As a high-achieving woman entrepreneur, you're no stranger to setting ambitious goals and pushing boundaries. But have you ever wondered why, despite your remarkable accomplishments, you sometimes find yourself doubting your abilities or focusing on perceived shortcomings? The answer might lie in a fascinating cognitive phenomenon called confirmation bias. In this post, we'll explore how understanding and leveraging this bias can be a game-changer for your entrepreneurial journey.
What is Confirmation Bias?
Confirmation bias is our brain's tendency to seek out, interpret, and remember information that confirms our existing beliefs while disregarding contradictory evidence. While this can sometimes lead to errors in judgment, it also presents a powerful opportunity for personal growth and achievement – especially for driven women like you who are shaping the business world.
The Double-Edged Sword for Women Entrepreneurs
As a woman entrepreneur, you may have experienced how confirmation bias can work against you:
But here's the exciting part: once you understand confirmation bias, you can flip the script and use it to your advantage.
Strategies to Harness Confirmation Bias for Your Success
Instead of dwelling on perceived shortcomings, actively seek evidence of your competence and resilience. Remember that pitch you nailed? The investor who believed in your vision? The team you've built from the ground up? These aren't flukes – they're proof of your capabilities.
Action Step: Create a "Success Journal" where you document your wins, big and small. Review it regularly, especially before important meetings or decisions.
Surround yourself with diverse perspectives that challenge your assumptions and broaden your horizons. Seek out mentors, join women's entrepreneurship groups, and engage with peers who inspire and push you to grow.
Action Step: Attend at least one networking event or conference per quarter focused on women in business or your specific industry.
Use confirmation bias to your advantage by clearly defining your goals and visualizing success. When you prime your brain to look for opportunities aligned with your vision, you'll be amazed at what you start to notice and attract.
Action Step: Create a vision board for your business goals. Include images of women leaders you admire, representations of your target revenue, and symbols of the impact you want to make.
When you catch yourself in a spiral of self-doubt, pause and ask: "Is this thought helping or hindering my success?" Replace limiting beliefs with empowering affirmations that reflect the leader you are becoming.
Action Step: Develop a set of personal mantras tailored to your entrepreneurial journey. Examples might include: "I am innovative and resilient" or "My unique perspective is my superpower."
Instead of fearing criticism, view it as valuable data for growth. Actively seek feedback from mentors, clients, and team members. When you receive praise, don't brush it off – internalize it as evidence of your capabilities. Feedback is a gift, and I’ll never forget the mentor who helped me understand this notion.
Action Step: Implement a regular feedback loop in your business, both for giving and receiving constructive input.
The Ripple Effect of Your Success
By harnessing confirmation bias for positive change, you're not just transforming your own entrepreneurial journey – you're paving the way for other women in business. Your success challenges societal biases and creates a ripple effect of inspiration.
Remember, the key to leveraging confirmation bias lies in consciously directing your focus toward the outcomes you wish to manifest. By doing so, you're not just building a successful business; you're reshaping the landscape and inspiring women entrepreneurs everywhere.
Are you ready to harness the power of your mind and take your business to new heights? The world is waiting for your unique vision and leadership.
Elaine Dickens, MA, Registered Psychotherapist, is a dedicated advocate for high performers and recovering perfectionists seeking to overcome burnout and deepen their emotional connection with others. Through her practice, Live Inspired Wellness, Elaine combines evidence-based strategies with actionable insights to guide clients toward sustainable success and well-being. Her expertise in mindset optimization, emotional intelligence, and ADHD empowers ambitious professionals to thrive both personally and professionally. Elaine's mission is to reshape the narrative around high achievement, proving that peak performance and personal fulfillment can coexist harmoniously. For inspiring resources on mindset and emotional wellness, follow Live Inspired Therapist on Instagram or visit our website.
As an entrepreneur, you make decisions every day. Some are small, like choosing a meeting time. Others are huge, like launching a new product. But all of these decisions shape your business. One key factor in making good choices? Confidence.
Let’s break down how confidence affects decision-making and how to use it to your advantage.
The Basics of Decision-Making
When you make a decision, your brain considers several options. It weighs past experiences, personal biases, and even your mood. Confidence acts like a filter for all these factors. It changes how you see the risks and rewards of each choice.
Confidence and Bias: A Balancing Act
Sometimes, we’re too confident. This is called overconfidence bias. It’s when we think we know more than we do or that we’re better at predicting outcomes than we really are. As an entrepreneur, your passion can make you especially prone to this. Being aware of this bias can help you make more balanced decisions.
Confidence in Uncertain Times
When things are uncertain (which is often in business), confidence becomes even more important. It’s what allows you to make decisions without having all the answers. Being confident doesn’t mean you have no doubts. It means you trust yourself to handle whatever happens.
The Two Faces of Confidence
Confidence is crucial, but there’s a catch. There’s a big difference between real confidence and just acting tough. Real confidence comes from skills, experience, and knowing your limits. It keeps you open to new ideas. Fake confidence can lead to hasty decisions and missed chances to learn.
Building Your Decision-Making Confidence
Want to boost your confidence in making decisions? Try these tips:
Wrapping Up
Understanding how confidence affects your decisions can make you a better entrepreneur. Remember, it’s not about always being right. It’s about making decisions with confidence and learning from them. As you run your business, let confidence be your guide. Just remember to balance it with humility and self-awareness. That mix will help you navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship.
Be bold. Be confident.
Karen Vaile is a Confidence & Mindset Coach and Founder of Karen’s Coaching Korner. She helps businesswomen gain the confidence to take bold action and achieve their personal and professional goals.
Karen’s mission is centred on transforming uncertainty, self-doubt, and apprehension into assertiveness and decisive ambition. Through her 1:1 coaching program “Create Your Confidence,” she tailors her approach to each client’s unique needs, helping each one to reach her fullest potential, attain her goals, embrace boldness, and embody confidence and grace in every aspect of life. Karen can be reached via DM.
In the fast-evolving landscape of entrepreneurship, standing out isn't just about what you do—it's about how effectively you share your knowledge and expertise with the world.
One powerful way to elevate your business and personal growth simultaneously is by creating an online course. Here’s how embarking on this journey can help you become a better version of yourself in business:
Creating a course requires you to distill your knowledge into a structured, actionable format. This process not only reinforces what you already know but also challenges you to fill gaps and stay updated with the latest trends in your field. As you research, plan, and teach, you deepen your expertise, becoming a go-to authority in your niche.
Effective communication is key to success in any business endeavor. Developing a course demands clarity in conveying complex ideas, engaging your audience, and fostering understanding. As you craft content, explain concepts, and interact with students, your communication skills naturally sharpen, enhancing your ability to influence and connect with others.
Launching a well-crafted course establishes you as a thought leader in your industry. It demonstrates your commitment to sharing valuable insights and solving real problems for your audience. This positions your brand as trustworthy and authoritative, attracting potential clients who seek your expertise and solutions.
Courses provide a platform to connect with like-minded individuals, potential collaborators, and clients. Engaging with your course community fosters relationships built on shared interests and mutual support. These connections can lead to new opportunities, partnerships, and invaluable feedback that propel both your business and personal growth.
Creating a course pushes you beyond your comfort zone. It requires innovation in content delivery, engagement strategies, and problem-solving. Embracing this challenge nurtures your creativity and resilience, equipping you with skills to adapt to changes and seize opportunities in an ever-changing market landscape.
Beyond immediate benefits, courses offer a sustainable revenue stream. Once created, they can be sold repeatedly without significant additional effort, allowing you to leverage your time and expertise effectively. This passive income stream not only supports your financial goals but also frees up time for further business development or personal pursuits.
Ultimately, creating a course is about making a meaningful impact. By sharing your knowledge and empowering others to succeed, you contribute to their growth journeys. Witnessing the transformation and success of your students brings a deep sense of fulfillment and reinforces your purpose-driven approach to business.
Creating an online course isn’t just about expanding your business—it’s a transformative journey that enhances your skills, expands your influence, and fosters personal growth. It’s an investment in yourself and your future, offering rewards that extend far beyond financial gains. Embrace the opportunity to share your expertise, inspire others, and become the best version of yourself in business and beyond. Start today, and unlock the potential that lies within you.
Ready to embark on your course creation journey? Let's turn your expertise into an impactful learning experience that transforms lives. Book your FREE 90 Days to Course Launch Breakthrough Call.
Tracy Sherriff is a Certified Course Creation Expert who helps coaches, service-based professionals, and other business owners successfully scale their business online with high-quality, high-impact courses and programs. You can connect with Tracy by visiting her website tracysherriff.com, or finding her on Instagram @tracy.sherriff. You can also connect with her in the Happy Healthy Women in Business Facebook Group.
Many of us with a creative idea, vision, or project often struggle with the same thing: the gap between having a brilliant idea and bringing it to life.
The common problems of perfectionism, procrastination, and overwhelm get in your way and prevent you from making any real, significant progress. You dither for months, years, and sometimes even decades, all without taking action on your creative dreams.
I know because I’ve been there. But over the last ten years, I’ve been able to overcome those problems and launch the passion projects of my heart — and I want the same for you.
I’m using everything I’ve learned to outline the 5 mistakes you’re making that prevent you from taking action — and the 5 solutions to fix them.
Mistake #1: Trying to “Figure it All Out”
You want to start a blog so you start researching the best web host, the best cross-posting tools, the best SEO strategies for headlines and metadata. But when do you get around to actually launching that blog?
You want to start a podcast so you start researching the best microphones, the best editing software, the best way to soundproof a room. But how long does it take before you get around to recording your first episode?
You want to start writing a novel so you start outlining every character backstory, every plot twist, and researching every setting for total accuracy. But at what point do you actually sit down and write your first page?
There’s a point when trying to “figure it all out” stops being about planning and starts being about perfectionism and procrastination.
The solution?
Limit your research and planning.
If you find yourself stuck in the research and planning phase without ever moving forward into execution, it’s time to STOP and just START. Set a limit for yourself — define the absolute most important pieces to know and figure out the rest later. Remember: as painful as it might feel, you don’t need to have everything figured out all the time.
Mistake #2: Waiting for “Inspiration to Strike”
When you wait for inspiration to strike, or when you wait until you “feel like it” you oftentimes never get around it.
The solution?
Well, here’s a secret successful creatives have discovered: Your muse doesn’t suddenly appear by itself. You can summon your muse — simply by showing up before it appears.
The great Steven Pressfield, author of The War of Art, says:
“When we sit down each day and do our work... The Muse takes note of our dedication. She approves. We have earned her favor.”
Sitting down, showing up, and getting ready to work is how you summon your muse so you can get things done.
Mistake #3: Setting Lofty Goals
How familiar does this sound?
“Okay, I’m going to sit down and outline my whole novel.”
“All right, I’m going to sit down and wireframe my entire website.”
“Great, I’m ready to sit down and finish mixing my latest music track.”
And then what happens? You start feeling overwhelmed by the huge task. Or you start getting bogged down in details and minutiae. Or you start thinking that it’s going to take forever to finish and begin to get discouraged.
The solution?
Use time bound limits. Give yourself a set amount of time to work, and then stop when the time runs out. It doesn’t matter if you complete the task in one sitting or not. All that matters is that you made progress. Setting a time limit hinders your overwhelm and procrastination, because you know you only need to start — you don’t need to finish. Which brings us to mistake #4.
Mistake #4: Trying to Make it “Look Right” or “Sound Right”
You start writing your novel and spend hours tweaking the first paragraph or first page. You spend so long trying to find the perfect words to convey what you’re trying to say that you never move past the first chapter.
Or you start working on a design and find yourself repeatedly adjusting the colour palette and font choices, going back and forth, but never actually getting around to the rest of it.
The solution?
I have a saying: “Make Bad Art”.
Now, this doesn’t mean producing poor quality work. It simply means that you don’t need to get it right the first time, or even the second, third, or tenth time. When you create with the intention of doing it badly — on purpose! — you get rid of that perfectionism and procrastination.
Remember, you can always fix it later. The key is to simply make progress, bit by bit, even if it doesn’t look or sound the way you want it to at first. Give yourself permission to be bad at something and I promise, you’ll see life-changing progress in your creative pursuits.
Mistake #5: Thinking Your Idea is Unoriginal
How many times have you thought something like this:
“Someone else is already doing my idea.”
“What do I have to say that a dozen other people already haven’t?”
“There’s nothing original under the sun.”
Many of you worry that your idea isn’t original. You see other people doing it and think that it’s not worth doing yourself. You get imposter syndrome. “Who am I to do this, when other people are doing it better?”
The solution?
Find your “twist.”
Because here’s the secret: Being unoriginal is actually a GOOD thing! It means there’s a market for what you’re creating. It means there’s an audience for it. People want what you’re making.
You just need to figure out what YOU bring that no one else can. What’s the differentiator that comes from your perspective, your personality, your background, your experiences? Find the “twist” that is unique to you and you’ll stand out — even if you think you’re unoriginal.
One of the toughest things when it comes to creativity is bridging the gap between having a brilliant idea and bringing it to life. By limiting your research, summoning your muse, setting time bound goals, embracing “bad art” and finding your unique twist, you can overcome the obstacles that hold you back. It's time to stop dithering and start doing.
Ready to take the next step? Visit candicelee.ca to see how we can work together to finally bring your creative vision to life.
Candice is a multi-passionate creative entrepreneur dedicated to writing, music, and mindset shifts. As a multi-six-figure bestselling novelist, wellness e-com founder, affirmation product designer, and amateur music producer, she brings a wealth of experience to her role as a Creativity Facilitator. Candice helps clients overcome indecision, refill their creative wells, get rid of blocks, and take action on their passion projects. With an enthusiastic and empowering approach, she offers 1:1 coaching and workshops to guide people toward their creative goals. Candice's mission is to inspire and support others in achieving their dreams so they can find fulfillment and joy.
Recently at a Happy Healthy Women Branch Director’s Meeting, Natalie Colalillo, our amazing leader, highlighted the benefits of strategic partnerships within the community. She reminded us that strategic partnerships can be the key to unlocking new opportunities, expanding your reach, and achieving your business goals.
This got me thinking about how creating a course offers a unique avenue to forge meaningful connections and collaborations with like-minded individuals and businesses.
Here’s the big takeaway! Course creation is not just about sharing knowledge; it's also a powerful strategy for building strategic partnerships with others. By leveraging your course as a platform for collaboration, networking, and community building, you can amplify your impact, reach new audiences, and create lasting relationships that benefit both you and your partners. So, if you embark on your course creation journey, keep an eye out for opportunities to connect and collaborate with others, and watch your network and influence grow.
Tracy Sherriff is a Certified Course Creation Expert who helps coaches, service-based professionals, and other business owners successfully scale their businesses online with high-quality, high-impact courses and programs. You can connect with Tracy by visiting her website tracysherriff.com, or finding her on Instagram @tracy.sherriff
Grit up to Level up
Building self-confidence one challenge at a time
Grit – It's not the latest trendy snack, nor the stuff you find in your kid's sandbox. Nope, in the world of self-improvement, grit is the shiny golden ticket to success. But don't worry; it's not all serious business. Grit is like that cheeky sidekick who makes every superhero story more fun. So, let's unravel the mystery of grit, why it's the peanut butter to your confidence's jelly, and how resilience adds a little cherry on top of your personal success sundae.
What's Grit Anyway?
First things first, let's break it down – grit is not just the sandpaper's cooler cousin. It's that never-give-up attitude, the tenacity, the "I won't take no for an answer" spirit. Grit is the unsung hero that keeps you chasing your dreams, even when life tosses obstacles your way. It's like the alarm clock that won't let you hit snooze on your goals.
Grit and Confidence: A Dynamic Duo
Grit and confidence are like the dynamic duo of personal development but without the spandex costumes. Grit is your trusty sidekick, the Robin to your Batman, pushing you into the spotlight, onto that stage, and straight into the action. It's the initial surge of energy that gets you going when you're about to tackle something new. Without grit, you might just stay in your comfort zone, forever wondering "what if."
But wait, here comes the twist: grit, on its own, is like trying to bake a cake without any frosting. It's kind of dry and not nearly as sweet. You see, life is full of curveballs, and sometimes, you'll need more than grit to catch them. Enter resilience, the cherry on top.
Resilience: The Cherry on Top
Resilience is your secret weapon, your ability to bounce back from setbacks with a smile. It's the cool, collected friend who helps you deal with life's surprises. Resilience is what keeps you from crumbling when things don't go as planned. It's like a trusty umbrella in a sudden downpour; you stay dry, while others are running for cover.
Imagine you're a surfer catching a gnarly wave, and that wave represents your confidence journey. Grit is what gets you on your board and paddling out into the ocean, ready to conquer that wave. It's the rush of excitement as you ride it. But, just like in the real ocean, sometimes you wipe out, and the wave crashes over you. That's where resilience becomes your lifeguard.
Resilience is like the lifeguard who helps you back on your board, no matter how many wipeouts you've had. It's the reassuring voice that says, "Don't worry; you can tackle that wave again." So, with grit as your surfboard and resilience as your lifeguard, you're ready to ride the waves of confidence, wipeouts and all. Cowabunga!
In the grand adventure of personal development, grit is your witty sidekick, while resilience is the cherry on top of your success sundae. So, go ahead, rock your cape, jump into your adventure-mobile, and embark on your journey to confidence. With this dynamic duo, you're ready for any challenge that comes your way. It's like a superhero movie but starring you, and the plot is your journey to unstoppable confidence. Holy grit, Batman!
Embrace boldness. Embody confidence.
Karen Vaile is a Confidence & Life Coach and Founder of Karen’s Coaching Korner.
She helps businesswomen create the confidence they need to take the bold action necessary to achieve all their personal and professional goals.
Karen's mission is centred on transforming uncertainty, self-doubt and apprehension into assertiveness and decisive ambition. Through her 1:1 coaching program “Create Your Confidence” she tailors her approach to each client's unique needs helping each one to reach her fullest potential, attain her goals, embrace boldness and embody confidence and grace in every aspect of life. Karen can be reached via DM.
Karen is happy to be a Happy Healthy Women Toronto, ON Trailblazer.
Portrait of Carole Filion, Mindset Coach and Mentor
There's a unanimous consensus among experts that a sharp, professional headshot is non-negotiable in today’s digital business world. However, the real questions emerge when we consider taking it a step further – when and why should you invest in your personal brand photography, and what tangible impact does it have? Why bother putting your face out there if you’re not a model or selling your radiant smile?
Let’s explore why your portrait is more powerful than you might think.
The Face Factor: Why your photos speak volumes
Portrait of Dr. Lucille Necas, The Joy of Purpose
Imagine your personal brand as a storybook, and each photo of yourself is a chapter. Even if you're not selling your looks, people connect with faces and personalities. Humanizing your brand makes it relatable and approachable. Your face becomes the visual anchor that helps your audience remember you in the sea of online content.
Still wondering what does your face have to do with what you sell? Think again. When you choose a lawyer, real estate agent or a business coach to work is (and boy, it’s not an easy task!), you expect certain professional qualifications. But how do you pick the one out of many, all other things equal? It’s their personality that makes you want to work with them. Whatever traits you are drawn to in people, they are embedded in their brand, and it all starts with first impressions.
So, whether you're a coach, consultant, or a product-based business owner, your face is your secret weapon to stand out in a crowd. People connect with people, not logos!
Strategic Placement: Where and when to shine
Now that we've established the importance of you showing up, let's talk strategy. It's not just about plastering your face everywhere; it's about knowing where and when to showcase your personal brand photography for maximum impact.
1) Your website: Your website is your virtual storefront, and your photos are the welcoming committee. Your best shot on your homepage creates an instant connection with visitors and it could be a deciding factor in whether they are scheduling that first discovery call with you. I kid you not, this is how I chose my therapist. Don't shy away from including photos across different pages to maintain that personal touch throughout the browsing experience.
2) Social media: Whether you are more present on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or TikTok, social media is where your personal brand photography can truly shine. Depending on the platform, you might choose to show more fun and quirky side of your personality, or authoritative and educational. Regardless, no one is just one thing. And the beauty of social media is that it gives you an opportunity to showcase different sides of your personality, allowing more people to relate to you and identify with what you do. Use professional and personality-packed photos for your profile pictures and cover images. Intersperse candid shots to give your audience a closer look at the human behind the brand.
3) Email marketing: Inject a dose of personality into your emails by incorporating your photos strategically. A well-placed portrait in your email signature or a candid moment in your newsletter can make your messages more memorable and personable.
4) Events: Whether you’re organizing a virtual summit or an in-person conference, your face should be front and center. Attendees connect more with real people, so use this opportunity to showcase your personality and make lasting impressions.
Humanizing your brand makes it relatable and approachable. Your face becomes the visual anchor that helps your audience remember you in the sea of online content. ~ Veronica Kucherov
Portrait of Sushma Kashyap, Founder, Upright Bookkeeping
Setting the Stage for Success: How to become photogenic when you think you’re not
Still have hard feelings about putting your face in the spotlight? You are not alone. So many successful business owners put off their photo session as long as they can simply because being in front of the camera feels so uncomfortable. It might all make a lot of sense from the business perspective, and yet, there is nothing more personal than your face. How do you step out of your comfort zone when deep down you believe that you just don’t look good in photos?
Let's talk about the crucial planning stage. It's not just about grabbing your smartphone and snapping a selfie (although those have their time and place). Strategic personal brand photography begins with meticulous planning. To look good, you have to feel good first. And to feel good, you need to trust the process. Here is how to do it right:
• Planning like a pro: Before you start worrying about posing and your facial expressions, take a step back and ask yourself: What story do you want your photos to tell? Are you the friendly next-door expert or the sophisticated industry maven? Align your photo strategy with your brand message. It's the difference between a scattered photo collection and a cohesive visual narrative.
• Know your audience: Your ideal client is at the heart of your personal brand. It’s not just about you – it’s about what you can do for them. Thank about speaking to them at their eye-level. If your audience is stay at home homemakers, go for casual, relaxed shots that exude approachability. If they are high-level corporate executives, opt for images exuding strength, power, and authority.
• Outfit selection: Your wardrobe can make it or break it. Choose outfits that not only align with your brand but also look fantastic on camera. Solid colors often work best, avoiding busy patterns that might distract from your message. Don't forget about accessories – they can add that extra pop of personality without stealing the show.
• Getting camera-ready: Talking about “feel good first”, it’s hard to show up with confidence if you’re concerned about your hair being out of place or makeup done right. A professional touch with a skilled hair and makeup artist ensures you look your absolute best, boosting your confidence and translating into stunning visuals. Think about these photos as an investment in your brand and in yourself. If it’s worth it to pamper yourself for someone else’s wedding – it's okay to pamper yourself for your business success!
To look good, you have to feel good first. And to feel good, you need to trust the process. ~ Veronica Kucherov
Portrait of Carole Filion, Mindset Coach and Mentor
DIY vs. Pro: Imperfect action beats perfect inaction.
Professional photography is not cheap, and you know that you get what you pay for. As a professional photographer, my suggestion is either to do it right and consider it an investment, or DIY it yourself. Yes, I just said it. I heard too many horror stories about people deciding they are never doing a professional photo shoot again, because their 5-minute headshot didn’t turn out everything they wanted it to be. If you prefer to invest time, there are a lot of resources online that can help you understand the basic principles of photography, such as lighting, posing, and composition. If you are just starting out and have limited funds, with the right planning and a good eye, you can get you “good enough” images until you can afford the magic that a professional photographer brings to the table.
When to DIY: If you're confident in your photography skills, have a solid understanding of your brand and your marketing plan, and don’t shy away form a camera, DIY-ing your personal brand photos can be a budget-friendly option. Invest in good equipment, pay attention to lighting, and, most importantly, be patient with yourself. Research the examples and practice posing and facial expressions in front of the mirror. The DIY approach saves you money as long as you are realistic about the time that you will have to invest in exchange.
When to choose a pro: Hiring a professional photographer can elevate your photos to a whole new level, and ultimately saves you time – and yes, money too. Apart from the obvious – such as technical expertise and an artistic eye – a seasoned photographer can help you with your styling and planning. From location research, arranging a hair and makeup artist, and mapping out your shot list in line with your marketing strategy, the main benefit is in taking the stress out of your photo shoot, and freeing you up to focus on being your authentic self.
In conclusion, whether you choose the DIY route or opt for a pro, the key is to approach personal brand photography with intention and to be kind to yourself in the process. Your face is your brand's greatest asset, and your story is what makes you unique. To bring that story to your audience, the only step you need to take is the one outside of your comfort zone. I know it takes courage. You got it! Cheers to showcasing the amazing face behind your brand!
Portrait of Sushma Kashyap, Founder, Upright Bookkeeping
Veronica is the owner of Vongue Art Photography - a full-service portrait studio in Toronto helping camera-shy people over 40 look and feel their best in their photos. Veronica's mission is to photograph you the way you want to be seen. Whether it is to level up your business marketing, or to preserve your personal history in custom heirloom albums and wall art, you deserve to have portraits that make you feel beautiful and proud.
To start, let’s look at the concept of time.
One of the most impactful seminars I ever took was on the topic of Priority Management. The first thing the instructor said was, there is no such thing as Time Management. There are only 24 hours in a day, we will never get anymore, we cannot manage time. But we can manage our priorities to make the best use of our time. That was a big shift for me. I learned that I need to make conscious choices on what I do with my time and how I prioritize my tasks, roles, and responsibilities.
Life is busy and can sometimes feel overwhelming. Women play a lot of roles in their life. Partner, parent (including fur babies), business owner, daughter, sister, household manager etc. Because women tend to be natural care givers, we often take on more than our fair share of the responsibility and tasks for others. We tend to put everyone and everything else ahead of ourselves. When someone in the house can’t find something, we always know where it is. When someone is sick or needs comforting, we are the go-to. And we love it. But it does take a toll if we do not take time for ourselves.
Sometimes we think of our roles as silos. But we are one person, and our roles are all intertwined. If we do not take care of ourselves, it impacts every area of our life, including our business. Do you define how you spend your time as productive or unproductive? If so, you may not be taking time for yourself because you define it as unproductive compared to other things you could be doing.
The reason we feel drained and overwhelmed can be the result of not taking time for yourself. And for some women, taking time for yourself seems like an impossible ask. Why is this? Often, we function on autopilot and get caught up on the “doing”. Or we make everyone and everything else a priority and not ourselves. We have also have lost touch with what’s important to us.
Reconnecting with what is important to you will help you prioritize to include time for yourself.
Chances are if you are feeling drained, it is because you are saying no to yourself and yes to a lot of other things.
I would like to do an exercise with you that helps you get in touch with what makes you happy because this will help you connect with what is important to you and help you prioritize your time. This will automatically identify what is important to you.
Grab a pen and paper and do a brain dump of all the things that make you happy. Don’t overthink, they can be small, they can be big. Write down everything you can think of. For example: I love Starbucks latte’s, I love writing in my gratitude journal, I love putting on a cute outfit, I love cuddling, I love decorating, I love yoga, I love singing.
Brain dump… 1 minute
Now, look at your list. Were there any surprises? Is there a theme? How do you feel when you look at your list? Do you feel excited? Do you feel reconnected with yourself? What is coming up for you? Does your brain automatically start with reasons why you can’t do these things? Or is it a hell ya, I need this for myself!
This exercise is designed to connect you with you. Not your roles and responsibilities, not what others want from you. But what you want and what brings you joy. You would be surprised that by doing one small thing for yourself, a lot can change. It will impact every area in your life for the better.
How does doing this exercise impact the success of your business? Let me ask you a couple of questions. Did you choose your business because it is something that brings you joy? When you created your Mission statement and Vision, were they based on what is important to you? What made you decide to take the leap into entrepreneurship? Perhaps you were in a career that wasn’t bringing you joy or connected to what was important to you. Were you tired of being unhappy? Did you want more joy?
Once started your business, your left brain took over the logical, practical steps of running your business. Perhaps the ebbs and flows and worries of getting the next client or paying the next bill have bumped your feelings of joy. It is crucial that you add time for yourself so that you can reconnect with what brings you joy and what is important to you.
The clarity you get from removing feelings of overwhelm, reconnecting with your joy and what is important, will help you say yes to the right things for your business and no to the things that do not align.
Some questions to ask yourself are…
Remember, our lives are not silo’s. We are not the roles we play. We are at the centre of everything and taking time for ourselves fills us up as a person. It impacts everything we do. Our business was a choice and is part of us. Imagine what is possible if you consistently recharge yourself.
Picture this… you feel less stressed. You are calmer, clearer, and less rushed. You take time for yourself, doing something that makes you happy or takes care of your body or is relaxing or is peaceful. This becomes a regular part of your life. As a result, you are happier, more connected with yourself and everything in your life is more joyful and flows. What if this was possible? What is standing in your way? Don’t you owe it to yourself to at least try? I’ll say it for you, YOU DO.
Dianne Reichenbach is a Life, Wellness & Business Coach and is the founder of Connect Coaching. She has held Executive Sales & Management positions with companies such as Indigo, Guess Watches & Movado. Part of her experience includes working with and for small business owners. She is passionate about partnering with women to discover joy and purpose in all aspects of their life. Small steps lead to Big changes.
In the world of self-improvement, product development, and course or program creation, the terms "refinement," "enhancement," and "improvement" are often used interchangeably. While they all suggest making something better, they have distinct differences in meaning and application. This blog post aims to clarify these differences and shed light on when and how to use each of these terms effectively.
Refinement
Refinement is the process of making small, subtle changes or adjustments to improve the quality or efficiency of something without fundamentally altering its core characteristics. It is about fine-tuning, polishing, or eliminating imperfections to achieve a higher level of excellence.
In product development, refinement may involve fixing minor bugs, improving the user interface, or enhancing the user experience. In personal growth, it could mean developing better communication skills, refining one's wardrobe, or perfecting a specific skill or talent.
Examples of refinement for course creators are:
Enhancement
Enhancement, on the other hand, involves making something better by adding or incorporating new elements, features, or qualities. This process often results in a noticeable, significant improvement that takes the original to a higher level. Enhancements bring about an enriched or augmented version of the original.
In product development, enhancements could include adding new features to a software application, introducing a better camera in a smartphone, or improving the speed of a car. In personal growth, enhancing oneself might involve acquiring new knowledge, learning new languages, or gaining new experiences to enrich one's life.
In course creation or program development, enhancements can take the form of:
Improvement
Improvement is the most comprehensive of the three terms. It encompasses any changes made to enhance the overall state or condition of something, whether through refinement, enhancement, or both. Improvement implies the intention to reach a better, more effective, or superior state compared to the initial condition.
In the context of product development, improving a product might involve refining existing components and enhancing new features to make it more user-friendly and efficient. In personal growth, improving oneself could mean refining communication skills and enhancing personal qualities while striving for overall self-betterment.
For course creators, improvement starts with:
Whether you are creating a new product, course, or online program, or embarking on a new personal development journey, understanding the differences between refinement, enhancement, and improvement is crucial in getting the most out of your endeavors. Knowing when to use these terms correctly can help you convey your intentions more precisely and achieve your goals with greater clarity.
Tracy Sherriff is a seasoned educator, non-profit manager, and Certified Director of Operations with advanced training in adult education. Her company Accelerated Learning, specializes in aiding coaches, consultants, and creators in scaling their businesses through high-value, impactful curriculum-based courses and online programs. Tracy also hosts the Scale Your Course podcast and is the visionary behind Course Design School and the Course Impact Accelerator, an opportunity for entrepreneurs, educators, and corporate training leaders to get professional insight into how to improve their training, course or online program.
Connect with Tracy on Instagram here
Running a successful business is a bit like solving a puzzle, and understanding business law is a big piece of that puzzle. However, there are some myths floating around that can lead entrepreneurs down the wrong path. Let's unravel the truth behind five common business law misconceptions under
Canadian law.
MYTH 1: Once a Business Name is Registered, it's Protected Nationwide
Many entrepreneurs believe that once they've registered their business name, no one else in Canada can use it. This is not entirely true. Registering a business name at the provincial level, for instance, in Ontario, only protects the name in that province. To protect a business name nationwide, one needs to opt for federal incorporation or, for maximum protection, register a trademark.
Picture this--Sophia registers her business name "S. Accounting Success Strategies" in Ontario. She later discovers another business with the same name in Alberta. Sophia learns that provincial registration only protects her business name in Ontario. For nationwide protection, she needs to pursue federal incorporation or a trademark.
MYTH 2: Incorporation is the Best Structure for All Businesses
Incorporation can be a great choice with benefits like limited liability and tax perks. But it's not a universal solution for every business. Sometimes, being a sole proprietor or forming a partnership can be more advantageous, especially for small businesses. It's all about your business's specific needs and long-term plans.
Sophia incorporated her business from the get-go. After a year, she notes that her business expenses exceeded your business income by $20,000 during that tax year. Sophia learned that if she had structured her business as a sole proprietorship or partnership, she could have deducted the business loss from her personal income from other sources, potentially saving a significant amount in taxes.
MYTH 3: Incorporation Shields Personal Assets Unconditionally
Incorporation can indeed act as a shield for your personal assets against business debts or liabilities. But remember, this shield isn't invincible. In situations where personal guarantees for business loans are involved or in cases of director's liability, your personal assets might still be vulnerable.
Sophia, for instance, safeguards her $500,000 house by incorporating. Yet, a business loan requires her signature, holding her personally accountable. Defaulting on the loan endangers her home. Why? Because signing a personal guarantee takes personal responsibility for a corporate debt. Default, and creditors chase personal assets.
MYTH 4: Verbal Contracts Aren’t Legally Binding
Contrary to popular belief, in Canada, a handshake or a verbal agreement can be legally binding, provided it has the basic elements of a contract: offer, acceptance, consideration, and the intention to create legal relations. But remember, proving them can be as tricky as nailing jelly to a wall, so written contracts are always recommended.
Imagine Sophia agrees verbally with a venue to host a seminar for $2,000. But the venue double-books and cancels her event. She loses potential earnings of $10,000 from ticket sales. Sophia learns the hard way that while verbal contracts can hold up legally, proving them can be a real challenge.
MYTH 5: Businesses Can't Be Sued Once They've Ceased Operations
It's a common misconception that businesses become bulletproof against lawsuits once they've closed their doors. That's not the case. Under Canadian law, businesses and their directors can still be held liable for issues that cropped up while the business was running. Carefully wrapping up the business, fulfilling obligations, and addressing any potential legal issues before closing can help lessen the risk of post-closure liability.
Sophia decides to close her business and liquidate all assets. She uses the proceeds to pay off creditors and herself. But one creditor sues, claiming Sophia still owes money. Sophia learns that even though her business is no longer operational, she can still be held liable for debts incurred while it was running.
These are just a few of the many myths clouding the understanding of business law in Canada. As an entrepreneur, knowing your legal rights and obligations is as important as knowing your customers. And when in doubt, it's always a good idea to chat with a legal professional to ensure you're making informed decisions for your business.
Maryam is the Founder and Principal Lawyer of Venture House Legal. She understands that legal services are like oxygen for any business. That is why she established Venture House Legal, which offers a range of affordable legal solutions including flat fee services, bundled services, and a fractional lawyer retainer program known as Start to 7. With these services, startups, small businesses and entrepreneurs can receive high-quality legal support without having to sacrifice affordability or quality.
For more information, follow her on Instagram @maryamthebizlawyer_ or schedule a free discovery call on https://www.venturehouselegal.ca/
By offering online courses and other learning opportunities, coaches and learning experts have a fantastic chance to share their knowledge with people all over the globe. However, putting together a top-notch online course involves careful planning, especially when using technology. Here’s what you need to consider.
Grasping the Heart of Your Curriculum
Before delving into the world of tech, it's super important to really understand your course's curriculum. What are the main things you want your students to learn? What skills and ideas do you want them to take away? Getting a solid grip on your curriculum's core helps you choose technology that works hand-in-hand with your teaching goals.
Picking Tech with a Purpose
The technology you use should be like a helper, not a boss, for your curriculum. When selecting tech tools, focus on ones that make learning more exciting and help students engage with your content. For example, if your course is all about teamwork and solving problems together, think about using platforms where students can collaborate online or work on virtual whiteboards. If your curriculum involves learning from videos, tools for creating and editing videos could be super useful.
Creating a User-Friendly Learning Space
The experience students have while learning is really important for the success of your online coaching course. Choose technology that makes it easy and enjoyable for students to learn. Having a simple and organized layout helps students move through your course materials smoothly, making the learning experience awesome.
Embracing Flexibility
The tech tools you choose should be flexible enough to work for different learning styles and preferences. Your curriculum might be great for people who like looking at things, listening to things, or doing hands-on activities. Your tech should be able to handle all these different ways of learning. Having options like video lessons, interactive quizzes, downloadable materials, and places to chat with classmates can work for lots of different learners.
Making Things Fit Together Nicely
When you add technology to your course creation process, make sure it fits right in with the way you're already working. You want to improve your curriculum without making things too complicated or causing problems. Look for tech solutions that can easily join your course platform and that don't need a lot of time to learn how to use.
Getting People Involved and Excited
Technology can really amp up how engaged students are in your coaching course. Look for tools that encourage students to talk to you and each other. Doing live webinars, having virtual office hours, and setting up places for discussions can make learning more interactive and interesting.
In the world of online coaching and learning, technology can be a powerful tool when you use it thoughtfully. Just remember that technology is there to help your curriculum shine, not the other way around. By knowing your curriculum inside and out, picking tech tools with purpose, focusing on making things easy for learners, being flexible, integrating tech smoothly, and getting students involved, you can create an online coaching course that helps your students succeed while keeping your educational goals front and center.
Tracy Sherriff is a Certified Director of Operations and Curriculum Expert who helps coaches, consultants, and industry experts successfully scale their business online with high-quality, high-impact courses and programs. She is the host of the Scale Your Course Podcast and the founder of Accelerated Learning, where she helps coaches exponentially scale their impact and income with highly effective, high value courses, workshops, and trainings without the fear, confusion, and overwhelm that prevents them from OWNING their expertise and making a BIGGER impact on the world.
You can connect with Tracy by visiting her website tracysherriff.com, or finding her on Instagram @tracy.sherriff
