Uplevel Your Business with These 5 Powerful Resources
1. Manage your money like a boss
It’s time to start paying yourself, sister. Make finances fun! Start by incorporating a little Financial Date every Friday at your favorite coffee shop, your cozy couch, or your patio listening to the birdies chirp.
If you have no friggen idea where to start with your finances or you’re ready to bring on some help and have no idea what you can afford to pay them, start here.
I send this free download from the book Profit First* to nearly all of my coaching clients and business friends. It’s the simplest business budget I’ve ever used that actually works for inconsistent income. You do what works best for you, but I’ve found this to be super helpful to know where I’m spending my money!
Basic Breakdown of 100% revenue: 5% profit, 50% owners pay, 15% tax, 30% operating tax
2. Lead with courage and vulnerability
You probably already know about my girl, Brené Brown, and then you also know exactly why I’m including her on this powerhouse list. Literally anything by Brené is a game-changer. Pick up any one of her books, and you’re pretty much guaranteed a breakthrough.
Her TED Talk on vulnerability changed my life and her book, The Gifts of Imperfection*, was the catalyst for 23-year-old Devan to start believing in herself. Brené’s work, and powerful words, gave me the courage to take steps which ultimately led me to signing up for B-school, quitting my anxiety-inducing corporate job, and officially opening Devan Danielle LLC in 2014.
I am so grateful for Brené’s work and recommend her to literally anyone who will listen.
3. Set Beautiful, Loving Boundaries
My boundaries bible is Essentialism*. Every creative entreprenuer who’s ready to take their business to the next level will be required to set boundaries and learn how to say “no” lovingly. When it’s time to stop people pleasing, this book will give you all of the strategies you need to start putting yourself first.
“When we don’t purposefully and deliberately choose where to focus our energies and our time, other people will choose for us, and before long we’ll have lost sight of everything meaningful and important.”
If someone calls you selfish, you can now respond with, “Thank you.”
You’ve all heard the analogies before: You can’t pour from an empty cup. Fill up your cup first so you can pour from an overflowing cup. And the one on the airplane: put on your own oxygen mask before you assist someone else with theirs.
The only way we are able to serve others (emotionally, spiritually, and financially) is if we are taking care of ourselves first. So, as far as I’m concerned, it can now be considered a compliment if someone calls me selfish. ;)
4. Overcome Your Fears
When you’re afraid to show up…
When you’re afraid of success…
When you’re thinking: “Who am I to…”
When you’re questioning your worthiness…
When you’re seeking permission from others…
Remember this:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? ... And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”
5. Give Yourself a Soulful CEO Day
It’s really easy to get caught up in the to-do lists and day-to-day motions of running a business. It is incredibly refreshing, and necessary, to take a step back and reconnect with your bigger vision.
Why do you want this business?
What bigger goals and dreams are you wanting to achieve?
What is working really well? What’s not working so well?
Are your daily actions in alignment with the legacy you want to leave behind?
One day per month, I am all for getting out of my home office and going to a local coffee shop with my markers, journal, and Monthly Intention Setting Planner to check-in with myself.
I always leave with a fresh perspective and clear intentions to work towards over the coming month. You can grab yourself a copy of the Monthly Intention Setting Planner in my shop.
*The inspiration for incorporating a CEO day into my regular routine originally came from Being Boss and Victoria Bauman.
When you’re an entreprenuer taking care of yourself is one of your most important business strategies.
All of these powerful recommendations were inspired by calls with my incredible one-on-one coaching clients. If you’re a business owner who’s ready to fully step into your role as CEO, uplevel your mindset, and scale your business, I invite you to learn more about coaching with me here.
With love,
Devan