This is a very special episode of the Boss Mom podcast. In this episode you'll hear Dana and NJ come together to talk about what's next for the Boss Mom Brand, share a few awesome tips, and share what's new with the Dana and NJ podcast episodes. Let's dive right in.
Listen to the podcast:
Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes.
Can I quote you on that?
- It is just so awesome to have a community. I love our Boss Mom Tribe. - Dana
- The Boss Mom Academy is going to be a place where you can grow and gain momentum in your business, but you'll also be around people who understand that sometimes your kid is going to be home sick. - Dana
- The Boss Mom Academy is going to be all about action and business. Dana
- Business is people. - Dana's dad
Take the next step!
Head here to learn more and apply to be part of the first class of the Boss Mom Academy. (Make sure you apply soon, the applications deadline is Feb 28th and the program starts March 7th.
Connect with us!
- Dana on Periscope
- NJ on Instagram
- Boss Mom Facebook Group
- Email: hello@boss-mom.com
Jaclyn Mellone is the mama behind the Chasing Dreams and Littles Incubator, a monthly membership for mama business owners to grow their dream business that allows them to work less and live more!
One unique part about Jaclyn’s story is that she built a thriving community and business all from Instagram. She is now the go-to-gal for helping online business owners build an engaged community and Instagram sales funnel.
- photo credit: Meg Mosher Photography
Her motto is, the juggle is real! Through her Facebook group, insanely interactive Instagram, and tight-knit Incubator, and one to one consulting, she’s here to help, share, inspire, laugh, cry, and shake up your approach to juggling family, home and business.
In this episode of the Boss Mom podcast Dana chats with Jaclyn about her Boss Mom journey and how her parents job's influenced her decisions. Let's dive right in.
Subscribe to the Boss Mom podcast in iTunes.
In this episode you'll hear:
- Jaclyn's Boss Mom journey from working in the corporate world to working from her dad to working.
- How Jaclyn's college friends inspired her business Chasing Dreams and Chasing Littles.
- Why Jaclyn changed her business name very early on.
- Why Jaclyn obsessively listened to business podcasts for six months before she even had an idea for her business.
- How Jaclyn grew her community and found her tribe.
- All about Instagram including hashtags and community building
- 5 easy ways write Twitter updates based on one piece of content.
- How Jaclyn uses other Facebook groups to promote her own Facebook group. Hint... don't be spammy.
- Why Jaclyn doesn't use her opt in as a requirement to join her Facebook group.
- How Jaclyn deals with overwhelm.
- How Jaclyn found a mentor from attending a webinar.
- The three tools you need when you are starting a business.
Recommended links and resources:
- Ashley Beaudin of Fire & Wind Co.
- Chasing Dreams and Chasing Littles Facebook group
- All Up in Your Lady Business Podcast
- Screw the 9 to 5
- Reina Pomeroy
Can I quote you on that?
- I knew I wanted to have an entrepreneurial lifestyle when I did become a parent, so before I even got pregnant I left the corporate world. - Jaclyn
- I left because I wanted flexibility- I didn't want to have to worry about counting sick days. - Jaclyn
- My mom was home with us and I loved that. I always pictured being able to do the same with my kids. - Jaclyn
- I struggled with wanting to chase an entrepreneurial dream like my dad was and wanting to be home for my kids like my mom was. Today, I get to have both. - Jaclyn
- I like to wear heels with my pajamas. I'm a Boss Mom and I can do that. - Dana
- I was terrible at hashtags on Instagram, until you told me I needed to use them. - Dana
- Everything comes back to this one simple thing, what does your ideal follower want from you? Why would they want to follow you? -Jaclyn
- If you hate a social media platform, then don't even worry about it. - Jaclyn
- Instagram is a great place to meet people, but I love Facebook groups for deepening relationships. - Jaclyn
- I leveraged my Facebook group by talking about it on Instagram. - Jaclyn
- If you design something for your ideal client, they're going to want to join in on it. - Jaclyn
- Just because someone is in your Facebook group doesn't mean that they're going to be the ideal client for your list. - Jaclyn
- There are two things to do when you're overwhelmed. Push through it and make it happen, or prioritize and give yourself grace. - Jaclyn
- Since starting my business, I've flipped my mentality of learning. Now, I'm learning what I need as I need it, instead of learning about something just in case I need it. - Jaclyn
- Sitting in a mastermind hot seat a live event really helped me hone in on my business plan. - Jaclyn
Connect with Jaclyn:
Chasing Dreams and Chasing Littles: Chashing Dreams and Chasing Littles Incubator / Chasing Dreams and Chasing Littles Facebook Group / Chasing Dreams and Littles Instagram
Instagram consulting: Jaclyn Mellone
Connect with Dana:
Kathy Radigan is a writer, blogger, social media addict, mom to three, wife to one and owner of a possessed appliance. She posts a weekly essay each Sunday on her blog, My dishwasher's possessed! Kathy is the author of the viral post An Open Letter to My Teenage Son About Drinking and is a contributing author to three anthologies, Motherhood May Cause Drowsiness, Sunshine After the Storm: a survival guide for the grieving mother, and The HerStories Project: Women Explore the Joy, Pain and Power of Female Friendship. She is a Huffington Post Blogger and a contributor to What the Flicka and Scary Mommy. Her work has also been featured on, Yahoo, Elephant Journal, What to Expect,and other online publications. Kathy lives outside New York City with her family.
In this episode of the Boss Mom podcast, Dana chats with Kathy about her journey being an at home mom to a work at home mom, the process of syndicating her writing, and the tools Kathy uses to manage her business. Let's dive right in.
Listen to the podcast:
Subscribe to the Boss Mom podcast in iTunes.
What you'll hear on this episode of the Boss Mom podcast:
- Kathy's journey from a mom who lived and died by her kid's schedule to a successful writer and blogger
- Why Kathy decided to step away a successful magazine she started.
- The process of syndicating her writing and why she only writes once a week.
- How Kathy decides what to write about.
- How Kathy manages the overwhelm.
- What happened when Kathy struck up a conversation with a stranger and how that effected her business.
- The tools Kathy uses to run her business.
- What Kathy does to take care of herself.
Recommended links and resources:
- Beyond Your Blog, a website that helps you learn how to syndicate your work
- Other websites to syndicate on: Mamapedia, BlogHer, Today Parenting
- The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
- An Open Letter to My Teenage Son About Drinking
- Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
- The Book Of Laughter And Forgetting
- Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
- The Brief History of Just About Anything by Bill Bryson (get it on audio)
Kathy's favorite blogs to read:
- Science of Parenthood (fun parenting advice with pictures)
- Grown and Flown (teen and young adult parenting)
- Rubber Shoes in Hell, Laugh Lines, and So Then Stories (to make you laugh)
- An Inch of Gray (to make you cry and smile at the same time)
- Scary Mommy (great for parting advice for the imperfect parent)
Can I quote you on that?
- For the first 11 years of my motherhood, I could never thing of going into business. I was too busy with my kids. - Kathy
- I started from scratch, just like everyone does. - Kathy
- I went viral and it took me to a new level. - Kathy
- You have goals and things happen organically. And then there is a snowball effect.
- My kids spark my whole passion for everything. - Kathy
- When life gets crazy, I like to call my parents. - Kathy
- When I look at all of the challenges I have in my day to day, I just can't sweat the small stuff. - Kathy
- My business is a family affair. - Kathy
- I always say yes to everything. I can work out the details later. - Kathy
- If the Today Show calls, you go. - Kathy
- If you've got a new opportunity, say yes to the adventure. -Kathy
- I don't use a lot of technology. Instead, I use my time well and ask for help when I need it. - Kathy
- If you want to do something new, start small. Do one thing well, if that's all you can do. - Kathy
- Mistakes are nothing to be ashamed of. - Kathy
- I screw up daily and that's okay. The world has not come to an end. Instead of beating myself up, I try to learn from it. - Kathy
- I started my own business because I wanted to do what I love. - Dana
Connect with Dana:
Connect with Kathy:
In this episode of the Boss Mom podcast Dana sits down with Leah Remillet, a success strategist for creative entrepreneurs. Curious as to what that means? Simply put, she teaches creative business owners how to strategically build strategies and implement systems to accomplish their specific goals and dreams. She teaches women how to be six figure, stay at home, mommy-preneurs, who can live the life they’ve imagined!
This episode is full of gems, including chatting about getting through the cycle of overwhelm, doing more in less time and why we should all celebrate when we go through a re-brand. Let's dive right in.
Listen to the podcast:
Subscribe to the Boss Mom podcast in iTunes.
In this episode you'll hear:
- How Leah works through overwhelm without letting it take her over.
- Why we shouldn't feel guilty about outsourcing portions of our business and life.
- How building a business is a lot like falling in love.
- How Leah makes time to read a book a week.
- The ONE book Leah thinks every entrepreneur should read.
- The importance of tribes, coaches, and mastermind groups.
- Why Leah is mapping out her entire year.
- The lesson Leah learned by living on a boat.
- Why we should celebrate when we rebrand.
Recommended links and resources:
- The 4 Hour Work Week by Timothy Feriss
- How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
- Audible
- Chasing Dreams and Chasing Littles Incubator
- Quarterly Planners from Inkwell Press
Can I quote you on that?
- I always knew I was meant to be an entrepreneur. I watched my parents love their business. - Leah
- My goal from the beginning was to maximize my profits and minimize my output so I could live my bliss. -Leah
- Sometimes the only way to get past overwhelm is to dive in. - Leah
- Outsourcing tasks has made me feel liberated. - Leah
- Once I started building a team and outsourcing, I realized I had more time to focus on what was important. - Leah
- Required reading for entrepreneurs: How to Win Friends and Influence People
- 3 things every successful Boss Mom needs: a coach, a mastermind group, and a community to connect with. -Dana
- I'm anti-competition. There is a place for everyone. - Leah
- Outsourcing help wasn't as scary or hard as I thought it was going to be. -Leah
- It's not just about planning. It's about implementing. - Leah
- I'm no longer trying to everything. Instead, I'm paring down and focusing on what I want to be known for. -Leah
- Life is so much more fun when we take time to recognize what makes us happy and put more of that into our lives. - Leah
Connect with Leah: Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Facebook
Lara McCulloch is, in two words, a shift disturber. She’s on a mission to change women entrepreneurs from overworked and overwhelmed into free and fulfilled.
This spark was lit in her early 20s when her addiction to the hustle first began. For ten long years, as a Brand Consultant for multinational corporations, she spent her days and nights sifting through knee deep piles of client briefs, hopping on and off of planes, forgetting to eat because she was too busy to feel hunger and multi-tasking like an expert 5-pin, one handed juggler.
And the payoff?
Sweaty, dirty and sore, she had clambered up the corporate ladder, shattered the glass ceiling and was perched precariously on top. Only to realize she was the unhappiest she’d ever been in her life.
With this lesson, she started her own award-winning consulting company. One that is run off of part time hours, generates lucrative and consistent cashflow, has launched a global speaking career and requires absolutely no investment in marketing.
She is now the antithesis of hustle. She’s living the lifestyle she wants AND can actually enjoy it.
Lara has created the Start Some Shift Academy to help women entrepreneurs learn how to build their own lifestyle businesses and once and for all boycott the hustle.
In this episode of the Boss Mom Podcast, Lara and Dana chat about her drive to ditch the hustle and her retainer based business model. They also talk about traveling with kids, priorities, and why Lara isn't currently reading any books. Let's drive right in.
Listen to the podcast:
Subscribe to the Boss Mom podcast in iTunes:
On this episode you'll hear about:
- How burning out in her corporate life spurred Lara on to become an entrepreneur.
- How a conversation with Lara's grandfather changed her life and encouraged her business.
- The Anti Hustle Movement and what it means to share it with the world.
- The fundamental issue Lara has with hustle.
- The benefits of working on a retainer model vs a traditional hourly rate.
- The unconventional ways Lara finds her ideal clients.
- Public speaking, fear and getting over it.
- Lara's new workshop and why she's launching it.
- How to ask the right questions to make sure you're finding the people to work with
- How Lara deals with overwhelm (hint... she doesn't let it happen and her method is genius).
- Why Lara travels without her child right now.
Recommended links and resources:
- Lara's Anti Hustle Guide
- Being Boss podcast
- She Percolates podcast
Can I quote you on that?
- Even though I came from a long line of entrepreneurs, I never really thought of myself as one. - Lara
- I'm able to be a present and happy parent because of the business I created. - Lara
- You've got to be actionable to get stuff done. - Dana
- I lived the hustle, which is why the anti hustle movement is so important to me. - Lara
- I like working smarter than I like working harder. - Lara
- I am much better at what I do when I slow down and think about my business smartly. - Lara
- Work through your fear, and you'll get through it. - Lara
- I built a business that affords me the ability to follow my passions. Actually, it encourages me to do that. - Lara
- When I build a business model where I'm able to pick and choose my clients, I'm in the drivers seat to chose my clients instead of focusing on sell, sell, sell.
- Switch the mindset from selling to choosing your clients. - Dana
- Overwhelm has 100% to do with perspective. I give myself 100% permission to let go of things that aren't a priority. -Lara
- Don't feel guilty about letting things go that aren't a priority. -Lara
- Focus on what is important to you and let the rest go. - Lara
- Everyone in my life has something about them that I admire greatly. I'm always looking up to (and learning from) them. -Lara
- My son just turned 3. I'm pretty sure he's a comedian trapped in a toddler's body. - Lara
Connect with Dana:
Connect with Lara:
Website / Facebook / Facebook group / Instagram / Twitter / Periscope
Start Some Shift podcast / Start Some Shift Instagram
Start Some Shift Academy: launching soon. Sign up here for details.
Today's Boss Mom Podcast guest is the wonderful Emily Potts.
Emily is super-passionate about helping mompreneurs achieve small business success without sacrificing what matters most. A wife and mother herself, Emily owns three small businesses, so she knows a thing or two about juggling work and family! She believes in unconditional love, laughing really hard, making space for what's important and spending time where it counts. Emily teaches other mompreneurs how to strategically market their businesses, charge what they're worth and sell from a place of strength. She wants to help her mamas be truly profitable so they can feel empowered by their work and how it blesses their families.
Let's dive right in. Affiliate links present in this post.
Listen to the podcast:
Subscribe to the Boss Mom Podcast in iTunes.
What you'll hear about in this episode the Boss Mom podcast:
- How Emily's surprise baby shifted her business perspective and the challenges she encountered.
- How Emily restarted her businesses from scratch with a newborn.
- Emily's creative marketing plan and how gifting is involved.
- How to set outside marketing meetings effectively.
- How Emily discovered her niche helping momprenuers.
- The benefit of prioritizing, outsourcing and taking time away.
- The ONE THING you need to find when you're looking for a VA.
- Why Emily is taking four months away from her photography business.
- What Emily will be doing while she's not working on her photography business.
- How Dana and Emily plan their days.
- Why Emily recommends we work with blinders on.
- How to stay relevant as your growing your business.
- Emily's biggest business mistake and how she learned from it.
Recommended links and resources:
- Essentialism by Greg McKeown
- How to Really Love Your Child by Ross Campbell
- Searching for Sunday by Rachel Held Evens
Can I quote you on that?
- I had to learn how to juggle motherhood and business at the same time. It was challenging, beautiful, and crazy. - Emily
- I got outside of my comfort zone, dug into my new community and created new connections. (How I restarted) - Emily
- Step outside your box and ask for collaborations. - Emily
- I think it is important to remember that you need to give to someone before you ask them for something in return (on marketing). - Emily
- 90% of us are great at what we do, but not at running a business effectively. - Dana
- Take time away. Refocus and regain your energy so you can go hard at it again. - Dana
- If you burn out, you aren't going to work well. Take time away. - Emily
- Working for the "man" is not my favorite. I'd rather work for myself. - Emily
- Build a team with people you love. - Dana
- Your people are your biggest asset. - Emily
- I've built up enough of a great client base that I am going to take four months off. I know the work will be there for me when I return. - Emily
- When our kids are at home, there are times we can only do bite sized work. That's okay. -Dana
- I prioritize my work based on what is going to move the needle forward to my big goals. That work has to get done first. I'll fit the rest of it in later. -Emily
- Comparison crushes or creativity. - Emily
- Our knee jerk reaction is to get defensive when we make mistakes. But I've learned along the way that if you own it and do what you can to make it right, it is received much better. - Emily
Connect with Dana:
Connect with Emily Potts:
How to pick a word of the year! Happy New Year! For this episode of the Boss Mom Podcast, Dana and NJ are back with a bang and talking about their words of the year for 2016, why it's important to share hobbies with your kids and their current TV crushes. Let's dive right in!
Listen to the podcast:
Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes.
In this episode you'll hear:
- Dana and NJ talk about their word of the year.
- Why NJ has two words for the year (hint hint... she's got one for business and one for her personal life).
- How to make your word of the year meaningful.
- Why it's okay if you don't settle on a word of the year right away.
- Why it's important to share your hobbies with your kids.
- Dana & NJ talk about their TV crushes... it's adorable.
Recommended links and resources:
- Lara Casey's powersheets.
- Krafty Kash's website and awesome word of the year necklaces.
The cutie The Flash
The cutie Coach Eric Tayor
Can I quote you on that?
- I realized I spent too much time and energy trying to make things happen instead of being patient to see how things would play out. - NJ
- There has to be a why behind I everything do. Instead of throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks, I'm going to throw spaghetti at the wall because I know it will stick. -NJ
- I spent some time not working with ideal clients last year. The work wasn't meaningful to me. - NJ
- I'm doing less this year, but I'm going to accomplish more. - Dana
- Do less, but do it better. -Dana
- I'm always a fan of any goal that includes the word napping. - NJ
- Setting a word can be really powerful for your year. - Dana.
- You've set a word for the year, but what are you going to to to make it purposeful for you? - Dana
- A word can mean nothing or a word can mean everything. - Dana
- Use your word of the year as a tool in your life, motherhood, relationships, and business. - NJ
- I set my goals from a place where my word of the year lived. - NJ
- There is nothing magical about January 1. - NJ
- It's okay to not settle on a word right away. - NJ
- Let's make 2016 the year we stop doing things that don't matter to us. - Dana
- Don't just work with people that make your heart sing, bring that into your motherhood too. Share your hobbies with your kids! - NJ
- With great power comes great responsibility. - Spiderman
- Super Heroes are not my love language. - NJ
Connect with Dana & NJ
Dana: Instagram / Periscope (her total happy place)
NJ : Website / Instagram (her total happy place)
We are so grateful for you, Boss Moms! If you loved this episode, could you please take a second to leave us a rating and review on iTunes? Doing so helps us reach more Boss Moms! And don't forget, we've got an amazing Facebook Group just for you too. Here is the link to join us there (where we've got tons of awesome conversations happening about the intersection of business and motherhood).
What is your word of the year? How are you going to use it this year?
Are you Team Flash or Team Coach Taylor? Who is your TV crush?
One of the funnest things that has come out of the Boss Mom brand since it's launch is the Boss Mom Podcast. I've really enjoyed getting to interview some of my favorite Boss Moms and I love podcasting with my co-host, NJ. NJ and I have a hoot together each time we talk. And when we're together on air, you really see the heart of the Boss Mom brand. We're passionate about motherhood and business, and in love with being intentional with our time so we have more of it to do what matters most to us. We also like to laugh a lot and sometimes get side tracked, but one of us always reels the other back in. And that's Boss Mom 101.... accountability.
This episode today with NJ and I is a shorter one. In this episode, you'll hear us wrap up the year and chat a little about what 2016 is going to look for us. Because this episode is a little shorter, we thought we'd use the notes section of this space to tell you two things that worked really well for us in 2015, and one thing we're changing in 2016.
Listen to the episode:
[smart_track_player url="http://traffic.libsyn.com/bossmom/Final2015Episode.mp3" title="Saying Goodbye to 2015 and 2 Pieces of Advice from Dana and NJ"]
Subscribe to the Boss Mom podcast on iTunes.
Two things that worked well for us in 2015:
Dana: Get yourself a team. You are not an island. It took me way too long to realize how true this is, especially in business. Even if you don't have a budget you can get an intern or find a good free mastermind, or join a community. The second I started to let people help me more, and then actually started to hire team members (just part time) it made a huge difference. All of a sudden I was able to focus on what I'm good at, and that it how you start making more money. I think the second thing that really worked well for me this year is Periscope. At first I thought, 'yikes I can't handle another social media platform,' but it turns out it fit my personality and came really easy to me. So deciding to give it a try worked out really well for me.
NJ: I fully believe that if you want to have growth in your business, you need to evaluate the things that are working and the things that aren't working. Two things that really worked well for me in 2015 was getting childcare for Lola one day a week and narrowing my niche. Knowing that one day a week I have the full day to work on projects has been amazing. She'll be three in August and we'll have to decide if she'll be going to preschool full time or not. For my blog, A Cookie Before Dinner, I narrowed my niche. About 20% of my content is specifically useful to people who live in my area. Next year, I hope to grow that number even higher (to around 50%).
One thing we're changing for 2016:
Dana: I plan to do few things in 2016 so I can have time to really make sure each thing I do is executed really well. I tend to go at the speed of light and this coming year I am going to slow down a bit, enjoy the journey, and get really intentional about growing the Boss Mom community, speaking at more events, and a few other fun things I have planned as well.
NJ: As a blogger, one thing that is really important to me is revenue streams. Recently, a really large stream came to a close because the program ended unexpectedly. I'm not freaking out about the missing income, however I want to develop some more passive income so that I have more time to spend offline. I think this will look like a combination of affiliate marketing, an eBook or two and a web based course. I really have a heart for Instagram and small business, so I am going to pursue that passion and see where it goes.
We are so grateful for you. 2015 has been a banner year for Boss Mom and we're looking forward to diving deeper with you in 2016. Boss Mom will be back in 2016 with an awesome line up of podcast guests, hyper useful blog content and even more Boss Moms of the Week. In the mean time, you can catch us on social media where we'll be sharing glimpses of our time away and in the Boss Moms Facebook Group where you can connect with others who are in the middle of motherhood and business.
Connect with Dana & NJ
Dana: Instagram / Periscope (her total happy place)
NJ : Website / Instagram (her total happy place)
Angelique has enviable determination. While deciding to make her own favors for her bridal shower, she stumbled into a lucrative soap favor business that has been featured on countless party blogs, in news articles, and on party theme inspiration sites. Angelique’s robust Etsy shop delivers thousands of soap favors a month bringing happiness to kids and adults while making every event that much more special with favors that guest can actually use.
While raising their daughter and managing a thriving business, Angelique also works full time for a law office to support their family while her husband finishes his degree in engineering. Despite only having 24 hours in a day, Angelique juggles three full time jobs (job, store, mom) and is confident that if you dream big, work hard, stay focused, and surround yourself with good people; anything is possible.
In this episode, Dana chats with Angelique about how her business got started, the unique niche she's found for herself, and why Angelique thinks bowling is awesome. Let's dive right in! Oh, and before we get started it is important for us to note that Angelique's soaps are all natural and great for kids who might want something fun in the bathtub but can't use traditional bath products due to their sensitive skin. Now, on with the show!
Listen to the podcast:
Subscribe to the Boss Mom podcast on iTunes.
In this episode you’ll hear about:
- Angelique’s love for hot chocolate instead of coffee.
- Angelique’s Boss Mom story and how her brand got started almost by accident.
- How the recession impacted her business and brand.
- The role Angelique’s husband plays in her business.
- How Angelique balances a full time job, her business and her family.
- The importance of having a tribe to help you run your business.
- How Angeleque streamlines some of the tasks of running a home so she can focus on her business.
- Babies and big kids and their lack of sleep + husbands and their parenting shortcuts.
- The tools and books Angelique uses to run her business.
- Tips and advice from Angelique regarding having a product based business.
- The big fears Angelique is currently working on overcoming.
- Angelique’s big goal for 2016.
- Angelique’s guilty pleasure and why she tries to make time for it.
Recommended reading, products, and information:
- Hot Chocolate Maker- Nostalgia Electrics
- Amazon Prime
- Epantry
- One Thing At A Time: 100 Simple Ways To Live Clutter Free Everyday by Cindy Glovinsky
- Etsy-prenuarship by Jason Mellonack
- Girl Code by Cara Alwill Leyba
- GoDaddy bookeeping service
- Audibile
- For Crying Out Loud Podcast- Lynette Corolla (Adam Corolla’s wife)
- Etsy Conversations Podcast
- Angelia's Boss Mom of the Week Post
Can I quote you on that?
- My business started almost completely by accident. - Angelique
- Word of mouth spread and passion took over. That’s how I got started. - Angelique
- A good entrepreneur sees the spark and fans the flame. -Dana
- My business has replaced my husband’s full time income. He can go to school full time for his degree now. - Angelique
- It all boils down to passion. - Angelique
- Every strong Boss Mom needs to have a tribe. - Angelique
- I don’t think I could run my business without my amazing tribe supporting me. - Angelique
- You can’t really grow a business by yourself. - Dana
- When you have the right support with the right people, it’s amazing. - Dana
- If you want to start a product based business, I think the first step is to research everything you can about it. - Angelique
- Word of mouth is what sells amazing businesses that are product based. Angelique
- When people see a product they absolutely love, they’ll contact you. Angelique
Connect with Angelia:
Website / Etsy Shop / Facebook / Pinterest / Instagram
Connect with Dana:
Did you know that I’ve created an awesome community online just for you? Whether you haven’t started either yet or you are a veteran, the Boss-Moms group is a place of support, collaboration, and motivation. We know that raising a business and a family is tough…and even tougher to do both at the same time. The Boss-Moms Facebook Group is place to talk about challenges without being judged, get true support and great ideas from women who have gone through it.
You can also find me on these social media channels.
In this episode you'll hear:
- The birth of Jen's blog.
- Jen's viral blog post story, how she capitalized the traffic and converted over 700,000 fans.
- The large role Jen's husband played in the process of developing her blog and sustaining her writing.
- How and why Jen protects her children's identity online.
- Jen's biggest challenges in motherhood and running her business.
- The lens that Jen filters her business through - especially as technology and trends change.
- The constants in Jen's business and where her brand is going moving forward.
- How Jen's husband helps in their business and where she goes to when she needs to find inspiration for essays.
- Why Jen keeps a treadmill in her office.
- The healing power of a good cry.
- The big book vs movie debate, what Jen thinks of every movie that was a book first and why books that are made into movies make her cry.
- Jen's book writing process and her journey from self publishing to traditional publishing.
- The ups and downs of working with a traditional publishing house.
- How self published authors can get their books in libraries.
Recommended resources and links:
- Jen's blog post that started it all: Over Achieving Elf on the Shelf Mommies
- Dane Cook talks about crying
-
- Movies to induce crying: The Notebook and PS I Love You
- Books Jen is reading: Furiously Happy, She's Not There
- Books Dana recommends: Bitter With Baggage Seeks Same: The Life and Times of Some Chickens
Can I quote you on that?
- I would write and vent on my blog, and then feel better about my day. -Jen
- I am a good mom, my kids are happy and healthy and I do some magic, but I don't do crazy magic. - Jen
- It's not enough that I run a business full time and am a mom. I ran the PTO too, because I'm crazy. -Jen
- It was just one mom sharing it to another mom. That's how I went viral. - Jen
- This is looking like it could actually be a thing. - Jen
- It's a matter of seizing the opportunity. Strike while the iron is hot. -Jen
- My kids are 9 and 11. I sleep and everyone wipes their own butts. It's great. - Jen
- I think it is always going to be a challenge to find time to do my work and be with my kids and husband. -Jen
- You can't get complacent. You're always looking for a new way to grow your business. -Jen
- Find out what your stress reliever is and make time for that thing. - Jen
- Whatever book you're looking for, a librarian has a book list. - Jen
- I love it when my readers tell me where they've seen my books. - Jen
Connect with Jen Mann:
Spending the Holidays With People I Want to Punch In The Throat
3 Things Making Her Happy
- Mouse Traps- I'm in the middle of a mouse infestation and it is freaking me out. Follow the saga on my Facebook page.
- Her book is doing really well.
- Her family. If my family doesn't make me happy, I don't know what would.
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iTunes
Jen's Anthologies
- I Just Want Want to Pee Alone
- I Just Want to Be Alone
- I Still Just Want to Pee Alone
Connect with Dana:
3 Things Making Her Happy
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! In this episode of the Boss Mom podcast, Dana and NJ are back together again and chatting about gratitude and their Thanksgiving plans. As always, there are a few great laughs and awesome nuggets of wisdom you don't want to miss. This episode does not feature our typical full show note style because well, it's Thanksgiving and I believe in the power of being with family and rest.
Let's dive right in.
Listen to the Boss Mom Podcast.
Subscribe to the Boss Mom Podcast in iTunes.
In this episode we talk about:
- Physical reminders that remind us to slow down when we're in a huge season of push.
- Why it is important to check our core and heart values against our priority list, especially in a season of push.
- How to cultivate a spirit of gratitude everyday, instead of just on Thanksgiving.
- Our Thanksgiving plans and our favorite Thanksgiving food.
- The things we're grateful for this year and the things that are making us happy.
Connect with Dana & NJ
I'm popping the champagne and blowing horns because my book baby, Boss Mom: The Ultimate Guide to Raising a Business & Nurturing Your Family Like a Pro, is finally here! Today is the official launch and I couldn't be more excited. In this episode of the Boss Mom podcast, NJ and I answer everything you want to know about my book- from who I wrote for to what it was really like writing with a newborn and everything else in between.
Let's dive right in. *Affiliate links present in this post.*
But before we do, I want you to know that for the next two days there is a Boss Mom book celebration Instagram giveaway going on. Head here to grab all of the details on how to enter.
Listen to the podcast:
Subscribe to the Boss Mom podcast in iTunes.
In this episode we talk about:
- Dana’s new book, the Boss Mom book and who she wrote for.
- One thing that really surprised NJ about motherhood.
- Why Dana wasn’t afraid to chase one of her big goals in business while she was also pursuing a big goal within her family too.
- The people Dana pulled in to help her write her book and how Dana accomplished writing her book with a newborn in her arms.
- Why Dana wrote bonus content for the Boss Mom book and her favorite chapter.
- Nj’s daughter Lola’s 10 minute 3 push birth story
Recommended reading, links and resources:
- Boss Mom book on Amazon
- Dana’s book coach: Coach Azul
- Mindmapping
- Dana’s interview with Nicole Keating
- Dana’s interview with Emily Potts
- She Plans planner
- Episode 11 of the Boss Mom Podcast- want to laugh? This is a great one.
- Evernote for note keeping and Dragon for transcription
Can I quote you on that?
- I truly believe you can have a thriving family and a thriving business.-Dana
[Tweet "I truly believe you can have a thriving family and a thriving business. #bossmom"] - We are constantly making sure that we’re the rock- that we moms are making sure everything is moving forward and working well. -Dana
- The Boss implies everything in our life and Mom is the foundation for us. -Dana
- We are more than just moms. -Dana
- Boss Moms… we’re dreamers and doers. -NJ
- Even women who choose to stay at home and take care of children exclusively are more than just a mom. They’ve got hobbies and passions, they’re creating too. -Dana
- Mom guilt 101: you let yourself be defined by someone else’s standards. - Dana
- Writing doesn’t scare me. - Dana
- It was more important for me to write the Boss Mom book than it would have ever been to write a book about content strategy. -Dana
- If you’re brainstorming and it seems easy, you’re not brainstorming enough. - Dana
- This book is life changing. It is going to blow your mind. -NJ
[Tweet "This book is life changing. It is going to blow your mind. #bossmom #BossMomBook"] - When I get my paper copy of the Boss Mom book, I’m going to take my highlighter and get messy with it. -NJ
- Love is limitless. - Dana
- Now that I have a toddler, I realize how easy having a baby is. -Dana
- If you’re looking for support, advice, or encouragement, the Boss Mom book is going to call out the gold and reinforce pieces of yourself you might have forgotten about. -NJ
- Our job isn’t to stop our lives and raise our kids, our job as a mother is to raise our kids to see how amazing life can be. - Dana
- The hardest part of my book to write was the gratitude page. I had to narrow it down from 5 pages! - Dana
Things Making Us Happy:
Dana:
- The completion and launch of the Boss Mom Book.
- She’s going to Disneyland on Friday.
- Dana has created margin in her business so she can make Christmas crafts in December.
- Bonus: Christmas To Me by Pentatonix
NJ:
- LulaRoe Mommy & Me Leggings.
- Trello - “It’s like if your to do list and Pinterest had a baby.”
- Thanksgiving is next week!
- Bonus: Roasted root vegetable soup with duck confit and artisan garlic bread by her friend Mike.
Connect with Dana & NJ
Keturah Gordon is a life-coach, blogger and seminar leader who helps people who feel ‘stuck’ and exhausted to find the confidence to live the life they’ve always dreamed about. Keturah uses the word ‘Trapped’ to describe how she used to feel but now, as a Boss Mom, her life is truly transformed. Her business is aptly named Trapped to Transformed.
After going through an unhappy marriage, a messy divorce, battling depression and experiencing the trauma of losing her hair due to stress, all alongside being a mother to two young boys and progressing in her career to the level of a High School Deputy Head, Keturah has decided to take a step back from her 10–year teaching career in order to build a business that helps people reconnect with their true calling and live a life of true happiness and fulfillment.
Keturah offers practical support that helps women (and men) avoid becoming overwhelmed at work a+ nd at home, or simply helps those who want to take their lives in a different direction. Through her free women’s seminars, Keturah provides a place where women can connect and inspire each other as they embrace the knowledge that the perfect parent, or woman, does not exist - (should we repeat that??) everybody is just doing the best they can! No matter what the situation, there is always a way out - she helps her clients to find it, go after it, and learn to love and trust themselves more along the way.
In this episode Keturah and Dana talk about self discovery and transformation. This episode is full of so much wisdom. Let's dive right in.
Listen to the podcast:
Subscribe to The Boss Mom podcast in iTunes.
In this episode we talk about:
- The core of why Boss Moms start businesses in the first place.
- Keturah’s journey to becoming a Boss Mom and how getting divorced played a role in it.
- A defining moment when Keturah realized self care was more important than she thought it was.
- Authentic living and why it matters to be who you are.
- How women can transform their lives when they want more from life through the acronym C.H.A.N.G.E. (Keturah gives a great overview of the C.H.A.N.G.E program she takes her clients through).
- Why it is important for women to establish their WHY.
- How to work through judging other women gracefully.
Recommended reading, links, and resources:
- Keturah’s Trapped to Transformed C.H.A.N.G.E. Program
Keturah’s online C.H.A.N.G.E. program is a six-step compilation of everything she has learnt from her journey to date and it’s broken down into practical steps and easy strategies that anyone can follow if they want to transform their lives. Keturah loves helping people to realize how powerful they are in their own lives and is particularly passionate about helping women to unearth the courage to go for whatever they want. - Rach Wheatly’s Boss Mom podcast about intention setting
- Kelsey Murphy’s Boss Mom podcast about passion
- The Artisan Soul TedX Talk by Erwin McManus
Can I quote you on that?
- As moms and and entrepreneurs we are creating a business and a life to fit a need or solve a problem. Sometimes that need is that we need freedom and want to love what we’re doing. - Dana
- The journey of where I started (my business) came from not a really good place, if I’m really honest. - Keturah
- Women have a very powerful instinct and amazing intuition. -Keturah
- My strength and confidence grew when I stopped trying to hide it. - Keturah
- If we allow ourselves to be who we actually are, it’s really powerful. -Keturah
- Youi’re really amazing, just as YOU ARE. - Keturah
- Life has taught me that it’s okay to just be yourself. -Keturah
- What thought patterns do you have going on that are holding you back? -Keturah
- If you could really do anything, what would you do? - Keturah
- If you’re going to change things up, you’ve got to have a reason to change it. Establish your why. -Keturah
[Tweet "If you're going to change things up, you've got to have a reason. Establish your why. @KeturahGordon"] - If you’re going to do something, go at it with 100%. -Keturah
- If you release the expectations you have of yourself, you’ll find that you can start focusing on the expectations you have for yourself. -Keturah
- You have whatever it takes within you to achieve whatever it is you want to achieve. -Keturah
- I have people in my life that don’t get what I’m doing. But that’s okay. Don’t try to fix it, just keep going. -Dana
- Give yourself permission to let your voice be heard. -Keturah
- Too many voices can steer you away from your own voice within. You need to hear your own voice the loudest. -Keturah
- My biggest challenge (since I work online) is being present with my kids. Fully present. -Keturah
- If I am doing something for me, it will trickle down to my kids. They benefit too. -Keturah
Connect with Keturah:
Visit Keturah's website Trapped To Transformed.
For Listeners in the London Area who want attend Keturah's seminar socials: They meet at 11.00 every 3rd Wednesday of the month. Details are on her meetup page.
Search for ‘Trapped to Transformed’ on www.meetup.com
Website / Twitter / Facebook / Instagram
If you could really do anything? And I mean ANYTHING... what would you do? Let's dream a little today in the comments. Or reply to me at @DanaMalstaff on Instagram.
Welcome to the Boss Mom podcast! Today Dana and NJ are bringing you 30 jam packed minutes about business and life- this episode is full of pop culture references and they couldn't stop laughing. We hope you have as much fun listening as we did recording. Let's dive right in.
Listen to the podcast:
Subscribe to the Boss Mom podcast on iTunes.
In this episode we talk about:
- East Cost vs West Coast jazz hands
- Why NJ doesn't understand the current lingo
- What NJ has to say about 50 Shades of Grey
- Why it is important to think about your business cycle in seasons.
- Season of uncertainty and how to handle things when there is something out of your control.
- A defining moment in Dana's life.
- Why it matters to work with people you enjoy.
Pop culture party hour references (affiliate links present)
- Bring It On
- Mary Katherine Gallagher
- Buzz Feed Grandmas read 50 Shades Of Grey
- Robin Hood Prince Of Thieves
- The Flash
- Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris
- The Muppets on primetime
- Friday Night Lights
- Dr. Horrible Sing Along Blog
- Gilmore Girls
Can I quote you on that?
- What is a bae? -NJ
- I feel like I'm on one of those Buzz Feed grandmas. -NJ
- I need to not be in public while I'm reading this. - Dana
- We do not endorse non consensual reading. We do not endorse it. NJ
- Is there a happy medium where you can be consensually manipulative? - Dana
- Everything on my plate has a deadline for a reason. I have to push because it would cost me money and stress to move those dates. - Dana
- I have a hard time not working. - Dana
- I'm finishing up a season of striving and stretching to get all of my responsibilities done and get my home unpacked so my family feels cozy and settled in their new space. - NJ
- I had an idea of what was going to happen, but there were some things out of my control. I could see most of the big picture, but there were four puzzle pieces out of my control I had no choice but to wait and see. - NJ
- If it isn't working, stop and reassess to see if you need to try something new. - Dana
- If you are in a season of waiting, my best advice is to hold your cards really close. Find a few people to you really trust and tell them what is going on. It just feels better to let it out. - NJ
- Amazing things can happen just by letting it out. - Dana
- I do think you're crazy, but I'm crazy about you. - NJ
- I don't know why Frozen is like crack for kids. - Dana
- I can't carry a tune in a bucket, but I don't care. I'm owning my biscuits. -NJ
- Grandma thinks that they've ripened very well. -NJ
- I have a secret crush on The Flash. - Dana
- I hustle hard. 90% of the time, I'm hustling hard- either for my clients or my kids. -NJ
- Boss Moms... we work hard, we hustle hard, and I think we should get to play hard too. - NJ
- I heart your face, all the heart eyes. NJ
Bev Feldman is creative entrepreneur and a stay-at-home mom to one very adorable (and energetic) toddler. When she's not chasing after her daughter at playgrounds and storytimes, she can be found managing her jewelry business and blogging about creativity, motherhood, and all things handmade at Linkouture: Musings on the Creative Side of Life.
Bev and Dana talk in this episode about finding creativity and why it is important for moms to carve out space for themselves. They also chat about something most all of us need more help with- time management. Let's dive right in, shall we? Oh! And make sure you listen through to the end of the show. Dana is sharing an extra dose of wisdom about Boss Mom life in this episode!
Listen to the audio:
Subscribe to the Boss Mom podcast in iTunes.
In this episode you'll hear:
- How Bev developed and carved out time to write her e-book.
- What creativity is and why it is important to make time for it.
- How Bev balances being a stay at home mom and a creative entrepreneur.
- Bev's time management tips and why she works in chunks.
- Bev's biggest challenge as a work at home mom and business owner and what she's doing to over come it.
- Bev's grass roots marketing plan for her book launch.
- Bev's number one tip to find creativity in your life.
Can I quote you on that?
- I want to inspire other moms to live creatively.... and to not feel guilty for wanting to do that. - Bev
- A happy mom = a happy family. - Bev
- As moms, we give and we give, but we need to make sure to find time for ourselves. - Dana
- I'll admit, my house gets messy sometimes. I treat my daughter's nap time as work time and I act as if I was working.... not cleaning the house because I wouldn't be home. - Bev
- I've given myself permission to take breaks from work. - Bev
Recommended resources, links, and books (affiliate links may be present):
- Bev's e-book: Creativity for Moms
- Bev's guest post for the Boss Mom blog: 4 Tactics That Helped Me Write My E-Book So I Could Teach Busy Moms How To Be More Creative.
- The pomodoro technique for time management.
- Evernote
Connect with Bev:
Visit Bev's online space: Linkouture: Musings on the Creative Side of Life.
Bev currently has a giveaway happening on her blog, in celebration of her book launch. Head here to check it out!
Website / Twitter / Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest / Periscope
How do you connect with your creativity? Answer in the comments below, or connect with Dana on Instagram to continue the discussion there.
Rach Wheatley is business consultant and coach, speaker and blogger. She’s a proud mum and wife who juggles day care drop offs, collecting pretty things and getting sweaty via a range of fun/crazy fitness adventures. She thrives on hearing women’s stories and helping them create a new story for their future that it meaningful, peaceful and happy.
Project: Breathe is home to her blog, consultation, workshops and shop, all of which are designed lovingly to help women go from ‘pie in the sky’ dream stage to ‘wow this business is actually happening’ stage. Rach’s unique style blends emotional support with practical tools leaving clients feeling empowered to move into a new phase of their lives.
This podcast with Rach is a great listen with lots of amazing advice about finding your why and intention setting.. Let’s dive in, shall we?
Listen to the audio:
Subscribe to the Boss Mom podcast in iTunes:
In this episode you’ll hear:
- Rach’s journey from working in management to working for herself, and how motherhood influenced her decision to become an entrepreneur.
- How working with the wrong business coach helped Rach plan the right course for her business and following her passion.
- What being heart-centered is and why it is important to being in business for yourself and being a mother.
- Why having vision and purpose is powerful.
- Why uncovering your “why” is hard (but important) work and why it is worth it.
- Rach’s intention setting method, how it differs from goal setting and the impact it has on Rach’s business and personal life.
- Why we need to practice the art of self compassion.
- How having a mantra can slay the feeling of guilt.
Can I quote you on that?
- After becoming a mum (and taking 12 months off to be home with my son), I tried looking for a job the conventional way and found that no one wanted me. That was really really hard. - Rach
- I said to myself, “When I was pregnant, I knew I didn’t want to go back to my old career, so why was I even trying?” - Rach
- I stopped, and had a really good think about what I really wanted and what my purpose actually was. - Rach
- I realized, I could be a mum and have the type of business that was meaningful to me without compromising either. -Rach
- When you know what is important to you, you can build your business to support that kind of life.- Dana
- Women are getting this message that they have to do things this normal traditional way, or else this (business) isn’t going to work. And it just increases that mother’s guilt that we’re already feeling….. I really wanted to be that person that says to them, we can work through this. You can work it out and you can have both. - Rach
- There is plenty of judgement out there- we don’t need to be putting it on ourselves and each other. - Rach
- We just have to figure out what is your vision and what is your purpose and how can we put that into your everyday. -Rach
- We can make business decisions with our intentions in mind. - Rach
- The biggest tip I can give for intention setting is to have self compassion, you have to as compassionate to yourself as you are to your kids or anyone else.
- The intention setting has taken the guilt out of being a mother and an entrepreneur (I used to feel guilty for spending time on one or the other). There is no place for guilt because I’m focusing my feelings, thoughts, and energy on other more positive emotions. -Rach
- I’m going to give myself permission to change my mind, if that’s the best decision for my business and family. - Dana
Recommended resources, links, and books (affiliate links present):
- Rach’s free Intention Setting worksheets
- The Law Of Divine Compensation by Marianne Williamson
Connect with Rach:
Visit Rach’s website.
Rach has current availability for four Boss Mom's to have a Purpose Strategy Session with her for AU$99.00. In this session you’ll clarify purpose, set goals and create focus. Must book prior to October 23. Details at http://www.projectbreathe.co/purpose-strategy-session/
Rach on Periscope: @WheatleyRach
What intention will you set for today? Answer in the comments below, or connect with Dana on Instagram to continue the discussion there.
Autumn Witt Boyd is a lawyer who helps creative entrepreneurs who grow their business. She helps her clients develop air tight custom contracts that you can actually understand and protect the business they’ve worked so hard to build. She’s got over 11 years of experience as a business lawyer and has experience protecting intellectual property through copyrights and trademarks. When she isn’t working, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her twin sons (who are 4) and her husband.
We are really excited to bring this interview to you today, because Autumn shares some amazing nuggets of awesomeness. Let’s dive right in!
Listen to the audio:
[smart_track_player url="http://traffic.libsyn.com/bossmom/EPISODE8-AutumnBoyd.mp3" title="How to Protect What You Love: Business, Contacts, Copyright, and Family with Autumn Boyd]
Subscribe to the Boss Mom Podcast in iTunes.
In this episode you’ll hear:
- Autumn’s journey from working as a corporate lawyer who traveled frequently to becoming an entrepreneur and how her husband influenced the switch.
- How Autumn’s business found success quickly, even though she didn’t bring any clients with her when she left her law firm.
- Why Facebook groups are a powerful marketing tool.
- Why it is okay if your target market and ideal client evolves over time.
- What the some of the biggest assets for a creative entrepreneur are and an easy way to protect them.
- How to navigate contracts when you’re working with friends or people you trust.
- Why it is important to put downtime on your schedule.
Can I quote you on that?
- Going out on my own as an entrepreneur was challenging, scary, and exciting all at the same time.
- I had a well paying job and even though I was unhappy, I thought to myself that this is as good as it gets. As it turns it, it wasn’t as good as it gets.
- I went to a ton of networking events, but no one hired me…...I realized that they were not my people.
- If you think about your ideal client, it should be someone you want to have a relationship with- it’s easy to engage with them.
- Having a well prepared contract will protect you from having a client who decides decides half way through the project they’re not happy with you and they’re not going to finish paying you for what you’ve done.
- All business is about relationships but in the end, it’s just business. And people will do things that you would have never imagined they’d do. You’ve got to look out for yourself, no one else is going to.
- Contracts are great for both sides. It tells both parties, these are the rules of the game and this is how we’re going to conduct our relationship.
Recommended Resources, Links, & Books:
- Being Boss Podcast
- Autumn’s freebie available for download: Answers to your top 10 copyright and trademark questions. To access this, head on over to her website!
Connect with Autumn:
Autumn offers affordable contract templates at her website,
“Contracts keep things from going wrong in your business. They lay out all the terms and expectations of the parties, such as what you’re doing to deliver, and how much you’re going to be paid for it. In a nutshell, contracts protect you, your business, and your sanity. My contract templates are sent to you in Word format so that you can fully customize them. No more waking up in a cold sweat worrying about misunderstandings, when you’ll get paid, or whether you'll be sued.”
Website / Facebook / Twitter / LinkedIn
What is the number one thing that’s valuable in your business that you want to protect? Share with us on instagram by commenting @danamalstaff .
We are so excited about today's podcast guest, Kelsey Murphy.
Kelsey is a certified Career & Life Coach, and the founder of Whiskey & Work, a global community of women created to inform and inspire while injecting a little bit of purpose, adventure and humor along the way. Previous Advertising Director for Nintendo and Elizabeth Arden, turned career coach and personal development workshop facilitator - Kelsey specializes in career transition, relationship communication, conflict resolution and is certified through the International Coaching Federation in personal & business coaching. She has been featured as an expert, speaker, and writer for Forbes’ top ranked career site, The Daily Muse, Living Healthy Magazine, SheKnows, and UCSD Rady School of Management. On her other business card it might say snowboarder, eater, dreamer and fresh-air-addict.
Kelsey and Dana are friends and collaborators in real life, and we're pleased as punch to welcome her today!
In this episode you’ll hear:
- How Kelsey made the transition from working full time to working for herself by being brave in the small moments.
- Kelsey talk about her breaking point and the decision to pursue her passion.
- How Kelsey found her passion and how her husband helped her.
- The value of freedom and flexibility in work and life and how Kelsy is positioning her life and business for motherhood.
- Kelsey's unconventional vacation and travel style.
- Why Dana thinks Kelsey should wear a ninja outfit and about Kelsey’s 30 day passion challenge.
- How passion and curiosity go hand in hand.
- The artists and entrepreneurs that inspired Kelsey's business
Can I quote you on that?
One night, after a long draining day in the office and a few too many tears, I just decided that I had to listen to my gut, and find the courage to go after what I really wanted.
I had no idea what the next step was, but I found very small moments in my day and week and month to really start listening to what I really wanted to do and exploring it. It really was a journey of exploration. Before I knew it, those small moments started to gain momentum and turn into really big ones.
Be brave, have courage in the small moments. That is going to make a difference. It wasn’t these big giant moments, it was small small moments of courage.
You can’t just find your passion, it’s not like a random needle in a haystack. It is about deciding you want to be more passionate about life. PERIOD. You want to laugh more, you want to feel more, you want to get lost in something more. You have to decide you want to go out and create it. You have to discover and create it and the best way to do that is by dedicating a tiny bit of time a day to really focus on something you think you’ll love.
Before you can go out and find your passion, you first need to go out and find your curiosity and live a bit more curiously.
Its not always about reaching a goal, its often about doing something you’ve always wanted to do or be someone you’ve always wanted to be.
Resources mentioned (affiliate links present):
- Danielle Laporte: Desire Map
- Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon
- Marie Forleo
- Gabby Bernstein
Connect with Kelsey:
- Kelsey's website.
- Kelsey on Periscope: @KelseyMurphy
- Whiskey And Work:, a free community for women who wanting to work to balance their life in a meaningful way.
- Align Workshop: It’s a time for likeminded women, with more passion than time to discuss some of the most important issues that often times get swept under our proverbial rug. Issues that can seem unrelated (jobs, love, life) but are actually all linked by how we view ourselves, make decisions, communicate with one another and most importantly – evaluate and interpret life’s realities, big and small. (copy source from Kelsey's website).
What emotion do you want to feel more of? Share with us on instagram by commenting @danamalstaff
This episode of the Boss Mom Podcast features NJ Rongner. NJ is part of the Boss Mom team and also works as a blogger and freelance writer. She's super intentional about carving out family time and making her minutes matter.
In this episode you'll hear:
- The reason why NJ made a family mission statement and how she uses it.
- How NJ's family mission statement convicts her everyday and helps her become a better mom.
- Why Dana doesn't keep her work email on her phone.
- Why saying no really means saying yes.
- What happened when NJ said no to her someone who wasn't an ideal client and industry.
- What happens when you switch the word have to with the word get to.
- The rhythm NJ's family follows based on the different seasons and why it works for them.
Three things NJ's loving:
- Dino's Pizza joint- a place that has both cheese pizza (for the kids) and chicken tikka masala.
- The This Is My Fave community on Instagram. Instagram link here. Email sign up here.
- New England in the fall.
Can I quote you on that?
"When you've got a million things going on, a family mission statement will help you make quick decisions."
"My work time is my work time and my family time is my family time."
"My blanket decision for everything is no. Straight off the board, no. It's so much easier to change a no into a yes than a yes into a no."
"When you are really careful with your ideal client and you turn down the ones who aren't your ideal client, the right ones will come as long as you're putting out the right product for your ideal client."
"I want my kids to live in that sweet spot where their passions and talent intersect. And the only way I know how to make that happen is to model it myself."
"If I want my kid to live a life where they're passionate about their work, I have to find my passion for work and live it."
"As boss moms, it is really important to think about the things that make us happy and do them. Because, when we have our feet planted firmly in both worlds, there are a million demands coming at us from all the fronts. So make time and space that's just for you. When you take a little time for self care, you'll carry it over and will be able to be a better boss and a better mom.
"It's okay that something that worked for you for a season doesn't work for you anymore because you've grown and changed into a new season."
Links:
- On Work Life Balance and the Family Mission Statement where NJ expands upon the idea of the family mission statement and has five questions to help you craft your own.
- Expand Your Reach podcast where Dana & NJ chat about social media and life.
Connect with NJ:
- Blog: A Cookie Before Dinner
- Instagram is my jam: @acookieb4dinner
The next time you say no, what are you actually saying yes to?
Hey there passionate moms and passionate entrepreneurs. Welcome to Episode 3 of the Boss Mom podcast.
I don't know about you, but I get exhausted with all of the decisions I have to make each day between my business and my family; sometimes it can be overwhelming. Over the years I have discovered a few things that can help battle what I like to call decision fatigue, and I wanted to share them with you in today's episode.
Listen to the audio...
[smart_track_player url="http://traffic.libsyn.com/bossmom/EPISODE_003_Decision_Fatigue.mp3" title="EPISODE 003: How to Battle Decision Fatigue"]
Subscribe to podcast in iTunes
There are two types of decision fatigue that I want to talk about today.
The first, is when there are just too many options. Think of all those times you are trying to find the right tool for your business or family. There are so many options, and maybe you have felt bogged down, frustrated, or overwhelmed. I mean, you don't have enough time in the first place to go and research every single option out there, right?
The second type is when you have too many different decisions to make throughout the day. We make tons of subconscious choices each day, but these are the choices that you consciously make, and then worry about later.
Now there is one thing that can really help battle both of these...and it's a good strategy. Having a clear strategy for your business, and family, will not only make decision making easier, but it can really how much time and effort you're putting into each decision that you have to make moving forward.
Here's some of the ways to help you create a good business strategy:
First, is to really know your purpose or what is commonly referred to as these days is your "why". What is it that you want to achieve? What is it that you're really trying to change in the world?
How does this help battle decision fatigue? Because, when you know why it is you're doing what you're doing, all of a sudden, making decisions becomes so much easier. Now you are able to use your 'why'' as a sounding board to make sure your decision really aligns with what you're trying to accomplish?
Second, is set priorities. A lot of times we have decision fatigue because we have shiny object syndrome. There's so many cool new things coming out, so many new courses, so many new people to follow, so many social media platforms we should be on. Then, all of a sudden you can't decide what to do, because you have your hands in so many pots that it's really tough to know which ones to continue.
How does this help battle decision fatigue? Well, when you are super clear on your main priorities to grow your business, it becomes easier to stop yourself from trying to make too many decisions on things that don't actually get you to your goal. Basically, it becomes easier to just say no, and not feel bad.
Third, is to create a schedule. When you are thinking about creating your schedule, think about what items are prerequisites of others. So, what do you have to do now, before you can do the next thing?
How does this help battle decision fatigue? When you consider the elements of your day, week, month, that have to get done first in order for other things to happen, then you are making sure that you stay on schedule AND not wasting time or money by not fully utilizing your resources. You are also able to limit the number of larger decisions that need to be made each day, which can really help cut down on your decision fatigue.
Here are some things you can do to help eliminate that decision fatigue when it comes to making a decision with just too many options.
- Set a time limit of how long you're going to allow yourself to research that particular tool, or resource.
- Know who your influencers are and then listen to their preferences and let them, well, influence you.
- List what you need. Why do you need this tool? What do you need it for? The more details the better.
- Make the best decision you can in the time you've given yourself, and then act.
And that is how I deal with decision fatigue. I would love to hear how you deal with decision fatigue. Share in the comments below.
Hey there Boss Moms and passionate entrepreneurs. Welcome to Episode 2 of the Boss Mom podcast.
I'm really excited to talk about this topic today, because I don't think it gets talked about it enough, and I don't think we give to ourselves enough as mothers and as business owners.
In EPISODE 1 we talked with Adria DeCorte about how to make healthy eating part of our hustle, so going along with the same idea that we should take care of ourselves, I wanted to share four things that I do just for me, that I believe help me run a better business and family.
I think that it's really important to do things for ourselves, because a lot of times we think that if we can just do everything then we'll be that super mom or superwoman that we so desire to be. We seem to want to show that we can be strong and manage everything, but when you try to do everything, you really can't be great at anything, right? It's sort of that jack of all trades but a master of none idea, and we want to be really good at running our business and really good at raising our family.
So, here are four things that really, I think, help me be a better person, just in general, but ultimately run a better business and raise a better family.
- I buy myself flowers every week. Yep I buy myself flowers, and yes, I do believe it helps me raise a better family and business. I'm actually usually a big believer in not spending a lot of money on flowers because they die, right? I've always had that mentality. I tell my husband, "No need to get me flowers, because what's the point. I would rather get something that lasts longer." But when I really stop and think about it, there is something about bringing life into your home.So, every week I make it a point to go buy a couple of flowers, and bring them into your office, and other high stress areas like the kitchen. The flowers allow me to see something beautiful, to be reminded that there is this amazing beautiful life, that it smells beautiful, that it's feminine, that it's lovely and elegant. And, let me tell you, for anybody who has got an infant or a toddler, and is trying to grow a business, you don't always feel feminine. We don't always feel elegant, and beautiful and lovely. Sometimes that's hard to achieve.When you buy yourself flowers, even one flower, to put into your office or to put into the place you spend a lot of time, it will help bring this calm to your life. To remind you how much calm and beauty there is in the world even in moments of total stress and anxiety. In it's simplicity you are able to take just a moment and recognize this beauty, this elegance, this loveliness, this breath of fresh air that is in the world. Now, I am not saying you don't get those moments from your family and business too, but sometimes it is important to see the world outside of family and work.
So, number one, get yourself some flowers, and don't let them die and then have these withered flowers in your office, or in your kitchen, or wherever you have them. You can spend a couple of bucks and go and get something, and it is absolutely worth it. Make that couple bucks apart of your budget every week, because I will tell you, it will help you to be a happier person.
If you are near a Trader Joe's they have the best priced flowers around. I just got these beautiful six roses, beautiful pink roses, for $3.99. So, you can absolutely get flowers without breaking the bank. And you don't have to get a ton. I actually only get a little bit. I have a couple in the kitchen and a couple in my office.
- Shower and look your best at least once a week. If you work at home, whether you have kids with you or not, we often don't take the time to 'get ready' for work. I bet you cannot tell me that you don't get up half the time, not shower, and keep your pajamas on. We wear that as a badge of pride, because, "Hey, that's why I run my own business, so I don't have to get up and shower and put make-up on and look great." And I absolutely agree. There are those wonderful times that I can get up and get something done without having to take the time to make myself look "presentable", and that's part of why we started a business, right?However, if you don't take the time, especially if you have kids, and especially if you have small kids, you have to make it a part of your weekly plan. You have to find the time. You have to give yourself the time to 'get ready'. It doesn't have to be a lot if you don't wear a lot of make-up, or dress-up a lot, that's ok. Do whatever it is that you would normally do to feel pretty, and I don't mean this to say, "Hey, we have to superficially care what we look like, because that is really important." I mean, YOU feel like YOU look pretty. Who cares what anyone else thinks? I mean, you look in the mirror, and you say, "Wow. I'm not just a mom right now. I'm not just a business owner who's scrambling to get a million things done. I didn't just get spit-up on an hour ago. I am a woman. I'm a woman who deserves to feel beautiful and feminine." So go get yourself ready at least once a week (I shoot for 3) and strut your stuff, even if it's just to the grocery store.
- Make sure you stretch. Now, of course we all need to exercise, but I'm not talking about exercise to help you lose weight, I'm talking about stretching. It should be a daily part of your life, even if just for a few minutes.
We sit and look at a computer, or we standing all day long and selling, or we're holding our children. A lot of times we go, "I'm fine. I'm not in pain. I'm totally good," but that's because you have lived with it so long, and it's been so gradual, that you just don't know what it feels like to feel great. Stretching will help.
I like to stretch at odd moments of the day; like when I'm waiting for something to load, waiting for something to open, or waiting for something to happen in a conversation online. There are a lot of amazing stretches that you can do, you can look them up on Youtube and do the ones that work best for you. If you just do that a minute here and a minute there throughout the day it totally allows you to relax a bit more; it allows you to just feel good, and oh my gosh, we don't let ourselves feel good enough.
- Let yourself cry. Don't hold back from crying. I know there are tons of you Boss Moms out there just like me who say, "No, no, no, no, no. I am strong. I don't cry because of business. I don't let my kids get to me. I love everything about my life, and everything is amazing."
I'm a huge proponent of proactive crying. Oh yeah, turn on something that makes you cry, and just proactively let it out. Or, if you don't want anybody to see, hop in the shower or the bath, but you need to let it out.
There is something chemically and hormonally important to allowing yourself to cry, and if you don't, your business will begin to see that. You will have a harder time not getting frustrated, not getting stressed out, with your business and your kids. You know, the things that used to not bother you so much begin to bother you, because you are bottling it up until something explodes. And when that happens we tend to say things we regret.
So let yourself cry. It's not about being weak. It's actually about loving yourself and giving yourself permission to be vulnerable. We need to; our bodies need to; everybody needs to. The key is to let yourself cry, and then afterward, recognize that this is just a bad day, tomorrow will be better. And remember that if you don't don't cry today, then tomorrow will be another bad day, and you can't afford to have any more bad days then you need, right? We don't have time for that, but when you cry you shorten those bad days, because crying is a relief, it's this amazing relief, and you need to let yourself do it.
Ok, so those are the four things that I do just for me that I believe help me run a better business and a family.
What if you could look amazing, feel amazing, help your kids eat better, and have more energy to run your business?
Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, with Adria DeCorte’s simple techniques for the health driven female entrepreneur, it can be true for you.
In this podcast, Adria tells us about how eating healthy can not only impact your weight and overall health, but your energy levels too. And wouldn’t we all like a little extra energy to get the daily work flow going stronger than ever? It all comes down to a few simple lifestyle changes.
This episode covers everything you could ever want to know about:
• How to keep yourself healthy while running a business
• What exactly it means to be living a healthy lifestyle
• How to have more energy on a day to day basis, the healthy way (no coffee necessary!)
• The best healthy snacks for a busy businesswoman
• How to effectively simplify time in the kitchen
• How to fit in healthy eating out of the house/while travelling
• How to eat healthy while keeping your diet spontaneous and exciting
Join the conversation:
Tell us on Twitter or Instagram @danamalstaff …
What new healthy recipe will you try today?
More about Adria:
TedxFremontEastWomen- “How Food Fuels Hustle”
Listen and subscribe to the“Feed Your Hustle” Podcast on ITunes
Check out Adria’s website here
Female entrepreneurs Facebook group for behind the scenes of business