ADHD-ish

The story of how Amber de la Garza came to be a guest on this podcast is not the typical one.  It started over 3 years ago at Podcast Movement 2019.  I was a listener to her popular productivity podcast, Productivity Straight Talk, and recognized her at the conference.  Even though I did not have a podcast at the time, I approached her, introduced myself, and pitched her on the spot.   Amber has branded herself 'The Productivity Specialist", so you know she is intentional with her time.  She graciously accepted my pitch, on this condition: "Launch your podcast, get to 100 episodes, and then, I will be your guest."   Well, I've never been one to shy away from a challenge from someone I respect, so this interview, in episode #140, is the fulfillment of Amber's promise.  It's also a great lesson for those who need challenge and accountability to kick their motivation into gear. Amber De La Garza is a sought-after speaker, trainer, writer, coach, and creator of The Leverage Lab, who helps entrepreneurs and small business owners learn to manage their time and build effective business systems.  She is the host of the Productivity Straight Talk podcast, wife, mom, dog mom, and calls Las Vegas home. "The skill set of learning to invest your most precious resource, which is time, was incredibly valuable. The idea and identity of The Productivity Specialist was born." In this episode, Amber shares how her past career and life-changing events led her to focus on helping small business owners with their productivity, which leads to the concept of being the bottleneck in one's business, why it can be difficult to recognize, and why it tends to be a recurring pattern.  You will learn the following:1. What is the skill set of learning to invest your most precious resource, time?2. What would happen if a business owner becomes the bottleneck in their business?3. What life lessons can be gleaned from making difficult decisions about how to manage time and invest in team members? How to connect with Amber:Website: https://amberdelagarza.com/Podcast: https://amberdelagarza.com/podcast/Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amberdelagarza/Free time management mini-training: https://amberdelagarza.com/training/tbyt/ Other episodes on productivity & getting out of your own way in your business: Episode #137 The Hidden Reasons You Aren't Reaching Your Goals - https://bit.ly/3HuTsG5 Episode # 99 How to Create a Distraction-Free Business - https://bit.ly/36gQmW9Episode # 85 Setting Boundaries Like a Boss - https://bit.ly/3e3rCAR Is this the year you commit to eliminating the obstacles in your business that are holding you back?  I have a few spots open NOW to work with me 1:1 through the 12-week Boss Up Breakthrough framework.  The first step is scheduling a free, 30-minute goodness-of-fit call by clicking here:  https://bit.ly/3qrJ9YQ Connect with me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diannwingertcoaching/Website: https://www.diannwingertcoaching.com/ Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://kite.link/https-www-diannwingertcoaching-com-podcast Chapter Summaries:[00:00:01]Today's guest is Amber de la Garza, the productivity specialist. The two accidentally bumped into each other in 2019 at Podcast Movement. She's been a guest on her podcast, and now she is now a guest on mine. I have so many questions for you.[00:01:32]In her past life, she did business coaching for real estate agents. After having her son, she started consulting. What she specialized in was productivity, efficiency, and teaching team members how to communicate effectively. There was born the productivity specialist.[00:04:49]This is such a great answer because I realized that moment of fascination for you. True productivity is not about getting more done, it's about getting the right things done. I also think that calling yourself the productivity specialist, I hope makes people curious.[00:06:21]Our topic today is about being the bottleneck in your business. Most people who are the bottleneck have no idea they are. A lot of the personality traits that most entrepreneurs have tend to make them more likely to be a bottleneck. If you can acknowledge that you're the bottleneck, you can make difficult decisions.[00:10:38]Lake: What happens when the business owner is the bottleneck? Why don't they recognize it? And why does it tend to become a recurring pattern? Lake: Are you letting those thoughts dictate the decisions you're making in your business?[00:19:38]The feeling of needing someone and depending on someone and what we make that mean, I see that as a huge bottleneck. For a lot of people, they are the face of the business. How do you handle your role and how do you still serve your clients?[00:25:21]Amber: If you stop listening to what it is you want, you won't build a business that supports that. For me, the last four years I have taken anywhere between eight and twelve weeks off a year. I have different goals now, and so I've tweaked my business to support that.[00:30:28]Sometimes the bottlenecking is happening because we actually mistrust ourselves. Is it true that you can learn to delegate? Absolutely. You don't need to have all your systems in place to hire. That little gut is telling you what might be the next priority to solve.[00:38:15]There's a sense of loss of identity when we let go of things. What would my new role look like? Write that job description. Two places you should be letting go of something, things that you are not good at. We are our most productive selves when we show up our best selves.[00:41:28]Most people spend most of their lives in their zone of excellence. Where I find people have the hardest time letting go is usually a lot of sunk cost. First, see for yourself what role you want and what you want to be doing. Ask for help on who has done that transition before.[00:47:17]Amber: Give yourself permission to evolve. You acknowledge that loss may be uncomfortable, but you allow it in service to your continued growth. Entrepreneurship is the biggest personal development journey we can go through. Tell people how you would like to be found by them.

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: how to determine if you are ready for a coach and if hiring a coach would be beneficial for you.  In my own entrepreneurial journey, I learned that being coachable is not a set-and-forget situation, 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. "Don't fall for the magical thinking that you're going to get great results simply because you hired a coach with a hefty price tag. You get the results based on coachability, the goodness of fit, and taking action. "In this episode, you will learn the following:1. What is coachability and how do you know if you are coachable?2. What are red light, yellow light, and green light indicators to determine if someone is coachable?3. What are the steps to becoming more coachable?Other episodes you'll enjoy:Episode #135 -  “Business Coach, Consultant or Strategist: Who Do You Need?”  https://bit.ly/3ivH3azEpisode # 113 -  “Using an Application Process to Find Your Ideal Clients” https://bit.ly/3nsBM2AMy Guest Interview on The Small Business Podcast: “Don’t Hire a Coach Until You Do This”:  https://apple.co/3MIEhJMAdditional Resources mentioned in this episode: Mindset by Carol Dweck: https://amzn.to/3hOz34t Connect with me: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diannwingertcoaching/Website: https://www.diannwingertcoaching.com/ Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: Apple: https://apple.co/2BZDFzcAndroid: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-driven-woman-1194485 You already know you can only learn so much from a podcast, no matter how generously the host shares their wisdom.  Just imagine how different your business could look in 2023 can look if you get started right away.  I work with a limited number of clients at a time, so if you’re ready, don’t delay. If you are ready for a hybrid strategist + coach, like my approach, and think we might be a fit,  there’s a link in the show notes to book your free consultation.  https://calendly.com/diannwingert/free-consultation If this was helpful, share it with someone who needs it.  Be sure to subscribe or follow The Driven Woman Entrepreneur on your favorite podcast player so you will be notified automatically next week when I share the mic with Amber de la Garza, The Productivity Specialist, top-ranked coach, speaker, and host of the Productivity Straight Talk podcast. In the meantime, stay driven, woman entrepreneur! *************************************************************************Chapter Summaries:[00:00:00]This is the very first episode of 2023. The episode is called how to know if you are coachable. Each of us varies on how coachable we are, depending on the situation. We need to have good guidelines for ourselves for who we choose to work with.[00:02:19]The most important thing to consider is whether you're even coachable. Don't fall for the magical thinking that you're going to get great results simply because you hired a coach with a hefty price tag. For this episode, we are going to focus on you, not your coach.[00:09:36]Someone who can't make decisions or makes decisions impulsively or second guesses all of their decisions endlessly. Next up, a deficiency in critical thinking and strategic thinking when it comes to business. Working with a coach, a consultant, or a strategist in your business requires some faith in the process and a willingness to be vulnerable.[00:12:55]A coaching relationship is a focused relationship with specific rules, roles, and responsibilities. If you can't communicate with the person you've hired, you're wasting your money and time. People whose answer to every question is, I don't know, don't hire a coach. The person who wants a guarantee is also a red light situation.[00:18:30]If you identified with any of these scenarios, you're not a bad person and you are not hopelessly beyond coaching. Now let's talk about yellow light scenarios. And remember, this means I need more information.[00:21:34]A lot of people, sadly, think they need to hire a coach because everybody else seems to be doing it. To me it comes down to permission and consent. If I'm scratching my head about whether you're coachable or not, it's probably going to be a red light.[00:25:41]Living in a mindful way comes down to being open, curious, and non-judgmental. Being open includes being open to examining what's working and what isn't working in your business. Curiosity makes you coachable because it means you're willing to try things.[00:32:06]Next up, somebody who wants to be intentional in their business and life. You don't have to be an action hero to be coachable. A willingness to see what is and isn't working. What we resist tends to persist in our business.[00:36:15]Diann wants you to make two lists about your coachability. You can do this on your own or with an accountability partner. You will be able to assess if you're ready to hire a coach. There are fabulous coaches out there waiting to serve you when you're coachable

I can hardly believe I’m writing this, but this is the last episode of The Driven Woman Entrepreneur Podcast for 2022, and if you are anything like me, and the rest of the self-employed women I know, you are tired.  You may even be somewhere closer to exhausted or even burned out.  I talk with many, many women business owners, and this seems to be the year that many of us expected would be our bounce-back but have found it to be a year of busting our butts with far too little ROI. I am a driven woman entrepreneur, like you, and wanted to end this year with something more than platitudes and positive thinking.  Instead, I want to stimulate conversation about why we are all feeling so fatigued and offer an alternative to the extremes of manifestation and hustle.  Some of the biggest names in the coaching industry have learned everything they know from male mentors and then turned around and sold them to other women, without disclosing their own privilege and what it actually takes to run their business.  Maybe we need a different approach altogether, one that resonates with most women, women like you and me. So, what better way to end this year than with the anti-hustle alternative, who better to have as my guest to describe it, than Jadah Sellner, who published a brand new best-selling book on the topic, called ‘She Builds: The Anti-Hustle Guide to Grow Your Business & Nourish Your Life”?  If you don’t yet know Jadah, she is a bestselling author, business coach, international keynote speaker, TEDx presenter, poet, and host of the Lead with Love® podcast. She has been featured in Forbes, O, The Oprah Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal. Learn more at jadahsellner.com or follow her on social media at @jadahsellner.  If you want to grab your copy of her book after listening to our conversation,  shebuilds.com It’s the end of the 4th Quarter, ladies.  Is there a gap between where you are and where you expected to be?  What’s going to make things different in 2023?  You can only get so far listening to podcasts (even excellent ones like this…) so if this is the right time for you to take action and invest in a better outcome,  get on my calendar and let’s talk. Here is the link to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation:  https://bit.ly/3qrJ9YQIf you love and look forward to each episode of The Driven Woman Podcast,  let me know by leaving a review! I’m not a mind reader and podcast reviews really do motivate me to keep creating content and connecting with incredible guests, like Jadah. 

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. So, let’s dig into the 6 common problems that hold women back… The first 3 often travel together, like an unholy trinity, but I will address them one at a time because even though they frequently show up in our business and life, we don’t always have the entire cluster fuck to contend with at any given time. Procrastination You mean to do it. You know you should. It's not even that big a deal, but you just keep putting it off. This pattern of waiting until the last minute is called procrastination. It's very habit-forming, stressful, and causes a lot of shame. The good news is that it's learned behavior and what is learned, can be unlearned. You don't need to wait until you feel more motivated to deal with your procrastination, because putting off something you can start doing now is the whole problem. Just identify the first step and take it. Taking action is habit-forming too.PerfectionismOther people may sing your praises, but nothing you ever do feels like it is quite good enough for you. One of the problems with perfectionism is comparing ourselves to others, so try comparing your abilities today to where they were a year ago. Since your internal set point isn't working very well, you can also just decide on an objective measure like the amount of time spent on a task or project, instead of waiting to feel that internal sense of approval. Dealing with perfectionism frees up so much energy and joy, so take the first step. It's worth it.People-pleasing You are the kind of person that is always there for everyone and is known for being dependable and hard-working. You really do try to set boundaries and limits on how much you do for others, but it's just so hard to let anyone down. It's becoming increasingly hard to focus on your own goals and sometimes you really do feel resentful, even though you do what is expected of you anyway. A great way to start unlearning the habit of people-pleasing is deciding for yourself what your limits will be and gaining some practice communicating them to others. Maybe a first step would be to tell that colleague who always asks you to help out that you really can't this time. No excuse, no apology. It is hard at first, but with practice, it gets easier and you gain time, energy, and self-respect in the process.DistractibilityMost entrepreneurs and creatives have so many ideas on their minds that they have a hard time staying focused. Distracted by social media, their environment, other people and even their own thoughts is a constant struggle. It's time to stop chasing so many rabbits! Learn to recognize what is stealing your attention so you can tame the ones that are holding you back. Creating boundaries means you get your most important stuff done.ImpulsivityOrdering or buying stuff impulsively instead of thoughtfully can become a real problem. Stop and pause for a moment before you click BUY by having a list of what you actually need before you open that app. And, don't think of it as limiting yourself, think of it as being more picky or selective. You will enjoy what you buy so much more and every purchase will be shame-free.Time blindness Running late, whether it's a little or a lot creates tons of stress and can cost you jobs and relationships. Even if you think you've 'tried them all, make a commitment to using a calendar/planner, whether it's digital or analog. Set a reminder on your phone, maybe two. And, don't ignore them. If you don't have a calendar, then get one now - not "someday" or "tomorrow." It's time to put those good intentions into action and stop letting people down, especially yourself.  I prefer to call time blindness ‘time optimism” because I always think I have more time than I actually do, but when I am not joking around or making light of it, I will tell you it has absolutely held me back in many areas of my life with people that see tardiness as a sign of disrespect, immaturity or self-indulgence. The good news is that no matter how long you have been contending with one or more of these traits, you can modify them. A great place to start is to take this quiz: “What’s Holding You Back?” https://bit.ly/whyb-quizYou will receive your specific result and a short series of emails that will link you to podcast episodes, tools, and strategies that will help you make progress.  Be kind to yourself, be patient with yourself, and partner with someone who is willing to be your accountability partner. The cool thing about being an entrepreneur is that you don’t have a boss.  The hard thing is that you have to be the boss of yourself.  If you have any of the 6 common traits I described in this episode, and they are common because many of us do, they will limit you from reaching your goals and fulfilling your potential.  I know that word might be triggering for some because so many of us have been told we were not fulfilling our potential for fuckever.  But I am saying it because I believe in you and I want you to close the gap, reach your goals, feel great about yourself and achieve success however you define it.  And if you are in no mood to think about any of this right now, but you are a fan of the show so you listened all the way to the end anyway, remember that you can come back to this episode in January when you are ready.  This episode will be available for the life of the podcast and I plan to keep that going for a long, long, time. Now, go back for that second piece of pumpkin pie or dark chocolate peppermint bark or whatever floats your boat, because you can and because you fucking deserve it.  Happy holidays, friend! 

When I first talked with Heidi Taylor about being a guest on the podcast, I initially expected to interview her about her specific niche as a consultant - how to use an intake form or questionnaire to pre-screen potential clients for your group coaching program. Clearly, this is something I am interested in learning before re-launching The Boss Up Breakthrough again, and I know it would be of value to my podcast listeners as well.After we confirmed and started planning the episode, Heidi send me a Voxer message asking me about my Strengths Finder Top 5 and my enneagram number. After I shared my answers, Heidi told me she had an idea for the episode, but it would require a lot more vulnerability and courage, and once she explained what she had in mind, I knew I had to say yes. Here's why...One of the most talked about episodes of The Driven Woman Entrepreneur Podcast is episode #125, "Lessons from a Failed Launch." The reason is simple. I pulled the plug on my group program launch this fall because I wasn't able to attract enough of my "perfect fit" clients to fill the group program and I simply wasn't willing to create a less-than-optimal experience for the people who signed up. And, then I talked about it openly and honestly on my podcast, to normalize failure and model making mistakes and learning from them.Heidi's suggestion was this: instead of you interviewing me about my area of expertise, why don't we show your audience by letting me coach you, and sharing some of the tools I use in my consulting business, so I can help you figure out why you might not be attracting enough of the right people to your group program? Spoiler alert: THIS is why I recommend you listen to episode #125 either before or after listening to this one. The cool part is that while this is about me and my business, you will find the insights so relatable for you and your business, too.If you have ever wondered why you are attracting people to your programs, but they might not be the ones that will get the best results working with you, you are going to want to pay close attention to this conversation between Heidi Taylor and me. I honestly had so many "mind-blown" moments that it literally made me re-think so many things I thought I knew and even rendered me temporarily speechless. If you know me even a little, you know how rare THAT is. So, grab your favorite beverage and be prepared to listen, learn and grow.My key insight from this interview:My strengths are 60% in the domain of Strategic Thinking and 40% in the domain of Influencing, so the best clients for me would be those whose strengths are in the areas of Relationship-Building and Executing. I have been marketing to and attracting my twins, but the clients who would get the most amazing results working with me would be my opposites.Mic Drop Moment: Your screening process needs to uncover what excites and motivates your potential client.Resources:  Strengths Finder Top 5 Assessment: http://bit.ly/3VP4JVx  (not an affiliate link)Enneagram Descriptions: http://bit.ly/3OZWvaY (free resource) Want to connect with our guest, Heidi Taylor? Let me show you how...Website: https://www.heiditaylor.ca/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidilistening/VIP Day: https://www.heiditaylor.ca/intake-form-intensiveHeidi and I both work with female solopreneurs who have an online presence. One of the things our clients have in common is that in spite of our effort, there is often a gap between where they are and where they want to be in their business.   Does this apply to you and do you know the cause?  Take this quiz and get your personalized result, and what to do about it! What’s Holding You Back?https://bit.ly/obstaclesquizIt’s 4th Quarter, ladies.  Do you know where your business is going to end up for the year? For many solopreneurs, the last quarter of the year can feel like a scramble…throw together a Black Friday special, discount your fees because potential clients are thinking about their holiday budget, or just hunker down, serve your existing clients and try to reduce costs for the rest of the year?  There is nothing wrong with doing any of these things, but they are tactics, not a strategy, and tactics might produce results, but it’s a crap shoot.  If you want to figure out what’s working and what isn’t before another year is over, here is the link to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation:  https://bit.ly/3qrJ9YQNot quite ready to commit?  I got you. Join The Driven Woman Entrepreneur Facebook Group by clicking the link right here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedrivenwoman/Hate Facebook but love Instagram?  Follow me on Insta here: https://www.instagram.com/coachdiannwingert/ If you love and look forward to each episode of The Driven Woman Podcast,  let me know by leaving a review! I’m not a mind reader and podcast reviews really do motivate me to keep creating content and connecting with incredible guests, like Heidi. 

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. When I first made the change from being a licensed psychotherapist to being a coach, I got asked at least once a week to describe the difference between the two, but now that I have been helping female solopreneurs for the past few years, I find the conversation has shifted to people wanting to know the difference between the various types of help we might need at various stages of our business and how to hire the right person at the right time. So, let’s start with a few definitions from the dictionary and Wikipedia…Definition of a business strategist According to Wikipedia: Business strategy involves answering the question: How shall we compete in this business? Said another way, business strategists help you answer the big meaty questions of what your business does, for whom, how, and why and they help you develop plans to make those things happen.Definition of a business consultant The Merriam-Weber online dictionary defines a consultant as one who gives professional advice or services. A business consultant is typically an experienced professional in a specific field and has a wide knowledge of the subject matter. Due to the speed of change in the online world, someone might market themselves as a consultant who has less than 2 years of experience, but in that time has worked with a high number of clients or high profile clients or both.Definition of a business coach Wikipedia defines coaching as a form of development in which an experienced person, called a coach, supports a learner or client in achieving a specific personal or professional goal by providing training and guidance. Business coaching can then be described as partnering with clients in the process of maximizing their potential as business owners, which includes mindset work as well as skill development. So, In a nutshell:If you need to figure things out or make decisions either on the big picture or something specific, hire a strategist. If you need knowledge or support to execute in a particular area of your business, look for the appropriate consultant.  If you need to work on your mindset or behaviors to better reach the goals you have set in your business, a business coach is what you should be looking for. Best times to hire a strategist: You’re trying to make sense of all your creative ideas, and opportunities for your business and how they fit together (or not) You want to launch a new program, service, or offering or you want to eliminate your complicated product suite and niche down to a specialty area You’re really not sure what your purpose is, the specific target market you should pursue, and how to package and price your programs and services. You are feeling kind of burned out in your business or things just aren’t working as expected and you don’t know why or how to fix it. You want to completely rebrand or reenvision your business and want a well-thought-out plan to execute from Best times to hire a consultant: You already know what you need to do, for example, improve your reach on social media, but need advice on how to do itYou’ve figured out the who, what, why, and how of your business and want someone to show you how to leverage SEO or YouTube to optimize your marketingYou want to learn something new, like how to launch an online course and skip the learning curve You want expert guidance on how to do something specific, like hire a VA, trademark your signature framework or improve your business’s awareness of DEI Best times to hire a business coach:You’re struggling to reach your goals, even though you know what to do You want someone to hold you accountable and talk through concerns You have behaviors, like procrastination or perfectionism that are holding you back from doing good work consistently You want to be a better boss or mentor to your team You are a new business owner and are struggling with your entrepreneurial identity and mindset In preparing for this episode, I realized why I have been resisting calling myself a coach for the past couple of years, but haven’t been able to settle on a perfect fit description for what I do.  My journey from therapist to coach and my search for a more accurate term than a coach is an ongoing struggle, but at this time, I would say that I’m a hybrid (like the nearer cars from Hyundai and others ) that run on either gas or electric power.  I function like a strategist + coach, but at times, I shift into consultant mode to address a specific question or when a client needs recommendations, not coaching or strategy.  Regardless of what I call myself now or in the future, what I do know is that I:Work better with established solopreneurs that are not total beginners Work best with service-based businesses and knowledge-preneurs Am well suited to those who have lots of ideas, but struggle to decide which one to focus on or want to rebrand, reinvent or pivot in their existing business Like to shift between the big picture and the nitty gritty Love analogies and metaphors, generating frameworks, and acronyms, and creating alliteration in my sleep to break down concepts & make them memorable Have a degree in communications, a background in sales, and two decades of experience as a therapist, and have started and run several successful businesses, so my actual took kit is pretty full Unfortunately, my domain name for my business is www.diannwingertcoaching and my IG and Linked In handles are both coachdiannwingert So,  I will refer to myself (for now) as a business strategist and coach who can help you map out your business plan, identify the obstacles you are likely to face, and help you overcome them while implementing the plan. I’ve shared on this podcast how investing in the wrong kind of help not only cost me a fuck ton of money but also set me back big-time in terms of my self-esteem because I stopped trusting myself to make good business decisions. What followed was a backlash of several years spent trying to figure it all out on my own so that I wouldn’t make another bad hiring decision.  Insisting on doing everything on my own meant having to learn everything from creating a website to social media, email marketing, and how to package, price, and promote my services.  Doing it on my own also meant researching every possible option for each of these learning areas.  I had never worked so hard in my life and felt like I had so little to show for it.  Fortunately, I eventually realized that I was digging a hole, not paving a road, and recognized I not only needed help, but I was ready to face the prospect of making another bad decision if it meant I was climbing out of the quicksand of my own stubborn self-reliance.  If this has not already happened to you,  I’d like to share some general tips for hiring help for your business. And if it has happened to you,  maybe I put some past choices into perspective so you can move forward, regain your pride, and get the help you need with confidence.  Either way, let yourself off the hook, even if you made an obvious mistake because failure and bad decisions are part of the entrepreneurial journey and there really is a lot of confusion in the industry, even among those who are marketing themselves as coaches, consultants, and strategists. A short list of Don’ts… Don't hire a strategist and ask them to do the work for you. They can help you think things through & make decisions, but they shouldn’t be expected to deal with your second-guessing or fear of failure. Don't hire a consultant to advise you on how to do something unless you are 100% clear it is the right thing for you to be doing at this stage of your business. Don't hire a coach and expect them to tell you what to do or make the strategic decisions for your business for you.  Don’t expect any of these professionals to be your therapist.  Being an entrepreneur can be very challenging for your mental health and there are some excellent therapists who specialize in working with entrepreneurs.  In the ginormous marketplace called the internet, with an unregulated field like coaching and the fast-growing industry of online business and marketing,  it is up to you, the consumer to be informed about who you are hiring and why.   One of the reasons I do a screening process and a free consultation is because I need to be certain that I am the right person for the right reason at the right time.  I want every client to be delighted with their results from working with me, which means I have to be willing to turn someone away who isn’t right or isn’t ready.  If you are looking for someone to partner with you to move your business forward, trust your intuition and do your due diligence.  Don’t just hire the person your biz bestie raves about or get swept into something because of FOMO when you see everyone at the event racing to the back of the room, credit card in hand.  Make sure you are not hoping the person you hire is a mind reader who will understand what you need and give it to you, something I refer to as magical thinking.  If you have done this in the past,  I encourage you to listen to episode # 129 of this podcast, “There is No Magic Pill” for additional insights.   And if you are ready for a hybrid strategist + coach, like my approach, and think we might be a fit,  there’s a link in the show notes to book your free consultation.  https://bit.ly/calendly-free-consultationYou already know you can only learn so much from a podcast, no matter how generously the host shares their wisdom.  Just imagine how different your business could look in 2023 can look if you get started now!  You can also book a spot now, enjoy the holidays, and start in January, but it all starts with a free consultation and I only work with a limited number of clients at a time. If this was helpful, share it with someone who needs it.  Be sure to subscribe or follow The Driven Woman Entrepreneur on your favorite podcast player so you will be notified automatically next week when I share the mic with best-selling author, podcaster, coach, and serial entrepreneur Jadah Sellner.  We will be talking about pacing your ambition, preventing burnout while meeting your goals, and her amazing new book “She Builds: The Anti-Hustle Guide to Grow Your Business and Nourish Your Life.”  In the meantime, stay driven! 

Sandra Scaiano is a web designer and brand strategist for female entrepreneurs. After a 20-year corporate career, she created a business that brings her joy and allows her to be present for her family and partner with clients who become raving fans and long-time friends.  While many business strategists try to sell you on their "proven system",  Sandra brings out the brilliance in each of her clients and helps them create and amplify their unique brand voice so they stand out and shine.  When it comes to client attraction, it’s not about doing things better, it’s about being the singular choice for your just right clients.  To do that, you need to lean into what makes you special, and that’s where Sandra comes in. Sandra and I connected through an online community of female business owners and I was immediately attracted to her message of playing the long game.  The majority of business strategists and coaches are preaching overnight success stories, but don’t reveal that their “proven process” has a 3% success rate.  For the other 97% (you and me and everyone else…) the long game is the game.  We need to have the patience to try new things, start before we are ready, trust our instincts, and dance with failure.  Over time, and through grit, determination, and resilience, we succeed.  When you infuse joy into your business and learn to love the process, not just strive for the results, you have a business that is purpose-filled and profitable.  Mic drop moment:  "I have a front-row seat to the back end of people's businesses." Highlights from this exciting interview: Creativity + strategy allows you to be your most authentic selfPlanning  & strategy = consistent resultsDon't crowdsource your business decisions to FB groups!Playing the long game is fun when you infuse joy into your business Want to connect with our guest, Sandra Scaiano? Website: https://sandrasky.com/Podcast: https://sandrasky.com/podcast/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandrascai/Sandra and I both work with female solopreneurs who have an online presence. One of the things our clients have in common is that in spite of our effort, there is often a gap between where they are and where they want to be in their business.   Does this apply to you and do you know the cause?  Take this quiz and get your personalized result, and what to do about it! What’s Holding You Back?https://bit.ly/obstaclesquizIt’s 4th Quarter, ladies.  Do you know where your business is going to end up for the year? For many solopreneurs, the last quarter of the year can feel like a scramble…throw together a Black Friday special, discount your fees because potential clients are thinking about their holiday budget, or just hunker down, serve your existing clients and try to reduce costs for the rest of the year?  There is nothing wrong with doing any of these things, but they are tactics, not a strategy, and tactics might produce results, but it’s a crap shoot.  I am taking a one-week break during the month of December to spend with my adult children, but I am taking on a limited number of 1:1 clients in Q4, combining business strategy and mindset coaching.  If you want to figure out what’s working and what isn’t before another year is over, here is the link to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation:  https://bit.ly/3qrJ9YQNot quite ready to commit?  I got you. Join The Driven Woman Entrepreneur Facebook Group by clicking the link right here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedrivenwoman/Hate Facebook but love Instagram?  Follow me on Insta here: https://www.instagram.com/coachdiannwingert/ If you love and look forward to each episode of The Driven Woman Podcast,  let me know by leaving a review! I’m not a mind reader and podcast reviews really do motivate me to keep creating this show & bringing you awesome guests and no-BS solo episodes. Apple: https://apple.co/2BZDFzcAndroid: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-driven-woman-1194485Don’t forget to join us next week for Episode # 135 when I return with another straight-shooting solo show.  If you haven’t already, please follow/subscribe to The Driven Woman Entrepreneur Podcast so you won’t miss a single thing!

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. Here's the handy checklist in case you missed it https://bit.ly/5typeschecklist. 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.There are 3 phases of the audit:List: identify where you are spending money and timeLeverage: assess the ROI and ROE (energy)Let Go: cancel, delete, put on hold to create space You may feel some emotions as you go through this process, I did, but once they had passed I felt lighter and more optimistic about the future and I believe you will too if you try this strategy. If you think this is going to challenge you, do the 3 steps on different days and do it with a biz bestie for accountability. If you complete this process, I'd love to hear from you. Let me know how much money & time you saved yourself each month by DM'ing me @coachdiannwingert on IG or Linked In. Spending time and money on things that are not serving you and your business is one of the most common ways female solopreneurs slow their growth, but there are several behaviors that also hold us back. I created a quiz with 6 different behaviors I often see in female solopreneurs that slow their success. Here’s your invitation to take the quiz, and get specific feedback, guidance, and practical advice about your particular challenge and more importantly, steps you can take to fix it. Click on this link to take the quiz: What’s Holding You Back? https://bit.ly/obstaclesquiz Hate quizzes? No problem! Let’s connect on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/coachdiannwingert/ orLinked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diannwingertcoaching/ That’s all for now, Driven Woman! Please join us next week for another amazing guest interview!Until then, stay driven!

Tara Newman is an organizational psychologist, certified Profit First consultant, host of the Bold Money Revolution Podcast, and leader of The Bold Profit Academy.  Tara is exactly the kind of woman I want in my inner circle because she knows firsthand that being an expert, serving with purpose, and working your ass off doesn’t add up to a profitable business for most women and she’s on a bold mission to change that.  Here are a few facts that Tara shared with me during our conversation that should help you recognize this episode is not only potentially a game changer for you and your business, but it is also one to share with another female business owner.  According to a recent UBS Survey:51% of women default to their male partner when making financial decisions but 100% of women feel comfortable making decisions about charitable giving on their own88% of female business owners make less than $100k in revenueWe also chat about what Tara calls an Owners Statement and how she differentiates between personal values and business values.This was an eye-opener: Most women want a fully remote business but that does not mean they want an online business.Make sure you listen for Tara’s Zombie Apocalypse analogy - which type of walking dead character are you?Want to connect with our guest? Website: https://theboldleadershiprevolution.com/Podcast: https://theboldleadershiprevolution.com/podcast/Revenue Goal Calculator: https://theboldleadershiprevolution.com/revenue-goal-calculator/The Bold Profit Academy: https://theboldleadershiprevolution.com/the-bold-profit-academy/Tara Newman and I both work with high-achieving women and one of the common themes is that in spite of our effort, there is often a gap between where we are and where we want to be.   Does this apply to you and do you know the cause?  Take this quiz and get your personalized result, and what to do about it! What’s Holding You Back?https://bit.ly/obstaclesquizIt’s 4th Quarter, ladies.  Do you know where your business is going to end up for the year? For many solopreneurs, the last quarter of the year can feel like a scramble…throw together a Black Friday special, discount your fees because potential clients are thinking about their holiday budget, or just hunker down, serve your existing clients and try to reduce costs for the rest of the year?  There is nothing wrong with doing any of these things, but they are tactics, not a strategy, and tactics might produce results, but it’s a crap shoot.  I am taking on a limited number of 1:1 clients in Q4, combining strategy and mindset coaching so you have a plan AND can get past your procrastination and perfectionism to implement it.  If you want to figure out what’s working and what isn’t before another year is over, here is the link to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation:  https://bit.ly/3qrJ9YQNot quite ready to commit?  I got you. Join The Driven Woman Entrepreneur Facebook Group by clicking the link right here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thedrivenwoman/Hate Facebook but love Instagram?  Follow me on Insta here: https://www.instagram.com/coachdiannwingert/ If you love and look forward to each episode of The Driven Woman Podcast,  let me know by leaving a review! I’m not a mind reader and podcast reviews really do motivate me to keep creating this show & bringing you awesome guests and no-BS solo episodes. Apple: https://apple.co/2BZDFzcAndroid: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-driven-woman-1194485Don’t forget to join us next week for Episode # 133 when I return with another straight-shooting solo show.  If you haven’t already, please follow/subscribe to The Driven Woman Entrepreneur Podcast so you won’t miss a single thing.

Summary The topic of boundaries has never been more important than it is now because entrepreneurs are burning out, and far too businesses aren't profitable. This straight-shooting solo episode will walk you through each of the five areas where you probably need to beef up your boundaries, how to know if you should, and the first step to take to find out. If you're thinking this is one more time-wasting task on your neverending To-Do list, think twice. These strategies are guaranteed to burnout-proof your business while boosting your bottom line. Host Notes 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. This is truly empowering because when we recognize that we are part of the problem, we can then get busy creating a solution. And, in this episode, I am going to show you exactly how to get started. The 5 types of boundaries you need in your business are time, energy, money, people & effort. The place to start with each of them is to uncover where you are investing, spending, and wasting each of these resources. Behavior change is hard, and this episode is a big-picture overview. Pick one area and take the first step. Once you've made some progress, take another step or take the first step in another category. Every action we take that reduces our risk of burnout and increases our profit ratio improves the sustainability of our business and gives us more confidence in our entrepreneurial journey. Rather than buying yet another course or enrolling in yet another quick-fix program, take a look at where you can bolster your boundaries for free with these simple steps.  Listening to this episode will give you the big-picture perspective on why you need better business boundaries, but to move the needle, you need to take action and for that, you need a roadmap.   Click this link to get my PDF checklist “5 Types of Boundaries You Need in Your Business” with action steps for each area and links to free resources that will help you get started:  https://bit.ly/5typeschecklistI am working on an audio course on the topic of boundaries for female solopreneurs, so stay tuned to be one of the first to hear about it when it’s released.  So, that’s all for now, Driven Woman! Please join us next week for another amazing guest interview with Tara Newman, who is going to straighten out our money madness and steer us toward greater profit potential in our business.