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  • Episode 006 – Shedding your skin and following your inner calling

    In this episode I talk to my lovely friend, Ruth Richards from The Intuition Connection

    We talk about what it’s like to step into your purpose and shed your skin, from something that you’re doing now to something that’s calling you from within.

    The book that Ruth recommends is the Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz and Janet Mills

    You can connect with Ruth on Linkedin and on her website.

    Ruth also has a brand new book out called Reclaim Your Intuition: A practical guide to live with intention, be in flow and feel empowered. Grab your copy here

  • 005 – What are you NOT doing to achieve your goals?

    Welcome to another episode of the Smash Your Own Ceiling Podcast.

    Today I’m chatting about how to stop avoiding the tasks that you know would get you light years ahead in your goals.

    I’d love to hear what you think. Let me know by email – info@barbaranixon.co.uk

    Message me on Instagram – http://www.instagram.com/barbara___nixon

    Or come and join the Smash Your Own Ceiling Society

    If you’re ready for the next step come and check out The Smash Your Own Ceiling Collective – my Signature Mindset Membership helping you to get out of your own way, stop holding yourself back and achieve everything you really want!

  • 004 – Quitting your job and starting a business in a pandemic

    Today I’m super excited to invite our very first guest to the podcast Meleri Bowen.

    Meleri is a Video Content Expert & Mindset Coach for Female Entrepreneurs. After 10+ years in TV & media production, she decided to bottle her experience and is on a mission to help women be seen and heard by connecting to the power of video so they too can showcase their expertise with the world.

    She combines her passion for seeing others flourish with her mindset coaching to help industry pioneers gain the confidence and knowledge to get seen via online video — giving them the authority and social proof to place them as a leader in their industry.

    Meleri is a twice BAFTA Award winner, and has appeared on Wales’ leading BBC Radio Station, Radio Cymru, and on the Welsh television channel, S4C. She is a fluent Welsh speaker, certified Health Coach, Reiki Practitioner and EFT Practitioner.

    And we chat about:

    – Leaving work and starting a business in a Pandemic

    – Trusting our intuition

    – The difference between intuition and ego

    – All feelings being welcome

    – Looking for the lessons

    Follow Meleri on Instagram 

    The book that Meleri recommended is The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy

  • Episode 003 – How are you at saying no?

    The question on the table today is – How are you at saying no?

    This is what I’m exploring today and I share my own personal experiences too.

    I’d love to know your thoughts by leaving a comment.

    And…if you’d like to learn the 7 ways you’re blocking your own success, download your free workbook here.

    Also, please leave a review if you’ve enjoyed this episode and feel free to share the love and share this episode with someone who would benefit from listening in.

  • Episode 002 – What are you waiting for permission for?

    The question on the table to ponder today is – what are you waiting for permission for?

    I’d love to know your thoughts.

    Let me know on Facebook; join the Facebook GroupInstagram or dropping me an e-mail at info@barbaranixon.co.uk

    If you’d like to learn the 7 ways you’re blocking your own success download your free workbook here.

    And…don’t forget to drop me a review if you’re enjoying the show and feel free to share it with anyone you think would benefit from todays episode.

    See you next time

    Barbara x

  • Episode 001 – Welcome to the Smash Your Own Ceiling Podcast

    The Smash Your Own Ceiling Podcast is finally here!!

    I am so excited to finally launch this into the world and can’t wait for you to go on this journey with me.

    If you’re not into podcasting yet, maybe this is your time to try it out.

    So, plug in your headphones, get out into the fresh air and let’s go 🙂

  • 5 ways you’re leaving money on the table

    Let’s face it, running a business is all about getting clients and making money. Yes we want to make a positive difference and have an impact on the people around us and the world, but if you’re not making the money that you’d like it becomes less about the impact, and so much more about ‘where on Earth are my next clients coming from?!’

    However, one of the most common things that I see are business owners who are literally leaving money on the table – this is the low hanging fruit and so often it’s money that’s allowed to slip through the net.

    So, check out these 5 ‘holes’ and tick them off as you go

    Broken links on your website

    I remember vividly being in lockdown and needing some new ‘zoom’ clothes (you know tops!) and wanting to buy from independent businesses. So there I was credit card in hand and I found a top I loved. So much so, that I decided to buy one in all the colours. Feeling happy with myself I looked for the link to buy…could I find one?

    NOPE!!!

    There wasn’t a link!

    AND when I finally found a link to buy it was broken and led me no-where. I was a ready made customer and I couldn’t buy.

    Action: Check all of your links on your site and make sure customers can buy, that it’s obvious how to buy and with as few clicks as possible.

    Not talking about your products on social media

    I get it…social media is social…but it’s also a fantastic place to market your products or services. It’s also full of potential customers ready to buy and or friends who would love to refer you. If you’re reading this thinking…I can’t mention my stuff as ‘what will other people think’ or ‘I don’t want to annoy people’ it’s time to look at it differently. This isn’t about selling all the time, but making people aware of what you do and how you can help. If you genuinely think your products / services can help others then it’s important to talk about it and weave it into your posts.

    Not sharing the next steps in your marketing

    Whether it’s on your social media profile or in your posts or blogs, if you’re not making it super clear how to take that next step and using a Call to Action then you’re missing a trick. Don’t assume that the reader knows what you do or what you offer or HOW to take that next step in working with you. Most of the time we don’t…we just like to be told.

    Not following up

    This is probably the BIGGEST mistake that I see, where you have a potential customer who is having a think and they don’t get a follow up. In fact, I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve followed up and it’s ended in a sale AND I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been ‘followed up with’ and I’ve ended up buying. In fact, most times I just needed a reminder because I’d got busy.

    Following up isn’t being pushy, or naggy, it’s just a friendly reminder, so if you don’t already do this regularly, add it into your process.

    Discounting prices at a moments notice

    Be honest, have you ever been in a sales conversation and they’re about to say yes when you find yourself saying:

    ‘And today it’s your lucky day…I’m doing a 50% discount day so you get xx for half price’

    If you’re cringing right now, trust me you’re not alone!

    But you don’t have to be discounting yourself left right and centre to get a sale.

    You’re price is your price so be confident with it.

    Filling these gaps in your sales process make a world of difference, but pricing is just one way that you could be blocking your own success. If you’re ready to take those next steps click here to download your workbook 7 ways you’re blocking your own success and what to do about it.

     

  • How to stop the mid-year goal panic

    So today I woke up and realised it was the middle of the year!

    Seriously…where did the first half of this year go?

    I don’t know about you but in my head it was Christmas like 5 minutes ago!

    Want to know how I realised it was nearly July?

    My social media feed was crammed full of ‘we’re half way through the year, have you completed your goals yet’ posts.

    Now, I know that these are all well meaning posts but sometimes when I see posts like that all it does it create a bit of a panic inside me that I’ve been wasting my time or that I’m no-where near where I want to be…even if I’ve had a great year so far.

    I know I’m not the only one.

    So if you’re reading this and thinking ‘OMG the year is half way gone and I’ve nothing to show for it so far,’ don’t worry. I’ve got you.

    1) Know that you can literally start again at any point

    You don’t have to wait until a Monday, the start of the month, your birthday, New Years or a New Moon to start afresh…any day works for that. So, if you’re not where you want to be right now just make a decision to get started from today…it all works.

    2) Simplify your goals

    A big part of my job is sitting down with amazing business owners who come to me with all of their goals that feel like a tangled ball of wool in their head. I then untangle the hypothetical knot, and lay down 3 strands in front of them and say ‘focus on that’ they breathe a huge sigh of relief and get started and amazing results follow.

    I know from years of experience that so often we make things a lot more complicated than we need to…and one of the ways we do this is through our goal planning. I know there’s loads you want to do…but for now, pick a max of 3 things. Just 3 things to focus on for the next 6 months. That’s it.

    You’ll feel much lighter, you’ll have more time AND you’ll get results faster.

    3) Focus on how you want to FEEL

    Want to know a secret?

    Every single time I have a meeting with a client they mention the F word….FEEL

    ‘I feel as though….’

    ‘I feel like…’

    It pops up every single time without fail.

    Yet, we don’t often give how we want to FEEL any focus when we’re looking at our business.

    We look at money and clients and so many other things…but feelings???

    Never!!

    But this is what enables you to show up motivated, and happy and energised….when you’re not feeling great you don’t.

    It’s that simple!

    So, how do you want to FEEL by the end of the year?

    AND…what tweaks can you make to feel like that?

    SAVE YOUR SPACE ON THE SMASH YOUR OWN CEILING MINI MIND

  • 5 ways to get moving when you feel stuck

    You have big goals and dreams, and a whisper deep down inside that’s telling you that you’re here for more.

    You can’t stop thinking about it. You write lists about it. You talk about it. You know that this is what you’re meant to be doing…but for some reason unbeknown to you, you feel completely stuck and can’t seem to take action.

    To say that you’re frustrated is an understatement. But all you seem to do is go round and round in circles. You feel overwhelmed, and confused. You lack clarity and you really don’t know what to do to get yourself moving in the right direction.

    If this is you, and you feel like you’ve fallen into the swamp of forgotten dreams, you’re not alone! So, how do you get moving in the right direction and get momentum?

    Get clear on your big goal and then scale it right down.

    Even though you might have an amazingly awesome goal, it might also scare the pants off you. Big goals have a habit of doing that. Yes, there’s the saying that ‘if your goal doesn’t scare you it’s not big enough’ but if it’s scaring you to the point where you’re not doing anything chances are you need to stop focusing on it as much.

    Although I’m a huge fan of having a shiny target to aim for, sometimes it can feel so big that it feels unachievable and you move from being excited about your goal to wondering how you’re going to do it, to ‘I can’t do that’ in 3 short seconds.

    So if this is the case it’s time to scale it right down and focus on what you need to do right now just to get you moving. You’re looking for the smallest of steps here.

    One of the things that I say a lot is ‘You don’t climb a mountain in one leap, all the tiny steps all add up’ and this is so true. So focus on the next small step that you can take, and then once you’ve done that, move onto the next small step. These small steps really do add up.

    Decide who it impacts

    Ask yourself, who else benefits when you achieve your goal? Is it your family and children? Maybe you can buy more stuff, move house or retire your other half from their full time job?

    Or maybe it’s further afield and your goal will help your clients, and their families and so on.

    This is what I call the ripple effect, and when you really think about this it can be a huge motivator, as all of a sudden your goal isn’t just about you…it’s got a much wider reach which spurs you into action.

    Have a good think…what’s the ripple effect of your goal?

    Decide what tasks you need to do consistently to get you where you want to be

    Consistency really is King (or Queen!)

    Doing things on a consistent basis creates momentum.

    All of a sudden you gather pace by doing something over and over again. You become known for your thing, and opportunities start to come your way.

    All it takes is making a decision to do something over and over again.

    Decide what you want to be celebrating at the end of the month and work towards that

    If you’re feeling in stuck mode having so many tasks to do can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re wondering whether it’s the right move for you or not. Therefore, pick ONE MINI MONTHLY GOAL that you’re going to go for. This could be anything, but the rule of thumb is that this is what you’re aiming for this month. This not only really focuses the mind, but takes you out of stuck and into ACTION.

    Take action every single day without fail

    Here’s the biggie – you have to take action every single day. Choose your goal over your fears and keep moving forwards. This alone will help you big time!!

    If you’re ready to take that next step click here to download your 7 ways you’re blocking your own success (and what to do about it) workbook.

  • 10 tips from 10 years in Business

    This year I’m celebrating 10 years since I left my corporate life to start my own business. I have to tell you that this decade went past in a flash. It hardly seems like 2 minutes ago since I was having that conversation with my boss to tell them my news.

    I’d not long gone back to work after maternity leave, and the year was 2010. Here in the UK we were slap bang in the middle of the worst recession we’d seen in ages and life was really tough for a lot of people.

    But for some reason, this was the year I decided that I needed to leave. For me it was all about freedom. I’d just had the best part of a year off with my youngest baby. I’d done things I’d never been able to do before like the school drop off, and I wanted so much more than my corporate life could give me.

    So, that was it! Decision made!

    Since then I’ve run 2 businesses, and had an absolute ball – but it hasn’t all been plain sailing.

    There were times when I felt like I was rummaging about in the dark trying all the things.

    There were times when I definitely was my own biggest block and got in my own way

    And there were times when I wondered what on Earth I was doing.

    But here I still am 10 years on, and loving every second.

    So, I wanted to share my 10 biggest takeaways in the hope it’ll help you out too….

     

    1. Get super specific about your goals

    Now, I’m a massive fan of goal setting because, let’s face it without a goal, where are you going? A good goal is like putting in an exact post code into your Sat Nav. All of a sudden you can get there. You’ve clear direction. But the thing is not all goals are created equal. There are goals ‘I want more clients’ and there are super specific goals ‘I want x clients by x date” Guess which one has a bit more oomph behind it?

    If you really want to achieve something make your goals as specific as you possibly can. Our brain LOVES a goal and you’ll find that once you’ve got it, you’ll feel like you’re on a mission – and when that happens, you’re much more likely to achieve it.

     

    2. Know your Numbers

    So many people shy away from this point but it’s really important to know your numbers. Now, I’m not just talking about finances here (although YES this is absolutely critical!) I’m talking about all the key things you want to measure. I’m a huge fan of the saying “What get’s measured get’s done’. If you can see the numbers of your Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) in your business you can start to see what action you need to take. So take a moment now and write a list of all the things you’re interested in tracking in your business. Eg Sales, Leads, Subscribers to your list; Referrals; Connections on Linkedin etc and create a spreadsheet to start tracking them every month. You’ll now be able to see at a glance exactly what the state of play is and where you need to focus your attention.

    3. Create Your Ideal Client Avatar

    Quick question – do you know who you’re ideal client is? If you’re reading this with a vague idea it’s time to grab a pen and paper and have another go. The more specific you can be about who your ideal client is the easier it’ll be, as you’ll know where they hang out (so you’re focused in your marketing efforts) what they love to do, and what’s important to them. All of a sudden you’re not spraying in the wind with your marketing and your posts and you’re now talking to a specific person – and best of all, because you’re speaking directly to them, they’ll notice it when they’re scrolling as it’ll stand out from the crowd.  This is an exercise that you could go back to time and time again as over time it changes and evolves – so if you think you’ve done it once and you’re OK. Go back and just have a bit of a sense check to make sure it’s all still relevant.

    4. Delegate

    Now, you might be reading this thinking, I’ve not got anyone to delegate to – in which case get someone. This is something I wish I’d done much sooner than I did as I thought that I wasn’t big enough, or it was too expensive. But the thing is that this is a game changer. There are things in your business that only YOU can do, and there are things that are not in your super power. Yes you could do them. But whilst you’re doing that, you’re not focusing on the things that only YOU can do – which is so much more important. Take a look at all the things you’re working on right now that you could pass onto someone else, and then look at the things that you should be working on but you don’t have the time to. Chances are this second list are full of things that will actually make a huge difference. If that’s the case do your research and see how much it’ll cost to hire a Virtual Assistant to help you out – even an hour a month will make all the difference.

    5. Guard Your Time

    This right here is a BIGGIE!!! You can make more money, but you can’t, no matter how much you try, make more time. So this is the most precious thing you have so PROTECT IT.

    6. Say No

    Whilst we’re on the subject of time, saying no is a skill that you should absolutely learn – and this also means saying no to yourself!! Yes you might have all the ideas, but you don’t have to do them all now. Yes you might be able volunteer and help at an event – but not if that means sacrificing time to do something you really need to do.

    I really struggled with this at first, and then I realised 3 golden questions that really helped me out:

    Does it get me closer to my goals?

    Do I have to do it?

    Do I want to do it?

    If the answer isn’t a yes for any of them, it’s an easy no.

    7. Focus on the big things first

    This is a trap I see so many people fall into (and yes I had to learn this the hard way too!!) of getting busy on the quick wins on your to do list first. I totally get it, it feels great. You feel mega productive and you can cross them off super fast. But the things is that if you’re honest not one of those quick tasks will really make a jot of difference. So, focus on the big things first. I like to follow the ‘One Big Thing’ rule. Pick one task every day that’s going to make a real difference to you, and work on that first. By doing that you’ll start to see results much faster and delegate the smaller stuff (see number 4)

    8. Surround yourself with cheerleaders

    Running a business can be really lonely. It doesn’t matter whether you’re just starting out, have a small team, or running a huge company, people say this to me all.the.time, and I totally get it. I remember when I first left corporate. I went from working in a massive open plan office with people literally all around me. I had a team, I had peers and friends. I had people in other departments like IT who could fix things I had no clue about….to sitting alone in a room in an empty house.

    The silence hit me like a train!!

    Now, this isn’t about having company. It’s having people to bounce ideas off of. People to keep you on the straight and narrow. People that will call you out on your rubbish and challenge you. People who will cheer you on. People who you can just have a laugh with.

    All of this makes so much difference – and let’s face it, why wouldn’t you want to have people to do all that with?

    If you’re reading this and thinking, where do I find these people? They’re everywhere! Groups online. Networking groups. Coaching and Mentoring Groups – By the way if you’re looking for this check out The Smash Your Own Ceiling Collective.  The Membership with a difference.

    9. Track your wins

    If you ever feel like you’re stuck on a hamster wheel and keep thinking ‘I’ve got loads to do’ you need to start doing this. Life is just too short to not enjoy the journey, but it all starts with tracking your wins every single day. My rule is, every win counts no matter how small – and plus not only does this make you feel amazing, but it’s a nice thing to look back on.

    10. Work on your mindset

    Yes, I’ve saved the best ’til last because this is probably the most important of the list. As Henry Ford said ‘If you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right’ and this is SO. TRUE!!! Your mindset, and how you think is the foundation to everything you do, in all areas of your life, that’s why we should be priming it for success every day.

    This is why, I’ve created The Smash Your Own Ceiling BOOTCAMP. An 8 week group programme that takes you through exactly how to prime your mindset for success; massively improve your confidence and stop you from getting in your own way and holding yourself back in all areas of your life.

     

    “This programme has helped in more ways than I can ever explain…this programme and Barbara have completely changed my perspective. It’s impacted on my work, my home, my family and my health and all for the better! You get so much support, Barbara is always on hand and cheering me from the side lines. I understand me a lot better and I’ve “found” my confidence again!  

    Give it a try…trust in Barbara and the programme and this will change your life!” 

    (Michelle)