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. Having a screening or application process in place allows you to focus on identifying and serving only those clients that have the motivation, expectations, and resources to benefit from working with you, who will achieve amazing outcomes, and who will happily sing your praises, all of which helps keep your pipeline full.   We have all heard that you need to attract your ideal clients and repel everyone else, but how do you do this in a practical and efficient way? 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.  What to call it & why: consultation, interview, application, discovery call How it creates value for your ideal client & deters those who will never hire you The 5 questions you simply must ask (and what happens if you don’t) Uncommon advice on your availability and appointment reminders Also mentioned in this episode: Claudia Schalkx, marketing consultant  https://bridge2more.com/If you find yourself thinking “I never thought about screening my prospects like this,” I’ve got a lot more expert guidance to share with you.  Being a solopreneur can be overwhelming and you don’t have to figure it out alone.  The first step is to identify which habits and behaviors are holding you back.  I created a quiz with 6 different behaviors I see in female solopreneurs.  Once you take the quiz, you will receive specific feedback, guidance, and practical advice about steps you can take to fix it.   Click on this link to take the quiz: What’s Holding You Back?   https://bit.ly/whyb-quizWith 20+ years of experience as a psychotherapist and 7+ years as a coach, I rarely meet a solopreneur who wouldn’t benefit from some expert guidance. Click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation to see if my signature 12-week 1:1 coaching program is right for you. https://bit.ly/calendly-free-consultationIf you are the kind of entrepreneur who learns as much from others as you do when you and your business are the sole focus, my brand new group membership program is starting soon and the first step is to get on the waitlist. Click here to be notified of all the details: Group Coaching Waitlist  So, that’s all for now, Driven Woman!  Please join us next week for an amazing guest interview on being confident on video with Helen Polise, The Tik Tok Teacher, and in the meantime, stay driven! 

I love working with creatives and today’s guest, my client Lauren Hirsch was one of my favorites.  Lauren decided to work with me after interviewing several other coaches and even having the first session with one of them.  She had just been diagnosed with ADHD and was struggling to find direction in her career,  create consistent habits, and feel more confident and intentional.  We worked together for 12 weeks in my 1:1 coaching program, from November - to February.  Literally the day after we finished our engagement, her boyfriend of several years, whom she was living with, broke off the relationship.  Lauren had to move out, find a new place to live, and was looking for a new job at the same time.  With this much disruption and change, Lauren was worried that all the positive changes in mindset and habits we had created together would be lost. I must admit I was a little worried about that, too. What you will hear in this Client Success Story interview, which was recorded almost four months after we finished working together, is that did not happen. In fact, not only is Lauren thriving in her new job and apartment, but the work we did together is so evident in the way she sees herself, the way she makes decisions, and most of all, her identity as a creative.  Lauren learned that being a creative means she literally sees and experiences the world differently, so she really can’t look to others for acceptance and approval, without first giving it to herself.  She wanted help with career direction, self-confidence, creating more structure and routines in her life, and managing her impulsivity as a multi-passionate creative.  What she got was all that, and a whole lot more.Lauren and I talk about:  Transforming perfectionism into self-trust Tuning out her inner critic and listening to her intuition Receiving constructive criticism from her boss as an opportunity Embracing her identity as a creative who can make her living from her gifts  Mic Drop Moment:  “Creativity is an identity, not a behavior.” Lauren Hirsch  If you’d like to connect with Lauren Hirsch,  find her on Instagram:@now_here_designs@bee_layer  Lauren knew she was a perfectionist before hiring me, but most of us just know we aren’t making progress without being clear about why. Perfectionism is just one of the six common struggles that may be holding you back, take my quiz and find out which one is yours, and what to do about it! What’s Holding You Back?https://bit.ly/whyb-quiz Thinking about working with me? If you need the focused attention on your business & life that is only available through 1:1 coaching, click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with Diann to see if her 12-week private coaching program is right for you. Free Consultation for 1:1 Coaching  Instagram: https://bit.ly/DWC-Instagram Before you bounce, don’t forget to leave a review of The Driven Woman Podcast, I’d love to read it on a future episode!    Apple: https://apple.co/2BZDFzcAndroid: https://bit.ly/TDWE-podchaser Don’t forget to join us next week for Episode #113, a value-packed solo episode. If you haven’t already, please follow/subscribe to The Driven Woman Podcast so you won’t miss a single thing! 

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.In other words, even in the most simple, solopreneur business: coaching, consulting or professional services, you need to know your why, what you are trying to achieve, your advantages and disadvantages, and what aspects of your business are actually driving your success and which ones are inhibiting or delaying it.  Our relationship with money is the other elephant in the room, and a surprising number of women have trouble with establishing their prices, selling, and accepting payment.  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.  Like everything else in life, it starts with self-awareness. What you’ll learn in today’s episode: Four wrong ways to start a business The warning signs that your business isn’t right for youWhy you need a simple business plan My thoughts about the word “expert” in the online world There is hope, even if you hate your business, so don’t give up! If you find yourself thinking “I hate my business”,  you don’t have to figure this out alone.  The first step is to figure out the habits and behaviors that are holding you back.  Take my quiz and you will find out your specific challenge but will receive feedback, guidance, and practical advice about steps you can take to fix it.   Click on this link to take the quiz: What’s Holding You Back?   https://bit.ly/obstaclesquizWith 20+ years of experience as a psychotherapist and 7+ years as a coach, I rarely meet a solopreneur who wouldn’t benefit from some expert guidance in this area. Click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation to see if my signature 12-week 1:1 coaching program is right for you. https://calendly.com/diannwingert/free-consultation/If you are the kind of entrepreneur who learns as much from others as you do when you and your business are the sole focus, my brand new group membership program is starting soon and the first step is to get on the waitlist. Click here to be notified of all the details: Group Coaching Waitlist  Join The Driven Woman Facebook GroupThe place to be for entrepreneurial women who are ready to go from driven and distracted to focused, fired up, and flame retardant  (https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedrivenwoman) Let’s connect on Instagram:: https://www.instagram.com/coachdiannwingert/ So, that’s all for now, Driven Woman!  Please join us next week for an amazing guest interview and in the meantime, stay driven! 

I just love inviting someone I have worked with to join me on the podcast for a Client Success Story episode.   As you will hear in the preview to this one,  I do not interview my clients during or immediately after we have completed my 12 week coaching program, when the bond is strong and they are flying high on how much we have accomplished together.  I wait a few months, because I am not interested in only helping my clients during the time they are actively working with me.  My goal is to set them up for the kind of success that lasts,  and that they can maintain on their own.  In this convo, you will meet my client Pam Peterson, who is a health and wellness coach, specializing in working with women with chronic pain in a mind-body-brain framework.  Pam has a masters degree, a bunch of certifications and has learned what actually works for chronic pain, because she has been living with it for years.  Pam and I talk about:  How much she accomplished during our three months togetherThe mindset shifts she made and sustained The challenges she experienced and how we overcame them Why I am not the easiest coach to work with, but just right for herHow she has been able to maintain her momentum after working with me If you’d like to connect with Pam Peterson, here are a few ways to do so:Website: https://www.coachpampeterson.com/Book a  consultation: https://calendly.com/coach-pam-peterson/30min?month=2022-06Free chronic pain guide: https://subscribepage.com/a8a3p9Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@coachpampetersonIG: https://www.instagram.com/coach.pam.peterson/Pam knew what was standing in her way before hiring me, but but most of us just know we aren’t making progress without being clear about why. If there is a gap between where you are and where you want to be, take my quiz and get your personalized result, and what to do about it! What’s Holding You Back?https://bit.ly/obstaclesquizThinking about working with me? If you need the focused attention on your business & life that is only available through 1:1 coaching, click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with Diann to see if her 12-week private coaching program is right for you. Free Consultation for 1:1 Coaching Want to add yourself to the waitlist for our next round of coaching groups?  There is no obligation, but if you want to get more information, you need to be on the list, so click here: Group Coaching Waitlist The Driven Woman Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedrivenwoman/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachdiannwingert/ Before you bounce, don’t forget to leave a review of The Driven Woman Podcast, I’d love to read it on a future episode!    Apple: https://apple.co/2BZDFzcAndroid: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-driven-woman-1194485

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?  Sometimes,  labeling our behavior as “just” procrastination doesn’t go deep enough to identify the real issue.  When this is the case, treating it as procrastination isn’t going to work, or worse, get you even deeper into something that isn’t right for you.  There are times when we need to push ourselves and “just do it” and other times we need a completely different approach.  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. Discussed in this episode: How to identify when it’s “just procrastination” and when it’s something more The hidden emotion that pretends to be procrastination Uncovering intuition in your business through Radical Self Acceptance Why knowing your personal and business values leads to better decisionsWhat questions to ask yourself to to get unstuck and create confidence I have struggled with procrastination for most of my life, even as a high achieving and highly educated individual, until I learned that what appears to be “just procrastination” isn’t always so.  Learning that what I was labeling 'just procrastination" when it was something else helped me solve the real problem.  If you are struggling with procrastination, maybe it’s because you are trying to do something that is not aligned with your values, which creates resistance.  The good news is you can get crystal clear on your top 5 values and use them to make better decisions in your business and life.  Wanna know how?  Grab my FREE handout Identifying Your Core Value here With 20+ years of experience as a psychotherapist and 6+ years as a coach, I rarely meet a solopreneur who wouldn’t benefit from some expert guidance in this area. Click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation to see if my signature 12-week 1:1 coaching program is right for you. https://calendly.com/diannwingert/free-consultation/If you are the kind of entrepreneur who learns as much from others as you do when you and your business are the sole focus, my brand new group membership program is starting soon and the first step is to get on the waitlist. Click here to be notified of all the details: Group Coaching Waitlist  Join The Driven Woman Facebook GroupThe place to be for entrepreneurial women who are ready to go from driven and distracted to focused, fired up, and flame retardant  (https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedrivenwoman) So, that’s all for now, Driven Woman!  

This is a conversation I have been looking forward to having for quite a while because my guest, Laura Khalil specializes in helping female consultants make $250K. First off,   I was intensely curious, why $250K,  when the majority of business coaches and consultants are talking about helping their clients hit 6-figures or 7-figures?  I already knew that the skills and strategies that get you to 100k are not going to get you to 250k, but when you are not promoting group programs, courses, or having the leverage and scale convo, what else is there?  Well, this is where we are going in today’s super exciting conversation.  I am so rarely speechless, but it literally happened in this interview because of all I learned from Laura and can’t wait to share with you. Laura pulls back the curtain on:Why 88% of consultants top off at $113k, and what she does differently The majority of consultants experience feast or famine cycles in businessWhy most marketing is bullshit and what she teaches her clients insteadHow she manages to work a lot fewer hours than her less well-paid peersA different way to look at scaling your consulting business The flat tire analogy that puts it all in perspective Mic Drop Moment:  “The secret to earning $250K as a consultant is not a secret.  You need to become highly referable.” Laura Khalil If you’d like to connect with Laura Khalil, here are a few ways to do so:Elevate mastermind: https://bravebydesign.mykajabi.com/elevateWebsite: https://www.bravebydesign.net/Podcast: https://apple.co/3Ots7F7Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurakhalil/Also mentioned in this episode:  “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz Is there a gap between where you are and where you want to be?  Do you know why?  Take the quiz and get your personalized result, and what to do about it! What’s Holding You Back?https://bit.ly/obstaclesquizThinking about working with Diann? If you need the focused attention on your business & life that is only available through 1:1 coaching, click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with Diann to see if her 12-week private coaching program is right for you. Free Consultation for 1:1 Coaching Want to add yourself to the waitlist for our next round of coaching groups?  There is no obligation, but if you want to get more information, you need to be on the list, so click here: Group Coaching Waitlist The Driven Woman Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedrivenwoman/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachdiannwingert/ Before you bounce, don’t forget to leave a review of The Driven Woman Podcast, I’d love to read it on a future episode!    Apple: https://apple.co/2BZDFzcAndroid: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-driven-woman-1194485

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. I decided to record this episode instead of the one I had planned in order to give you a behind the scenes look into some of my personal challenges,  a peek into my podcast production process and share my perspective, evolution and growth as a human being. My life experiences over the past few weeks have been such a good reminder that we need to manage our mindset, not just our To Do list.  My editor gave it a thumbs up, saying “this one is for the planner and perfectionist who sweats the small stuff and wants to control everything, that’s me.”  I just knew if it spoke to her, it would speak to you too. Discussed in this episode: The limitations of planning and how they make us more resilient Dealing with the emotions of disappointment, anxiety and frustration Lessons from Buddhism about dealing with the unexpectedHow to get through challenges by focusing on your values Some of the traits and habits I have struggled with most and learned to overcome are procrastination and perfectionism.  Do you know which beliefs and habits are standing in your way?   I created a quiz with 6 common problems that interfere with our success as solopreneurs.  Take my FREE quiz and get your personalized result, and more importantly, what you can do about it. What’s Holding You Back?   https://bit.ly/whyb-quiz With 20+ years of experience as a psychotherapist and 5+ years as a coach, I rarely meet a solopreneur who wouldn’t benefit from some expert guidance in this area. Click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation to see if my signature 12-week 1:1 coaching program is right for you. https://bit.ly/calendly-free-consultation Let’s connect on Instagram: https://bit.ly/DWC-InstagramSo, that’s all for now, Driven Woman!  Please join us next week for another amazing guest interview with Laura Eiger, PhD, a leadership coach, author and speaker who joins me for an stimulating conversation about the importance of leading with our values.  You don’t want to miss this one. 

Just imagine a high school art teacher, wife, and mom trying to start an online business.  She loves her students and teaching itself but all the rules of the profession are sucking the joy right out of her.  In spite of her boundless enthusiasm and endless creativity, plus years of side hustle experience, like the rest of us, this wantrepreneur turns to the alleged “experts” in the field, the high priestesses of online marketing.  The ones who make 'the rules". These celebrity coaches and online marketing gurus have made multi-million dollars selling their courses and coaching programs, and they have pages and pages of testimonials gushing over them, so it had to be “The Way”, and they had a right to make The Rules, only it wasn’t and they don't.  Several courses later, this teacher, whom we will call Deanna (because that’s actually her name) is not only not getting anywhere closer to the promised land of the laptop lifestyle, but she is starting to feel just as disillusioned with this whole online entrepreneur thing as she was as a teacher.  See the real problem? Is poor Deanna doing something wrong or did she simply get caught up in the “results, not typical” marketing hype that has made celebrity coaches fabulously wealthy while leaving most of their students blaming themselves for not being one of the success stories they bring on stage at their high ticket sales events?   Well, as you might have guessed, Deanna is today’s guest on The Driven Woman Podcast and she is also the graphic designer and coach that I recently hired and will start working with in June, to help me write MY own rules when it comes to Instagram.   Here is what you’ll learn in today’s episode: How Deanna and I met:  In Angie Trueblood’s Podwize membership Why she broke up with social media for 6 weeks and what it taught her Why Deanna no longer considers the $$$ she spent on courses to be a total waste What she thinks is the key to dealing with the fear of being vulnerable onlineWant more Deanna Seymour? Waitlist for “Eff That!” Instagram Community: https://deannaseymour.com/shop/Website: https://deannaseymour.com/“Eff That! Podcast: https://deannaseymour.com/blog/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedeannaseymour/Ethical leaders that Deanna mentioned and recommends:Maggie Patterson_small business strategy: https://smallbusinessboss.co/Kathleen Oh_business coaching: https://coachkathleenoh.com/Kelly Diels_ethical marketing: https://www.kellydiels.com/Liz Wilcox_email marketing: https://lizwilcox.com/Brene Brown_Atlas of the Heart_ vulnerability: https://brenebrown.com/So, are you where you want to be in your online business?  Do you even know what is getting in your way? Take the quiz and get your personalized result, (and what to do about it! )What’s Holding You Back?https://bit.ly/obstaclesquizThinking about working with Diann? If you need the focused attention on your business & life that is only available through 1:1 coaching, click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with Diann to see if her 12-week private coaching program is right for you. Free Consultation for 1:1 Coaching 

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.  The point here is not that therapists are better, safer, or more competent across the board.  I know many fine coaches who do excellent work and hold themselves to standards of integrity and ethics that equal those of any licensed therapist. I have also known a number of therapists who were mediocre at best.  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.   In this episode, I make the offer to personally respond to anyone who has a follow-up question on this subject after listening to the full episode.  The options are:  DM me at IG @coachdiannwingert or email me at diann@diannwingertcoaching.com.   Discussed in this episode: How do therapists and coaches differ in terms of their credentials: training, licensing, certification, and regulation The connection between the medical model and mental health stigma Unsung heroes: bartenders, personal trainers, massage therapists, and hair stylistsThe big issues:  boundaries, confidentiality, privacy, dual relationships Insight and healing or growth and goal achievementShould you work with both a therapist and a coach at the same time? Pricing and packaging of therapy vs coaching and how this influences our expectations and outcomes Also mentioned: ICF (International Coach Federation) https://coachingfederation.org/Podcast interviews I have done on this subject:My Simplified Life Podcast: https://apple.co/3BMNKuaCreative Magic Club Podcast: https://apple.co/3wI9mVX Have you closed the gap between where you are and where you want to be in your business?  Do you know which beliefs and habits are standing in your way?   I created a quiz with 6 common problems that interfere with our success as solopreneurs.  Take my FREE quiz and get your personalized result, and more importantly, what you can do about it. What’s Holding You Back?   https://bit.ly/whyb-quiz With 20+ years of experience as a psychotherapist and 5+ years as a coach, I rarely meet a solopreneur who wouldn’t benefit from some expert guidance in this area. Click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation to see if my signature 12-week 1:1 coaching program is right for you. https://bit.ly/calendly-free-consultation Let’s connect on Instagram: https://bit.ly/DWC-InstagramSo, that’s all for now, Driven Woman!  Please join us next week for another amazing guest interview with Deanna Seymour, a graphic designer, and former art teacher who joins me to talk about being our true selves and breaking a few rules in social media and online business.

Kathi Burns definitely found her calling as a professional organizer. She has been helping others eliminate clutter for over 17 years, has written an entire book on the subject, hosts a weekly podcast called Organized and Energized, and is even more enthusiastic about eliminating clutter to create more freedom than she was when she started.  Once I learned that Kathi had been a travel writer who literally lived out of a suitcase and that she has also lived on a boat, I knew she was a bona fide expert in doing more with less.  This conversation was both informative and fun, because I know quite a bit about productivity, but learned so much from Kathi about the benefits of tackling our problems with paper.  Addressing our paper piles is an easy way to create more order in our environment and eliminating them frees up both space and energy, reduces distractions, and increases clarity. We all have better things to do than spend an average of 3 hours a week searching for things, which is one of the eye-opening facts Kathi shared in this lively conversation.  After implementing her Get It Gone system, Kathi promises her clients that they can find anything they need in 30 seconds. How’s that for a value proposition?  So, if you’re ready to listen and learn from this self-proclaimed Paper Wrangler, and go from piling to filing, let’s jump right in!  What you’ll learn: Kathi’s 5 category paper organization systemThe 3 main saboteurs of being organizedLetting go is a muscle that needs regular exerciseLess stuff = more clarity + fewer distractions Mic Drop Moment:  “Paper weighs more than anything else, both physically and psychologically.” Kathi Burns, CPO  If you’d like to connect with Kathi Burns, CPO Webinar: www.getitgoneformula.com/webinarBook: https://amzn.to/3v4svSMPodcast: https://apple.co/3Ey7gfwInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/organizedenergized/Is there a gap between where you are and where you want to be?  Do you know why?  Take the quiz and get your personalized result, and what to do about it! What’s Holding You Back?https://bit.ly/whyb-quiz Thinking about working with Diann? If you need the focused attention on your business & life that is only available through 1:1 coaching, click here to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with Diann to see if her 12-week private coaching program is right for you. Free Consultation for 1:1 Coaching Instagram: https://bit.ly/DWC-Instagram Before you bounce, don’t forget to leave a review of The Driven Woman Podcast, I’d love to read it on a future episode!    Apple: https://apple.co/2BZDFzcAndroid: https://bit.ly/TDWE-podchaser Don’t forget to join us next week for Episode #105 when I return with a solo episode called “Therapy or Coaching: What’s the Difference?” One of the questions I am asked most often in my interviews on other podcasts is how to know which type of professional to hire when you feel stuck and need help to move forward.   Because I was a licensed psychotherapist and also trained and supervised therapists before being certified as a coach, I have an opinion (or three)  on this topic.  Join me next week, on Tuesday, May 10th! If you haven’t already, please follow/subscribe to The Driven Woman Podcast so you won’t miss a single thing!