Manifestation - New Age Bulls***, Or The Secret To Actualizing Your Hopes And Dreams?
In a complicated world, being presented with the idea of “ if you think it you can have it” seems like wishful thinking. This is, at least, the opinion of one skeptical millennial on the concept of manifestation.
That being said, this particular avocado lover ventured out to discover what’s behind the spiritual powers that be. Join her on her adventure to deep dive into the history, science and culture of the law of attraction.
Together we will discover once and for all the answer to the big question. Is manifestation new age bullshit? Or, could it be the secret to everything you have ever imagined coming to life?
Truth be told, I was always sceptical about manifestation and the like. The idea of speaking something out loud and it magically happening reminded me of a Genie-in-the-lamp wishing system that belonged only in fairytales and the minds of children. Essentially, having no place in the “real life” efforts of trying to build my dream business. Plus, if I’m being totally transparent, I didn’t much enjoy the idea of giving “the universe” credit for the results I had seen. 13 hour days and blood, sweat and tears make for a much more tangible measurement of my achievements.
That being said, my understanding of manifestation came from little more than satirical memes and sarcastic comments that appeared in various social media scrolls. This realisation led to an unfortunate realisation. I had done no research, had no deep understanding of the subject and frankly, that level of social media-driven ignorance was far too reminiscent of those I have scolded in the past. The stereotypical Baby Boomer who made very important election decisions based only on the knowledge they had “researched” in the exact same way.
Consequently, I decided that I owed myself, and of course, the avocado and toast loving generation I represent, to conduct full and proper research on the matter. To enter into the world of “energies” with an open mind and explore all that this brave new world had to offer. Join me on this journey as together we discover the origins, excitements and complex nuances of a hashtag used over 6 million times on Instagram. Today, we take our first steps of this adventure as we light the sage, burn the incense and sit down to #manifest a whole new life.
The Definition
In its most simple definition Manifestation comes down to three simple words.
“Thoughts become things”. I know. Vague isn’t it.
Fortunately, Manifestation is a term popularised from a pseudoscience concept and book called “The Law Of Attraction” which carries a much more detailed explanation.
The Law Of Attraction suggests that we create the things, events and even people that enter our lives. Our thoughts, feelings, words and actions produce energies that produce energies which, in turn, attract like energies. Essentially, positive energies attract positive energies and vice versa. To summarize, wherever and whatever our focus is on is what we bring, or manifest, into our lives.
The History
Although “The Law Of Attraction” popularised manifestation, its history spans far beyond that of the books 1906 publication. Conceptually, The Law Of Attraction is found in a range of ancient practices and Eastern teachings. Buddhism is a fantastic example of this.
““Our thoughts make us what we are””
In the 19th Century, a woman named Helena Blavatsky, a Russian author born in 1831, travelled across the world spreading spiritual guidance throughout numerous countries. Her teachings were supposedly derived from everything from numerous ancient traditions, to mysterious and esoteric secret societies to Tibetan sacred manuscripts.
Blavatsky lead a fascinating life, she was one of the first people in America to convert to Buddhism and was essentially viewed as a spiritual hero or a condemned witch depending on who you asked. In 1888, she published one of many of her writings called “The Secret Doctrine”. Much of the content of the book is a strong reflection of what is also expressed in “The Law Of Attraction”.
“Our thoughts about ourselves and our identity are what define who we are and what we are capable of”
Around the same time, a gentleman by name of Thomas Troward found himself on a spiritual journey not so dissimilar from Blavatsky. In the early 1900s, Troward published a number of works detailing how we can gain the most knowledge by combining the various teachings from a range of spiritual beliefs. His work “ The Edinburgh Lecture On Metal Science” speaks of the connection between Mental Action and Material Conditions; again, mirroring many of the principles found in The Law Of Attraction.
“Belief in limitation is the one and the only thing that creates limitation”
As time moved forward, as it has a habit of doing, the 20th century saw numerous books from various authors detailing the core teachings of both Troward and Blavatsky. Each is written with the unique perspective of their respective Author but ultimately dictating the same core principle.
“Thoughts become things”.
The Science
The history brings us an interesting background on manifestation that is worth digging deeper into. Clearly, at least in the two previous centuries, its roots are steeped in rebellion and a collection of ancient wisdom. However, while the past conquests of the thought leaders recognised for their inception into modern society, manifestation reflects a level of cultural appropriation that’s difficult to ignore.
Perhaps not by how it was first acquired, but at the very least in its modern exploration; wherein western society has profited both financially and influentially from teachings that were heavily demonised before the realisation of their personal gain.
However, in the spirit of research, we must press on away from history to an equal measure of authority in an analysis of the concept. So as we step out of the past and into the facts, let’s ask ourselves the next obvious question.
WTF does science have to say about all of this?
Well, the Quantum Physics to be exact. At the risk of providing yet another non-specific definition, Quantum Physics is the Physics that explains how everything works.
Look, I’m rolling my eyes at that one too, trust me.
Regardless of how my eyes are animated though, Quantum Physics is the study of matter and atoms at a fundamental level. Appropriately for the matter (pun intended) of manifestation, it is essentially a study of energy and interaction.
Quantum Physics dictates that all objects, including human bodies, emit electromagnetic radiation (energy).
Image Credit - https://blisspot.com/blogs/the-emotional-vibration-analysis-frequency-chart/amp/
Manifestation enthusiasts are quick to champion the connection of the aforementioned explanation with something called the Hertz Vibration Scale.
This scale illustrates how and when our feelings change, a mirrored shift displays in a subtle hertz frequency to align with the connected “energy” output. In hippie speak, this would be referred to as vibration, man. If this is factual, it’s strong evidence for the existence of the law of attraction as it proves that our emotions create our energy output and what we “put out” into the world and vice versa.
The internet is littered with opinions, explanations and supposed science-based research both for and against these claims. So in an effort to maintain simplicity, I will explain the concept and you are welcome to form your own opinions!
Dr David Hawkins, who also brings a fascinating story to the spiritual journey we find ourselves on and who, to be fair, was far from being the quack I anticipated him to be, seems to be at the forefront of the “science-based” explanation.
Hawkins is a highly awarded and nationally recognised innovator in the medical field. Detailed here in a frankly dodgy looking website that likely hasn’t been updated since 1999.
Undertaking 20 years of research using Kinesiology Testing, Hawkins created “The Map Of Consciousness”, which grouped negative emotions, like shame, grief etc at the lowest frequency of consciousness, then positive emotions, like love and happiness, at the highest frequency. From what I can gather, the Hertz Frequency matches each level of consciousness with its respective energy frequency.
There is a YouTube video that details this amazingly! You can check it out here.
The Psychology
Far less complex to untangle than the above, the psychology of Manifestation is relatively easy to understand and accept as a logical explanation for the benefits it claims to provide.
Have you ever found yourself predicting the outcome of a future situation, based on the sum of your experiences of similar events before? For example, say you had an upcoming maths exam and expected to do badly and thus did so. Popular psychology would attribute that to the “self-fulfilling prophecy” phenomena, first defined by sociologist Robert Merton in 1948.
“The self-fulfilling prophecy is, in the beginning, a false definition of the situation evoking a new behaviour which makes the original false conception come ‘true’”
A self-fulling prophecy is also within your subconscious mind. Dictating that you may unconsciously work to affirm your expectation of an event or action; therefore amplifying the negative in your subconscious which, in turn, encourages behaviours in your conscious that orchestrates that outcome.
“If you wake up and immediately think—perhaps for no particular reason at all—that today is going to be a terrible day, your attitude might make your prediction come true”
The Action
Feeling convinced?
At this point I still find myself airing on the side of little more than curiosity. As such, my manifestation story turns to personal experience. A try before you buy if you will. If you find yourself nodding in agreement, the following, taken from the accumulation of numerous sources, is the “how-to-guide” on mastering the law of attraction.
Step 1 - Clarity
It stands to reason that you cannot manifest that which you desire if you do not know what exactly those desires are. The aim of the game is to be specific. For example, rather than “ I want to earn shitloads of money” ask yourself, “what are my specific financial goals?”, “How have I arrived at that number?” and even “What will change for me when I achieve that number, how will my life look different?”.
Step 2 -Write Them Down
Writing something by hand offers a brilliant hack in creating thoughts our brain perceives as “valuable” in our minds. By default, writing them down repeatedly ensures a consistent focus point. Having a journal and notebook you allocate for these also helps.
Step 3 - Visualize
Visualisation is a tool used by many more people than just the enlightened. Numerous professional athletes, celebrities and entrepreneurs attest much of their success to the process.
Let’s say you are intent on manifesting winning an award you have been nominated for. Close your eyes and picture your name being announced, walking up onto the stage and shaking the hand of the presenter. Focus on the emotions associated with that moment. “How and what did you feel?” and “why did you feel that way?”.
Step 4 - Faith, Focus and Affirmation
Here’s the catch, a certain amount of belief in the practice seems necessary. You must believe entirely in your capability to achieve these things and strive to separate yourself from the negative thought patterns surrounding them. From what I can ascertain, this is not to say that you cannot have those feelings. Instead, similarly to meditation, the aim is to observe them without giving them merit. Pro Tip: Using sage, palo santo or even a scented candle can also help to anchor this practice and help with the ritual for you too.
Step 5 - Receive With Acceptance And Gratitude
Practice awareness for when your manifestations begin to, for lack of a better word, manifest. Appreciating what you have will cement in your brain your ability to achieve what you desire. In theory, simplifying the journey and affirming your self-belief in both the process and yourself.
The Conclusion On Manifestation
The history, scientific and psychological explanations tied to manifestation, at the very least, make it a fascinating subject. This, matched with its endorsements by many who we idolise, who have achieved lives many of us dream of (Will Smith and Oprah for example), only serves to drive an admittedly self-involved question. “Will this work for me?”.
Thus, in the true spirit of research, I have endeavoured to undertake a challenge to step further into the spiritual consciousness with an open heart and mind and practice manifestation for 30 days. The results I will post in part 2 of these posts to answer, at least for myself, once and for all.
“Can I manifest that which I desire?”
Want to join me on this 30-day adventure into the unknown? Great! We would love to hear how it went for you!
In the meantime. Manifestation or not, there is great value in believing you possess and drive greatness. So as I say goodbye, for now, I leave you with my favourite quote found on our shared journey to enlightenment -
“What writes history is the power of ideas and every moment offers the potential to write something new”.
Journaling – The best thing for you, by you!
Journaling is all the rage and for good reason. I’ve been doing it since forever and think it’s one of the best things you can do for yourself, by yourself.
Want to learn how to journal like a pro? Then read on friends.
Its no secret that I love to journal. I’ve been doing it since I was a kid and my Grandma actually held onto all of my diaries / journals I penned throughout High School. Reading back on them as an adult is both hilarious and cringe worthy, but penning my feelings really helped me through some super shitty times.
As a writer journaling comes easy to me. I love to crack the spine of a new note book, I have a special pen I use and writing daily is a must do and quite ritualistic now. It’s part therapy, part confidant and best friend and also a huge part sanity saviour. I ask myself certain questions about my career, life, personal development and growth and if anything, it allows my subconscious to really tell me the answer to questions I’m fretting over and clarifies things for me too.
Journaling doesn’t come easy to many though, and I’ve been asked by friends, clients and strangers to share my insight into journaling and how it can be both self reflective, cathartic and fun.
So here I am, giving the people what they want and I’ll be hosting a one and a half hour workshop “Journaling 101” on Sunday 30th of January at 11:00am.
The session will be held via Zoom, meaning you can attend from anywhere across the globe. If you can’t make it but still want to get the juicy details and all the insight you can register and the recording will be sent to you to watch at your leisure, or watch back on for tips. If that wasn’t enough you’ll also receive a bunch of thought provoking and soul driving prompts to help you on your journaling journey. Accountability, showing up and creating a new routine is all good in theory, but sometimes when it comes to following thru we need others to cheer us on and check in with. You’ll also be added to a dedicated community to share your experiences, ask questions and have access to yours truly to sound board off of.
The cost for this session is a very affordable $45 and places are limited as I prefer an intimate group size. If you’re keen to write your life story, clear out the cobwebs of your mind and set some personal goals and strategy, this is the session for you.
For further details or to enroll here and come join us!
4 'Must-Do' Self-Empowerment Strategies
This will be obvious to some and WTF to others, but there has been so much study on self-empowerment and the positive effects it has on your mind and body. Not only that, there is a huge amount of evidence stating that self-empowerment plays an essential part in helping with growth in both your personal and professional life.
If you aren’t doing any self-empowerment techniques, then you probably feel deflated and tired most days of the week. This is because your brain needs to feel stimulated by accomplishments and positive outcomes to keep moving forward.
What we are quickly finding out, is that the reason why some are more motivated than others is not that they woke up with 10 coffees, it's because they have already planned and started their self-empowerment for the day.
Now, if you are still reading, you have likely realised that you are one of those in the “not-so-motivated” category and need a good ‘healthy’ pick me up from now on. Lucky for you, you’re about to gain everything you need to get where you're going.
So, what Is Self-Empowerment?
Self-empowerment means making a deliberate choice to take charge of your future. It entails ongoing positive choices, planning and taking action. Then, having the confidence in your ability to make and execute decisions.
Self-empowered people are motivated to learn, achieve and self-assess their strengths and weaknesses regularly. They make conscious decisions to help achieve their goals.
“Make yourself a priority once in a while. It’s not selfish, it’s necessary! ”
Tips to Achieve Self-Empowerment
If after reading that, you realise that you don’t do much that is listed, then here are 4 tips that will help achieve self-empowerment and start your self-empowerment journey destined for a more positive life.
Develop A Growth Mindset
Decades of scientific research by Dr Carol Dweck discovered that there are two types of mindset: fixed mindset and growth mindset.
People who have a fixed mindset believe that everything they know from their skills and intelligence are “fixed” traits. They prefer to stick to things they know or are already good at and spend time developing and nurturing their skills, in their comfort zone with thoughts like “I know what I am good at” or “I am talented in…”.
People with a growth mindset believe they can develop their skills and abilities knowing full well where they already excel. They love to learn and go out of their comfort zones to grow in different areas.
Developing a growth mindset means you will be more open to trying new things, assessing your weaknesses and embracing them to fix them. You will keep moving forward even when failing, improving yourself and learning new information regularly.
In developing a growth mindset you should be:
1. Changing your self-talk and attitude – from “I can’t do it” to “I can learn to”.
2. Assessing your flaws and failures and discovering how to improve next time. Is it that you need more study? Do I need to create habits? Or it might be simply a choice to cut it out of your life.
3. Taking criticism and feedback from others. Sometimes it is simply being more aware of what needs to change. The best way to get this information is to get feedback from others and have a good session about self-reflection.
4. Have a solution-oriented mindset – when times are tough do you say “someone else can figure that out” or ignore it completely to move on. Having a solution-oriented mindset is about understanding and knowing that when things are not going your way, how can you fix it. It is asking yourself “what do I need to do to get it done?”.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbour, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
Read, Read, Read And Read Some More
There is a reason why books are still being written and why reading helps with self-empowerment. Reading introduces you to new ideas and invites you to solve problems.
“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body”
When you read self-help books, it opens up your mind to your flaws, helps with new ways to improve yourself and how to prioritise what is important in your life. It is like a big slap in the face (in a good way!).
Here are some great books to get you started:
Mindset by Carol Dweck
The Happiness Trap by Dr Russ Harris
The Mindful Kind by Rachael Kable
The Happy Life by Lola Berry
The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman
Making Sh$t Happen by Peter Sheahan
You might find that some don’t work for you, but like most genres, you need to find the underlying theme that resonates. Your journey isn’t meant to be perfect, but it is meant to keep you moving forward.
Set Goals And Write Them Down
Self-empowerment means having a plan and understanding that it’s a series of actions and decisions achieved over a certain amount of time. It’s ongoing steps, written down and with clear goals of what needs to be achieved.
Your goals need to be measurable, achievable goals. You need to research and understand how to set them. Start with small steps and then as each one is accomplished move onto big ones.
You also need to ensure that you are looking back on them and assessing how the process is going. Without self-evaluation, your self-empowerment levels will drop. When you self-evaluate, you will find that you are accomplishing more than you think and it will help keep you motivated to keep going.
Be Assertive - Asking for What You Want Firmly and Fairly
Do you often feel as though you fail to get your opinions heard, or that people readily dismiss or undermine your views? This means that you aren’t assertive enough. Remember though, there is a difference between being assertive and aggressive.
Assertiveness is more about expressing your wants and needs clearly and calmly; while being empathic to others. You are not against people, but you need to be able to show people that you are confident in your opinion, or when asking someone to do something without tension.
Here are some examples of self-empowering assertiveness.
Saying no to working overtime because you know you need to rest and recover.
Asking for a refund on a faulty item without getting angry at the sales assistant.
Telling your friend you respect their opinion, but you don’t agree with their point of view (then calmly explaining why).
Use open and friendly body language when you communicate.
As this year ends, this is the perfect time to start practising some good self-empowering habits. This is not limited to empowering yourself. You should also be thinking about ways to empower others.
I will end this with a challenge for you. My “21-day guide to getting SH$T done” is now available. Every day for 21 days, you will get a new self-empowering habit sent to your email to get you taking action from a self-empowered mindset and kickstarting 2022 with a bang.
These 21 days have been developed from a combination of years of researching and my own success, as well as talking to countless successful people about their self-empowerment journeys and methods.
Up for the challenge? Apply today!
I’m ready
Chronic Illness : The Curse Of The Invisible (wo)Man
A chronic Illness diagnosis brings with it many symptoms I suppose you would expect. Expecting them however, didn’t make managing them any less difficult; losing my vision in one eye, the repercussions for my mental health, being in constant pain and experiencing fatigue I never knew was possible for example.
When I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, a quick google of my condition explained to me that these things we’re likely to be the case. The positive about knowing what to expect is that as I fought against those I was already experiencing I could myself to battle those which were to come.
What I didn’t expect however, was just how differently things would be for me socially and, what was even less predictable to me - The intense social exclusion.
“I am just a human being — solid, needing food and drink, needing covering too — But I’m invisible. You see? Invisible. Simple idea. Invisible.”
The Ghost At The Feast
Illness of any kind makes people feel uncomfortable. Perhaps it reminds you that you are not invincible, maybe you do not know what to say to someone having that experience or maybe it’s hard to know someone else is in pain. But, to be completely honest, I think the issue is that illness highlights a major flaw of humanity in general. As people, we tend to notice and respond to that which inconveniences ourselves before considering much else.
The Invisible (wo)Man
While the physical and mental symptoms of my condition were one of the hardest things I've ever experienced, finding myself no longer invited to events, forgotten and even judged for being too sick to show up has easily become the most painful.
So while those turned me into the ghost at the feast, as time went on I began to realise that a mixture of people’s discomfort around illness and often me-centric attitudes saw me transform into the invisible man. No longer invited, nowhere to be seen.
I think both these experiences stem from a lack of communication. There is very little discussion about how you can be more socially inclusive of your chronically ill friends. So with this in mind, this post is designed to open up that conversation. To give you the insight and information you need so that if you have a friend/family member living that experience, they don’t end up feeling isolated, forgotten and sometimes even blamed, for the social inconveniences that a Chronic Illness can so easily create.
Don’t Stop Asking
Often, we will feel too unwell/ in pain to be able to attend events. Trust me, this feels way worse for us than it does for you. Sometimes, after this happens a few times people stop inviting us to things. That shit really hurts. So please, even if you think we won’t be able to attend, please do us the honour of making us feel included regardless!
Be Open To Alternative Solutions
Even better? Offer them. If we can’t make something important because we don’t have the capacity and we offer to perhaps do dinner another time please graciously accept and no it is the best we can do. For bonus points, offer them yourself! Nothing feels better than someone empathising with the situation and suggesting an alternative instead.
Remember the Spoon Theory
Those of us with a Chronic Illness only have X amount of spoons per day. This means we have to be very selective with what we use each spoon for. The number of spoons we have also isn’t consistent. For example, after I have an infusion I have 30 spoons whereas around Jan/Feb i have at best two. This means I try to see my friends in person at the times I have the most spoons, but when I have very little will catch up with them for a virtual coffee online.
Flexibility Around RSVP-ing Closer To The Date
The nature of many Chronic Illness means we are unlikely to know how we will be feeling way in advance of a date. If you have an upcoming big event planned in advance, please be open to us RSVP-ing at a much closer time. We appreciate this could be inconvenient for you so there is where communication comes in. If certain numbers of meals need to be ordered for example, maybe we could just bring our own? For us it’s about finding a solution that works for everyone.
Stop Saying “Nice Of You To Make An Appearance”
Or anything sentence of that nature. We know. Like dude, we know we miss important events. But trust me, it is way more heart breaking for us than for you. Sentences like this make us feel as though you think we made a choice not to show up. As if we are selfish and inconsiderate and it really feels like shit.
I missed my own brother’s wedding and that had to be one of the most heartbreaking and hurtful experience of my life attributed to my illness. At the time I was severely immune suppressed due to the medication I was taking to help halt my disease progression. I had been recently in hospital with a huge infection, that antibiotics had become resistant too. I had also just found out that due to one of the medications I was on to help with disease progression, as a side effect caused me to develop skin cancer. My teeth were breaking because of the steroids that I was on, and my life was generally pretty fucking shit. The decision though wasn’t mine to make and I remember speaking to my Neurologist and him stating that something as a simple cold could and might make me die. As hard as it was to not go and be around my family on such a special day, I had to say no and I cried the entire day. Some people took it better than others and even now people bring up my absence which cuts really deep, without them knowing what really was happening behind the scenes.
Learn about Chronic Illnesses
Many people have very little understanding of what a Chronic Illness actually is. There are many different types and they cause many different symptoms. If your loved one is diagnosed with a Chronic illness, make the time to understand the ins and outs of their experience. This will make way for more empathy and be a greater motivator to take action on the suggestions above.
On An Endnote
For me, missing key events and milestones in the lives of those I care about is one of the most difficult repercussions of my chronic illnesses. Not only do I have to miss out, I feel guilt, shame and intense isolation as a result. The friends in my life who have utilised the suggestions above take away so much of that pain for me. I very much hope that for those in your life with a similar experience they can do the same.
If you would like to know more about living with a chronic illness follow my instagram here and I always welcome input and discussion for further conversation on this matter.
2022 Is The Year Of The WHAT?!
The worst year in history, according to science, is 536. During that time, the sun was gone almost everywhere for the majority of the year for most of the world; bringing the coldest decade for thousands of years. It destroyed the economy and, I kid you not, happened as a result of a volcano eruption in Iceland which created enough ash to block out most of the sun for 18 months.
2021 I would wager, is likely a close second to 536. So as we approach the end of this 365-day long emotional rollercoaster finally we can wave goodbye to the year that if our grandchildren ever ask us about, will likely get the response “2021 never happened we don’t talk about it in this house!!”.
As you know, business owners did it tougher than most over this past year. So with that in mind, we want to provide you with our business and marketing predictions for 2022. Start the new year strong with these predictions. Get ahead of the game, level up your business and smash your marketing targets as we give you all you need to make 2022 #theyearofgettingshitdone.
1) Purpose And Impact To Take Centre Stage
Historically, moments of crisis have sky-rocketed shifts in perspective and the pandemic is no exception. There is no doubt that the events of 2021 encouraged a huge consumer shift towards purpose, impact and change. The landscape of marketing is changing forever and though brand awareness is not a new concept, in 2022, it will likely be the central influencing factor on the purchasing behaviours of your target customers.
“64% of US adults say a company’s “primary purpose” should be making the world a better place’”
This has proven to be even more significant for the next generation of consumers. With a spending power of $140 billion, Gen Z is set to have a huge impact on the future of businesses and impact is of more importance to this demographic than ever before.
Note - you can read more about marketing to Gen Z here.
2) Video Reigns As Content King
In no small part, Tik Tok is to thank for the growing popularity of short-form video content. It is predicted that the video only app will surpass 1.5 billion users in 2022 and, Instagram’s clone feature “reels” is experiencing a huge uptake in popularity at the same time.
Furthermore, it’s not just Tik Tok and Instagram seeing massive results from video content. On Linkedin, video generates some 20x more shares compared with other types of content on its platform (Social Media Today). Video is a quick, easy and convenient way for consumers to engage with content and we’re certain it will continue to explode in the coming year.
3) Micro-Influencers Will Become A Primary Marketing Strategy
“When we asked global marketing professionals which trends they planned to invest in for 2022, 34% said influencer marketing, putting it at the top of the list”
Micro-influencers are influencers with a follower account in the 10k to the 100k range, sometimes, even smaller than that! Influencers with a smaller following often have a high engagement rate and are seen by consumers as more relatable, as they are yet to carry the “celebrity” status of their bigger counterpoints. This is great news for small businesses, as micro-influencers are often far more affordable than those with a larger following. Making influencer marketing far more accessible for businesses regardless of their current size.
Collaboration > Competition
Amongst the numerous negative consequences of the pandemic, one certainly held a huge spotlight. Many businesses, especially small businesses suffered both financially and in terms of resources. Collaboration is an incredible way for businesses to maximise their impact and speed up their growth. Joining forces, co-working on projects and sharing resources will likely be a very popular way to aid the necessary recovery of businesses of all sizes.
5) Having Or Growing A Personal Brand Will Be A Game-Changer
As the world shifts towards the “why” instead of the “what”, a personal brand is an amazing opportunity to build trust, relationships and tell your “why” to your current and potential customers. As the world continues in its relentless consumption of social media, businesses in 2022 will emphasise their focus on their story to reap the benefits of organic marketing and the sales that will come as a result. If you want to find out more about growing a personal brand you can check out our guide here.
6) Educational Marketing Will Skyrocket
For many, 2021 created a new perspective on how they want to show up in their lives and the world as a whole. Though of course the negative impacts of Covid have been felt intensely, for many, it also inspired a desire to up-skill, learn and ultimately gain a better understanding of the world we live in. As a result, knowledge-driven content is set to be at the centre of social media. On social media, value is no longer just entertainment based distraction. Instead, it is fast becoming an opportunity for people to spend their spare time focusing on their personal growth. Businesses and brands that endeavour to contribute to the growth journey of their consumers will certainly see the benefits in 2022.
7) Automation & Outsourcing
Labour shortages in 2021 were, and continue to be, a widespread issue for businesses as we end 2021. “76% of companies in 2021 report using automation” (Hubspot), a number that will inevitably continue to grow.
In 2022, businesses will likely look to tech alternatives to automate the processes in their businesses in an effort to reduce the consequences of navigating businesses with a smaller team and to make better use of the high-level skillsets within their human resources. Things like self-serve ordering, chatbots on websites and outsourcing business activities to VA’s will probably see a steep increase as we head into and beyond the coming New Year.
Final Thoughts
Marketing and business is an ever-changing landscape. If there is anything we take from 2021, it’s that life is completely unpredictable. Staying ahead of the trends will have unmatched benefits for your business as it develops. But it will also keep you in the best position for when the unpredictable occurs.
That being said, it can be overwhelming. So if you are in need of a hand on how to implement any of the above please reach out to the team at Creative Little Soul to discuss how we can make your marketing journey easier!
How I Use Space To Create A Territory
Home Sweet Home! Remember that feeling of walking through the doors of your home and being knocked off for the day. Oh, weren’t those the good old days?
It used to be considered ‘living the dream’ when you said you worked from home. But then the pandemic hit and everything changed. Suddenly, there was a shift and people with ‘essential jobs’ were seen as the lucky ones as they got to leave the house to go to work.
Since March 2020 for many of us, home has taken a whole new role. We have had to turn our homes into makeshift workplaces, schools, gyms and even the pub! I have been working from home for the last eight years, so when the pandemic hit my work set up didn’t change much at all. I’m probably old hat at the working from home gig. Well before it was a ‘thing’ I had to learn ways to separate my work and home life.
Contrary to old opinions, ‘working from home’ is not always living the dream. Yeah ok, I can work in my pj’s, drink coffee all day (because who’s counting), and listen to whatever the hell I want. BUT over the years, I’ve learnt something very important – I need spaces to save my sanity.
For me, to successfully do everything I need to under the one roof, I have to be conscious of keeping my spaces separate. If I don’t work overtakes and everything else in my life is impacted. And yes, my motto is ‘Just get shit done’. But this girl needs to look after herself too, and I want to share some of my tips on how I do it:
Pillow forts still rock at my house – Hands up if you can remember having a sleepover and building a fort out of your pillows? Well, I still build them! Nothing takes me to the land of nowhere like being inside a pillow fort while watching Netflix.
My balcony is my sanctuary – I grew up on a farm, and there’s nothing like roaming out in the wide-open spaces. But when I moved my life to Sydney, I had to learn how to find peace in the (much) smaller area of my balcony. I reflect as I overlook the hustle and bustle of inner Sydney. No matter how much or little area there is, space can always be found.
Partition areas off – Many of you may already know how much I love my oils, earthy aromas and crystals. Through diffusing or burning scents I have the power to create a sanctuary in any space of my home. The crystals deliver the energy that I need and removes any vibes that aren’t serving me.
I light up the sweet and calming Palo Santo into areas of my home that I need to clear negative energy and bring mindfulness into. In hard times when I’m experiencing depressing, dark thoughts (let’s be real, we’ve all been here) I perform a smudging ritual with the White Sage Smudge stick. The negative aura in the room flows out allowing positive vibes to enter.
I am empowered with everything I need to create the spaces in my home that allows me to be the best version of myself in all facets of my life.
Chrissy’s List Of Christmas Gifts
Looking for the perfect give to give this festive season? Check out my fave things, for some of my fave people!
If you are one of “those people” that leaves their Christmas shopping to the last minute, this article is for you! (Virgo here, so I’ve been organised since last Christmas.. :P)… Because I’ve been channeling some Big Oprah energy lately, I’ve decided to compile a list of My Favourite things, which gives some awesome friends of mine a shout out, or brands that I think bloody awesome and deserve your hard earned cash this festive season.
This isn’t an affiliated post or anything like that (I’m not that cool but if anyone does want me to brand rep them, have your people speak to my people.. P.S I am my “people”…) but rather me just shouting out some legends you ought to check out..
But can’t I get more bang for my buck at K-mart?
Yes, yes you can and truth be told there is some cool stuff at Kmart, Amazon or many of the retailers out there BUT often these items aren’t made to last, exploit off shore workers and the money earned here goes offshore. It often lines the pockets of the already rich, and we’re all pro small business legends, trying to follow their dreams or put food on the table.
What’s more – Small business owners are usually next level passionate about what they do. Which is why I choose to work with them. They know in detail what they sell or offer. They care about you as a customer. If you’re happy the are happy. If there’s an issue with your purchase, they want to know about it. They are also in love with what they do, like IN LOVE WITH IT, borderline obsessive and these are my kinds of people!
My message often is #supportsmallbusiness all the way! So, without further ado, here it is my quick Chrissy business gift for the festive season!
Chrissy's list of favourite things for the 2021 festive season.
Coming in hot here with my #1 pick which has to be my “Dirty Hippie friend Danni” and might I even say my business lady love. Having started our business around the same time and being introduced by Marissa (or Rachael as some may know her).. we immediately hit it off and we would say are each others biggest cheer leaders. All of her products are amazing. I say this because I buy her stuff often!
Dirty Hippie Cosmetics make a beautiful range of beauty, skin and hair products that are good for both you and the environment. They even source recycled newspapers from local businesses to pack their orders in and do so much for the planet. Might I add too, a true business that is truly about the environment not just green washing because it is “cool” right now. Ok enough of the romance here.. Let’s get into my picks
Must have: The mascara (LOVE), Insect repellent, Face Food Oil and the lip and cheek tint! Check her store out and support this amazing brand. She’s an absolute gem!
True story.. I met Courtney on Clubhouse. We immediately hit if off and are Virgo’s with mermaid tattoos and who have a tonne of things in common and she is one of my new besties! LOVE her! Mel and Courtney are the co founders of The Fairy GodNanny and together are unstoppable.
This business really talks my language. Their slogan is “Providing no bullshit products for you and your family.” They offer the BEST solutions for all things domestic. I’m talking about the daily shit that no one wants to know about. The Fairy God Nanny has your household covered. From hair brushes that will save your kid screaming every morning as you get through the knots to fruit tingle toilet fizzes and so much more. They’ve even a froot loop flavoured odour remover!
Products I love: Christmas Plum Pudding Room Spray, Bubble Gum Laundry Crystals, Driftwood and Seasalt Toilet Fizzers and if you’ve hair check out their Knot Nanny Hair brush and de-tangling spray it is a game changer!
Over the course of a year I have the privilege of meeting amazing people with inspiring stories. When I met Jane Richards from Eight at the Gate earlier this year, immediately her story struck me as being worthy of a Netflix melodrama. More about that later though.. If you enjoy a good drop of Aussie made wines, you must introduce yourself to Eight at the Gate. Jane and her sister Claire run a winery with their eight kids in tow, at their vineyard in the Wrattonbully wine region. Their chardonnay is the best! It even won an award this year at the 2021 Limestone Coast Wine Show. Be merry this Christmas with a bottle of the best from Eight at the Gate.
Check out their new Sparkling Shiraz. A must for the festive season. Pro tip too, sign up to their newsletter and you’ll get a discount straight away to apply to your order.
Meet Jane Burke, a clinical herbalist who blends her own amazing teas from her Tea Shed located in Port Elliot South Australia. I fell in love with Jane’s story as she’s passionate about helping others to lead their best life. Jane was a recent attendee on my email marketing masterclass. Get this too, she even holds Tea Shed Fridays to talk tea with her customers. Jane’s intrigue and passion for blending herbs and creating teas took her on a life changing exploration tour around the tea farms of India. Jane is on a quest to build a community around her blends, she even sells shirts! Why not buy someone dear to you this Christmas some tranquillity in a cup with a blend from Wild Fire Organic Tea.
Check out her Christmas Herbal Tea. Perfect for this time of year!
Hands up if you hate mass produced unoriginal gifts. If you’ve met me in person or over Zoom you're sure to have noticed that I love my earrings. But I don’t do the cheap arsed mass produced, I love bold and bespoke, handmade and unique and that’s where Eleni comes in. Eleni from Chase Fate handcrafts her own beautiful and inspiringly original jewellery, that you need in your life. If you’re looking for gifts that are handmade, affordable and unique, then let me recommend Chase Fate jewellery to you.
My pick: Eleni has a beautiful range of Greek mati style jewels are great to ward off the bad juju. Great for your wog mates or if you need a little extra protection (because seriously who doesn’t in these times of life??)..
Cause if you are not your biggest fan, why should anyone else be?!
Did you know I have my own shop? Yep! While many of my neighbours were baking sourdough bread and watching Netflix, I used my time during our most recent lockdown to birth a new brand, complete with a shop. If you know me, you’ll be aware that whatever I do, there’s always an intention in the background to help others. As someone who has openly suffered with trauma, depression, and anxiety, the ethos behind the products stocked and created for my shop is to assist and promote self-care, self-love and balance and being in the moment, so I hope you can get on board.
My shop only has well-priced products that will make great gifts sourced from amazing creatives or hand selected because they are used by me. Right now… we need to talk about the shower steamers, do yourself a favour and try them. They will change the way you shower and your mental clarity for the mornings is BEYOND and the perfect pick me up, and the evening ones are bliss and will have you off to la la land in no time.
I'll also be donating a % of my purchases from now until 1st of January to The Black Dog Institute who are a not-for-profit facility for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mood disorders such as depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder.
This time of year is when our good friend Paul Strange would be pumping us all up to attend his events and support everyone else, so I want to give back to an organisation that is doing something to help others and in his memory, so this cause is very important to me.
So there you have it! My 2021 list of favourite things is officially out in the cosmos. Of course there are SO many other amazing small and large businesses I support and work with. Stay tuned to my socials as I spend a lot of my time promoting the incredible things others are doing.
Buy local, support small business, be kind and remember to treat yourself too this Christmas!
Why A Strong Personal Brand Is Essential Your Business
Personal branding is the new black and without it how does your brand or business fare? Check out this article on why a strong personal brand is imperative to your success and how to go about crafting one.
Truth bomb time - You don’t have to have a personal brand. But if you don’t, you are accepting the loss of countless opportunities. A personal brand gives you control of your business perception, builds trust, solidifies you as an industry expert and so much more. The ironic thing is that most people who claim not to have/want a personal brand often unintentionally have one regardless. In the modern world, If you are active online on any platform, chances are you are inadvertently curating a personal brand.
What Is A Personal Brand?
Your personal brand is usually made up of a number of contributing factors. Images, video, audio or writing can all contribute towards yours individually, but essentially your personal brand is about communicating the what, how and why of what you are trying to accomplish. It is a combination of the narrative of your journey; your core story and the medium/s you choose to tell that story.
The Power Of A Personal Brand?
The image below conveys the following of some individuals who have incredible personal brands with the following of their respective business ventures.
The difference is of course stark and truth be told, without that personal brand it is unlikely any of those businesses would have achieved even close to the success they have enjoyed today. Why is this? Simple. People buy from people. When you think of Elon Musk, I am willing to bet your first thought is not of Paypal, or even what he has contributed to the electric car space.
Elon Musk produces thoughts of a revolutionary entrepreneur, the space guy or simply just a stupidly rich billionaire. The latter especially creating huge interest, because he represents and shares a story that to more than 99.99% of us will be unobtainable. He gives you insight into “how the other half live”.
The Benefits Of A Personal Brand
You can leverage your following
A personal brand creates a direct “you-them” relationship between you and your followers. Done correctly, this allows you to become the bridge that connects your customer with your business.
You can tell your story
Modern marketing stretches far beyond the traditional methods gone by. Customer expectation has shifted, particularly for the new generation of consumers, Gen-Z. Potential customers now are making purpose-driven purchases. Be that in the form of a moral mission or a connection to the businesses “why”. Your personal brand allows you to tell that story with ease directly to your target audience. If you were interested in finding out more about marketing to Gen-Z you can read all about it here.
You can build trust and relationships
The success of any business depends on trust and relationships. Both are much easier to create through a personal brand. Trust is built in a number of ways, but providing your customers direct insight into your journey is a sure fire way to build it. Plus, this connection to you builds relationships by default, killing two birds with one stone.
How To Create Your Personal Brand
Define Who You Are
Sounds crazy, but your personal brand guidelines need to be as clear in your mind as your businesses. Things like your core values, messaging, voice, colours ect all need to be taken into account.
Find Out Where your Customers Are
Once you have your personal brand guidelines set, you need to decide which platform(s) you are going to build it on. Where are the eyes of your ideal customers at most times? Consider things like their age, for example, 18-25 year olds are likely to be on Tiktok and the over 50s are more likely to be on Facebook. Once you figure this out, start your personal brand off on those platforms.
Choosing Your Medium
While the above is critical to research, much depends on where you are comfortable as well. Your personal brand is just that, yours. If you are not comfortable with video and love to write then write. If you hate to take photos but love to speak, get a podcast or use social audio.
While it is important to be in front of your audience, the content needs to be good. So if they are on Tiktok and you make a terrible video it is going to be a waste of time. However, you could always use Tiktok to promote your podcast. There's a thousand workarounds to repurpose content and It all comes down to finding the balance.
Be Consistent Both In Brand And Schedule
Building a personal brand takes a lot of work. It is vital that you show up consistently in whichever medium and on whatever platforms you decide suit. But consistency extends beyond time management. Consistency in your messaging is also vital. Of course it will develop other time, but at its core you want to make sure you are conveying the same storyline consistently.
Can Personal Brand Cause Harm?
Short answer? Yes. Cancel culture is a very real way to destroy a business forever. This quote from Forbes sums up nicely.
“What once produced a few uncomfortable questions or maybe a news item or two can now take on a life of its own because of the internet. Minor issues can morph into major issues, and major issues can become huge problems once someone hits “send” as stories, photos and commentary spiral out of control.”
There’s no denying that publishing your thoughts, feelings and actions online comes with a risk. Kylie Jenner, shown in the above comparison, as well as her sister Kendal Jenner with her involvement in a disastrous Pepsi campaign, can both teach us lessons on experiencing, or in the case of Kylie utilising negative press in regards to your personal brand.
What Pepsi and Lip Filler Can Teach Us About Personal Branding
In case you are unaware, in 2017 Pepsi pulled an ad starring Kendall Jenner over backlash claiming that they were appropriating a protest movement following police shootings of people of colour (Black Lives Matter). You can find out more about this thoughtless, frankly embarrassing, ad here.
Jenner is not known for activism and does not use her fame as a platform to address social issues. Plus, the ad literally screamed “created by white people who have never had a need to protest anything ever”.
“I just felt so f****** stupid. The fact that I would hurt other people or offend other people was definitely not the intent”
Kendall Jenner in response to the pulled ad
Pepsi in response to the pulled ad
This was a disaster for both Kendall Jenner and Pepsi. But for us, it provides 2 valuable lessons. First of all, the importance of authenticity, knowledge and being careful with what it is you share under your personal brand. Second, that despite this being branded as “The worst ad ever”, Pepsi’s profits still increased that quarter. Which is fucking depressing, but in some very small comfort reminds us of how quickly people forget our mistakes.
Image - Kylie Lip Kits
Lip-Filler Turned Bank Filler
From one Jenner to another, Kylie can also give us valuable insight into personal branding. As you can see from the above image her brand “Kylie Cosmetics” would likely be nothing without her massive following on social media previous to its inception.
However the journey wasn’t all sunshine and roses for this Jenner either. In 2015, Kylie faced huge criticism after denying she had lip fillers. Kylie gained 100 million followers on Instagram over the course of the cosmetic controversy. Whom 6 months later, she converted into customers for the launch of her business “Kylie Lip Kits”. They sold out. 15000 of them. Completely. In less than 60 seconds.
The lesson here? A strong personal brand gives you the power to control the narrative of your business rather than having that narrative decided for you.
Is A Personal Brand Right For You?
Whether or not you choose to have a personal brand is not going to be the be-all-and-end-all for your business. However, done properly your personal brand will propel you forward very quickly. There is much to consider in your choice. It is time-consuming, can share parts of your personal life and like most business decisions comes with risk. That being said, it offers the opportunity to truly connect with those who serve, to share your journey and ultimately to grow your client base with supporters of not only your mission but of your dreams.
If you would like help getting started with your personal brand, Creative Little Soul are experts in personal brand curation and would be happy to assist. Reach out now here and let us help you to tell your story.
Shit Things People Say To Someone With A Chronic Illness
If I had a dollar for every time I’ve had to stop myself from eye-rolling, I'd probably be off ‘living the dream’ on an island somewhere. Unfortunately, I would have made a vast percentage of that fortune off the back of stupid shit people have said to me in conversations about my Chronic Illness.
When you get diagnosed with a Chronic Illness, life demands two things. One, that you make A LOT of changes to how you live and two, changes to how you live are made for you whether you make them or not. When I was first diagnosed I fought tooth and nail against both of those demands, that is of course, until my doctor informed me that if I carried on the way I was, I would be in a wheelchair in a matter of years.
This was, what you might call, really fucking motivating. As time went on, I made those changes and stepped into my power as a Chronic Illness Advocate. Many of these changes altered my life dramatically, and as time went on, I began to reflect on the many reasons I had battled so hard against these changes. I realised that among others, one of those reasons was steeped in shame. I was ashamed of how others would perceive me as a person with a disability.
To their credit, many people that I am blessed to surround myself with proved me wrong. That being said, many others responded in ways that not only matched what I had been expecting, but exceeded it.
So in an effort to give perspective, spread knowledge and perhaps stop somebody else from the repeated pain of misguided hurtful comments, here is a list of shit things people say (that they definitely shouldn’t) to someone with a Chronic Illness.
🙄🙄 Any comment AT ALL about a change to physical appearance
Medication side effects like weight gain, looking tired AF or in my case, shaving your head to reduce the pain I experience from an extreme pain response to touch (a symptom of Trigeminal Neuralgia) are just some examples of potential changes to appearance from Chronic Illness. This may shock you, but we are already insecure about them and pointing them out is shattering for someone's self-esteem.
🙄🙄 “I get really tired sometimes too”
The unfortunate truth is that in our modern reality, though not having children is more accepted than in the past, it is still a choice that needs a “reasonable” justification. It seems to be the case that women face a biased jury of professional acquaintances, friends, family members and other women, set to decide if their reasons for not having children are deemed “good enough” for them to be allowed to make that decision.
🙄🙄 “But you don’t look sick”
Ah the perils of invisible illness. This is so hurtful and though sometimes it’s meant as a compliment, it fills us with self-doubt and can even make us feel as though you are thinking we are dishonest.
🙄🙄 “Oh yeah, I did the MS Readathon when i was in school”
As a kid I was a massive book worm. I used to stay up late at night, reading under the covers with a torch. I lived to read and when the MS Readathon would roll around I’d be hassling my neighbours and family to sponsor me to read as many books as possible to raise money for the MS Foundation, largely for the prizes and not really knowing what MS was. Turns out the Readthon is still a thing and kids are doing it for the same reason I did, which is awesome and helpful, but more awareness and humanising the illness should also happen in schools I think.
🙄🙄 “I’m sorry to hear that”
Again said with good intentions but honestly it is meant as a pity. We don’t want pity. Nobody wants pity. It kind of feels like a cookie cutter response you feel obligated to offer and mostly shows your discomfort with being around us. Which to be honest, really feels like shit.
🙄🙄 “Have you tried changing your diet?”
Listen, I have a chronic illness and no amount of kale is going to change that. Chances are we have tried everything and anything you can imagine and this comes off as belittling and patronising.
🙄🙄 “Have you tried taking these vitamins?”
Read “have you tried changing your diet” again. Also we take a tonne of pills and supplements, more than the average person so chances are we’re already filling our immune systems to the brim with all the things!
😔😔 Not inviting us to things anymore
This isn’t an eye roll because this just makes us feel miserable. A Chronic Illness often means we are far less likely to attend events. This doesn't mean we don't want to be invited and we’ll try our darndest to be there, but sometimes our bodies say no. Please don’t stop asking us, because when you do it sucks and it really hurts bad.
So you may be thinking, well WTF do i say then?!
So I thought I’d hook you up with some good shit to say to someone with a chronic Illness too.
🤗🤗 “Wow that’s really shit, I imagine it makes you really mad”
🤗🤗 “How does that affect you?”
🤗🤗 “Is there anything I can do to help?”
🤗🤗 “I know everyones MS is different, how does it show up in your life?”
The reality is, everyone's experience of Chronic Illness is different. The best way to talk about someone's experience with them is to ask them about it. Ask them what, if anything, they feel comfortable saying.
If you want to find out more about life with a chronic illness, jump over to my Instagram and message me to connect!
Selfish, Child-Hating And Unfulfilled.
Is This The Perception Of Childless Female Entrepreneurs?
Childless or not, professional women face a myriad of battles driven by their choice to pro-create. But as a seismic shift occurs to celebrate the #mompreneur on social media and beyond, female business-owners continue to face a cultural discrimination, perception and radical assumptions based solely on their choice not to have children.
In the 1970s, a woman named Marcia Drut-Davis appeared on 60 Minutes in a segment and publicly explained her decision to not have children. The outcome of that appearance saw Marcia being ostracised, losing her job and receiving threats to her life. Such were the opinions of the times. This vile treatment of Marcia of course would not be tolerated in a modern day society. That being said, can it be denied that the loud and proud vilification of childless women in the 1970’s still exists in mutterings and musings in 2021?
The Gender Perception of Ambitious
The stark contrast between the perception of childless men versus childless women is steeped in a deeply entrenched societal expectation. Partially, this is fed by the fact that men can produce children in later life. But in all honesty, it is predominantly fuelled by an unrelenting cultural expectation that continues to stereotype womanhood with motherhood.
The reality is this. At social gatherings, the first question, more often than not, to the Father is “How’s business?” and to the Mother is “How’s the kids?”. Even a simple hyphenated adjective such as career-driven or work-focused usually produces totally different perceptions for men than women. The latter of course, being the negative.
The Acceptable “Why”
Deakin University conducted a study into why childless women are childless. They found that -
“While for many women childlessness is about choice and circumstance, women also feel the need to explain and justify their childless status. Furthermore, these findings indicate childless women are stigmatised and socially excluded.”
The unfortunate truth is that in our modern reality, though not having children is more accepted than in the past, it is still a choice that needs a “reasonable” justification. It seems to be the case that women face a biased jury of professional acquaintances, friends, family members and other women, set to decide if their reasons for not having children are deemed “good enough” for them to be allowed to make that decision.
Add this to the growing possibilities to have children where before it may have been more difficult, fertility options, adoption and so on, and it seems that if women don’t answer with a climate-change based response or some other self-sacrificing response they are often still subject to criticism and presumed to be selfish instead. The fact is however, there are a thousand reasons women don’t have children. From those that are health or fertility based to financial to environment to the simplicity of not wanting to do so. All legitimate and none that should be judged.
The Financial Impact of Having Children For Women In Business
Business is synonymous with income and for women, having children has a huge impact on how much income they will earn. A study published by Vox and conducted by The National Bureau Of Economic Research in Denmark reveals some shocking statistics about how having children affects a woman's ability to reach higher income and for men, how it has little effect at all. The image below outlines how the birth of a child reflects in a man’s earnings.
The following image shows the shocking contrast between the effect on women’s earnings in comparison.
Of course this study was conducted in Denmark, but it reflects the world over.
So Why Is This?
“Although women comprise nearly half of the U.S. workforce, they still fulfil a larger share of household responsibilities. Married or partnered heterosexual couples in the U.S. continue to divide household chores along largely traditional lines”
For the most part, women take on the majority of the housework and childcare and with a growing expectation from investors, the workforce and entrepreneurs themselves to be flexible and work long hard hours, I would argue that for women, the “you-can-have-it-all” narrative could be seen as a fantasy. Often leaving women with a choice between continuing to thrive, flourish and grow in their businesses or give birth to a child.
“For me, not having children has been a choice that has come with many consequences. It’s left me alienated by my friends with kids, uninvited to events because I don’t have children. When it comes to women who don’t have children people make assumptions that it’s a can’t not a won’t. When they find out it’s a choice I have made I feel the air around me weighed in judgment.
In a professional capacity, I believe changes need to be made so women with children can work remotely with more flexibility.
In a personal capacity, Women need to stop asking other women about their child status all together.”
The Aftermath?
The perception of childless women in entrepreneurship reflects narratives and expectations of gender that extend far beyond that of just business.
Frankly, it would seem that women in entrepreneurship continue to be judged for not having children. Where in fact, what should be judged are gendered societal dynamics, expectations and injustices that create a world in which men are celebrated for their ambitions, experience no impact to their earnings if they have children and carry no expectation to equally contribute to the household or child related responsibilities.
For women however, you’re damned if you do and damned if you don't.
Women face a choice between having children, that likely brings a huge drop in income, relentless responsibility and burnout. Or not having children, that brings intense scrutiny, judgement and criticism.
Of course this is not the case across the board. This is based on a statistical analysis that narrates the majority, and there are many different types of families with many different work and household dynamics.
But the case still remains that as a society, we must stop judging women for any choice they make within their own lives. Instead, we need to question that which creates an environment where once again, women continue to find themselves making these choices from a far weaker position than that is experienced by men.
Hustle Culture: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
The word Hustle has a pretty unexpected origin. It dates all the way back to the 17th century from…
“Everyday I’m Hustlin”
The word Hustle has a pretty unexpected origin. It dates all the way back to the 17th century from the Dutch word “husselen” which means to shake or toss. As the years went on the meaning of the word grew to mean “to hurry” or, pretty ironically, “to obtain by begging”. Which when you think about it, really gives a new meaning to Rick Ross’s hit song.
Jump forward into 2021 and #hustle has become a buzzword used regularly by freelancers, single-mothers, musicians, strippers and pretty much anyone who sees themselves as working harder than the norm.
But perhaps, driven by the narrative of the likes of Gary Vee and other celebrity entrepreneurs, most recently there is one category that has cemented its relationship with hustle culture more than ever.
Business owners.
The Good
Life's not all sunshine and rainbows and if you want something, you better be prepared to go after it. As a serial entrepreneur I am no stranger to hustle. Hustle, by it’s modern definition, is working aggressively and relentlessly for your business to thrive.
There is something incredibly empowering about when you decide to do things on your terms but the simple truth is, hustle isn’t a choice if you want to be successful. Building a business is one of the hardest things you can choose to do. The failure rate is high, the failures are many and if you are not ready to give it your all? The reality is, you aren't going to make it.
The “good” side of hustle culture is seeing your ideas come to life and then come to fruition. You are your own boss and the experience of putting in the hard work, testing and then launching a product or service, offer or anything of that nature is incredibly rewarding when you sit back and say "Ahh I did that thing”.
Hustle is something that you have to love and when you do, it will repay you for all that you put in.
The Bad
As hustle culture explodes, so unfortunately does the expectation for quick turnarounds and results. Many who are putting in the hustle are expecting short term gain. As if six months of relentless work will bring the same results that in reality take years of the same work-ethic.
As a result of this, Failure is seen as being something bad. Where in reality, you need to fail multiple times to refine processes, get better at doing the things and really iron out any kinks and issues. Not all products or offerings always succeed, but rather we need to look at what we learn and what we are taught by that failure for the next time around.
The Ugly
In recent years, with the emergence of the term “toxic hustle culture”, there has been a number of conversations internet-over discussing the damage the hustle narrative is creating.
Hustle is imperative, but it must come with boundaries.
Without them, what was once hustle quickly spirals into what every entrepreneur dreads.
Burnout.
Burnout is a state of exhaustion caused by exposure of the body to excessive stress for a prolonged period of time. I’m not talking about feeling tired at the end of the day. Burnout brings an unforgiving fatigue that can cause anxiety, lack of creativity, complete loss of energy, disillusionment, helplessness and so much more.
Not to mention the long term effects on your physical health.
I regret to say that I myself have experienced “the ugly” side of hustle culture more than once. When it comes to living with not one but 2 chronic illnesses and OCD, public enemy number 1 is stress, and if I don’t mange myself and everyone else around me, burn out and breakdown are incredibly real.
In the past I’ve worked 90-100 hour weeks and my body quite literally shuts down. I can’t walk, I cannot get out of bed and my brain fog is the worst. In the past I’ve even been hospitalised because I’ve just pushed so hard and caused myself to relapse; in turn resulting in the biggest of setbacks and having to spend 5 days in hospital on steroids, where all of this could have been avoided if only I’d taken the time to STOP.
I’ve worked myself so into the ground that I’ve had social engagements and events to attend and when it comes around to going and doing the thing, I’m a shred of a human and the social anxiety and stress kick in. I have missed many celebrations and milestones, which after a while people stop inviting you along to.
What's the verdict on hustle culture?
Hustle itself is a necessary trait in order to thrive in business.
The reality is that hustle itself is not the problem. But the lack of self care, self awareness and self prioritization that have become intrinsically linked to the word have led to the perception that the “hustle” itself is at the core of the issue.
Hustle becomes problematic when it is the soul force from which an individual is operating. There is a belief that if work is not every single minute of every single day then you are not “doing it right”.
Of course the opposite is true. If you are not taking care of yourself and performing at your best, no amount of hustle is going to substitute what would have been there had you been operating from full capacity.
I have hustled more than most. But if that is all I had done, it is likely I would not be here today.
Why Journaling Is A Must In My Life!
It’s no secret that I’ve always loved to write. I have been journaling since I can remember, and…
It’s no secret that I’ve always loved to write. I have been journaling since I can remember, and I’ve teachers from primary school who remember me submitting journals filled of writing, some of the best they’ve read (not to brag)… My years of angst and finding my way into the world have all been documented. One day I plan to publish my 'Chrissy's teenage years' entries.
Anyone who knows me well is aware of my love affair with stationery. There's nothing I love more than losing myself in a store full of pens, notebooks, and journals. Most recently on a late-night K-mart spending spree, I “accidently” 😉 bought 31 of them LOL. With that said though, it’s my happy place! To me, a new blank journal is full of countless opportunities and endless stories to tell.
Journaling is part of my daily self-care constitution. It's a practice that offers me a chance to assess and evaluate what's going on. From the small trivial things that are obviously wearing on my soul, to the big picture things that need to be evaluated and workshopped.
In this article, I want to share with you my journaling tips, as this practice has helped me achieve many of my goals and dreams, and I imagine it can help you to do the same.
To get started, buy yourself an A5 notebook and a special journaling pen. On the front of the journal, state your intentions. On the cover of every journal, I write this: "This is only for me, and no one else. As tempted as I am, I never re-read my entries; that's in the past. I will only write three pages. Even if I have nothing to say, I do. Just write freely."
Now you might be thinking writing three pages each time is going to be hard. But as I write, the shit starts to come. It can be as simple as saying, 'Today I am writing with a blue pen, and I like the way it writes.' You just gotta write! For me, writing by hand slows me down and lets me release my inner thoughts. I hammer away at a keyboard all day. When I'm journaling, I find my zone and let my pen do the dancing for my soul.
I write first thing in the morning every day. Anything that is niggling at me or any self-sabotaging thoughts, I address it then leave it in my journal. Every day tells a different story. If I went to a musical the night before for example, my ticket would go into my journal, or I might even spray on the page the perfume that I'm wearing for the day. That's what I love about journaling, no two days are ever the same and there is always something to write about.
I keep all my journals. Why? Well, who throws out their life story! For me, it's a safety mechanism. Who knows? One day my journals might make a damn good book!
Recently I have started journaling about covid. Let's face it, our daily lives at the moment are going to make the history books. I didn't expect to be living through something like this. There’s so much to process and that's why I've started journaling this separately.
My vision is to not only achieve my own dreams, to do what I love but to help others achieve their own success and potential. My work speaks for me. I'm hard-working, motivated, passionate, and free-thinking. Keeping a daily journal has helped me through every chapter I have lived and wouldn't be where I am today without doing it daily. Checking in with yourself allows for clarity.
Life is to be lived, and it's the little but enriching things we do each day that have the most significant impact.
Happy journaling, my friends!
Making Self-Care A Priority Not A Necessity
Self-care is a personal matter. Everyone will have a different way to approach it and…
Self-care is a personal matter. Everyone will have a different way to approach it and traumas and mental health issues play a part in making sure that you pick the correct steps to perfect your routine.
Let’s take me for an example, I love a holistic approach to my wellbeing so that I can meet my personal and professional goals and commitments head on and without delay.
A good self-care plan should help reduce stress, time management, relaxation, mindfulness, avoid procrastination, create assertiveness and create healthy habits.
Don’t worry, I don’t wake up smiling and on a constant high. Even the most well-adjusted people and professionals need a good morning and night routine. But the one thing I can say is everyone needs a self-care plan, and you need to commit to it every day.
It takes four weeks for a habit to turn into a routine. So remember to re-assess how you are going at the end of one month, and then again after three months.
What is Self-care?
Self-care is taking care of yourself, so that you are functioning at your best to take care of the people and duties that are counting on you. Often when people hear self-care, they immediately think taking time to be self-indulgent… or even selfish. But this is a popular misconception that is just plain wrong!
Basically, self-care means looking after all aspects of your health and wellbeing. From eating the right foods, maintaining your personal hygiene, getting enough sleep and regular exercise, right through to taking time out to just ‘relax and chill’. Self-care means being aware of everything you need to do to keep your mind and body fit and healthy.
Incorporating Self-Care Into A Hectic Schedule
Creating habits for self-care is not a priority for most people. With the most prevalent excuse being “I just don’t have the time” or that it is overwhelming to start. However, there are too many benefits to pass this up.
Let’s start small and break down each category into Work or professional, Physical, Psychological, Emotional, Spiritual and Relationships. From there, you can create a daily schedule of events that need to happen from your morning routine until bedtime.
Don’t overwhelm yourself by going in-depth with elaborate efforts like weekends away. It is more important to focus on daily, short, frequent self-care activities.
Here is a self-care plan template to get you started – you can download it for free.
Here is breakdown of what each self-care category should mention:
Work or professional
Be strict with times that you work from and boundaries set between clients and staff
Read professional journals
Attend professional development programs.
Write goals for the week, month and year.
Stick to a routine and don’t skip the daily bathing and dress in that outfit that gets you feeling your best self.
Physical
Develop a regular sleep routine.
Aim for a healthy diet.
Take lunch breaks.
Go for a walk at lunchtime.
Take your dog for a walk after work.
Get some exercise before/after work regularly.
Sing. Put on your fave songs and belt out a tune. Also jump and dance around your home.
Psychological
Keep a reflective journal.
Seek and engage in external supervision or regularly consult with a more experienced colleague.
Engage with a non-work hobby.
Turn off your email and work phone outside of work hours.
Make time for relaxation.
Make time to engage with positive friends and family.
Emotional
Develop friendships that are supportive.
Write three good things that you did each day.
Play a sport and have a coffee together after training.
Go to the movies or do something else you enjoy.
Keep meeting with your parents' group or other social group.
Talk to friends about how you are coping with work and life demands.
Spiritual
Engage in reflective practices like meditation.
Go on bush walks.
Go to church/mosque/temple.
Do yoga.
Reflect with a close friend for support.
Relationships
Prioritise close relationships in your life e.g. with partners, family, colleagues and children.
Attend the special events of your family and friends, even if it’s a phone call or Zoom at the moment.
If you need more:
Remember that there are a multitude of professional support services out there, so you can always chat to qualified health professionals if you need more at any time too.
Looking for self-care ideas?
This is my (Chrissy) self-care routine.
My Day starts like this:
30 mins of Mediation mindset for the day
3 page Journal entry and write down the things that I am grateful for
Pick my tunes for the day, and even a hint of my lovely singing voice comes out
Breakfast, Coffee (who can live without this), Vitamins (a MUST do).
Note: These are my vitamins – but you take what is relevant to you and consult a naturopath for the correct ones. I take multivitamins, Vitamin D, Apple cider, Emu oil turmeric and ginger tablets.
Shower – I do add in aromatherapy oils or streamers into the shower (my favourite at the moment is lemongrass, cinnamon and peppermint). To me I see showers are ‘washing away the crap’. Get a clear head and a good mindset to start the day ahead.
Dress in full clothing with something fresh and feisty like my earrings, shirt or head piece (dress like you are going out and still seeing people).
To do list - it is important to segment your list into categories. I like to do a daily FOCUS list, and then a weekly list of GOALS (2 goals for the week), FIT IN, BACKBURNER.
Note: Also make sure that you are setting goals for the month and year.
I like to ensure that I have affirmation either in front of me or I find them, and say them out loud, and while you are saying these affirmations make sure you are taking deep breaths. There are heaps of apps or podcasts that play this over and over.
My Day ends like this:
I finish off by doing my Gratitude journal and 3 things that I am grateful for. It could be work related, or someone simple like I have a home. There is power in writing down what you are grateful for.
With my MS, I need to stretch every night. This also takes the tension out of muscles, increases blood flow to your muscles and calms your mind.
I love skincare and always do this before bed including adding in a mask and serum
Night time diffuser – my favourite is lavender, mandarin and ginger oil.
Note: Lavender oil helps aid sleep.
Music – Beach waves and nature American with pan flute
Do you have an amazing self care routine, tried tips or tricks? Let me know I’d love to hear.