Chill & Prosper with Denise Duffield-Thomas

You might not want to hear this, but there are key numbers in your business that you need to track and have a plan to grow.    It’s possible to both love your people and want to grow your numbers quickly.    Don’t be afraid to look at these numbers. The success of your offers, launches, and, in fact, your whole business is directly linked to the size of your audience.    The truth is that the more people see your stuff, the more money you’ll make - it’s a numbers game, so it’s essential to get clear on where you’re at and have a target you want to grow to.    On today’s podcast episode, I’m sharing how I grow my list and following.

We have such a joyful podcast episode today! It's all about failing businesses and tricky economic times. Urgh.    But if you've been in scarcity, feeling fearful, or worried about failure, you'll feel better after listening.    The feeling of uncertainty and concerns about the cost of living are real for a lot of us at the moment, so it's normal if you're feeling stressed.   It's also normal if you've noticed these feelings starting to have a knock-on effect on your business, but this doesn't have to be disastrous.    If you've made a mistake or your anxiety is peaking (I've been there), then today's episode will help you.

Last year, I took my family to Europe for four months - hubby, three children, and my mom - and it was intense and magical in lots of ways.    We were so lucky to spend time in the UK, seeing Mark’s family and traveling to places like Paris, Barcelona, and Lapland - I hope it was an unforgettable trip for the kids.   I tried not to work much on the trip, but so many experiences stood out while we were overseas I just knew I had to share them in a podcast episode.   So today, I’m diving into the business, marketing, and mindset lessons I got from my Europe trip.

Let’s talk about finding your people - the communities, coaches and business besties you need to thrive.    This is one of my favorite topics because I love talking about my business besties and sharing their work.    Which inevitably leads to questions like “How do I find more besties?” or “Which community should I join for XYZ?”   Having friends who understand your business and have similar experiences is so important. It will play a vital role in your success as an entrepreneur for four main reasons:   Support from someone with a shared experience who can offer empathy, compassion, and advice on overcoming business challenges. Ideas and feedback on improving parts of your business or marketing. Contacts and recommendations of great systems, contractors, or staff you’ll need along the way. Opportunities to uplevel and network by opening doors to new audiences, stages, or events.   More than someone to vent or cry with, a business best friend can be invaluable for masterminding, partnering, and cheerleading.    On today’s podcast, I share my tips on finding new business besties and the right coach to help you grow this year. 

On this week's episode of the Chill and Prosper podcast I'm talking about how to balance life and business and how you can have both!    Now, I'm no expert in this, and it's something that will constantly change as you evaluate your business and your goals. But there are some tried and true tips I've learned along the way that I think you'll love.

Don't freak out. We're going to talk sales, but not in a sleazy or pushy way.    If you don't like sales and you're thinking of skipping this episode, don't worry—I've got some chillprenuer tips that actually work.    Let's make it as easy as possible for you to close the deal and make more money. 

Are you a millionaire? Have you hit $1 million? Or is this a goal for you?   For most people who follow me or listen to my podcast, hitting a million dollars or becoming a millionaire is a big, audacious goal.    It might not be the money itself, but the lifestyle or ability to help others that you dream of, but I’ve found it helps to have a number to aim for.    Yes, we have a few millionaire listeners and many millionaires in my Money Bootcamp course, but most are working towards their first million.    Whether this is a goal for you this year or one day in the future, I want to talk about Millionaire Mindset so it can feel more attainable, relatable, and real to you.

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

Freedom is my number one value and the absolute best thing I’ve bought with my money.    But freedom often means different things to different people. It can be so overused in the online marketing industry that it loses meaning or is misunderstood.    So today we're talking balancing life and business and what freedom means to you.

Setting and holding boundaries is ongoing work for me and something I know most entrepreneurs must consistently work on.   There’s no denying that boundaries can be difficult and often involve awkward conversations, but they are vital.    Boundaries do not make you a b*tch. They’re essential for you to be a boss.    So, let’s do an inventory of where you’re at right now with boundaries. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The holiday season is upon us, and along with the joy and festivities, it can also bring up some money blocks and worries. Don't worry - I've got you covered!    In today’s podcast ep,  I’m sharing some insights on how to overcome any limiting beliefs and fears around money during the holidays. So grab a cup of cocoa and let's dive in!

So your partner or family and friends have a bad money mindset; now what?    I know this is so challenging, and I hear it from our Money Bootcamp members all the time.   How are you meant to do this essential money mindset work - working on yourself and growing your business - when everyone in your life seems to be against you or stuck in scarcity?    What should you do if the money blocks of the people around you are holding you back?   And how do you overcome the fears of outgrowing people or feeling isolated while you break cycles and create a new legacy for your family?    In so many situations, I’ve seen beautiful transformations when couples or family members unite and transform their collective money mindsets.   It’s happened in my own family, and my husband Mark and I even teach a module on this in our Money Bootcamp course.    So, on this new episode of the Chill and Prosper podcast, I’ve got my best advice for nurturing your money mindset and supporting your loved ones with their work. 

Sometimes, in business, things feel hard. There'll be times when you might not love your business; in fact, you might hate it and want to quit.    But before you do anything drastic, let's work through it together.    It's not all or nothing; you don't have to break your business completely - some tweaks could make all the difference.    Your capacity, energy, and passion for your business will change at different stages of life. And even at different times of your cycle (if you have periods).   So be honest with yourself about the season that you're in right now.    Farmers need to rotate crops and animals and give land fallow time, and maybe you're in more of a family or health season than a business growth season right now.    Wherever you're at, it's okay, and you can set up your business to support rather than drain you.