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Are you a leading lady? Or are you a best friend?

If you’re reading this, chances are you WANT to be the leading lady in your business, and in your life. But maybe you haven’t quite made that leap yet, or perhaps you’d like to feel more empowered, stepping into that Proper Business Owner role…

Today, I’m sharing inspiration from festive favourite The Holiday to give us some clarity and some gumption (great word) as we start to embrace our title role in our own lives.

I’m not ashamed to say I’ve watched The Holiday a LOT. I can recite scenes, and there are lines I know by heart. This is one of them:

You’re supposed to be the leading lady in your own life, for god’s sake.

Iris, played by Kate Winslet, has a tear-inducing lightbulb moment when retired movie writer Arthur tells her she’s being more best friend than leading lady. It’s a lightbulb moment for all of us!

First of all, no shade to best friends. We all need best friends. And in real life (not the movies) we are meant to support each other in being the leading ladies of our own lives. My best friend, Kelly, is the leading lady of her life, and I support her journey. She also supports mine. And in a beautiful way, this happens in our businesses too. I’m a client of hers, and she’s a member of the Better Business Collective – and we lean on each other for different things.

But back to the point, here. Maybe you can relate to this…

In my early twenties, I was being a best friend. Not to one specific person, but to most other people and figures in my life. My boss at work, my family and friends, even the people on the tube, all had more importance than me. I would bend and flex to meet their needs, rather than asking for what I needed for my own sparkling storyline.

By my late twenties, I was a leading lady. Strong in my convictions, I stood up for what I thought was right, for what worked for me. I started my business, I put myself in the centre of my life, and it allowed me to contribute to my relationships, clients, and the things that mattered.

Now, in my (gulp) thirties, I have children, a marriage, a mortgage, and a business. The responsibilities are more complex than they were 7 years ago. I am in a new phase of being a leading lady, one that requires grace but also integrity. It requires putting myself at the centre of my story, even when mum guilt and society tell me to just play it small and quiet.

So how do we put being a leading lady into practice?

It’s a good question. Let’s use the movie metaphor a bit more…

In a movie, everything that happens – every action, scene, dialogue, piece of information – ultimately tells us more about the leading lady’s story. Anything that doesn’t move her narrative and development forward is superfluous.

So her best friend is there to provide insight. A challenging situation or accident or any external action is there to show us how she responds to it. Her enemy or antagonist is there to challenge her, help her grow, change her for the better.

I’m not suggesting we all turn into raging narcissists where everything is about us – far from it. I AM suggesting we consider our own storyline and development, noticing the things that take up our time and energy, and assess whether they are fuelling the story or getting us off-track.

✨ How does x thing (an event, a story, a person, a conversation) impact you? Is it helping you to move forward and grow, or is it holding you back?

✨ Are you holding your head high, knowing you belong wherever you go? Or are you apologising before you even enter the room?

✨ Do you recognise that your responsibility to yourself is greater than your responsibility to others? That, in fact, no-one else can be the boss of your life?

✨ What if you let yourself be the leading lady for the day, the week, a month?

✨ And are you willing to let your dream, your success, steal the show?

The thing is: being a leading lady is really about stepping into leadership, and I love that Arthur in The Holiday makes that something we can relate to. Because leadership can sometimes sound like suits and boardrooms and hotel conferences.

But what if leadership is being a leading lady? Commanding respect. Feeling empowered and empowering others. Taking actions that demonstrate your commitment to your dreams.

That’s the kind of leadership I can get on board with. I hope you will, too.

5 unconventional ways to level up your marketing

When it comes to marketing your business and sharing your creativity, there’s a lot of advice out there. Today I want to share five unconventional tips that you might not have considered before to step things up a level.

These days, marketing is about content and connection: sharing ideas and inspiration with people who feel the same way and like what you’re about, plus – of course – sharing those for-sale creations you’ve made.

So there’s a whole load of content to create, photographs to take, videos to play with, captions to write. There can be a lot to learn about making a content plan, figuring out your key messages, and figuring out hashtags and scheduling apps.

It’s a lot of action to take, right?

Well, what would you say if I told you that successful marketing is about 80% mindset and energy?

I know. It’s a lot.

Even before you start creating and taking all that action, having your head and heart lined up and your energy in a good place can make alllllll the difference.

So today I’m not sharing tips for creating killer content or hacks for hastags or Reels.

Instead, my unconventional wisdom is to upgrade your marketing energy.

How do we do that? Well, we need to tap into the power of your chakra system and combine the physical, emotional, and psychological energy you’re bringing to the table.

To transform your marketing energy, I recommend focusing on your throat chakra – that’s the area near your vocal chords, but also links to your shoulders, jaw, nose and ears.

This chakra represents (in Western modern and Jungian interpretations) our ability to express ourselves and our ability to receive (it’s where we swallow and absorb nutrients) – which are deeply related to marketing our businesses.

You throat chakra might be out of alignment, overworked or underworked. If that’s the case, you might find yourself with a lump in your throat when you think about your business or a specific project, or you might be prone to sore throats, colds and coughs. You might find that you hold a lot of tension in your jaw or your shoulders – holding things in, or tensing up against potential threats. You might even find you have more dental issues!

These are all ways your subconscious mind manifests your mental blocks in your body, and vice versa.

When you’re not blocked, you’ll find you’re able to express yourself easily, through words, actions and creativity. You’ll find yourself wanting to share your ideas and inspiration! You’ll also find it easier to receive good things, whether that’s sales, money, compliments, good feedback, good news, and good ideas.

So how can we realign your throat chakra, clear those unhelpful thoughts, and improve your marketing energy?

1. Pay attention to your throat chakra

Notice, right now, how you’re feeling in that area of your body. Does it feel tight, over-stretched, blocked? Or are you feeling fairly comfortable and able to receive?

You might find that certain activities have you tensing your jaw more than others – spot where you might need more support.

2. Drink hot lemon (and honey)

This home remedy for sore throats is also a great first step in caring for your throat chakra. Grab some lemons and start each day with a healing and opening drink of hot lemon juice in hot water. (I use half a lemon for an average mug.)

If you’re in need of soothing, or are struggling to receive, add a little honey. It’ll heal any raspy voices and ease those good vibes.

3. Play some chakra-healing music

Yogic traditions typically have chants to instill specific qualities in the different chakras. There are also powerful practices in using healing bowl music to do the same. When I’m feeling stuck or tense in my throat, I use healing music designed specifically for the throat chakra on the Insight Timer app. It’s easy to put on in the background while I’m working, or while I’m relaxing or falling asleep.

4. Use chakra-opening essential oils

Spearmint, chamomile, and even eucalyptus are great essential oils to use when you’re feeling stuck in your marketing. You can pop them in a diffuser with water or a base oil, use them in a spray, or use a roll-on like this one by Eve & Keel on your pulse points. I like to put it on my wrists and behind my ears. Don’t forget to breathe deeply!

5. Choose a mantra or affirmation, and say it aloud

Having a positive mantra or affirmation can help to re-program your subconscious thoughts and beliefs, and instills a new belief instead. I recommend choosing one and using it daily for a week or two. Pop it somewhere you can see it, and, crucially, say it out loud. Ultimately, you shift your throat chakra energy when you speak truth, so actually saying your affirmation to yourself will help you to practice sharing positive things and receiving positivity in return.

Try: Marketing my business is creative, fun, and offers endless opportunities for success.

You could also sing, dance, shake off your blocks, double down on your flossing habit, practice yoga, and meditate to help realign your chakras and shift your energy.

Okay, I told you this was going to be unconventional…

Nothing removes the need for content creation and putting in some work to marketing your business (and you might like my 30 Email Subject Lines cheat sheet to get going with email marketing). But clearing out unconscious energy and old beliefs can really get things moving!

What do you think? Is there anything you think you might try?

How to prepare for Christmas even more successfully this year

Last week, I hosted a Masterclass all about creating your own Game-Changing Success Ritual for your business. It was SO much fun to spend an hour and a half (plus a bit extra) hanging out with creative entrepreneurs and makers to talk about how you can balance head and heart.

It’s really easy to avoid looking at your business numbers, even if you know your SHOULD.

There’s always something more urgent to work on, plus it can be uncomfortable and just plain boring.

Which is why I love to create a ritual vibe, to make it enjoyable and empowering to do!

Because ultimately, getting friendly with your key business numbers and checking in on your strategy IS empowering. It’s one of the most empowering things you can do.

It’s all about the mindset

Part of what I teach about creating a Game-Changing Success Ritual is about shifting your mindset, being in a place where you can hear your head, hear your heart, and make the right commitments and decisions for you.

The mindset shift might come from engaging your senses to reset yourself: scented candles, great music, hand cream, a delicious beverage or treat, a cosy cardigan (hi, autumn).

It might come from listening to a pep talk or podcast that encourages you to think in creative, curious ways.

It might come from a meditation that allows you to drop those monkey mind busy-busy worried thoughts and connect with your wise inner self, and your gorgeously creative heart.

And honestly it also comes from reminding yourself again and again that you deserve success on your own terms, that what you want is possible, and that the world is a better place when you are more successful.

Me? I like a combination of alllllll of those things, but you get to choose the things that work for YOU.

Use these tools as you get ready for Christmas

While I recommend the power of ritual for your monthly business review, you can use these same methods to shift your energy from freaking out about Christmas to deeply creative and strategic.

So if you’re trying to get your creative mojo flowing, it’s pretty much impossible to do that when you’re stressed out or freaking out. Instead of trying to push through and getting more and more frustrated, engage the power of ritual to break that pattern and get you into a positive and creative space.

This works well for:

  • Product development
  • Getting your products listed (that positive energy flows through the screen to your customers!)
  • Planning a photoshoot
  • Planning, creating and scheduling your Christmas marketing content
  • Basically any strategic thinking you need to do for your business

Let’s do it together!

If you find it tricky to carve out space for reviewing your business or need some inspiration to get the ritual vibes flowing…

Or if you need mindset and marketing support for Christmas… 

Then I’d love to give you a big warm welcome to The Better Business Collective, my membership group for makers and solopreneurs who are ready to strengthen their business from the inside out.

Featuring a completely game-changing regular business review and a wealth of tools to tighten up your marketing content this season, The Better Business Collective is the place to stop getting in your own way and raise your business savvy up a gear.

Doors close on Monday 14th September at 5pm – it’s time to jump in!

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Enter The Forge

Life's too damn short to chase someone else's definition of success. I'm here to give you the courage and tools to forge your own path.