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 Business Foundations, Goal Setting and Strategic Planning, Quick Reads

Building A Business That Honours Your Values

Building a business that honours your values AND pays the bills can feel impossible. You think you have to sacrifice one for the other.

Not true. With the right strategy, you can have BOTH.

I felt that tension for years when I had my photography business. I thought ‘successful business owner’ meant working nonstop. No boundaries, no rest, no family time.

I burned myself out trying to prove I was ‘serious’.

Finally, I asked myself: What lifestyle do I ACTUALLY want?

I realised chasing someone else’s idea of success was killing my joy.

So, I started over. Different business, different model.

I didn’t get it right at first. A lot of false starts.

Because I didn’t fully let go of what other people said I should doing.

I didn’t trust myself.

So, I got intentional. I redesigned my business model around MY ideal – reasonable hours, location freedom, and time for self-care.

Learned to trust myself.

And I finally found the momentum in business I had been seeking. Why? My energy was fully aligned with my offer.

Get clear on your lifestyle vision, then build your biz backwards from there.

It makes all the difference.

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 Mindset and Personal Growth, Mindset Mastery, Quick Reads

On Resilience

Imagine riding a rollercoaster blindfolded.

That’s the challenging solopreneur life, a real-life test of resilience that we all experience.

Here’s why my rollercoaster matters to you…

My year kicked off with two weeks ill in bed and no work, followed by a two-week battle with back pain that made sitting difficult.

Then, my much-loved dog Duke’s diagnosis of a liver tumour this week was a bolt out of the blue.

That was a gut-punch moment.

These challenges have taught me the value of self-care, the importance of pacing and helped me practice emotional agility.

Despite this, I feel emotionally resilient. I’ve practised directing my thoughts and managing my reactions.

They say to take control – not of what happens but your responses.

By practising directing my thoughts and reactions, I’ve honed my ability to remain focused and resilient.

It’s not about stifling feelings; it’s still showing up in those raw moments and giving my all when needed.

In my Heroic Coach training, I learned that Obstacles Make Me Stronger.

That’s now my mantra when life becomes a rollercoaster.

Then I do a bit of targeted thinking and accept the current situation, identify what I want and then ask what I can do now… and do it.

Sure, it’s tough. But embracing the challenge on my hardest days has strengthened my commitment.

This isn’t just about surviving; it’s about thriving in adversity, just like in business.

Resilience is an indispensable skill in business.

Ready to turn resilience into your business superpower? Let’s chat in the group – I’m happy to share more.

 

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 Productivity and Work-Life Integration, Quick Reads, Work-Life Integration

Are You Building A Business That Steals Your Life Away?

You’ve heard the saying, “Live to work, not work to live,” right?

But how many of us truly honour that?

Especially as Gen X solopreneurs and small business owners.

We dive headfirst into creating our dream businesses.

But here’s the catch.

If you’re unclear about the life you want to lead, your business can consume it.

Picture this: You start a business for freedom.

But end up working 70-hour weeks.

Your dream of independence becomes a 24/7 grind.

I’ve seen it happen too often.

You’re creating a business, yes.

But at what cost?

Is it taking you away from the life you envisioned?

It’s time for a reality check.

Do you want a business that serves your life’s vision?

Or a life that’s dictated by your business?

The choice seems obvious.

But making it a reality? That’s the challenge.

Here’s my advice to all aspiring solopreneurs and small business owners.

Define the life you want FIRST.

Then build your business around it.

Not the other way around.

Your business should be a bridge to your ideal lifestyle.

Not a barrier.

Remember, as a Gen X entrepreneur, you have the wisdom of experience.

And the courage of a risk-taker.

Use these to craft a business that enhances your life.

Not one that eclipses it.

Think about it.

Do you want to look back and see a life well-lived?

Or a business that lived your life for you?

The power to choose is in your hands.

Don’t let your business dream steal your life dream.

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 Marketing and Growth Strategies, Quick Reads

Supercharge Your Marketing: Unleashing the Power of the Chain of Beliefs

Marketing is the lifeblood coursing through the veins of every successful business. For solopreneurs, it can be the catalyst that turns your hard work and resilience into a flourishing venture. But how do we survive and thrive in a world overflowing with information?

Here's the secret weapon: the Chain of Beliefs. This powerful strategy can genuinely supercharge your marketing efforts, transforming how you connect with potential clients and leading to a tenfold growth in your business.


The Chain of Beliefs in Marketing: Your Power Tool

The Chain of Beliefs outlines the journey your customer takes from recognising a problem to deciding to purchase your product or service. Understanding this journey and tailoring your messaging can significantly amplify your influence, propelling your sales to new heights.


Here's how you can harness this tool and optimise your marketing:


1. Speak to Your Customer's Heart

The first link in the Chain of Beliefs is identifying the problem. What's keeping your customers up at night? What's that nagging issue they just can't shake? By profoundly understanding and speaking to this struggle, you strike a chord, letting them know you 'get it' – this is the beginning of a meaningful relationship.


2. Illuminate Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP)

The problems you solve for your customers are unique, just as you are. Your USP is the beacon guiding them from a sea of potential solutions to your shores. It should be the core of your marketing efforts, continually reminding them why you stand apart from the crowd.


3. Engage with Customer Beliefs

Your customer's perception of your product or service is shaped by their beliefs. Understanding accurate and misconceived customer beliefs and letting them guide your messaging is critical for success. Address misconceptions head-on and affirm positive beliefs, moulding a favourable belief system around your offering.


4. Unravel The Customer Journey

Take the time to map out the Chain of Beliefs, understanding your customer's steps before purchasing. This understanding enables you to address each step, smoothly guiding your customer towards their decision.


5. Provide Meaningful Solutions

You've highlighted their problem. Now it's time to shine a light on your solutions. Show them how your product or service elegantly solves their problem, alleviating their struggle and positively impacting their life.


6. Emphasise Your Uniqueness

Don't be shy to repeat your USP! Make it a resounding echo in your messaging, reinforcing why you're their perfect choice amidst a sea of alternatives.


7. Harness the Power of Social Proof

Nothing speaks louder than the words of satisfied customers. Showcase their testimonials, reviews, and endorsements. Let your audience see first-hand how your offering has enhanced others' lives – a powerful motivator to jump on board.


8. Overcoming Customer Objections

Objections are speed bumps, not roadblocks. Identify common objections and confront them directly in your messaging. Turn their hesitation into a confident stride forward.


9. Adapt and Thrive

Marketing is a journey, not a destination. Keep your finger on the pulse of your marketing efforts. What's working? What's not? Use data and analytics to adapt and refine your strategies, staying on top of your game.



The Chain of Beliefs is a beacon of empowerment in your marketing arsenal. By truly understanding your customer's needs, beliefs, and journey, you create a tailored marketing message that resonates. Emphasise your unique solutions, use social proof, and meet objections head-on. And remember, the path to success is one of constant learning and adaptation.


So, Generation X Solopreneurs, let's leverage the Chain of Beliefs in your marketing to make our mark and achieve exceptional business growth. Our resilience and optimism are our superpowers – let's use them to flourish in our entrepreneurial journeys!

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 Business Foundations, Quick Reads

Her name is Doris and she lives in Bradford…

Hans Zimmer is one of Hollywood’s most sought after composer’s – he’s worked on over 500 projects in film and tv from blockbuster movies to documentaries like the Frozen Planet.

Even if you don’t know his name, you will have heard his music.

Of course there are many factors to his success, such as his outstanding talent and being good to work with, but one thing really jumped out at me whilst watching Hans Zimmer: Hollywood Rebel.

He has a client avatar and for every movie score he composes he asks “what would Doris think?”

His avatar comes from when he was playing working men’s clubs in northern England in a band he joined after leaving school.

In his words:

We were the entertainment nobody listened to. We were so bad. Up north, We would be the support act to the stripper. And it was interesting because it was the 80s and it was Margaret. Thatcher and it was coal miners strike.

 

Woh, it was rough up north. People were so frustrated. You know you left London and you entered another world, entered another country and this country was a country that was desperate and it was poor, and it was everything that you could only imagine of the left behind and of the forgotten.

 

And to this day I have this person I write my music for, and she’s fictitious. She’s called Doris and she lives in Bradford, and she has a great coat, and you know uncertain age. She’s got two terrible boys, I mean they are so Ill behaved and her hair dye job isn’t very good, you know and she works really hard throughout the week.

 

And come the weekend she has a choice. She has a choice of going to the pub, having a drink, or she has a choice for coming and seeing one of our movies.

 

And she’s a hero to me because she works hard. And so when she comes to see one of our movies, I want to make sure that she gets her money’s worth. And I promise you I mean, every movie I sit there and I go what would Doris think?

 

Who is your hero? Who is your Doris?

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 Marketing and Growth Strategies, Quick Reads

Drowning In A Sea Of Sameness

Are you “capsizing in a sea of sameness”?

That’s how Mike Weisman describes the dangers of trying to differentiate your business based solely on pricing or features.

Something that so many try to do and then wonder why they are struggling to stand out.

Instead focus on your customers, how you are serving them, the problems that you are solving for them.

In other words, how do the features of what you sell benefit them and help them in their life?