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Four places to find support beyond your favourite brew. 

As working mothers, we often juggle multiple roles and responsibilities, seeking support wherever we can to navigate the challenges of our personal and professional lives. For me, that means reaching for a medium-roast black coffee! However, as a coaching psychologist, I also understand the importance of seeking guidance and assistance to continuously grow and be the best I can be for my clients. But where can we turn for support beyond a hot drink?
Here are four options to consider, each with its pros and cons:

1. A Friend 

Turning to a trusted friend for support can provide comfort and understanding. Whether over a cuppa or a phone call, sharing our experiences with someone who knows us well can be cathartic. A special friend can be more accessible and cost-effective than professional support, such as a coach. However, their advice may be subjective, and friends might only sometimes have the expertise to offer valuable insights into professional matters.

2. A Group of Friends 

Gathering with friends who share similar experiences can create a sense of camaraderie and belonging. I remember how much I loved meeting up with the women from prenatal Yoga after we all had our babies! Sharing stories and advice in a group setting can provide different perspectives and a feeling of solidarity. It’s lovely to have a support network built within the group, the diverse range of experiences shared, and a sense of community. However, group dynamics can sometimes lead to conflicting advice or a lack of individualised attention to specific issues.

3. Formal Support Group  

Joining an established support group, such as a coaching or supervision group or a workplace network, offers structured and professional guidance. These groups often provide a platform for sharing best practices, receiving feedback, and accessing resources. Pros include the specialised expertise offered, the opportunity for professional development, and the sense of accountability. However, participation may require time and resources, and the group’s dynamics may only sometimes align with individual needs.

4. Professional Individual Support 

Seeking professional individual support, such as coaching, counselling or supervision for those working as coaches, offers personalised guidance tailored to specific needs. Working one-on-one with a trained professional provides a safe space to explore challenges, set goals, and develop strategies for growth. It is uniquely valuable to receive the focused attention and expertise of a caring professional who also provides accountability. However, this level of support may come at a financial cost, which you could consider an investment in yourself.

Where Will You Go for Support? 

As working mothers, our choices of where to seek support are personal and depend on individual preferences, resources, and needs. My support network includes all of the above (and yes, some coffee!), and I am grateful to be able to access formal and informal support when life and work require it.

It is important to admit when support is needed and to seek it. Where will you go for support?


This article was written by our partner coach, Elrika Erasmus, director of Coachmind Consulting. Elrika is an HCPC registered Practitioner Psychologist and ILM Level 7 Executive and Leadership Coach. She applies psychological expertise to coaching frameworks when consulting as a Coaching Psychologist – and helps her clients build their success stories. You can contact her at elrika@coachmind.net  or via her profile page.

 

So many of us wake up every morning dreading work.

We feel there is no way out and that we won’t have it better anywhere else. So what’s the point in even looking!

Is this what life is all about?

Feeling miserable every day and looking for our 2 week holiday where hopefully we can switch off (not sure that is possible with kids).

Ok so I have painted a pretty grim picture here but this is the reality of many of my clients.

We never take a step back and think, ‘Is this what I want my life to look like?

Is this really what I imagined for myself when I was a child?

The answer most definitely is NO. So what can we do here?

Well there is a lot you can do if you are willing to change what you believe.

Stay with me…

What you are believing is based on past evidence.

To do something different, you need to believe something else.

If you keep your old beliefs, you will keep living the same day over and over again and telling yourself it’s not better anywhere else.

But I want to challenge you here. It’s not better where you are now. Think about that.

But it’s risky to move jobs I hear you say. Yes I agree but why not just BELIEVE that it’s possible to have work that you enjoy or that you can have it better somewhere else.

You might think this is pointless but trust me a small shift in your belief systems makes all the difference.

When you start to believe something new, your brain gets creative and comes up with alternatives and solutions. And the most amazing thing is that your brain will start to find evidence for your new belief system. It’s true.

Your brain can’t take in the whole world, so it scans it based on your current beliefs and finds evidence to support it. 

Now go and do 2 things: 

 

It’ll only take you 5 mins. Let that new belief plant itself in your brain and let it find evidence for you.

You are not alone my friend. Many people feel the way you do. But the difference between you and them is that you want to change it.

Sign up to my free resource ‘Work Less’ to help you start to get control of your day-to-day work and feel less overwhelmed so that you can have the headspace to make change: www.negarfarah.com/workless 

It can be hard to find time in a busy life for rest, not least for mothers. We have become a society that expects, and even applauds, busyness, with many wearing it as a badge of honour. How many times have you been part of an exchange which goes something like:

It’s as if this response is meant to confirm that all is well, or as to be expected.

Right now we have a strong tendency towards women increasingly being unable to rest. Mothers I work with report not knowing what to do with themselves, or worse, actually feeling uncomfortable when given the opportunity to rest. They feel as if they should be doing something productive, or speak in terms of needing to stay busy for their own mental health.

Of course, there is balance to be had, and sometimes keeping busy or being out and about is exactly what helps us to feel good. But I feel this has swung so far that we can often no longer experience comfort in resting because our nervous systems do not easily settle into calm.  New mothers feel they must be up and busy soon after birth, even a surgical one, and few people seem to encourage them to recuperate. This can be the start of a pattern of getting up and powering through the to-do list before allowing themselves some time to rest. But the reality is that the to-do list is never ending, so that time rarely arrives. Add in the intense and multiple needs of newborns, older children, navigating childcare and schools, maintaining relationships, return to work and logistics around commutes and life admin, and it is easy to see why our we are on edge.

However, in the same way that it is recognised in sports training that rest days are essential for performance, so too in day to day lives is rest important. Embracing rest can improve mental health and immune function, increase creativity, critical thinking and problem skills reduce stress, anxiety and blood pressure, and increase compassion and empathy.* Ensuring we rest can help us feel better as well as improve our interactions with loved ones and in our various roles.

The alternative is to push oneself to the absolute limit, stopping only when forced to by illness, injury or burn out. How much nicer, however, to create a schedule which introduces rest pre-emptively allowing it to be restorative rather than recuperative?

So, how can we do this? One option is to block out a specific day or time for a regular opportunity for rest. One evening a week, or a block of time on weekends, for example, and then use it how you see fit. Another way is to think about what sorts of rest feel most important to you and look for opportunities to experience these as they are available to you. What’s important is to find ways to plan these in advance instead of waiting until you get to the end of a revolving to do list.

What sort of rest, you ask? Did you know that we can rest in a number of ways; that there are different types of rest? You can have rest for your body, or for you mind. You can rest your heart, or your soul. You can rest your connectivity. You can rest your senses.

Would you like to explore the different ways in which you might begin to prioritise rest for yourself, and how it might benefit you? Book a free discovery call. I’d be happy to hear from you and help you create a restful schedule.


This article was written by Tricia King, Matrescence Coach with Careering Into Motherhood. Tricia works with mothers who want to explore their shifting identities and feel fulfilled and confident in all aspects of life. You can contact Tricia via her profile page or at her website www.triciaking.co.uk.

 

*Rethinking Rest (no date) Mental Health Foundation. London, Cardiff, Glasgow.

 

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash

Ever found yourself lost in the whirlwind of motherhood, feeling like you’re running a marathon with no finish line in sight?

You’re not alone. In my conversations with clients, I’ve heard tales of exhaustion so deep, it feels like they’re on autopilot, navigating through a fog of overwhelm. But here’s the kicker: it’s not just about being tired. It’s about that sinking feeling of Mum Burnout, where even a solid night’s sleep doesn’t make a dent.

Picture this: you’re juggling a dozen tasks, feeling like you’re dropping the ball in every direction. That guilt? It’s a constant companion, whispering reminders of all the things you should be doing better. But Mum Burnout is more than just being worn-out; it’s a state of emotional disconnect that creeps into your relationships, leaving you feeling like you’re on an island, alone.

But fear not! There’s a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos. These five game-changing strategies will help you reclaim your sanity and rediscover the joy in motherhood.

Recovery strategies:  

 

1. Talk to someone

“A problem shared is a problem halved”. Talking to someone you trust can help remove feelings of shame and guilt. Having a good support network around you who are aware of your feelings can help you manage stress.

2. Delegate

It is okay to need help and it is a sign of strength to ask for it. If you are able to delegate some of the parenting tasks to a partner, family member, or friends then do so!

3. Identify Must Dos with Could Dos

As mum’s we need to understand that we cannot do it all. If we finish the To Do list there will always be more. It’s important to differentiate between things we actually have to do and things that it’s not the end of the world to put off or not do all together.

4. Learn to say no

Say no when necessary. No is a complete sentence, it doesn’t have to be rude or unkind but you also don’t have to apologise or explain your choice. It can feel scary to say no but your future self will thank you!

5. Practice self care

Easier said than done but it’s like putting on your own oxygen mask before helping others. Work out what works for you and make time for yourself. You deserve to be a priority too!

So, let’s flip the script on Mum Burnout. It’s time to rewrite the narrative, one self-care ritual and boundary-setting moment at a time. Because amidst the chaos, there’s an opportunity for growth, resilience, and yes—unabashed joy. Let’s reclaim it together.


This article was written by Daisy Lainoff, a qualified Coach and founder of Me After Mum, a coaching service that empowers women to find their balance and navigate the transitions of motherhood. She offers a free introduction call as well as a number of coaching packages to suit all needs. For more information visit www.meaftermum.com/book or get in touch with Daisy via her profile page.

 

You become a step parent for and because of your relationship and as a step parent, your relationship evolves alongside many other parts of your life…ok, I’ll be honest, virtually all parts of your life!  For you and your partner, forming a partnership, not just being in a relationship, is essential.  The shift from relationship to partnership empowers you both to voice your needs, opinions, dreams and goals and ultimately shape a family and life that works for you all.

A relationship often revolves around emotional connection, love, and companionship. While these elements are undoubtedly important, a partnership goes beyond, encompassing shared goals, mutual support, and collaborative decision-making.  Effective partnering forms the foundation of your family and will lead to a unified parenting approach, more effective communication, evenly shared responsibilities and overall greater support and understanding.

Sounds great, but how do I do this? 
One of my favourite phrases in the context of step parenting is to be intentional. Transforming your relationship into a partnership requires just this – intention, openness and commitment from both partners. Here are some practical steps you can take to facilitate this transformation:

  1. Establish shared goals and aligned vision: Take the time to discuss you goals for your relationship and family and align your vision for the future.  If you are new to step parenting, make sure you also align your vision for your role as step parent with your partner so you are both on the same page.
  2. Create strategies for regular communication: When and how will it be best for you and your partner to connect and discuss your family plans (short term & long) what’s working and what isn’t?
  3. Collaborate on decision-making: Discuss, align and make decisions collaboratively, especially on family-related matters. Depending on the ages of your children, involve them too (where appropriate).
  4. Have some fun! Take the time to reconnect often.   Whether it’s a weekly date night, a shared hobby, or simply enjoying each other’s company, nurturing your relationship and having some good ol’ fun is so important.

If you are careering-into-”step”motherhood, please reach out and say hello!  I would love to meet you and hear more about your experience.  I believe that every parent, regardless of how you become one, deserves the right to thrive in their role and feel empowered to bring their vision for their family to life.

 


This article was written by Ainsley Keller, an executive coach specialising supporting step parents to be more confident, in control and empowered in their role.  1 in 3 families in the UK are “blended”.  Step parents are a huge yet under represented group and Ainsley aims to  elevate, support and celebrate the role of step parents in the UK and beyond.  She can be contacted via her profile page  or on Instagram at the.stepcollective.

It’s undeniable that weekends with young kids can be a stressful affair. Long gone are the lovely long days of leisurely brunches, browsing the shops, cheeky afternoons in the pub to watch some live music. You might even have spent Sunday mornings enjoying DIY projects together or having a lie in. Oh my, those were the days! Recently, my brother showed me the garden kitchen he’s built in his spare time. Spare time?! Yes, his kids are 19 and 16 so no more clinging to his leg, demanding attention. It does get better. In the meantime though, those of us with babies, toddlers and children in primary school need to rethink our weekends and how to reclaim some of that precious time.

Weekends have different pressures depending on the age of your children, and your working patterns as parents.

Alongside all of this, all you want to do is get on top of the washing / food shopping, get that shelf up or paint that wall that’s been needed to be done for the last nine months, go out for a nice walk / potter round the shops / coffee / see some friends, without anyone whining or moaning about it, and actually enjoy some ‘fun’ family time together. Quite quickly, it can become two days fuelled with unmet expectations, frustration, and exhaustion.

What’s the answer?

Focus on quality over quantity. Reduce your expectations about what you can achieve.

  1. Plan in advance. Before you wake up on Saturday morning, make sure you’re on the same page about your expectations and plan it out around your child’s routine or commitments.
  2. Get clear on your essentials. What are the 1-2 things that you really need to do and how do you need to help each other get them done? Maybe the washing is piling up, the baby has run out of socks or there’s no food in the fridge.
  3. Give each other space. How can you carve out 2-3 hours for each of you to have time to themselves – without expectation to ‘achieve’ anything. Whatever gives you energy, it’s so important to give each other that time to recharge without the baby or chores.
  4. Do something nice together. What are you going to do as a family, or as a couple just for fun.

Yes, weekends used to be the time for spontaneity and pottering. With young children, it needs more forethought and communication. That doesn’t mean spending more money on day’s out, but making sure you and your partner are clear on what you’re both expecting to achieve and how you can carve out time together as well as time for yourselves.

Download the worksheet for a simple template to help you reclaim your weekend.

This article was written by Rachel Childs. Rachel is a couples coach who helps working parents navigate their transition through parenthood as a dual-career couple. She is the author of Beyond Baby Talk. Two people, nine months and the twelve conversations you never knew you needed to have; a couples workbook for expectant and new parents.

 

 

How I built a £10k side business in under a year (and the lessons I learned)

 

In September 2019 I got signed off work with stress and anxiety. The combination of realising I’d just been promoted into a job that was completely wrong for me and a couple of fairly significant personal events had hit me like a brick.

I felt frustrated & useless. I’d well & truly hit rock bottom & knew if I didn’t do something about it, I’d be there forever.

So I had some coaching to get me back to work and it turned out to be the best decision I’ve ever made. The experience had such a powerful effect on me that I decided THAT was what I wanted to do.

This is Part 1 of my journey of turning that light bulb moment into a real, legit side business.

May 2020

I found out I was pregnant and having been coaching for free as part of my studies for a few months, I decided now was the time to get my first paying clients. I was still off social media after my breakdown, so I needed another way to find clients. I was scared but pulled my big girl pants on and created my first offer of £50 for 4 sessions. This may sound bargainous, but because I’d worked in a corporate job my whole like and had never asked anyone for money, this felt like a HUGE sum to be charging. Nevertheless, I took a deep breath and sent it out to everyone I knew.

May-July 2020

My friends passed on my offer to their friends (one even posted it on her slack channel at work) and I got my first six paying clients! Sure, they weren’t paying me much, but they were paying me something for doing what I loved. I was high as a kite.

July 2020

After studying my ass off, I qualified as a coach one month earlier than planned. I hired my first business coach and mentor to help me get it off the ground. He taught me the ‘Prosperous Coach’ methodology which involves inviting people in your network for a complimentary coaching session with the idea that they’ll either sign up or refer you.

I also felt like I’d been leading a double life, keeping my side hustle from my boss, so I decided to take the plunge and come out of the side business closet. Luckily my boss couldn’t have been more supportive. Phew!

August 2020

I signed my biggest client yet (a whopping £400 for 4 sessions!) who was a referral from my wedding photographer who was one of my original £50 clients. He said his girlfriend owned ‘an interior design business’. She turned out to be Athina Bluff, owner of Topology Interiors with a massive 22k followers (at the time) on Instagram. I didn’t realise it then, but my relationship with Athina would end up being a total game changer for my business.

September 2020

Having spent the last 2 months offering literally everyone I knew a complimentary coaching session, I signed 3 more paying clients. Brainstorming who to offer the sessions to was the inspiration for what is now my ‘Outreach Onion Method’.

And after helping me go from an hourly rate to a package model, my coach encouraged me to start increasing my prices every time I signed someone new. So by now I was charging £900 for a 3 month programme, which would have seemed impossible two months before. I now felt like a legit small business owner. I coached in the mornings before work, in the evenings and at weekends, literally every spare minute I had. It was full on, but I loved it.

October 2020

Athina asked if I wanted to be the resident coach on a group mentoring programme she was creating for budding interior designers. My initial reaction was to run for the hills. I didn’t feel ready, but my coach (and the fire in my belly) told me to cut the shit and go for it.

I also started dipping my toe back into the world of social media, setting up my Instagram profile and posting my first ever article on LinkedIn. I was terrified of people from work seeing, but as my coach pointed out, I had nothing to hide anymore, so I had no excuse!

November 2020

Just 4 weeks after our initial conversation, Athina & I launched the ‘Interior Designers’ Toolkit’. We smashed our goal of 10 sign ups with a massive 18 in just 3 days. I couldn’t believe it. The combination of her years of industry experience and my coaching skills turned out to be absolute fire.  For the first time, I could really see how this could become my full time business.

December 2020

And good job I did because after their coaching sessions with me during the Designers’ Toolkit, five women approached me about carrying on with 121 coaching. They all signed up, meaning I was almost full – something I could never have imagined would happen so soon.

Jan 2021

Six weeks before I was due to give birth, I landed another 2 paying clients through a combination of referrals from my original £50 offer and my complimentary sessions. What felt bonkers was having to start turning people away as I was due to go on maternity leave soon.

Feb 2021

I had my daughter Edie and I went on maternity leave having made my first £10k. Actual, real money that I had made myself, doing something I was passionate about. So, I now not only had a beautiful baby girl, but also a real business on the side of my 9-5. Life was now unrecognisable from what it had been a year ago. The feeling was pretty surreal.

So, what did I learn?

1. Your friends, family and wider network are your biggest advocates and will act as your salespeople if you ask them. They’re the first place you should start when you want to get clients. Not social media.

2. Having a business coach may seem risky and scary but the investment is 100% worth it. My first one helped me increase my prices 125% in less than 2 months, which I would never have done on my own.

3. You never know where the initial complimentary or ‘low price’ clients will lead you. The majority of my 121 clients ended up coming from the Designers’ Toolkit, which I can trace all the way back to Athina’s boyfriend (my wedding photographer) who I coached for a measly £50 right at the start. So follow the breadcrumbs – you never know where they’ll take you.

I hope my story inspires you if you’re starting or thinking about starting your own side business.

And if you want help doing this faster, with the added benefit of someone who’s been exactly where you are right now, then my group coaching programme Side Hustle without Social could be for you if:

 

It’s a 4-month group coaching programme that helps you build your business behind the scenes, without posting a single thing on social media.

‘SHWOS’ is teaching you my proven framework of how to:

 

Just drop me a line to find out how you can join the next intake. Get in touch via my profile page.

Returning to work after maternity leave can feel like stepping into a whole new world. Balancing the demands of a newborn with the desire to reignite your career can be overwhelming. However, by using technology and working with a career coach, preparing to navigate the job market has become more accessible, efficient, and tailored to your needs.

How AI Can Enhance Your Job Search:

 

1. Personalised Job Matching.  AI-powered platforms can analyse your skills, experiences and preferences to match you with relevant job opportunities.  These platforms use algorithms to sift through job listings and identify positions which align with your qualifications and career goals, saving you time.

2. CV Optimisation: Crafting a CV can be daunting at the best of times, and probably more so after a career break.  AI-powered tools can analyse your CV and provide feedback on formatting, keywords and content optimisation.  It can also help tailor your CV to specific roles.

3. Skill Development: If you’re looking to brush up on your skills or explore new career paths, platforms such as Chat GPT, Google Gemini or Microsoft Copilot will help identify your next steps for research. You could try using prompts such as:

 

4. Interview Preparation: Using the job description and your CV, you can ask AI tools to generate potential interview questions. Tell the platform about the position you’re interviewing for, the company culture, and your background, and it can generate diverse and realistic interview questions based on that information. This helps you anticipate what might be asked and practice your responses.

Navigating the AI Landscape

 

 

Working with a Career Coach

 

While AI technology can provide valuable insights and streamline aspects of your job search, a career coach can offer personalised support tailored to your unique circumstances, providing that human touch that AI algorithms cannot replicate. They can work with you to explore your strengths, interests, values and career goals in depth, helping you identify opportunities that align with your aspirations. Additionally, a career coach can offer emotional support and encouragement, helping you navigate the challenges and uncertainties of returning to work after maternity leave with confidence and resilience.

Furthermore, a career coach can provide accountability and structure to your job search efforts. They can help you set realistic goals, develop action plans, and track your progress along the way. With their expertise and experience, they can offer valuable insights into industry trends, networking strategies, and interview techniques, empowering you to make informed decisions and maximise your potential in the job market.

In Conclusion

AI can be a powerful ally in supercharging your job search, offering personalised recommendations, CV optimisation, skill development suggestions and assistance in interview preparation.  However, it’s essential to remain mindful of potential pitfalls and recognise the continued importance of human support and guidance

By combining the personalised support and guidance of a career coach with the efficiency and insights of AI technology, you can enhance your job search experience and increase your chances of success in returning to work after maternity leave.

If you’d like to discuss any aspect of your return to work further, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me at DT Career Coaching or book a discovery call via my profile page.

(full disclosure, AI helped write some of this blog!)

 

 

 

 

Amidst last month’s celebration of Valentine’s Day, which encouraged reflections on various forms of love – be it romantic, friendship, familial, or the bonds we share with our cherished furbaby companions – it is paramount not to overlook the most fundamental relationship of all: the one we have with ourselves

Financial Self-Love Unveiled: 

Financial Self-Love is not confined to budgeting and saving; it’s a profound commitment to our well-being and future prosperity.

In fact, I firmly believe that our financial health serves as a direct reflection of the love and care we have for ourselves. When we invest time and energy to learn, grow, save, and strategically invest, we send a powerful message to ourselves and the universe – that our financial well-being matters. This commitment creates a positive domino effect throughout our lives.

Transformation in Action: 

In my daily work with clients, I witness the transformative power of Financial Self-Love. As individuals begin to take their financial health seriously, abundance manifests in various forms – from tangible achievements like salary increases and improved monetary returns to unexpected bonuses, finding the perfect home, and discovering new business opportunities.

My wish for you is to unlock your Financial Self-Love and witness its transformative magic in every facet of your journey. It’s not about becoming a financial expert overnight; it’s about taking small steps today to show love to your future self.

Below I share two key tips to kickstart your journey:  

TIP ONE: ENSURE YOUR CASH IS GROWING & EARNING

Consider dedicating just 20 minutes to assess if your current cash savings are earning a decent return. Exploring alternatives in this higher interest rate environment is a thoughtful act of love towards your financial future. A simple Google search for “best cash savings rates in February 2024” can be valuable tools in this endeavor.

 TIP TWO: EMBRACE A SPENDING PLAN

A spending plan allows us to track our income and expenses, providing a clear picture of where our money goes. By incorporating savings goals and addressing any outstanding debt, we take proactive steps toward our financial dreams and aspirations.

Remember, it’s not about restriction; rather, it’s a tool that empowers us to allocate resources consciously, ensuring money actions are in alignment with our values and long-term objectives.

That’s why I believe that embracing a spending plan is an act of self-love, signifying our commitment to financial clarity, security, and a flourishing future.

…  Friends, I hope this serves as a reminder to invest in our well-being and prosperity. So, as we step into March, we carry forward the spirit of Financial Self-Love.

After all, as Diane Von Furstenberg has said,

“The most important relationship in your life is the relationship you have with yourself.”

 

This article was written by our partner coach, Anna Orenstein-Cardona, founder of Wear Your Money Crown®, an empowering, woman-owned financial education and coaching firm that is passionately dedicated to bridging the financial inequality gap and transforming lives through education. Whether you are an individual seeking the confidence and know-how to achieve financial well-being or an organization aiming to promote financial wellness, Anna is dedicated to supporting your goals and aspirations.

You can contact her via info@wearyourmoneycrown.com or via her profile page HERE.

 

Delegation may sound like a simple thing – but from what I see, it’s not simple at all!

Have you ever wondered why you don’t delegate as much as you could?

Because you believe that you will do things better yourself?

Because you want to save time?

Or because you are fed up chasing incomplete tasks?

If any of the above speaks to you, you might want to consider asking yourself the following

questions:

 

Finding your way out of this emotional minefield can be difficult.

Coaching can explore delegation and results to look at practice and your feelings about it.

Once you start delegating more tasks, you get to create more freedom for yourself and help your staff to become more efficient and effective.

The impact it all has on your satisfaction and wellness is priceless!

On a scale 1-5 (where 1 is “really bad” and 5 is “great”), how would you rate your own delegation skills?

I would love to know!  Please book a free discovery call with me to share your results and explore more.

When you are spending time working ON your business, rather than in it, does it sometimes feel like throwing spaghetti at the wall? Maybe your strategy resembles a bit of a scrambled puzzle, with no clear focus? If so, it’s time for a change.

My advice would be – simplify! 

When you’re a service-based business owner, there’s a lot of pressure out there to be visible on every social media platform. After all, you don’t want to miss out on any new opportunities. But are you inadvertently sabotaging your success by spreading yourself too thin? We all know how short the days can be, so finding time to do ALL the things really well is frankly impossible… Especially if any challenges or curveballs come your way to de-rail things further – which we all know are in fact guaranteed at some point or other!

But, the idea of going all in on a specific platform, niche, or service can be scary.

What if you miss out on potential clients elsewhere?

What if you’re missing out on growing your audience?

What if the niche you focus on doesn’t give you the results you want?

This uncertainty means you spend a lot of time overcomplicating things and becoming less productive. You try to maintain a presence across multiple channels and offer a broad range of services to cater for all but in the end, you risk diluting your focus and hindering growth. Not to mention feeling overworked, your energy drained and losing all love for your business.

I know, I’ve been there (as have many of my clients!)

So, what should you do instead?

Double down to double your reward 

I recently had a client who was feeling the pressure from all the noise online to be visible everywhere. They were feeling overwhelmed with creating content and showing up on multiple platforms, despite not seeing the return they had hoped for, but they were scared to stop.

After we had got total clarity on what she wanted her business to be, who she wanted to be in it and what she wanted it to give her, we went back to basics and focused on her target audience.

We dove into who her dream clients are now, which services felt most aligned, where most of her leads came from and where she felt most comfortable being herself so we could see where to concentrate her energy and have the most impact. And spoiler alert – she didn’t have to market her business on every social media platform just because everyone else seemed to!

If you get more leads from one platform, focus on that. Yes, you may get a few elsewhere, but is the energy and time you put there worth the small reward? What if you put that time going even further into the one you know works best for you?

If one doesn’t feel aligned with your offering or how you like showing up, don’t be on it!

In the process, we also reviewed her offering and looked at streamlining her services so she could not only focus on the most profitable and in-demand ones, but the ones she felt best delivering.

By narrowing her focus to one platform, she gained clarity on her goals and set out a well-defined, manageable strategy to market herself and build a stronger connection with her audience. Instead of wasting time and effort, she was able to fully invest in the one that aligned best.

So, what does it mean for you? Ask yourself these questions: 

 

I’m practising what I preach. I’ve recently decided to take a step back from posting to Instagram and Facebook and instead, focusing more on LinkedIn – it’s where I feel more connected! I’ve also made the decision to press pause on my Facebook group – Business Happy Mums. Business Happy Mums is a community for mums who have broken free from the corporate world in pursuit of their dreams of setting up their own business but have found themselves at a crossroads about what to do next. I built the group to be a supportive space for people to ask questions, share experiences and get help to evolve their businesses but in all honesty, I haven’t been as active in it lately as I would like. Like so many of us, I was spreading myself too thin. I could have trundled along, still posting the regular stuff but I realised my energy wasn’t there. As a coach for solo business owners, helping others to EVOLVE their businesses and work out what’s next, it makes total sense for me to do the same! So, it’s a strategic pause, time to reassess and refocus and most importantly, simplify where I’m focusing my energy for maximum impact.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed and uninspired, where could you simplify?  

If you’re not sure where to start, download my free resource, “Your Business Health Check.” It’s going to be your roadmap to making more strategic changes that will revitalise your business from a position of strength, not stress. Here’s the link:

https://rebeccaamincoach.kartra.com/page/business-health-check 

If you would like to book your free 20-minute intro call, book into my diary here: https://meetfox.com/en/e/rebecca-amin-1?t=0&l=intro-consultation-business-owner 

 

Motherhood makes us seekers of many of us. As we careen through the joys and challenges of nourishing our bodies, souls, and that of our families too, while holding down jobs, we seek solutions and realise that the basics are the same across cultures and societies – the four ingredients to well-being are good food, sleep and rest, some form of mindfulness- so many options from breathwork to meditation to journalling, and exercise – again, the options are fascinating.

But I think for all of us, there is a fifth ingredient that is very specific to our individual selves that contributes to our well-being. It takes time to discover this of course. What activity do we pursue in our lives that speak to us things that only we can understand? For a friend of mine, it is gardening… carefully nourishing life in the soil, tending, watching, and waiting. For some of us, it could be crafting, knitting, cooking, writing, painting…it is that activity that no one asks us to do, no one is awarding us a salary or a reward for doing it, but we are drawn towards doing it anyways because it brings us joy, and a feeling of real relaxation. For a client of mine with two small children and an exciting but demanding job – it is a monthly outing to watch a play in the West end, sometimes by herself, a simple ritual that she claims for herself and gives her a huge amount of joy and energy that can only be contagious.

It may not always be logical, even to ourselves. For me, it is reading and spending time in various ways with books, and stories. It manifests itself in different forms – I like to read and spend at least two hours a week reading. I also like to end my lunchtime walk on Fridays at the bookstore down my street, just to spend about ten minutes browsing what’s new on the bookshelves. Now there is no reason to visit a bookstore every week, and sometimes I wonder what the shop assistants think, but they seem okay with it. It’s an urge I used to resist, but not anymore. I enjoy my Friday browsing, and always leave, just a little bit more inspired and energised after my visit.

So, this March I would love for you all to wonder what your fifth ingredient is. What is it that beautifully compliments the much-needed nutritious food, rest, exercise, and mindfulness that contributes to your well-being? Perhaps you already know what is, and I welcome you to share it if you wish. And if you don’t know it already, I hope you will enjoy the discovery. Please get in touch via my profile page to share your results and if you would like to explore more.