Sarah owned a small retail store selling vintage clothing that wasn't growing the way she'd expected. She was working way too hard for far too little, and wasn't clear on how to right the ship. Sarah realized she needed help - and fast.
If you want your business to grow to the point where you're getting a positive return on all your resources (ROR), chances are good you'll need help along the way. Just like Sarah. When I'm working with clients, here are a few places I recommend you look first:
Being proactive and seeking help when needed is crucial to growing and supporting your business. Take the time to analyze your business, seek expert guidance, set clear goals, appreciate your team, and learn from your mistakes. Remember, success doesn't happen overnight, but with hard work, dedication, and the right support, you can achieve your dreams.
For nearly 20 years, I've been leading online workshops, teleclasses, and other digital events both inside and outside my A-Club community. I made the decision years ago to host the community piece on Facebook, while the training content lived inside my website inside our Rising Tide Learning Library.
But the last couple of years have shown that things aren't working. We've seen our clients fleeing Facebook with the quickness and our website has had several content security issues that left me pulling my hair out.
It was *finally* time for a change!
The decision to move was not an easy one. It took a couple of years of testing, trying platforms, and a bunch of bumps in the road to get here. Here, I'm sharing some of my lessons learned and the reasons why we're making these changes, along with what to expect once we fully changeover.
My hope is that this level of transparency helps YOU as you're making decisions about how your business needs to run to work for how you're wired to work.
A couple of years ago, when I first launched the Cashflow Creator workshop, I ran my own business through the same process I teach my clients. I got clear that things were starting to break down, but I didn't have immediate clarity on how to fix them. The Incubator had become our primary income driver, and that was never supposed to be the plan. It was always meant to be subsidized by the other income of the business.
Then, I had surgery in the summer of 2021... and again in the fall of 2022. There were too many things I wanted to be doing that were getting pushed aside to put out fires. Simply put, I wasn't working for how I was wired to work. I wasn't taking my own advice.
So I sat with my homework from the workshop and re-designed how everything needed to look and flow in order to better fit how I'm wired to work.
I couldn't just change everything overnight. But I was able to map it all out and create a new offer stack that I could star rolling out this year. I shared that map at this year's Customer Journey workshop. One of the first steps was to merge A-Club and the Rising Tide into one program.
We started the community on Facebook because that's where everyone was, quite frankly. Almost every one of my clients was already hanging out there, and the ones who weren't there didn't want the social/community aspect in the first place.
I tried moving us off facebook several times over the years, but everyone wanted to be where they were already at.
That was fine-ish for community connection, but Facebook is a lousy place to host any training. Don't get me wrong - if you're running a short term event, like a challenge, it can still work, but it's not ideal for hosting content on a long-term basis.
Videos got buried in the group feed, nothing was really easy to find, and people outside the community couldn't access the training without being added to the facebook group - which could impact the safety and connectedness of the established group. That forced the decision to host all the training inside my website.
But that came with a different set of issues. One of them was content security. We started with Wishlist Member (cumbersome), and then integrated LearnDash (didn't accept recurring payments). We cobbled together a solution, but over time, it became a challenge to keep updated. The site went down because of a security issue with a plug in, and it's never been the same since.
Another issue was useage. The free library was seeing a little bit of useage - mostly from fans of the show. They were accessing the bonus downloadables from our episodes, and tapping into a little of the free training. But the courses we'd spent so much time creating were not being fully utilized, and sales were not happening as we'd expected.
On one hand, that's not my problem, because people will use what they're going to use, and ignore the rest.
But on the other it IS my problem if clients aren't using the resources effectively and aren't getting the results they want because the content isn't delivered in a format that works for them.
In talking with clients, most wanted real-time help, or the ability to ask questions without having to find a contact form, draft an email, or whatever. Neruodivergent folks will sometimes "forget what they came in here for" and then the question never gets answered.
So, we've found a platform that allows us to have conversations more fluidly, put all the training content in one place, and provide a community of accountability for everyone!
I've seen a lot of communities come and go... heck, I've left a few myself. Especially if I went looking for help and got crickets... or a bunch of sales pitches instead of genuine help for my issue. The other thing I've seen is communities that rely heavily on you being in the room LIVE all the dang time.
The folks I work with often need something more portable and digestable - because we've got shit to do and don't have time to wait around!
That doesn't mean you don't want some community support, it's just that you need it on YOUR terms.
I've got your back!
I'm excited to introduce you to the NEW Rising Tide community!
We've poured countless hours into creating this online space inside Heartbeat, so that you can access everything with ease from any device. It's an on-the-go community of like-minded entrepreneurs, committed to growing their businesses, making a difference in the world, and having fun along the way.
If you're tired of trying to figure out everything on your own and want to be part of a community that not only educates you but also holds you accountable and provides support to help you achieve your business goals, then, the Rising Tide community is for you!
If you've already been part of our free community, you'll know that we've got a free learning library as well as all the bonus downloadables from the Creative Freedom show in there. That's not going away. You can register for the FREE level of our community at any time.
This month, we're ADDING a new tier of paid membership that includes access to all of my digital training programs - including the new Cashflow Creator Workshop we just completed, the Customer Journey and Marketing Plan workshops, content creation sprints, live quarterly planning workshops, and more programs coming later this year, like a comprehensive Sales and Marketing training based on the Fix This Next methodology!
Plus, you'll get to connect with a community of fellow entrepreneurs who share your values and aspirations. You'll have a safe space to ask questions, get feedback, and share your wins and challenges.
No more searching for the latest business growth strategies, no more feeling isolated and alone in your business journey. With the new Rising Tide Community, you'll have on-the-go access to entrepreneurs who share your values and are committed to supporting each other's growth.
This was huge for me. I've been in plenty of online groups and so-called communities over the years where it felt like I was either being pitched every other day and couldn't really get the help I was looking for.
Not here.
While I can't promise we can answer every question or solve every problem, I can promise that we're here to support and encourage you on your journey. I know how it feels when you post gets crickets, so I'm committed to helping you find answers that actually work for your situation. In my community, I try to know everyone by name, because it's important to me that you feel safe in our space and that you know you belong here.
Our community is designed for interactivity, but you don't have to stay glued to your device - that's not healthy for your business! Chat with other members in real time or as it fits your schedule. Ask questions, get feedback. Show up and shine so we can celebrate you. No judgement, no drama. Just a safe space to practice showing up as the business owner you're becoming and shining like the star you already are!
Be seen. Be supported. Be encouraged.
Here's what you can expect as a member of the paid Rising Tide Community:
Plus, with Lisa's guidance and support, you'll learn how to:
If you're serious about taking your business to the next level, then this is the community for you. Don't wait - join now and start getting the education, accountability, and support you need to grow your business and achieve your goals!
Do you ever feel like you're stuck in a rut with your business? Are you struggling to find new clients or make the income you need to thrive? If so, you're not alone. Many creative entrepreneurs face these challenges, and it can be tough to overcome them especially when you're stuck in a "fixed" mindset.
I've often said that the mindset is more important than the mastery, and research bears this out. You don't need to be perfect and a total genius in order to succeed in business. As a creative entrepreneur, building a successful business is about more than just great ideas. It requires the right mindset - one that is positive, growth-oriented, and resilient in the face of challenges.
Because, hey... stuff happens. Plans go off the rails, and often, your goal isn't always THE goal.
Studies have shown that our thoughts and beliefs can have a profound impact on our success. When we believe in ourselves and our ability to succeed, we are more likely to take risks, persevere through obstacles, and achieve our goals.
On the other hand, a fixed mindset can lead to self-doubt, fear of failure, and a lack of motivation to take risks and try new things. This can ultimately hold a business back from achieving its full potential and reaching new heights.
I've seen this in many of my clients - brilliantly gifted, yet traumatized by old stories and false beliefs that keep them believing they're not good enough to be shine like the star they are.
It breaks my heart... and it doesn't have to be this way.
The Disney movie, Moana, is a great example of a character with a growth mindset. Despite the challenges and obstacles she faces, Moana looks for ways to learn and grow from her experiences. She also seeks out guidance from others and is open to new ideas and perspectives.
When Moana first leaves the island... well, let's just say navigation isn't her strong suit! But, instead of giving up, she seeks out the demigod, Maui for help. Maui initially dismisses her as an inexperienced child, but eventually learns to respect Moana's determination and resourcefulness.
And then there's Te Ka. At first, Moana tries to defeat the monster with brute force, but when she recognizes that the monster is actually Te Fiti (a goddess, NOT a monster!), Moana finds the way to save her island and her people.
So how can we cultivate a positive and growth-oriented mindset? Here are a few tips:
When you're self-aware, you understand your strengths and weaknesses, you know what motivates you, and you're in touch with your values and purpose. That doesn't mean you always get it right, but it means you're learning about yourself in deeper ways. This knowledge helps you make better decisions, take calculated risks, and stay focused on your goals. Recognize when negative thoughts and beliefs are holding you back, and challenge them with positive affirmations and self-talk.
In the Cashflow Creator Workshop series, you'll spend time getting clearer on what's really important to YOU. You'll gain a deeper understanding of yourself, your business, and your goals.
"Failure" is a natural part of the learning process, and can actually be a valuable opportunity for growth and improvement. I believe that failure is not the opposite of success, but rather an essential stepping stone on the journey. By embracing failure and using it to your advantage, you'll be better equipped to build a sustainable and thriving business that can weather any storm.
In our workshop, you'll look at what's been working (and not) in your business, and start to course correct - creating a new vision for your business that works better for how you're uniquely wired to work.
Surrounding yourself with positivity is key to maintaining a growth mindset. I don't mean looking for "yes men" or bring all Pollyanna about tough situations. I mean creating an Environment of Empowerment that builds you up and helps you navigate the "hard" and celebrate your wins along the way.
Seek out supportive friends, mentors, and colleagues who believe in you and your vision. By being intentional about the people and communities we engage with, you can cultivate an environment that supports and uplifts you. There's nothing quite as validating as knowing there are people in the world who have your back!
In the workshop, you'll have the opportunity to connect with other like-minded entrepreneurs who share your values and aspirations. You'll also have access to an experienced mentor (moi!) who can offer guidance and support as you navigate the ups and downs of building a sustainable business. With the support of a positive community, you'll be better equipped to overcome obstacles, celebrate successes, and stay motivated on your entrepreneurial journey.
Instead of dwelling on your weaknesses, identify your unique talents and strengths, and find ways to use them to your advantage. By focusing on your strengths, staying in your zone of genius, and delegating tasks that don't align with you, you'll be able to operate at a higher level more consistently and achieve more in less time.
There are things that only you can do - or that only you can do YOUR way. Lean into that. Our workshop will provide you with tools and strategies to help you identify and embrace your strengths, so you can build a business that's not only profitable but also aligned with your values and passions.
Whether or not you join us in the workshop, by adopting these practices, you can start to shift your mindset from one of self-doubt and fear, to one of confidence and growth.
But I would be remiss if I didn't invite you to get all of this and more at the Cashflow Creator workshop! Our goal is to help you build a sustainable, thriving business that works for how you're wired to work. Don't let self-doubt and fear hold you back any longer! Join us and start cultivating the mindset you need to succeed.
Are you ready to turn the volume on your business up to 11 and ROCK!?
Are you ready to rock your business with better clients, better offers, more money, more impact, and the ability to lead your company with ease?
The Cashflow Creator Workshop is your ticket to making it happen! We started on Monday, but you can still hop in and pick up the recordings for the entire week! Plus, you can work directly with me to get help with your business questions - so that you can have a business that works for how you're wired to work.
I'm not one to go on and on about my workshops, because if you've ever attended, then you already KNOW they're packed with specific how-to help that gets you results before you even leave the event. Here's what Teresa said about our last Cashflow Creator event:
"This workshop is POWERFUL! And Lisa Robbin Young is a MASTER at the concepts and practices she teaches - not to mention a great coach. I got a level of clarity of purpose and strategy for going forward that had been missing for me. And it's a strategy that EXCITES me and had me saying 'YES! That's ME! I can do that!' Thanks Lisa!"
Teresa Romain - Founder of Access Abundance
This workshop is unlike anything you've experienced before. It's not just another "business tips and tricks" seminar. Instead, we focus on unlocking the power of your business model, so you can build a business that works for how you're wired to work.
This workshop is not about boring business models! It's about helping you re-design your business to work for how you're wired to work. We use the Creative Freedom business model equation. This tool makes it easy to re-design your business in a way that aligns with your unique talents, strengths, and values. With the Business Model Equation, you'll be able to:
The Business Model Equation is just one of the tools and strategies you'll apply in the Cashflow Creator Workshop. Over the course of the week, you'll also:
And that's just the beginning!
You'll also have the opportunity to connect with a community of like-minded entrepreneurs who share your values and aspirations and want to celebrate your progress. Plus, there's an experienced mentor (ahem, me!) who can offer guidance and support as you navigate the ups and downs of building a sustainable business.
But time is running out! This is your last chance to join the Cashflow Creator Workshop! Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to unlock the power of your business model and take your business to the next level... whatever that looks like for YOU.
So, what are you waiting for? Sign up now and let's get started!
As I mentioned in a separate post, your team is the backbone of your business. They can make or break your success. While finding the right people is key, don't forget to focus on nurturing your team's collective output too. From innovation to customer experience, their productivity affects everything. Want to inspire your team to greatness? Here's how:
It's not enough for your team to just show up to work. They need to feel connected to the mission and values of your company. Recognizing staff for their hard work can build a sense of pride in the job. Companies like Challenge Coins Ltd can help you celebrate individual achievements or company milestones with custom coins. Supporting causes they care about (outside your company) can also boost morale and reduce staff turnover. Some companies even make it part of their pay structure.
Fear of judgment and failure can hold your team back. And don't get me started on what micro-aggressions or bullying can do to the safety of a work environment! Building a psychologically safe working environment is crucial to unlocking your team's full potential. There are tools to promote psychological safety and to encourage collaboration. When your team feels safe, they're more likely to take calculated risks, and be willing to create "happy accidents" that lead to creative gains for the company. Safety to take risks and learn from mistakes cultivates more innovative and effective problem-solvers.
Healthy and happy employees are more productive. So invest in their wellness by offering gym memberships, incorporating screen breaks into their day, and promoting hydration. First aid and mental health resources in the workplace can also make a big difference. Plus, team-building sessions and away days can create better working relationships, which reduces stress and fosters positivity.
Your team needs the right tools to do their job well. If you're slow to adopt new technologies, your team's productivity will suffer. Automated tools can keep things running smoothly and increase engagement by providing employees with the resources they need to succeed. Recording employee progress and rewarding them for their hard work can also be motivating. Gamification, combined with recognition rewards can be a big motivator for some team members!
Remember, your team's collective output is essential to your success. So invest in them, celebrate their achievements, and watch your business thrive! With these tips, you can build a kickass team that delivers stellar results.
When you're in the early stages of building a stand-out business, there are lots of moving parts and pieces to keep things running smoothly. There are also a lot of things that seem important, but are just distractions.
So where do you need to focus right from the start?
The things that will move the needle the most.
Easier said than done, right? Because those things can look different for each business. But let's look at the most common things you need to be thinking about right from the start to ensure you're on the path to success.
Your brand is the heart and soul of your business, and it's what sets you apart from the crowd. So, take the time to craft a brand that reflects your unique personality and style. Remember, a strong brand will attract the right customers and help you stand out in the marketplace.
A strong brand isn't about flashy websites or spending a lot of dough to "look good". Your brand is your business's identity and how you want to be perceived by the world. It's the story that lives in the hearts of your Raving Fans when you're not actively marketing to them. Take the time to think about how you want your business to come across and create messaging and marketing that reflects that. The stronger your brand is, the better your chances of success.
With a strong brand, your business becomes memorable - even when you're NOT marketing!
Next, seek out good advice. As a creative entrepreneur, you might feel like you can do everything on your own, but the truth is, everyone needs help. Surround yourself with people who have been there and done that, and learn from their experience. Trust me, it'll save you time and energy in the long run.
The right people - including legal experts, consultants, and those who are experts in your specific industry can be invaluable sources of support, encouragement, and insight. And they don't need to be on call 24/7 to be good for you. Expert guidance, that's focused on helping you reach your goals and dreams, will help you have a much higher chance of success and shorten your learning curve..
Building a business can be overwhelming, and you don't have to do it all alone. Seek out mentors, coaches, and experts who can guide you along the way.
When you look at the successes and failures of previous business owners, so much of it comes down to the people they had access to when they started out. In essence, you are in a much better position, with a much higher chance of success, if you are able to get in touch with the right people at the start. Consult legal experts (like Manfred Sternberg & Associates, or other legal consultants) and those who are experts in the needs of your specific industry.
Of course, we can't forget about the moolah! Cash flow is the lifeblood of your business. If you're self-funding everything, that means you carry all the risk and financial burden. That may or may not be a problem for you, but it's important to know what you're really dealing with when it comes to the "money stuff" in your business.
Look for sources of funding that align with your values and goals. Maybe that's crowd sourcing or finding a lender through Kiva. Or maybe it's your own credit card. Been there. Done that! The key is to have a secure source of funding that will give you the financial stability you need to grow and thrive.
Seek funding you can rely on before you think you'll need it. Because often, when you finally need it, you may have a hard time getting it!
Last but certainly not least, you need to build the best damn team ever! If cash flow is the lifeblood, then your team is the backbone of your business. Who you surround yourself with is arguably the most important factor of all. When you have a team you love (that loves you right back), you'll have a much better chance of success.
Take your time to find the right people for your team. Be willing to let people go that don't fit your team culture (and do it FAST!). This includes contractors, part timers, and anyone else supporting you and your business. The people you surround yourself with are crucial to your business's success. That means your advisors AND your team support! Develop a rock-solid recruitment process that helps you find the right people who share your vision and passion. With a strong team, you can tackle anything that comes your way.
So, there you have it - the four things you need at the start of your business: a strong brand, good advice, secure funding, and the best team you can afford. Remember, building a successful business takes time. It can be challenging, requires effort, and dedication, but with these four elements in place, you'll be on your way to creating a thriving business.
At the end of March, I had the honor of speaking at the TEDxBloomington Salon and it was amazing.
Salons are generally smaller scale TED-style events that are locally curated, like any TEDx event. Unlike a larger, full-day event where the talks can range pretty widely, Salons are generally on a more focused topic. Our topic was (sustain)ABILITY.
The theme still lends itself to some pretty wide-ranging topics, including a sonnet on sustainability, the importance of preserving indigenous language for future generations (and the tech to make it accessible to everyone), how kindness and generosity can sustain us, the 3 steps to find healing in business, and more. I look forward to sharing the talks once they're all uploaded, but for now, I can share my talk on How the Marginalization Tax impacts finding Enoughness for micro businesses. You can also access the bonus resources for my TEDx talk here.
My life is a paradox. As a business coach and entrepreneur, I rely on Capitalism to keep food on the table. And I help my clients to do the same. But as a human being, I also rail against what it seems like Capitalism has become: a money-grubbing, soul-crushing free-for-all for the wealthy elite that would rather leave our big blue marble than invest in healing, protecting, and sustaining it.
About 40% of my clients are multiply marginalized, many with a chronic illness, disability, or other capacity-limiting constraints that have essentially forced them to leave traditional employment and go out on their own because it works for how they're built. Forced, because capitalism asks more of us than we can consistently give, and no one feels this quite as much as the marginalized people of the world.
Entrepreneurship then, becomes a way for them to "leverage" the capacity they DO have - but not everyone is equipped to meet the challenges of entrepreneurship.
The incessant invitation to grow for growth's sake is a siren's song that hypnotizes entrepreneurs into the trap of adding one more zero to our revenue… and then another… and then another. But that "MORE" doesn't include room for things like more rest, more play, more ease - unless you hustle your face off first. There's this persistent myth that if you just work hard enough long enough and do your best, you'll make it to that "some day" where you can retire in style.
But Capitalism asks for more than many of us can give. And it has a bad habit of moving the goal posts on us.
With so many companies shooting for the moon - both literally and figuratively, this incessant drive for "More" isn't a sustainable path. How do we find the sustainable path in business? We strive for Enoughness instead.
When we look to nature, a cactus can thrive on very little water and a lot of sun. That is Enoughness for the cactus. If you flood the desert, the cactus rots. If you take away the sun, the cactus starves.
So Enoughness looks different in different situations.
For the folks that I work with, Enoughness is a result of building a business that works for their unique situation.
They are not corporate behemoths. They are parents, artists, travelers, authors, healers, activists, and more. They want a living wage that allows them to retire a spouse or provide for their families, and be able to enjoy the fruits of their labors - even when Capitalism tries to ask more of them than they can give on their own.
For years, I've taught what I call your Enoughness Number. It's essentially the revenue your business needs to bring in on an annual basis in order to have an experience of Enoughness. Not excessive, but appropriate. Not just subsisting, like so many marginalized folks do, but thriving.
But then one of my non-normative clients pointed out that I had not taken into account the additional resources required to navigate a world that asks more of you than you can give. We dubbed this added cost The Marginalization Tax.
At that time I was still under the spell of meritocracy. Just work harder. Keep working, and eventually you'll get there…. however long THAT is. I had always been able to keep working… until the day I needed back surgery. For eleven days I was unable to walk, stand, or otherwise move my body without substantial pain and significant help.
I was lucky I had help at home and owned my own business. If I'd been in a traditional job, I probably would have been fired or forced to use all my time off. And then where would I be for the rest of the year?
This tax is a spectrum of disadvantage based on a number of things like skin color, religion, gender expression, geography, age, body shape, economic status, social status, and basically any circumstance where there's a power imbalance that puts one group of people at an advantage to the detriment of others.
For example (and this isn't exhaustive, but you'll get the idea): I'm a cis, straight, neurodivergent, mixed-race, black woman that presents as white and able-bodied. I'm almost 50 and my body shape is not the socially accepted norm. I have a mix of privilege and disadvantage that impacts the resources I need. The more resources I need, the greater the marginalization tax I pay to participate in this world.
So let's look at what Enoughness looks like both with and without the Marginalization Tax applied so you can see how this works.
First, what are your total living expenses? Let's say $60k
Now add to that your growth. Maybe you've got a nice-to-have or a want that you'd like to see happen in the next year. That's your take-home pay requirement.
If you're a business owner, on top of your take home pay, what are the other "living expenses" of your business?
Then add your business growth to that. Maybe you want to launch a new offer and need to invest in infrastructure or support. Put it in your total.
Now add all that up and add a 10% cushion for unplanned surprises. They happen.
That's already a large number for a small business.
But, now we add the Marginalization Tax.
Based on where you fall on the spectrum, this could be anywhere from zero to as much as 50% of the total. Think that's steep? According to a 2021 report from the national women's law center, black women make a million dollars less over their career than white men. That's 37% less. That is the Marginalization Tax in action.
So we total this all up and there it is - one Enoughness Number that's drastically different than it would be if you didn't have to pay this tax.
Unlike the taxes you pay to your government each year, the bill for the Marginalization Tax comes due each day. This weekend my husband bought some cookies for $4. But I can't eat those cookies because some of the ingredients will hurt me. If I wanted to have a comparable amount of cookies that I can eat, I'd have to pay nearly 3 times as much - or I could spend just a few dollars more for all the ingredients and make them myself. Which would take an additional 45 minutes out of my day.
He can just open a package of cookies and go to town! The Marginalization Tax means I pay significantly more either in time or money - resources I may or may not have - just to enjoy a cookie.
Now you might say, "But Lisa, that's a cookie. A treat. You don't NEED a cookie. You can live without a cookie."
Yes, but why should I have to settle for less just because my body is built differently than yours?
But, let's say you're right and look at another case: One of my clients applied for medical disability long before we started working together. She had a profitable business that she'd built around her chronic illness which was so severe and variable that she never knew what her capacity to work would be like from one day to the next. Once she got approved for disability, she shut it all down. She said to me, "I can't jeopardize my disability payments. What if I go off disability and then my business has a down year? I'll have to re-apply and go through all of this all over again - and I might not survive!"
I don't blame her for wanting to protect herself and know that she can survive in a world that makes it hard for her to just exist. I blame the system where the deck is stacked against some of us and not others. That is the impact of the Marginalization Tax.
Everyone should be able to experience enoughness - a fully belly, a warm bed, and the safety of knowing they have what they need to thrive. There's certainly plenty on this planet to make it possible. But the playing field isn't level. What's worse, Capitalism keeps moving the goal posts.
But I believe that the best way to change a system is from the inside. That's why I'm a business owner. That's why I help other business owners - who aren't trying to hustle their face off to be a squijillionaire. They just want to find the balance that allows them to be paid well, within their capacity constraints, and have the time and energy to enjoy the fruits of their labors.
We don't need more rockets into space. We need more business owners striving for Enoughness for everyone.
When we have Enoughness it's… well, it's enough.
Like I said, it's a paradox.
Can I be blunt for a moment?
I can't STAND the phrase "take your business to the next level". I think it's overused and too generic to have any real meaning.
And that's EXACTLY why so many business coaches - especially in the online world - use it. Yes. I use it too... which is part of what bugs me about it!
It's a blanket, "catch-all" phrase that allows them to paint a huge picture without really saying anything at all. You're left to use your imagination to figure out what "next level" really means.
I mean, I get it. It's a phrase that resonates for folks because it suggests progress and growth. Going up the elevator from the ground floor to the penthouse. That idea of "started from the bottom, now we're here."
But it's so generic! Taking your business to the next level could mean increasing your revenue, expanding your customer base, or improving your marketing strategies. By using a broad and flexible phrase like "take your business to the next level," a coach can appeal to a wide range of potential clients and highlight the various benefits they offer.
Which is great for the coach, but not necessarily great for you.
You don't want generic outcomes, you want specific help tailored to your situation. That's why you hire a coach in the first place! And the kind of "next-level" lift you need may not actually be what that coach is offering.
What if you need help through an audience pivot? I did. I needed specific help from someone who understands how to do an audience pivot. The idea of "taking my business to the next level" meant reaching more of those new, perfect-fit audience members. So, I put out a call to find a new coach, and what I got back was very telling.
I was specific in my request. Dozens of folks raised their hands and when I went to their websites to vet them more than HALF of them were talking about "next level" results.
Gag me.
Most of the coaches I talked to couldn't help me until I was already pivoted. But not with help finding these folks. Which, you know, needs to happen before I can market my offers to them!
So why raise your hand in the first place?
I ended up wasting a LOT of time talking to people who were good at things that I didn't even ask for! All because they wouldn't be specific enough in their marketing and messaging to help me understand what they offer and how they could REALLY help me... or if they understood my problem at all!
Using a common phrase like "take your business to the next level" can be a helpful shorthand for communicating the overall goal of their coaching services. It's a quick and catchy way to get potential clients interested in what they have to offer, and cast a wide net, but when you need specific help, this phrase is mostly worthless.
If "take your business to the next level" can mean different things for different people, depending on their goals and aspirations, then you have no real clarity. It could mean pushing past your current limits, reaching new heights, and tapping into your full potential as a business owner and as an individual, just as easily as it could mean expanding your customer base, increasing your revenue, improving your products or services, and creating more value for your customers.
That's a painting with a VERY broad brush!
No wonder potential clients get confused, throw their hands up, and walk away!
Specificity is clarity. Clarity builds confidence, which feeds your ability to take courageous actions (like saying YES and hiring a new coach!)
To make the term "take your business to the next level" meaningful, have in mind specific examples of what that might look or feel like for you.
For instance, taking your business to the next level could mean achieving a certain revenue target, expanding your customer base, launching a new product or service, or simply improving your overall brand image and reputation. It could also mean feeling more fulfilled and passionate about the work you do, having more freedom and flexibility in your schedule, and feeling more confident and empowered in your ability to make a difference in your industry.
If you're not clear about what you want or need from a coaching experience, you're more likely to be lured into "next level" language that doesn't get you where you really want to go.
Sadly, most coaches aren't providing specific examples so potential clients can better understand the value of choosing them. Instead, they're relying on lazy "next level" language that isn't helping you at ALL.
But you can make smart decisions by being clear and upfront with what you want or need from a coach. Don't equivocate. Ask them directly: how can you help me achieve x?
Don't let "next level" jargon hypnotize you into saying yes if you're not clear the coach can help.
And if you're ready to get real support to build a business that works for how you're wired to work, let's talk! A few seats are still available for this month's Cashflow Creator business model workshop series. Together, we'll design (or redesign) your business to be in alignment and integrity with what matters most to you and how you're uniquely wired to work.
When you started your business, it was probably pretty simple to handle everything on your own. You wore all the hats and maybe even wore them most of the time, because it was just you.
As your business expands, things often get more complicated. Now, wearing all the hats means you have no time to have a life! You might find that you're unable to keep up with everything like you once did.
Been there, done that!
Whether you're looking at delegating to other team members or automating a few things to relieve the pressure valve, you're going to need help to advance your company. Here are a few telltale signs that your home business has grown to the point where it needs to be more than just you.
It could be a sign that your home business is growing too big for just you if you find yourself working longer hours than you had planned. This could indicate that you are struggling to meet demand or that you just don't have enough time in the day to do everything that needs to be done. For instance, it can be a hint that you need assistance if you are spending more time handling administrative duties or customer service requests than actively operating the business.
Another sign that your firm is expanding and will need more resources is when you have observed a sustained and significant increase in revenue. Having additional help isn't free. You need to be able to financially sustain the help you're trying to hire. Once the income is there, hiring help can let you focus on other areas of running a successful business while also ensuring that all chores are handled effectively.
If you've already got some help, but still find that you are doing too much work that's outside your zone of genius, it may be a sign that you need more assistance. Although many business owners find this to be a challenging transition, it is crucial for the expansion and success of your home business. Hiring a specialist or a service provider like a VA agency like MyVA.Rocks or a marketing firm like Adtaxi could help with this.
The expectations of your company will rise along with the number of customers. It could be time to consider hiring someone else who can help fulfil demand if you discover that there aren't enough hours in the day to meet all of the demands of your customers. You might require someone to manage customer support or to contribute to further product development, for instance.
Finally, it could be time to make an investment in someone who can help manage this part of your organization if you notice that you are lagging behind on new technology and trends. Hiring a specialist in this area could make the difference between staying ahead or falling behind as staying ahead of the competition is vital for the growth of any firm. Hiring a social media expert, for instance, might help your business stay competitive if you find it difficult to keep up with the most recent developments in online marketing.
It could be a good idea to start thinking about employing extra workers to help operate your home business if any of these symptoms sound familiar. For your company to continue to succeed and keep up with demand, you must ensure that you have enough resources available. The most crucial thing is to choose carefully - but CHOOSE before it's too late. Preventative measures taken now can spare your company a lot of trouble in the future. Find someone with the abilities to support the success of your company by doing your homework!
[Note: I started doing an annual recap back in 2010. You can find previous years here: 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 - 2020 got skipped for a number of reasons, not the least of which was the pandemic that shall not be named.]
Here's the TL;DR: last year was hard as hell, so this year, it's all about creating more ease in every possible way. I'm not accepting any more Incubator clients after June, limiting my coaching availability, raising rates on coaching & consulting, and offering more free training throughout the year inside our new community.
Last year's recap was a podcast episode. While it was expedient to do it that way, it left me feeling... well... like I didn't do it "right".
Shoulding all over myself. Not-enoughing it. Cranking it out and then feeling bad about it.
But it is what it is. And it's done. Over. Finished.
Just like 2022.
I almost wrote an apology for the length of this post, but I'm not going to apologize for being real. My best clients read long posts. They want the details because they know the details matter in business and might save them a world of hurt. As a business coach and consultant, I've never apologized for being my own guinea pig. It's how I learn what really works and how to translate that to my clients for their own success - without the painful learning curve.
So yeah, this will probably be long. #NotSorry
While we did okay income-wise, it was a roller coaster of a year.
Just before the year began, we returned to Nashville from Mississippi. Jim accepted a new teaching job, so we sold our house and moved. Rental rates being what they are in Nashville, we signed a 10 month lease, thinking we'd have plenty of time to find a home, put in an offer, and move again before we had to renew.
We thought wrong.
Jim's employment situation ended up being more precarious. Two jobs after we moved back to Nashville, Jim was physically exhausted, emotionally drained, and by January of 2022, decided to take a 6 month sabbatical.
My eldest had also joined us from Michigan. It was his "Hail, Mary pass" - he certainly didn't want to leave Michigan, but he didn't have a place to stay. He found work doing foam insulation and settled in for a while. Having another person in our otherwise empty nest made for some growing pains, but we managed.
The physical and emotional demands of 2022 took their toll on me. It drove home the point that I'm not 20 anymore and my mental and physical health have been low-priority for too long. Having major surgery two years in a row also took a toll on my mental health. By the end of the year I wanted to take a break from EVERYTHING. Even after I took my year-end vacation, I came back to work with a sense of dread. Too much of what I didn't want and too little of what I did want... and I had painted myself into this corner in many ways.
I started 2022 by celebrating my birthday with COVID.
It was, hands down, the worst start to any year. Even the year my ex forgot my birthday I was at least able to go out and be with friends. This year, I was alone, sequestered in my office. Tortuous to an extrovert like me.
The physical demands of the year were steep: I got the final stent out from November's surgery. I had sciatica on and off for the first half of the year that led to back surgery in September. And we packed our home and moved again. This time to Indiana. We had to stay in a hotel room for three weeks before we could move into our home, so we really moved TWICE - once into a storage unit and then a second time into our Indiana residence.
My doctor said I need to be walking more throughout the day - meaning I have to change my work schedule to accommodate my new physical demands. AND I'm in physical therapy as part of my recovery from back surgery (I still have numbness in parts of my foot).
But the emotional demands were even greater.
The added financial and emotional stress of having a partner out of work left me feeling like I was carrying too much for too long. I'm thankful that I'm married to a swell guy who understands the importance of communication. We were able to keep talking throughout a very stressful time, which did help things. That and providing for my son - while he looked for a new job after our move to Indiana - increased my emotional load.
I've pretty much ignored my physical needs for most of my life - mostly putting other folks first to my own detriment. It's a hard habit to break. Now, basically being forced to put so much attention and time into caring for myself was as much of an emotional adjustment as it was a physical one.
The depression and anxiety around being able to work (or not being able to work), hit me hard when I spent 11 days laid up in my bed while I waited for my surgery date. Every movement was excruciating, and I've never cried as much as I did then. I lost 10 pounds because I only ate or drank what was absolutely necessary. By the end, I wasn't even going to the bathroom anymore because there was nothing in me.
To be clear: my family brought me food and drink. I just didn't consume much because everything hurt all the time and I didn't want to make things hurt MORE.
The cherry on top was that the earliest my surgery could be scheduled happened to fall right in the middle of my annual client retreat.
Well, FUCK!
Laying in bed for 11 days gave me plenty of thinking time. About everything we were doing inside my company - and everything I wasn't doing that I wanted to be doing. About how things needed to be different when I got back to work. I remember sharing in one of my mastermind meetings that I was doing so much stuff, but so little of it was what I WANTED to do. It was more about keeping commitments and fulfilling obligations I'd made long ago.
Because the hotel was kind, we were able to re-schedule my client retreat. I'm grateful that people re-arranged their schedules and I LOVE doing this event every year. Still, it took a lot more out of me to ensure that folks who couldn't attend got what they paid for. I don't regret doing it, because I love my clients. It was just harder to make everything work.
Then, I got COVID again for Christmas. It was harder this time. I still have an infrequent cough that leaves me gasping for air every time it strikes.
DAMN, I feel old!
Integrity and honoring commitments are important to me. Maybe a little TOO important!
The older I get, the more important ease becomes. You never know when a pinched nerve could take you out of commission for 11 days! Having a business that fully supports me, regardless of what's happening in my personal life, has to be more important than continuing to honor commitments that don't support my well-being.
I learned the hard way that my company can't yet handle more than that.
Thanks to the Federal EIDL, I made several investments in my business. Some turned out great, while others are still waiting to see a positive Return On Resources.
I expected my messaging work with Dr. Michelle Mazur to be a year-long adventure - because it takes time to roll out new messaging and get it to stick in the mind of your audience. As part of that roll out, we planned to redirect some of our marketing energy to Linked In, to build an audience there. My existing VA was training my new VA to handle the projects that weren't time sensitive. Between the two of them, it looked like we were finally going to get some momentum in our marketing.
Then... MAN DOWN!
My "old" VA found a full time job and transitioned out by the end of the month. The "new" VA I had just brought on to cover low-pressure projects was suddenly thrust into doing EVERYTHING.
So, um, LOTS of... um... pressure.
I should have slowed down, scaled back, and focused on one thing at a time. But I didn't.
I found a VA agency to work with and that sort of helped. My new new VA was learning from my old new VA, which was more like a game of telephone than making meaningful progress. I didn't have the spoons to take the work back onto my plate, and our income wasn't supporting having so many people on the team.
We were able to get the podcast up and running, but not much else. It was at this point when I almost shut everything down and walked away.
If it weren't for my clients, that is. Having those commitments kept us afloat. Even if I was stressed to the max on every other front, working with my clients gave me hope for a better tomorrow.
I made two other investments that still haven't panned out: I hired an agency that guaranteed placements on top podcasts. The original commitment was that they get results for most of their clients within 4 months. That seemed pretty ambitious to me, especially since this was being presented as a beta test offer. But hey, it was guaranteed placement, so I figured the ROI would be worth the investment.
A year later, I'm still waiting for half of those "guaranteed" bookings to materialize.
I also hired a company to direct and film my videos. This was part investment, part experiment. I wanted to get video editing off my plate, so I took a chance to see if someone else could handle it. This company promised to help script, direct, produce, and edit my videos.
I thought this would be a great way to bring video back to Season 7 of our show, but it didn't turn out that way. Sadly, their editor lived in Ukraine and, well, WAR broke out over there, so everything stalled.
I'm no tyrant, so of course I was willing to change our timelines. Besides, this was an experiment. I didn't put all my eggs in this basket. We went ahead with Season 7 as a podcast-only season. We managed to make it through the year, but our results were less than stellar.
By June, the agency director had shifted directions and was focused on short-form content for social (think: tiktok & reels). Short form content is NOT my jam, but I filmed a few pieces of content under his direction. He also promised me access to a course he was teaching to help me learn how to create better short form content.
It is February of 2023 as I write this and I am still waiting for access to the course that was promised last year.
Trying to keep too many balls in the air was a disaster - and resulted in a LOT of dropped balls! This year's focus on ease should help, but it's also an important reminder to me to focus on one thing at a time, since we're not a huge team of people that can tackle eleventy jillion things at once.
By the end of 2022, I was feeling apathetic and "meh" about so much. As I considered every aspect of my business, I recognized I had strayed from my own mantra of "define and achieve success on your own terms".
I was letting other people's terms dictate what was possible for me.
Over the past 7 years, I've focused a lot of resources into supporting our Incubator clients. It became our primary income source, which was never the goal. Combined, our handful of clients have created close to two million dollars in real revenue. Many of these folks started from zero, so that's a major accomplishment we can all be proud of!
I love seeing them make progress toward their dreams, but it's happening at the expense of my own.
As I said, the Incubator was never meant to be my company's primary income source. My original vision for was to be able to fund the program to the level where we had dedicated staff supporting clients on all the admin as well has having a spare coach to pick up some of the coaching hours.
We probably could have hit that goal, were it not for the pandemic of 2020. Too much team instability meant we couldn't get our systems locked in.
You can't grow if you aren't stable.
And we simply didn't have the level of stability, nor the cashflow to do things differently. So while I'm proud of our accomplishments, that old Marilyn Monroe quote keeps playing in my head:
Sometimes good things have to fall apart so that better things can fall together.
I wrestled with the question: Do I want to continue trying to work this model at the expense of the other dreams I want to pursue?
Nope.
But then there's this: I have my own anxiety around not leaving anyone hanging. I don't want to let people down - especially not my clients! I can't just quit what I'm doing and leave them in the lurch!
I love my clients. I love helping them AND I want to see my own dreams take root and grow. Those things shouldn't be mutually exclusive.
I enjoy coaching and consulting, but I have to do it in ways that work for how I'm wired to work.
That's why we're phasing out the Incubator and introducing some new ways to work with me. I'm not accepting new Incubator clients after June (if you want in, you better get moving!). Anyone currently in the program can stay until they graduate. We'll phase out the program through attrition.
In order to grow our audience and continue to support our existing folks, I'm rolling out a new workshop each month during the first half of the year. We hosted the Customer Journey Workshop in January and our Build Your Promo Plan Workshop series is next week! March will have our content creation sprint, and quarterly planning. April will see the return of our Cashflow Creator workshop. We'll cycle through these workshops throughout the year and unveil an all-new three day event in fall: Creative Freedom LIVE! It's nothing like our client retreat, which used to fly under this banner, so if you've been around for a while, know that this is an entirely new event, built around the content in my book.
As a Fusion creative, I need to do more than one thing, otherwise I feel stifled. I enjoy teaching business building concepts and I especially enjoy working hands-on with folks to help them get results and clarity NOW. But I have a growing need for the flexibility of short-term commitments, which are also better for how I'm wired to work. That means I'll be offering more short-term coaching and consulting, including one-day/half-day intensives and single sessions.
Giving people a way to work one-on-one with me in a more concentrated way works better for how I'm wired. Plus, my best clients often prefer to work in this way - a 2-hour sprint or a day-long intensive to hammer out a plan and start seeing results before we're even done. They don't have months to consume a course and learn as they go. They need clarity now.
I enjoy being on podcasts, but hosting my own podcast isn't as fun or profitable as I'd hoped. According to our numbers, the "shelf life" of an audio episode doesn't begin to compare to our video show. So, we're bringing it back.
I tabled the video show half way through 2021 because of our move. I wanted to resurrect it in 2022, but our experiment failed and then we were moving AGAIN! Housing uncertainty is NOT a good situation for shooting video!
That said, the numbers don't lie. Video is better for me for a variety of reasons:
Since it looks like we're going to stay in Indiana for a while, I'll have a base of operations to make video production easier. It may mean editing content in-house, but it's worth it to reach more people, have a bigger impact and see our audience growing again.
The plan for our show this year is to split the difference: videos with deeper, richer content, but not as long as the podcast episodes. Instead of going 10-15 minutes, our show will likely run 15-20 minutes and live on both our podcast and video feed. We'll re-assess at the end of the season to see how the numbers shake out.
It seemed like the only thing that was easy last year was my relationship with Jim. Despite the ups and downs of the year, Jim was a steady, loving presence through it all. Where my previous partner would shut down and not communicate, Jim stayed in the room. He was willing to have hard conversations and make tough decisions with me, instead of leaving it all up to me to figure out.
He raised me up and kept believing in me... in us... through all the hard stuff of the past couple of years. Even on his sabbatical, he was consistently showing up in our relationship. THAT is the greatest blessing I've ever experienced.
In fact, one of the hardest things I've been able to do is lean into his love and support. Trusting that he really DOES love me, that he really DOES think the world of me. That he means it when he says "I love you forever. No take backs!" I haven't been able to trust that in the past, and his steady, loving presence is a strength I get to learn to trust.
And I want more.
More supportive, trusting relationships that lift me up, see my potential, and want to see me shine. I'm being more proactive in my outreach - despite how scary it feels sometimes. Last year, I invested in a mastermind group that helped open that door. Our facilitator really gave a damn about us... about me. I could feel that in our conversations. I learned more about what being "coffee worthy" really meant.
This year, I'm amping that up. I'm part of an international networking group for women. I'm actively connecting with more of them on a more consistent basis. Not necessarily to drive more business (although, that's nice), but more so to develop a solid, supportive community around me.
If there's one thing I've learned about myself, it's that I don't "do alone" very well. I get in my head and sometimes get stuck there. But I also don't "do community" the way other people do (hello, neurodivergence!). It takes a lot of effort and energy for me to feel connected or feel like I belong in a group. That's my growing edge.
I'm also curating a community space of my own. For years, we've hosted our Accountability Club on Facebook and our Rising Tide learning library on my website. Neither was fully optimized and both languished a bit because of it. It took time to explore some different options that made sense. For a while, no one wanted to leave Facebook. Now, you can't stop them from jumping ship. After a bit of research, we made the decision to migrate everything to a new platform this year. Migrating and integrating everything takes time, though. Our goal is to have the new Rising Tide/Accountability Club space ready for visitors in Q2.
I recorded this mashup almost 10 years ago...long before I left Michigan (or my first husband). But it's pretty appropriate for this year's focus. I was sick that day. But I showed up anyway. And I kept it easy.
Easy, like Sunday morning.
That's my theme for the year, so this song makes perfect sense - and it's a silly video that reminds me of how much fun it was to do this work then. I'm bringing that fun and ease back in every possible way.
Hope to see you on the ride!