Chill & Prosper with Denise Duffield-Thomas

I used to have a saying in my business, especially about my brand and photos, that it's always sunny summertime in my world.    I love bright, breezy colors and the chill and ease feeling of summer, so I want my brand to embody that.   But for a long time, I tried to live that energy too, of always being in summer - constantly growing, blooming, and being active.   And it got exhausting.   I've realized that there needs to be times of rest and regrowth in the lifecycle of life and my business.    My business can look and feel vibrant and sunny, even if I'm personally in an autumn or winter season.    A period of shedding, releasing, or hibernation can be valuable to refresh your business and your own energy and well-being.    It has taken me (and my Ruler energy) some time to accept that I need some periods of downtime where I'm not always in growth mode. I really need this to imagine and create what's next.   So today, we're talking about the lifecycle of your business and honoring where you are and what you need.

In this podcast, the speaker delves into the concept of freedom and its various interpretations in life and business. They discuss achieving freedom through financial independence, setting boundaries for personal well-being, and finding peace by knowing financial requirements upfront. The focus is on redefining freedom beyond material acquisitions to encompass everyday decisions and desired lifestyles without constraints.

The podcast discusses the importance of setting and honoring boundaries, especially for entrepreneurs. It explores how different money personalities struggle with boundaries and provides examples of how clear boundaries can improve life. The speaker shares their experience of discovering Denise and emphasizes the need for clear communication in establishing boundaries.

Urgh! It doesn't matter how much money you make or how much you love your business, sometimes things SUCK!    You might be in this space right now, feeling down or overwhelmed. So, we're going to talk about what to do to get out of a funk and how to give yourself the grace and space you need. I get different variations of this question all the time, so today's episode will help you if you've been asking:   What do I do when all the bills are coming in? What should I do when my business stalls? I feel really down and everything sucks; now what?    I've been there so many times, and although you might think I have it all together, for me and most people I know in business, it's normal to have regular times when things suck and feel hard.   You might have a specific issue to address, like a staff member or client, but you could also be experiencing burnout. I know when I'm overwhelmed and down, I see more problems than wins in my business.   If you're like me, you might not like hearing that you could be in burnout, or you'll start looking for the magic quick-fix pill, but your body might be telling you to slow down and re-assess what's next.

Let’s talk about your prices, specifically if you have a habit of discounting.    This is a huge topic that I’ve written and talked about a lot because it has so many layers.

When things get busy, it’s sometimes easy to forget that being in business is about making money.    So here is your reminder to get into the money-making mentality this week.    Because sometimes we forget. Social media is fantastic, and engaging content is important, but we’re here to help people by serving them and making money in the process. Otherwise, we’ve just got a hobby.     So, I invite you to look again at your business with fresh eyes: Am I giving people the opportunity to buy from me? Is it easy to buy from me? How can I make my marketing more streamlined and effective?    And ultimately, how can I make more money?    Yes, the economy is tighter, and you may have more competition or less engagement, but there are still ways to tell more people what you do and make more money.    Listen to today’s podcast to learn how your marketing can make a difference in growing your income faster.

I get questions all the time about how to make decisions.    How do you decide when to hire or when to leave a business? Should I offer a new product or stop one of my services? Should I quit my job or keep working?   There are so many decisions to make in business - especially when money and other people are involved.    And here’s the tricky thing. When you work for yourself or have a business, the buck stops with you. It’s you who has to put on the big-girl pants and make a decision.    And that can be both empowering and scary.    While I can’t tell you what to do, I can share how I make decisions and some of the questions I ask myself when considering different options. 

For today’s episode I’ve got a final installment of our throwback series, answering some juicy business questions that you could be pondering right now including…  Should you invest in high-end coaching How to build a personal brand How to take time off without losing income Ways to avoid taking out a business loan  

I hope you’ve eased into the start of the New Year with some chill and prosperity.    I’m in the final week of my four month trip to Europe - I’m excited to get home but also have LOVED England and a wintery Christmas.    As I’m travelling, for this week’s episode of Chill and Prosper, I’m repurposing some of my best content and answering some common questions about pricing including,    Should you charge a premium rate for rush jobs,  How to justify a big price increase When you should speak for free And more!  

I'm traveling around Europe and gearing up for the holidays, so the Chill and Prosper podcast will take a short holiday break.   For a special bonus episode today, I'm revisiting some of my best content and answering common questions about money blocks.   Listen in to learn how to know precisely when you have money blocks, whether they will ever go away, and how money messages you heard as a child could be keeping you broke.