Creatives Crushing Anxiety: Recent Episodes
Dia Darling - Productivity Coach & Time Strategist
Creatives Crushing Anxiety is the podcast for creative and online business owners looking to minimize their anxiety and maximize their productivity through systems, organization and time management. Your anxiety shouldn't keep you from crushing your goals as a solopreneur. Build systems, find your focus and achieve your goals.
I love my 30s. I feel like for the first time since college I’ve hit a new burst of energy for life that I’d lost for a while and I’m learning again. I feel like so much of the first 3 decades of my life were based on learning skills and tasks. Things you have to learn but for the first time in my life I’m learning simply from a place of desire, not requirement and it’s so freeing and inspiring.
So as my birthday approached (July babies! Woot Woot!) I was thinking about some of the things I’ve learned in my life that everyone should know. So here they are in no particular order, my stream of consciousness.
- Family is everything - but you also get to pick some of your family and it’s okay to end relationships with family members who hurt you.
- Real friends accept your flaws and inspire you to be your best.
- Jealousy is a wasted emotion.
- Avoid mixing liquors. And always drink water before, during, and after when you’re drinking booze.
- Having a positive mindset is essential but you’re allowed to have bad days just don’t stay in them.
- Most things are easier to do than we think they are. The real challenge is making yourself do them.
- It’s good to have goals you’re working towards but sometimes it’s good to have a season of contentment where you enjoy where you are. We live in a world and if you’re in the U.S. you know everyone seems to be working towards something until retirement. A diploma, a degree, a family, a house, a job, a promotion, a raise….and on and on. But we also need to sit in our victories the same way we do our losses and appreciate how far we’ve come and what we’ve accomplished.
- Give people their flowers. Telling some random woman at the store her dress is cute might not mean much to you but it might brighten her day. Spread love.
- Be aware of the type of content you’re consuming. I enjoy true crime but I limit it. The world has some dark stuff in it and I think it’s good to be aware but not consumed.
- Always carry water and some kind of snack.
- No is a complete sentence.
- You don’t have to have all the answers,
- Before you ask a question to someone else, ask yourself if you could google this.
- It’s okay to ask for what you want or deserve. It’s sometimes the only way you’ll get it. Instead, the person is waiting for you to ask or they can’t give you what you need and then you can open space for someone who can. This goes for business and relationships.
- Never stop learning. Sign up Wondrium,
- Use your vacation days. Even if you’re the next Derek Sheppard, someone else can fill in for you.
- Don’t make promises you can’t keep.
- Naps aren’t just for kids.
- Check yourself and check in with yourself often.
- If you have always wanted to xyz then figure out how you can do it.
- Hire people to do things when you can’t. -Experts, people who will charge you less an hour than you make an hour.
- Trust your gut AFTER you learn how to read it.
- Cry.
- Tell people you love them every chance you get.
- Forgive yourself. You are always going to be the only person you can 100% say you’ll have, forgive yourself. It’s hard to live with someone you’re mad at or don’t trust.
- Go on dates. With your partner, with your friends, and with yourself.
- You are complete on your own. Anyone who comes into your life and improves it is just a bonus.
- Get out of bad situations as fast as you can.
- Pay attention to not just what people say but what they do.
- Everyone gets embarrassed. Everyone has fears. If they say they don’t they might have more fears and embarrassment than us all.
- If a movie is terrible, you don’t have to watch the whole thing.
- Laugh, it’s the best medicine. Spend time with the people who make you laugh. Find that stupid thing that you might be embarrassed about that makes you laugh and enjoy it.
- Don’t buy cheap foil… It’s not worth it. You use more of the cheap stuff and it rips easily.
- Age is just a number.
This episode is an open love letter to the song Numb Little Bug by Em Beihold. This song is one of the first songs that summed up an intense time in my mental health journey.
This episode is also an invitation to share which examples in pop-culture made you feel seen and less alone.
After a long unschedule hiatus. Creatives Crushing Anxiety is back! Our host Dia Darling, dives into where she's been, where she's going and her 2023 word of the year. In this episode you'll also learn about the powerful shifts and changes Dia made in 2022 to live her best life.
In this episode of Creatives Crushing Anxiety, I wrap up the 3-part series The Balanced Business Experience in Action where I take you through my seven-step methodology and how I used it to buy my first house. In this episode, we dive into the final steps which are support systems and taking action.
Learn more about the Balanced Business Experience here: https://diadarling.lpages.co/coaching/
In part 2 of The Balanced Business Experience in Action, I share how I used steps 3-5 of my methodology to buy my first house this year.
In this episode:
How to identify the challenges to accomplishing your goal.
Setting micro-goals to get you to macro wins
Creating a plan of action and new habits to keep your goals on track.
In part 1 of this series, I share the first step in The Balanced Business Methodology Values and Priorities and how I used it to buy a house this year.
In the season 4 premiere of Creatives Crushing Anxiety, I share the reasons you need to have a plan for your business. Inspired by an old post, Yes, You Need A Business Plan I shift gears and talk about why you need a plan for your business even if it’s not a traditional business plan.
In this episode:
- How a plan for your business can help you make consistent income.
- How you can create realistic expectations with your business plan.
- How clarity around what you offer and who you help can improve your marketing and attract the right clients.
- How having a well-thought-out plan can keep you in check with your progress and alert you when it’s time to shift your plan.
This week on Creatives Crushing Anxiety, I wanted to catch you up on all the things. This is a general update on me and all the things.
In episode 109 of Creatives Crushing Anxiety, I interview Anna Beyer. We dive deep into the things making you hate your business and how to nip them in the bud so you can start loving your business again.
Who do you talk to about your blog and online biz? I know if you're like me you probably have a group of blog online besties that you talk to about everything. I mean everything about how you're feeling unmotivated because you had a fight with your mom. About the jerk who dumped you the day before Valentine's Day. Friends that you email when you're lacking motivation or need feedback.
You might even talk to your friends about it who don't totally understand it and have no interest in owning a business or running a blog but they support you. I'm a big believer in having that circle of friends but do you have anyone that you talk to that owns a brick and mortar store? Someone who might operate a product-based business while you have a service-based one? In this episode, I dive into the benefits of talking to people outside of your industry to help your business grow.
Do you have trouble setting boundaries in your life? Then buckle up because on this episode of Creatives Crushing Anxiety I have coach Melody Dowlearn to talk about the importance of boundaries in our life and their value.
In this episode:
- How the lack of boundaries keeps us from reaching our full potential.
- A new perspective on why boundaries are important and already a part of our life.
- They way we enable chaos when we don’t set boundaries.
- Understanding that there will be push back when you set boundaries and why it’s worth it in the long run.
- How to walk away from personal and professional relationships when boundaries aren’t accepted.
- Questions you can ask yourself when it’s time to examine your relationships.
- The way our boundaries and the boundaries of those in our lives are so powerful.
- How to be unapologetically you with grace and kindness.
- The right way and time to set boundaries.
- Why you shouldn’t say “I’m sorry” when starting a conversation about boundaries.
- What to do when someone else’s boundary triggers you.
- Setting boundaries with yourself.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock you probably heard about the winter storm Texas has last week. We had ongoing power outages and below-freezing temperatures. That week taught me a lot. It reminded me of all my blessings and also how to ask for help.
In this episode of Creatives Crushing Anxiety, I share the business lessons I learned during the freak snowstorm in Texas and how they can help you in your business.
This week I talk to my dear friend and fellow Tabwoo Institute Graduate, Ann Bellow. Ann Bellow is a Human Design Pro and has created a system to support her clients to be totally aligned business owners.
Episode Show Notes
In this episode, I review my 20 for 2020 and how the pandemic and national affairs shifted these. I also share my 2021 word of the year and what it means to me.
I want to share 10 things that you can do and incorporate into your days to make 2021 amazing and then also just to get you on the right foot and to keep you focused on what you're going to be doing now the first thing is to.
In this episode:
- Examples of where confidence can be the difference between a yes and a no.
- How your lack of confidence is cockblocking your business.
- How removing attachment got my a new client.
- Why affirmations aren’t enough.
- How to start building more confidence:
- Keep track of love notes
- Replay your highlight reel
- Remember your struggles - tread carefully
- Keep working on yourself - Self growth is a lifelong journey
- Give yourself a break
I want to talk about how I deal with triggers, because we're all triggered by things especially this year it's an election year, there's been so much going on between COVID, the BLM movement like this year is crazy. 2020 has been freakin a lot. I know that there are so many triggers that can come up for all of us and I want to talk about how I actually deal with those.
In this minisode, I check-in on my word of the year, Visibility. I thought it meant one thing but now that I am living it, it has taken on a whole new meaning. Listen to learn more.
It’s the 100th episode, of Creatives Crushing Anxiety!!!! I cannot believe I have been doing this for 100 episodes. It has been such a fun journey. In this episode, I didn’t want to go on and on about all the feels. So instead I decided to share my podcast process with you in case you’re wondering how I publish episodes or if you’re thinking of starting your own.
Thank you to the listeners, the people who have emailed in, the people who have been a guest. I am so grateful to you all.
I am officially back from summer hiatus and I am giving up! No not the podcast, not ditching the business to work at Pizza Hut. But I’m giving up on things that no longer serve me. During my Summer podcasting break I had a lot of time to reflect. 2020 has been a bit of a beast so far in a number of ways. Personally with making the shift into coaching, working with some new amazing partnerships and really focusing on what I want in my life. Globally, we have been balancing a new life during the covid area, continuous systematic racism and uncertain times.
It’s been a lot, for all of us. That's why right now I want to focus on living in my truth and doing the things that feel good and aligned with the person I am becoming. I’m giving up doing things because I should. Don’t should all over yourself. I’m giving up the obligations so I can embrace my desires and own my responsibilities.
In this episode of Creatives Crushing Anxiety, we dive into attachment styles and how they affect your business. Based on the book Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find - and Keep - Love by Amir Levine and Rachel Heller. Attachment theory is all about how we interact with others.
In this episode of Creatives Crushing Anxiety, I expose 4 signs it might be time to take a vacation. Burn out is real and sometimes it isn't as obvious as you think.
In this episode of Creatives Crushing Anxiety, I expose 4 signs it might be time to take a vacation. Burn out is real and sometimes it isn't as obvious as you think.
In this episode, we dive into what to do when you aren’t seeing progress on your goals. It’s all about checking in on the details and making adjustments where necessary.
This week, I wanted to speak my mind on the current state of the world and the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement.
This week, I share with you five questions to ask yourself before you jump into a new idea. As entrepreneurs, we are constantly bombarded with new things. These questions help you check yourself and avoid shiny object syndrome.
This week, I share with you my meditation story. I talk about some of the amazing benefits I’ve experienced from incorporating meditation into my life. We talk about how I got started as an adult and the meditations I did as a child.
Today we are talking all about boundaries. This has been something that has been an ongoing battle for me in my life, creating boundaries, both in part my personal relationships and my professional relationships. The reason being it's really hard for somebody with my personality type to feel like they're letting people down. This sometimes results in me agreeing to things that I don't really want to do or have the time to do, or putting other people's needs above my own. It's something that I've been continuously working on and I've definitely gotten a lot better at it. But I think that a lot of people have this issue, so I wanted to share why boundaries are necessary to have a productive business and also a happy life.
In this episode, we are talking about silence. I want to tell you a little bit about where this idea came from and why silence is in fact golden. A couple of weeks ago, I was about to take a shower and I noticed that my phone was about to die. Usually, I'm listening to music in the shower from my phone but I had to put it on the charger and I had a real silence for the first time in forever. I realized that I'm always listening to something. When I'm working I’m listening to music or YouTube. When I go on walks, I'm listening to podcasts or audiobooks. When I fall asleep, I'm falling asleep to American Dad. I wanted to get back into the habit of having these silent moments and having them consciously and intentionally. So I decided to just kind of look at some of the benefits of silence.
I am super pumped about this episode, because I am bringing back a series that I haven't done since April 2018. When I started the blog five years ago, it was much more of a lifestyle brand. And I kind of fell into this whole, “Well, no one wants to hear about you. You need to keep it to evergreen content and business and things that people will find helpful for the business.” And I think because of all the shifts that have happened, I realized that I missed doing this kind of content. Plus, with the times that we're in right now, with the whole Coronavirus and all the stress in the world and social isolation, I thought maybe sharing some of these would be some fun things you could get into while you’re self-quarantining. All of them you can enjoy from the comfort of your home, or in a way that you're still practicing social distancing.
This week I interview Laura from Kick Ass In Life. Laura helps people differentiate themselves in a sea of sameness and get hired fast!
Following her mantra “kick ass” she went from unemployed to doubling her salary in two years, has helped dozens of recent grads find connections, opportunities, and jobs and created a routine using the best tips and hacks to be happier and healthier and save money.
In this episode, I share 6 things you may not even realize are stressing you out. We all have things that stress us out. Life is stressful but there are some things adding to yourself that you don’t have to suffer from.
Not only do I share my hot list of 6 things adding to your stress, but I share solutions for ditching these bad habits and adding more ease to your life.
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In this episode of Creatives Crushing Anxiety, I share 6 tips to help you fight the loneliness of working from home. These tips are easy to implement and can cure the stir-crazy feeling many entrepreneurs face.
This week I spoke with Shayna Norwood. Shayna was first introduced to letterpress printing through a year – long book arts class she took while earning her BFA at San Francisco Art Institute. Since graduating she has perfected her craft while working in book arts centers from San Francisco to New York. Finally settling in Chicago, she started Steel Petal Press as a way to use her letterpress skills and unique perspective to share beauty and humor with the world through handmade stationery.
We dive deep into anxiety in the workplace and creating a safe space for employees and bosses to take care of their mental health. Shayna has done a beautiful job of creating a workplace that allows people to be people. She has also taken her mission further with her mood and activity trackers.
After you listen to the episode enter for a chance to win Steel Petal Press' Anxiety's a bitch tracker.
In this minisode, I talk about the Netflix original movie Dolemite Is My Name and the lessons entrepreneur can take from it’s hero.
In this episode:
- How she became a professional organizer.
- Her shift from a leaning to learning business model.
- How she approaches the topic of boundaries with her clients and the problem with constantly saying yes.
- Why you have to retrain yourself and others about your boundaries.
- How we overthink boundaries and stop ourselves from enforcing them.
- How to lower client expectations so you can exceed them while giving yourself grace.
- The real reason you might be accomplishing things or why you feel unsatisfied when you do.
- The importance of clarity and intention.
- Why you need to give yourself grace and check in.
- Why vulnerability is so useful and how to use it as a leader.
In the season 3 premiere of Creatives Crushing Anxiety, I share my 2020 word of the year. I even take my plans deeper with 20 things I want to embody and practice in 2020. This was such an exciting episode to record as I know big things are coming in 2020.
Today we're going to talk about what to do when you don't feel like doing anything. And this happens, it is completely normal. I feel like that from time to time I feel like that. I feel like that right now and so I thought it was a great opportunity to actually make a video about what I do when I don't feel like doing anything. I think there is a lot of talk has happened lately where people are realizing that maybe motivation isn't all it's cracked up to be because a lot of times you don't feel motivated and you still have to get shit done. So I am sharing some things that I do when I feel like doing absolutely nothing.
5 Tips to stop shoulding all over yourself and start living your life and running your business in alignment.
Today I'm going to talk to you about stepping from behind the scenes. A little bit of a behind the scenes of a behind the scener.
I am on a journey right now to really just show up and be visible which is so new to me. And I was talking to one of my coaches about this, like how because I'm a coach now it's been hard to get myself out there visibly because I'm not used to being the one who's like on the page and the one who is really out there and saying the message. Yes, I have a podcast. Yes, I do blog posts, I have a website, but really to be like “I am the expert hear me roar,” that is so completely new for me. So I'm really, really excited about this chapter of my life.
In this episode:
- How she started her business.
- How she builds trust with new clients.
- Why you need to do the work that feels good.
- Why you have to trust your gut.
- Knowing when to walk away.
- True crime ranting.
- How she deals with client red flags.
- Dealing with comparison in business.
- The power of having a friend who does the same thing as you.
- Why you need to set your limits and get comfortable stating them.
- It’s okay if you like to offer custom packages.
In the first-ever minisode, I talk about the word luck in online business and why we need to let it go.
This podcast is all about sharing ideas, theories, and just tips and tricks to help you live a more enjoyable life as a business owner, to help you prevent anxiety and things that can really improve the way that you're living and working so that you can have the best business and the best life. So today, I wanted to share some things that I do that helped me work in my zone of genius, helped me not be so stressed out and overly busy, that don't necessarily have to do with my business, but have this great domino effect.
In this episode:
- Why she left a great, secure job to start her own business.
- How she fell in love with design.
- Her round the world travels.
- The truth about our business fears.
- We talk about showing up in your business.
- Why you have to push past your fears of being seen to make real connections in business.
- How she empowers her students and clients.
- What you need to know to make the shift from services to products.
- Why we need to get down to the root of the emotion.
- Why we make things harder than they have to be.
- The truth about course creation.
- How you can stop aiming for perfection.
In this episode: In this episode of Creatives Cushing Anxiety, I share 5 questions you should ask yourself when you feel out of alignment and how they work to get you back in the zone.
- Who are my ideal clients?
- What do I do for fun?
- Do my prices match the level of value I provide clients?
- Is my business enabling the things I want or is it hindering them?
- What am I doing?
Meg Sutton is the boss lady and doodler behind Belle & Union, a company that sells letterpress printed cards, art prints, southern-inspired wrappings, and hand-crafted artisan goods brimming with vintage wit and wisdom that tote a bit of a foodie twist - all 100% made in the USA. Meg started the business in 2012 after falling in love with letterpress while working in a boutique shop.
In this episode:
- The difference from going from wholesale to brick and mortar.
- The differences in her business since she made the change.
- How she went from hustling to business owner.
- How she handled giving over some power and hiring her team.
- How she realized it was time for things to shift.
- Why you have to listen to your intuition.
- How she leans on her community.
Meg Sutton is the boss lady and doodler behind Belle & Union, a company that sells letterpress printed cards, art prints, southern-inspired wrappings, and hand-crafted artisan goods brimming with vintage wit and wisdom that tote a bit of a foodie twist - all 100% made in the USA. Meg started the business in 2012 after falling in love with letterpress while working in a boutique shop.
In this episode:
- The difference from going from wholesale to brick and mortar.
- The differences in her business since she made the change.
- How she went from hustling to business owner.
- How she handled giving over some power and hiring her team.
- How she realized it was time for things to shift.
- Why you have to listen to your intuition.
- How she leans on her community.
You are unique! So that means the way one person finds success may not work for you.
You aren’t broke. You aren’t bad at business. You aren’t doomed to fail. You’re YOU.
In this episode, I share some tips for figuring out what works for you and how to stop trying all the different things to make your business work.
Today is a special day it is my 30th birthday.
So today I want to share some of the birthday feels and some of my experiences and what I'm hoping for 30. And you know what I've learned in the last three decades, which is so crazy to say. I was thinking back yesterday about being at this older job of mine, I think I was maybe 25 at the time. And I remember, two of my co workers saying, they love being in their 30s, the 30s are so much better than their 20s. And that they wouldn't go back. And I remember 25 year old Dia being like these people are in denial. But the funny thing is, I'm literally a few hours in and I am loving it already. I'm so excited. For this phase of my life, I'm so excited to see what 30 brings, and to feel a little bit more stable, like I always felt like a stable person. But to actually be at this new chapter and have all the things going for me that I'm blessed to have. It's crazy, and it's exciting. And I just know that this decade is going to be amazing.
You always hear entrepreneurs talking about the importance of a routine. While I am a serious creature of habit I have to admit I found it hard to find my routine.
I mean I had normal stuff I just organically did like brush my teeth in the morning, drink my lemon water, etc. The things I do at night, shower, watch an episode of American Dad then turn on a guided sleep meditation. But a real routine that was structured and zen and stuff, I didn’t have.
So I started thinking about what I really like and what helps me unwind and just snap out of the never-ending loop in my mind. So I think I finally found my routine and I’m excited to share.
It was vital for me to find ways to make getting up in the morning less tedious so I wanted to share my tips for how to fake your way into being a morning person.
I have never been a morning person but lately, I've needed to be. Here are my tips for conquering your mornings when you hate mornings.
Entrepreneur lessons from Freeform's The Bold Type. This week I share lessons from one of my favorite shows. Buckle up it's going to be a fun one.
Entrepreneur lessons from Freeform's The Bold Type. This week I share lessons from one of my favorite shows. Buckle up it's going to be a fun one.
In this episode of Creatives Crushing Anxiety, I talk with motivational speaker and creator of the Creative Conference Hub, Carrie Grace. Carrie is a force of greatness and I am so inspired by the work she does. In this episode, we get real about communicating and working with other people. I loved this episode.
In this episode of Creatives Crushing Anxiety, I share the benefits of going to therapy and my personal experience working with a therapist for the last 2 years.
I talk with friend and former client Meg K. Baker, founder of Meg K and Co. We dive deep into all things business, depression and woo woo. You don’t want to miss this episode.
In this episode:
- How she started her business
- The Kolbe test
- Human Design
- How the entrepreneurial world is self-reflection work.
- Explaining your business to people IRL.
In this episode of Creatives Crushing Anxiety, I ask the question, “Are you being proactive or reactive?” So often in business we find ourselves in being faced with reactive situations but it’s important to be proactive.
In this episode of Creatives Crushing Anxiety, I talk with Sara McNally. Sara is a true wordsmith and the owner Constellation & Co. Based in Seattle, Constellation & Co. isn’t your average greeting card shop. Sara and her team create cards that reflect the highs and lows of life.
In this episode of Creatives Crushing Anxiety, Dia talks about why it’s important to identify your work style and things that make up your work style. Learn the subtle elements of your environment that make all the difference and take the quiz to learn which of the Work Styles you have.
This week I talked to Jenny, founder of Confetti Social. We dive into self-care, transitioning into your business, client boundaries and so much more. Jenny serves online business owners by helping them get their name and their brand out into the word with strategic social media. If you're ready to scale your business there are so many helpful nuggets in this interview.
I started All The Things I Do in March 2015. What a wild ride it has been! I’ve went to multiple conferences, made countless news friends, left my 9-5, started a podcast and so much more. Instead of looking back on all the things over the past 4 years I decided to share 4 things I’m doing in year 4 to help me get to year 5.
On this episode of Creatives Crushing Anxiety, I share tips for picking the right Project Manager for your business and how you can empower them for results. Bringing someone into your business can be scary but the right person can let you propel your movement and start making huge strides.
If you’re like me, your waking hours are filled with tasks, expectations, and stress. For most of us, even our vacations or “days off” are filled with things we have to do or obligations that need to be handled. Well that’s a sad thought, isn’t it? It doesn’t have to be.
For a long time, I found myself in this loop of never-ending stress and a growing to-do list. I didn’t find some magic pill or master time travel to give myself an extra 10 hours a day to write, sleep and watch Netflix…(isn’t Netflix just the best thing ever?!?)
The first thing I did was learn to recognize the mistakes I was making when it came to building my business that was slowing my business down. I am still growing for sure, but if I’d started to realized these mistakes sooner, I could have been seeing revenue, growth and a lot less stress in my business a year or so sooner.
Maybe it’s because I’ve had a lot of experience in the different roles that come with dating but I see a lot of things the same way I see romance. Trying to figure out your work style is a little like kissing frogs, Often you figure out what doesn’t work far sooner than you find out what does… so let me save you some time and point out some of the biggest mistakes people make when trying to manage their business.
In this episode, I talk with Michelle Knight from Brandmerry. We dive into the entrepreneur mind including comparison and building a brand that attracts your dream clients. You will walk away with some real eye openers from this episode.
In this episode: 1:45 How she started her business.
4:48 Staying at your 9-5 when starting your business and the process of getting your first clients.
10:25 Her current business season and her plans. How difficult times open our eyes in life and business.
15:10 She talks about how she works with her clients on branding and storytelling.
20:48 What is the biggest issue she sees when people are developing their brand and their story.
26:00 What she has learned about herself since she started her business.
30:35 Why it’s important to show up for your community.
In the first new episode of the year, I dive into resistance. The thing that stops us in our tracks when we want to make a change or do something new. This has been something recently brought to my attention in multiple ways so I felt like I had to share.
In this episode:
- The truth about resistance.
- Ways resistance shows up.
- The list of new habits I want to build and how they turned out in December.
- Questions to ask yourself when you feel stuck and aren’t sure why.
This week it’s a mix of looking back and moving forward on Creatives Crushing Anxiety. I share the good, the bad and the ugly of 2018 and what I’m planning for 2019. It’s one of my favorite types of episodes it allows me to go behind the scenes, reflect and plan.
In this episode I dive into:
- My 2018 word of the year and what it meant to me.
- How I faired trying to work in the 90-day year format.
- Goals I dropped.
- Goals I crushed.
- The networking game changer.
- How batching worked out for me in 2018.
- Why being specific was vital for getting my business off the ground.
- Why I am set on consuming less.
- My word of the year for 2019.
- 10 Goals I have for the new year.
- 3 Questions to ask yourself if you aren’t sure what you want in the new year.
Have you ever wondered what the biggest distraction is facing business owners? I dive into that on this episode for the Imperfect Audio archives.
I also dive into 5 ways this thing may be showing up for you.
In this episode of Creatives Crushing Anxiety, I share tips for keeping your anxiety at bay during your family visits. It is the most wonderful time of the year but it's also the time where depression, anxiety and stress are at a all time high. Here are a few tips to survive going to your hometown during the holidays.
This week I talk with Rosemary from RosemaryRichings.com. Rosemary is a content writer, copy editor and content strategist. We discuss how she got into business, how she handles negative feedback and her tips for keeping yourself and your clients happy.
In this episode:
- How she went from a hobby blogger to a business.
- How she overcame the fear of rejection in pitching herself.
- Why she believes research, not templates is key to making connections.
- And more.
In this episode, I share my tips for working from home. As someone who has been doing it for 5 ½ months now I’m basically a veteran. JK But I do feel like I started recently enough that the pain points and lessons I’ve learned are recent enough that they are fresh in my mind.
This week on Creatives Crushing Anxiety I have Liz Theresa. Liz is a website developer, copywriter and business consultant. This was by far one of the most fun interviews I’ve ever done.
Liz and I laughed the entire time we go there on dealing with stressful client situations, debating giving up entrepreneurship, making connections and so much more.
In this episode:
- The genius way Liz writes the best copy for her clients.
- I share my favorite story of faking a British accent. If you have a drinking podcast hit me up!
- How she started her business as a social media marketer and how she evolved
- The way she manages all her clients to stay sane.
- Why she sets her client boundaries in her service agreement and how she reiderates them when things arise.
- Her strategy for social media and how she mixes spontaneity and scheduled content.
- How we all have days where we want to quit and the things we say.
- Her advice to business owners for improving their website.
Welcome to this week’s episode aka the season one finale of Creative’s Crushing Anxiety. In the 52nd episode, I dive into some of the lessons I’ve learned since starting the podcast and what I’m excited about for seasons 2 (I also share the launch date for season 2).
Lessons I’ve learned in a year of podcasting:
- Technology Can Be A Bitch
- I Actually Don’t Hate Talking To Strangers
- We Aren’t Alone
- Reason Is Everything
- Connection Is Important
- No One Really Cares What You’re Doing
- Be Open To The Unusual Suspects
This week I interview Mira Whiting the owner and photographer behind Mira Whiting Photographer. I had such a great time doing this interview and even got to geek out about history a little.
This was such a fun episode and I hope you enjoy it.
In this episode we talk about:
- How technological changes have improved her business and also the problem it creates.
- How she got into photography.
- That ah-ha moment she said where she realized her skill could earn her money.
- Why she encourages her clients to print their photos.
- Why she got help in her business.
- Some of the fears we face when outsourcing.
- The support system that keeps her life and business balanced.
- Her advice to aspiring business owners.
Meet Amy virtual assistant and coach to the virtual assistants. From the first email Amy sent me I knew she was a kindred spirit. This was such a fun chat. She shares the story of how she became a business owner and how she deals with anxiety in her business.
In this episode of Creatives Crushing Anxiety, I dive into the world of hustling. Partly inspired by the recent media attention given to Geoffery Owens I discuss:
- Why having a side hustle isn't a bad thing.
- Some of my past side hustles.
- Places you can check out for extra cash.
Based in Boston Realtor Kate Ziegler is a property management, realtor, real estate investor and owner of a design firm. In this episode of Creatives Crushing Anxiety we talk about how she balances her full-time job and her businesses, how she and her husband make running a business together work and how she keeps things into focus.
In this episode of Creatives Crushing Anxiety- Behind The Anxiety, I talk about:
- My issues creating content this summer and how inspiration finally hit.
- What is coming up on Creatives Crushing Anxiety and that weekly episodes are coming back.
- My biggest productivity killer.
- My thoughts on Gabby Berstein’s The Universe Has Your Back and how it helped me prevent self-sabotage.
- How emotions can make or break your motivation.
- The vicious circle negative emotions can create in your business.
- A better way to see life’s unexpected changes.
- I open up about two of the heartbreaking losses I’ve experienced in 2018.
- Why you have to compromise with yourself to take care of yourself sometimes.
- Why you need to recognize when a sign is from the universe and when you’re just looking for excuses to do something.
In this episode of Creative Crushing Anxiety, I talk with Keisha Greaves, founder of Girls Chronically Rock. We discuss how she leaned into her chronic illness to create a brand and make her dreams of being a business owner and working in fashion possible.
In this episode:
- We discuss how her chronic illness leads to her brand girls chronically rock.
- How she discovered she had muscular dystrophy and how she dealt with her diagnosis
- How she manages her business with a chronic illness.
- Why you need to listen to your bodies cues.
- How she build her design business and tips to help you start.
- How does she keep her head in the game
- Why it’s important to listen to what your customers want.
- Why patience is important when growing your business.
- Her advice for dealing with chronic illness.
In this episode, I share 7 tips for staying on top of your business, no matter the format, and avoiding burnout.
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Be Focused
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Plan Breaks
-Plan Work
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Practice Gratitude
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Have a Support System
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Nurture All of You
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Ask For Help
This week I am taking you behind the anxiety. Its my birthday and as always that is a time of reflection. In this episode I discuss some of the anxiety that has come up for me lately and how I’m dealing.
I also talk about:
My journaling practices
Changing Paths in Life
How life has been since leaving my 9-5 and more.
When you’re starting your business online, there is a lot to do and a lot to learn. Regardless of the type of business you’re operating chances are you’ll need a tribe to keep you strong. I know, I know, you have a fantastic partner, a beautiful and supportive best friend and a puppy that licks your face when you cry but hard truth, it probably isn’t enough. I have a wonderful circle of family and friends in my life, but the truth is they don’t totally understand what I do.
That is why it is wonderful when you find a group of like-minded business owners to build a support community with.
If you’re ready to create a community that lets your connection with other entrepreneurs then here are are some tips to help you in the process.
In episode 42 of Creatives Crushing Anxiety, I talk about the questions I ask myself before making big decisions. These simple questions help me feel more grounded and snap me back into reality when I'm going down the rabbit hole of analysis paralysis and self-doubt. They really just help with keeping yourself centered and not overthinking or freaking out.
In this episode of Creatives Crushing Anxiety I interview Susan Young founder of Get In Front Communications. We dive into so many wonderful things in this episode. If you have been struggling with your elevator pitch, struggling to make connections when networking or going in circles on how to get your messaging right then this episode is for you.
In this episode:
- She talks about her interview with Yanis Krums.
- How we all have the platform to get our content out there and how we all have the power now.
- The biggest change she has seen in PR.
- How you can get past the rejectionists when trying to connect with people.
- What frustrates her about the industry.
- And more
I don’t need to list out things that cause stress for me or in modern society as a whole. I mean dismay and anxiety are just part of the American way nowadays. With changing politics, personal stressors, bills, personal relationships (or relationshits depending on your situation), stress is all around us. While I haven’t managed to find a way around entirely avoiding stress, I have worked on the search for ways to cope with it and prevent it from turning into crippling anxiety.
In this episode of Creatives Crushing Anxiety, I interview Ericka Young. Ericka is a financial coach who helps women and couples get their debt paid down and financial lives in check. If you've been suffering from debt and the anxiety that can come with it then you need to listen to this episode!
In this episode:
- The steps Ericka takes when she starts working with a new person.
- Why you need to have financial goals.
- Her biggest financial regret.
- Why you need to know your credit score.
- How one of her clients went from a 16% interest rate to a 5% interest rate on her car note.
- Her she decided her book topic.
- How she helps people recognize their hereditary money habits.
- And more.
In episode 38 of Creatives Crushing Anxiety I share 6 tips for staying focused in your online business. We all have countless things on our mind at any given moment. That is why focus is so important! You may remember that focused is my 2018 word of the year. That is why I am sharing 6 ways I’ve been trying to stay focused on my focus this week.
In this episode: * Why I named my website All The Things I Do * How an email from Paul Jarvis made me think about all the things * Why you need to check your shiny object syndrome * 6 ways to be more focused
In this episode of Creatives Crushing Anxiety, I chat with Ashley Mason from Dash of Social. If you have anxiety around doing social media for your business then this episode is for you.
In this episode:
- How she became a social media manager.
- What she tells clients who want to be on all the social media platforms.
- The problem she sees with information overload.
- How she works with her client to keep them accountable.
- How she balances a healthy mix of content in her social media.
- Her favorite social media platform.
- The changes she is expecting in social media this year.
When our anxiety is at an all-time high we still have to find a way to get out of bed and go to work and pretend that everything is ok. If you have the bittersweet calling of trying to run an online business or having a side hustle in addition to your daytime job and other commitments, then you find yourself having to be “on” even more often. For me, while my blog was inspired by the idea that I should write more it also kind of started out of a place of anxiousness and feeling the need to do something. Writing had always been that thing for me, so I decided to go for it. It really was a bit of a catch-22. The outlet and an opportunity to work through things by writing and distracting myself for my mind by focusing on writing were great, but then the new obligations and deadlines were also somewhat stressful.
Emily is the fitness coach behind the website, Life in Spandex. We talk about how she balances everything, her tips for being the healthiest version of yourself and so much more. This is an episode for all my strong #bossbabes!
You may be considering hiring a workflow strategist to set up your workflows. You may be wondering 'how do I create my workflows?' In episode 34 I walk you through the steps I take when working with my clients on their workflows.
Do you ever worry your online business is breaking the law? Then you need to meet Jackie. Jackie is an attorney and the founder of JadeOak.com, the online place for online business owners to get their business legal. In this episode we talk about how she balances having a full-time job and an online business, the mistakes she wants you to avoid online and so much more.
You’ve probably guessed I’m super into being organized by now but believe me when I say, I’m far from perfect, but I have learned a lot refining my own systems as well as the systems of my clients. Today I am sharing my secrets for creating systems that work!
In this very special anniversary episode, I go behind the scenes to what I’ve learned the past 3 years and what I’m doing next. This was a fun episode to make because I really had to stop and think about all the things that have happened over the past few years. The good, the bad, the costly.
In this episode of Creatives Crushing Anxiety, I share 19 tips for excellent client management. These tips may seem simple but they can make a huge impact and are easy to miss. When I was creating the outline for this episode, it started with 10 tips but then they just kept coming to me. Seriously, these aren't super complicated but they can make all the difference between hearing, "How do I keep working with you," or "Bye Felicia."
This week I have Erica Ligenza from Coming Up Roses. Erica and I dive into the problems bloggers face getting the payment they deserve. She also shares how she stepped up her game and the perfect way to frame requesting payment for your marketing services (i.e. publishing sponsored content and giving brands access to your loyal following). Erica is pretty kickass and I know anyone looking to build a lifestyle business will get a lot out of this episode.
In this episode:
- How she started Coming Up Roses the blog in college.
- How she went from blogging to a business and lifestyle brand.
- Why she wants influencer marketers to understand they deserve to be paid when working with brands.
- How she decided to create her course Boss Pitch.
- What she has learned in nearly 5 years of owning her business and how it lead her to double her income.
- How we can all help spread more light in the world.
- What she thinks everyone needs to do to improve their life.
Welcome to this episode of Creatives Crushing Anxiety! Today we are talking about five benefits of hiring a project manager in your online business. Obviously, this is something that is important to me and I'm extremely excited to share this with you.
In this episode: * The benefits of hiring a project manager * Differences between an online business manager, project manager, and virtual assistant. * Where the three roles can overlap. * Why it’s essential to set up expectations in your business.
In this episode:
How she got her start helping others’ market their book.
Why she thinks you need a balance of fiction and nonfiction on your bookshelf.
The big challenge she sees writer’s face.
How she suggests you find your target reader locally.
The trends she sees in self-publishing right now.
How she balances being a writer and an author coach.
How she inspires herself to write.
The practice she does to make her days great and improve her attitude.
You are kickass at what you bring to the table for them but setting up the behind the scenes moving parts is just as important as providing value and results. As your business grows if the right systems aren’t set up your attention to the service will be distracted.
In this episode we talk about:
- The systems you need in place for a smooth client experience.
- Some of my favorite options for systems.
- Why you need a support system in place.
In this episode
- Identifying your drowned out passengers (inspiring and uplifting voices).
- Why you shouldn’t minimize compliments
- Why you don’t need to stay in your head or focused on fun or frustrating feelings so much that you don’t take action.
- The two professionals she recommends all online business owners talk to.
- How she makes her newsletter extra valuable.
In this episode:
- What to do if your site keeps crashing.
- What your options are if updating your site takes you forever to update or fix things.
- Who to hire when you want to update your website branding.
- How you can handle social media overwhelm and identify the cause of your overwhelm.
- What to do if you absolutely hate writing.
- Who to hire if you’re having trouble getting the word out.
- What to do when you feel stuck and don’t know what to do next or how to move forward.
- An easy technique to help you decide what to do next.
- Who you need to hire if your client support is taking up all your time.
In this episode we discuss: * How she started Krista Rae. * When she realized that she didn’t have to do it all to be a successful developer. * How she found her business partner and launched Coded Creative. * The biggest difference for her working as a business owner versus an employee. * What the transition to entrepreneur looked like for her. * Why you need to figure out what works for you and cut out the rest. * Understanding your website isn’t just for you but for your clients. * The most common issue she has as a developer and the importance of communications and boundaries.
This week I chat with Lanie Lamarre from Miss GSD.
In this episode:
• Why you need to look internally instead of externally to find your business model.
• Why an online course or program may not be the answer.
• Here workaround for avoiding shiny object syndrome in this supersaturated course market.
• Why we need to stop doing work that drags you down.
• Why you need to organize the way it happens.
• How Laine plans her goals.
• Why it’s so important for service-based business owners to take care of themselves.
• The way to track new ideas without letting them take over your game plan.
• What she wants us to realize about self-care in 2018.
• The best thing she thinks service based business bosses can do for themselves.