Paradigm U. Podcast
Paradigm U. Podcast
153: Clarity
We highlight how being intentional in both personal and professional spheres can lead to significant growth. With a strategic approach, we tackle procrastination head-on, analyze its effect on your business, and reveal effective ways to combat it. Guided by Martha Beck's insightful quote, 'How you do anything is how you do everything', we inspire you to live intentionally. We also present the idea of a 'mini-retreat', a dedicated time to reflect, reassess, and rejuvenate your business vision.
As we move along, we discuss the fourth quarter - a crucial time for entrepreneurs. We emphasize the joy of entrepreneurship and share strategies to transform tedious tasks into rewarding experiences. With practical tools like SWOT analysis and financial planning, we equip you to navigate this period efficiently. We shed light on the potential opportunities the last quarter presents, especially in terms of selling products and professional development. In the end, we round off with a discussion on the importance of timing in entrepreneurship and how aligning your business timing with your values can lead to ultimate success. Join us, as we journey together to bring clarity, focus, and joy on your entrepreneurial path.
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Welcome to the Paradigm.
Speaker 2:You podcast. You're listening to the Paradigm you podcast. This is episode two of the entrepreneurial series and on today's podcast, we talk about the topic of clarity. And trust me, my friends, this is not just for entrepreneurs. In fact, the topic sounds so simple, yet is so complex that by the end, we will ask you some very specific questions to help you find clarity in your own life. Listen in.
Speaker 3:You're listening to the Paradigm you podcast. You're about to start transforming your life by growing your mind and expanding your paradigms. Here we'll cover real life topics, just like the stuff you'd share with a good friend. This podcast will serve up topics that weigh on our hearts and keep us up at night, whether it's navigating parenthood and becoming an adult, or wayfinding, personal development, marriage and money. You, my friend, are in the right place. I'm glad you're here.
Speaker 2:Welcome back to the Paradigm you podcast. My name is April Marluski-Hydzinski and I am here today with the lovely co-host, lisa Sarnowski. Lisa, how's it going? I'm doing great Apes.
Speaker 4:It's great to be back here with you, Thanks.
Speaker 1:Happy Wednesday, girlfriend. Another new podcast Woo-hoo.
Speaker 2:All right, friends. Well, on this week's podcast, we are talking about the topic of clarity, and not just any clarity, because that seems like a very simple topic. However, it's very complex, trust me on this one. We are in a series of podcasts for entrepreneurs. You can take this information any way, shape or form that you would like to, but this is geared to all of our entrepreneurs, all of our entrepreneurs who are accidental entrepreneurs, all of our solo preneurs, all of our mompreneurs I'm sure there's otherpreneurs out there, lisa, you got any fun ones.
Speaker 4:I really don't. I was feeling the pressure boiling up as you were talking and I went blank. I covered them all.
Speaker 2:Yeah Well, there are a lot of ways that you can generate and attract income for you and your family through business, and we want to give you additional tools so that you are armed with great resources that you can use to be even more successful. And on today's episode, we are talking about the topic of clarity. When I say that, lisa, what comes up for you?
Speaker 4:The simplicity and complexity of it. It's like this juxtaposition how, if we allow ourselves to take a powerful pause and really take time to reflect, it, will help us moving forward as business owners. However, the key is not to just identify what you don't want, but what you do want, and so that's where I think some of the complexity comes in, but that was my initial reaction. Was man? It's a big topic, and it's one that I think that entrepreneurs and business owners just need to be mindful and intentional about within their business operations.
Speaker 2:I would agree with that. You know, some days you're spinning six, seven, 22, 99 plates all at once and it's hard to take that pause, to have that clarity, to even make sure that you are headed in the direction that you intend and you want to be headed in. And if you have that clarity it's a lot easier. It's easier to know what you're saying yes to, to know what you're saying no to, to make sure that you're covering your time and you are being intentional with all of the ways that you can show up. You know, Lisa, we just wrapped up one of our weeks for the Elevate Transformational Coaching Group and you did an amazing presentation to that group of the topic of how you show up. Do you want to talk a little bit about that, how you show up? Yeah, I loved that.
Speaker 2:It was literally a mic drop moment. People were commenting in the comments during the call. Live just saying holy smokes.
Speaker 4:Yeah, you know it's interesting if, if, as coaches or as business owners and maybe you've hired consultants to support your growth, sometimes we we can give questions right, reflective exercises, all this and typically what we have found on our journey, april and I, is that we have really great clients who just do the work.
Speaker 4:They are good students, they do the work and so typically people are prepared to discuss what, how they answer to question right and it's very makes sense. That's kind of how we were conditioned in education and instead of doing that this week, we asked how did you do the homework, how did you show up? And it was very fascinating to watch the reactions and it was such a huge lightball moment for people, because how you show up in one thing is how you're showing up in other areas of your life, specifically your business. So if you are an entrepreneur and you're going about your day, I would encourage you to think about how are you showing up in your day, because a lot of times that will equally reflect how you're showing up in your business and vice versa.
Speaker 2:There's so many ways you can apply this. So let me ask listeners, if you're listening to this and you're like, okay, how do I show up? Let me ask you how often are you late to a meeting, to a showing, to a zoom call, to Wherever you're headed? Or let me ask you this one how often do you procrastinate on things? Hmm, big one, that's a big one, and this could be procrastinating even on making those cold calls. Maybe it's doing the work that's due for whatever you need to be doing.
Speaker 2:A lot of entrepreneurs that I coach, oftentimes in particular, are procrastinating on their bookkeeping and their financials. We don't want to look at the numbers. They just want to do what they're passionate about. Or how are you showing up? Or, you know, responding to relationships, mm-hmm. Are you having great conversations? Are you engaging? Are you putting yourself out there? Are you Networking in the ways that are going to serve your business? Or are you just like, out there Just doing whatever super fun and hoping that you're casting a huge net and you're maybe Connecting with one or two people that actually want to talk to you about your business? There's a lot of different ways we can ask you how you're showing up, but if you take a moment to actually reflect on this, lisa, remind me who is the quote by that talks about this. You remember, are you?
Speaker 4:Oh, martha Beck, or are you talking about?
Speaker 2:Yeah, Thank you. So Martha Beck says how you do anything is how you do everything. Now here's the powerful piece with that. You guys, how you do anything is how you do everything. This also applies to how are you showing up in your personal life? Are you burning the candle on both ends and not taking care of yourself and your wellness, because you've identified that? Nope, I just need to work, work, work, work, work and just work until I fall asleep, until I'm just exhausted, and then get up and do it again the next day. Or Are you being truly intentional with how you're using your time and taking care of yourself? There's a lot of different ways. So, as we mentioned at the beginning of this, there's so many ways we can unpack the concept of clarity Surrounding your business. Lisa, we're gonna go first.
Speaker 4:So when I, when I first started my coaching practice, one of the things I did early on it might just be the the former higher education person and me and and just deep personal development guru inside me, but I I actually built myself my own little mini retreat, and it sounds perhaps a little silly and, rest assured, I'm a great conversationalist. So I had a great time hanging out with myself all day Answering all these questions, but it was a time for me to reflect on my business operations and how I felt about it. Now, one of the things that I've noticed, especially with coaches, consultants, freelancers is exactly what you had pointed out recently, apes, which is a lot of times people don't like to look at the numbers. You know, I think Embedded in the numbers there's shame or guilt or judgment that we put on ourselves, interpretations that just we equate our worth to that number in our business, and it's really important to remember that when you're looking at the numbers, it's just data.
Speaker 4:You're just looking at data. You're just seeing what's working, what's not. You're just looking for areas that you can improve, areas you can ditch, other areas that you can pivot into, and so really leaning into that idea, whether it's social media followers or newsletter subscribers or podcast subscribers or you know your actual financials. It's, they're just data points, it's not personal, and that when you're a solopreneur, I feel like that in and of itself is a journey. But I guarantee you, if you're willing and able to just look at the numbers, set some really solid KPIs for yourself In your business, then it just becomes fun because you start to track that and you start to recognize that the numbers are are just an indication of the impact that you're making in the world, and when you can reframe that, it becomes fun and powerful. So I would say, if you can, I'm a big advocate of doing some sort of retreat, getting out of your current environment, going somewhere and giving yourself the space and time to look at the numbers in your business.
Speaker 2:You know you said two really powerful things. I just want to make sure that we highlight those. The first one is looking at your KPIs. Can you explain what a KPI is?
Speaker 4:Yeah, KPI is a key performance indicator.
Speaker 2:Thank you. You know there's a lot of entrepreneurs who may not even have KPIs or have those identified. Maybe you are an accidental entrepreneur and you are stepping in this role and it started maybe even as a hobby and now it's grown into something, but you've been so busy working in your business that you haven't taken the time to work on your business and to establish what those KPIs could even be. Yeah, the other piece that you talked about was leaning into that so that you can show up differently and be the person that you need to be. Can you talk a little bit about that? Because the impact piece and how that reflects the impact that you were making.
Speaker 2:You were talking about the level of impact. That you're making is a reflection. Can you talk a little bit more about that?
Speaker 4:Sure, I mean, once you look at the data and you start to understand where you want to improve, where you want to grow, maybe areas you want to release, you do start to show up differently in your business because now you have a drive, now you have a purpose, now you're very singularly focused. And that is what's going to move the needle With solopreneurs that I coach a lot of times. What I'll talk about is have one singular focus for each quarter. Maybe that focus ends up being the same all year, but the hardest thing to do to really shift KPIs as a true solopreneur is to focus on too many things at once, too many areas of growth. So, for example, if you want to grow your bottom line you truly just a KPI is how much money you're bringing in Great.
Speaker 4:Then we have to sit down and think about what coaching programs or consultancy fees and packages, what's selling and what's not, what's missing the mark, what's not, who are you serving? What is the gain that they're getting? And it makes you come to the conversation differently because you are more focused, you are more clear on what you're driving and that inherent sense of purpose and seeing the people you're impacting. It all just continues to support your growth and you'll be really shocked how, when you start to show up as the entrepreneur that you feel inside you're capable of being right, when you're able to show up as that person, your business just flourishes. People just find you more magnetic and they can sense that you are competent and confident and capable and they want to be part of that world.
Speaker 2:So good, so many good nuggets all nested in there. Thanks, lees, sure. So going back to the sense of clarity and understanding really, what exactly are you doing in your business? I think it's helpful to look back and say, okay. At the beginning of this year and, if you've been listening to this podcast for some time, at the beginning of this year, as I do every year we talked a lot about goals and how you're showing up. In fact, this year was the theme who Will you Be in 2023? How often can you do that?
Speaker 4:I love it. I mean you had to do it.
Speaker 2:There were so many great workshops at the beginning of 23 that I used with that theme. It was fun, but a lot of times we were asking what are those goals? What are you setting for that, that casting, that vision for the year? But now that we're in quarter four, we're approaching the end of the year. Now is the time to go inward and to start really reflecting on what did this past year look like.
Speaker 2:You know, elise, I'm not sure if I've ever shared this with you, but when I'm coaching entrepreneurs, I do a lot with quarters and how it relates seasonality-wise, because if you apply the whole, like harvesting and planting, and then turning inward with regards to seasons, it allows you to start imagining what those quarters look like in a little bit of a different fashion and recognize okay, yeah, if I want to have an amazing harvest at certain times of the year, sometimes I need to turn inward and I need to get quiet and we need to have more of a pause, as you shared.
Speaker 2:And oh, side note for listeners, if you've not listened to the episode with Lisa Sarnowski gosh, it was so long ago, but you talked about the powerful pause and I think that that, if I had to guess I think it's like episode five. Oh, wow, really early. It was so early. It was when this podcast was in its infancy, but it was such a great message with encouraging people to not just constantly be showing up and burning the candle on both ends, but to understand the power that's within, taking a pause and doing that reflective work. So I love how you shared that you like to do these retreats, even if it's with yourself, to reflect on that. Talk a little bit more for our listeners about what would be most helpful if they're looking back over this past year and they're reflecting.
Speaker 4:Yeah, absolutely I mean. So, first things first. It's really important to highlight your wins, what worked well, what did you love, and bask in that you know. So often as entrepreneurs, we are just driven to what's next, what's next, what's next, how can I improve? How can I improve? How can I improve? We all just need to pause and we need to really honor the wins, because in the wins is where you're going to find more wins. So what, what is already working for you most likely will continue to keep working for you. So this is really an opportunity for you to see the pattern, see what's working, and so that's usually where I start. What are the accomplishments, what are the wins from this year? Then, especially as a solopreneur, I would encourage you to consider the question of do I even like this? Okay, now, that's a very big question that you might wanna actually talk with someone else about, because part of what I found on my journey, for example, is I might like the work, but I don't like the repetitive nature of certain things. So I have to learn on my journey how to rinse and repeat, rinse and repeat, rinse and repeat, and if April and I can share any powerful tip out of this one podcast.
Speaker 4:As entrepreneurs, I will tell you that the gold is in your ability to rinse and repeat, because that's where you get the most traction, that's where you get the most income, that's where you make the most impact. It's rinse and repeat, and so finding a way to either make peace with rinse and repeat or to identify that's not where you need to be and you need to outsource something. There's a lot of ways to make that happen. Obviously, it's really important to look at your numbers. Where are you bringing in your clientele? Where are you not? How can you have a bigger reach? Sometimes a bigger reach is by narrowing your focus. Maybe your net is way too wide and you need to get more narrow and clear. So, just being open to what the information that's flowing out of you is providing for you and what the data is telling you Again, not making it personal, just saying what's working, what's not.
Speaker 4:And then, equally, I would say a lot of times, people on the journey start with what they don't want. Here's what happened this last year and I do not want that to repeat in the year ahead. Great, that is a really good thing to identify, but we don't want to sit in that energy. What I want you to do, after you are honest with yourself, after that question, is to then ask yourself what's the reverse of that? What then, do I want? And now, moving forward, you work from that place of what you do want and you become that person, because you're not gonna be able to solve your business or grow your business as the same person you are today. You have to grow yourself personally. It's a total inside game, so I guess that's where I hope that answers your question. I probably could talk a long time about this.
Speaker 2:That's great, but I do have one clarifying question. Can you explain what rinse and repeat means, Because some people may be thinking what exactly are you talking about? What are we rinsing and repeating?
Speaker 4:So for me that's a great question. So for me and April I would love for you to chime in here as well it's repetitive actions. In your business, it is the same thing you're doing over and over and over again. It's maybe oh, I gotta send another newsletter if you're an entrepreneur. Or for some people maybe they actually don't like doing podcasts, but they do it. I happen to love them with April, so this doesn't even feel like work to me. It's replying to your clients. It's maybe sending a follow-up email right after your client's session. It's updating your website.
Speaker 4:It's a lot of just the repetitive things that you have to do to keep your business at its same level. Organization, time management tends to be real heavy hitters in this space, but I find more often than not it's a mindset piece. It's like how can you reward yourself from doing the repetitive nature? Because a lot of entrepreneurs were creatives by nature. We want the challenge, we want the next best thing, but once you hit the challenge or you hit the mark, then you're kind of let down. Sometimes people interpret, and so learning how to make peace with that, learning how to embrace the rinse and repeat, I think is one of the best things you can do in your business moving forward. What about you, april? Does that hit the mark with you, or would you explain it differently?
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh. So well you know what your term of rinse and repeat, I think often is the chop wood and carry water that we have a good friend that references that way and I have embraced that over the years as my approach. So it's very similar. But what it is in my mind is the repetitive things that are the things that need to happen. But maybe, again, as to your point, lisa, it's not leaning into your creativity, it's not the things that you jump out of bed and you're like I can't wait to do this, but what I've found is I do find some, I'd say, a dopamine hit almost by getting creative with how I insert those into my schedule and how I plan for those, instead of just letting them stay on my to-do list, because if they're weighing down your to-do list, they're going to weigh down your energy. But if you can actually earmark it and say, okay, these are the things that maybe drain my energy or it doesn't give me permigrant when I'm done with it, where can I put those or where can I insert those to have a little fun with all of it. So I would say a lot of the people that I'm working with it's looking at their financials as typically the biggest piece, and getting honest with, okay, what are the things that are gonna move the needle the most with your business? And getting that clarity.
Speaker 2:I think for many people it's the marketing piece. How am I marketing my business? Or if I'm needing to show up online a certain way or post so many things or have additional information or resources or keep up my CRM, I feel like a lot of people I hear come to me and they're like, oh yeah, I haven't touched that in like six months. Like, okay, is that important to your business? Is that a livelihood that needs to continue or is that something that you can farm out? So, to your point, when you were saying, what are the things that you like, if you're asking yourself, do I like this and what are the things that I am not a fan of?
Speaker 4:Yeah, and what I really liked about how you shared that it's such a great way to approach doing those rinse and repeat tasks is you basically gained it. You figured out how can I make this work for me and almost reward myself to get that dopamine hit, to keep moving the needle forward. And that is such a great skill set to lean into is how can we make this fun? As for all the mompreneurs listening, how many times has your kid whined about not wanting to do? We call them responsibilities or chores at home, or their homework, for example.
Speaker 4:And it's interesting because what I find I put on repeat with them is you don't have to like it, you just need to do it. And what great advice to give ourselves, as well as entrepreneurs, is you don't have to like it, you do have to do it. But if you are going to create a business that you actually want yourself, why would you make something that you don't actually want to do? So the key I love tapping into april's gamification of this is how can you make it fun? What is the reward? How can you work through that so it's not drudgery?
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's not. It makes it fun, but then it also, I will say finances in particular. For a lot of people, that feels perhaps overwhelming because, as you mentioned, it may feel personal or maybe a river. They may feel like it's a reflection of, of maybe something tied to them personally, but if you can look at it as okay, if I am going to be the awesome boss that I am, I need to make sure that this is an important piece to make sure that I can keep my doors open.
Speaker 2:So, as you mentioned, lisa, you know quarter four is often a time for reflection and, as you were saying that, about rinse and repeat in what things maybe, doesn't it? I'm kind of fumbling over my words here, but the things that aren't necessarily fun for a lot of people I hear taxes a lot, yeah, and that one, for me equally, is like a holy cow. You're speaking a totally different level and language when I'm sitting down with my cpa, my team. However, what I've also found to be really rewarding is not necessarily game of fighting that one, but more of the how can I Forkast and pre plan to be really proactive? So, for example, we're in quarter four. You're reflecting on everything from this past year. Start putting together your package for your tax planning now, because that'll also guide you for making your decisions by the end of the year, as well as be super prepared going into the new year.
Speaker 4:Yeah, that's a great one and you know a lot more about this, but I can tell you right now that if you're a con Solo prenu or a coach consultant, if you're selling a particular product, december is a great time to be selling products, because people are used to I'm spending a lot of money, so that is a really good time, number one from that perspective. Equally, from an entrepreneurial perspective and knowing your taxes, great time to consider investing in coaching and investing in some other professional development that have that additional tax right off before the end of the year. So knowing your numbers can provide you so many more benefits to yourself. Personally, I'm to your bottom line, which will impact you and your family and and really it's just a really good growth strategy.
Speaker 2:Yep I would agree with that one. We are deep in that over here In my world, and you know, right now we're going through all of quarter one, quarter two and quarter three with a fine tooth comb and we're reflecting on what went well, what didn't go so well, what areas do we see opportunity for growth? And we're really applying the swat technique. Are you familiar?
Speaker 2:with that, lisa, absolutely yep. You want to explain that one a little bit, because that's If you're in it. You explain, you know that's so. That's your strengths, your weaknesses, your opportunities in your threats. And you you probably heard me on this podcast talk about how you can apply that, overlay that to you personally, but you can also overlay that with your business, with your team. You can overlay that concept and that philosophy to a lot of different points.
Speaker 2:But we're looking at that right now from a financial lens and we're saying, okay, where are the areas that we can cut costs, where are the areas that we want to lean into, knowing what we're forecasting for the next, you know, quarter four and then into the next year? And then where are the areas that were like, okay, these are opportunities, but maybe they're going To a parking lot for right now? Because we also to your point, we want to make sure we're staying really laser focused on one thing at a time. We actually do three in our world. We have our big three.
Speaker 2:So we say, okay, what are our top three things that we're working on? And we're willing to dedicate most of our time to the rest of the big projects, even if it's a great idea because, to most entrepreneurs, they're creative, right, they have open ideas, yeah. However, if you're chasing all of those ideas, you will catch none, right, yes, yes, what is the? How does it go if you're oh my gosh, there's so many ways to say this if you're chasing two rabbits, you catch none. If you're trying to ride two horses, right, yes.
Speaker 4:I don't know. Something like your ass can only sit on one horse. I don't know if we get it yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that is not a strong suit of mine. Let's apply the swat to that one. April jokes not so great. That is a weakness for me, for sure. As Tony, my husband, would say, you are the most inadvertently funny person I've ever met. Like you, have no concept of Telling a good joke, and all of your jokes are. We're laughing with you, april, we promise.
Speaker 4:Oh man, when he tells me April jokes, I'm just like I could sit in front of Tony all day like just keep going, keep going. You know they're classic.
Speaker 2:Hey, between you and I and all of our listeners, you guys get an intimate inside information. My husband has a secret dream to be a comedian. He actually know to be a writer for comedians. He's hilarious. He is hilarious. He is so funny it is. But here's the thing throughout our days and our life and we're as we're going through life, there'll be times where it's like, really, did that just happen? And he has a file going on his phone of like I feel like it's April isms, I swear. And for years he would post things in social media and people who knew this knew that this is something that came out of my mouth. If it had quotes around it, it came out of my mouth and they got he needs to restart, that.
Speaker 4:I'm texting him after this and saying to him you need to restart.
Speaker 2:All right for everyone who wants to follow him. And here's some April isms, actually go we've added our children to that one, so that is a huge tangent.
Speaker 2:We may have to edit that out, but To your point, it is quarter four, reflecting and getting clarity on how you're showing up and really, you know, like I, you know I love this. I wrote this down. Even you said do I even like this? That's a huge piece, because sometimes people's motivation for getting into something or doing something isn't necessarily in line with who they are at their core or maybe their values. Yes, we talk about values this week, so I had to bring it in. Yes, but I think. Yeah, thank you, and we'll talk more about values.
Speaker 4:Yes.
Speaker 2:The next couple of weeks, but I think, understanding why you got into entrepreneurialism, and is it something that's still feeding your, you know, fueling your fire and lighting you up, or is this something that maybe is draining you? Lisa, you tell me a little bit about, or maybe you've shared this before. I love the story about the coaching session that you had with an entrepreneur. Once you want to tell that one.
Speaker 4:Yeah, and and I think I shared one story with you but I it's interesting to reflect back on my coaching career and realize that I've done this a lot of times, how I've actually coached entrepreneurs out of being an entrepreneur, and it was. It's really interesting. It's not because they're not capable, it's not because they weren't willing to put in the hard work, it's none of those things. It was just in that season of life it was not working for them, it was too much.
Speaker 4:And I think that is a conversation that needs a little bit more widespread and mainstream normalization, because it's OK to have an entrepreneurial spirit and mindset and drive and equally say pause, this is not the right time because I'm devoting it to this person in my life or I just I just need to not have the stress of the money or whatever it is for that person, because you can always come back to it and it's not going anywhere, right?
Speaker 4:An entrepreneurial drive doesn't just leave you. It's there, you just have to honor the right time for it. So I do find it interesting sometimes especially when I was having the business coaching sector to just say are you sure? Are you sure this is what you want to do? Because what happens after that conversation is you're honest with yourself and if you say yes, then it's time to roll, and if you say no, we need to just unpack it as to what's going on, right. But if you say yes, then things shift and accelerate more quickly. When you can just be honest with that question Because there's no pressure from anyone, I think we put the pressure 100% on ourselves.
Speaker 2:You know, when Lisa first shared this story with me and she was saying this was years ago she was saying gosh, I feel like I'm coaching a lot of people all of a sudden out of entrepreneurialism, which is definitely not my intention. But as I'm asking these questions, we're getting a lot of clarity from some of these people, and obviously she wasn't telling me the details of any of these, but this theme that she was witnessing in general, and my first initial response was you've got to be kidding me, Lisa. Do you understand that people who have a W-2 are paying so much more in taxes? Right? And so I was like oh, from the tax nerd side of me was like hold up Employees. If you understand the cash flow quadrants by Robert Kiyosaki, you understand that employees typically pay 40% in tax from their income, which just hurts my gut. So I'm like hold on a sec, there's better ways.
Speaker 2:But I would argue, after we talked a little bit more about this, that it doesn't matter. The money doesn't matter if it's not the right season and if you're chasing money as your motivation, you're not in it for the right reason, Because you know, a lot of times people will say this is the game, Like you got to play the game. Well, yes, but it's not a game of chasing the money or the fame or the accolades. In some way it's really. The game is can you lean into your unique gifts to make the impact that you are meant to make? Right, and if you can't answer that in this season of life because you have other obligations or you have something else that's outside of maybe even your control that doesn't allow you to do that, that isn't a reason for shame. No, I want to make sure that we really call that piece out, Because I think that a lot of times, people who choose an entrepreneurial path and then for some there's something that comes up in their world that means that this isn't the best fit right now, timing wise, as you mentioned, there's some guilt, there's some shame, or there's stories that come up about inadequacy oh, I wasn't good enough, I didn't do it right, Blah, blah, blah, blah and I'm not saying blah, blah, blah, blah is like a let me slam this, but like there's so many different, like stories that will come up in our heads of we didn't do it right.
Speaker 2:And I want to challenge that because there's a lot of honor in looking at your situation from a really clear standpoint and saying you know what I need to make the harder choice because this is what's best for me right now and that goes back to your values.
Speaker 4:It's so funny, I literally just wrote that down. It just totally goes back to your values and I appreciate you saying that. So when people can actually look and say, health is my number one value, but I'm burning the candle, let all ends. And you know the the wick is like everything is gone on the candle but I'm still supposed to be burning it somehow. That is a powerful time to just sit back and go. Is this the right time for this in my life?
Speaker 4:You know, it's not to say you're closing the door on your dream at all. It's that you're choosing to live your values, and that is the point of entrepreneurialism, that is the point of your health and well-being, and anything that you're striving for in life is to truly live those values. So, for example, my top value is health and I filter everything through that. I was just at a conference this past weekend. I packed my own food, not because I couldn't pay for food or go out to eat every time, but I just knew I wouldn't get healthy food. I'm not going to get a green drink anywhere. I'm not going to get, you know, my healthy fats and all the things. And the same is true for entrepreneurs and business owners, it's really important to make sure that you understand your values so that you can align the timing of your business with a reflective piece on what you want moving forward.
Speaker 2:Oh, I got chills just now. I feel like this right here.
Speaker 2:I want to camp out on this, lisa for a moment and entrepreneurs, if you're listening to this and you're starting to think, hmm, I'm being met with a lot of resistance and some piece or some area of my journey, I want to ask you is the timing perhaps not right? Because when you can get clear on and maybe it's not timing, maybe it truly is. You know what this isn't for me, and that is okay. It is totally okay. Trust me, I will be the first to nerd out with anybody who wants to nerd out about starting a business. It's super exciting for me. I love it and equally, it's a roller coaster. And if it's not, my, it's your candy.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, it is. And when you sign up, you're signing up for it's like buckle up, friends. There's a lot of different twists and turns on this ride and, equally, if it's not in alignment with your values or if you're feeling resistance and you're starting to get clarity, perhaps you're listening to this podcast and you're like, yeah, actually you're right. I'm looking at this past year. It was a really hard year. It didn't feel like it lit me up. My soul is burned out. My spirit is just operating on fumes. At this point, I'd challenge you and say, well, I'm guessing, if there's all of that resistance in certain areas of your business, of your life, then you're probably not making the impact that you intended to make. So that recalibrating and getting quiet to reflect and get that clarity, it's going to be so powerful for you because that's going to show you what path you probably want to consider moving forward.
Speaker 4:Yeah, and I think being able to tune into your intuition while you're taking a reflective time is equally key and allowing yourself some different interpretations of the resistance you're facing. Is it truly like oh, entrepreneurship isn't for me, or I don't have time, or I'm just too tired, or I want you to keep digging? We have this rule of seven that April and I like to do with interpretation, so give me seven different interpretations of where that resistance could be coming from, and I guarantee, first of all, most people can't even get to seven because it's just like the top couple ones come up, but I think that's where entrepreneurs will find their answer on what they need to do. For sure, and for those that are staying the course, we applaud you and we know that anything you're facing has a creative solution right in front of it.
Speaker 4:The key is to be open to a creative solution and not be so dogmatic about how something has to be, how a business has to look like, how the business has to perform. What if you released all of that and you just got really clear on what you wanted, really aligned with your values, and got really laser focused and went after it? It literally can be that simple, and then you enjoy the twists and turns on the journey because you know they're coming. It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when, and that's where you get to continue to uplevel yourself personally as an entrepreneur.
Speaker 2:Lisa, thank you so much for this conversation. I think that this is such a powerful conversation to have and it's a good, friendly reminder to all of our entrepreneurs that are walking different journeys that we are here to support you, and even the most simple of concepts can be very complex when you start to unpack them. However, if you take the time to carve out that time, to get clear on what it is that you're wanting, what it is that you're intending to create and how you're wanting to show up, then it allows for the rest of the path to unfold in front of you. Oh, I just I love it. Thank you, lisa. I really, really appreciate this conversation today. Yeah, it's been great. Thank you, it's a good reminder.
Speaker 2:So, friends, we are going or we're in quarter four. So this is your gentle, friendly nudge from fellow entrepreneurs to go ahead and carve out some time. Put it on your calendar, because, as we know, if it's not on the calendar, it doesn't exist. It's true, you got alarms on your phone. Make it happen. You got to put it on your calendar. So here is your goal and your homework assignment for this week Pull out your calendar and find some time that you can get quiet with either yourself, if you're a solopreneur, with your, your main team, if you have a team, and really start reflecting on what happened this year, look at all quarter one, two and three and where you're going, because that will offer a lot of insight moving into the new year. Lisa, any last words?
Speaker 4:Just a vote of confidence. You got this and we're in the trenches with you. We're going to be having our retreat, I think, in a week or two, right Apes.
Speaker 2:So we're, we're doing it alongside you.
Speaker 2:We are doing it right alongside you. We are so grateful for all of our listeners. We want to say thank you to each of you, whether you're an entrepreneur or not. You know this is great information to apply as an entrepreneur, but, quite frankly, you can apply all of the things that we've just talked about to your personal life, to your home life, to your family life, to whatever it is that you would like to overlay those concepts to. So, even if you don't have a business, I invite you to take some time over the next few weeks to get clear on how this year went for you and where you'd like to see yourself going. On that note, it is closing time. Lisa, you want to. You want to say it.
Speaker 1:You say cheers to good karma. Cheers to good karma, oh hold on.
Speaker 2:You can do it better than that. All right On that note. It is closing time.
Speaker 1:Cheers to good karma. Thank you for listening to this entire podcast. I hope this episode has left you feeling curious and inspired. This podcast is intended to create expansion in your life through unique stories and shared experiences, and if you enjoyed today's episode, I have a request. I'd like to ask you to share this podcast with your friends and family. I bet they'd enjoy it just as much as you have. And, if you found value, please share this on your social media outlets. That is good karma in action. My friends, all right, it is now closing time. Cheers to good karma and the power to choose joy. If you like this, tell your friends. Stay tuned for the end, because we have outtakes.
Speaker 3:And now for the outtakes. And now for the outtakes.
Speaker 4:And now my mind goes blank.
Speaker 2:You're absolutely right. Every time we have these great conversations and then it's like, why didn't we just record? I know, hey, you've been listening.
Speaker 1:Test Test One, two, three, four.
Speaker 2:Okay, now say hey, welcome to the podcast. Hey, welcome to the podcast. Hold on, I'm totally using this as outtake. Go for it.
Speaker 4:Oh, that was fun I got tongue tight.
Speaker 1:You're really great. Everyone, everyone that's listening to this podcast, even if they don't even hear the rest, even if they only can listen to a part of it because of a screaming baby you're all really awesome.
Speaker 2:Yeah, thanks for listening.
Speaker 1:Bye, bye, over and out. Thanks for listening.