to take action, create results and change your life.

Business Lessons from my sitter!

A while ago our on call sitter couldn’t watch our kids so I posted in my community FB group asking for a back up.

I was immediately connected with a sweet girl who was very flexible since she was homeschooled. My kids loved her! She always brought new games from her house and played with them the whole time.

The kids were so happy, she didn’t mind staying extra when needed and every single time she got home she sent me a text telling me how thankful she was and how much she loved watching our children.

She would check in just for the sake of checking in!

Seeing her name on my screen always made me stop and make some plans for a date night.

And just last week she got us to meet her and her dog at the park for a play date because she has missed us since we moved!

🎯 She has taught me that she is always ready to step in for my highest good - even when the busyness of life clouds my priorities.
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🎯 She has taught me that great marketing is not about fake promises - but about being in the forefront of your ideal clients frequent enough so when they need or want what you offer there is no doubt in their mind of whom to call.
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🎯 She has taught me that you don’t have to be all things to all people. She never once asked me to clean my car, do my laundry or anything that didn’t involve my kids. If she had I would have second guessed the attention she was giving her most important job and what made her stand out from the rest - which was giving John and Julia her undivided attention. And this is the top reason why the kids LOVE her - she is never on her phone - and focused 100% on them.

You might be right at that 6 figures but scaling from there might be feeling like you will have to become all things for all people. You see others who seem to have successful mastered the same skills as my amazing sitter and scaling to 7 figures in their industry and you keep chasing the next strategy only to be left feeling underwhelmed by what you see.

If you are ready to get yourself out of the equation, showing your clients how you show up for THEIR highest good, stand out in your industry while staying in your zone of genius I would love to chat!

I have helped clients reach multiple 6 and 7 figures by implementing the same systems that gets our sitter Katie constant booking at our house!

You might be thinking that for you to make more you need to work more and there just isn’t enough hours in the day.

And the reason you think that way is because becoming the CEO with a managers mindset is exhausting.

CEOs work less and make more because they don’t busy themselves with all of the things.

They only pull up their sleeves for things that truly move the needle.
And that’s what we will do!
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#CEOModeOn

Times are super hard these days.

And lots of entrepreneurs are feeling from all sides. 

Not getting the assistance we need during crises and the backlash for those of us who decide to do business anyways. 

The thing is that no one is forcing anyone to purchase and I don't see how those who are still prospering during the crises are being selfish and the ones who are still making money in this situation are the ones who will seek this economy through. 

They are still employing their house cleaners, virtual assistants, contractors, and many times getting groceries not only for themselves but for their neighbors who are in need at times like this. 

No one is mad at target for being open. 

Actually - I am VERY grateful for them to stay open! 

So if you were made to feel guilty for keep business going as usual don't let other people's lack mindset affect your abundance mindset. 

Keep selling, keep shining and let's carry this economy on! 

Today when picking up the kiddos from school one of their sweet teachers mentioned how busy I must be since we are friends in FB! I was so happy telling her what a dream come true it is!

Many years ago as a working mom I dreamt of days, where I could pick up my kids from school. Most of all I dreamt of being able to snuggle on sick days. 
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I had to go back to work when my kiddos were 7 weeks old. I worked full time and went to college at night. I didn’t graduate til Julia was 6 months old!

Those were hard times. College work and processing payroll while nursing 🤱 my babies. It was mountains and mountains of paper and it felt like the work would never be done - and I would never be there for sick days.

Julia was only 3 years old in this picture. She had a 103 fever and I had to bring her to the office with me so I could finish my work. She laid down on chairs against the wall on a bunch of napkins we had put down. I used a package of diapers as a little pillow for her.

I can’t even begin to describe the amount of guilt, overwhelm and how stuck I felt. Many years later looking at this picture still makes me cry. 😭
Tomorrow might be a snow day. It might not. We won’t know til 5am. But it no longer matters because I’m here.

I’m here for sick days. For imaginary sick days (or mental health days). I’m here for drop offs, pick ups, field trips and everything in between.

Because I invested in myself my kids have a better quality of life!

Because I took risks they now can be home when they are not feeling well.

Because I expanded my horizons - my life looks very very different today!
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And for that I’m beyond grateful!
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So make an investment in yourself, take risks, and expand your horizons.
Do it for you!
Do it for them!
Do it to pave the way!
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