Networking: The Secret Sauce for Business Success

Today, I want to share some insights from my experience as a business coach on a topic that's often underestimated but plays a crucial role in achieving success; networking. So, sit back, relax, and let's delve into why networking is vital for your business.

Building relationships and trust

In the business world, relationships are everything. Networking is the tool that allows you to nurture and expand your professional circle. These connections can lead to partnerships, collaborations, and opportunities that you might never encounter otherwise. When you invest time in networking, you're investing in building trust. People are more likely to do business with those they know and trust, making networking a cornerstone for long-term success.

Access to knowledge and expertise

No one knows it all, and that's where networking shines. It opens doors to a wealth of knowledge and expertise. By connecting with others in your industry or related fields, you gain access to valuable insights, best practices, and the latest industry trends. You can learn from their successes and failures, helping you avoid common pitfalls and make informed decisions.

Finding mentorship and guidance

Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting your business journey, having a mentor or advisor can be a game-changer. Networking provides an avenue to meet experienced professionals who are often willing to share their wisdom. A mentor can provide guidance, offer a fresh perspective, and help you navigate the challenges that come with running a business.

Unearthing new opportunities

One of the most exciting things about networking is the potential for discovering new opportunities. These opportunities can take many forms – from joint ventures and collaborations to referrals and job openings. You never know when a chance encounter or a conversation at a networking event might lead to your next big break. Keep in mind that opportunities often arise from the connections you make.

Marketing your brand

In today's digital age, personal branding is as important as branding your business. Networking allows you to showcase your expertise and personality, creating a compelling personal brand. As you build meaningful relationships, people will naturally become interested in what you do. Word-of-mouth marketing is powerful, and your network can become your most enthusiastic advocates, helping to spread the word about your business.

Staying informed and adapting

The business landscape is constantly evolving. Networking keeps you in the loop and helps you stay informed about industry changes, market trends, and emerging technologies. This knowledge is priceless for adapting your business strategies and staying ahead of the competition. Remember, in business, those who adapt thrive.

Overcoming isolation

Running a business can sometimes feel like a lonely journey, especially for solo entrepreneurs or small business owners. Networking provides a sense of community and support. Connecting with like-minded individuals who understand your challenges can be comforting and motivating. It reminds you that you're not alone on this entrepreneurial path.

In the world of business, your network truly is your net worth. Networking isn't about collecting business cards or attending events for the sake of it. It's about fostering genuine connections, building trust, and mutually benefiting from relationships. So, whether you're an extrovert who thrives in social settings or an introvert who prefers one-on-one conversations, remember that networking can be tailored to your style.

As a business coach, I've witnessed countless success stories that trace back to the power of networking. It's an investment in yourself, your business, and your future. So, go ahead, expand your horizons, and embrace the incredible opportunities that await you through networking. Your next breakthrough might be just one connection away!

If you’d like some help with networking, I am plugged in and connected with many groups and communities across all walks of life. If you’d like help in finding ‘your people’, reach out chrissy@creativelittlesoul.com.au and let’s get you networking. 

Celebrating Small Wins: Why this is important for your growth journey.

In any journey towards achieving our goals and successes, whether personal or professional, we often focus on the grand milestones and major accomplishments. However, the significance of celebrating small wins should never be underestimated. Small wins create momentum and help keep you motivated towards the bigger goals that you wish to accomplish. For example, have you ever wanted to lose 10kgs, then lose momentum because you didn’t make it or it isn’t happening quick enough? That’sn because your mindset is focused on the end goal, not looking at the little things, like my clothes are getting looser, I have more energy, or even something like I sleep better. These seemingly minor achievements play a pivotal role in sustaining motivation and fostering a positive mindset.

After immersing myself in the audiobook "The Progress Principle: Using Small Wins to Ignite Joy, Engagement, and Creativity at Work" authored by Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer, I have not only collected insights from their perspectives but have also created my own thoughts on the significance of acknowledging and celebrating small victories.

In their insightful work, Amabile and Kramer clarify the profound impact that seemingly minor achievements can have on our overall sense of satisfaction, engagement, and creativity in the workplace. The essence of the "Progress Principle" lies in recognising the power that small wins hold in shaping our experiences and driving us toward greater success.

Here, are my personal reflections on why acknowledging and celebrating small victories is so important:

1. Progress Tracking: Celebrating small wins allows us to track our progress more effectively. It's like marking milestones on a map as we traverse a challenging terrain. Each small win is a checkpoint that validates our efforts and demonstrates how far we've come. Write it down, have a time set up weekly of the things that you have done this week towards that goal. Every week it will look like you are gaining more steps towards the goal,  rather than feeling like you are too far behind. 

2. Boosting Confidence: Accomplishing even the smallest tasks can boost our confidence and self-esteem. As we celebrate these mini-successes, we begin to believe in our abilities, which in turn fuels our motivation to tackle more substantial challenges. 

3. Overcoming Plateaus: Progress isn't always linear. There are times when we hit plateaus or encounter obstacles that seem insurmountable. Celebrating small wins during these times can rekindle our sense of achievement and push us to persevere through difficult phases.

4. Fostering Creativity: The "Progress Principle" serves as a catalyst for creative thinking. By celebrating small victories, we instill a sense of accomplishment that empowers us to explore innovative solutions and take calculated risks. As we celebrate our ability to overcome challenges, we gain the confidence to think outside the box and contribute novel ideas.

5. Reinforcing Positive Habits: Celebrating small wins reinforces the positive habits and behaviours that led to those victories. This positive reinforcement makes it more likely that we'll continue practicing these habits, ultimately propelling us towards our larger goals.

6. Nurturing Well-Being: The act of celebrating small wins nurtures our well-being by fostering a sense of fulfillment and contentment. These moments of recognition offer a respite from the relentless pursuit of larger goals, allowing us to savour the journey and find joy in our everyday accomplishments.

6. Managing Impatience: Ambitious goals often take time to materialize. Celebrating small wins can help us manage feelings of impatience and frustration. By acknowledging the progress we've made, we become more patient and better equipped to stay the course.

7. Preventing Burnout: The pursuit of significant goals can be mentally and emotionally taxing. Celebrating small wins injects moments of joy and satisfaction into the journey, preventing burnout and maintaining our enthusiasm over the long haul.

8. Cultivating a Growth Mindset: A growth mindset emphasises learning and development. Celebrating small wins aligns with this mindset by focusing on the process rather than just the end result. This perspective encourages us to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth.

9. Encouraging Perseverance: In the face of setbacks, celebrating small wins reminds us of our capacity to overcome adversity. This perspective encourages us to persevere and continue striving, even when faced with challenges.

10. Joy in the Journey: Celebrating small wins helps us find joy in the journey itself. We often become so focused on the destination that we forget to appreciate the path we're walking. Acknowledging small victories reminds us that the journey is as important as the destination.

Incorporating a habit of celebrating small wins can transform the way we approach our goals. It shifts our focus from waiting for the big breakthroughs to embracing the daily victories that make the journey meaningful. By doing so, we create a positive feedback loop that fuels our motivation, bolsters our resilience, and ultimately leads us to success.

If you’re looking to work towards any size goal or accomplishment and need some assistance, get in touch. I would love to help you put in place some strategy to help you achieve these milestones, so you can tick those goals off with your very own cheer squad. Email me at chrissy@creativelittlesoul.com.au. 

The Power of Setting Healthy Boundaries: Why You Need to Do It More

In the whirlwind of modern life, where responsibilities and commitments often seem never-ending, taking care of ourselves can sometimes take a backseat. One key practice that often gets overlooked but holds immense importance is setting healthy boundaries. Whether it's in our personal relationships, work environment, or even with ourselves, establishing boundaries is a crucial act of self-care and empowerment.  As a people pleaser, I suck when it comes to setting boundaries. I even have two tattoos to remind me too. One that says “nope” and the other that says “self”. Both in plain sight, so I am forced to get better with it and this blog is a reminder that I need to do it more too. 

So, with that, we'll delve into why setting healthy boundaries is essential and why you should prioritise doing it more.

1. Respect for Your Well-being: Setting boundaries is a way of demonstrating respect for your mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Just as you wouldn't knowingly put yourself in harm's way, allowing situations that drain your energy, time, or emotions without limit can have a similar effect. By establishing boundaries, you communicate to yourself and others that your well-being matters.

2. Preserving Your Energy: Think of your energy as a limited resource. Every task, interaction, or commitment you engage in requires a portion of that energy. As someone with a chronic illness and disability, I have fewer energy stores than most, so this is a HUGE thing for me that I need to get better at. When we set boundaries, we allocate our energy more efficiently. You prioritise tasks and relationships that nourish you while minimising those that drain you. This leads to a more balanced and fulfilling life.

3. Enhancing Relationships: Boundaries foster healthier relationships. They communicate your needs and limitations clearly, preventing misunderstandings and resentment. By setting expectations upfront, you create an environment of trust and open communication. Respect for each other's boundaries leads to more authentic connections.

4. Empowerment and Self-Respect: When you set and maintain healthy boundaries, you're asserting your autonomy and self-respect. It's an empowering act that demonstrates you have control over your life and choices. This sense of empowerment can ripple into other aspects of your life, boosting your self-esteem and confidence.

5. Reducing Stress and Burnout: Overcommitting and constantly saying yes can lead to burnout. Boundaries act as a shield against excessive stress and burnout by helping you manage your responsibilities effectively. You create space to rest, recharge, and engage in activities that bring you joy. As someone who has worked until burnout, I can confirm this isn’t fun for you or anyone around you. 

6. Growth and Personal Development: Setting boundaries often involves self-reflection and understanding your needs and limits. This process of self-discovery contributes to your personal growth. As you learn more about yourself, you can make intentional choices that align with your values and goals.

7. Modelling Healthy Behaviour: By setting boundaries, you model healthy behaviour for others in your life, such as friends, family, and colleagues. Your actions can inspire them to prioritise their well-being and establish boundaries too.

8. Clearer Priorities: Boundaries help you identify your true priorities. When you can't say no, you may find yourself entangled in tasks or commitments that don't align with your goals. Setting boundaries empowers you to make choices that resonate with your aspirations.

Setting healthy boundaries isn't selfish; it's an act of self-love and self-care. It enables you to take charge of your life, make intentional decisions, and create a harmonious balance between your personal and professional spheres. By respecting your own boundaries, you teach others how to respect them as well, fostering healthier relationships and a more fulfilling life. So, let's make a commitment to ourselves to set and maintain healthy boundaries, one step at a time. Our well-being deserves it.

Unleashing the Power of Neuro Linguistic Programming: Discovering Its Transformative Benefits

In the realm of personal development and self-improvement, Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) stands out as a powerful tool for understanding and reshaping human behaviour and communication. Rooted in the belief that our thoughts, language, and actions are deeply interconnected, NLP offers a unique approach to personal growth, effective communication, and achieving desired outcomes. In this blog post, we will delve into the world of NLP and explore its profound benefits.

Enhancing Self-Awareness: 

One of the primary benefits of NLP lies in its ability to enhance self-awareness. By understanding the connection between our thoughts, language patterns, and behaviours, we can gain deep insights into our own patterns of thinking and responding. NLP techniques facilitate self-reflection and help identify limiting beliefs and thought patterns that may be holding us back. Through this awareness, we can break free from self-imposed limitations and open a world of possibilities.

Effective Communication: 

Communication plays a pivotal role in our personal and professional lives. NLP provides powerful tools for improving communication skills. By studying and applying NLP techniques, individuals can develop the ability to understand others more effectively, build rapport, and influence others positively. NLP offers strategies for improving non-verbal communication, listening skills, and understanding different communication styles. This heightened level of communication proficiency can lead to more harmonious relationships, successful negotiations, and increased influence.

Overcoming Limiting Beliefs and Phobias: 

Limiting beliefs and phobias can stunt personal growth and restrict us from reaching our full potential. NLP offers a range of techniques to address and overcome these limitations. Through processes such as reframing, anchoring, and Timeline Therapy, NLP enables individuals to restructure their beliefs, release negative emotions, and create empowering states of mind. By replacing limiting beliefs with empowering ones, individuals can experience profound personal transformation and break free from self-imposed barriers.

Goal Setting and Achievement: 

NLP provides a structured framework for effective goal setting and achievement. By utilising techniques such as outcome thinking, creating well-formed outcomes, and employing sensory acuity, individuals can clarify their goals, create compelling visions, and design effective action plans. NLP also offers strategies to harness motivation and maintain focus, enabling individuals to stay on track and overcome obstacles along their journey towards success.

Personal Empowerment and Self-Confidence: 

NLP empowers individuals to take charge of their lives and cultivate unwavering self-confidence. Through techniques like anchoring positive emotional states, modelling excellence, and accessing resourceful states, NLP enables individuals to tap into their inner potential and improve their self-esteem. By rewiring their internal dialogue and reframing past experiences, individuals can build a strong foundation of self-belief and self-assurance, leading to greater personal and professional success.

Neuro Linguistic Programming offers a fascinating and comprehensive approach to personal growth and effective communication. By exploring the intricate connections between our thoughts, language, and behaviours, NLP empowers individuals to transform their lives, overcome limitations, and achieve their desired outcomes. 

Whether you seek to enhance self-awareness, improve communication skills, overcome limiting beliefs, or boost self-confidence, NLP provides a wealth of tools and techniques to help you on your journey towards personal excellence. Embrace the power of NLP and unlock your true potential.

Mastering Time Management: Practical strategies to boost productivity and sustain motivation.

Time is an invaluable resource. It flows continuously and demands precise management for us to achieve our goals and dreams. In a world buzzing with distractions and obligations, honing effective time management skills is not only beneficial but crucial. Today, we will go through a comprehensive (although not exhaustive) guide on how to harness time to your advantage, allocate time efficiently, and maintain motivation to conquer your goals.

1. Set SMART Goals

Have a look at your goals and either reword or reset them according to the SMART philosophy. Each goal that you set should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. This helps you to establish clear objectives and provide direction, purpose, and urgency, which will make it easier to allocate time effectively and track your progress.

2. Create a To-Do list.

Physically writing down your To-Do list can provide endless motivation. There are numerous studies that show putting pen to paper triggers a response in the brain and helps you to retain information better. This can also provide a hit of dopamine for every time you are able to cross a task off your list.

2. Prioritise your tasks.

Use the Eisenhower Matrix. Categorise your tasks according to: Urgent and Important, Important but NOT Urgent, Urgent but NOT Important, and Neither Urgent nor Important. Using this technique will help you to focus on what truly matters, which will prevent the grave mistake of spending too much time on trivial tasks.

3. Take regular breaks.

The Pomodoro Technique teaches us that regular breaks can help to retain focus and provide motivation. This technique is very simple; work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. After completing 4 cycles, you take a longer break. This cycling process can also prevent burnout.

4. Avoid multitasking.

Focus on one task at a time. Multitasking often leads to decreased productivity and increased stress. Allocate your full attention to one task, complete it, and then move on to the next task.

5. Practice the two-minute rule.

Simply put, have a look at your To-Do list, write next to each task a rough time to completion. Any tasks that would take two minutes or less to complete, tackle these immediately. This prevents small tasks from accumulating and becoming overwhelming. This will also give you that dopamine hit of checking off a task, and will fuel your momentum to tackle those longer, harder tasks.

Time management is a skill that requires dedication, practice, and a willingness to adapt. By prioritising your tasks, setting clear goals, and implementing practical strategies you can make the most of your time, accomplish tasks efficiently, and maintain a motivated and productive mindset. Remember, effective time management isn’t just about managing time; it’s about managing yourself and your energy to achieve your full potential. Start implementing these strategies today, and watch as your productivity soars to new heights.

If you need help with getting your priorities straight or need a coach to give you a kick in the pants to get it done, Chrissy can help with that. Reach out to her to discuss how she can help you be the best version of yourself and achieve all your potential holds.

Embracing Resilience: Finding Motivation Despite Chronic Pain or Disability

While it might feel like an uphill battle, it's essential to remember that you possess an incredible wellspring of strength and resilience within you. People often ask me how I can manage living and working with multiple health conditions and illnesses and remain so positive (most of the time).

I’ve outlined a few ways we'll explore the concept of resilience and delve into actionable ways to stay motivated and thrive, even in the face of chronic pain or disability.

Understanding Resilience

Resilience is the capacity to adapt, recover, and flourish in the face of adversity. It's not about avoiding or denying the challenges you encounter; instead, it's about learning to navigate them with grace and determination. Resilience is not a fixed trait—it can be nurtured and developed over time.

1. Cultivate a Positive Mindset

Your mindset plays a pivotal role in shaping your experience. While chronic pain or disability may impose limitations, focusing on what you can do, rather than what you can't, can empower you. Practice gratitude for the abilities you still have and remind yourself of your strengths and achievements.

2. Set Realistic Goals

Goal setting provides direction and purpose. Break down your larger goals into smaller, achievable steps. Celebrate each milestone you reach, no matter how modest. This incremental progress can serve as a constant source of motivation.

3. Practice Self-Care

Taking care of your physical and emotional well-being is crucial. Prioritise adequate sleep, nourishing foods, and regular exercise that aligns with your abilities. Engage in activities that bring you joy and help you relax, whether it's reading, listening to music, or practising mindfulness.

4. Seek Support and Connect

You don't have to navigate this journey alone. Reach out to friends, family, or support groups who understand your challenges. Connecting with others who share similar experiences can provide validation, empathy, and a sense of belonging. Facebook support groups and peer groups have really helped me when I can’t sleep at 3am or if I have questions, I don’t feel comfortable broaching with my physicians. Find your community and tribe online, guaranteed there is something out there going through the same or similar experiences you are, that can add great support and comradery with. 

5. Embrace Adaptive Strategies

Adaptation is key to thriving with chronic pain or disability. Explore assistive devices, tools, or techniques that can make daily tasks more manageable. Embrace your creativity and problem-solving skills to find innovative solutions that work for you. Where possible also look at things you can outsource or delegate. A fortnightly cleaner helps hugely with tasks around my home too hard or dangerous for me to do. Also ordering for delivery at my weekly grocery shop. I’m conserving energy by not having to do either of these tasks and these smart swaps too save me increased stress and in the long run money too.

6. Focus on Passion and Purpose

Engaging in activities that align with your passions and values can infuse your life with purpose. Whether it's pursuing a hobby, volunteering, or advocating for a cause, these pursuits can ignite your motivation and provide a sense of fulfilment.

7. Practice Mindfulness and Stress Reduction

Mindfulness techniques, such as deep breathing, meditation, visualisation and journaling, can help you manage stress and cultivate a sense of calm. By staying present at the moment, you can reduce anxiety and increase your overall well-being.

8. Celebrate Resilience

Acknowledge and celebrate your resilience. Reflect on the challenges you've overcome and the progress you've made. By recognising your own strength, you can reinforce your belief in your ability to persevere.

Resilience is a powerful force that can help you transcend the limitations of chronic pain or disability. By adopting a positive mindset, setting goals, seeking support, and embracing adaptive strategies, you can stay motivated and continue to lead a fulfilling life. Remember, your journey is unique, and every step forward, no matter how small, is a testament to your unwavering strength and determination. If you ever want to chat, reach out and together we can find some solutions or services that can better assist you in your daily life and challenges.

How to overcome public speaking?

Public speaking can be quite daunting. Speaking in front of even the smallest crowd can make our anxiety rise. We start getting a little nervous knowing all eyes are going to be on us. We might feel a little off balance, maybe start sweating, feel the jitters coming on - all of which are normal. However, if these nervous feelings don’t get better once you’ve started your speech (or if they get even worse) then keep reading because I have some tips for overcoming your fear of public speaking, or for at least dealing with that fear so it wont stress you out as much. 

1. Practice Practice Practice 

By practicing your speech over and over it will take away the likelihood of you messing it up upon delivery. Practice also helps us to feel more in control of the situation and more confident in front of the crowd as well. Practice in front of a mirror, in front of family or in front of friends, I promise it will help! 

1. Know what it is you’re talking about

The more you know about the content of your speech or presentation, the better! You will deliver a more engaging speech if you actually know what youre talking about. But more than that, you will feel more confident delivering the speech and thus feel more at ease leading up to it. 

1. Wear something you feel confident in

While this one may seem silly, we are often nervous in front of crowds because we are worried about what they are thinking of us. Whether that be our appearance, demeanor or contents of our speech. So to combat self-consciousness and give us a little confidence kick, wear your favourite outfit and it will help to break down that self-consciousness a little allowing your brain to focus more power on what matters. 

1. Do some self-centering breathing

Breath work is super important when it comes to calming ourselves down and reducing anxiety. Taking some deep breaths with your hand over your heart before your speech is a great way to center yourself, calm your mind and organise your thoughts. Take a few deep breaths now and see how good it feels! Don’t be afraid to pause for a moment during your speech to take a deep breath, quiet moments or silences during your speech are not a bad thing and if taking a second to breathe will help you make it to the end then go for it.

1. Be organised 

If your presentation or speech requires visual aids or questions from the audience, plan ahead of time when you will bring these out. Have your visual aids ready to go and have a back up plan in case there is technological failure (i.e your powerpoint file corrupts). As for questions from the audience; think of some common questions that may be asked and prepare for these. This is also where knowing your topic comes  in handy! 

1. Don’t criticize yourself after

Once your speech is done, be proud! Even if there were things you could've done better, or there was an awkward silence or whatever else may have gone wrong in your eyes - you did it! Positively reinforcing yourself will get you a whole lot further than criticism. Remember this, the way you delivered your speech doesn’t define who you are or your intelligence, it is just a speech!

To summarise, the best way to combat feelings of anxiety and dread leading up a speech is to be prepared, arm yourself with some confidence and don’t be too hard on yourself if it goes pear shaped. If you really feel like your fear of public speaking is holding you back as you can’t even make it through without having to stop, then talk to a mental health professional. They will be able to help you achieve your goals and give more personalised coping strategies. I hope these tips can help you and if you’d like more info on becoming confident check out one of our previous blogs on how to feel more confident.

The Power of Mentorship: Accelerating Your Path to Success

In the journey of personal and professional growth, having a mentor by your side can make a remarkable difference. A mentor is not just a guide but a source of inspiration, wisdom, and support. They provide valuable insights, share experiences, and offer guidance that can propel you forward. Mentors have always played a significant role in my life, guiding and inspiring me along my journey.

In this blog post, we will explore the importance of having a mentor and how their presence can contribute to your success.

1. Gaining Perspective and Clarity:

A mentor brings a fresh perspective to your goals and challenges. They have been through similar experiences and can offer insights that you may have not considered. Their wisdom and guidance can help you gain clarity, make informed decisions, and avoid common pitfalls.

2. Knowledge and Expertise:

Mentors are often seasoned professionals who have honed their skills and achieved success in their respective fields. Their expertise and knowledge are invaluable resources that they willingly share with you. By tapping into their wealth of experience, you can learn from their successes and failures, acquiring valuable skills and insights that can fast-track your growth.

3. Building a Support Network:

A mentor not only provides guidance but also becomes a part of your support network. They genuinely care about your success and are invested in your growth. They can introduce you to their network, open doors to opportunities, and provide valuable connections that can enhance your career or business prospects.

4. Accountability and Motivation:

One of the key benefits of having a mentor is the accountability they provide. They hold you to a higher standard and push you to reach your full potential. With their support, you are motivated to set and achieve ambitious goals, staying focused and disciplined along the way. A mentor's encouragement and belief in your abilities can boost your confidence and drive.

5. Personal and Professional Development:

A mentor plays a crucial role in your personal and professional development. They can help you identify and leverage your strengths, address weaknesses, and develop new skills. Their guidance can help you navigate challenging situations, learn from setbacks, and embrace continuous improvement. With a mentor, you are constantly learning and growing, unlocking your true potential.

6. Emotional Support and Guidance:

Beyond the practical aspects, a mentor provides emotional support during your journey. They understand the challenges and obstacles you face and can offer guidance to overcome them. They can be a sounding board for your ideas and concerns, offering a safe space for reflection and growth. A mentor's encouragement and belief in you can instil confidence and resilience.

In a world of endless possibilities, having a mentor can be a game-changer. Their guidance, expertise, and support can propel you forward, accelerating your path to success. The insights they provide, the knowledge they share, and the relationships they help foster are invaluable assets in your personal and professional journey.

Embrace the power of mentorship and unlock your true potential. Seek out a mentor who aligns with your goals, values, and aspirations, and embark on a transformative journey of growth and achievement.

If you're seeking a coach and mentor to propel yourself and your business to new heights, where the possibilities are limitless, feel free to reach out to me at chrissy@creativelittlesoul.com.au. I'd be thrilled to discuss how I can assist you.

Mid-year blues, how to get out of the funk you are in?

As winter sets in and we reach the midpoint of the year, many individuals experience a sense of being overwhelmed and feeling unaccomplished. However, this juncture presents an opportune moment to reevaluate and realign your vision and goals for the remainder of the year. It's also crucial to take some time out for yourself during this period. Feeling the mid-year blues is common, but there are several strategies you can employ to get out of the funk. Here are some suggestions:

·       Reflect and Realign:

Take some time to reflect on your goals and priorities. Evaluate if your current path aligns with your values and aspirations. Look back on everything you told yourself you would do and, if necessary, make adjustments or set new goals that will excite and motivate you. There is nothing wrong with changing the dates of your goals, just reevaluate them on how you can make them work.

·       Break It Down: Often your mid-year blues is from you having set a higher expectation to what you wanted to achieve and you know now that it can’t be done. Firstly, break your larger goals into smaller ones and write down what you have achieved so far. Secondly, write down the tasks that you need to do now to get there. Remember to focus on one task at a time, celebrating each small accomplishment along the way. This can help you regain a sense of momentum.

·       Self-Care should be number one:  Self-care is a deeply individual practice, as it varies from person to person. Factors such as traumas and mental health conditions influence the selection of appropriate steps to enhance your self-care routine. It is essential to recognize and prioritize the strategies that best cater to your unique needs and circumstances. An effective self-care plan should encompass various aspects to promote overall well-being. It should focus on stress reduction, effective time management, relaxation techniques, mindfulness practices, overcoming procrastination, fostering assertiveness, and developing healthy habits. By incorporating these elements into your self-care routine, you can enhance your physical, mental, and emotional wellness. Taking care of yourself can boost your mood and overall well-being. If you want to read more, check out another article we have here.

·       Get Support: This is a very hard thing to say to people because it may feel like you have failed if you have to go to someone else for help. However, reaching out to friends, family, or a support network can help with new ideas or motivate you to change your goals more effectively. Get Support could also mean thinking about ways to improve your business with outsourcing and finding a VA or agency to help. Assess what you are feeling and what your concerns are and speak to someone you trust.

·       Set Exciting Challenges: Ok, you may be thinking, I already am in a ‘funk’ What could more challenges do? Well, introducing new challenges or learning opportunities into your routine can help reignite your enthusiasm and sense of growth. Explore a new hobby, take up a course, or set personal challenges that push you outside of your comfort zone.

·       You should always Celebrate!: We often forget all the things that we have achieved and think about the things that we haven’t. Maybe you need to take a moment to acknowledge your achievements and milestones, no matter how small. Recognising your progress can boost your self-confidence and motivation to keep going.

·       Incorporate Positivity: Surround yourself with positivity in all aspects of your life. Seek out inspirational books, podcasts, or motivational content that uplifts your spirits. Practice the art of gratitude by focusing on the things you are thankful for in your life. Cultivating a positive mindset can help shift your perspective and increase your spirit.

·       Connect with others: As a business owner who works from home, physical socialising doesn’t happen often. However, engaging in meaningful conversations, volunteering, or joining clubs and organisations can provide a sense of belonging and purpose. “Love is our true destiny. We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone - we find it with another.” ― Thomas Merton, Love and Living

·       Plan Breaks or Getaways: Schedule breaks or plan a vacation to recharge and rejuvenate. Taking time away from your routine can help you gain a fresh perspective and return with renewed energy and motivation.

·       If nothing is working, seek professional help: If you find that the mid-year blues persist and significantly impact your daily life, it may be beneficial to seek support from a mental health professional. They can provide guidance and strategies tailored to your specific needs.

Every individual's journey is distinct, and it's completely normal to experience both ups and downs along the way. It's important to regularly pause and reflect on how you can improve and grow. Be patient with yourself and concentrate on taking small steps towards rekindling your motivation and finding joy. Initiate the process of overcoming your current funk today, and you'll pave the way for a more fulfilling week ahead..

How to feel & appear more confident

Confident: feeling or showing certainty about something.

For people who struggle with self-doubt, confidence can be difficult to attain. While some may possess this quality effortlessly, it is possible for anyone to develop it if they are committed to enhancing their self-esteem. 

When it comes to both appearing and actually feeling more confident, there are a few mind and body language tricks that one can try out. I’ll let you in on a little secret here too, a lot of successful people and I mean a lot only became truly confident because they started out by faking it. Gaining confidence really is a “fake it till you make it” kind of attribute. To give you a starting point for gaining some confidence, I have broken down confidence tricks into two categories; the physical and the mental. Have a read and give these tips a try and definitely let us know if any work out for you!

PHYSICAL TRICKS  

There are a few different physical tricks to gain confidence that you can use. To understand these we must first look at body language. 

Body language is most of the time a subconscious way of indicating how we humans feel in a situation. If we are stressed out, we will fidget. If we are anxious our shoulders will shrink down and we avoid eye contact. But if we are confident, we stand up tall, we take large strides and we make eye contact. 

Eye contact is one of those things you just have to do in order to give off confidence. It will be tricky at first but once you start to practice it confidence will flow through you. When you first meet someone, do your best to make eye contact with them and you will exude confidence all while forming a better connection with them. Obviously, I’m not saying stare at them or anything too intense but make a more conscious effort to hold their gaze.  

Good posture will take you far in life and help you to walk straighter, stand taller and appear confident. Other indicators that will make you appear outwardly confident are those such as looking up when walking, having relaxed shoulders, not touching your hair or giving a firm handshake. If you can implement some of these into your day-to-day interactions, they are surefire ways to appear confident. By changing the way your body moves, it will not only give you the look of confidence but also help you to FEEL more confident. 

Another interesting physical trick is using power poses.  They are the best way to deeply connect with your inner power. You don’t have to do the typical power poses, you can find a pose that helps you to feel connected to yourself and breathe deeply into it. The purpose of these poses is to help you unlock your inner strength and encourage you to bring it with you all day. You can practice all these tricks behind closed doors until you feel ready to bring them out into the world. 

Making lists of things you have achieved or things in your life that you are proud of will give you a tangible way of gaining confidence. Being able to see and touch your achievements is a great way to remind yourself of how far you have come. You can also write down your strengths and talents to remind yourself of who you are and what you value about yourself. Finding things you are good at and practising them will boost your self-confidence and this will bleed into other aspects of your life. 

MENTAL TRICKS

Say goodbye to limiting beliefs and hello to visualisation! Limiting beliefs come into play when we tell ourselves over and over the same negative story about ourselves. We start to believe we are less capable than we truly are and our confidence begins to crack. Self-doubt and anxiety are the opposite of confidence so shifting your perspective away from limiting beliefs towards goal setting and achieving will help repair some of that broken confidence. Taking steps to reinforce your confidence will eventually make you feel genuinely more confident. 

Improving your self-talk is a great way to shift your inner perspective, when you start to tell yourself positive things your brain will actually start to believe it. Asking better questions of yourself will give you better answers, for example; rather than asking yourself “Why can’t I do anything right?” ask “What do I need to better achieve my desired results?”. 

Since our brains often allow us to trick them, positive visualisation is a nice way to take advantage of that. When you constantly visualise something your brain will eventually take it as fact thus when that situation comes to fruition these visualisations are doubly reinforced as fact. The brain reads these facts and translates them to self-confidence. What we choose to focus on is so important as we get back what you put out. 

Practising gratitude is something we have covered in previous blogs so if you want to read further be sure to check those out. But to quickly summarise - gratitude is key to developing confidence, when you start to feel grateful for your body and your life your mindset will shift from a negative state to one of positivity. A positive mindset allows you to exist in a universe that makes no mistakes and provides you with what you need. The less negativity you see the more confidence you will develop. In order to become confident you need to have a can-do attitude, when you fail you need to pick yourself up and not let the failure overwhelm you. Making mistakes is inevitable, but what really matters is what you do with that failure. You need to grow from mistakes and take them as a lesson. This way your confidence will increase as you start to back yourself a bit more. See your failures as opportunities to grow rather than as a major losses.  

My final note to you all is that if you feel as if you have given some of these suggestions a chance in the past and your confidence is still staying low,  the best idea is to talk to a mental health professional. There is never any shame in seeking a little extra help. Mental health pros are pros for a reason, so do your best to listen to them with an open mind.

Tracking Habits and Writing Sh*t Down.

Tracking habits and documenting them can be powerful tools for personal growth, self-awareness, and productivity. Habits have the potential to either lead to success or become detrimental traits. The beauty of habits lies in their controllability, as you are the one who can apply control over them.

Habits are essentially routine behaviours that require regular repetition to become ingrained in your brain. They operate on both automatic and conscious levels and can be either positive or negative. Negative habits are formed in the same way as positive ones, and it often takes developing positive habits to eliminate the negative ones.

Positive habits contribute to our well-being, productivity, and personal development, while negative habits can impede our progress and have negative impacts on our lives. Examples of positive habits include regular exercise, mindfulness practice, daily reading, and maintaining consistent sleep patterns. On the other hand, negative habits can encompass activities like procrastination, excessive screen time, nail-biting, or smoking.

Regardless of the nature of your habits, one of the most effective approaches to understanding and transforming them is to write them down. By doing so, you create awareness about your daily routines and behaviours, enabling you to address areas where progress and improvement are needed. Writing down your habits can serve as a powerful tool to analyse and modify them, paving the way for personal growth and positive change.

Methods to habit track

There are various methods you can utilize for habit tracking, including smartphone habit tracker apps, habit journals or logs, and physical habit trackers or calendars. The habits you choose to track will depend on your personal goals and preferences. Common examples include exercise, reading, mindfulness practice, staying hydrated, eating healthily, avoiding procrastination, and ensuring sufficient sleep.

Consistently tracking your habits allows you to develop a better understanding of your patterns and behaviours over time. It enables you to identify trends, strengths, and areas where adjustments may be needed. Habit tracking can serve as a motivating tool since visualizing your progress or receiving reminders can encourage you to stay on track and maintain positive habits.

Furthermore, habit tracking fosters accountability by making you more aware of your actions and their impact on your overall well-being. By monitoring and analysing your habits, you can make informed decisions and take steps toward building a more productive and fulfilling lifestyle.

Habit tracking can be applied to various areas of life, such as health and fitness, productivity, self-care, learning, and personal development. Whether you aim to establish new habits, break bad ones, or maintain existing positive habits, habit tracking can be a powerful tool in supporting your journey of self-improvement.

To incorporate habit tracking into your routine, consider the following steps:

·       Identify the specific habits you wish to track, based on your desired focus areas.

·       Choose a tracking method that suits you, whether it's an app, journal, spreadsheet, or checklist.

·       Set clear goals for each habit and define the frequency or duration you want to track. For example, if you want to develop a reading habit, aim for 30 minutes of reading every day.

·       Regularly record your progress, marking completed habits, noting missed ones, or using a numerical system to track performance.

·       Periodically review your habit tracker to identify patterns, obstacles, or areas for improvement. Adjust your goals or strategies accordingly to maintain progress.

Your most powerful tool – Write it down!

Writing can be a powerful tool for self-reflection, organisation, and creative expression. Here's how you can make the most of writing:

Journaling: Regularly record your thoughts, emotions, and experiences. This practice promotes self-awareness, allows for introspection, tracks personal growth, and serves as a therapeutic outlet for stress relief.

To-do Lists: Compile tasks and priorities in writing to maintain organization and concentration. The act of crossing off completed items provides a sense of achievement, motivating further progress and productivity.

Gratitude Journaling: Dedicate a journal to express gratitude by jotting down things you appreciate each day. This practice shifts your mindset towards positivity, cultivates gratitude, and promotes a greater sense of contentment and well-being.

Stream-of-Consciousness Writing: Set a timer and engage in uninterrupted writing, allowing your thoughts to flow freely without judgment or censorship. This technique taps into your subconscious mind, stimulates creativity, and can lead to fresh insights and innovative ideas.

By embracing the power of writing, you can unlock the potential for self-discovery, organization, and creative exploration. Whether through journaling, to-do lists, gratitude journals, or stream-of-consciousness writing, putting pen to paper can have a profound impact on your personal growth and well-being.

Keep in mind that habits can be established or modified through small daily actions you consciously take to bring about change. Consistency plays a vital role in integrating these practices into your life successfully. Explore different approaches, discover what resonates with you the most, and customize them according to your unique goals and requirements.

If you're seeking guidance in structuring your daily habits and would like the support of a life coach, I will be opening my books for new clients starting next month. Feel free to reach out to me at chrissy@creativelittlesoul.com.au. Together, we can work towards creating a routine that fosters personal growth and helps you achieve your desired outcomes.

Discovering Your Passion

When it comes to finding your passion the road is often treacherous. It isn’t easy navigating your way through life and finding passion while you do so. However, when you do finally find your passion it can make your life have renewed meaning and value. So in this blog I intend to give you some suggestions and tools you can equip yourself with to make it a little easier to find your passion. 

Start with a vision & brainstorm

Grab a pen and paper or whatever medium you would like and write down a list of what you want to accomplish in your life. I know this may be a big list so start small and be sure to put in both personal and professional goals. This list will start to point you in the right direction and act as a sort of compass that you can refer back to when you feel yourself starting to stray. You want to try and scratch away the surface of your life and uncover what you really value when writing these goals. By writing things down you will start to discover more about yourself and this self-awareness plays such an important part in finding your passion. You can even ask yourself questions to come back to later like; What motivates me? What do I feel compelled towards? What are things that make me feel present? What do I feel completes me?

Self-reflection

What you can write down next is a list of things that you already love to do. Not only that, also add in things that you don’t love to do, by doing this you will really start to align yourself with what you value and understand yourself better. 

Next, write down your strengths and your weaknesses. Don’t worry I’m not asking you to share these with anyone else so be as honest as you can because at the end of the day, you need to be truly honest with yourself because how else are you going to get where you want to be? 

Keeping a journal is also a good idea as it will allow you to sort of track your progress once you start taking steps towards your passion. Self-reflection is something that will never do any harm so make the time to journal and it will surely become an outlet for you too. 

Meditation is another great way to open up a space for self-reflection. Being aware of how you feel in situations and after certain events in your life can guide you to better understand yourself and your place in the world.

Let’s begin  

Once you have given these writing techniques a go, start trying new things that are aligned with what you have written down. You wont find your passion right away but you can start getting used to trying new things and seeing what is out there. If something sticks then keep at it and don’t give up when it starts to get tricky, this is the make or break point. Don’t let the negative thoughts you may feel hold you back. Ignore the “I’m not good enough” “I’m too old for this” “They are better than I am” “What if I fail” thoughts, they will never take you where you want to go. 

Try and remember that this process of finding your passion will not be easy or necessarily comfortable, but that’s a good thing! Comfort is the enemy of both passion and growth, it is when we start to get uncomfortable that things will change for the better. 

If you still need help then seek guidance from a life or career coach. They are trained pros whose whole passion is helping others find theirs. 

I really hope this blog can inspire you to try finding your passion and can help propel you forward into the world and into the life of your dreams! 

5 things you can do to combat being overwhelmed

Let's face reality: there will be occasions in life when you'll experience a sense of being overwhelmed. Whether it's due to work, school, social responsibilities or life in general, we all go through periods of feeling anxious, stressed or overwhelmed at some point. It's crucial to be kind to yourself when these emotions arise. Rather than dismiss them or try to power through the cause of your anxiety, it's essential to recognise the importance of your mental well-being. If you're feeling weighed down, it's alright to take a step back.

So in order to avoid that feeling, here are 5 things you can do to combat being overwhelmed

1.Stay and be organised 

One of the main things that can stress me out is disorganisation. I’m sure that I'm not alone with this one at all. Feeling a lack of organisation results in me wanting to pull my hair out and bleeds stress and feelings of being overwhelmed by other aspects of my life, which is definitely less than ideal.

So to combat that feeling I like to stay nice and organised as much as I can. Writing up a schedule or keeping a diary can be a really useful and easy way to stay on top of things and see what you have coming up. Making a plan for your day/week/month/year is also super helpful to see the bigger picture of what needs to be done and when.

Setting reminders or alarms to get things done on time is useful especially if you have a time crunch or are a little forgetful at times. Organisation can look different for everyone but as long as your way makes sense to you and keeps you on top of things then it is perfect. 

2. Overcommitting - stay away from it!

Committing to something knowing you will not be able to follow that commitment through is not only a disservice to yourself but also to those you are committing to. If you are unable to attend that event, edit that paper, or sell those raffle tickets - whatever it may be - then you should never feel the need to commit and say you can. 

By spreading yourself too thin and over committing you will run out of time and energy to do the things that NEED to be done and boom you’re going to feel super overwhelmed. Then you will have to go through all the hoops of cancelling and letting others down and in the end, you will feel like you failed someone or yourself. 

Being aware enough of your own schedule and knowing how to responsibly commit to things will free you up to do those things a lot better than if you had a million other commitments to do on top of it. Overcommitting will soak up all your brain juice and leave nothing but feelings of anxiety and frustration. 

3. Take time to rest when you can

We are often taught that any time we are free should be filled with something productive. Even if it’s your 10-minute bus ride home and want to scroll Instagram, there is too much other to do and you know that every minute counts, right!? Wrong! This mentality is one that maybe a few of you out there really respond well to and it works for you, sure, but for the rest of us, this will be a one-way ticket to feeling overwhelmed. When you have some extra time and before you jump into a super productive task, take a minute. Ask your mind and your body, is this what I need to do right now? If the answer is no, then with no shame at all - take some rest. This moment's rest will actually help you in the long run to feel less overwhelmed because it will give your brain a little refresh and help you do tasks/errands/whatever it may be that you’re doing, with more patience and leave you feeling calmer. You never know when the next time you will be able to take a moment's rest will be, so seize the opportunities when you can and refresh yourself. 

4. Learn to delegate and have work-life balance

Delegating seems like a pretty easy thing to do, but for some of us relinquishing that control over tasks is a little harder. I for one, needed to learn this task and quick smart. 

We want the best quality of work and the best outcome but realistically one person cannot do the tasks made for an army. So learning to delegate will take the pressure off your shoulders and allow a sense of calm to make its way into your mind. Once you don’t have a full plate of work to do, trust me, you will feel a lot less overwhelmed. 

Another positive outcome of delegating is that sometimes other people can give a fresh perspective or approach to your work. Even if you don’t love their ideas, you know that they have got some floating around and this will come in handy at a later time. Delegating then helps with having work life balance. If you are spending all your time working, chances are your ME time will suffer and your fuse will be shorter, leading to a state of a mental shutdown. You need to learn when it is okay to shut the laptop and do something you enjoy to get your brain releasing all those happy chemicals and keeping you calm. Without work-life balance, in the long run your work will suffer and you won't be able to enjoy your life without feeling as if you should be working. 

5. You aren't weak if you ask for help!

Asking for help can sometimes be the hardest thing to do. But why! Why do we feel as if it is a weakness or as if we have failed if we ask for help? This question is big of a topic to unpack in one paragraph but essentially we feel as if we need to prove that we have everything under control but in reality who does?! Asking for help, whether that be emotional, physical, spiritual or whatever kind of help you need will always make a difference in the way you feel. Having someone take even just a little bit off your shoulders will make you feel so much less overwhelmed and allow you to think clearer, make better judgements and feel so much lighter in general. Even if the situation isn't yet dire, ask for a hand so that it doesn’t get to that point. Never be afraid to ask those who you trust for help. It will save you so many headaches and allow you to get back to a calmer state of mind. 

Let’s face reality, we all feel overwhelmed, but it is about making a change for the better. Try these out and let me know how you go.

Experiencing burnout or feeling lost and stuck? Here's how mentoring can help!

Life will continue to be stressful, but sometimes it goes past a simple need for a breather. If you think you may be experiencing the feeling of being stuck or lost, know that you’re not alone and especially with this time of year it’s inevitable. 

The reason for these feelings is you are mentally and physically exhausted, or underchallenged. We as humans are known to have stress and this is the underlying reason for most mental health issues. But that isn’t the problem, it is lack of motivation to continue, or the idea that you can not find a solution to a problem that has probably been on your mind for the whole year. 

Such symptoms turn into what psychologists have deemed ‘burnout’, The term burnout was first devised by psychologist Herbert Freudenberger in 1974. When you feel burnout, these daily feelings: 

• begin to feel hopeless about their work environment

• dread going to work

• feel as if they’re “drowning” or barely able to keep their heads above water

• develop a short temper

• experience signs of depression

• have trouble sleeping

• often fantasize about leaving their jobs or having a different life

There is a long term solution………

Here is where a mentor can come in as they not only have an invested interest in your success, but have been there too. 97% of individuals with a mentor feel they are highly impactful and valuable. And it is not surprising that 79% of millennials view mentoring as a crucial aspect of having a successful career.

Mentors are a positive influence by definition. It takes a positive person and positive steps to make change in one’s life. But the idea of a mentor is to help you learn and grow by sharing their knowledge and wisdom with you. In this way, you can benefit from their experience without having to suffer the consequences of gaining that experience firsthand. 

In other words, a mentor is someone that can see your vision through, guide you into achieving the steps for this vision, and then help you execute it. 

Mentors need to have certain characteristics and after speaking to a few mentee’s, this is what I found they are looking for: 

• Willing to share their wisdom, knowledge, skills and expertise.

• Had a positive outlook on life. “They helped me through tough times and showed me how to find the opportunity in the difficulties I was facing.”

• Genuinely concerned about me and my success. 

• Really knew what they were doing. “I respected them for their knowledge and skills.”

• Keep growing. All of my mentors were curious and inquisitive. Sometimes the roles were reversed. “They asked what I was reading, and then read the books themselves – so they could learn and we could discuss the ideas.”

• Gave me direct, constructive feedback. “They held me to high standards. They congratulated me when I met their expectations. They corrected me when I failed to do so – but in a manner where I learned what not to do the next time.”

• Were respected by their colleagues. People who are highly regarded in their field or company make the best mentors.

• Sought out and valued the opinions of others. “My best mentor always told me to listen most carefully to the people with whom I disagreed – in that way I might learn something. And, he was right.”

Although having a mentor is not a new concept, it is more that people don’t believe they can find the results with a mentor, but even the most successful names you know have had them - Steve Jobs mentored Mark Zuckerberg, Christian Dior mentored Yves Saint-Laurent, and Sir Freddie Laker mentored Richard Branson. 

Branson once said, ‘If you ask any successful business person, they will always have had a great mentor at some point along the road.’ - And he was right! Branson went to Laker during his struggles to get Virgin Atlantic up and running. ‘It’s always good to have a helping hand at the start. I wouldn’t have got anywhere in the airline industry without the mentorship of Sir Freddie Laker.’

So what do I do to find one? 

Do some research in finding the mentor. At the moment, seek out someone who you can see has the success you want and ask them about a mentoring program that they can offer. 

January is the best time to commit to an on-going mentor, and also the best time to reset all the things that you wanted to achieve in the New Year. Not a ‘New Years’ Resolution’ but more a strategy session about the things that you can do every month for the new year. 

Starting 2023, I will be offering mentoring and coaching programs to help with your success or you are welcome to join my clubhouse or collective club group for a more chilled environment before you commit to something one on one. 

For any questions and for more information, email me at chrissy@creativelittlesoul.com.au.

What is your Blog's Content Plan and how to create the best one?

The term blog has been redefined and changed so many times over the last decade, that now it has become the ‘thought’ based media of this century. 

The potential of a blog is to drive traffic to your website and with all the search engines creating this drive, you need to be able to create a level of engagement that is unique and thought provoking. 

Even in some cases, companies or individuals have made a fortune off purely having articles and words on a page that appeals to a certain market. 

Establishing consistent blog content and engaging content comes down to one important element – what is your content plan? And it isn’t about putting a handful of words on a page and seeing if someone would read it. 

This blog concept in marketing terms is the definition of Content Marketing. Content marketing is an online marketing strategy that’s used to entice and stimulate interest in a certain product or brand without openly promoting it. You need to understand that a blog is a ‘notch in your belt’ of your Content Marketing strategy, and you will need other elements like social media and newsletters to help drive traffic as well. 

Let’s dive into blog content and how you can capitalize off of a blog with the perfect plan. 

What is a content plan?

A content plan covers all the marketing assets and engagement (including all SEO and data-gathering functions) needed to achieve the goals that you have made in your Content Marketing Strategy. 

Your content plan is supported with the following primary phases: awareness, consideration, conversion and decision. What us marketers call it is ‘Lead generation’. You may have heard the term ‘lead’ a lot, this is what you are basically doing, you are trying to lead them into making a decision about your product or service. 

What is a blog content plan?

To define your blog content plan, you need to know your target audience at the basic level – who they are, and what they like to read. Then, you look at your product – what makes your product different? Why do people like your product? What are the needs that your audience seeks from your product? 

When you have both your target audience and product defined, you use the blog content to connect them. 

For example, if you are a motivational speaker, you would want to appeal to the leadership/entrepreneur target audience – your blog content would be about leadership, how to better yourself, or even ways to achieve your goals. 

The content that connects both your target audience and the product/service is what helps establish a link between a problem your target is facing and an effective solution that your product or service provides.

What type of content should you create for your blog? 

Considering the target audience and product needs that you established before, there are numerous topics and themes that you will need to start the blogging process. 

Here are the types of content you can write about: 

1. Drives Revenue and Transaction

For any business that needs to create revenue or a transaction this is the content for you. This content is used to drive audiences online where they seek information about your product and you in turn need a transaction to happen then and there. This can include anything from a direct purchase or booking online. 

This type of content can be from plain text or promotional videos. Creating this content results in sales growth and can be used to benefit new and old products. 

2. Information and knowledge

This content is helpful when someone is looking for a piece of information where they learn something new. Do you know? Or 5 things to help? 

The goal of this content is to provide answers and solve a problem that the seeker is wanting. This type of content is what people seek blogs for more than others, and it’s important to note that most of your blogs you create need to be information based more than anything. 

Like most seekers on the WWW, you are “looking” for something, and this is where it becomes handy to drive them to your website with some new information that in turn, you create a community following where you can utilize a transaction later.  

With this type of content, you are recognised as an expert in your area, and they want to follow you more. A lot of websites don’t utilise informative content enough and are more transactional than anything. But the whole idea of a blog is for you to understand what your audience is looking for. 

People hate to be sold to, but if you are giving them information for free it’s a good way to build trust to sell your products later on. 

3. Leading and expert-driven 

This content is where your company is seen by experts and panels that seek information from you based on your level of expertise. Your information is more factual and based on papers or submissions from others or yourself. Your blog will be seen as a trusted source of relevant information for their industry. 

This content can only be used if you have successes, innovations, and a reputation to back it up. Only then will your company have earned the industry’s trust to start this specific type of content.

If you aren’t any of this, then your blog will be more informative. 

4. Trending content

This type of content is basically as it says, you are using a blog for ‘trending’ topics that will go viral to get millions of engagements and shares.

Most viral content works on video or images, but with blogs, you can use this as a topic of conversation for current issues that have been seen on other platforms like social media. 

This type of content is more impactful, memorable, and relatable and in turn, you want it to be shared. 

This has been known as the digital version of ‘word of mouth’. Where you create content that is more about recommendations, things that people are relating to at the moment or even ideas that people are searching for the most and need information. The easiest example to explain would have been anything to do with COVID-19 two years ago. 

With this type of blog, you need to be able to write then and there and always be posting when a story hits. 

This version is seen more as a full-time job, than part-time. But it is seen as the best way to get the fastest engagement with blogs than any other. 

So, if you want to make your blog a career, then this is the best method. 

Now you know what a good content plan is and what type of blogs you can write. 

Take some time away from distraction and map out the “theme” that you want your blog to entail and then start writing. 

There are also plenty of blog and copywriting courses that you can take, if you need some help or engage a professional copywriter that can write for you instead.

But most of all, don’t start writing or creating a blog unless you know what your content will be first. 

What does your Mindset say about your success?

Your Mindset is a simple term that is not only cliché but is also the only word in the English dictionary that can determine your path to success. It is your Mindset that leaves you in limbo. 

Your Mindset means everything in the destination, where you are going and where you are. Your mindset is a set of values that shape how you make sense of the world and yourself. It influences how you think, feel, and behave in all factors of life. 

So ask yourself, what is your current mindset at the moment – where have your beliefs and internal conversation got you too, and where are you going? 

Because even the most successful people need to reimagine and retrain their brain if they want a different path. 

“The mind is just like a muscle - the more you exercise it, the stronger it gets and the more it can expand.” ? Idowu Koyenikan

Ok, so think about this, the reason why you are still an employee or the reason why your business is not succeeding, is because you are not in the right mindset. And finally when you have the right mindset, your actions will determine your outcomes. 

For example… Imagine you want to start a VA business and you are struggling to find clients, well the reason for this is because your expectation is that you are thinking clients will come to you, you have an employee mindset. You apply for a job and you wait for the call…right?? Well guess what, you need to start thinking like you are a CEO of your non-existent business. Because in your business you are the employer/CEO, so in reality you need to start thinking about what a CEO would do to grow the business, how would they find clients and what would they do to succeed. 

Hint, a book to help: Climb Your Own Ladder: Become the CEO of Your Own Business by Dana Malstaff

Another example would be if you are a CEO, and you are thinking negatively about the business, refusing to change, refusing to grow, then the negative thoughts will then start reflecting in your business and then in your team members. As a result, your business suffers! And then you say to yourself “what happened”? 

That being said, your mindset has to be full of the right thoughts so that you feel the right emotions, and ultimately make the right decisions to run a successful business.

Overcoming and knowing daily mindset traits is a good place to start and to adopt the right attitude and thoughts. 

Here are 3 mindset traits to get you started:

1. Learning means growing 

Think of it as an Apprenticeship to Entrepreneurship. 

To have a successful attitude, you need to start learning, and start reading. Reading is the best method to hear success stories or steps to get your path moving. If you don’t read, then audible it is. What makes learning the best trait to have is the more learning you do changes your mindset from “I already know everything” to “I didn’t know that” or “what can I learn”. 

Because the reality is the smartest and most successful people on the planet don’t have all the answers. 

Education does not only mean that you attend university, get a degree and then you are the expert for life. The worst mindset is that we learn once and then we know everything. Newsflash, you actually probably know nothing then, because what you learn once is not going to set you up for life, but for a short period of time. We want long term growth, don’t we?

Expect never to grow if you aren’t learning. Knowledge means power, and with more knowledge comes results. 

2. The making of thinking BIG!

Get this book: The Magic of Thinking Big - David J. Schwartz

This book was written in 1959, so these principles are not something that has developed over the last 10 years. 

The power of the right mindset is that you like thinking beyond your capacity of where you are now, and thinking that you could be better. 

It is the small-minded thoughts that determine how small or how BIG your success is. 

Now this isn’t about thinking big thoughts will always work, but it is making sure that your grand vision for the company is backed by determination. 

If you think little and aren’t willing to challenge the status quo you will forever be stuck in the mindset of ‘why isn’t it working?’. 

Think beyond the mundane, every day, normal business life. The enemy is we want an "average” business/life which then threatens to take away our hopes, dreams, and meaning in our lives. 

Strive for excellence in everything you do. If you want something you've never had, you'll have to do something you've never done. Because when you think big thoughts, you will ultimately make the kind of big moves required to grow a successful company. 

3. Mental conditioning – be in control of positive thoughts. 

While most of us don’t believe it, we are all mentally conditioned to think and act a certain way. 

This is a reflection of your past, your influences, or your friends and social media. It is a factor of science that when your brain was developing all those crazy and wild thoughts from the age of 3 years old, you are mentally training your brain to think a certain way. 

Ask yourself, why do some CEOs have CEO parents, or why some kids at the age of 25 already have successful business. Most of this is mental conditioning, you are wired a certain way and only then and when you realise what needs to be done, you start to train your brain to think differently. 

Complexity is not the answer either, if you make things more complex, more confusing to yourself, you complicate the process of growth and it will be more likely that your strategies in place will be less effective, then if you keep it simple. 

The first step to a positive mindset, is realising when you are thinking negatively, be aware of the conditioning, and the reason why this happens. 

Then start to ‘replace’ negative thoughts with the positive ones. The best way to do this is to listen to positive people or be around positive people. Join group forums, clubhouse groups or attend a network event. 

It takes effort to control it, but once you do, your mindset starts to reflect your business direction. 

You want to succeed? You will succeed? And nothing will stop you? 

Did you believe these statements? Because it is possible if you just condition your brain to think like that. 

The Bottom Line

There are probably another 10 examples that I could say to determine your mindset, but these are the basics and can be started now. 

The number one reason why so many business ideas never get off the ground is because the business owner started with the wrong mindset.

Think of it like this: if you aren’t willing to change your mindset, then you will be in the same place you are now 1 year from now, or even 5 years from now. 

So if you like what is happening to you, then don’t change and live the same life forever.

Drop mic!

CHRISSY SYMEONAKIS WINS BRONZE STEVIE® AWARD IN 2022 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AWARDS®

Our founder Chrissy Symeonakis was named the winner of a Bronze Stevie® Award in the Woman of the Year category in The 19th Annual International Business Awards® today. The International Business Awards are the world’s premier business awards program. All individuals and organizations worldwide – public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small - are eligible to submit nominations. The 2022 IBAs received entries from organizations in 67 nations and territories.

Winners will be celebrated during a gala banquet at the InterContinental London Park Lane Hotel, in London, England, on Saturday, 15 October – the first live IBA awards ceremony since 2019.

More than 3,700 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration in a wide range of categories, including Company of the Year, Marketing Campaign of the Year, Best New Product or Service of the Year, Startup of the Year, Corporate Social Responsibility Program of the Year, and Executive of the Year, among others. This year’s competition also featured a number of new categories to recognize organizations’ and individuals’ achievements in social media and thought leadership. Chrissy Symeonakis’ award is a testament to her years of service in the Marketing and Entertainment industry, and also her passion for helping others through adversity and being an ambassador and mentor for chronic illness.

The comments from the judges were, “Chrissy demonstrates leadership in every sense of the word. Not only has she faced and overcome her own adversity, she now takes those lessons and shares them with the world for no other reason than to support those who share a similar life experience in the Chronic Illness Community”. And “We need leaders like Chrissy. I am deeply touched with the way she treats her employees and her team, the way she supports them and helps them with their needs either its related to work or their health” Stevie Award winners were determined by the average scores of more than 300 executives worldwide who participated in the judging process in June and July.

“We’re thrilled that we’re able to return to celebrating Stevie winners in person this year,” said Stevie Awards president Maggie Miller. “This year’s class of honorees are as innovative, adventuresome, persistent, and successful as we’ve ever had. We look forward to celebrating their achievements with them during our 15 October awards banquet in London.” Details about The International Business Awards and the lists of Stevie Award winners are available at www.StevieAwards.com/IBA and also to find out about Chrissy please visit her website www.chrissysymeonakis.com.

About Chrissy Symeonakis.

Chrissy is a creative services industry veteran with 20 years of experience in hospitality, entertainment, marketing and public relations who has a signature “get-shit-done” attitude. Serial entrepreneur and chronic illness advocate, Chrissy is an inspiration to those she meets. She continues to entwine systems thinking with unfiltered creativity and a personal ethos she proves time and time again; the journey to success starts and ends with belief in yourself.

About the Stevie Awards.

Stevie Awards are conferred in eight programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, the Middle East & North Africa Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards®, The International Business Awards®, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 nominations each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at www.StevieAwards.com.

If you'd like to chat with Chrissy, interview her, have her guest speak for you, contact Chrissy Symeonakis chrissy@creativelittlesoul.com.au or Amanda Paterson amanda@creativelittlesoul.com.au

How to overcome that one thing stopping you from being successful.

Fear. For the most part, defined as the anticipation of danger and, as I'm sure you can imagine given that running a business is one of the most high-risk, stressful and unpredictable things a person could come up against, is a feeling no entrepreneur is a stranger to feeling it to some degree.

So when I stumbled upon this article by Entrepreneur last year, I wasn't surprised they had covered it. What I was surprised by, however, is the depths of fear a business owner goes through and more surprisingly, how conquering it is a key ingredient for success. 

Fast-forward to the present and it seems fear is a reoccurring topic in almost every client strategy call I have been on of late. Which makes sense. The last couple of years hasn't exactly been a pleasant stroll through “Relaxation Boulevard”. Whenever a topic repeats in a pattern I find that more often and not, it is the Universe trying to tell me something and so, here I find myself, sharing my thoughts on fear and entrepreneurship with you. 

The reality is that you will face fear in your lifetime, no matter your personality type, star sign, poker face or anything else. Fear is an escapable aspect of the human experience. It’s inevitable. 

Fear can be a positive and sometimes necessary motivator. A Kickstarter for taking action. Or, depending on the situation, can cause a debilitating state of paralysis in which action becomes a forgotten word replaced with doing sweet f*** all. 

At its core, we react to fear in ways that keep us safe and uncomfortable. Fear challenges us to make quick in-the-moment decisions. Our mind is a powerful object, it rationalises all emotions and all categories relevant to each moment. This means that even when our mind thrives on a carousel of excitement for a business venture, our brain often releases unexpected rationale and negativity. In summary, it creates fear and that joyful carousel ride grinds dramatically to a halt. 

But the inherent part of perspective is that is entirely subjective. We hold onto the basis that our perspective is important because we rely on our instincts for survival. Unfortunately, this means we often confuse choice for instinct and let the latter guide our action instead, or more accurately, lack thereof.

To achieve success, it is imperative you practice self-awareness and realize that the basis of what is driving your fear is the chance of failure. Therefore, to surpass the fear and achieve success is actually very simple. Reframe your perspective of failure and you no longer feel fear. Realize that contrary to popular belief, failure is important. Failure is not a mistake but a lesson. A lesson that creates an opportunity for the most necessary aspect of any entrepreneur's success… 

Failure = Lesson = Growth. 

“Do one thing every day that scares you.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

Prepare For Your Success

No goals and no plan, no success!

Fear of failure is increased when you don’t properly prepare for success. Sounds backwards but actually, it’s extremely logical. Fear is a by-product of lacking confidence or being unsure. Be that in your business plan, roadmap or even product or service. Fear is born from a purely curated action plan, which doesn't guide you to take action with confidence. Have you created a strategy for the journey?

What is your business plan? 

What are your competitors doing differently? 

Is being on Tiktok really what your business needs right now or are you simply following a trend?

“Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success.” —Pablo Picasso

You need to have done research on your product-market fit and understand the nature of the clients you want to target. 

For example, If you are trying to sell organic soaps to a stay-at-home mum, you must understand what they look for in a product. Is it the ingredients? Is it the production? Is the fact that is vegan? 

Knowledge is power when it comes to a good business plan. 

Start by setting business goals. Monthly, quarterly, biannually and annually and actively looking back on them to evaluate your progress. 

Without self-evaluation, your fear will kick in and you still stop moving forward. 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.

Changing Your Attitude

This one is a toughie. I have to work on this every day to release knowledge that is no longer serving me and my insecurities. Even the most successful people have to consistently work on changing their attitude to gain success. It is a never-ending part of the deal. 

Start by asking yourself: 

“Why am I scared to start or change my business? What is it that is TRULY driving this fear?”

Often you’ll find a variation of the following as your answer. 

When we look at failure, we look at it as we are a ‘loser’ or looked down upon if it doesn’t work. We fear judgement or criticism from external sources. Who doesn't fear being perceived negatively by those they hold dear? Again, this fear of failure is what holds you back. Your negative associations of what failure represents are what stop you from trying at all. 

You cannot achieve success unless you actively instigate an attitude shift towards failure. Failure does not change your personality nor does it make you a bad person. Failure is seen as negative as it affects your actions and emotions, but it’s not negative if you are looking for success. Success occurs as a direct result of “failing forward”.

The Meaning Of Failing Forward

Failing forward means that a person embraces failing as a stepping stone for their future successes. To fail forward means that you have chosen to value every failure for the lessons learned and then apply those lessons in future efforts, even if those efforts might also result in failure. When you are failing forward, each failure moves you closer to ultimate success.

Failure will be uncomfortable and unpleasant, yes, but it is an opportunity to extend beyond our usual limits and of great value. 

As George Addair said, “Everything you want is on the other side of fear.”

Don’t let your fear of failure influence your choices in starting or running your business. Fear is an inescapable enemy, but changing your perspective of it is all that is necessary to make it your best friend. 

Ready to master your fear?

Remember to check out my learn page to see if any of these courses can work for you or book a one on one session with me and let's make 2022 your best year yet!

Why Is A Personal Education Plan Critical To Growing You And Your Business?

A personal education plan is much like a business plan. At its core, a business plan lays out your pursuit of business opportunities. A personal education plan is also a pursuit for opportunities, but instead of within your business, it is within yourself. 

Breaking Down A Personal Education Plan

There are many names for a personal education plan. A personal development plan, an individual learning plan or a personal ongoing plan to name a few. Regardless of the name, they all outline the same thing, a long-term process that is constantly under review, aimed at improving workplace skills and your overall knowledge.

Whatever your ambitions, you need to action this with a structured approach and highlight the areas to overcome and what you need to gain to grow. Now, this will take a bit of humble pie and a massive realisation that you are not perfect and need to change. We're all on an individual journey and in this article, I’m going to share ways you can use a personal education plan to level up and build a stronger and more successful foundation for both you and your business. 

How do I know my ways work?

Simple.

I’m walking, talking, living proof. 

Let's Begin!

Do you often say to yourself: 

1. Why hasn't my business changed? 

2. Why has there been no growth in my business? 

3. Why don't I have good relationships with my peers or customers? 

4. Why does my job feel like a chore? 

In case you were curious, this is where you need to go grab yourself a knife and fork to cut yourself a big slice of that humble pie I mentioned. For this to work, you must actively let go of external blame. Be that your employees, the business, your competitors, the market or  COVID you need to release your blame mindset and instead focus on YOU. To be candid in this explanation I’ll put it like this.

YOU are the one holding yourself back from your full potential and success in your business. 

What Do You Want?

Before you begin to build your personal education plan, sit down, away from distractions, and write down five things you want to achieve this year and five things you want to change about yourself.

How Do You Get It?

The four critical areas of a personal education plan outline the goals you want to achieve (you completed this step at the start). The next step is to determine where you are, identify the things you want to learn and achieve, and then review after every course.  

Upon reviewing your plan and what you have already learnt, you will find that you might need to do a few courses on the same subject to help it 'sink in' before you genuinely can implement them in your life. 

Take a deep breath, a step back and realise that you don't know everything; some things will be new to you and some will need to be re-learned.  

Do You Have A Growth Mindset? 

Think about this carefully, vulnerably and honestly. If you answer “no”, then where you are now, your business will. Not. Grow.

 Not sure what a growth mindset is?

Those with a growth mindset believe that even their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work.

Research by Dr Carol Dweck states that it's not just our natural abilities that bring us success; it's whether we approach work with a "fixed" or "growth" mindset. Read her book if you need more clarification Mindset: Changing the Way You Think to Fulfil Your Potential or if you’re just keen for a great read!

Starting any educational journey with a growth mindset is non-negotiable.

Dr Dweck states that people with a fixed mindset tend to assume that they're born with a particular set of skills that they can't change. In contrast, people with a growth mindset believe that intelligence and talent are just the starting point, and that success comes through attitude, effort, and learning.

As a marketer or entrepreneur, we confidently assess the strengths and weaknesses of a business and then dive into the opportunities and threats with a SWOt analysis. Why is it that often we are so uncomfortable carrying out the same activity on ourselves?

The only way a personal education plan will work and have a significant impact is to understand more about yourself, why you do the things you do and what you need to change. What are your strengths? Your weaknesses? What can you grow on (opportunities)? What is stopping you (threats)?

Your Next Steps For Your Personal Education Plan

Consider Hiring A Coach

Hiring a professional coach or consultant to assist with growth in your business. Coaches or consultants can provide a brutally honest perspective on specific problems within your business. It's quick and effective because you immediately implement changes when someone else has identified the areas that need to change. For starters, simply having an objective party examine your day-to-day can help identify weak points and push for improvements in places you might be blind to. 

Read Why every Entrepreneur should have a coach or mentor on how and why this is effective. 

Online Courses And Self-Learning. 

Once you've carried out a thorough self-audit and identified your goals for growth, it's time to work out how to reach them. This is where you start to research and map out all the courses you want to do for the rest of the year.  I would aim for at least two a month. 

You won't have to subject yourself to TAFE or University courses. There are plenty of online courses written by reputable teachers. Platforms like Udemy and General Assembly are a great place to start looking.

I will be running some courses over the next few months, so check out my learn page if you are looking for something about email marketing, self-care, and understanding your business. 

When mapping out what you want to do, it's always a good idea to write down what you specifically want to learn. Be prepared and ready before the course starts to take on all the new information.  

Begin Networking And Making Connections

Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who share your hunger for new information and success. I've found my tribe through Clubhouse. I even have my own room, 'Small Business Work Hub'. Be sure to join my room and get amongst the conversation. Always keep in mind that networking is a two-way process; what you have to offer is just as important as what you want from other people.

How Will This Benefit You?

Empathy! You'll hear stories from others who share the same struggles. It puts your body and mind into a good headspace for change knowing that there are others out there like you, you feel more empowered to make your life and business better. 

Ok, That's It From Me. 

Remember success isn't simply waving a magic wand and things "just happen"; it takes planning, strategy, adapting when things don't work and being proactive.

Be prepared when the unexpected happens. Educate yourself on your weaknesses and look for ways to grow. Don't wait for when you have time and money because the reality is you never will unless you start today. 

YOU are the most important thing in your life, but YOU are always holding yourself back from potential. 

I believe in you. Let's kick the sh$t out of this year.  Remember to check out my learn page to see if any of these courses can work for you. 

An Open Journal Entry - Multiple Sclerosis, 9 Years To The Day

It’s been 9 years to the day. 

9 years since I woke up, had a shower and the vision in my right eye was a complete snowstorm and white out. 9 years of being blind in one eye.

From there a trip to the ER. Anxious thoughts racing through my brain, overtaking one another like the cars racing by my window speeding down the freeway. 

“Have I had a stroke?”

“Is it a brain tumour?”

“Am I going to die”....

This was the beginning of a long journey to diagnosis. What a shit show that was (If you’re curious to know more about it you can find out about it here.) The vision problems I was experiencing were the first signs of Optic Neuritis; a big tell for MS. 

9 years on there have been a number of progressions. Multiple medications in multiple forms; 7 in total. I should be stable in my diagnosis, given I take so many vitamins and supplements, gave up drinking and a host of other fun things to assist my body is trying to help my immune system that is literally attacking itself. But of 7 medications none are a cure, that medication is yet to exist. So for now we fight to slow down and halt the disease progression. So that I can get into a “remitting” stage and where there are no new lesions or future disability progressing.

Most of the medications I’ve been on bring an arms-length list of potential side effects. I’ve been allergic to medications, I’ve had to inject them into myself multiple times a week, had them cause full body cramps and convulsions; I looked like I could have been a body double for the exorcist. Another medication I was on was simple, just 1 pill a day. It caused and continues to leave me gifts in the form of skin cancers. I had to come off that medication. I am a vampire and avoid the sun at all costs as I have a genetic disposition for skin cancer, so you’ll never see me basking in the sun.  

One medication I loved, was the easiest and made me feel the least like I had MS was withdrawn from the market with zero notice given to us. Hard to believe I know but it was as simple as one day it was there, the next day it was gone. I found out via a Facebook news post, the pharmaceutical companies were nowhere to contact. Turns out, there were not enough of us on it globally, therefore it wasn’t viable to continue to production and distribution.

I took this hard. After months of monstrous side effects, to have finally found a brilliant medication was phenomenal. To have that taken away? Devastating. 

I spiralled into the darkest depression I’ve ever known. I was grieving for everything I had in my past life and it’s as though the old me “died”. It was a dark time, I was suicidal because I didn’t want to live a life where an illness and disease I never asked for and the treatment options ahead of me, where all at the mercy of big pharma. It was a rough time. 

As I go into 9 years, my MS- avversary if you will, I’m in what’s called the “crap gap”- A washout period before my next 6 monthly infusions. This period is where the medication is near non-existent in your system. The B -cells (baddies) start attacking the T (terrific) cells and it’s where all sorts of things start happening to my body; completely without an idea of what might be coming for me. I’m susceptible to any and every infection out there. Frightening at the best of times let alone during a Global Pandemic. I seldom leave my house, I mask up and over the past 2 years, my social engagements can probably be counted on 2 hands.

I’ve invested the time into my business, but it’s lonely and isolating not being able to do fun things, catch up with friends and travel – just a plane ride and a car drive kick my arse physically. The blowout is extreme, but to everyone “I look fine”, “unsocial” or simply like I  don’t want to partake in activities or conversations. 

A visit to the hospital the other night with double blood taken kicked my butt and I slept without a noise stirring me endlessly. In a 24 hour period, I was asleep for 20 hours. At least now I know what Koala bears feel like. Even coming out of that fog was a mission in itself. I had no energy, other than to drink water, eat, go to the bathroom. But showering and dressing? Forget it. That didn’t happen at all.

So again, the treatment strategy has changed. I’ve just completed 3 days of methyl prednisone via infusion and I’m feeling incredibly rough. Having steroids does what you might think it would. Turned my into the hulk with emotions being all over the place, I could barely sleep, I have what can only be explained as a brain wrapped in cotton wool, and everything hurts… a lot.

While steroids have a lot of nasty side effects, they are my best option to help me through to the 24th of April, when I can start my new disease modifying treatment. This regime I’ll be able to do at-home and consists of a starting treatment of 3 x injections from April to May, then we go to 1 injection a month thereafter. These smaller doses are meant to give me a better chance of keeping these B(astard) cells at bay, then I should have more consistency with my dosing. Again, feeling like total crap and again with that nervous voice in the back of my mind… “what if they withdraw this drug from the market”; It’s relatively new too.

I almost feel like I have PTSD again from my diagnosis. That we are kinda back where I was when I started 9 years ago. I don’t feel like I’ve really achieved much when it comes to treatment.

What adds to the challenge is my responsibilities. This time really puts pressure on me to be at the top of my A-game in my business. But I make big mistakes and small simple annoying ones. I get angry and tired during my workday. I’m in constant pain, which doesn’t make me the best boss or fun person to be around. I try to remove myself from situations when I know I might not have the patience, I begin weaving naps and late starts into my day because, after all, that’s why I founded my business, to give me that freedom and flexibility to do just that. But then I worry about billing, work and wage costs because I bring money into my business and when I can’t perform I have to pay others too.

I'm an avid Disney lover. If you know me then you know this. If I held Aladdin's Lamp in my hand my wishes at this time would not be that complex. 

I wish clients paid on time.

I wish I didn’t have to worry about my business so much (but the pandemic really threw a spanner in the works).

I wish I could be whisked away to Disneyland for a week and not have to worry about anything.

I wish that this stupid disease would just let me be me…………

My biggest wish though? I wish they could just find a cure. Or failing that, at the very least better meds for me and for everyone living with MS. Our wishes after all are for no more than the “normal”. We just want to get back to doing "normal things” like showering, cooking and cleaning. We want to not be in pain, or worrying about what everyone thinks of me and experiencing so often this immense pressure to be “OK” all the time!! The want for normalcy feels relentless. 

A Note From The Editor. 

Dear reader, 

As you finish this, as your heart sinks in pain as you empathise with Chrissy in this situation there is something additional I need you to know. I am the editor of this post, she is unaware as I write this that I write this. But what I have to say needs to be said, whether she adds it to this post or not. 

There are people that you meet in life, they leave a mark on your soul. They are remarkable, achieve beyond the realms of possibility and leave you feeling inspired and believing in yourself in a way you didn't before. So to both of you, Chrissy and the reader, as I read these words and feel the pain Chrissy is in know two things. The first Chrissy is that to me, you are one of those people I described above. 

Your courage as day after day, experiencing what you do, you push it to the side to run your business and define your legacy, is part of this. But I think most notably, I know that you push through with this remarkable tenacity to take care of us; your staff. To keep food on our tables. To keep stress out of our minds. For me, the inspiration is in that level of selflessness. 

Now to the reader, I’m sure you can imagine, It is weird to have such a personal insight into your boss. But someone has to edit this and that person, it seems, was me.

So let me tell you as you read this that when you read these words above if you feel anything other than empowerment you have read this story wrong. If you read the above and find yourself saying “oh that must be so hard” and nothing more, you need to read it again.  Ari Scott.