Online service providers and coaches look at 10k or 10,000 pounds/dollars as the monthly income holy grail. For those of us in the industry, it is the number that is thrust around by many peers and mentors as an acceptable income. There are even many books, training and videos supporting the elusive 10k month, giving us tips on how to get there. 

Now if you are looking at that number and thinking wow – that’s just pie in the sky money, I am here to tell you that you are officially wrong (in the politest sense). Take it from someone who very much had a money mindset of scarcity and lack, to tell you that the reason this number is bandied about is that in the main part it is actually achievable. But there are some key elements you MUST have in place before you can even consider reaching this goal.

When you consider how many hats women wear in their daily life it begs the question, are 10k months even achievable for female business owners? Can we hit this level of financial abundance whilst also running homes, raising children and being all the roles in one?

Believe me when I say I am not assuming that ALL women have the same struggles – it is 2021 after all but I know in my circle of female entrepreneurs the daily time block often includes packed lunches, pick-ups, appointments, laundry, cooking or DIY. 

Depending on your niche and industry this number could be harder for you to achieve. If you have a business-to-business model, you will likely get there sooner.   People are willing to invest in things that will help them make more money in the future, which is a perfectly acceptable way of looking at it. I know I am more inclined to invest in myself under those circumstances! 

But let’s say for the article’s sake, that you have a couple of your money ducks in a row already. You are a business-to-business provider or your services are of benefit to people who are in the business world. Then what? What does it actually REALLY take for you to be bringing in, in just one month, a lot more than what some make in a year?

1. You need to have a desirable offer (or a few) – I know, I know!

This one is a bit obvious but that’s why its numero uno and we will get it out there first. If the offer isn’t desirable to your dream client, then it is game over before it has begun. You need to be providing something of value that your clients really want.

2. You need to have a reputation/social proof of great results.

This is a chicken and egg situation. If you have never sold something, then it’s hard for you to be able to provide this for your new clients. That is why often, service providers and coaches will run “test or beta” runs of their “desirable offer” so that you can offer something to your clients at bargain investment but also come away with the results that the service provides and some cracking testimonials!

3. You need to have an eager audience to work with.

Now I am not suggesting here that you need a 10k plus follow list on Instagram here, not at all! My audience is micro and my business makes sales every day – please don’t think there is judgement in the number. We do not do vanity metrics here! But there is something to be said of quality. One eager follower who is ready to work with you is worth 1000 general public – so be really picky with your targeting!

4. You need to have an easy onboarding/pay system ready.

You want to make it as easy as humanly possible for your clients to pay you! Even a simple Paypal button link will do – but remember to choose something where you are feeling okay about paying the fees. It may not be a lot on a 3.99 Ebay purchase but it is significantly more on 10k transactions.

– Pro tip:  If you are not used to receiving payments that high, Paypal may hold money back. Don’t worry about it, let it sit while they do their checks to make sure nothing fraudulent is going on and then request a higher tolerance on payments for next time!

5. You need to speak to leads and “qualify” them.      

It may seem awkward to rock up to potential leads and start a conversation but if you have an idea of what your ideal client looks like then it is important for you to make sure that this is right for them and for you.

– Pro tip:  If they are not the right fit for you or your offer then recommend someone who is or be honest.  You can sink your own potential by trying to make something work that isn’t right, re-read tip number 2!

6. You need to talk about your offer a lot!

I mean a lot – digital touchpoints can be as big as 50 times now – people do not see things as often as you may think! Keep talking about it, in different ways, regularly.

7. You need a plan and a structure to reverse engineer that income coming into you monthly.

You need to know how many people you want to work with to achieve this. Is your offer priced at 2k per person? Then you need 5 people a month. Take some time to figure out what is needed for you to achieve your goal. 

As someone who has made 10k months the easy and the hard way, my biggest piece of advice would be that it’s great to have a strategy and plan to get the financial goals you want, but don’t put all of the weight on the financial goals only. Who you work with and why IS SO IMPORTANT. There is a lot to be said about taking on projects that you are passionate about and that bring you joy. Sometimes when you are working in your heart space the money rolls into you in ways you never expected! 

Short Article Review

1. Have a full suite of offers/packages
2. Build up social proof
3. Get your systems in place
4. Qualify your leads
5. Get your offers out there!

The content in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal, tax, investment, financial, medical or other advice.  Always seek the advice of a licensed professional regarding any questions you may have.  

The Post Are 10k Months Achievable For Female Entrepreneurs appeared first on Womanly Inspiration.

The world of entrepreneurship is definitely not for the fainthearted. It takes courage, grit, strength, determination & passion and although we may not all feel confident in each of those areas they are all muscles we can definitely learn to flex over time with consistency & experience. After all, we wouldn’t go to the gym just once and expect a 6 pack right?

The same goes once we’ve strengthened those skillsets, we must continue to work on fine-tuning them to become the best version of ourselves.

Again, we wouldn’t do all that work to get a 6 pack and then stop going to the gym would we?

However, no matter how much we work on ourselves, if we aren’t working on maintaining a positive mindset the entrepreneurial path can seem a hard journey to be on.

We can easily be knocked off course when things don’t work out, we hit obstacles or when goals start to seem unobtainable, we can head in a downwards spiral, 2020 is living proof for sure.

As entrepreneurs we are often wearing many hats and at the same time, sometimes we are head down, foot to the pedal and it can be hard to see situations for what they are.  As such, we probably don’t always make the best decisions for our business.

But there are things we can do for sure to ensure we are giving it out best shot by creating new positive habits which in time we will see a compound effect of in both our personal & business lives.

So, let’s talk about exactly what those positive habits are.  

Self-Care

This is HUGE. A lot of people see selfcare as a pamper day of bubble baths, face masks, and other spa indulgements but it is something we should be practicing every single day to maintain a strong positive mindset. (note: we should definitely still be indulging in pamper treats too, I just like to keep those for celebrating my wins!)

Here are some examples of what this could look like for you:

• Sleep – 7 hours minimum per night. Enough sleep is crucial to allow our bodies to recoup, recharge & heal so that we can perform at our optimum level, resulting in better ideas, decisions and outcomes for your goals. This is underrated but it’s amazing what happens when you treat your body properly and avoid overwork when undernourished, especially over long periods of time, which then becomes the norm.

• Water – Staying hydrated is another unappreciated factor to being the best version of yourself so you can run at your highest capability. Up to 60% of the human body is water. The heart & brain are composed of 73% water, the lungs 83%, skin contains 64% water, muscles and kidneys are 79% and even the bones contain 31% water. Generally speaking, adults need approximately 2 liters of water a day (no, coffee doesn’t count) and if it’s hot or your exercising then up to 3.5 liters can be consumed.

• Get Outside – I think this has been forced amongst a lot of us the past year. Being restricted on where we can go, we have been exploring closer to our homes with regular walks to break up working and living within the same 4 walls. This is definitely something we should all implement into our new working routines once ‘normal’ life resumes. Not to mention getting those steps in especially if you’re not managing to do any other form of exercise.

• Communication – keeping regular lines of communication open with family & friends will help to keep your life balanced. We need to ensure we aren’t all work and no play.  Even though time is often tight with so many jobs to do as an entrepreneur, you will definitely enjoy your work a lot more. You need to allow your brain to have some downtime each day, it is crucial to reducing stress levels, overwhelm and the risk of burn out, something that a lot of entrepreneurs know about all too well.

Feed Your Mind

I would definitely position this 2nd to Selfcare because if you’re not looking after yourself through the above then a positive mind won’t save you from burnout.

Think of your mind as a vault, a place of strength and power where you can unlock all your capabilities and desires. Our minds are SO powerful and no one else has control over them but us! How cool is that! Nevertheless, we don’t always protect them like we should.

Remember this quote “Where focus goes, energy flows” (Tony Robbins).

Strength is in everything around us, we just need to focus on the calm & the good.  When everything is constantly changing, we need to ensure that the way we pivot to change is positively. The power isn’t in the changes or the comments made around the changes (COVID for example), the power is in our reaction to those changes and how we choose to move forward.

So, how can we do that exactly?

Social Media

What’s the first thing you do each day, when you open your eyes? (be honest). Is it reach for your phone on your bedside by any chance?

Ok, I want you to imagine your brain as a big dry sponge that from the moment you open your eyes in the morning starts to soak up everything that you ‘allow’ in.  Now think about it like this.  You pick up your phone, start scrolling through social media seeing the ‘perfect highlights’ of people’s lives, perfect airbrushed faces & bodies all in their professionally cleaned dust-free show homes with their perfect angel like children. Your sponge is now already full of negative thoughts and doubts as you’ve entered the world of ‘comparatinitous’ and are now left feeling inadequate and worthless as you begin your day.

This is exactly what happens in our subconscious and even though the day proves to start off badly, nothing you put on to wear looks nice, hair & make up won’t go right, your untidy home start to annoy you, yet we still continue to do this day in and day out. Why?!

Avoid the ‘scroll hole’ at all costs.

Second to that, we also need to allow our brains to have some downtime each day.  This is crucial to reducing stress levels, overwhelm and burn out that a lot of entrepreneurs know about all too well. Reduced screen time in the morning and evening, as well as regular daily detoxes will help to strengthen that positive mindset and see the benefits of a balanced lifestyle.

Another thing that I find very beneficial is planning & scheduling my social posts in advance, not only for a beautifully curated feed, but to avoid the need to have to reach for my phone.

Batch content creation & planning is also a HUGE time saver.

Reading

An amazing replacement for the morning and evening ‘scroll hole’ is reading, not to mention it’s much better on the old eyes. We subject our eyes to so much blue light through phones, ipads, laptops, computers, smart watches, tv screens, and advertisement boards.  It is literally everywhere, even in the sun!

Reading is one of the most powerful ways to inject positivity into your mind especially at the start of your day. Any form of self-education book, or autobiography by those who have walked the same entrepreneurial paths before us are great forms of coaching that will help save you time and money on your journey.

Mindset books will specifically teach you more proven daily tools and strategies to implement into your business that have been used for years.

Goals

I cannot stress the importance of having goals and clarity. Also, to have achievable goals, by that I mean goals we can set and achieve in short timeframes.

Yes, it’s important to have long term goals to have that dream life vision board but it must be broken down into smaller timeframes to be able to track and measure, celebrating the wins as you go. If you have a big goal and a huge list of things to do to get there, then the likeliness is that you will try to focus on them all at once and not accomplish very much. Try these…

-End Goal (The big vision, create a vision of this to remind yourself where you are going)

-Long Term Goals (The next 12 months)

-Short Term Goals (The next 90 days)

-Monthly, Weekly and daily goals (top 3 priorities for each timeframe)

This will allow you to be focused on the tasks in hand and move forward with clarity.

The Rule of esteem recognizes that all humans need and want praise, recognition, and acceptance.

William James once said, “The deepest principle of human nature is the craving to be appreciated.” 

Therefore, remember to celebrate all the wins along the way, no matter how small (pamper indulges maybe!) it will most definitely help keep you motivated as you head towards your next set of goals.

Daily Habits

In addition to the above there are other positive habits you can implement into your daily routine to create the compound effect of a positive mindset. Remember, your brain is a vault, a big eager and curious sponge and we get to choose what enters it. So here are some other practices for you to also consider:

• Journaling / brain dumping / emptying your brain – whatever you choose to call it, it helps! Something magical happens when pen hits paper it becomes real once it’s out of your head and the universe will help guide you (same with goals), it allows you to prioritize better too.

• Meditation – I understand this isn’t for everyone (I find it very hard to quiet my mind) but being still or inviting your mind to just slow down works wonders for aiding sleep and reducing overwhelm, anxiety, panic and worry. Guided meditation videos on YouTube are great for those who aren’t able to just focus on breathing. Using ‘positive guided meditation’ as a way of getting positive words into your mind in a morning if you’re not quite the reader is also a great way to start your day too.

• Stop the negative thoughts – noticing when you have negative thoughts is the first step, and this gets much faster the more you practice it (I think of it as a game I play with myself now). The next step is to stop them having an impact on your mood, again this gets quicker when you learn how to change your thought process. Eventually you will start to learn the trigger so you get there before your mind even becomes receptive to it. This practice does not happen overnight but starting to become aware of it is definitely a step in the right direction.

• Affirmations – Practicing positive affirmations definitely helps to improve your mindset. Start by writing down a list of things you’re not so positive about when it comes to yourself. This could be the way you look, your confidence, or your capabilities. Then write down the positive opposite of the negative you wrote down. For example,

“I am not confident” = “I am brave”

“I need to lose weight” = “I am beautiful”

Or you can simply write down those you see in your future self.

I am Strong

I am Brave

I am Courageous

I am Capable

I am Beautiful

Try setting an alarm on your phone several times a day, when you wake up and when you go to bed especially is a great help to remind you of these.

Also put them in places you see regularly such as screensavers, mirrors, fridge, office, car, purse…wherever is may be.

Your mind only knows what you think or what you allow to enter it.

You need to be the protector of your mind, feed it, nourish it well and allow it time to heal.

With consistency and patience your strength and resilience to outside factors will surely build.  You will have control over your thoughts and your positive and powerful mindset will not only massively start to impact your life but your business too.

What you think you become,

What you feel you attract,

What you imagine you create.

 As with everything mentioned, it is imperative that you don’t try to implement everything all at once, this will create overwhelm and lack of focus so choose 3 key strategies that feel most aligned to you right now and start with those.

Remember, the 21/90 rule…it takes 21 days to make a habit and 90 days to make it a lifestyle, so have patience with yourself and lean into each practice and enjoy it, don’t think of it as time you could be doing another task (we’ve all done that), rather, fully embrace and believe it will benefit you and your business.

I have no doubt whatsoever that you have the strength and ability to unlock your truest potential, one step, one day at time and become the best version of yourself living the best life you can imagine. Now it’s time, GLOW your brightest Sista, I’ll be watching!

BIG Loves, Melissa XoXo

Short Article Review

• Self-care and feeding your mind are the 2 most powerful practices we can do and at no cost at all
• Remember, the 21/90 rule…it takes 21 days to make a habit and 90 days to make it a lifestyle
• Talk kindly to yourself on a daily basis, out loud and in your thoughts
• You need to be the protector of your mind, feed it, nourish it well and allow it time to heal.
• Maintaining a positive mindset is a result of learning to flex your muscles over a period of time with consistency

The content in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal, tax, investment, financial, medical or other advice.  Always seek the advice of a licensed professional regarding any questions you may have.  

The Post Habits of Successful Entrepreneurs appeared first on Womanly Inspiration.

If you had told me a year or more ago I would be sitting in front of my mac with a 2-hour old cold coffee, giving tips for navigating what can easily be described as the strangest global event we have ever lived through, since Brad left Jen for Angelina, I think I would have laughed. Hard.

Putting my family on house arrest was not anywhere in my 10-year plan. It’s easy to look at our situation in disbelief and like the layers of a well-grown shallot, there is a lot more to this whole thing than meets the immediate eye. If you are anything like me, you may have even sourced some comfort at the beginning of this pandemic in the way our governments shut us down.

Some of us have lost people, many in fact. Some, like myself, have been lucky enough to skim through this (so far) with only family of friends or one step removed losses. It’s an indirect sadness, you feel it, and you wish it didn’t happen, but you are also so grateful that it wasn’t your grandfather, brother, mother, sister or son.

There is a massive population of us that are hurting on the whole for others, and on a lesser level for ourselves and our old lives. Having pain or struggle in one area doesn’t cancel out pain and suffering in another. This is why it’s important to be tactful while working from home.

Here is a list of 8 strategies to help you through this pandemic while working from home:

1. Feel it

It is perfectly acceptable to be a mess right now no matter how close to the sharp end of this pandemic you currently are due to personal circumstances.

2. Be grateful

Now you have identified how you really feel, what is 100 on the suckometer and what isn’t? take some time to find the pockets of light in your day. I really would love for you to throw the “I should be doing” rule book out the window for this one.

3. Your oxygen mask first

In the event of an emergency on a plane, you are told that when the oxygen masks fall from the ceiling you MUST put on your own mask first. There is a very simple reason for this. You cannot help anyone else until you have helped yourself. No air for you means that you are no good to anyone around you, including you.

No matter how full your plate is right now, please, please, please recognize this one thing. You first.

You have identified some grateful spots – which is great, what else do you need? Do you need a standing appointment with a book and a bubble bath every Thursday? Make a list.

Be realistic but also recognize that there are opportunities to take better care of yourself than you are consciously acknowledging whilst you feed yourself another portion of “I don’t have time” or “I just need to do.”

4. Make a plan and fill it with routines

Sit down and map out your week, what is non-negotiable and what can be more flexible. How much time do you need to focus on that? What can you cut out or move?

This part will be hard especially if you have children because the working school day runs as your workday expectations do too. Something’s got to give.

It is important to categorize areas that are within as well as out of your control again for this part.

“You can juggle – but don’t multitask.” – me

Routines and rituals will help you. This may look different for everyone, whether it is a set bath time routine, a set “Golden time” per day (golden time is what we call relax, unwind, screen time for our two), or a time you can check your own computer in peace. The important thing is that everyone knows the plan and what area is being covered right now.

5. Get outside

Get some air, use your legs. Some days you may only get from the doorway to your car – that’s okay too. Especially if whilst inside the car you play a song and rock out, just for you, for those few golden glorious moments.

Getting outside might be required inside too – On a normal week you may not have spent every waking moment with your partner and kids or pets even. Too much of anything will start to slowly erode the joy it once bestowed on you. Be clear on what you need.

6. Boundaries

Have strong boundaries over your working hours, sleep and breaks. Make them, stick to them even if they are not what your normal 9-5 timetable looks like. Be realistic with yourself to make them achievable only – don’t use this as another benchmark of failure.

7. Plan

Make plans for the future – pencil them, put the sharpie down for now – but still make them and remember that although some things will be forever changed many will snap back such as seeing other humans and getting on a plane for instance.

We all need something to look forward to – this shouldn’t be any different.

8. Kindness

Be kind to the people you are communicating with – they may be the cause of additional stress because they are under additional stress and everyone has varying degrees of coping mechanisms and/or support systems.

You do not have to be superwoman – “You can do hard things” – Glennon Doyle – but you do not have to do ALL THE HARD THINGS AT ONCE. You’ve got this, I believe in you.

Short Article Review

1. Allow yourself to feel it 
2. Practice grateful
3. Take care of yourself first
4. Lean on routine
5. Make time for outdoors

The content in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal, tax, investment, financial, medical or other advice.  Always seek the advice of a licensed professional regarding any questions you may have.  

The Post 8 Strategies on Working From Home During a Pandemic appeared first on Womanly Inspiration.

On February 29th, 2020, I welcomed my son into the world. It was by far the single most amazing moment in my life, bar none. 

Approximately two weeks later, we went on lockdown due to the pandemic. Over the next few months, I found myself trying to balance learning how to be a good mom, keeping my household running, the dog walked, the cats fed, working a full-time job from home, and running a growing full-time business. Without childcare.

My new title: Single Working Stay-At-Home Mompreneur.

What is a Mompreneur?

Wikipedia defines a Mompreneur as: a female business owner who is actively balancing the role of mom and the role of entrepreneur. 

I have my own definition: a superhero (of any gender) who is raising the next generation while serving others through their business.

For each superhero that tackles this feat, though, there’s a lot at stake. Focus too much on your business, and you feel like you’re dropping the ball as a mom. Don’t focus enough on your business, and you feel like you’re going to fail and not be able to provide financially for your family. 

Tips for being a successful Mompreneur

Women don’t just have two choices anymore after becoming moms: go back to work or be a stay-at-home mom. 

With the technological revolution of the digital era and the rise of easily accessible online business tools, it’s possible to have a thriving business AND a happy family. Here are 5 tips for being a successful Mompreneur. 

1. Plan ahead

This one can sound like a bad joke to most moms who know that when you have kids, all plans go out the window. 

That being said, it’s worth taking the time to plan out your week. Take note of important calls and meetings you’ll need quiet for and schedule them for nap time, when possible.

Writing out the big events of the week can help you make sure you’re not accidentally rushing to a routine pediatrician appointment 30 minutes before a meeting with a client (been there, done that). 

Meanwhile, planning the little things, like knowing what you’re going to serve for meals (and meal-prepping when possible!), can help juggling those big things go a bit smoother. 

2. Create a routine

For me and my son, our routine is essential. Of course it changes as his needs do, but having clear morning, mealtime, and bedtime steps helps him to know what to expect – and makes my job a bit easier. 

Routines help provide a sense of safety and security for children. Knowing what will happen next can give babies and toddlers a sense of comfort, freeing their minds to do their “work” – playing, exploring, and learning.

Having a routine with self-care steps built in will also help you develop and stick with good habits. 

3. Get your kids to help

If you have school-age children or older, why not get them to help? You can get some work done while teaching them valuable life lessons. 

For the school-age children, have them do small tasks that can keep them busy and give you some time to focus. 

For older kids/teens, are there any tasks related to your business they can help with directly? 

One of my clients was struggling to keep up with her social media posts, so she asked her teenage daughter to help. It was a win/win/win for her, her daughter, and her business. Her daughter enjoyed the chance to demonstrate her Insta-post crafting skills, made a little bit of money on the side, and learned about running a business. Meanwhile, my client had her business profit from the routine social exposure and her time was freed up, allowing her to focus on other tasks.

4. Know when to multitask…

I don’t think there’s anyone better at multitasking than a mom……except maybe a Mompreneur.

Both raising kids and running a business require you to have a lot up in the air at once. Multitasking is essential to keeping up with all of your daily to-dos. 

If you don’t already, try listening to trainings or podcasts while you’re in the car, cleaning up around the house, or getting ready for your day or for bed. (Seriously, if you have to stand there for two minutes brushing your teeth anyways, you might as well be learning something. For an added boost, do squats while you’re at it! Just kidding. Kinda…)

5. …And know when to be present

But for as much multitasking as you need to do during your day, there are times when you need to be fully and completely present with what you’re doing. 

When you’re spending time interacting with your kids, be present with them. Don’t answer emails or check your Facebook notifications. Children can feel when you’re not present with them, and can respond by acting out to try to get your full attention. 

The same also goes for your business. As much as possible, try not to have disruptions during your client calls or when interacting with business partners or vendors. Show them that you respect their time and business by being completely present for them. This can be a bit harder if you have a baby or younger child, and I will always tell you to put your child’s safety and wellbeing before your business.

When all is said and done, the most important thing to remember is this:

You can’t do it all. 

Don’t get me wrong! I fully believe you can do anything if you put your mind and heart to it. But you can’t do everything all at once. 

Sit down and prioritize your goals. See what feels right to you, and then write them out. And let the rest go (for now). When you accomplish a goal or your goals shift, move on to the next.

Running a successful, profitable business and raising happy, healthy kids at the same time is possible. It will take some planning, hard work, and a ton of support. Keep your community around you including our Womanly Inspiration FB Group, so we can lift you up as needed and celebrate your successes as they come!

Short Article Review

• Wikipedia defines Mompreneur as: a female business owner who is actively balancing the role of mom and the role of entrepreneur.
• Plan out the big things in your week in advance.
• Routines help provide a sense of safety and security in children, freeing them to do their “work” of learning and you to focus on your business.
• Getting your older kids to help with some tasks can help you get some work done and teach them valuable life lessons.
• You have to know when to multi-task and when to be present.
• You can do anything, but not everything all at once. Prioritize your goals.

The content in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal, tax, investment, financial, medical or other advice.  Always seek the advice of a licensed professional regarding any questions you may have.  

The Post 5 Tips For Being a Successful Mompreneur appeared first on Womanly Inspiration.