What does it mean to Design Your Life? (and how do you do it?!!)

I was super fortunate to be raised by parents who taught me from a young age that I was the creator of my life, and as such I could do or be anything I wanted. (Yes. I have pretty awesome parents! Thanks, Mom and Dad!!)

But, despite being told that ever since childhood, I’ve found that it wasn’t until the last few years that I’ve really come to understand on a deep level what that means and what it really looks like. 

I remember watching The Secret for the first time years ago after Oprah introduced it to the world and thinking it all seemed so magical. You simply think about what you want and POOF! there it is!

My understanding of what it truly means to Design Your Life has since matured, and my current take on it is not so much magical as it is practical.

And, that’s what I love teaching to YOU. A practical, step-by-step approach to designing a life and business you love.

I’m going to be 100% real with you....designing your dream life doesn’t happen overnight, but if you consistently move in the direction of what you most desire, your dream life will unfold before you. 

When I first started on my entrepreneurial journey back in 2008, I had a vision for what my life and business could be, despite the fact that at the time I was making practically no money and was completely naive to what it really takes to create success on your terms.

But, day by day, month by month, and year by year I held steadfast to my dream -- a life of ease and abundance (3-day workweeks and 6-figure years!), serving a growing community that I love, plenty of time for family, friends, travel and self-care, living in a beautiful place that I adore, raising happy, healthy children and enjoying lots of date nights with my husband <3

And now, that’s my reality.

Turning my dream into my reality wasn’t magic, and there were a lot of (hard) lessons, “failures” and self-doubt along the way. But now, after taking a look backwards at where I started 10 years ago, it’s pretty darn remarkable. (I encourage you to take a quick look back, and celebrate exactly where you are now on your journey, too!)

As a girl who loves planning, systems and organization, I decided to reverse engineer exactly what I did to get here, and now I want to share that with you. So…

I’ve put together a brand new (totally FREE!) Design Your Life Challenge that will take you step-by-step through the process I use to continually uplevel my life and business, and we’re starting on Monday. Please join us!

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Listen to this podcast episode:

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Sign up using the form below to join the Design Your Life Challenge for 5 days of clear action steps to design and live your dream life!

P.S. The brand new Design Your Life Challenge is starting on Monday!!! If you’re ready for 5 days of clear action steps to create wealth, health and happiness in life and business. Click HERE to let me know you’re in!

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The Income Replacement Formula with Christine McAlister

Today on the show we have an amazing repeat guest -- Christine McAlister! Christine is a business coach who helps high-achievers all over the world to quit and stay out of their 9-5s, by building businesses out of their passions.

She’s also the founder of Life With Passion, and the author of The Income Replacement Formula: Seven Simple Steps To Doing What You Love And Making Six Figures From Anywhere. In this book, she distills the complicated process of building a business that generates a six-figure income down into seven simple steps, using proven strategies that have helped this wife, mother, business owner, and author accomplish so much while only working about 25 hours a week.

Christine is a dear friend of mine, and shares so much wisdom in this episode, including:

• Her entrepreneurial path (including “settling” for a full-time job out of college)
• How she moved into 2018 with two main focuses in mind
• The personal self-care practices she always makes time for
• A sneak peek at some of the foundations of her Income Replacement Formula
• The super simple process for finding your niche!
   

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• Grab Christine's new book using this limited-time offer and receive four extra bonuses!
   
• Connect with Christine at LifeWithPassion.com
   
• Listen to Christine's previous podcast episode here.
   
• Share your insights and comments about this episode in 3-Day Workweek: Work Less, Make More, Live Better, my private community of over 1500+ female entrepreneurs
   
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Design Your Life Conversation Starters [free PDF download]

One of the things I love most about my husband is that he is always ready to talk about our dreams, desires, goals, visions and BIG aspirations. In fact, the bigger the better!

Even when we were newly dating in our early 20s, we would talk about the plans we had for our lives without any embarrassment or reservations! And, to this day, we regularly talk about our future plans as a “sure thing” -- whether it be the gorgeous house we design and build, the multi-million dollar business I’m running, the 2 (or 3!) vacation homes we love and enjoy with our daughters, family and friends or my NY Times Bestselling book(s)! Nothing is off limits!!! And we talk about all those things as if they already exist :-)

I truly believe I would not be where I am today -- working 3 days a week, bringing in 6-figures a year, and growing an amazing community of women (we’re over 7,100 women strong!!!) who I fall more in love with every day! -- without the ability to voice my dreams in a safe space where they are appreciated, nurtured and encouraged, never judged. 

I also realize that not everyone has an outlet like what I’ve described, so I thought it would be helpful and fun to create Design Your Life Conversation Starters for you to enjoy with your partner, friends, family, kids or other members of our Facebook Group so that you, too, can benefit from having e x p a n s i v e conversations on the regular.

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Listen to this podcast episode:

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Grab your Design Your Life Conversation Starters below, and then get talking!

And, if you don’t feel you have anyone in your life who would be open to talking -- you’re wrong! I am!!! Join me and the other outstanding ladies in our private Facebook Group, and we’ll happily talk about your biggest dreams with you :-)

P.S. The brand new Design Your Life Challenge is coming!!! If you’re ready for 5 days of inspired action steps to uplevel your wealth, health and relationships. Click HERE to let me know you’re in!

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How I organize my business (and life)!

Tis the season for spring cleaning! 

I’ve been feeling the itch for weeks now to clean out the pantry, the junk drawers, the girls’ play area (yikes!), my closet and my business to get myself more streamlined and organized. 

Because, let’s face it, organization feels oh-so-good.

With that in mind, I thought it might be helpful if I gave you a look at how I organize the back-end of my business in order to consistently create new offers, projects, blog posts, podcasts, you name it, while working just 3 days a week. 

When it comes to organization in my biz, I have two words for you…

Google Drive. 

My entire business (and life!) are housed on it, and I am the queen of folders with sub-folders with sub-folders. Seriously, it’s like a hall of mirrors in there!

In fact, the start of just about any new idea -- whether it be the inception of Design Your Life School or my daughter's 1st birthday party -- begins with a fresh Google Doc.

Here’s exactly how it goes down…

1. Brain Dump -- I write down anything and everything that’s been swimming in my head related to the new idea. I get it all down. The great ideas, the wacky ones, the ones that will later be scratched. They’re all there in one Google Doc. (Usually then I decide a single Google Doc doesn’t feel “important enough” for said idea, so I then create a Folder for that new idea in which the Doc I just created can safely live.)
    
2. Let It Marinate -- That might be all I do for a few days or weeks (sometimes even months) until I feel the time is ready and ripe for the next phase. And, that next phase is…
    
3. Create a To-Do List -- In that very same folder I create a 2nd Doc -- the to-do list. I write down all the action steps I can imagine related to the new idea. Let’s say I’m dreaming up a new 5-day challenge for my community, on the “To-Do” Doc, I’ll list every single action step I can think of from creating an outline of the challenge to writing promo emails to contacting my Facebook ads manager to run ads to composing the daily challenge emails to recording the challenge audios or videos… (you get the idea!)
    
4. Design Your Timeline -- Next, that “To-Do” Doc is then morphed into a timeline. You can do this in the same Google Doc by adding due dates or create a new Doc depending on how your brain works. In order to figure out the right timeline, it’s best to consult your calendar. Look ahead at when you’d like to deliver that idea and work backwards. Be sure to take into account holidays, travel and over-ambition. Give yourself enough time and space to get it all done while also not dragging it out too long and killing momentum. Intuitively you’ll know the sweet spot. Then, add due dates next to each and every action item on the “To-Do” list -- and the more specific the task the better. “Write all promo emails” is not as clear and effective as “Write promo emails 1 + 2” with a due date next to it and so on.
    
5. Get Started! -- Now that you have your clear To-Do List and Timeline, you’re ready to get started. Too many of try to start here (at step 5) with immediately getting started only to wonder why we lose focus, burn out, feel overwhelmed or run out of steam. If you instead pre-plan for success, you’re setting yourself and your idea up to win!

I sincerely hope this deep-dive into my compulsive organization was helpful and not scary! And please don’t think this is the ONLY way to do this. But if what I shared, or even a small piece of it, is useful to you, my mission is complete. Now, I can cross that off my to-do list :-)

(Oh, and in case you’re wondering -- yes, this email copy is being written on a Google Doc housed inside a sub-folder of a sub-folder!)

P.S. Next month I’m going to be running a brand new Design Your Life Challenge. It’s in the works now, but if you’re ready for 5 days of inspired action steps to uplevel your wealth, health and relationships, click HERE to let me know you’re in!

P.P.S. When all is said and done. This is what it looks like...

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How to Not Get Screwed in Business with Devon Smiley

When you think of the word “negotiations”, what comes to mind? For me, I used to think that the word was more masculine, and had negative connotations. But that was before my conversation with Devon Smiley, a negotiation consultant for start-ups, entrepreneurs, freelancers and corporations.

As a negotiation consultant, Devon helps her clients “not get screwed” by helping them to figure out what they truly want and then calmly and confidently ask for it. During our interview, we explore Devon’s journey from the corporate world to running her own business, and she shares some great tips for honing your negotiation skills. 

Listen to my interview with Devon to learn:

• The super simple change she made after a rough first 6 months in business that changed everything
• What to do if you don’t feel like the deal is a 100% “Heck Yeah!”
• The key words to eliminate from your vocabulary and the language to incorporate instead
• A mindset hack to get you over your fear of asking for what you truly want
   

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The ONE THING You Need for a Successful Mindset

When it comes to maintaining a positive, feel-good, successful mindset, I’ve found that one thing above all else is paramount.

It’s not the sexiest thing in the world, but when you master it, you’re guaranteed that your mindset roller coaster will be (mostly) behind you. (We all have our days no matter how evolved we are!)

This ONE THING has enabled me to design my life and business my way and maintain a successful mindset while doing it. 3-day workweeks, 4-day weekends, 5-figure months and 6-figure years have become my reality because of this one thing.

And, I’ve come to realize that it’s something that ALL successful people have in common -- from Oprah to Tony Robbins to Bill Gates.

That ONE THING is Consistency.

Yup. That’s it. (Told you it wasn’t super sexy :-)

When it comes down to it, consistency is the name of the game for expanding your mindset and achieving the success you desire. 

You see, when you make your mindset a consistent priority -- it will change for the better. 

When you show up for your business and community consistently -- they will grow and expand. 

When you eat well and exercise consistently -- your health will improve. 

When you’re there for your partner consistently -- your relationship deepens. 

You get the picture, right?!

It ALL comes down to consistency.

So in terms of mindset, what does consistency look like?

It looks like setting aside time every single day to do what YOU NEED to set a solid mindset foundation. 

For me, that means 15 minutes of meditation every morning followed by a bit of yoga. Perhaps for you it means a walk in nature, journaling, silence, listening to beautiful music or an inspiring podcast or a hot bath at the end of the day.

But the key is to make your mindset -- and feeling good -- a priority that you make time for on the daily. And, when you do that, you leave no other option but continual growth and expansion. And that’s really what we’re all after, right?! Expanding into who we’re meant to be :-)

P.S. Tomorrow I’m hosting a FREE webinar that will teach you How to Massively EXPAND Your Business + Improve Your Mindset without a ton of $$$, time or energy! And, I’d love for you to be there. Save your seat here.

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How to Use Your MINDSET to Design Your Life

So far on this mindset journey over the last few weeks, we’ve uncovered what’s blocking you  and also gave you the tools you need to remove those blocks.

What’s the next step?

Using your new and improved mindset to intentionally design your life and business. 

As I see it, there are 2 ways you can move through life -- by design or by default -- and the thing that will take you from victim-mode to intentional designer is your MINDSET. 

I think it was Henry Ford who said, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” (That was my 8th grade yearbook quote, by the way.) Wise words if you ask me.

Your mind is incredibly powerful. It can constrict you or expand you, and today I want to share a simple process I like to use for leaning into e x p a n s i o n.

And, it all starts with asking yourself a super simple question: how do I want to FEEL? 

When you wake up in the morning, how do you want to feel? 
When you’re starting your work day, how do you want to feel? 
When you’re with a client, how do you want to feel? 
When you’re talking to your spouse, how do you want to feel? 
When you get into bed at the end of the day, how do you want to feel?

Do you want to feel in-the-flow, abundant, joyous, at ease, peaceful, lit up, inspired, adventurous, calm, clear, excited, confident?... There’s no wrong answer here!

Next, you’ll want to consider when do you already experience those feelings that you desire to feel. 

Who are you with? 
What are you doing (or NOT doing)? 
What are you thinking about or focused on? 
Where are you?

Then ask yourself, what are some simple things I can start doing to bring more of those good feelings that I desire into my life? 

List anything and everything that comes to mind. No self-censoring here, just let it flow. 

Finally, once you have your list, pick 1 to do TODAY and 2 more to do this week. (Schedule reminders for all 3 on your phone or write them in your planner. Please don’t skip this step!!!)

You may have heard me say (because I say it a lot :-) that the journey must align with the destination. Meaning that if you’re hoping to get to a place of ease, abundance, fulfillment and success, you CANNOT GET THERE feeling super stressed, anxious and worried all the time. They simply do not line up.

But, when you start to use your mindset to intentionally design your life to create more and more of the feelings you’re desiring (like I just walked you through above!), you start to align your journey with the destination you desire. Good stuff!

Now, listen to this week's live podcast episode on  my step-by-step process of How to Use Your Mindset to Design Your Life. Click HERE to add a reminder about my weekly Wednesday FB Lives to your calendar.

P.S. I’m cooking up something brand new for you that will help you Design Your Mindset for success on your terms that’ll be available later this month -- and better yet it will be offered for less than the cost of a couple yoga classes or a dinner out! Intrigued?! Click here to add your name to the “I’m super intrigued by this and want to know more” list :-)

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My Favorite Technique to Release Your Biggest Mindset Blocks

All month long we’re going to be diving into the topic of Mindset so that you can start intentionally creating the life and business you want -- like one with 3-day workweeks, 4-day weekends, 5-figure months and 6-figure years :-)

Last week, we covered the first step in the process of upleveling your Mindset, which is awareness. Basically, we need to figure out what we’re currently doing in order to change it! 

(If you missed last week’s lesson on awareness and want to catch up, you can figure out what’s blocking you here.)

Now that you know what Mindset Blocks you have, thanks to the compassionate awareness you’ve been cultivating, it’s time to release the blocks that you’ve uncovered.

Our minds are crazy powerful. The most powerful tool we have at our disposal, so if we’re constantly focused on lack of money or clients or worried about our businesses or our families, there is no possible way that we can feel in the flow of success and abundance. We’re simply not giving ourselves that opportunity.

But, now that you’ve noticed the thought-patterns that are no longer serving you, we can do something about it!

I have a really simple and helpful technique that will help you repattern your limiting beliefs starting right now.

This technique that I’m about to share with you has helped 100s and 100s of women in my community begin to shift their Mindset (and therefore the life they’re creating for themselves) from lack, struggle and scarcity to abundance, flow and appreciation. And, I know it can and will work for you, too.

You ready for it?

The technique I’m so excited to share with you today is to create personalized positive affirmations in direct opposition to your limiting beliefs. 

Let me give you an example so you can begin to see how powerful this is…

If through your awareness work you noticed that you are constantly saying to yourself “No one ever wants to work with me. It’s so hard to find clients.” Your job is to create an affirmation (or several!) that turns that idea on its ear. Like, “Clients are everywhere” or “I am a client magnet” or “My perfect clients are coming to me now” or “The right people will always find me.”

On a fresh page in your favorite journal or a clean Google Doc, write a list of the new things you’re going to say to yourself that directly oppose your most common Mindset offenders so that you start populating your mindspace with positive thoughts.

The really cool thing is our negative and limiting thoughts will start to lose their power when we focus more time and attention on what we do what to bring into our lives rather than thinking or worrying about what we don’t want.

If you want to take this a step further, I highly recommend you surround yourself with these new affirmations. Immerse yourself in them. Put them around your home or office on Post-It Notes. Make them your phone or computer background. Maybe even make a recording of yourself saying them and listen to that before bed or while you’re driving in your car. Write them again and again in your journal. Repeat them to yourself. 

It may seem a little silly or almost like a lie at first, but if you stick with it (remember these tools need to be practiced continually to be effective) you’ll turn a corner, and these new beliefs will simply be your beliefs. They’ll just be the way you think and move through the world.

After you create your new affirmations, please share your favorite one in the Facebook Group! I’d love to read what you come up with. It’s so inspiring to be on this journey together!

Now, listen to this week's live podcast episode to find out my other favorite tools for releasing your biggest mindset blocks.

I am so excited for you to try out this technique, and I can’t wait to hear how it goes for you!

P.S. I’m cooking up something brand new for you that will help you Design Your Mindset for success on your terms that’ll be available later this month -- and better yet it will be offered for less than the cost of a couple yoga classes or a dinner out! Intrigued?! Click here to add your name to the “I’m super intrigued by this and want to know more” list :-)

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• Share your insights and comments about this episode in 3-Day Workweek: Work Less, Make More, Live Better, my private community of over 1500+ female entrepreneurs
   
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• Join the #3DayWorkweekMovement by grabbing your FREE 3-Day Workweek Guide by completing the form below!