Uncategorized

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

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 🙂

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.

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.

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)

Early on in my corporate career (about 20 years ago now) I learnt a mantra that has absolutely never ever failed to deliver.

In fact, it delivers on so many levels.

➡️ It helps me to prioritise

➡️ To avoid overwhelm

➡️ To stop conflict

➡️ It stops me getting angry or upset

➡️ AND…it helps me to organise my thinking.

Here it is…

Choose Your Battles!!

Simple but amazingly effective.

This one mantra has got me out of so many sticky situations I can’t even begin to tell you, and it’s helping me out right now.

As we’re in Lockdown (due to Corona virus if you’re reading this in the future!) so many of us are now not only working from home, but we might also be teaching our children at the same time. Remember the time when we just had to worry about our own to do list?!

So, since then this mantra has been going round and round in my head…

✔️ It stops me from writing a crazy long to do list which would be unrealistic and just lead to overwhelm

✔️ It stops me from trying to do everything perfectly

✔️ It stops me from worrying if the house is messier than usual, or if the dishwasher hasn’t been put on yet

✔️ It stops me from getting annoyed with the situation we’re in, or what’s going on in the world.

✔️In fact, all it does is bring me calm.

So, today I invite you to give this mantra a go, and see how it works for you.

I’d love to hear your comments, and feel free to share this post if you think it would benefit others.

PS – Download your FREE Workbook 7 ways you’re blocking your own success and what to do about it by clicking here

You know that feeling where you’ve got tonnes of work to do, but you just can’t seem to mobilise yourself into action?

Yep, I have totally been there too!!

You might sit staring at your screen, or your to do list, but not getting anything worthwhile done, or your procrastination time might be going through the roof.

If you can relate or you have been there, I’ve got 5 tips to help you get back into action mode.

1. Take a minute

Allow yourself to take a pause. Have a rest. Take a beat. Give yourself permission to feel how you feel. That’s perfectly allowed. You might want to reflect, tune in or just process things – even going through these motions without trying to force anything could be just what you need.

2. Raise your frequency

This is one of my all time favourite tips as it works wonders to raise your energy levels and get yourself feeling more up beat. So, do something that will raise your vibe. Maybe it’s putting on your favourite song; singing at the top of your lungs; Doing some exercise or reading a few pages of your book. Whatever it is for you, make time for it. It’ll do you the world of good.

3. Re-group

Have you ever noticed that when you have a really good declutter things just feel better and you get the headspace you need? So, use this time to have a bit of a clear out.  Clear out your office, your inbox, your desk, even your laptop if you want to, and you’ll also start to feel really productive too.

4. Go for the low hanging fruit

Now, I don’t say this very often, but now’s the time to dive into your quick and easy tasks (usually I encourage you to leave these until later) but by getting these crossed off your list you’ll start to feel like you’re making progress, and you’ll start to get into work mode again.

5. Look for that next small step

It’s easy to feel bogged down and overwhelmed when you’ve got loads to do and you can’t get started. It’s like when you’ve got to be up early and you can’t sleep no matter how hard you try. So, go easy on yourself, and just keep looking for that next small step rather than the amount you’ve got to do. Remember all the small steps really do add up and pretty soon you’ll have achieved loads.

Ready for the next steps?

Download your free workbook 7 ways you’re blocking your own success (and what to do about it) by clicking here.