The Bold Action Taker Podcast: Recent Episodes
Kirsty Knight
Are you an ambitious female entrepreneur who knows exactly what you should be doing to make more money and free up more time in your business, but you can’t seem to take action? Trust me - I’ve been there. I let doubt, overwhelm, confusion and fear hold me back far too many times in my business. And I’m determined not to let you do the same.
Join Kirsty Knight each week, so she can help you develop the self-belief, confidence, courage and discipline you need to get out of your own way and create a wildly successful business that you love.
Kirsty will be sharing lessons from her own business journey, diving into the psychology behind why you aren’t taking action, and also teaching you practical strategies for not only handling overwhelm, managing your time better and being more productive, but for stopping self-sabotage, procrastination, perfectionism and people-pleasing in your business too. If you are trying to build or scale an online business, this potent mix of business strategy, goal setting, time management, productivity and mindset advice, is exactly what the doctor ordered. Implement it and you will blow your mind with what you are capable of!
In this episode I take you through the process I took my client through today, to help her map out a smart, valuable and sustainable offer, that is likely to help her make more sales, more revenue, higher profits and feel good for her to deliver as her business grows. Too many business owners only take themselves, their business, or their customers or clients into consideration when thinking about their offers - and really all three need to be taken into consideration in order to build a sustainable, and enjoyable business that gives great value to it's customers.
In case you are new to my world, I thought I'd share a little bit of my story - the highs and lows of the journey I've been on in the last 11 years - how I started in business, what went wrong, what happened after I hit my goal, and where I am right now. If you are sick of seeing the highlight reel of other business owners, and want some real moments of the ups and downs that make you feel a little bit more human on your own journey, this episode is for you.
She thought she had a time problem.
What she actually had was a business that depended too heavily on her.
In this episode, I break down a real coaching conversation with a business owner who was feeling overwhelmed, constantly busy, and struggling to see how the business could grow without demanding more of her time.
Together, we uncovered some of the key bottlenecks holding her back, including:
• Spending too much time on low-value tasks like admin and cleaning • A lack of clarity around where her time was actually going • No clear marketing plan, creating decision fatigue and inconsistency • Difficulty setting boundaries with clients • Undercharging and feeling guilty about raising prices • A business that relied heavily on her to keep everything moving • The mindset patterns making it harder to delegate, sell and grow confidently
These are exactly the kinds of challenges we work through inside the School Hours Only Mastermind.
Because most women think they need more time.
What they often need is more clarity, better systems, stronger boundaries, and a business model that can support the life they're trying to build.
If you've ever felt like you're working hard but still not making the progress you want, this episode will help you identify what might actually be standing in your way. ❤️
Last week, I was coaching one of my clients, a second-hand bookshop owner, on how to grow her business without sacrificing more of her time.
On the surface, one of her ideas seemed brilliant: upload more stock to her website so she could generate sales during the quieter winter months.
But when we looked closer, we uncovered a lesson that applies to almost every business owner:
Not all revenue-generating tasks are equal.
Just because a task makes money doesn't automatically make it the best use of your limited time.
In this episode, I share the coaching conversation we had, the concept of opportunity cost, and the mistake I made for years in my own glamping business that kept me working far harder than necessary.
If you're trying to grow your business within school hours (or simply without working every evening and weekend), this episode will help you identify where your time creates the biggest return.
If you constantly feel like you're trying to balance client work, marketing, admin, and family life - this mini-episode is for you.
In this episode, I'm talking about why overcommitting in business often isn't actually a time management problem.
After coaching a client who had overloaded herself with back-to-back projects and completely lost the time for marketing, we unpacked the deeper patterns underneath so many women's overwhelm in business:
- saying yes to too much
- fear of losing clients or money
- people pleasing
We also touch on:
- why marketing disappears when delivery gets busy
- why productivity alone isn't the solution
- sustainable business design
- boundaries, and time leverage
- and building a profitable business in school hours or less
If you're an overwhelmed business owner trying to grow without constantly sacrificing your time and energy, this episode will help you understand what is at the root of you overcommitting in the hours you have available.
If people are already in your world but still aren't buying from you, the problem might not be your marketing. It might be the barriers you're unintentionally putting in front of the sale.
In this episode of School Hours or Less, I'm talking about the small things that quietly stop potential clients and customers from taking action — confusing offers, complicated pricing, unclear messaging, long-winded funnels, hidden information, awkward booking systems, and making people jump through hoops just to understand how you can help them.
Because the truth is: sometimes you do not need more followers, more content, or more hours spent selling. Sometimes you just need to make it easier for the people already paying attention to buy from you.
I share real examples from business and coaching, including how overcomplicated systems, unclear offers, inconsistent visibility, and "book a call for more info" culture can lose sales that should have been simple.
In this episode, we cover:
- Why confusing offers reduce conversions
- How complicated pricing creates hesitation
- The hidden sales cost of inconsistent visibility
- Why people should not have to dig for information
- When funnels become too long and unnecessary
- How to make your business easier to buy from
- Creating clarity around who your offer is for and what people actually get
- Simple tweaks that can increase sales without increasing your workload
This episode is for women and mums building businesses in limited hours who want to make more money without constantly adding more marketing, more content, or more hustle.
If you want to build a more profitable business in school hours or less, this one is for you.
If you're a mum in business trying to grow a profitable business in school hours or less, your pricing matters more than you think — and a money scarcity mindset could be the thing holding you back.
In this episode, I'm breaking down why so many women undercharge for their services and how fear, assumptions, and external noise (like the economy or what others are doing) are influencing your pricing decisions without you even realising it.
We talk about:
- Why "people won't pay that" is often just projection
- Why your location doesn't automatically determine your pricing
- Why you shouldn't base your prices on what you can afford
- How value is always contextual to the buyer
- And why undercharging simply doesn't work if you have limited time to build your business
If you want to make more money in less time, and you aren't able to fit in low prices and high volume, then you need to check the math of what you are offering to make it make sense.
This episode will help you start thinking differently about your pricing, your value, and what it actually takes to build a sustainable, profitable business that fits your life.
If you're a mum in business trying to build a profitable business in school hours or less, this episode is for you. I'm talking about the difference between building a business that fits your life and squeezing your life around a business that keeps taking more and more of your time, energy, and headspace.
We'll look at how to notice where your business is creeping into everything, why you always feel behind, and how to decide what kind of work-life balance or work-life blend you actually want. I'm also sharing why the real shift is not asking "how do I find more time?" but asking "how do I make my business work in the time I've got?"
If you want to make more money in less time, build a business around motherhood, and create a business model that works in school hours or less, this episode will help you rethink how your business fits into your real life right now.
All-or-nothing thinking is one of the biggest reasons your business feels harder than it needs to.
Especially when you're trying to build a business around nap times, school hours, and real life.
In this episode, I'm breaking down what all-or-nothing thinking actually looks like in your business—and how it's quietly keeping you stuck, overwhelmed, and feeling behind.
Because it's not just about mindset…
It shows up in how you:
- say yes to work you don't have time for
- avoid marketing unless it's perfect
- feel like you need big chunks of time to make progress
- struggle to balance delivery and growth
And the truth is—your business doesn't need more time.
It needs a different approach.
I'm sharing real client examples (from a call I had today) and simple shifts you can make immediately to move out of all-or-nothing mode… so you can actually grow your business in the time you have.
Because you don't need to choose between: 👉 working all the time 👉 or not growing at all
You can build a profitable business in school hours or less.
And it starts here.
💛 If this resonated, come and join the FREE 5-Day School Hours or Less Reset Comment RESET on my Instagram @kirstyknight and I'll send you the details.
If you're trying to build a business around nap times, school hours, or limited childcare… this episode is for you.
Yesterday, I had to message a paying client and tell her I'd be late to our call — because my baby wouldn't go to sleep.
And for a moment, I felt unprofessional. Like I should have it all figured out by now.
But here's the truth no one talks about…
Building a business as a mum is different.
In this episode, I'm breaking down:
- What it really looks like to run a business with young children
- Why "perfect professionalism" is an outdated standard for mums and why we need compassionate clients to understand our challenges
- Why waiting until your kids are older might be holding you back
- How to grow a profitable business in school hours or less
If you've ever felt torn between your ambition and your children… If you've ever wondered whether it's even possible to do both… If you've ever felt like you're falling behind because you don't have enough time…
This episode will remind you:
You're not behind. You're just building differently.
And that doesn't make you less capable — it makes you resourceful.
Have you ever had one of those days in your business where you just… don't feel it?
The motivation isn't there. Your productivity drops. Messages pile up. Your engagement slows down.
In this episode of School Hours or Less, I'm sharing one of the most important business habits I've learned as a coach helping mums in business grow profitable businesses while working school hours only.
Because the problem isn't having an off day.
The real problem is when one low-productivity day turns into two… then a week… then a month of lost momentum.
In this episode I talk about:
• Why ups and downs in motivation are completely normal when running a business • How entrepreneurs accidentally stall their business growth after one "bad day" • The simple reset strategy I use to get back into momentum quickly • How to rebuild productivity and focus without overworking or burning out • Why small actions create faster business growth than waiting for motivation
If you're a mum in business trying to grow your income, increase productivity, and build a successful business in school hours, this episode will help you reset quickly and get back into action.
Because building a profitable business isn't about showing up perfectly every day.
It's about resetting fast and keeping momentum moving forward.
Ever dropped the ball as a business owner and spiralled into guilt, shame or self-blame?
In this honest episode, I'm sharing the story of how I forgot to renew my passport in time — and how that one mistake could have cost us our family holiday.
But this isn't really about passports.
It's about what happens when you're an ambitious mum in business, juggling growth, family life, admin, deadlines and everything in between — and something slips.
Because it will.
In this episode, we cover:
- How to handle mistakes in business without destroying your confidence, and instead switch into problem-solving mode
- The difference between "I made a mistake" and "I am a failure"
- Why ambitious women drop balls (and why it doesn't mean you're failing)
- The importance of systemising life admin so it doesn't live in your head
- The need to protect time for important but non-urgent tasks
- CEO thinking vs emotional reaction
If you're building a business in limited hours, trying to increase productivity, improve time management, and grow without burning out — this episode will help you recover faster, think smarter, and lead better.
Because the goal isn't perfection.
It's: Drop it. Fix it. Learn from it. Build the system.
And move forward.
If you're a mum in business struggling with time management, productivity, and fitting everything into limited work hours, this behind-the-scenes episode is for you.
In this honest episode, I'm sharing the real moment I realised I was avoiding going to the gym — not because I didn't want to get fit, but because I felt guilty taking time away from growing my business.
As a business-owning mum working in school hours only, every hour matters. So instead of choosing between my health and my business, I figured out how to make my gym time support both.
Inside this episode, I share:
• How to manage your time when you're building a business with limited hours • The productivity mindset shift that stops busy mums overworking • How to turn everyday life time into business growth time • Practical ways to create content and visibility even when you feel too busy • Why energy, health, and wellbeing are actually business growth strategies
If you've ever felt like there's never enough time to grow your business, get fit, look after yourself, and be present for your family — this episode will show you a smarter way to make your hours work harder without working more.
Perfect for:
Mums in business, female entrepreneurs, business owners with young children, anyone trying to grow a business while balancing family life, limited work hours, and real-life responsibilities.
This is the first episode in my behind-the-scenes series, where I'm sharing what it really looks like for me to build multiple businesses as a mum with very limited childcare.
I created this series because so much of the "behind the scenes" we see online is from people with teams, established audiences, and years of momentum. That's not my reality.
I'm rebuilding my coaching business from the ground up, growing a networking community, launching a brand-new franchise, and starting a new community business — all while raising a nearly two-year-old.
This is the real version. The decisions, the mindset shifts, the strategies, and the messy middle.
In this first episode, I share the shift that changed everything for me: moving from hoping I'd find time to work… to guaranteeing it.
You'll hear:
- why "hoping for time" keeps so many mums stuck
- how I protect a 90-minute daily window for marketing and sales
- why I stopped relying on evenings
- and why doing your best to guarantee some time, even with a busy family life, should be your priority.
If you're a mum in business trying to grow in school hours, nap times, or the tiny cracks of the day - this episode is for you.
Ever wonder how some mums actually manage to build a six figure business with kids, prioritize their mental health, and somehow not completely fall apart in the process?
This week I'm chatting with Anna Bateman, founder of Halcyon Education, who's been consistently hitting six figures for four years whilst raising two boys. She shares what it actually took: prioritizing exercise even when she hated it, choosing part time work to protect her sanity, and developing the self awareness that's kept her from burning out.
If you've been wondering whether it's possible to build something meaningful without losing yourself, this episode will show you it is.
Check out the full show notes and the resources mentioned in this episode at
https://kirstyknightcoaching.com/episode-178-building-a-six-figure-business-through-self-awareness-with-anna-bateman/
Connect with Anna
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Ever wonder how some mums actually manage to build a six figure business whilst juggling a full-time job, kids, and life, without completely burning out?
This week I'm chatting with Sam Hoyle, founder of Harmony Accounting, who did exactly that. She shares honestly what it took, the late nights after bedtime, the focused use of every spare moment, and the systems that kept her sane whilst running a business while working full time.
We talk about practical time management for business owners: doing the hard tasks first, using Asana as your external brain, and why finishing yesterday's unfinished work first thing today changes everything. Sam went from working evenings and weekends to handing in her notice within six months, without taking a pay cut.
It's a proper, grounded look at mum entrepreneur strategies that actually work when you're growing a service based business around all the other demands on your time. If you've been wondering whether it's actually possible, this episode will show you it is.
Check out the full show notes and the resources mentioned in this episode at
https://kirstyknightcoaching.com/episode-178-how-she-built-a-six-figure-business-after-bedtime-with-sam-hoyle/
Connect with Sam
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If you've ever hit that point where everything feels like "too much," this episode will feel like a deep exhale.
After coming back from five weeks of travel and walking straight into chaos, I found myself needing every tool I teach, so I sat down and recorded a solo episode on the exact strategies I use to reduce overwhelm and get myself back to a calmer, clearer place.
I share why overwhelm shows up, how to spot the thoughts that fuel it, and what to do when the maths of your to-do list genuinely doesn't add up. I also walk through simple nervous system tools, how to choose one priority when everything feels urgent, and why organising your tasks on paper or a calendar can shift your entire mindset.
It's a grounded, practical guide to finding your footing again, even when life and business feel full.
Check out the full show notes and the resources mentioned in this episode at
Mentioned Resources
Productive AF
School Hours Only Mastermind
Connect with Kirsty
Website
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What if success didn't have to come at the cost of family or freedom?
In this episode, the second in my Six-Figure Business Owners series, I'm joined by Kerrie Nygard, a food and body peace coach and mum of six, who's built a six-figure business as a mum while keeping her work hours light and her energy grounded.
We talk about growing your business without burnout, from managing your time with intention to adapting your offers, outsourcing support, and building a business that truly fits your life.
Check out the full show notes and the resources mentioned in this episode at
https://kirstyknightcoaching.com/episode-175-grow-your-business-protect-your-peace
Connect with Kerrie
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What if growing your business didn't mean sacrificing your sanity?
In this episode, the second in my Six-Figure Business Owners series, I'm joined by Gulara Vincent, an energy healer and mum who's built a thriving six-figure business without burning out.
We talk about how working mums in business can grow with more balance and confidence, from setting firm boundaries and healing money blocks to leveraging relationships that make business growth feel easier and more sustainable.
Check out the full show notes and the resources mentioned in this episode at
https://kirstyknightcoaching.com/episode-174-boundaries-balance-and-six-figure-growth-for-mums-in-business-with-gulara-vincent/
Connect with Gulara
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What if balance wasn't about doing it all, but about doing what matters most?
In this episode, the first in my Six-Figure Business Owners series, I'm joined by Dr. Shideh Shafie, an emergency physician, real-estate investor, and mum of twins, who shares how she built a six-figure business and a life that actually feels balanced.
Discover simple mindset shifts, practical outsourcing strategies, and everyday habits that help you protect your energy and grow with more ease, clarity, and confidence.
Check out the full show notes and the resources mentioned in this episode at www.kirstyknightcoaching.com/episode-173-outsourcing-and-mindset-tips-for-busy-entrepreneurs-with-dr-shideh-shafie
Connect with Dr. Shafie
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What if the only thing standing between you and your next level of success is the way you see the world? This episode dives into mindset shifts and the unseen paradigms that guide how you think, work, and earn.
You'll discover how to question what feels "normal," uncover fresh opportunities, and build a business that grows with more clarity, freedom, and confidence.
Check out the full show notes and the resources mentioned in this episode at https://kirstyknightcoaching.com/episode-172-work-less-earn-more-start-with-a-paradigm-shift/
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Dreaming of building a profitable business within school hours? In this episode, you’ll hear how one mum entrepreneur overcame perfectionism, trusted her ideas, and created a £20K launch without sacrificing evenings or weekends.
You’ll learn how school hours business coaching helps mums simplify their offers, streamline content, and work less while earning more, so you can grow your business and still have time for family and life outside of work.
Check out the full show notes and the resources mentioned in this episode at
https://kirstyknightcoaching.com/episode-171-school-hours-coaching-the-20k-mum-success-story-case-study/
Connect with Kirsty
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Feeling stuck in a cycle of “I should be doing more”? You know the tasks that will grow your business, but procrastination, guilt, or burnout keeps you from taking action.
In this episode, I share how to stop shoulding on yourself, shift from obligation to desire, and boost your productivity without piling on more hours. You’ll learn practical mindset shifts and simple strategies to overcome procrastination, drop the guilt, and finally follow through with confidence.
Check out the full show notes and the resources in this episode at https://kirstyknightcoaching.com/episode-170-stop-shoulding-on-yourself:A-productivity-shift-for-entrepreneurs
Mentioned Resources
Productive AF
School Hours Only
Connect with Kirsty
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Balancing business and family during the holidays can feel impossible. You want to keep your business momentum, but you also want to be fully present with your kids. That constant push-pull can leave you drained and questioning if you’re doing enough.
In this episode, I share practical ways to focus on the 20% of tasks that actually drive results, allowing you to work less while achieving more. You’ll learn how to simplify your plans, set yourself up for success, and give yourself permission to do enough, so your business keeps moving forward while you enjoy more time with your family.
Check out the full show notes and the resources mentioned in this episode at www.kirstyknightcoaching.com/episode-169-business-momentum-working-less-but-achieving-more
Connect with Kirsty
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Mum guilt for entrepreneurs can feel relentless, like you’re failing at both business and parenting, no matter how hard you try. Between school holidays, sick days, and constant interruptions, it’s easy to lose momentum or feel torn in two.
In this episode, I share two proven approaches to handling mum guilt, keep your business aligned with your values, and stay productive even when the kids are home. You’ll learn how to tell when guilt is a signal for change, when it’s just an unhelpful thought, and how to reframe it so you can grow your business and be present with your family without the constant tug-of-war.
Check out the full show notes and the resources mentioned in this episode at http://www.kirstyknightcoaching.com/episode-168-overcoming-mum-guilt-for-entrepreneurs-running-a-business
Connect with Kirsty
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Building a business in school hours or part-time windows can feel impossible—like you’re always busy but never moving the needle. My client Jenny knows that feeling well. As the founder of The Tea Break Project, she spent years treating her business like a hobby, juggling endless to-do lists, decision fatigue, and self-doubt.
In this episode, Jenny shares how stepping into her CEO mindset, creating simple business systems, and investing in coaching helped her transform her 15-hour-a-week side hustle into a thriving, sustainable business that fits her life.
Check out the full show notes and the resources mentioned in this episode at http://www.kirstyknightcoaching.com/subscribe
Connect with Jenny
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Here's what no one tells you about time management coaching: the people who need it most are often the ones who are convinced they don't have time for it. My client, Natalie Rockall, was drowning in calendar overwhelm, squeezing meetings into impossibly tiny blocks while telling herself she was "too busy" to address her productivity issues. As a freelance email marketing consultant and self-proclaimed "deadline dancer," she'd built her entire work style around adrenaline and last-minute scrambling. However, deadline stress was no longer serving her; it was slowly destroying her business and her sanity.
In this episode, Natalie gets brutally honest about her transformation from a chaotic productivity entrepreneur to someone who has mastered business time management. She shares the exact freelancer productivity tips and time blocking strategies that saved her from burnout and gave her back control of her life.
Grab all the links and resources mentioned in this episode at
https://kirstyknightcoaching.com/beat-calendar-overwhelm-with-natalie-rockall
Connect with Natalie: natalie@eleven11digital.com http://www.eleven11digital.com Natalie Rockall - LinkedIn Natalie RockallNatalie Rockall - Instagram @email.natalieTotal Email Marketing online course
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Do you ever feel like the harder you push, the more behind you fall?
You’ve tried the planners, the time-blocking, the endless productivity hacks… But the truth? Hustling harder isn’t the answer. And deep down, you know it.
Leanne Davies was an overwhelmed mum searching for connection, and what she found instead was a counterintuitive strategy that built a 100K+ community and two successful businesses. She didn’t work more hours. She went for a run.
If you’ve been stuck in the burnout cycle, believing rest is a reward and movement is indulgent… this will flip your thinking. Because sometimes, stepping away is the smartest move you’ll ever make.
Ready to rewire your approach to productivity? I want to hear what shifts for you—DM me!
Check out the full show notes and other resources at https://kirstyknightcoaching.com/episode-165-run-for-your-productivity/
Are you tired of reaching 2:07 PM only to realize you've been avoiding work that matters while staying "busy" all day? I'm Kirsty Knight, and I'm exposing the shocking truth about why high-achieving women find themselves stuck in this maddening cycle—and it has nothing to do with laziness or lack of discipline.
If you're constantly avoiding tasks that would grow your business while drowning in low-value activities, your subconscious mind is working against you in ways you never imagined. Discover how understanding the subconscious mind and the real reasons for procrastination can finally free you from this exhausting pattern that's keeping your business stuck.
Ready to rewrite your story? Tag me @kirstyknightcoaching on Instagram—I want to hear all about the bold moves you’re making.
Join my free challenge "Six Hours Back" to start making the micro decisions that create space in your calendar while growing your business—sign up through the link in my Instagram bio @kirstyknightcoaching.
Grab all the links and resources mentioned in this episode at:http://www.kirstyknightcoaching.com/episode-164-the-psychology-behind-why-you-keep-avoiding-important-work
Connect with Kirsty:
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Ever told yourself you “just don’t have time” to chase that project, only to realize years have slipped by and nothing’s changed? In this episode, I sit down with my friend and client Ady, a writer who spent 30 years waiting for the perfect moment to start her novel. Together, we unpack the stories we tell ourselves about time, productivity, and what it really takes to shift from stuck and overwhelmed to unstoppable and fulfilled.
This isn’t about calendar hacks or rigid routines—it’s about rewriting your identity, learning how to actually finish what you start, and giving yourself permission to invest in your own growth. If you’re ready to stop letting time slip away—and finally become the person who gets things DONE—this episode is your permission slip.
Ready to rewrite your story? Tag me @kirstyknightcoaching on Instagram—I want to hear all about the bold moves you’re making.
Need deeper support to make real change? Check the show notes to join my School Hours Only Mastermind and start making more with your precious time.
Grab all the links and resources mentioned in this episode at: https://kirstyknightcoaching.com/episode-163-from-overwhelm-to-progress-adys-transformation
Links & Mentioned Resources
Consultation Call
School Hours Only Mastermind
Connect with Kirsty:
Website
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Ever wondered if using AI to organize your chaos is the ultimate productivity cheat, or just smart business?
In today’s episode, I'm discussing the myths around tech shortcuts, hustle culture, and what it really means to earn your progress. If you’ve ever battled brain overwhelm, felt guilty about using tools like ChatGPT, or questioned whether you’re “doing it right,” this one’s for you.
I’m sharing stories, mindset shifts, and practical tips to help you ditch the guilt, outsmart your time, and embrace the tools that let your most creative, strategic self shine through.
Because let’s be real, the magic isn’t in the tool. It’s in how you use it.
Tag me on Instagram @kirstyknightcoaching with your biggest takeaways — I’d love to hear how you’re using tech to supercharge your productivity.
And if you're ready for deeper support, join me inside The Productive Quarter Program, where you'll learn how to make your brain (and your calendar) work for you, not against you.
See the full show notes and resources mentioned in this episode at: http://www.kirstyknightcoaching.com/episode-162-is-using-ai-for-productivity-cheating-or-smart-strategy
Connect with Kirsty:
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Ever had those days where you accomplished more in one hour than you did in the entire week before? I'm Kirsty Knight, and what I'm about to reveal isn't just another productivity hack. It's the missing piece that explains why some days you're unstoppable and others you can barely reply to an email. My approach to understanding your unique productivity cycles helped me 10X my results without adding a single hour to my workweek, and it's about to transform how you run your business, too.
Your time is precious - don't waste another minute trapped in low productivity cycles! Tag me on Instagram @kirstyknightcoaching. I'd love to celebrate your productivity wins!
Ready for deeper support? Join my Productive Quarter Program, where I'll personally guide you through implementing your own productivity protocol that works with your unique brain.
See the full show notes and resources mentioned in this episode at http://www.kirstyknightcoaching.com/how-to-stay-in-a-high-productivity-state-for-longer
Connect with Kirsty:
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Midnight. Living room. Back killing me as I ironed endless bed linens. I was working 17-hour days in my campsite business. Cleaning bell tents until my hands were raw. I greeted guests with a smile despite my exhaustion. Answering enquiries at dawn. Washing and ironing bedding until midnight. Then doing it all again the next day. Yet my business wasn't growing. I had zero work-life balance. And my bank account certainly didn't reflect my herculean efforts.
The harsh truth? I wasn't being productive. I was just being busy.
I’m sharing the 20 game-changing filters that transformed how I use my time—filters that doubled my revenue while cutting my working hours in half. I'll show you exactly how to distinguish between tasks that deserve your best energy and tasks that are simply keeping you occupied but not creating progress.
Stop the exhausting cycle of motion without progress. DM me on Instagram @kirstyknightcoaching to join my Productive Quarter program and learn how to transform your relationship with time forever.
See the full show notes and resources mentioned in this episode at:
https://kirstyknightcoaching.com/episode-160-productive-vs-busy-how-to-tell-the-difference/
Ever wondered why some days you're an unstoppable productivity machine while others you can barely check off a single task? I'm Kirsty Knight, and in this episode, I'm revealing the game-changing concept of your "Productive Blueprint" – the unique combination of strategies, mindsets, and environmental factors that unlock your peak productivity state. Stop chasing random productivity hacks that work for everyone else but you, and discover your personal formula for consistent results.
Ready to transform Q2 into your most productive quarter yet? Download my free Time Blocking 101 Guide through the link in my Instagram bio @KirstyKnightCoaching or join me in the Productive Quarter program, where I'll personally help you implement your unique blueprint and finally experience the satisfaction of consistent productivity without burnout.
See the full show notes and resources mentioned in this episode at
Connect with Kirsty:
Website
Work with Kirsty
Are you tired of having your workday shattered by endless interruptions? In this episode, I reveal my powerful protocol for managing interruptions and maintaining peak productivity, even when your mother-in-law shows up unannounced at your home office door. This is a must-listen for high-achieving women entrepreneurs who want to transform their relationship with interruptions and reclaim hours of focused work time each week.
I share my battle-tested strategies for remote work productivity, teaching you exactly how to respond both externally and internally when interruptions inevitably occur. My approach isn't about eliminating all interruptions (which is impossible!) but rather developing a resilient productivity system that can withstand life's disruptions.
Ready to transform your relationship with interruptions? Join me in my Messy Kitchen Workshop Series for personalized coaching on implementing these productivity strategies in your specific circumstances – click the link in the show notes to claim your spot now!
See the full show notes and resources mentioned in this episode at https://kirstyknightcoaching.com/episode-158-productivity-and-chaos-the-interruption-protocol
Connect with Kirsty
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Work with Kirsty
Are you tired of having your workday shattered by endless distractions? In today's episode, I expose why managing interruptions is the hidden key to remote work productivity that nobody's talking about. If you're an ambitious woman entrepreneur drowning in work from home distractions while trying to build your business, this episode is your lifeline. I share the uncomfortable truth about why traditional productivity advice fails women entrepreneurs and reveal my proven system for reclaiming your workday without sacrificing family relationships or booking expensive office space.
Ready to stop letting interruptions dictate your income potential? Join my completely FREE "Messy Kitchen Workshop Series" where I'll personally coach you through implementing these strategies for your unique situation.
Grab all the links and resources mentioned in this episode at:
https://kirstyknightcoaching.com/157-stop-letting-interruptions-steal-your-focus
Frantically jumping between tasks might feel productive, but it's actually sabotaging your success. Your brain isn't wired for multitasking—it's physically impossible—yet we keep trying, leaving a wake of half-completed work that delivers zero return on your time investment. In this eye-opening episode, I’m exposing the dangerous myth of multitasking and revealing why task switching is the hidden culprit behind your overwhelm, unfinished projects, and diminishing profits.
Ready to transform your scattered approach into laser-focused productivity? Follow me on Instagram @kirstyknightcoaching or book a free call with me to figure out which of my programs is right for you.
Grab all the links and resources mentioned in this episode at:
https://kirstyknightcoaching.com/156-multitasking-scam-what-productive-women-know
Connect with Kirsty:
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What if everything you've been taught about how to make a decision is actually keeping you stuck? While other entrepreneurs are scaling their businesses, you're still 'sleeping on it.' Today, we're busting the myths about decision-making that are secretly sabotaging your success and revealing a framework that will change everything. Join me as I shatter common myths about decision-making that keep ambitious women entrepreneurs stuck in analysis paralysis. If you've ever told yourself "I just need more time to think about it," this episode is your wake-up call!
Don't let indecision hold your business back another day! Press play now to master the art of strategic decision-making and transform how you approach choices in your business.
Ready to take action on the decisions you've been putting off? Connect with me on Instagram @kirstyknight and explore how we can work together through Time Masters, The Productive Quarter, or the School Hours Mastermind to scale your business with confidence.
Grab all the links and resources mentioned in this episode at: http://www.kirstyknightcoaching.com/stop-sleeping-on-it-a-fresh-take-on-strategic-decision-making
Ready to break free from the "perfect morning" trap that's keeping you stuck? Join me as I shatter the myth that you need to "win your morning to win your day." If you're tired of writing off entire days because your morning didn't go as planned, this episode is your permission slip to embrace imperfect action and transform your productivity mindset. Whether you're starting your workday at sunrise or sunset, I’m revealing why optimizing your time isn't about when you start – it's about how you think.
Your next breakthrough might be hiding in those "write-off" days you've been ignoring.
Ready to stop letting imperfect mornings derail your business momentum? Join me inside The Productive Quarter to master the strategies that will help you create consistent results, no matter what life throws your way. Connect with me on Instagram @kirstyknight and share a productivity myth this episode helped you bust.
Grab all the links and resources mentioned in this episode at: http://www.kirstyknightcoaching.com/break-free-from-the-perfect-morning-routine-trap
Connect with Kirsty:
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Work with Kirsty
Can't focus because your mind is a tornado of personal drama, health worries, or family conflicts? In today’s episode, productivity expert Kirsty Knight reveals her strategies for staying focused at work – even when life throws emotional curveballs. Whether you're running an online empire from your kitchen table or managing a team remotely, you'll discover how to transform your scattered thoughts into laser-sharp concentration.
If you're tired of your personal life hijacking your workday, this episode is your rescue plan—press play and learn how to transform your scattered mind into your secret weapon for success.
Grab all the links and resources mentioned in this episode at: http://www.kirstyknightcoaching.com/how-to-stay-focused-on-work-even-when-your-mind-is-racing
Many business owners are hoping for 2025 to be their most productive year yet! While that’s a lovely goal, if you want it to actually happen—you need to plan for it. It doesn’t just happen. Today I’m sharing exactly how you go about setting yourself up for your most productive year!
We’re paying special attention to quarter 1 of 2025! I’m diving into specific exercises to walk yourself through to establish how much time you’re realistically working with and what to do with it. I’m also having you look at how to allow for obstacles that will inevitably pop up throughout the year.
If by the end of the episode, you find you need additional accountability and support to stick to the plan you just created, have a listen for what’s available to you! Alright, let’s jump in!
Grab all the links and resources mentioned in this episode at: https://kirstyknightcoaching.com/how-to-make-2025-your-most-productive-year-of-business
Connect with Kirsty:
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It's so easy to leave a year-end business review until after Christmas, but sometimes that means we go into the holiday with unprocessed emotions—particularly if our year didn't go quite the way we wanted. Or it means we don't fully celebrate ourselves if our business did go well because we've usually forgotten about a lot of the things we did that were worth celebrating.
I’ve run year-end review workshops before using this exact 3-step process I’m taking you through in this episode. So I want you to treat this as if it were that workshop!
Make some space in your calendar, grab a coffee, sit down, download and print out the worksheet that accompanies this episode, and spend about an hour answering the questions as we go through them. This just might be the single best thing you do to set you up for a better next year!
Grab all the links and resources mentioned in this episode at: www.kirstyknightcoaching.com/3-step-year-end-review-for-business-owners
Connect with Kirsty:
Website
Work with Kirsty
What if I told you it was possible to lower the resistance you have to planning? That it is possible to think of yourself as “good” at planning. To “like” planning. To want to take the time to plan. You’re not alone in thinking this is an impossible feat. I have many clients who come to me wanting to get better at managing their time and being more productive. And they know that when they plan, it works well for them - but even with all that evidence showing it works for them, they still have so much resistance they have to fight through to get themselves to make a plan for their time. So we're gonna talk about it because if this is the case for you as well, then there are 4 areas I want you to review to see what’s going on.
You’re going to be able to look at each of these 4 areas and know exactly what to do to get that resistance to planning lowered. This could just be the missing piece you've been looking for to help you get into the rhythm of planning and getting in control of your time!
Grab all the links and resources mentioned in this episode at: www.kirstyknightcoaching.com
Connect with Kirsty:
Website
Work with Kirsty
On a recent family holiday, I was so focused on solving for several problems and challenges that I missed the most important one of all. Of course, the ones I tackled were important, but the order in which I focused on them and solved them needed to be shifted. Ironically, this is something that I coach my clients on. Hence, this episode! Because sometimes as entrepreneurs, we’re solving for problems in the wrong order, and sometimes we’re trying to solve the wrong problems altogether.
Tune in as I share how to identify a problem vs a symptom, common problems I see my clients solving in the wrong order, and how to remedy this with a simple exercise. If you’re serious about solving your money and time problems in your business, these are real things you will want to be addressing in the near future. And I’m confident you can do it!
Grab all the links and resources mentioned in this episode at:
https://www.kirstyknightcoaching.com/the-importance-of-solving-problems-in-the-right-order-for-entrepreneurs
Connect with Kirsty:
Website
Work with Kirsty
If you have a time-sucking life circumstance that is making it difficult to get it all done, you will absolutely love this podcast. I condense my top 11 tips for getting stuff done even when you have a baby or some other time-sucking circumstance that leaves you with way less hours.
If you have a time-sucking life circumstance that is making it difficult to get it all done, denying your reality and trying to hustle through regardless is simply costing you more time. In this episode of the Time & Productivity Podcast for Entrepreneurs, I talk about the power of acceptance of your new reality and how it might be the key to you getting more done.
Tune into the podcast this week where I talk about the different types of support you could get to help you in this season of life and the 5 reasons you might not feel like support is an option for you, to help you see why it might be.
Tune into the podcast this week where I talk about how organisation and preparation will impact your productivity, and sell you on why even the smallest bit you can do is worth doing.
Tune into the podcast this week where I share a super short, real, raw, and FAR-FROM-PERFECT episode to help give you the reminder and permission that if you lower your standards and move away from perfectionism, you can still get things done - even when you are short on time, energy and brain space.
Tune into this week’s episode where I share how constraint might be the one thing you need when it comes to being successful in your business, when working with limited hours.
Tune into this week’s episode where I share how you need to think about planning ahead - and how you can adapt it to help you get more done than if you didn’t make a plan in the first place - EVEN when you have an unpredictable life circumstance that tends to throw you off-course regularly.
Tune into this week’s episode where I share the 8 challenges to prioritising, the consequences of not prioritising in your business, and some simple strategies that will help you to prioritise effectively and in just a few minutes - super important if you want to get more done in your day.
Tune into this week’s episode where I share how your self-talk impacts on your ability to get things done and some simple strategies that will help you improve your self-talk - if you want to get better at managing your time.
Tune into this week’s episode where I share when you should and when you shouldn’t use the promise of ‘tomorrow’ being better than today in terms of getting things done - if you want to get better at managing your time.
Tune into this week’s episode where I share why your mindset around getting things done, matters more than you might think.
Tune into this week’s episode where I share the foundational principle behind all effective time management - and one that applies whether you have a newborn you are trying to keep alive, whilst still getting things done - or not.
An honest conversation with Master Certified Coach and Sales Expert, Stacey Boehman, on going from “hot mess” to time mastery, the challenges of running a business as a new mum, planning for maternity leave and getting work done whilst also allowing for unexpected illness, family-related interruptions and spontaneous breaks.
We talk about:
- My current struggles with a little human who doesn’t yet have a routine and needs constant care round the clock
- Both of our journeys from hot mess to time mastery
- Preparations for taking maternity leave in business
- The two key ingredients that Stacey employs to ensure she gets work done, whilst also allowing for unexpected illness, family-related interruptions and spontaneous breaks.
If you constantly find yourself working in the evenings and/or weekend, when you didn’t really expect to be…
Or if you are disciplined with not doing that, but when you stop work to switch off, you feel like you are constantly behind…
Tune in to this week’s podcast episode to learn the one thing you must do right now - to change this for you.
If you’ve given up planning your weeks because it takes too long…
If you find planning your week frustrating or overwhelming…
If you plan the week, but then end up tossing the plan out the window midweek because it’s all gone to pot…
Or if you spend a little too long colour coding and obsessing over your weekly planning…
Tune in to this week’s podcast episode to learn the dangers of perfectionstically planning - and 4 strategies to help you go from this - to making a plan that actually saves you time.
You’ll learn:
- How to know if this is you - signs that you are perfectionistically planning your week
- The pitfalls of perfectionistically planning your week, and;
- 4 strategies you can try today that will help you plan your week more effectively, speedily, and easily.
Inconsistency with your marketing is typically blamed on time. There just isn’t enough time. What with juggling new clients and everything else you have got going on.
And sometimes we do have to carve out time for it.
But usually there are other reasons beneath the time one that are really at play.
And in this week’s podcast episode, I talk about one that rarely gets mentioned.
It isn’t about fear of being visible. Or it being uncomfortable and you hating social media and marketing. Or you not having a clearly defined strategy so you don’t know what you should be posting - although I will, for sure, address these in the future.
Today I talk about your subconscious mind not being fully on board.
Which is more common than you think. But also more sneaky.
In this episode, I share:
- From my first-hand experience - where my subconscious mind was to blame for my own gap in consistency last year.
- The only 2 results you can create in your business if you don’t solve for this
- The 3-step process I take my clients through to help them stop self-sabotaging and go to consistent creating
Sometimes life gets in the way, and you won’t have perfectly planned out and organised that launch, like you wanted to.
And maybe you are stressed out and panicked that your launch isn’t going to be successful because of this.
Tune in to this week’s podcast episode to learn how to make “winging it” in your launches, more effective.
Do you struggle to say no to other people’s requests, without feeling guilty?
Even when you are really strapped for time?
This episode is for you.
I go deep into the 5 simple steps of my process for mastering saying no, without the guilt.
I cover:
- The typical reasons you might have struggled with saying no before
- Where to start to get better with it
- And the simple 5-steps of my process for mastering saying no, without the guilt.
Not getting anything done because you keep being interrupted?
Maybe by your family, or friends, or nosy neighbour?
Or even by your phone constantly ringing - when are trying to focus?
This episode is for you.
I go deep into the solution to helping you get more done in those hours - setting a boundary, and the 5 steps to go through to do it effectively.
I cover:
- The typical reasons you have struggled with setting a boundary effectively before
- The exact thoughts I use to help me set and uphold boundaries around not constantly needing to answer the phone or door
- And the simple 5-step process of my Boundary Protocol that will ensure you set it up effectively
If you have already dropped those New Year Resolutions or have already gone slightly off-piste with your goals…
This episode is for you.
We typically go off track for one of 11 reasons.
And there are 9 solutions I offer you in this episode to help you get back on track.
I cover:
- My simple 5 step process to getting back on track
- The 11 reasons you went off track in the first place.
- And the 9 solutions you can choose from to implement today to get back on track.
If you are someone with high expectations of yourself, high standards and a mean inner critic when it comes to how you operate in your business, this episode is for you.
We typically abuse ourselves mentally in our business for 7 reasons.
And there are 7 problems it causes for us - that we might not have realised that little mean inner critic of ours is powerful enough to impact.
I cover:
- The 7 reasons behind why you are so much meaner to yourself than anyone else.
- The 7 problems that your inner critic will be causing you in your life and business.
- And why affirmation cards do not work to change our relationship with ourselves.
If you are working yourself into the ground for your business, sacrificing time for you, neglecting your health, and pushing through – even when you are exhausted…
To deliver for your clients, to make the money to cover your bills, or to just get to your big goal faster. This episode is for you.
We typically do this for 10 reasons. Solve for whichever reason you have...
And then there are just 4 simple steps to stopping you ever needing to do this again.
I cover:
- The 10 reasons why ambitious high-achieving women find themselves doing this time and time again in their business.
- The 4 steps you can take to reduce the chances of you having to do this ever again.
- The personal shifts I’ve made that have broken the cycle for me.
If you haven’t quite finalised your plan for the new year yet, or you have no clue where to start when it comes to making a realistic plan to achieving your goals for the next year, make sure you tune into this episode where I take you through my simple 10 step process to helping you plan for your best year yet.
I cover:
- The four things you need to remember when making any plan for the year
- Why an End of Year Review before you plan for the new year is the most important step
- How to make sure your plan is realistic and doable so you don’t throw it out by mid January
If you are currently experiencing the lows of entrepreneurship, feeling all the negative feelings, and you don’t have a coach to help you process them, and get you out on the other side, look no further.
This episode is going to act as your passive coach to help give you a temporary release from focusing on your problems, a temporary break from swimming in your struggles, and a little boost to get you from negative to neutral, and feeling a bit better.
Not every year is going to be plain sailing in your business.
Not every year is going to be a growth year.
Or one where you hit your goal.
Or one that you feel proud of.
But you wouldn’t know that to be normal in business - if you were basing your expectations for your success…on what every online business owner and coach is posting about their successes.
Particularly this time of year - it is very common for coaches and other business owners to be bragging about their awesome year and their amazing successes, and then selling you their secrets as to how they did it.
Or encouraging you to come to their strategy workshop to use their process for planning out your next year.
But BEFORE you sign up, BEFORE you go - I want you to avoid making the same mistakes you made and experiencing the same challenges you had this year, all over again…
And to do that - you have to know what they were…
This is why I do an end-of-year review BEFORE I plan my next year.
And this is what I am sharing in the latest episode of the Time and Productivity Podcast for Entrepreneurs.
Do you know the four core areas in which your mindset impacts on your time?
If you don’t - then you need to listen to the latest episode of the Time & Productivity Podcast for Entrepreneurs, where I am going to help you audit yourself in each of the four areas.
Because awareness of where you might be getting in your own way - is always going to be the first step to changing it.
And if you don’t do the work to change it - next year is going to look scarily like this year has done…
Where you are not quite creating the life you actually want.
Do you know what your biggest productivity saboteur is? The reason behind you not getting enough sh*t done in your business during the hours you work?
If you don’t - then you need to listen to the latest episode of the Time & Productivity Podcast for Entrepreneurs, where I am going to help you identify which of the top 6 you probably need to be focused on getting help with.
Because awareness of it - is always going to be the first step to changing it.
And if you don’t do the work to change it - next year is going to look scarily like this year has done…
Where you are not quite creating the life you actually want.
Listen to the episode
Join Chartered Accountant and Profit Strategist, Nicola Hagemen and me in this conversation around the three core areas to focus on if you want to earn more money in your business and work fewer hours.
Nicola shares:
- The most important things to remember to factor in when pricing your services
- Her 3 must-have apps to save you time when it comes to your business finances
- Why the art of planning your finances is so important to the success and your enjoyment of your business
So I wanted to talk to you today about - what if lack of time isn’t the problem?
So oftentimes we use time as the reason (or lack of time, shall we say) as the reason why we don’t get to things. We can’t fit things in. The reason we can’t fit in a work-life balance. The things for our health - our exercise, enough rest, any self-care or time for ourselves, our hobbies, seeing family and friends, spending as much time as we’d like with family…
Because the math doesn’t actually add up. So one of the things I do with my clients, is make sure that the math does add up.
But sometimes, the math does add up. You can fit it in. And time isn’t necessarily the problem. Lack of time isn’t the problem.
Join Sandra and me in this short episode for some handy actionable advice around ditching the long-form sales page and all the perfectionism and dread around it, and replacing it with something that shows the value of what you offer, alongside your personality and passion to help them with it.
Sandra shares:
- 3 actionable pieces of advice that will have you saving time and creating your personality-filled sales page with ease
- Why sharing the price is a good idea in this current climate
- What should absolutely be included in the very first paragraph
Join me in this episode with the fabulous Katy Bradbury, registered nurse and nutritional therapist, who shares her biggest tips on how to ensure you are eating for high performance in your business.
Katy shares:
- The 3 macronutrients you need in each meal to ensure high performance throughout your day as a business owner.
- A simple way to ensure you are eating them in the right proportion
- The number 1 most important macro you should add into your diet to help you avoid those 3 pm energy slumps
Today we are going to be talking about some of the symptoms that you can use to recognise and identify the fact that you might be tying your worth to your business success.
One of the biggest time investments you are likely to make in your business, is putting out marketing content in order to make sales. Whether that is organic marketing content or paid ads, the best way to make sure that time investment isn’t wasted, is to make sure that the content you are putting out is as effective as possible, at doing the job of getting in front of the right people, and helping them see that you are the right person to help them.
Tune into this episode to hear how to make it more effective at doing that.
Helen shares:
- How you can identify if your messaging in your content is off
- The very first step you need to take in order to fix it
- Her GRASP framework that helps you see all of the elements that should be included within your content in order for it to be more effective
- Her own experience of getting rid of things that didn’t light her up in her business, to make space for more time for herself, her family, and the things that do - and the impact that has had on her revenue
One of the best ways to free up some of your time in your business is to hire help or outsource certain tasks. But both hiring in your business and outsourcing for the first time involves a time investment, a financial investment, and a dollop of courage. Tune into this episode, where the fabulous Alison Blackler will be giving you some advice on navigating some of the challenges that come from that experience, the first time you do it.
Alison shares:
- The first challenges you are likely to face when you decide this is your next step
- The difference between being a Manager and being an Inspired Leader
- Why mindset is so important to consider and get help with when you decide to hire
In today's episode, I am joined by renowned brand strategist Rachel Vigers. With over 25 years of experience in marketing and branding, Rachel brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to the table.
Together we delve into brand strategy, discussing its impact on business success and offering valuable tips to build a brand strategy that really works for entrepreneurs.
We also explore the importance of setting boundaries, reaching the right audience, and creating a distinctive offer in a crowded marketplace.
A strong brand can transform your business and ensure long-term sustainability.
To find out more from Rachel after this episode go to www.rachelvigers.com
Join me as I talk to a former client of mine, Julie Gibson, who shares some fabulous entrepreneurial mindset nuggets that I think will help you, if you decide to adopt them.
We talk about:
- Why stepping out of your comfort zone is the quickest way to your business goals
- How to know when it’s time to give yourself permission to quit when something isn’t working
- The importance of alignment and passion in your business
- How to think about failing in a way that serves you
- Why you shouldn’t let your non-paying community dictate what your business offers
- What it’s like to be one of my coaching clients
To find Julie and The End of the World Reading Club head to:
https://www.facebook.com/theendoftheworldreadingclub
In this episode, I am talking to the fabulous branding photographer Amanda Hutchinson, who not only gives us some advice on saving time and being organised with your branding photos, but also shares the value of a long-term vision, teamwork, and planning ahead when it comes to juggling a newborn baby with a business that involves travel.
Tune in to listen to this great conversation.
On this week's episode join me and my first ever guest, Morgan Gillis! We will be talking all things Instagram - how to use it, how to make your time on platform productive and effective and we will talk about Morgan's personal experience of time management, productivity and delegating.
Morgan helps coaches sign clients using Instagram. You can find her here: https://www.instagram.com/iammorgangillis/ and if you follow her and then DM her "Selling In The DMs" if you want the free mini course she talks about with me in this episode!
This episode covers
- The best way to increase your productivity is through SKILLS
- Why continuing to "nurture" your audience is KILLING your sales!
- Morgan’s 7 Step Process To Creating Time Flexibility Through Selling In The DMs - and the ONE mistake you don't want to make!
So I heard someone say this once - “Before you get to 6 figures in your business, strategy is more important than mindset”...
And I thought I would take today’s episode to give my two pennies worth about it…
Because this kind of thing happens a lot in the personal development and online business world…
Where one person is arguing FOR one thing and AGAINST another - it happens with types of strategy, it happens with mindset vs strategy, mindset vs somatic work, conscious mindset work vs subconscious/unconscious work.
On this episode of The Time & Productivity Podcast for Entrepreneurs, I delve into the topic of why I doesn't advise hustling to your first 100k. As a podcast dedicated to helping ambitious, high achieving women achieve work-life balance and success in their businesses, I aims to debunk advice and common beliefs that may not be helpful or applicable to all situations for small business owners and online entrepreneurs.
I explore the various sources from which these beliefs may stem, including society, families, government, gurus, mentors, and admired individuals and how they can negatively impact business success, work-life balance, results, finances, time, and productivity. Many individuals put in extra hours and constantly doubt whether their efforts are enough, leading to hesitation and indecision.
This perpetuates self-doubt, resulting in a cycle that keeps them stuck. I points out that some individuals believe that their success is solely due to their excessive effort and overworking, failing to recognize the true factors that contributed to their success. This belief traps them in a never-ending cycle of hustling, as they feel the need to maintain the same level of effort to achieve similar results. They often lack the time to evaluate what truly worked for them in the past and fear narrowing down their approach or taking time off, thinking it may negatively impact their future success. However, I argues that relying solely on time and effort for success is limiting because there is a cap on how much one can put in as a human.
Believing that constant hustle is necessary for success can create a fear of not working enough. Overworking leads to a decrease in focus, creativity, problem-solving abilities, and the ability to process complex information. Quantity without quality is unlikely to yield better results. The idea of constant hustle also causes a fear of taking time off, preventing entrepreneurs from recharging, maintaining their health, and nurturing relationships. I emphasizes that taking time off allows for gaining perspective and fresh ideas. Overworking and trying to do too much often leads to feeling overwhelmed and not getting the desired results. Lack of time and effort leads to a half-assed job on multiple tasks, preventing the evaluation of results and causing wasted effort and uncertainty.
To address the specific notion that one must hustle to earn their first 100k, I explain that making six, seven, or even eight figures in the online education and coaching industry is a common goal. However, I suggest that small business owners assess if their business model is scalable to achieve these figures. Believing that excessive effort is necessary may unintentionally resist further growth and prevent entrepreneurs from benefiting from economies of scale. I share her personal experience of resisting expansion in my campsite business because I already felt overwhelmed with my current workload. I emphasizes that breaking out of the habit of overworking and hustling becomes difficult after achieving success through this method. It becomes challenging to simplify and constrain one's business strategy without knowing what specifically will lead to success since efforts weren't tracked or evaluated.
In conclusion, I encourage listeners to evaluate their current thoughts, beliefs, and actions to determine their effectiveness. I advise against using my words against yourself or against the people who gave the hustling advice, emphasizing the good intentions behind it. While hustling may have brought some level of success, I highlight that it may not be sustainable or allow for a work-life balance.
Tune in to this episode of The Time & Productivity Podcast for Entrepreneurs to gain valuable insights on the role of hustling in achieving business success and why it may not be the best approach to reaching your first 100k.
On this episode of The Time & Productivity Podcast for Entrepreneurs, I dive into the topic of fear of failure. I explore how our brain releases dopamine to incentivise improvement and how mistakes and hard times in business actually provide opportunities for learning and skill development. I discuss the importance of learning and implementing what I have learned to improve our skill set. Throughout the episode, I emphasize the idea that even when I lose in the entrepreneurial game, I still win because failures can be used as valuable lessons for personal growth. I discuss the negative impact of failures and how to overcome them through healing and seeking coaching or guidance. I also explore the mindset of viewing entrepreneurship as a means for personal growth and how this can help overcome the negativity associated with business failures or mistakes. I talk about the importance of consciously doing inner work and addressing triggers to find value and lessons in failures. Furthermore, I discuss how lessons from failures can be used to improve and grow in the future. I touch on the tendency for most people to quit after losing in a challenging game and the three reasons why some individuals continue to play despite the difficulties. I also tackle the reality that even established and successful businesses can suddenly go out of business, highlighting the parallels betIen entrepreneurship and gambling. I delve into the idea that setting up and running a business can be difficult and can result in pain and discomfort. Throughout the episode, our host Kirsty Knight shares her own experiences of mistakes and failures in her various businesses, highlighting how they have helped her develop better services, skills, and a stronger business overall. She acknowledges the personal difficulties associated with these experiences. Ultimately, I emphasize the importance of embracing failure as a crucial part of the entrepreneurial journey and the role it plays in learning and growth. I encourage listeners to detach their worthiness from success and focus on the journey, progress, and challenges of entrepreneurship. Join us on this episode as I explore the personal and professional impact of failure and provide insights and strategies for overcoming the fear of failing in your business.
On this episode of The Time & Productivity Podcast for Entrepreneurs, join me, Kirsty Knight as I delves into my biggest fails and mistakes in business so far. In this candid and insightful conversation, I emphasise the importance of learning from failures and exploring past mistakes without judgment. I shares personal stories of the ups and downs I have experienced in my entrepreneurial journey, from converting old farm stone buildings into accommodation to offering project management services for nervous clients. I also discuss the lessons I learned about pricing, delegation, and the importance of constraint. I reveal how failures in glamping, finance tracking, launching, and content strategy shaped my understanding of business and helped improve me role as a CEO. My stories range from tension with a business partner to setting unrealistic goals for clients, with valuable insights about communication, partnerships, and mindset coaching along the way. Tune in to this episode to gain practical advice, inspiration, and a fresh perspective on failure as a necessary step towards achieving success in business.
On this episode of The Time & Productivity Podcast for Entrepreneurs, I talk about why we should be running towards failure. I shares a personal experience that made me realise the importance of celebrating wins and taking risks, even if there's a chance of failing. I encourage my listeners to audit themselves, identify areas of avoidance, and take action to face challenges. I also introduce the idea of creating a jar of awesome, where you celebrate your wins, progress, and lessons learned from failures. I believe that avoiding failure can lead to missed opportunities and growth. I urge you to bet on yourself and embrace failure as a path to success.
[00:00:05] Kirsty explains importance of embracing failure.
[00:05:44] Trying and betting on oneself leads success.
[00:08:52] Loose strategy, fear of failure, wasted time.
[00:11:41] Celebrate wins, failures, put in jar.
So this episode is for you - dear friend, dear high-achieving, highly ambitious, driven, hard-working, hustling female entrepreneur/woman business owner - whatever you call yourself…
Who never stops to celebrate your wins. Or spend longer than 2 seconds and a quick “yay” before you are back to work.
You get to that goal and you barely acknowledge it, it doesn’t feel quite so impressive once you are there, you kind of dismiss it, and are already on to the next thing…
The importance of your why is often spoken about in motivational circles.
Usually the reason they give is that you can use a strong why to keep you going when you are tempted to quit.
But what they are talking about is the big quit - the moment of thinking “this isn’t for me. It’s too hard”.
And that is valid - because we do tend to start questioning it when it does get hard. Last week I shared on the podcast how I briefly considered burning it all down and starting over - I think this is normal every once in a while - but it is rare.
But actually for me, my clients - who are typically these kind of ambitious, Type A, driven, motivated high-achieving women, it is not that that is the problem. They can do hard. It’s not that they are necessarily tempted by the big quit.
It’s the little quits that are the problem. The little quits on the day-to-day decisions and operations that make all the difference to them having a business that they originally wanted - and those little quits come from them not remembering their why - why they wanted a business in the first place.
Listen on to find out more.
I have had a bit of a time of it over the past few months and I thought I would share a little bit about what has been going on with me, and how I have been supporting myself through it, in case any of you are also in this place right now, and to prepare you also for when you do face something similar because if you are a human, and you run a business, you will for sure experience this at some point in your journey.
And what I am talking about you experiencing is the dip, or the lows of the emotional rollercoaster that you are on if you are an entrepeneur.
And if you’ve had a business longer than five minutes, you will know what I mean.
One minute you are feeling on top of the world, feeling like you know what you are doing, feeling super confident, and proud of yourself and the results you are creating. And then the next minute, you are in the depths of despair and frustration, filled with doubt, uncertainty, confusion, fear and overwhelm.
And unfortunately, the latter situation is filled with the most unproductive emotions. So we don’t take much productive action in those dips. And if we are taking action, it certainly isn’t terribly inspired, enjoyable, or time-effective, because it’s a bit like paddling up river - against the current, dragging an anchor behind us though the mud, as we go.
Let's talk about what we can do to get through the dip.
So last week I delivered a training to a Mastermind run by the brilliant David Vox on getting time back from your business. And at the end I had someone ask a specific question around taking time out from her business to have a baby, and have sort of 3 months or so off for maternity.
And I actually know quite a few of my colleagues, who have similar businesses to me - who are concerned about how they could do this - it’s obviously a different scenario when you are a business owner or self-employed, than when you are employed.
And so I thought I would share what I coached this person on in case it is helpful for you - so today’s episode is going to be for you if you are thinking of taking some time out from your business at some point in the near future and you are trying to prepare for it. Even if that isn’t necessarily for a baby. Maybe it’s for a trip. Or just an extended break.
So today I want to talk to you about being stuck in indecision about your offer. I was coaching a client of mine a few weeks back on this very thing. And I’ve even been restructuring my own offers over the past few months and so I’ve had to work through some of this myself and so I thought this is probably something worth covering in case you are also in this position. Either restructuring, or thinking of adding in another offer to your business.
So I’m just going to use my client in this example, and then you can take it away and apply it to your own circumstance. And of course, if you are still not decided on your offer after this, then come find me on IG - at Kirsty Knight Coaching, send me a private DM to say you are still stuck and I will help you.
So this is part 4 of the 3 simple steps to getting your time back and we are diving into the third problem we have to tackle if you want to get some time back from your business.
So the third problem that we need to tackle if you have it, in order to get your time back - is that you aren’t protecting your time off from your business.
And there are different flavours of this…
Let's dive in
So this is part 3 of the 3 simple steps to getting your time back and we are diving into the second problem we have to tackle if you want to get some time back from your business.
So the second problem that we need to tackle if you have it, in order to get your time back - is that you aren’t using your time that productively or well.
So, like I said in part 1 of this mini-series, this doesn’t mean that you aren’t hard-working, busy or even getting things done…
It just means that you aren’t producing the results that you want to be producing or that you could be in the time you do have. And you aren’t necessarily fully intentional with and in control of your time.
So how you know you have it…again - go to Part 1 to hear the full list of identifiers and symptoms…
Then come back here and dive right in!
So this is part 2 of the 3 simple steps to getting your time back and we are diving into the first problem we have to tackle if you want to get some time back from your business.
So the first problem that we need to tackle if you have it, in order to get your time back - is that your business, as it stands, actually requires more hours to run it each week operationally, than you have available to give it.
So like I said last week - The number of tasks and projects and demands from your business each week - when added up - equate to more hours than you have got to give. So you have a time supply & demand mismatch.
So this means that no matter how hard you work, how long you work for, how many hours you try to squeeze in each week, you simply won’t be able to get it all done if it’s just you.
Let's dive in to how to fix it!
So, today, I’ve got a really important episode for you to listen to because I’m going give you the three steps or the three solutions really that you need to implement today in your business and your life in order to get you some time back.
So that you can have some degree of a work-life balance as a business owner - that means time for your health, your family, your friends, your hobbies, and actual rest - whilst you build, grow, scale or run a successful business.
I’m going to outline the 3 problems you have that are creating the reality of you not having time for it all right now. And then tell you the 3 solutions to those problems in this episode. And then I’m going to do a deep dive of each of them - breaking each one down - in the next three episodes. So this is going to be a 4-part series - you know I love a series.
Hey lovelies, so an unusual episode for me today - I normally just dive into your problems and try to help you solve them on here and I don’t normally address controversial topics, and share my views or even dive deep into what I do and why I do it, and how it works - but I decided today that I would - because I’ve seen some stuff that is going around in the media, and some stuff within the coaching industry lately - and my own mother said something to me yesterday about it - which fuelled the fire in my belly about this. So I’m just going to address it on this episode and dive right in.
So what am I referring to? The lighthouse coaching scandal.
Let's talk this through.
So I have a question for you…Would you want to become a time-wealthy CEO if you could?
If you do - or you have no idea what that is, and you are curious about what it could be, and if you could be one - then keep listening because this is what this episode is going to be all about.
So first of all - what do you think of when you think of what this could be?
What would your definition of a time-wealthy CEO be?
Or who would come to mind?
So I wanted to dive into this question today…What would you use an extra 6 hours for? If I could give you 6 hours back in your week. What would you use it for?
And I want to dive into this - because a lot of my clients have the thought -
“If only there were more hours in the day” or…”I just need an extra day each week”...
It is so common.
And I used to frequently say this to myself too.
And I’m guessing if you are in my world, you also catch yourself saying this to yourself.
And it’s actually a really important question to explore.
Because we actually do need to know what we want it back for, in order to get it back in the first place. So if you are someone who wants more time in their life…it is essential - it is a pre-requisite that we know what we want that for…
Ok so today we're going to talk about the impact on your time of indecision, questioning your decisions, changing your mind, and procrastinating on making decisions in your business.
We are going to talk about the neuroscience behind why we do it. And I am going to give you a different way to think about decisions, and I am going to teach you a tool that I use with my clients to help them make decisions. So this is going to be a good one.
Ok so today we are talking about the cost of “doing it later” when it comes to your time and fitting everything you want to get done, in to your time.
And this is because one of the reasons why you may not be fitting it all in, is because you are choosing later - to get the thing done, instead of doing it now.
Why does this make any difference?
It makes a difference because of a few different reasons. Let's dive in!
Ok so today we are talking about escaping the NOW.
Which really means - you aren’t accepting where you are at. The reality of your life right now. And the reality of you. Who you are right now in this minute.
And I touched on this briefly before when I talked about hustling…
But I want to dive deeper and spend a whole episode on it because you guessed it, one of the reasons you won’t be fitting all in is if you are in a hurry to escape the “now”. Because what happens is you end up trying to hustle yourself out of your current life and into a new one. Faster than you can physically go. So you will fill your time with the things you think will take you there faster - and not be able to fit everything in, so you will be feeling behind constantly, and you will be on the path to burnout if you continue.
Let's dive in!
So last week we talked about effectiveness. And that always comes first. Before efficiency - that is important to note. So if you haven’t listened to that episode before this one, go back and listen to that episode.
There is a saying that I will never forget hearing from a guy called Peter Drucker - And that is that “There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all”.
Ok so we don’t want to be optimising and making more efficient sh*t we shouldn’t even be doing - that aren’t necessary to us getting the results we want.
And most people do start here trying to optimise what shouldn’t be done at all. And I did that too when I first found the world of personal development.
Ok so today we are talking about lack of effectiveness. Or ineffective action taking.
So one problem I frequently see behind you not fitting it all in - is that you are ineffective with your action taking. The actions you are taking are not effective at creating the results you want. And so you are essentially having to do twice as much to get the same results. Or even 3 times as much, or 4 times as much.
So the impact of that - is that you are working yourself into the ground. You are sacrificing yourself and time with others in order to fit those extra hours in. In order to get the results you want.
So why are you not taking effective action? What is the root cause likely to be here?
Let's dive in!
Ok so today we are talking about having an “all or nothing” mindset when it comes to time and the cost of it as it pertains to time.
Now I will probably do another podcast episode at some point on the “all or nothing” mindset in other areas of your business and life - but today I just want to focus on it in relation to why you aren’t fitting it all in…
So how will you know if you have the “all or nothing” mindset (which is kind of similar to the perfectionistic mindset - which you will begin to see) when it comes to time?
I wil give you some examples of how it shows up and ways you can tackle it!
Ok so today we are talking about how much time you spend on that dreaded social media…and how it is impacting on you and your business…
So you probably already know why you don’t want to be spending so much time on it, but I really want to flesh this out first - because this, if nothing else, will reinforce that desire to actually make a change - so let’s dive in to why it’s a problem…
So, today we are talking about impostor syndrome and more specifically, the impact that is having on your time and productivity - and what you can do about it.
So I’m carrying on with the theme of your emails and I’m going to take this episode to give you some ideas, some strategies, tools, hacks, rules, that you can take away to test and play with, to help you manage your inboxes, but be warned, these won’t stick long-term or won’t even work initially if you don’t address the underlying dopamine seeking/emotion avoiding reasons for you diving in to your inbox in the first place…which I talked about in the last two emails. So if you haven’t listened to those two first - make sure you go do that before you dive into this one.
So last week I talked about emails - and how they might be sucking up your time and affecting your productivity, and why you do it - even though you know you have other more important things to do.
This week, in Part B, I want to help you understand what needs to happen in order to combat your email addiction - the solutions essentially, and I’ll share some aspects of the process I work with my clients on for each of the various solutions so you know what you need to start working on.
And then, I’ve decided to keep this email a shorter one so next week, I’ll wrap the email subject up in a third email - Part C, where I’ll give you some simple and practical tools and quick strategies for you to start playing with immediately to help you manage your emails in your business - once you have worked on the deeper work of rewiring your brain’s addiction to them.
But of course, as always, if you want to truly master the skill of managing your time in your business and you recognise that whilst emails are one part of what is sucking your time, and attention, there are other things too that you think you need to address, then go to my instagram page @kirstyknightcoaching, go to the link in my bio and book a call with me so I can dive in, and really help you start to make some proper changes.
So today we are talking about emails. And this is going to be a two-part episode. Because emails are likely to be one of the big reasons why you might not be fitting everything else into your week and why you aren’t as productive as you want to be…and I want to cover both why it’s a problem, and why you do it, AND I want to give you some actionable strategies and tools to help you spend less time in your inbox on your emails, help you get less distracted by your emails, and help you get more done in the times when you aren’t checking them.
Because if you are anything like my clients, you spend sooo much time checking your emails, deleting your emails, responding to your emails, searching for emails, feeling tempted to look at your emails, filling your to-do list from your emails, being distracted by your emails, thinking about your emails and your responses to the emails. And it sucks your time - without you even realising it!
What is the story that you tell yourself about time and how is that impacting your business and life?
Find out in this episode!
So in this episode we are going to be talking about goal setting and of course, as I am recording this at the beginning of 2022, I feel like I have to address the elephant in the room (New Year’s Resolutions).
In this week’s episode, I go into the importance of having both a short and long-term vision for your life and business. I explore the reasons behind why you need one and the link between having one and taking effective action in your business today. I give you a number of exercises to do and helpful hints and tips for developing your 2022 vision and beyond. I also dive into the resistance you might have when it comes to doing this and give you a number of strategies for making the process of creating your vision easier. This will help you head into 2022 with greater clarity and confidence about what you are trying to create, as well as helping you; focus on what matters, say ‘yes’ to opportunities that will move you closer to your vision, and ‘no’ to projects that will take you further from it.
Today I look at why it’s so important to take the time to reflect on your past year in business as you look ahead to next year, even when it hasn’t gone to plan. I take a deep dive on how to evaluate it in a way that will serve you as you start thinking about planning goals you want to be achieving moving forward. I discuss the danger of self-judgement when it comes to analysing past results, and I offer an exercise that will help you reveal what story you are currently telling yourself about your progress in your business, and how to reframe it and shift your mindset around it in a way that helps you to develop bold plans for 2022 that excite and inspire you.
So today we are talking about people-pleasing. Because people-pleasing is often, you’ve guessed it, one of the reasons as to why you might be struggling to fit it all into your week.
And the trouble with people-pleasing is that it shows up in both areas - your personal life and within your business. The good news with this, however, is that if you learn how to overcome it in one area, it will be easy to apply it to the other area.
So there are two things that perfectionism does that impact what you are fitting into your week.
The first is it puts you off from starting, so the task or project ends up just being sneakily moved, to the following week, and then the next week, and then the next week after that…etc. until you actually are able to force yourself to start it. So really you do have time to fit it in, but you end up choosing to swap it out for something else.
And then the second thing that perfectionism does, is that it makes you take longer on the tasks you do start. Longer than it is necessary to. So that has a knock-on effect on what time is left for everything else. So that is why that impacts your ability to fit it all in.
Let's talk it over this week and I will walk you through what to do to get past it!
So last week we looked at the reasons why you keep starting new projects, before you have finished the ones you’ve already committed to. I gave you some examples of what that probably looks like in your business and I talked about the problems associated with that habit too.
This week - we are going to be focused on the solutions available to you, and the process you have to go through in order to implement the solution I recommend.
This episode I am talking to you about the urge to start new projects, before you have finished the ones you currently have got.
So one of the things a lot of my clients have in common when they come to me, is that most of them have a million things on their to do list, and they feel they simply aren’t getting to enough of them during the week. And the reason why they have a million things on their to-do list is because they have a lot of open projects on their to-do list.
By this, I mean, they have started numerous different projects or they’ve started to work on many different ideas for their business, all at the same time. Or maybe they started with a core few, but over the past few months, they have been adding in more and more new projects and tasks, yet none of the projects are actually being completed.
There are more and more unfinished projects on the to-do list. It’s a little bit like a nightclub gone wrong. Instead of having a one-in, one-out policy when the nightclub is at max capacity. It is more like a one-in, none-out policy. Where new projects are added on a regular basis, yet none of them are being completed and so are therefore never removed from the to-do list, despite our capacity for executing them in the time we have available being maxed out.
This episode I will talk about how I shifted this and how I helped my clients to do the same.
I want to talk to you briefly about knowing your client’s journey within your marketing strategy. Because not knowing what that looks like, and not being intentional with what we want it to look like - is one of the reasons why a lot of my clients find themselves doing ALL the things to get in front of people, to sign more clients - and why all those things are not fitting into their week.
So this week is going to be an important one. It’s going to be all about giving yourself permission.
Because one of the reasons that you might not be fitting it all in - is that you might not be giving yourself permission to do your business YOUR way. This could mean potentially the offers you are selling, the ways you are marketing and selling those offers, the price points of your offers, the type of clients, the ways of delivering your offers, even your whole business model - they might not actually be the things you truly want to be doing, in the way you are currently doing them. But you aren’t giving yourself permission to really do it your way.
And this is a problem because it does end up impacting on the time you have available each week. So in this episode I’m going to talk about why it affects your time, then tell you why you might be battling with this, and then I’ll talk about the process that you have to go through in order to make the changes required.
So last week I talked about all the areas where you might be resistant to constraining and what that is likely costing you. And today I want to talk to you about the reasons why you are resistant in those areas, and then I’m going to share with you the process through which I take my clients through, to help them become the person who is able to exercise constraint.
What does lack of constraint look like? and what is it costing you / how is it impacting your business? Find out with me here today!
So last week I talked about being addicted to hustling…and this week I wanted to carry on with the hustling theme, because it is a major reason why many of my clients, when they first come to me, are struggling with fitting it all in. And there were two reasons I didn’t talk about last week that I wanted to mention this week.
The first of which is when you are hustling to outrun your doubt, and the second is where you are in a tremendous amount of discomfort, and you are trying to get out of it as quickly as possible and so are hustling to escape it.
So let’s look at each, and you can see if it applies to you.
I want to talk today about being addicted to the hustle, the overworking, the juggle struggle of trying to fit everything in. Because this might be one of the reasons why, no matter what strategic changes we talk about you making to your week, to your business, no matter what I teach you about how to master your time, you will always be struggling with not being able to fit it all in.
Not because you can’t have a simpler, more streamlined, calmer life and business and approach to your time, but because you secretly might be resistant to having one.
Because you are actually addicted to it looking the way it is right now.
Another one of the reasons why a lot of my clients are struggling to fit everything in each week, is that they aren’t maximising upon/optimising their existing efforts. That means they aren’t getting the return they should be on the time invested, and so they are having to double down on doing more. They are having to repeat things they already have done. Or they are having to spend more time working on the thing, in order to create the desired result.
Repetition, spending extra time, doing things you don't like to do - these are prime examples of how your time is being sucked and why you are working more, longer and harder when you really don't need to.
Tune into this episode and let me help you take action on correcting this. A 1% improvement every week could lead you to working a third less and earning the same (or more) in a year! Now that really is worth the time!
Wearing too many hats - or commonly, all the hats in your business is going to lead you to not being able to fit it all in.
If you are doing every single task for your business, for whatever reason, you are going to come across stumbling blocks such as procrastinating on tasks you aren't good at or dislike, learning to do things that you don't want to do - that could be outsourced and also things that could be automated or dropped altogether.
Wearing too many hats, doing all the things, being overwhelmed and too busy means you can't see clearly. How can you make the best decisions for your business if you can't see the wood for the trees?
So in this episode, we get clear on how you cant decide which hats to take off! Which ones to automate, delegate, drop and keep - so that the hats you wear are the ones that keep you in your zone of genius and allow you to keep building your business.
Wearing too many hats - or commonly, all the hats in your business is going to lead you to not being able to fit it all in.
If you are doing every single task for your business, for whatever reason, you are going to come across stumbling blocks such as procrastinating on tasks you aren't good at or dislike, learning to do things that you don't want to do - that could be outsourced and also things that could be automated or dropped altogether.
Wearing too many hats, doing all the things, being overwhelmed and too busy means you can't see clearly. How can you make the best decisions for your business if you can't see the wood for the trees?
So in this episode, we get clear on how you cant decide which hats to take off! Which ones to automate, delegate, drop and keep - so that the hats you wear are the ones that keep you in your zone of genius and allow you to keep building your business.
Taking on too many things outside of your business can be way more impactful on getting things done than you think.
If you are working on too many projects inside your business - and not getting them done and then simultaneously spinning too many plates in your personal life too, you are on a train to guilt, shame and burnout.
So today I give you three options to get those plates under control outside of your business - and remember last week’s episode if you haven’t heard it yet, will help you get your projects under control within your business too.
Let’s get going!
Taking on too many things outside of your business can be way more impactful on getting things done than you think.
If you are working on too many projects inside your business - and not getting them done and then simultaneously spinning too many plates in your personal life too, you are on a train to guilt, shame and burnout.
So today I give you three options to get those plates under control outside of your business - and remember last week’s episode if you haven’t heard it yet, will help you get your projects under control within your business too.
Let’s get going!
Ok so today we are talking about trying to fit too many different projects in to too tight a timeframe. So examples of this in your business, might be you trying to launch a podcast for the first time, and write and record the content for a new program you are selling, and organise or run a launch that you haven’t done before, and rewrite your website copy, and organise your back office better or hire someone to delegate some work to, all at the same time. Or something similar.
So why is this a problem?
Because of course this is all ontop of all of the usual client delivery work you have to get done, and your marketing and selling and audience growth and nurturing for your existing offers.
And all of these projects comprise a number of smaller tasks to be done, many of which require skills to be learned, knowledge to be gained, and a high degree of brain energy and focus in order to execute them well.
And in trying to do all of these projects at the same time, it is super easy to lose track of where you are with them, it is easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer amount needing to be done (which of course isn’t conducive to you getting sh*t done), and it’s also easy to feel discouraged by what feels like incredibly slow or non-existent progress on any one of them.
Because the truth is, we only have a limited amount of time to get everything done in our business, and as humans, we can only concentrate effectively for a maximum of 4 - 4 and a half hours each day, so even if we keep working past those hours, and we do get some things done, it won’t be super productive, fast work.
And by splitting our attention across so many different projects, we are going to be losing efficiency through switch-tasking…that is working on one thing for a period of time, and then switching to something else - that we then have to get in the zone for, remember where we were at, and get to that flow point - all of which takes time and effort.
And if we are doing a tiny bit on each project, it is going to take a much longer time to see one of them through to completion, than if we just focused on one at a time.
So you really aren’t making decent progress on any of them.
Ok so today we are talking about trying to fit too many different projects in to too tight a timeframe. So examples of this in your business, might be you trying to launch a podcast for the first time, and write and record the content for a new program you are selling, and organise or run a launch that you haven’t done before, and rewrite your website copy, and organise your back office better or hire someone to delegate some work to, all at the same time. Or something similar.
So why is this a problem?
Because of course this is all ontop of all of the usual client delivery work you have to get done, and your marketing and selling and audience growth and nurturing for your existing offers.
And all of these projects comprise a number of smaller tasks to be done, many of which require skills to be learned, knowledge to be gained, and a high degree of brain energy and focus in order to execute them well.
And in trying to do all of these projects at the same time, it is super easy to lose track of where you are with them, it is easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer amount needing to be done (which of course isn’t conducive to you getting sh*t done), and it’s also easy to feel discouraged by what feels like incredibly slow or non-existent progress on any one of them.
Because the truth is, we only have a limited amount of time to get everything done in our business, and as humans, we can only concentrate effectively for a maximum of 4 - 4 and a half hours each day, so even if we keep working past those hours, and we do get some things done, it won’t be super productive, fast work.
And by splitting our attention across so many different projects, we are going to be losing efficiency through switch-tasking…that is working on one thing for a period of time, and then switching to something else - that we then have to get in the zone for, remember where we were at, and get to that flow point - all of which takes time and effort.
And if we are doing a tiny bit on each project, it is going to take a much longer time to see one of them through to completion, than if we just focused on one at a time.
So you really aren’t making decent progress on any of them.
The word “should” in business and life - especially for women can be a dangerous word. Thinking in terms of “should” leads to shame and guilt and ultimately leads to a place where you aren’t fitting it all in. So today I give you 8 steps to work through to eliminate the “should” so that you can get to what you want to be doing instead. Let’s drop the should!
Previously I have covered Shiny Object Syndrome on the podcast - and it might be useful to go back and listen to that episode before this one. if you did suffer with this - it makes sense that you are struggling to fit it all in. Because, if we were to pull out of those courses and programs, all the worksheets, all of the trainings, all of the replays, all of the content available and then add on on all of the numbers of hours of stuff to do in which you are then implementing what you have learned in those programs, the number of hours required in order to complete them all far exceed the number of hours you actually have in a week. And probably even if you did nothing else, other than work through those programs, you would need more hours than you would probably have in a month, or two, or more…depending on how wild you went with them. So, like I said, of course, if you are right now feeling frustrated that you aren’t fitting it all in - and in that sentence, you are thinking about those courses and programs, and implementing them - then it makes perfect sense. You really do not have the time to fit them all in. The real problem though - is not that you signed up for too many of them in the first place. And the problem isn’t actually that you can’t fit them all in. The problem is that you are telling yourself BECAUSE you signed up for them all, you HAVE to fit them in. And that you NEED to be able to fit them in, in order to be successful. This, actually, is the main problem. So today, let’s dive into handling this problem and releasing you from that stranglehold that having purchased all those courses and memberships is having on you and your business.
The problem isn’t actually that you can’t fit it all in. Yes, yes, I know you don’t believe me. But the problem is thinking that you HAVE TO fit it all in. Because you think it is ALL necessary. And this simply isn’t true.
Because - typically, out of everything we are actually doing in our business, there is usually only around 20% of it that is responsible for creating the bulk of the results.
So the remaining 80% is mostly just filler stuff. Fluff. Inconsequential stuff. Ineffective stuff. That isn’t really working. Or that isn’t contributing majorly to how successful your business is.
This rule of thumb, if you like, is known as the Pareto principle.
You’ve also potentially heard of it being called the 80/20 rule. And in terms of productivity and time management, it is an incredibly useful principle and tool/way of thinking about things that will help you free up some space in your calendar AND in your mind.
So today I help you work out what your 20% is so that you can focus where you need to in order to get great results without drowning yourself in tasks that you convince yourself you need to fit in.
Having a huge list of projects, ideas and things to do is fine - but what impact is trying to fit it all in - and then not managing it having upon you and your business? What impact is cramming everything in without a plan having on your mindset? The newest series for you - Why aren’t you fitting it all in? Is going to help you to really get to a place where you productivity is maximised, you actually do fit things in - in a planned, controlled and doable way - that ALSO makes sure you are getting done those tasks that will move the needle in your business. So buckle your seatbelts and let’s talk today about underestimating your time.
Are you committed or attached to your business revenue goal? Do you know the difference between the two and how to know? No? No problem! I have you covered! Today I will talk to you about commitment to your business goals like you have signed up to a marathon - what will it take to successfully train for and complete that marathon and why is being committed to that goal is the thing to be - over and above being attached to it. Lace up your running shoes and let’s talk this through. Then at the end of the episode if you know you are attached to the goal rather than committed, and need some help getting to where you need to be, get in touch so that I can help
A peer of mine used an analogy this week that I love - thanks Bridget! She likens building your business to growing a plant. So after thinking about it, I have really taken this on board and decided to ask you today - what are you feeding your business?
Are you fertilising, watering and giving the correct nutrients to your plant - or in this case your business?
I talk you through just why your business is like growing a plant and how to be a good gardener in this episode - as well as asking you some questions that will really help you to get to the idea of becoming the best tender for your business and helping it to grow to its maximum potential
So if you haven’t listened to last week’s episode, make sure you go back and listen to that one first so that you know what type you struggle with, why you are doing it, the consequences of it, and what you think it is protecting you from. This week I am going to be talking to you about what you actually need to be working on in order to change the behaviour and stop doing it.
So I talked about two different buckets of reasons behind why you are suffering with shiny object syndrome - and hopefully now, you will be aware of which one is driving your behaviour - or if maybe there is a bit of both.
And this is important, because the solutions/the things we need to be working on are different for both.
With shiny object syndrome, I see it come up in 3 separate areas -
1 when A new platform for marketing comes out, or a new feature on a marketing platform is released, or a new software for project managing comes out
2 when A new strategy emerges, or when someone is promoting a particular strategy that they have been successful in for getting clients or growing your audience (and when I say promoting, this could be literally selling teaching it, or maybe they just mentioned that they had had some success with it)
Or 3 When a sexy new program, course or mastermind or other offer is being launched by someone you know, like and trust, or who is pretty successful and well known
So how do you know if you suffer with it? What are the symptoms? The types of behaviours that indicate you suffer with it? Well, it could be just one of the following, or several that sound familiar to you. So listen up people - and see which ones resonate with you.
Your thoughts about your progress in business can be the very thing that is stopping your from reaching your goals. If you are having thoughts like “I should be further ahead by now” or “I’m haven’t gotten far enough to be able to reach my goals” this episode is for you. Follow the 10 steps I lay out to help you bust through those thoughts that are holding you back and if you do this and still need help, DM me @kirstyknightcoaching on Instagram or Facebook and I will help.
Even once you have worked your way through the 9 step framework that I laid out for you in Part 1, you may still be having trouble making that decision that’s pressing right now. So what remains in the way of you making that decision? the decision is clear but you still don’t want to decide and commit to one. Or the other is that the decision is still unclear - maybe the reasons you like are similar in number and style, or the outcomes don’t seem to be very different - and you still can’t decide. The underlying cause is always fear. What is it that you are afraid of, in making this decision? And I want you to write it down. We can have some self-compassion for ourselves when we are trying to decide and we can’t make the decision because we are feeling afraid. Of course, we don’t want to pick - when we are afraid of the outcome. So listen to this episode and let me help you challenge that fear and work past it. If, after this episode you are still struggling with decision making DM me through Facebook or Instagram @kirstyknightcoaching with the word BOLD and allow me to help you.
Decisions need to be made in our businesses all the time. Options are presented to us and we need to decide which way to go. We may have 5 options, 10 options, 2 options. Either way we have to choose an option, commit to it and run with it. I see my clients struggle to make decisions for their business regularly. So I have put together a 2 part series for you - this week and next, which will help you get to a place where you are able to decide more easily and then commit to that decision. This week, I have put together a super useful and easy to follow 9 step framework that will help you to break down your options and get you to see them clearly, so that you can make informed decisions in a confident way. Grab a pen and paper for this episode and work through the framework with me. Then if you still are having trouble to commit to a decision at the end of the episode, tune in next week for part 2.
What does it actually take to build a successful - and sustainable online business?
It really infuriates me when I see Facebook ads showing the latest guru selling a three step process to take you from here to here at lightning speed. Let’s be honest, if it was as simple and easy as a three step system, then everyone would be doing it, following that system and finding success - right? Except they aren’t. Because a successful business isn’t built on just three things - whatever those things are.
So today I am getting real with you what you really need to get going - keep going and be successful in your business. It’s straight talking time - but if you are anything like me, you appreciate and respect straight talk. I don’t want any of you stuck, frustrated, overwhelmed and confused because you followed someone’s system and didn’t hit the stratosphere immediately and come to believe that it must be that there is something wrong with you - there isn’t.
So here it is my friends, episode 53, and what it really is going to take. If once you have listened to this episode you realise that you need someone in your corner to cheer you on, or help you unstick one of these areas in your business to get you closer to success, then please get in touch and let’s talk.
In this episode I want to talk to you about your beliefs - and how they get in the way of you building the business and life that you want. There are three core beliefs I see regularly in my clients that lead to them sabotaging their success: Believing that the success of your business is outside of your control - out of your hands. “I might not have what it takes” I don’t have the right circumstances and / or personal characteristics to build a successful business. In this episode I unpack those thoughts and then give you four steps to overcome this thinking, level up your self belief and go about confidently creating a successful business and life that you dreamt of - and have now made real.
This week I bring you part three (the final part) of the recent mini series where I have helped you tackle resistance around making your offers. This episode covers where you actually have all your offers clear in your mind, and ready to sell, you don’t have to launch them at all, or you are in the process of actively launching and selling…except you aren’t posting about them, you aren’t telling people about them (even when they tell you directly they are struggling with a particular problem that you can solve with your offer), you aren’t reaching out to people who have said they might be interested, and you aren’t really selling them. I dive deep into 10 reasons for procrastination - and avoidance when it comes to selling and reframe it for you. If after you have listened to all three parts of this series, you are still struggling, get in touch to book a FREE mini session so I can help you bust through that procrastination and help to to start putting out your offers.
Welcome to Part 2 of the mini series about breaking through procrastination making offers in your business. Today I talk about procrastination around launching - the dates, the how, the warm up, a successful vs a launched failure. Then I give you 9 steps to work through to bust through the procrastination around launching - so that you can actually go out there and launch! Enjoy listening and then join me back here for part three next week.
There are three areas that may be affecting you when it comes to making your offers and causing you to procrastinate. Deciding what your offer is Figuring out launch details Avoiding telling people about your offer This episode is part one of three and I will be diving into why you may be procrastinating on deciding what your offer is. Are you making it complicated and confusing for yourself - never mind your audience? Have other people’s courses and trainings confused you about what to offer and how to deliver it because they all claim that their offer is right? Let’s dive into this and help you sort it out. Let me give you a hint. You get to decide.
We all start off with great intentions. we try to implement those good intentions and actually be more productive or be more consistent. Yet when it comes to the moment in time where we want to make that change, we find ourselves doing the same as we always do. We don’t make the changes. We don’t make the time to do the thing. Or we justify why we can’t. We don’t feel like it. And so we don’t do it. In this episode I talk about why do we do that And how we can change it. I bust some common myths and then give you actionable tips to get you going - even when you don’t feel like it.
There are 23 reasons that may be tripping you up when it comes to successfully implementing time blocking in your business. Sometimes its not that time blocking won’t work for you, its that there is one small thing that needs changing up to make it work better! So dive into this episode, take note of the mistakes you may have made in the past, and then set up your time blocking this week with those things in mind. Remember that it’s important to evaluate and tweak to make it work for you. I have free mini 121 sessions available to help you get unstuck in your business so if you are struggling to implement time blocking after this episode, please get in touch so I can help you.
There are 12 steps to take in order to successfully implement time blocking as a way of getting more done in your business. I go through each in detail in this episode to ensure you get the most out of time blocking - by starting off in a way that sets you up for success but is easy to evaluate and adjust if you need to.
Today on my podcast I am talking to you about throwing your hat in the ring - and the three biggest reasons that you are avoiding going for that thing that you aren’t putting yourself forward for right now. There is something that you know you aren’t putting yourself forward for right now that you know would propel you forward if you did it. Here’s the thing though, if you want it, no matter what it is, then you are in fact, ready to go after it. So let this episode help you go for it! Once you have listened, if you need a little more support with going for it, then go here and book a free mini 121 with me so I can help you go after whatever it is you are avoiding going for right now.
This week we are talking about confusion when it comes to making offers in your business. I talk to you about how making offers can be like going fishing - and illuminate for you where you might be going wrong - and how you can get some clarity and fish your river successfully!
When we know we are going on holiday, we work faster, we have more focus and we put in a hard boundary. I am going away gosh darn it and I am NOT working whilst I am away! So why is it that when we are at home and want to make sure we clock off at a certain time every day and not let work creep into our evening schedules and weekend time, is it so hard to actually stick to it?! I am talking about this today and then give you some tips on how to hack your brain a little, to bring that going on holiday productivity and focus to the majority of your work time! I would love to have you try my ideas and then let me know how you get on!
100% belief in your goal and in yourself is great when it comes to going after your goals in life and business. But today I make it clear that not only is it not compulsory to achieving your goals, you can still get there without it. I talk about my big podcast goal for February - hitting it and what position I would have been in had I not used the other tools in my arsenal to make sure I hit that goal. Then I give you 5 easy actionable steps to aid you when going after you goals - no matter how big or scary they are.
Today I am talking about something I have seen come up time and again with my clients - navigating the discussions that come up when you want to make an investment in your business but don’t necessarily have the cash in your business account to cover it. It’s a conversation that a number of women are struggling to have and then are ending up not making their investment because of the response from their partner. I talk about why this is a problem, and how we can go about handling these conversations and situations in such a way that makes them productive and won’t leave you feeling like you were talked out of something or coming away feeling unsupported. This stuff isn’t always easy to navigate and may well bring up some stuff for you, and if that is the case then please listen all the way through, think on it a little and see what conclusions you come to in the end. I’d love to hear your thoughts, so please get in touch with me at kirsty@kirstyknightcoaching.com
There are three ways I hande clients when they are struggling with their strategy, and I talk about them in this episode. I then go on to ask what is my strategy? What am I doing on a regular basis, to try to build my business? Is the strategy working for you? Then give you 4 options about what to try if your current strategy isn’t working. If you are struggling with your strategy in business right now and your days are full of doing what you really don’t love, get in touch with me on insta or facebook @kirstyknightcoaching and I will give you some help.
As part of their marketing strategies, it has become the norm, by some, to shame others in their field who may not be as far ahead in their journey, or to have experienced the same things as they are helping their clients with. Today I talk to you about the 9 reasons I believe that kind of thinking to be inaccurate and unhelpful when it comes to who you can help and how well you can do that! Spoiler alert - your experience level has absolutely nothing to do with how well you can help your clients. Listen to this episode for a confidence boost if you need it, and for a differing perspective if that’s the kind of messaging you have been using. Take it as an opportunity to rethink! We can all benefit from seeing the opposite side of a situation after all.
Today I am going to talk to you about wanting to make more money - and why that is OK - and why you should! There are so many things in the world, holding us back, impacting our lives and influencing them, but money brings you an economic power that means that you can change what impacts you and how. You can make the changes in the world that you want to see - and you can do that by making more money and then using the freedom that brings to make choices that empower you and other people. So let’s go deep on money and some of the reasons you might be talking yourself out of making more - and how you can turn that around!
A lot of highly driven, motivated, determined, ambitious women like yourselves struggle with going after what they really want, whilst looking after themselves along the way. And I have a recent experience of this; I learned a lot of things along the way and I would like to share with these you. I’m going to dive into why impossible goals are actually awesome to go after, and how best to strive for them whilst taking care of yourself AND improving your chances for success. I’d love to hear about what goals you are striving for right now. Are they impossible? Are you taking care of yourself as you strive for them? Are you on track to reach them? Would it be a good idea to rethink, reset and go again? Get in contact with me and let me know.
How much time is a lack of self-belief, self-confidence and courage costing you in your business? Each of these three foundational areas of mindset deserve a whole episode, but today I will give you an introduction to each - and how they might be holding you back whilst you build a life and business you love. Before you listen, ask yourself this question, and then brainstorm on it: What are the things that you could be doing right now, and implementing in your business, that you know of, that you think would potentially give you faster results, or have a massive impact on your time? And if you have something on that list…why aren’t you doing it? Once you have your answer, come listen and then if you need help with any of these things, get in touch!
How much are you enjoying your time? How much fun are you having in your business right now? And how much fun are you having outside of it?
Rate your enjoyment between 1 and 10, and then listen to this episode to find out what that number tells me about whats going on for you in your life and business right now.
How does your opinion of you - your self identity effect how you show up every day in your business in life? And can you change the ways that you think about yourself? Listen to this episode and find out!
Would you know, if we were to sit down and quantify it? And look at all the areas in your business where you might be people-pleasing how much time that actually equates to? And how much it is costing you - because either that people-pleasing isn’t paying you or whilst you are doing that people-pleasing, your attention isn’t elsewhere, creating value? So there are four key areas where I typically see people-pleasing crop up in business. So I’m going to be sharing what those are - see if you relate to any of them, and then I’m going to talk about why we do it, and give you the stages you need to go through, in order to rein back on that people-pleasing tendency of yours. So how much people-pleasing are you doing and when you are honest, how much is it costing you?
How much is a lack of self-trust slowing you down in your business? Or how much do you trust yourself to have the answers when it comes to your business? The problem with taking multiple courses, doing numerous courses and deferring to someone else about how your business is run, is that using someone else’s model of how your business should run, doesn’t allow for the uniqueness of YOU, of your business and for your skills. Your business is a puzzle - a unique one, made up of a number of differing factors that even if they seem the same as someone else’s on the surface, are actually completely different up close. The answer that solves their unique business puzzle, is not necessarily going to be the one that solves yours. You need to trust that you have everything within you to work out the answers to this puzzle - and that if you need help and support along the way, you can seek that too. In this episode, I talk about my 2 widely varying experiences of both ends of the self trust business conundrum and show you where a good middle ground lies. So if you want to gain more confidence and self trust that you can actually figure this out, come and listen to today’s episode. And if after that you still need support, this episode will point you in the right direction for that too.
How much self discipline do you have - or to put it another way, how good are you at making yourself do things that you don’t want to? Self discipline as a term has a lot of negative connotations, so instead let’s think of it as honouring our commitments to yourself. So when you think about it like that, how good are you at doing what you said you were going to do for yourself? If you struggle with this at all either in your business or in life in general, then listen to this episode where I teach you techniques to help you start to build that self trust, and if you need further support, you can always get in touch with me.
How good are you at cultivating creativity? At optimising it, within your brain and within your business? Now I never used to think of myself as a creative person before. I never really identified as someone who was creative. I mean, I used to love writing stories as a child - adventure stories, magic stories, horror stories, and all sorts. But I think I thought that when I no longer did that, I pretty much stopped being creative. And I certainly didn’t think there was a need for creativity in any of the projects I had worked in as a Construction Project Manager or in any of the businesses I ran - my campsite business, or the holiday furnishing and letting business. Or even when I became a coach and started helping others with their businesses, and their confidence and their productivity, I didn’t think there was any creativity going on. But actually, the more I have coached, and well, the more I realised that building a coaching business is actually more like 90% marketing and 10% coaching when you first start out, I realised that actually, creativity has a massive role within your coaching, your consulting business, any business you have, really.
So I’ve talked a little bit about strategies that can help set you up for focusing, but I want to dive a little bit deeper into it here, and also talk about flow. Because really the better we get at optimising our focus, at strengthening that attention, and the better we get at getting into a state of flow, the more we get done, in less time. And that is the goal, right? Achieve more, in less time. So you are using your time for the things that create results in your business, and still having time for you, and your friends and family and loved ones.
So let's dive in.
How well do you manage your internal distractions? So, I was talking about external distractions in the last episode. Now I want to talk about internal distractions - which are of course, your thoughts. And I did touch on the importance of managing your thoughts around your external distractions - and not letting your brain go into overdrive with thoughts that create frustration and despair around getting things done when you do get interrupted. But this episode, I want to focus on just those self-distracting thoughts that we have - even when no-one else is there. The thoughts that we can’t blame anyone else for.
How well do you manage your external distractions?
Before, during and after they occur?
There are a number of strategies that you can employ in each of these situations that will help minimise the impact of the distraction on how much you get done, and part of those involve actual physical strategies you can put in place and implement, and part of them involve how you manage your mind when the distraction occurs.
Listen to this episode where I share tips around setting yourself up for success, implementing and enforcing boundaries, focused working with children, managing interruptions as they occur, self-compassion around your current challenges and evaluating so that you are constantly improving on your ability to manage your distractions and get more done.
How hygienic are you when it comes to your productivity? Now I’ll be honest with you. I'm not even sure that this is an actual term - Productivity hygiene. I think I made it up. But I like it because it makes me think about things being organised, clean, clear, crisp, well thought out, practised with optimal efficiency. I don’t think things can be really hygienic when they are messy, or cluttered - it’s hard to clean right. And so if you just bear with me, and accept it as an actual thing. I think you want to be aiming for optimal productivity hygiene when you set yourself up to start working, whilst you are working, and at the end of your working stint.
Are you aware of what is going on when you don’t follow your plan? When you are either moving tasks further forward, swapping them out, procrastinating, or working past the time you said you would? Do you understand the root cause of it for yourself? Do you know why you are doing it? Now this is probably the thing that I help my clients most with. Understanding the root cause, and then helping them change it. Because it is the foundational piece you need in order to make those changes, because if you aren't aware of what is going on, if we don't get to the root cause of the issue, then you will keep repeating the same patterns, you'll keep struggling to get the results that you want.
Okay, so today's question, question number 19 is this…Do you have self compassion for yourself, for where you are at right now, in your business? Do you have self-compassion for yourself when you assess the speed at which you are making progress in your business? For when you make mistakes, for when you fall behind, for when you aren't sticking to your commitments. For when you haven't followed your plan or your calendar, or you haven't achieved your goal by the deadline you set? Or do you judge yourself and beat yourself up and make yourself feel bad for simply being human? I think that having self-compassion is something that ambitious, highly driven, hard-working women find incredibly challenging when they are striving to be better at what they do, when they are striving to achieve big things for themselves and their families. When they are not quite there yet.
In this episode I assume that you have a time management plan in place, like I talked about in the part 9 of this series, and that you are actually slowing down enough to make decisions ahead of time, which is what I discussed in the last episode, and plan out your week in advance. If you are doing that, are you setting yourself up for failure or success in that process? Listen to this episode to find out if you are setting yourself up for success.
How good are you at making decisions ahead of time? How willing are you to slow down enough to plan and be strategic with your route? I typically find that people come on a spectrum as to whether or not they plan. There are some who absolutely love to plan. Down to the smallest most granular level of detail. They spend hours pouring over to do lists and schedules. Procrasti-planning for sure. Organising absolutely everything in advance. And the chaos that ensues when you just take action with no plan - doesn’t sit well with them. And then others who have an idea - and then do the equivalent of just jumping out the plane. No plan whatsoever. I love to take fast action. I like the big picture. And I don’t care to spend much time worrying about the details. I just want to go, go, go. And figure it out on the way down. Today I talk about how I have learned that whilst it is good to take action, and you can most certainly learn, and get feedback very quickly this way…there are certainly advantages to planning out in advance. I know this because I’ve been the fast action taker with no plan, and had the consequences to deal with.
Do you have total clarity with regard to your decisions, priorities and tasks to do each day? So in previous episodes, I’ve talked about living out your week in alignment with your vision, making time for things each week that move you to your goal, and having intentionality behind what you do with regard to your strategy, so I am hoping that you do already have clarity with regard to your vision, your goal and your strategy - and if you don’t make sure you check out episodes 3 and 4, and of course, we dive into these properly in my Becoming Bold program so I’ll link the waitlist in the shownotes. But today I am going to be talking about clarity around your decisions, your priorities and tasks.
Are you committed? Are you fully committed to your vision, to your goal, to staying your strategy long enough to figure it out, to the things you say you are going to get done, to your schedule, to your decisions and to your results? Or are you dabbling? Just dipping your toe. Testing the water. Hopeful it will work out. Curious to see if it works or will happen? I honestly believe that commitment is one of the keystones of you getting your business off the ground and succeeding, of achieving your goals, of mastering your calendar and time.
It's always nice to have a bit of a reset with regard to our routines and our habits this time of year. But to be honest, you could do this at any point, - you don’t have to wait until the beginning of the new year, but just taking the time to have a look at your existing routines and make sure they work for you will be hugely beneficial to your overall productivity and business success.
Are you aware of your current habits and your tendencies? And are you creating strategies for changing them if they are currently not serving you? Now, this is a bit of a tricky one, because the way that the brain works is that if we already believe something about ourselves, when we look back to analyse our past behaviours and actions, our brain will be specifically focused on finding evidence to support our current belief. So it is far from objective. Because it likes to be right. And so even if 50% of the time we do, say, sleep in late in the morning, and 50% of the time, we get up when our alarm goes off - if we have a belief that we are not a morning person, then our brain will almost disregard all the times when we actually have gotten up just fine in the morning, no problem. And so it will make up a story that isn’t actually true. And the problem with this, is that if we support our existing belief about ourselves, we typically go on to behave in a way that is congruent with this self-identity. So identifying ourselves as a particular way - can be very damaging to our potential to change.
Are you slowing your progress down by trying to do it all yourself? So, similarly to us not wanting to pay for things that will speed up our tasks early on in our business - like automations, and better software, and paid advertising… Many of us fall into the same trap - not wanting to outsource or hire help early on in our business. Because it is “cheaper” and “easier” if we do it ourselves. And that is where we need to investigate and examine what “cheaper” and “easier” really means.
Are your systems and processes documented? So what does this have to do with saving you time, getting you to your goals, being more productive…you might be asking? Because if they are documented, you now have two options available to you that you didn’t really have before - what are they? Listen to find out!
Are your systems and processes optimised in your business? As in, are you doing things in the most streamlined, more efficient, most effective way possible? Or are you doing things inefficiently and paying for it with either your time or your money? This episode delves deep on getting your systems optimised - and how to know whether you are optimised, or not.
Are you using something to organise your time better? Are you using an actual system to plan and then manage your time? When I say manage your time what we're really on about is managing yourself within the time available to you. A running to do list is not an effective time management tool and in this episode I tell you why and go through the 14 attributes that make for an excellent and effective time management tool.
Are you using time as an excuse? Are you holding a belief that time is the solution to an issue? For example “it will take time to grow my Facebook group” - is this true or is it a fact? Could you be doing more to actively grow your Facebook group right now? If we have been working on something for a while and we have had little to no results, it can be an easy way out to blame time rather than take self-responsibility and evaluate our situation. In this episode I go deeper on this issue, help you to identify where you may be blaming time and help you to stop the blame, step into action and begin moving forward.
Are you evaluating each week what is working and not working with regard to your strategy and how you use your time? Not regularly evaluating your time and strategy can be extremely costly to you and your business. So in this episode I go over my 4 step framework for evaluating your strategy and your time.
In this episode I talk about tracking your metrics - measuring results. I talk about why you should be tracking your metrics, the cost of not doing so and how doing it will ultimately help you to move forward in your business.
Is there a strategic intention behind the actions you are taking each week? Do you know the reason behind every single thing that is on your calendar? Having an intention or purpose behind the actions that relate to your strategy is crucial for achieving your goal, but it is also important for realising where you could save time, even outside of the remit of your goal.
You need to have an objective behind each and every action you take. Listen to this episode to find out why.
Is it obvious by looking at what you are spending your time on, what your goal is right now? If you aren’t spending time actually working towards your goal, you won’t achieve it.
Listen to find out more.
This episode I talk about making sure the vision you have for your business and life is aligned to (or congruent with) how you spend your time in your business. Do they match or are you getting dragged into the day-to-day “doing” of your business, rather than also spending time working on your business and working towards your goals and dreams.
This episode asks you to look at how much responsibility you are taking for your time and how you use it and highlights where you might be keeping yourself stuck in your life and business. I dive into four situations where you might be avoiding taking responsibility and give you some actionable steps on how to start to make better decisions and choices with regard to your business and time, so that you can start feeling like you are in control of your time, rather than feeling as though it controls you.
This episode talks about getting really aware and clear on how you are currently spending your time, 6 reasons why this is important, and the benefits it will have in your life and on your productivity in your business. Time is after all a finite resource - so we want to be using it in a way that is intentional.
Overwhelm is common in life and business, and today I go deep into the one and only cause (it’s not what you think it is), the six ways you can overcome it and the one skill that you can develop to help you be more productive.
This week I talk all about goal setting - and naturally, as it is this time of the year, New Year’s Resolutions. I talk about why we don’t always achieve what we set out to - and how better to approach the process to improve your motivation and chance I talk about how to choose the size of your goal, what type of goal might be best for you and the two things that will make the biggest difference as to whether or not you hit your goal or at least make the progress you want towards it over the year.
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In this week’s episode, I go into the importance of having both a short and long-term vision for your life and business. I explore the reasons behind why you need one and the link between having one and taking effective action in your business today. I give you a number of exercises to do and helpful hints and tips for developing your 2022 vision and beyond. I also dive into the resistance you might have when it comes to doing this and give you a number of strategies for making the process of creating your vision easier. This will help you head into 2022 with greater clarity and confidence about what you are trying to create, as well as helping you; focus on what matters, say ‘yes’ to opportunities that will move you closer to your vision, and ‘no’ to projects that will take you further from it.
Today I look at why it’s so important to take the time to reflect on your past year in business as you look ahead to next year, even when it hasn’t gone to plan. I take a deep dive on how to evaluate it in a way that will serve you as you start thinking about planning goals you want to be achieving moving forward. I discuss the danger of self-judgement when it comes to analysing past results, and I offer an exercise that will help you reveal what story you are currently telling yourself about your progress in your business, and how to reframe it and shift your mindset around it in a way that helps you to develop bold plans for 2022 that excite and inspire you.
In this episode I talk about struggling with perfectionism, procrastination and not taking action in your business. I talk about the psychology of why these things show up in our business and how we can begin to change our environment and working life to maximise the opportunity for taking positive actions that move the needle forward in our business.