4. Trying to do all at once
​
Okay, I was only intending to list three mistakes but I kind of feel I can’t leave this one out. As an entrepreneur time will always be your nemesis. Add to that motherhood and all the other things you have on which means the time you have to spend on your business will be limited. 

Therefore it’s essential that you learn to prioritise the most important tasks that are actually going to help deliver value to your customers and earn you an income. Focus on the crucial few tasks that bring the most rewards or add the most value to your business, and then let the rest of it take a backseat. And let me give you a hint here, you do not need a logo and a fancy website to start selling your product. 

Another tip for getting the most out of your time is to focus on the outcome, not the input. So for each time slot that you have available to work on your business, you should have a clear result that you aim to achieve. 

To give you an example here, let’s say you have one hour to work on your lead magnet (the free resource you will offer to your audience to start providing value and build trust, no matter what business you have you should have one of these). You then set the timer for 30min and for this dedicated time the result could be to complete the copy. Then for the second half-hour, you design it and make sure it’s ready to go. 

Doing it this way ensures that you actually produce results in your business, not just being busy doing stuff. Again remember progress over perfect.

There you go a few mistakes to avoid when starting to build your business. Avoid these and make sure you validate your idea before you invest too much and you will have a successful business in the making.

Time to lead with your lifestyle first.
​
Hanna x

When starting a new business, it’s easy to underestimate the hours you’ll need to put in and the multitude of hats you’ll need to wear.

​While you may be responsible for a few duties at your job, starting a business means you’re responsible for every aspect of it, which is why you’ll inevitably find yourself devoting (non-billable) time each month to business activities you never had to do as an employee. From billing and accounting, to marketing and advertising, the multitude of new roles and responsibilities can be overwhelming.
 

Besides time, the other major resource you’ll need to start your business is undoubtedly money. This can be hugely stressful when you have bills and mortgages to pay, so it’s important to always keep a safety net of savings in case of tough times. 

​Before you take the entrepreneurial leap, make sure you have a clear plan of how you’re going to fund your business and when you can expect to earn your first revenue. Keep in mind that cash flow problems are a major reason why so many startups fail and always remember that it will take time and hard work to reliably generating the money you want.

Be clear and realistic of how much time (and money) you will need to invest before you start seeing returns. And as we’re optimists by nature, it’s a good rule of thumb to always double your estimated timelines, to make sure that you have enough savings to float you through the tough times.  

Now you can get started with open eyes and if you'd like a little help grab our free Start A Business Toolkit, you can get it here.

Shine on.

Deciding to take the plunge and change your career can be daunting.

​It means moving away from what you know and have experience in, to pursue something that has no guarantees for success.

Essentially, it’s stepping out of your comfort zone, which is the only way to truly grow and develop.

​To prepare yourself for this big change and to make the transition easier and more enjoyable, it’s vital that you build up your confidence.

Here’s a look at some practical ways that you can build your confidence to take on a change in your career.  ​


Transferable Skills​

Everyone has certain strengths that are unique to them.

To build your confidence it’s worth analysing what your strengths are and how these can be applied to your new career.

Think beyond hard and soft skills and focus on personality traits that set you apart in the workplace.

You can even ask your current colleagues their opinion, to give you another perspective.
​ ​

Preparation and Planning ​

Often, simply taking action, even if it’s in a small way, can help you build your confidence and keep you motivated to keep moving forward.

This doesn’t mean you should make a drastic change like quitting your job or signing up for a new degree.

But taking a small step, even if it’s simply sending an email, connecting with someone on LinkedIn or doing some research into your new career choice, can often leave you feeling more confident as you start moving and building momentum in the right direction.
 ​

Find Your Support

Follow your passion - live your purpose.

To be truly successful in your work life, you need to be passionate about what you do. When especially if you are thinking of starting your own business.

Ask yourself, do you have a hobby or passion that could be turned into a career? If not directly, then ask yourself why that is a passion of yours. 

Find the core activity and see if that could be turned into your next career. As the saying goes, if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.

Meet a need.

Another good way to re-start your career is to identify a gap in the market, and find a way to fill it. This way you’re sure to build up a strong customer base quickly, regardless if it is within a company or starting up your own. 

Plus, it’s great to feel as though you are making people’s lives better with what you do. 

Are there no good coffee spots on peak morning traffic routes? Is there a global trend that is yet to find its way to a company you know?

​Whatever the need may be, if you’re able to offer a good solution, you’re next career is secured!

Follow your dream.
Do you daydream of a life you wish you had? Relaunching your career in line with achieving that dream and you’ll be sure to stay dedicated, as every step you take will be a step towards achieving your ultimate goal. 

If you didn’t have to deal with the limitations of money, work permits or education, what would you do? If you could choose anything in the world to be remembered for, what would it be? 

By connecting with this long-term vision for the future and making a solid plan for today, you’ll be able to start molding your life into exactly what you want it to be - and your career will simply be a stepping stone on the way

Are you now feeling motivated to move to the next step on your career relaunch journey? If you are grab our free toolkit to help you jump over the most common mistakes and go straight for success.

You can grab it here.

Shine on my friend.

Hanna x

​Avoid false expectations
It’s important to consider who has shaped the expectations you have for yourself.
Are these expectations your own, or are they based on what others expect of you, or
at least what you think others expect of you?

All too often we compare ourselves to others and then feel disheartened when we fall short in one way or another.

Make sure you’re living your life according to your own set of rules and you will have a far easier time living up to your expectations.

Adapt to changing circumstances
Life can be unpredictable with situations changing quickly and without warning. Thiscan often trip us up on our race to achieve our goals.

When this happens, it’s important to try your best not to react emotionally and instead take the time to consider your options and adjust your expectations to suit the new situation you find yourself in.

This will help you avoid feelings of failure and despair, so that you’re able to continue along your new path to success.

​Dealing with your expectations of others
In life, it’s easy to put high, unspoken expectations onto others. Whether in your
personal or work relationships, this can often lead to disappointments on your side
and uncomfortable feelings on their side of not living up to your standards.

Rather than leaving it unspoken, try to be clear and realistic about your expectations of others, as well as your own goals and plans. That way you can help others manage their expectation of you while developing a clear understanding of how you expect to be treated.

Remember that people can’t read your mind, so you need to tell them what makes you happy so they can adjust their behaviours accordingly.

How are you managing your expectations, come over to the Sisterhood and let us know.

Shine on!

Hanna x

Flu season comes in all-caps for most parents. Every day dreading that call from school or daycare asking you to come and pick up your child.

When it happens your life easily turns into chaos and all you can think of are all the things that now won’t get done.

If this is you, you are not alone! Here are 6 tips to better manage during flu season. Tips that will help you stay sane, get done what’s really important and of course, care for your sick child. 

Let's get to it!

​1. Worry gets you nowhere

Are you a worrier? I’m not a natural worrier, which means before having kids I don’t think I ever worried about anything. Becoming a parent turned this on it’s head though and it was all a bit of a shock.

All of a sudden there was little person to worry about... a fever what does it mean?? He’s coughing - could it be pneumonia?? And so my thoughts went on.

A mom’s worry can range of course, everything from a mild twinge of concern to heart-thudding panic. Now with three kids I eased a bit but I’m still probably somewhere in the middle. 

Then with the likes of Google and social media, that little spark of worry can easily turn into full-blown anxiety inferno. The truth is, doing research online makes us feel like we’re doing something productive - like we’re problem solving - when in fact we’re just fretting. 

My conclusion is, worrying does nothing but taking your time and energy away from better things, like making a plan...

​

In today’s consumerist world, it’s easy to accumulate unnecessary clutter in your home that leaves you feeling distracted, stressed out and even anxious. If this sounds like you, perhaps it’s time to reorganise and get rid of all that extra stuff.

​Decluttering can feel time-consuming and exhausting but it’s well worth it! To prove our point, we’ve put together a list of our top five reasons why you should tidy and declutter your home and life. ​

​​On top of this, messy environments signal to your brain that your work is never done, opening you up to feelings of anxiety and helplessness. Although the thought of decluttering your space can seem daunting, research shows that the less time spent dealing with your belongings, the more relaxed you will be.

So, putting in the effort today can help you become more happy, calm and relaxed in the future. 

​2. Clutter in the home is clutter in the mind. 
Have you ever found that having a messy desk makes it harder to get stuff done? This is because your brain has a hard time differentiating between what is clutter and what is actually important.

The result?

We don’t know where to start so we end up doing nothing at all.

These feelings of being overwhelmed not only make you less capable of effectively processing information, but also make you more prone to frustration.

Research shows that decluttering your work and living spaces makes it easier for your brain to focus as you no longer have clutter competing for your attention. By surrounding yourself with order and tidiness, you’re more likely to have a productive and focused mind. 

​3. It wastes your time.

This one is simple; the less clutter you have lying around, the less time you’ll spend cleaning. In fact, studies show that getting rid of clutter reduces household cleaning by a whopping 40%.

Plus, when every item has a purpose and a place in your home, you’ll be able to avoid countless time-wasting tasks such as searching for your keys, or sifting through an endless wardrobe of clothes you no longer wear.

Reduce your possessions and you’ll quickly notice how much more efficient and manageable your daily routine becomes, without the usual snags that trip you up along the way. 

​4. Flex your decision-making muscles. ​

In decluttering your space, try to be as selective as possible, choosing wisely to keep only the most important and necessary items.

Deciding which things to keep and which things to get rid of is a great opportunity to practise your decision-making skills. A skill that will serve you well in all aspects of your life. 

​5. Clutter is unhealthy.

Do you have old clothes hanging in the back of the closet, or discarded toys in the corner of the garage?

Items you no longer use are quite literally collecting dust and making your space unhealthier. Junk items make it more difficult to clean, inevitably leading to a build-up of dirt and dust that directly affects air quality in your home.

​A thorough spring clean (regardless of the time of year) will purify the air you breathe, impacting your physical and mental wellbeing. 

Now you know why it is important, it's time to take action. Would you like me to tell you about the easy way to start decluttering your life and surroundings, then grab our free Declutter Challenge and start today. It only  takes 10min a day.

Imagine your life away  from stresses and frustration to happy and in control. Download your declutter worksheet here.

Shine on!

Hanna x