The Decision Dilemma: Unlearning Impulsivity & Overthinking

Making decisions in your business can be stressful, and most of us tend to rely on the same decision-making habits we've had for a long time. In this insightful solo episode, I discuss two common decision-making defaults that can lead to failure and regret. But don't worry, I also offer practical strategies to help you shift your decision-making patterns in order to make more conscious and intentional choices. 

Whether you lean towards impulsivity or overthinking, I’ve got you covered with actionable tips and techniques.  Discover how to make decisions that stand the test of time and allow you to trust yourself in running your business. 

Strategies for Building Trust, Respect & Communication Into Your Work With Clients

Well, for one thing, the economy has changed and buyers are more skeptical of the outrageous claims that have become the norm.  Client work lost favor for some very solid reasons.  It can be challenging to figure out how to package, price, position, and promote your work and create healthy boundaries with clients. 

In this solo episode, I share strategies for setting boundaries, communicating value, and positioning yourself as the clear choice for your clients.  If you find client work fulfilling, don't be discouraged by the obstacles, or dazzled by the passive income hype. Embrace the opportunity to make your client work satisfying, profitable, and sustainable. 

Boost Your Mood, Energy, and Motivation: Simple Strategies for Mental Wellness

As entrepreneurs, we often find ourselves on the go, constantly striving for success, and juggling multiple responsibilities. But amidst all the hustle and bustle, it's crucial to prioritize our mental health and well-being. October is Mental Health Awareness Month and ADHD Awareness Month, so in this episode, we'll explore the importance of self-care, the impact of stress on our mental health, and practical tips for maintaining and boosting our mood, energy, and motivation. Get ready to discover strategies that will help you thrive in both your personal and professional life.

Embracing Evolution: Recognizing When it's Time for a Small Business Makeover

This episode will cover a range of topics, including recognizing signs for change, understanding pitfalls, exploring personal reasons for change, avoiding impulsive choices, considering alternatives, reflecting on past decisions, addressing mindset and skillset, overcoming burnout, adapting to external factors, letting go of what weighs you down, examples of business pivots, strategic business exits, questions to consider, seeking help, and finding fulfillment beyond business.

From changing their business models and marketing strategies to even considering starting over with a completely new venture, small business owners are feeling the need for change. But whether it’s a pivot, rebrand or a total do-over, are these changes even the right move? 

The Role of Thought Leaders in Shaping the Future

If you are an expert, who not only has knowledge, credentials and a body of work, but a unique viewpoint on your field or industry, then you may be on your way to becoming a thought leader.  The term is revered by some, rejected by others and is a source of confusion and debate by many, but the world actually needs thought leaders, now more than ever. What it does not need is more recycled and regurgitated information or opinions.  

The internet is already saturated with that and it is only going to get worse in the years to come.  What is truly unique and stands out is someone who is the real deal and who has an original perspective they are willing to share in a bold, direct way. 

Overcoming Rejection Sensitivity in Entrepreneurship

Rejection sensitivity affects many individuals, particularly those who are neurodivergent, and it can have a significant impact on their personal and professional lives. Understanding and accepting our neurological differences can empower us to build resilience and improve our ability to handle rejection. In this episode, I share both my perspective and strategies on how to create a business and lifestyle that honors and protects our sensitivity, allowing us to bring our unique gifts to those who need them most.

Some of these tools and techniques include powerful questions, affirmations, journaling, and mindfulness practices. These practices can serve as powerful pattern interrupts, helping us shift our physiology and maintain control during moments of stress or anxiety. By making these tools a habit, we can confidently navigate rejection and embrace growth.

How Do You Respond to Expectations?

In this episode, I will introduce you to one of my favorite tools in my business, The Four Tendencies framework for dealing with expectations.  How we deal with expectations, our own and those of others, has a significant impact on our business and personal lives.  Some of us always go the extra mile for others, but let ourselves down on a regular basis and others are the exact opposite. Knowing our own tendency and that of our clients, our team members, and even our friends and family members can make the difference between referral business, testimonials and long term relationships and negative reviews, disappointment and frequent turnover.  

Overcoming Fear & Indecision: How to Take Risks in Your Business

As women entrepreneurs, we often face the pressure to appear successful by avoiding mistakes, and end up making decisions driven by fear, based on assumptions that are flawed.  Many businesses that seem prosperous on the outside may actually be struggling behind the scenes including those we are trying to emulate. To truly thrive in business, we need to find the balance between passion, purpose, planning, prioritizing, and profitability. It's time to shift our mindset, make strategic decisions, and take actions that move our businesses forward and stop looking for proven processes and magic pills.  

In this episode, we'll explore how to overcome fear, uncertainty, and doubt, and prevent regret while still embracing risks. 

Is ChatGPT a Game-Changer or Just a Shiny Object?

As human beings, we possess unique qualities like imagination, originality, and critical thinking, which have always been the driving force behind compelling content. But can AI replicate these qualities? In this solo episode, I share my thoughts on benefits and limitations of generative AI, such as ChatGPT, my personal experiences with various AI tools, and the cautious optimism I hold for this emerging technology. Discover why it's crucial to have realistic expectations, do thorough research, and weigh the pros and cons before incorporating AI into your business. If you're curious about how generative AI fits into the world of driven woman entrepreneurs, don't miss this thought-provoking episode!

Cut Your To Do List in Half

Whether you're a solopreneur or small business owner, we all tend to have a never ending to-do list that can leave us feeling overworked and overwhelmed. In this episode, I highlight the necessity of being aware of one's limitations and prioritizing high-quality tasks, especially as a creative problem solver.  I also cover the importance of integrating novelty into business strategies without disrupting oneself, and understanding one's motivations and genuine capabilities. It’s time to let go of tasks that do not contribute to meaningful progress and cut your to-do list in half, while staying aligned with your core values. 

Is it Time for a Social Media Sabbatical?

On this episode of The Driven Woman Entrepreneur Podcast, just in time for Independence Day here in the US, I wanted to share my thoughts with you on the subject of social media sabbaticals and why you might want to consider one this summer.  Declaring your independence from social media can be a very effective way to gain clarity on your relationship with these platforms, reassess the value of your current social marketing strategy and help prevent burnout. 

By guiding listeners through a series of insightful questions, sharing the perspectives of other notable coaches and consultants and introducing a variety of options to customize a social media sabbatical to your goals, this episode is full of actionable advice. In emphasizing the importance of mental health and healthy boundaries, and reminding them of the need to treat their sabbatical like an experiment, I encourage listeners to consider the prospect of taking a break from social media that in order to focus on other important aspects of their business, self care, relationships and personal growth.  

Self Sabotaging Behaviors Limiting Your Success

As entrepreneurs, overcoming self-sabotaging behaviors is crucial to finding success in business. These behaviors can manifest in various ways, such as accepting too many commitments, avoiding creating systems and structures, or not taking responsibility for one's decisions. By recognizing and addressing these behaviors, entrepreneurs can improve their chances of achieving success and reaching their full potential. 

While everyone engages in self-sabotage at some point, being proactive in addressing these behaviors can facilitate personal and business growth. In this episode, in my typical No-BS style, I encourage you to be okay with stepping out of your comfort zones and to define your own benchmarks for success, instead of comparing yourself to others in your industry. 

Who is Responsible for Client Results?

Have you been told that clear communication is the key to improving client results, but are still struggling with client expectations? Don’t know why some clients become raving fans and others are never satisfied with your work?  Discover the secrets to clear  communication, effective decision-making, well-defined scope of work, and goodbye to the frustration of unmet expectations and hello to a thriving partnership with your clients.

During the episode, I shares my insights on the importance of being explicit about what services will be provided and how these services can help clients achieve their goals. For consultants and coaches, being transparent about the limitations of their expertise is also essential, as it ensures clients have an accurate understanding of the services they provide, the outcomes they can expect, and the level of responsibility consultants hold for their results.

The Mentally Healthy Entrepreneur: What You Need to Know

From a licensed psychotherapist turned business coach perspective, the link between mental health and entrepreneurship seemed clear. But during Mental Health Awareness Month, an unexpected twist emerged: the unique challenges female solopreneurs faced. What I discovered shook me to my core and fueled my passion to address this issue. 

Mental Health and Entrepreneurship
The high-stress lifestyle that often accompanies entrepreneurship can take a toll on one's mental well-being. Acknowledging the potential issues and taking preventive measures to ensure mental health remains strong can be key to overall success in business. 

There is no "Good Time" to Prioritize Mental Health
Mental health deserves ongoing focus and attention, and there is no "good time" to start prioritizing it. Waiting for an opportune moment or certain revenue milestone may lead to dangerous delays or neglect of mental well-being, resulting in a mental health crisis. 

Unpacking The Boss Up Breakthrough: 9 Steps to a Stand-Out, Sought-After Business

What happens when you have bought all the courses, taken all the programs, followed all the conventional “wisdom” and your business is technically “working” but you’re not attracting as many perfect-fit clients, making as much profit, or having as much fun as you expected? Find out the answer to these questions and more in this episode of the Driven Woman Entrepreneur Podcast.

The Boss Up Breakthrough
My signature coaching program, the Boss Up Breakthrough provides entrepreneurs with the guidance and tools necessary to streamline their businesses, identify their unique strengths and goals, and focus on what truly matters for long-term success. Clients often have many great ideas, leading them to pursue multiple goals and projects simultaneously. However, this approach can result in missed opportunities and unfinished business.  I advocate for a flexible structure, creating order from chaos without telling clients what I think they should do. 

Business Challenges of The Highly Creative

Struggling with a super-creative brain and feeling guilty about not taking action on your brilliant ideas? This episode will teach you what you need to do to balance creativity with consistency, spontaneity with structure, and brilliance with bandwidth, so you can finally put your genius ideas into action in your business and life.

In this episode, you will learn  to:

• Master the art of juggling creativity & consistency to produce more creative output
• Break free from idea paralysis & take meaningful steps to follow through with confidence
• Overcome the trap of perfectionism and embrace continuous growth & development.
• Connect with & learn from like-minded individuals to enhance your creative journey.
• Achieve balance between autonomy and accountability to ensure business success.

The Accidental Entrepreneur's Guide to Success

Are you an accidental entrepreneur who's been told to simply 'leverage your corporate skills' to make it as an entrepreneur --but have come to realize it's really not the same game? In this episode, I'll share how to overcome the hardships faced by unintentional entrepreneurship, recognize the skills you mastered in your previous career that will help you succeed in your own business, and cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset along the way.

I believe that  accidental entrepreneurs are far more likely to be intentional and a lot less impulsive with our business decisions. We have a strong sense of responsibility, accountability, and a deep sense of regard for the impact of our decisions and actions on others.  This may slow us down a bit compared to entrepreneurs with a longer track record of risk taking, but it can definitely make the difference between success and failure.  

Does Your Business Need a Makeover?

In this podcast episode, I guide you through the not-so-simple process of determining whether a business needs a makeover or not, exploring the impulses to blow things up vs. making a long-term investment in building a sustainable business. It can be hard to tell when it’s time for a business makeover because it can range from needing to work on communication and leadership skills, adjust expectations, or shift from a business that is merely financially successful to one that allows you to use your gifts and express your zone of genius. 

Many entrepreneurs have difficulty determining if a makeover is necessary, so it is often helpful to hire a small business strategist or coach to help you figure out the next steps. After all, who doesn’t love bringing some fresh new energy into what they spend most of their waking hours doing? 

Navigating the Expert vs Thought Leader Debate

If you're looking to become a recognized expert or thought leader, this episode will show you how to maximize your credentials, expertise, and professional networks to get there. Unlock the secrets to establishing yourself as a thought leader by leveraging your connections.

"The term expert has really evolved in the last few years. It has gone from the definition of a person who has extensive knowledge and ability based on research, experience, education, occupation in a particular field to basically being somebody who knows a little bit more than the person they're trying to help."

Unlocking Entrepreneurial Success with ADHD Using Systems & Support

If you have heard that ADHD is the “entrepreneur’s superpower” you might be more than a little confused.  Let’s face it, ADHD is a diagnosable neurobiological disorder that can create countless struggles in life.  So, which is it: superpower or disability?

In this episode, I will unpack some of the myths, misconceptions, and stereotypes regarding ADHA and entrepreneurship, share the three subtypes of ADHD and which one I see more often in successful female entrepreneurs, the need for support in business and life for those with ADHD, the importance of taking risks, developing resilience and leveraging hyperfocus and your zone of genius.  I will also clarify the difference between having ADHD traits and having an ADHD diagnosis. 

Navigating The Crisis of Confidence for Female Business Owners in 2023

In this podcast episode, I'm sharing my honest experiences of what I’m calling the current "Crisis of Confidence" among female business owners, grappling with the conflicting marketing messages, false promises, and broken systems that have left them feeling paralyzed and uncertain who they can trust to help them move forward.

This crisis is a result of the mass confusion and hysteria caused by the false promises of success in business ownership, the lack of funding and business loans, the exhaustion of keeping up with marketing messages, the difficulty of consistently creating quality content, and the distrust of female business coaches, consultants, and course creators. A no-BS approach and trusting in one's own inner wisdom is important in order to have a successful, sustainable business.

What to Expect During a Free Consultation

One of the practices in the coaching industry that I really dislike is the Discovery Call.  It sounds harmless, but most coaches have been trained to use manipulative tactics to "close leads" on these calls because what they don't tell you is that the purpose of the discovery call is for you to discover that you are in trouble and that coach is your solution.  Period. 

A free consultation is a way for potential clients to discover if the coach is the right fit for them and for the coach to determine if the client is adequately prepared to have a successful coaching outcome. It is different from a discovery call because it focuses on the client's needs, rather than the coach's agenda.

Stop Getting Ready & Start Taking Action

This episode is all about a lesson I learned the hard way in my own business and want to help you learn it quicker: Taking Action vs. Getting Ready.  What I learned is that getting ready doesn't move the needle and that there is no participation trophy in business. I learned to trust my instincts and to have specific benchmarks to know when enough preparation and planning are enough.  We also need to be leaders to our clients and team by taking action, not just focusing on our mindset. Furthermore, we need to stop overdelivering and undercharging and be mindful of not getting lost in researching and overcomplicating our ideas. 

How to Know If You're Coachable

The beginning of a new year tends to be a time when business owners think about hiring a coach to help them move their business forward. At such times, most people focus on the credentials and credibility of the coach they are thinking about hiring, but in this episode, I share something even more important than that, determining whether you are even coachable.  

This episode is about Coachability and how to determine if you are ready for a coach and if a coach would be beneficial for you.  In my own entrepreneurial journey, I learned that being coachable is not a set level, but changes over time and can depend on the circumstances.  

We will dive into the three categories of coachability using my system -red light, yellow light, and green light - so you can make a truly informed decision on whether to hire a coach. Want to unlock the key to a successful coaching outcome?  Find out if you are coachable now and learn how to become more coachable if you’re not. 

The Hidden Reasons You Aren't Reaching Your Goals

Many female solopreneurs start a business with nothing more than a good idea, a lot of passion, and a strong sense of purpose. Then they start collecting free and low-cost information and advice, followed by courses and massive group programs that can get them out of the starting blocks but will leave them stuck, stranded, or spinning their wheels at some point because they don’t actually know what they need to succeed or how to implement the information they have and in what order.  

The bottom line is that every single one of us is experiencing what I call “The Gap”, the space between where you are and where you want to be. It might be aspirational, motivational, financial or simply the ultimate expression of your potential or purpose, but however you define it, the gap is painful, especially if you are idealistic, and have a big bold vision for your business and the mark you want to make in the world. 

Business Strategist, Consultant or Coach: Which One Do You Need?

With the dramatic growth in the number of female experts starting knowledge-based businesses in the past few years, it is no surprise that there has been an equally dramatic growth in the number of people offering to help them to reach their business goals. There are business coaches, consultants, and strategists marketing their services for every stage of business from launch to legacy, and for every possible niche and goal. 

With a seemingly endless number of options, it is any wonder that many of us hire the wrong kind of help and either blame the person we hired or ourselves when we fail to get the outcome we expected.  Or maybe you know you need help but are so confused by all the options (or feeling skeptical because you’ve heard one too many horror stories.  If either of these descriptions fit, this episode is for you. 

How to Start Now to Grow Your Business in 2023

It's mid-November and the holidays are right around the corner. As a solopreneur, you can go all-in on a Black Friday Sale, take time off or just hunker down and wait out the rest of the year because "nobody buys coaching or consulting services in Q4."

Well, I don't believe that, for the record, and I will still be selling in December, along with enjoying friends and family time. But, there's one more thing I am doing to insure I start 2023 strong, and prepared for growth. In fact, I'm doing it right now, so I decided to record this episode and share it with you.

I am referring to my business audit, or "clean sweep." In episode #131 I talked about the need to manage our boundaries with time, energy, effort, money, and relationships. The business audit shows you how to free up money, time, and energy in a very practical way that will start to release stress and overwhelm you so you have more energy and enthusiasm for growth in the new year.

The 5 Types of Boundaries You Need in Business

One of the areas of business strategy I find most of my clients need help with is business boundaries, and often times they don't even realize it. Boundary problems may be the root cause when you find yourself working too much, making too little, and dealing with needy, demanding, or never-satisfied clients. Boundary problems are often to blame for working really hard but not moving forward, investing a ton in learning for your business but never having enough time to implement what you have learned. If any of this sounds familiar, this episode is for you. 

When we struggle with boundaries, we tend to feel resentful, frustrated and overwhelmed. We may think it's a time management issue or that we simply have too much to do and not enough support from others. The tendency to blame, whether ourselves or others is very tempting (I do it too, from time to time...) but nothing moves the needle like self-awareness and personal responsibility. 

There is No Magic Pill

Of all the things we need to learn how to master as a coach or consultant is expectation management.  It is more important than your niche, your offers, your marketing, price point, packaging our expertise or what social media platforms to spend our time on.   You can’t fully rely on your potential client to know what they expect from hiring you, either.  You have to get ahead of the conversation by asking questions that reveal their unconscious beliefs and desires because those are the ones they will judge you by. 

Something I have come to understand is how often clients are looking for a Magic Pill and have zero self awareness that this is even the case.  A Magic Pill is the belief that there will be a perfect solution to whatever we are struggling with, and they just keep trying different things until they find it.   Sometimes we unwittingly participate in this search for a Magic Pill by the way we market our services and sell our programs by over stating the benefits.

Are You Quiet Quitting in Your Business?

The world of work has experienced some pretty seismic changes in the past couple of years, leading up to three interrelated trends: the great resignation, the rise of solopreneurship, and quiet quitting. Productivity and employee engagement are down, way down and companies of all sizes can’t fill open positions or get the best out of the employees they have now. 

I first heard about quiet quitting on TikTok, and it really made me think about my own work history, and the challenges being faced by the five different generations that currently make up the workforce. If you are not familiar with the term, quiet quitting refers to doing only what is necessary at work, something my generation called “coasting.”   

A quiet quitter is not necessarily on their way out the door, but they are maintaining firm boundaries around their work hours and effort in order to maintain a better work-life balance. 

Lessons From a Failed Launch

Why am I pulling back the curtain on my own failed launch (while marketing myself as a business strategist, coach, and consultant?)   And,why do it immediately after it happened?  I must admit I had a lot of reservations about both the content and the timing, but one of my core values is integrity and for me, that means telling the whole truth about solopreneurship, the cringe-worthy as well as the brag-worthy. I also knew if I didn’t share it now, I would miss the true value of sharing our failures- giving shame the middle finger. 

If you are a solopreneur, you have to become comfortable with risk and failure. You need to try things without knowing how they will turn out, ask people to hire you even if you have imposter issues, make offers before you feel ready to do so and some of your programs, products, and services will fail.  You are literally where the buck starts and stops, so getting better at dealing with failure is truly unavoidable. 

Does Your Business Need You to Boss Up?

Have you ever heard the term “boss up?”  I started using it with my one-to-one coaching clients about a year ago, at times when they needed and wanted to change their mindset and take new actions.  Usually, this happened because they had plateaued, believed they were stagnating, or just felt stuck and were ready to do whatever it took to move beyond it.  

I had been trying to decide on a name for the signature framework I spent months creating (with the help of a consultant I’ve mentioned on this podcast, Claudia Schalkx.)  I looked up the term “boss up” and recognized instantly that it was the perfect name for my framework.  Here’s the Urban Dictionary definition of boss up:  “take ownership of one's life, by directing the full capacity of time, resources, and attention toward a specific direction, goal, or intent. In other words: step up, raise your standard, up your game, and take responsibility for the direction of your life and the full maturity of your dreams.”  

The Cure for Imposter Syndrome

Human beings have a need to understand themselves and others.  We label behavior and decide what is normal and what is not.  Our culture is particularly fond of pathologizing behavior and especially the behavior of women.  The way we speak to and about ourselves matters a lot.  We have all literally learned to think of ourselves in a certain way from an early age and it is a lot harder to change those beliefs than it is to question them before they stick. 

We have all used labels to refer to ourselves and others in ways that are harmful, inaccurate, and lasting.  Referring to ourselves as having imposter syndrome may be spot on, or not.  When we lack the confidence to start a business, ask to be paid for our services, are afraid to raise our rates, set boundaries with clients, or hold our team members to a higher standard, is it imposter syndrome, or could it be something else? 

Your challenges may be a mindset issue, but they might just as well be an issue of experience or skill. I unpack the cure for imposter syndrome by helping you figure out that imposter syndrome is not what is going on with you, so you can do something about what is.   

Right-Size Your Business to Fit Your Life

If you are like most of us, you jumped into your online business with nothing more than the intense desire to BYOB ( Be Your Own Boss, that is…) and put your faith in the celebrity coaches and online gurus to show you the way.  Now you are a few years into it, working too many hours,  making too little money, and feeling super stressed about how to get anything else done in your so-called life.  

It’s time to do a reality check, climb out from under our sunk cost and shame shit and forgive ourselves, so we can get busy right-sizing our business.  You can right-size your business, no matter how long you have been in it, by asking yourself some important questions and making the changes that align with your honest answers.  

There is no one “right-size” business for everybody because each of us has a different life, responsibilities, challenges, and priorities.  Your business can change as your stage of life and opportunities change, so don’t shoehorn yourself into anyone else’s version of a dream business.  You don’t “have to” do anything unless it’s right and sustainable for you.  

Getting Better at Hearing No

One of the most common scenarios I encounter with my business strategy and coaching clients the fear of hearing the word “no.  I have been interviewed on the topic of entrepreneurship and rejection sensitivity on several other podcasts, so I know this is a pretty widespread struggle. 

There are a number of ways we unconsciously resist hearing no that actually limit our income, profit and success in business.  Behaviors such as never raising our prices, asking a team member to learn something new and avoiding creating new offers are a few.   Many of us go so far out of our way to avoid being rejected that we basically reject the chance of being found, hired and paid.  Or, we just don’t ask for the sale, avoid using a Call to Action in our marketing and “forget” to follow up with prospects.  

With everything I am learning about confidence, failure and resiliency, I have come to the conclusion that getting better at dealing with “no” is a skill that all of us need to get better at.  Think of it this way: we either need to learn how to deal more effectively with “no” or get used to settling for less than we truly want.  

What is Your Unfair Advantage?

In this value-packed solo episode,  I share my perspective on a word that is totally overutilized in the coaching industry: AUTHENTICITY;  and why I think what is being taught by many is actually manipulative AF and anything but authentic.  My definition of authenticity involves true vulnerability, courage, and risk-taking and is strategic, not tactical.  

The more authentic I have become, the more I have been learning to unmask myself and share who I am, and the more I understand that I’m not the only one who feels like a square peg in a round hole,  who has paid a high price for conforming to the norm and is learning to excavate myself from under layers of cultural conditioning that began almost in the womb.  

But, authenticity as your unfair advantage does not mean sharing everything with everybody indiscriminately, either.  What you share with the public, with your audience, and with your clients can, and probably should differ and authenticity never involves breaching trust or exposing information involving others when you have not requested consent. 

Using an Application to Find Your Ideal Clients

If you are a coach, consultant or other professional service providers, I don’t have to tell you how frustrating it is to be on a sales call with someone who is not a legitimate prospect and believe me, it feels bad for them too.   When you are just getting started, you may choose to work with almost anyone who is able and willing to hire you, but  once you are established, and find yourself in the enviable position of having a waiting list or being able to hand pick your clients, you need a system. 

One of the strategies I have developed in order to make sure I am getting in front of the right people, for the right reason at the right time is my consultation process and the language I use and the questions I ask of anyone scheduling a consultation with me.  I use Calendly, but you can apply the same process to Acuity, Schedule Once or any other online scheduler.  

In this value-packed solo episode, I walk you through my exact system and how it benefits both me and the prospective client, even if we decide not to work together.  

I Hate My Business. Now What?

If you are a woman who has started her own business, I don’t have to tell you that you face quite a few challenges.  You have to know why you're in business, your goals and obstacles, and what's working and what isn't working.  You also need to know how to ask for the money, how much money to ask for, and how to feel good about asking for it.

With all these challenges, the majority of us dive head first into consuming content about business,  hoping it will make the daunting task of decision-making easier or more comfortable.   There is nothing wrong with seeking advice, consulting or coaching, but the risk of following others, either too many experts or over-reliance on a so-called “expert” is you may very well end up with a business you hate.  As hard as it is to admit, you would not be alone if you ever said or thought this.  In fact, there is a growing number of women who have hit the wall in their business and don’t know what to do.

Maybe it's not "Just" Procrastination

If you are anything like me, you have a tendency to procrastinate. You procrastinate on the trivial, but also on things that are important to you and when you do, it can create a lot of seriously negative consequences.   You might even think of yourself as a “procrastinator” (something I do not recommend, and talk about why, in this episode.)   

I believe that everyone procrastinates on some tasks, some of the time,  but it’s just too easy to dump all those times when you said you would do something and you aren’t doing on the procrastination pile.  But, what if it  isn’t “just” procrastination?  What if it’s resistance, avoidance, imposter complex, resentment, or even your intuition pointing you in a different direction? In this solo episode, we explore the different scenarios that we might incorrectly label as “just procrastination” that really aren’t, what is actually going on, and what to do about it. 

Life Lessons for When Shit Happens

After many years of “winging it” as my preferred modus operandi, I knew I would have to become less spontaneous and more of a planner when I decided to launch this podcast two years ago.  Once I decided to commit to it,  I learned to become a planner and even found I liked it.  But sometimes, in spite of our planning, things go sideways and shit happens. My husband and I just relocated for the second time in barely three years and the experience has been full of surprises, and not the good kind. 

This episode is not about planning or being consistent, at least not directly.  It is about the fact that many times in life, things do not go as we intend or expect, no matter how well we have planned.  Life has an uncanny knack for throwing us just enough curveballs to have some of us thinking ‘why bother?” about planning, while others become humorless control-freaks trying to get life to conform to their will. 

Therapist vs Coach: What's the Difference?

One of the subjects I am asked for my opinion on most often is the confusion between therapy and coaching.  I guess you could say I am uniquely qualified to address this topic because before I trained and certified as a coach, I was a licensed psychotherapist for over twenty years.  It has become a complicated, contradictory and at times controversial subject and one that a growing number of people are talking about. 

After being asked this question in a number of interviews on other podcasts, I decided it was time to discuss it on The Driven Woman. In this episode, I hope to raise awareness, stimulate some thinking, and most of all, encourage people to trust their intuition and do their homework. 

How to Deal with Fear, Uncertainty & Doubt (FUD)

Everyone has heard of FOMO, but have you also heard of FUD?  Diann hadn’t either, until a recent conversation with her son Andre on the topic of bitcoin.  FUD stands for Fear, Uncertainty & Doubt and taking a guess that these emotions are something you are more than familiar with, especially during these last couple of years.  Once Diann heard the term and learned its history, she actually scrapped the podcast she was planning to create for this week and recorded this one instead.  Hope you agree that it is both timely and relevant. 

The Boundaries Series: Boundaries as Self Care

This is the fourth and last episode in The Boundaries Series, and this one is called “Boundaries as Self Care”  Many solopreneurs were superstars in their former jobs and many of us came to self-employment with ingrained habits of overworking including taking work home, skipping vacations, and even going to work when we were sick, instead of taking our company PTO. Women are not conditioned to put their needs first, so when we become solopreneurs, we often end up over extended, overworking, and overwhelmed between the needs of our families and the needs of our business.

The Boundaries Series: How to Create a Distraction-Free Business

This is the third in The Boundaries Series of solo episodes, and this one is called How to Create a Distraction-Free Business.  Spoiler alert: it comes down to self-awareness, self-acceptance, and having decent boundaries.   Most female solopreneurs are working from home, with one or more other beings in their space.  Knowing how to manage our distractions and how we use distractions to avoid other uncomfortable feelings like resentment and self-doubt are half the battle to being productive from home.

The Boundaries Series: Obligation Management

This episode is the second in The Boundaries Series, where we are unpacking the challenge of doing things we don’t really want to be doing, and for all the wrong reasons. Warning: If you have not already heard that I have fully embraced the feedback that one of my favorite clients by calling me “The Speaker of Uncomfortable Truths.” The bottom line is that each of us has limits when it comes to our capacity and if we are spending time, energy, effort, and dollars doing things out of a sense of obligation, rather than choice,  we will feel strained and drained, not to mention resentful.

The Boundaries Series: Creating Consistent Client Outcomes

Today’s solo episode tackles the problem of saying “yes” to clients you probably should say “no” to and why, and how to both create predictable outcomes and avoid both negative ones and surprises.   Creating a specific way of working with people and sticking to it, instead of trying to help everyone you think you should, or believe you can spare you countless heartaches. The truth is that you really can’t help everybody.  None of us can.  

Make Success a No Brainer

The more experienced I become as a business coach, the more convinced I am that the secret to success is understanding how the human brain works and how to outsmart it.  Our brains do not care if we are happy, fulfilled, or reaching our potential.  They are giving themselves an A+ if we are still alive because that is actually our brain’s job description.  Being successful requires that you use your mind to bypass the brain’s default programming and in this episode, I am going to share with you a couple of hacks for how to do it. 

Value vs Worth

In our ongoing series on the mindset changes we need to make in business in order to make the income, impact, and profit we really want to make,  in this solo episode, I address one of the more common problems I see with female solopreneurs: confusion about worth and value in their business. 

When we focus on value instead of worth, we make more money, get better clients, and create more outstanding outcomes.   Who doesn’t want that? 

Saying No Like You Mean It

Boundaries and knowing when to say “no” go together like PB & J. In this episode, I will be talking about not the mechanics of saying no (although I do give you a simple strategy for what to do when you’re put on the spot, near the end…) but more of the strategy behind the no.  

If you are a solopreneur, creative freelancer, or indie professional, you are probably faced with a million requests a day.  Knowing when to say “no” and why is crucial to having a profitable business and avoiding burnout.   The focus of today’s solo episode is on service-based businesses, but the principles apply to most businesses, and to our personal lives as well.  

Setting Boundaries Like a Boss

There is no cookie-cutter, one size fits all situations solution. Boundaries are culturally determined, affected by our personalities, temperaments, stage of life, mental health, personal preferences, and whether or not we have a trauma history. See what I mean about being complicated?

In this week’s solo episode, I am going to open up the topic of boundaries (we will have a few more episodes where we will dig deeper into various aspects of the subject…) by reflecting on the differences I observed visiting the homes of various friends as I was growing up in S. California from the families whose kids didn’t even have bedroom doors to those where the parents could not enter without the child’s permission and everything in between.

People Pleasing is Killing Your Profits

I think it's really important as women and business owners that we understand how our culture has conditioned us to have certain beliefs, expectations, habits, and behaviors that interfere with our ability to achieve our goals and be successful. Most of us don't even realize all the things that we are doing that are killing our profits. So I'm willing to offend, to annoy, and even risk being a trigger because I think for those of you that are ready to hear the unvarnished truth and do something about it, you are going to be able to maximize your profits in your business without even having to hire me. You are welcome. 

Changing Your Mind, One Thought at a Time

I often say that human beings only have two problems: We are always thinking and we always believe ourselves. While this may sound sarcastic (and it probably is) the underlying truth is that for many of us, our thoughts are the source of our suffering, not our circumstances.  That’s not to say our circumstances might not need some changing, but plenty of us have everything we need to be healthy, happy, successful, and fulfilled and we aren’t, because of our stinking thinking.  Truth bomb. Today’s solo episode is the next topic in the mindset series, how to actually begin to change your brain by changing your mind.

Question Your Fear

In the years I’ve been coaching bold, brilliant, badass female entrepreneurs, I have never once encountered one that was not capable of more than she was experiencing in her business success.  Sometimes the issue was skill, occasionally it was will, but nine times out of ten,  it came down to fear.  Fear of failure, fear of criticism, fear of being envied, fear of embarrassment, fear of proving someone right, even fear of betraying their roots are just some of the possibilities.  

Fear is something we need to learn how to manage if we want to move to a higher level of influence, impact, or income in business.  Until we do so, we will stay right where we are, and with the world moving forward at an ever-increasing pace,  staying in place is falling behind.  

Negative Self Talk

One of the things that is so frustrating about the human brain is how often it cranks out negative self-talk, no matter how smart, capable, or successful we are.  In this solo episode of The Driven Woman Podcast, I spill the tea on how the brain actually works, why there is nothing wrong with you just because you have negative thoughts about yourself (spoiler alert, just about everyone does….) but how simple it actually is to change them and think better thoughts. 

Whether you are a total brain science nerd or your eyes glaze over when someone starts talking about neurobiology, I promise you will not only understand every word of what I am sharing in this episode, but you may just stop feeling bad for how nasty your self-talk is, once and for all. 

The Confidence Habit

I have been working with women for many years and one of the more perplexing things I have encountered is how often I witness bold, brilliant, badass women doubting themselves, settling for less than they really want, and holding themselves back from the level of success they deserve.  I believe that all behavior is habit-forming, so in order to become more confident, women need to stop thinking so much and just act. 

Confidence is not just feeling good about yourself, and it is not a reward for good work, but a skill and a choice. Confidence is a belief in one’s ability to succeed, a belief that stimulates action. Taking action increases our belief that we can succeed and confidence accumulates. This is the essence of The Confidence Habit.  

Your Zone of Genius

Discovering our upper limit issues has helped so many female entrepreneurs make sense of their perfectionism, imposter complex and self sabotage, and why no matter how hard they work, they just can’t seem to break through a certain income ceiling, or pattern of overdelivering and under-earning. Everyone has these upper limits and the really good news is that once you see them for what they are and understand that they are learned, you stop shaming and blaming yourself and can start focusing on spending more time in your Zone of Genius. This is where the real magic happens and we can continue to evolve in an upward spiral of success, happiness and well being. 

Breaking Through Your Upper Limits

In this episode, we are going to discuss the categories of behavior that let us know when we are “upper-limiting” ourselves. The good news is that there really aren’t that many of them and once you see them for what they are, you won’t be able to ignore them again. 

If you are a driven woman who is working hard, doing all the things, but just can’t seem to reach her goals on a consistent basis, you are already aware that something is getting in your way and suspect you are holding yourself back somehow. If you want to play a bigger game, make more money and have a bigger impact, you are going to love this episode.

How Much Success Can You Tolerate? 

I am totally obsessed with helping women bust through their self imposed limits and busting through my own.  For this week’s solo episode, we are kicking off a mini-series on the topic of upper limit issues - what they are, how to know if you have them (spoiler alert, if you are human, you DO…) and most importantly, how to eliminate them so you can reach your true potential. 

Dealing with Expectations

When I first started coaching female entrepreneurs,  we focused a lot on productivity and time management, because my clients wanted to get more done. 

So, I taught them the latest techniques to identify their most important goals and to accomplish them more efficiently.  

How we deal with expectations - our own and other people’s.  

The High Cost of Perfectionism

If you are a regular listener of The Driven Woman Podcast, you are probably a perfectionist. The Driven Woman is ambitious,  hard working,  strives for excellence and wants to be the best at everything she does, there just doesn’t seem to be enough hours to the day to get it all done, to her satisfaction.

The truth of the matter is that no one is perfect and if we apply our impossibly high standards to everything we do, we will be tweaking our web copy while a competitor beats us to market.  Perfection is costly and the harsh reality is that most of the times, the things we are obsessing over don’t even matter all that much.

1 YEAR PODVERSARY: Reflections on Finding My Voice

It’s time to celebrate, Driven Women! This week is our one year Podversary and I am so excited to announce that I have consistently produced this podcast every single week for an entire year.   In this solo episode, I take you back in time to my first interview as a podcast guest, through my journey of procrastination and perfectionism that delayed The Driven Woman for two years and what I finally figured out I needed to pull the trigger.  If you have a goal or project that you just can’t seem to get off the ground, this one is for you.   

Your Brain is
Not Your Friend

Most people think that their brain works for them, helping them to attain personal happiness, but little do they know the hard truth that it doesn’t work this way.

The opposite turns out to be true, the brain is actually the boss and its agenda is very different from yours.

Imposter
Complex

Imposter complex has convinced women that despite their achievements, they are still not enough and don't see themselves as worthy of feeling successful.

This has been a common trait among highly driven women and has been called many different names over time.

Fancy, Gritty,
Shiny, FOMO

In this episode, Diann talks about structuring your life to work for you and allowing positive drivers to catapult you forward.

Diann also advocates in giving yourself time to play and rest in order not to exhaust your creativity with work. She highlighted four segments in this podcast: