Mom life is BUSY… Have I said that once before? It’s easy to get distracted throughout your day with this or that, the laundry, the dishes, the kids toys, the beeps of technology, dad coming home from work, making breakfasts, lunches, dinners, you name it mom life is craaaazy. BUT when you are a mompreneur there’s a whole new level of mania that must be managed. When I first started my own online business I use to think I was busy all the time. As I sit here and write this blog I laugh at my pre-mommy business owning self. I had no idea what busy was. Now that I am a full time mom, a full time business owner, and a full time made/cook/errand person, I have to be strategic with how I plan my days. But when it comes to the mompreneur in me there are things I MUST constantly remind myself of in order to keep my head in the game and prioritized in my mom life and my business life. There are 5 tips I want to share with you that help me daily as a mompreneur. These tips are what I tell and remind all the moms I work with regularly when they are feeling tired, burnt out, or just down right defeated. It’s ok to feel blue sometimes but you’ve got to pick yourself back up and keep trucking along because after all we do it for the kiddos ;-) 1. Personal Development I have talked about this point before but it truly is just so crucial to your business. This is the most inexpensive way to learn and grow in your business. No matter where you are in your journey there is someone out there who has already cross the bridge you are about to cross. That same person likely has written a book about their journey specifically for you so that you can learn what they did wrong and avoid making the same mistakes. Not only can personal development help your business grow but it helps keep you motivated, in touch with whats going on, and at ease knowing you are not alone in whatever you are currently struggling with. Each day I highly recommend taking just TEN minutes to read some personal development. Maybe you do it before your feet hit the floor, maybe you do it while the kids are eating, maybe it’s a nap time treat, or even a right before you go to bed thing. Whenever you feel you’re more likely to accomplish this task MAKE time and dedicate yourself to learning through personal development. If you're looking for some personal development suggestions check out my Top 10 MUST Reads 2. Invest In Training Full disclosure, when I first got into business I was the person who said “I’ve got this, I don’t need to spend money listening to someone else tell when what I already know”. Man was I wrong. I struggled in my first business for a good while before finally “giving in” to my mentor who kept saying “You need to invest in training”. I finally gave in after months of slow or no growth and went to a seminar with my mentor. My mind was BLOWN! There was literally so much stuff that I was doing “partly” correct but in the wrong ways. Once my eyes were opened I began to become somewhat of a seminar junky feeding on all the information anyone could give me. Over the years I have spent THOUSANDS of dollars on trainings to help grow my business and I can honestly say not a single penny has been wasted. Now i’m certainly NOT saying that you need to go out and spend thousands of dollars in order to be successful. I would never ever suggest someone over stretch their budget to train with someone. But even if it’s something small, an online workshop, a free course, a webinar, a masters class, etc. Whatever it is just take the time to invest your time, or money if you are able, into learning and growing through trainings others have to offer. Just like with personal development I learned the hard way and I strive to make sure others don’t make the same mistakes I did. If you're just starting out or looking to get moving a littler faster but aren’t ready to book trainings with a $1-5K coach I have a 4 week training course for the busy mompreneur available at a less sticker shock pricing 3. Stay Committed On those days where you “just don’t wanna”… Do it anyway! On those days where everything around you seems to be falling apart… stick to it! On those days where the kids are driving you bonkers… deep breath and don’t give up! On those days where you feel like nothing is getting accomplished… Keep plugging along! There are always going to be times where you feel like nothing is happening, you might not be growing the way you thought you would be by now, maybe you are just stuck in a rut, I PROMISE things DO get better. You just can NOT give up on yourself. Do something little every day in your business to keep your momentum moving forward and in time you will see GREAT success! 4. Become OBSESSED With Your Business Now I don’t mean work every minute of every day and ignore your mom life, your personal life, your everything else. What I am saying is that when you find your “calling” dive in head first and don’t look back. When you’re working with with all your heart. When you are sharing your business or opportunities share in a way that lets people know you are passionate and they could be too. If what you’re doing isn't something you can commit to or feel your excitement level rise at the thought of being able to do it you might be in the wrong business. 5. Remember Why You Started When days get tough, when time constraints of mommy life prohibit the work schedule you had planned for that day-week-month, when the kids are more needy and you just can't accomplish what you’d hoped to accomplish just take a deep breath and remember why you started your business. Whether it was to help your family financially, maybe you wanted to turn your hobby into a career, maybe you wanted to leave your 9-5, maybe you wanted to have extra money to take the family on vacations, whatever your reason always keep it in mind. I personally love to make “Dream Boards” to help stay focused, motivated, and remembering my number one goal. A dream board, my way, is just printing out pictures of what you want to achieve when you reach certain goals in your business. At the very top of my dream board I have a picture of my kiddo, he is the reason I started #MommiesOnAMission . I wanted to be able to stay home full time with him, help others be able to start-run-grow their online businesses and stay home with your kids, all while earning a living. From his picture I have pictures of things we will do when I hit my business goals. Last year I had a picture of Disney for my kiddos first birthday, a trip to see my family, paying off half my car, being able to afford to invest more back into my business, leading calls, and so on. Each goal that I hit I would cross off a dream board achievement. If ever there was a time I just “didn’t wanna do anything” i’d look at the top of my dream board and remember why I am in business today. Honestly, Mompreneur is a hard title to rock but I KNOW you will rock it well! Until Next Time Mommas,
xoxo Lauren
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DISTRACTIONS … Life as a mom by any other term, am I right. But the thing about motherhood is that sometimes we overly assume the kiddos are our distractions from our businesses when really there are soooo many other components to take into account. Computers, cell phones, tablets, instant access to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, all the random beeping and notifications. When you hear a device beep or buzz it signals your brain to say that there is something urgent that needs to be addressed even when it’s not something urgent; no wonder we are constantly distracted. Now the old saying that I love to rely on is “I am really good at multitasking” but in reality the human brain was not designed to multi-task. Rather, it can switch between tasks quickly but our focus is not the best when doing so. It would be like sitting in a cubicle and having your boss and their secretary come up and start handing you files, documents, asking for things, reminding you to do XYZ, and you're trying to accommodate both at the same time. Exhausted just reading that? I know I use to be so tired after a long day of that in my cubicle office job. That’s what you are asking your brain to do on a daily basis by constantly checking your phone, scrolling through pages on your laptop, checking your tablet, looking through your e-mails, etc. You are asking your brain to focus one thing and ripping it away to focus on something else in the same instance. One of the BEST ways I have learned how to Focus throughout the day is to decrease my distractions. No, I'm not saying to ignore the kiddos, what I'm saying is you need to get organized and set your focus at the begging of each day. Every morning, after little mr has had his breakfast and mommys coffee is made, I grab my planner and I check out the tasks I need to complete for the day and double check their priority. This helps me start my day focused and allows me to get into my “work” mind frame. I use my 90 Day Success Planner to stay organized. I love it because it had dramatically increased my productivity and my ability to stay on task. Check it out —> FREE 90 Day Success Planner Whether you notice it or not you are constant answering the “ding ding ding” of your cell phone, you are constantly turning away from your work for a ringing land line, you are listening to a TV in the background. Your brain is in sensory overload and is trying to figure out what it should be focusing on. If at the end of the day you feel stressed, burnt out, yet accomplished little or nothing its because you aren’t focused. The only way to break that cycle is to plan what you will focus on during your day. Just as a side note/reminder: you do NOT have to answer every e-mail, social media notification, or phone call that comes your way throughout the day. If you prioritize your day and set aside specific times to check e-mails, return phone calls, and check in on social media you will be far more likely to get your tasks accomplished and feel accomplished at the “close of business”. A happy and stress free mommy is the mommy the kiddos want to see at the end of each day ;-) If you’re looking to start planning your day to help optimize your focus ability check out the FREE 90 Day Success Planner, it may be JUST what you've been looking for! xoxo Lauren P.S. If you're looking to get your business started, going, or moving forward come join us for daily tips and trick on how to do just that! Click The Button Below!
I get hundreds of e-mails delivered to my inbox each day. Each time a new e-mail comes through a little annoying red and white number pops up next to my little blue mail box and immediately I check out what is inside the little blue box. I check my e-mail consistently #1 because I HATE to have notification on my phone #2 because as soon as I see the number pop up my mind shifts from what I was doing to finding out whats inside the virtual box. Literally, i’ll be making lunch-thinking up the upcoming nap time the kiddo will take not thinking about the latest deals at Publix or if fruit bowls are on sale and in an instant I look at my e-mail notification and BAM e-mail from Publix with their new weekly circular. Once I put the squirt to sleep I then go looking through the circular for things we NEED to get after nap time or the next morning. You might not notice how often, throughout your day, your mind shifts from what you're doing to something else thanks to a notification. As a business owner thats EXACTLY what they want to happen. E-mail newsletters are the #1 way to reach your readers and potential clients Also, when you send out an e-mail, it’s a little reminder to your clients that you are still there and you still have value to offer them. This is just one small reason you're going to want to start your e-mail list as soon as you start your business. 1. You Can Share What You Have To Offer Right Off The Bat Many who start businesses wait to set up a newsletter but when you set one up immediately you never miss an opportunity to make a connection NOW. By making connections right off the bat you are able to bring your audience along your journey and prime them for your offers when they arise. Those who stay on the journey with you will become your lifers and will want to hire you over joe shmo who offers a similar product but has just reach the scene. 2. You Can Communicate One On One When you e-mail your list you are able to get one on one feedback from your audience. You can learn what they need, what they want to learn, if they are enjoying your content/products, etc. This makes your business more personal and makes you approachable. 3. The More Your Audience Hears From Your The More They’ll Remember You Like I mentioned in #1, when it comes time for a follower to get help in the area you specialize in they will come to you because they know you, are comfortable with you, hear from you regularly, and trust you. 4. Social Media Platforms Are Always Changing But E-mail Is Constant I don’t know if you noticed or not but just last week Facebook changed their algorithms again for group posts and who sees them. Pinterest, IG, Twitter, and the lot are all doing the exact same thing, shifting on your. It is true that those social media platforms are good for engaging with your audience and sharing content but you never know who is going to see your message. Sadly, when you post of facebook less than 10% of your followers see what you are sharing. At least when you e-mail your audience you are 100% sure they are receiving what you are sharing. 5. Invaluable Audience Feedback When it comes time to create a product you have unlimited amounts of feedback possibilities. Before you waste time creating a product that your audience might not be interested in it’s good to reach out to them and ASK your audience what they are looking for. This assures that you are offering what is needed and in turn can sell what you then create. If you haven’t quite figured out what e-mail service to use I ALWAYS recommend Convert Kit. Mailchimp, Aweber, and Get Response are good options too. Don’t get overwhelmed with all the tech lingo, jump on a live chat with the service, learn how to use it, and build your list. Ok, soooo if you have NOT started an e-mail newsletter yet I HIGHLY suggest you add that to your MUST DO list right now! Start building your list now so that you have contact with your audience and you can be their go-to guru. Once you’ve chosen which e-mail service to use check out this freebie: 10 Tips To Start Growing Your E-mail List xoxo, Lauren P.S. Now I have a question for you! When did you start your e-mail list? Do you still need to start? Did you start and stop? AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging and social media activities, I may receive a small monetary compensation for links to products from this post. However, I only recommend products that I personally love and use myself!
Without hesitation I openly admit that when I first got into business for myself I was not consistent with my personal development, business building studies, learning from others. Rather than trying to figure out what I wasn’t doing right I would sit in the corner pouting and kicking myself for not succeeding at something. Starting out I didn’t think to look at what others failed at in order to make it to the top and “compare notes” if you will. It wasn’t until I attended a Chalene Johnson event that I realized I was sorely missing daily business education in my life. Sure i’m intelligent, yes I have my MBA, sure i’ve run successful businesses, but what I had to learn was that when you aren't constantly learning and growing you simply stay where you are. When I finally decided to dive head first into learning from others I quickly realized what areas of my business I had made mistakes in and what I needed to do to keep moving forward to reach my goals. While I have been fortunate enough to attend a good number of seminars from some wonderful and well known mentors of mine I find that a small daily dose of business building growth, through books, has helped my business to grow continually. I will say that I have read a ton of books through my time in business but I have a few FAVORITES that I love sharing with others who are just starting out, looking to grow, or need a little extra ummmph in their businesses. Some of the books I’ll share were HUGE game changers for me, the ahhhhh (insert bright lights and heavenly music) moments, the think that took me to the next level. These are in no particular order (If you want to check any of these out on your own click the photo or the title of the book to see more details about the book) 1. The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy This was the very FIRST personal development/business growth book I ever read. Since my first read through I have read it at least 2 dozen times. Daren Hardy shares principles about how the decisions you make shape your destiny. The smallest daily decision can either lead you to your biggest life desires or it can lead you down the road of disaster. If I had to pick my #1 favorite PD book this would hands down be the book I suggest anyone read. There are easy to use, step-by-step systems he share to help you achieve your success. 2. Failing Forward by John C. Maxwell The number one fear people have when getting started in their own business is the fear of failing. I can’t say that i’ve ever truly been afraid of failing because growing up we were taught that “we didn’t fail at something, we just learned a new way that didn’t work”. I appreciate my parents so much for that life lesson and it is why I find this book so dead on with that very lesson. Most people are never prepared to deal with failure. Maxwell shares how to make failure your friend so that you can harness the lesson and turn it into success later on. As the author is quoted "I want to help you learn how to confidently look the prospect of failure in the eye and move forward anyway because in life, the question is not if you will have problems, but how you are going to deal with them. Stop failing backward and start failing forward!"” 3. The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod While I am admittedly NOT a morning person I had some fantastic take aways form this book that I apply every day to my business. The main idea is to create time to do things that matter most to you at the begging of the day. The idea behind this is that you will feel energized and creative throughout the rest of the day. I apply the same principles in his “morning” to my afternoon when the kiddo is napping. Maybe when little mr gets older i’ll become more of a morning person but until then I’m rocking these techniques on my own schedule. 4. Flight Plan: The Real Secret of Success by Brian Tracy I firmly believe that life is a journey that must be lived however it takes navigational skills to master. In business you need to know where you are headed and you must have a process on how you plan to get there. This book is all about life being a journey, teaching how to create clear goals, plans, schedules, etc. in order to establish a plan for your future. Brian Tracy uses the analogy of a pilot needed a flight plan to guide him along his flight in order to illustrate how best to navigate your business for success. 5. The Desire Map: A Guide To Creating Goals With Soul by Danielle Laporte As a new mom I found this book and it was eye opening. I could run my business a different way prior to little mr but my whole world and subsequently my business was rocked when he finally arrived. I use to be such an over planner, I use to try and keep pace with those out of my league, and I based my goals on other peoples goals. The desire map shows you how to set goals based on your desires instead of sticking rigidly to a timeline. When I read this book post kiddo arrival I really had an uhhhh-oooo-ahhhaaa moment and embraced a new way of setting goals in my business. 6. Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert My biggest take away from this book is the you are not meant to run with EVERY idea that comes to mind. There will be others who are better suited for an idea you had that you will be. This was a hard topic to learn for me because I like to have my fingers in all areas of everything. But after I read this book I realized that I was REALLY good at a few things and I needed to focus on those things and share those things rather than trying to stretch myself thin sharing EVERYTHING I was only mediocre at doing. You’ll realize this book is about the creative process of business life and it’s a great read for those who feel stretched thin. 7. Launch by Jeff Walker I had the privilege of meeting Jeff Walker at one of the seminars that I attended and he signed my book! His story is powerful and the content he shares ground breaking for businesses that want to take themselves to the next level. Walker gives you the EXACT steps to creating a successful online launch. This isn’t for just one specific type of business, it can be applied to any type of business. I have successfully implemented his techniques multiple times and the process breakdown is simply and easy to apply. 8. Habit Stacking: 97 Small Life Changes That Take Five Minutes or Less by S.J. Scott I passed by this book a DOZEN times while scrolling through Amazon. I honestly kept skipping it because I didn’t feel I needed to simplify life but boy was I wrong. I liked how Scott broke down simple tasks that are done throughout the day and turning them into a habit. The idea behind the book is that simple tasks create big results. 9. The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Peale Its easy to get down on yourself in business, personal life, in the mommy life, etc. It is nice to be able to check back in with your goals and desires and realize that the negative thoughts are merely doubt clouds that should be brushed away. In this book Peale teaches you how to believe in yourself, build new power, develop the power to reach your goals, break through old negative habits, improve your relationships, and be kind to yourself. When i’m feeling stuck or down on myself for something in my business or personal life I dive into this book for a refresher in positive thinking. 10. The 4 Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferris When I first decided I wanted to quit my full time job and start my own business I had MAJOR doubts. I wondered if I was going to be strapped to my computer 24 hours a day just struggling to make it. I went to the library and check out this book, yes I went to the library instead of purchasing the book in a store or online. Ferris teaches how theres no need to wait for the life you desire. He lays out an entire blueprint for outsourcing, eliminating the unnecessary work, managing all aspects of your business in less time so that you have more time to actually enjoy your life. Disclaimer I now own my own copy because I go back and reference it when need. There you have it, my top 10 FAVORITE books for growth! What are some of your favorite business books that you think EVERYONE should read? xoxo, Lauren P.S. If you found this helpful I encourage you to share it with another mommy you know who could use some extra time during her day! AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging and social media activities, I may receive a small monetary compensation for links to products from this post. However, I only recommend products that I personally love and use myself!
Idunno if you all have noticed but I have a VERY active 15 month old crawling, toddling, and dragging toys all over my house. I am constantly running behind him playing, teaching, and picking up his toys. With his energy its a never ending circus of amusement in our house. When I look back on when I started my first successful online business I laugh because I use to think I was soooo busy. I had “so much to do” but man did I waste a lot of free time lol. Don’t get me wrong, I got down to business eventually, but it wasn’t on a schedule or restricted schedule I should say. Now that I’m a mom I hear this statement AGAIN & AGAIN “I don’t have time to start a new business, I have kids to take care of”. Well duuuuuhhhhhh, of course you have kids to take care of… what do you think being a mom is all about? That being said it does NOT mean you can’t start a business! NOPE you’re not going to be able to sit down and knock out 8 hours of work in one sitting. Unless you work 8 straight hours after the kids go to bed but holy moly you’ll be exhausted the next day when they finally wake up. But what you do have are good windows of time to accomplish anything you want in. Truly, it’s just a matter of finding those windows of time and then organizing what needs to be done in those windows. When I’m asked the infamous “How do you find time to work each day” I simply reply with “I run my business in twenty minute to an hour time slots”. Before the baby wakes up I review what needs to be done, when the baby plays after breakfast I knock out some tasks, during nap time (which varies drastically these days) I knock out bigger projects, I schedule all calls after the babies in bed for the night, and some times I get some work done after his bedtime. My purpose for running my own business has always been so that I can be home and present in my families life, not so that I can constantly be strapped to my laptop or phone. If you want to own your own business it doesn’t have to be rocket science, it’s merely a matter of finding time in your day to accomplish your tasks and keep your business moving forward. I’ve shared this before but I have been to a number of seminars in my time and the biggest take away I ever got that I apply to my business still today is what Roger Love called the 80/20 rule. At the worlds greatest speaker event put on by Brendon Burchard, Roger Love explained how 80% of your results comes from 20% of the work you put in. Author Richard Koch writes a great book on this topic too. The book is called The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More with Less. This book can really helps you understand the ideas of balance. Another great read was The 4-Hour Work Week This is the book I read when I decided to leave my big girl 9-5 job and start my own business, which turned out to be pretty amazing ;-) ! Back to the mommy business life for a minute you already know your head is in a million places at once at any given moment during the day. Insane amounts of laundry, dishes in the sink, toys and toys and toys everywhere, quality time with friends/family/SO. The time you have during your day is VERY important. You're a mom so i’m just going out on a limb and say that you have a TON of laundry to do, toys to pick up, dishes to do, kids to chase/drive/play with… the list goes on right. Well let me just tell you that not everything you do during your day is important. I know, I know, thats harsh to hear but it’s true. WANT MORE TIME TO BUILD YOUR BUSINESS? SNAG YOUR FREE WORKSHEET >>>> HERE <<<< The NUMBER ONE thing I can tell you is that you MUST find was to cut down on the things that don’t matter to your success. No, i’m not saying skip the kiddo time or ignore your SO, what I am saying is that the “fluff” you do during the day can wait. Personally I had to learn to cut down on the amount of times I did the dishes every day, I did NOT need to pick up the toys when little mr left a room (he was coming back for eventually), I do NOT get on Facebook a billion times a day (it’s addicting, you know it is, plus it can be a huge waste of time if you're just scrolling aimlessly), I think my BIGGEST fluff remover was deciding NOT to do laundry every single day (I have set days where I do our families laundry now). When you cut out the excess fluff you have so much extra time during your day to start RUNNING your business. You can start by deciding what you want to do, you can start making connections, you can create content, you can build a website, you can start a blog, you can write your book, you can develop your network, you can chat with clients, and so much more. When you schedule your day you can free up so much time to dedicate to your business. At first, when you start removing the fluff, you're probably not going to find hours at a time but you will certainly find twenty-thirty minute chunks at a time and every little bit counts. START FINDING YOUR EXTRA TIME WITH THIS WORKSHEET >>> HERE <<< I HIGHLY encourage you to take a good long look at your week, then break it down to your individual days, I want you to start to identify areas where you can eliminate unnecessary activities in order to refocus on the bigger picture. I want you to be able to take that BIG idea that you have been stewing on and turn it into something even BIGGER. BUT—You MUST remember. We all have the exact same amount of hours in our days. You are no more busy than any other over exhausted mom on this planet. It’s simply a matter of how you choose to spend the time you have each day. Rather than saying “I just don’t have time” or “I’m just so busy” I want you to try to find just twenty minutes in your day where you can begin to cultivate some of your dreams. I’ve created a worksheet for you to help you figure out what you're really doing with your time throughout the day! >>>>> HERE <<<< xoxo, Lauren P.S. If you found this helpful I encourage you to share it with another mommy you know who could use some extra time during her day! P.P.S. If you’re looking for more tips and trips on how to get organized come join our community —> #MommiesOnAMission AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging and social media activities, I may receive monetary compensation for links to products from this post. However, I only recommend products that I personally love and use myself!
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Hey, I'm LaurenWho am I? I am a SAHM to a beautiful baby boy, a furmom to 2 doggies and 1 kittycat, a girlfriend, a fitness enthusiast, a beach lover, a dreamer, a world traveler, a business coach, a planner, and an advocate for the SAHM's with BIG dreams! Archives
November 2017
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