Roadmap to Referrals: Episode 343 – "How Do You Start the Year?"

Host: Stacey Brown Randall
Release Date: January 7, 2025
Podcast Description:
In each episode of the Roadmap to Referrals podcast, Stacey Brown Randall reveals strategies to naturally generate referrals, allowing professionals to grow their businesses without resorting to manipulation or overt sales tactics. This episode delves into effective ways to kickstart the new year, overcoming common pressures, and embracing a sustainable approach to business growth.

Introduction: Unexpected Beginnings

Stacey Brown Randall kicks off Episode 343 with a candid update about her podcast’s transition to a video format. Despite initial plans for a video-based launch in January 2025, technical challenges related to her discomfort with technology have postponed this shift. She shares her vulnerability, illustrating that even seasoned professionals face unexpected hurdles:

"Sometimes things don't go according to plan... we're just not like peanut butter and jelly." [00:05]

This honesty sets the tone for the episode, emphasizing authenticity over perfection.

Embracing the New Year Without Pressure

Stacey challenges the conventional notion of "doing things right" at the start of the new year. She expresses her disdain for New Year's resolutions, citing personal struggles with maintaining them:

"I am completely against New Year's resolutions, mostly just because they make me feel bad about myself." [10:30]

Instead of succumbing to societal pressures, Stacey advocates for a more relaxed approach, akin to easing into the year rather than launching with intense momentum. She reflects on advice from an older client who took the first two weeks of January off, a practice Stacey once deemed impractical but now recognizes as beneficial:

"Taking the first couple weeks off of the year is the perfect way to ease into the year. I think it's awesome." [15:45]

Personal Growth and Business Success

Stacey delves into the pivotal changes that led her to finally achieve a long-sought revenue goal after nine years. She identifies three key factors:

1. Shifting Focus from Revenue to Clients Served

   By prioritizing the number of clients she aimed to serve rather than a specific revenue target, Stacey found relief from the obsessive pursuit of financial goals:

   "I stopped putting down a revenue number as my yearly goal and instead focused on the number of clients served." [20:10]

   This shift allowed her to concentrate on providing value, with the revenue naturally following.

2. Participating in a Mastermind Community

   Joining a mastermind group provided Stacey with valuable relationships, diverse perspectives, and accountability. This community fostered a significant mindset transformation, enabling her to believe in greater possibilities:

   "The mastermind community really allowed me to just be a little bit more open to the woo part of life. And that has certainly helped." [25:00]

   Exposure to new ideas and supportive peers was instrumental in her growth.

3. Life Stage Changes: Children Growing Older

   As her children became more independent, Stacey found more time and mental space to focus on her business. She appreciates the balance this brought, allowing her to invest more energy into her professional endeavors:

   "As they got older and they needed me less, I leaned into that with my business and enjoyed it." [30:20]

   The evolving dynamics at home provided a conducive environment for her business to flourish.

Key Insights and Takeaways

• Focus on Service Over Numbers: Prioritizing client satisfaction and the number of clients can lead to natural revenue growth without the stress of hitting specific financial targets.

• The Power of Community: Engaging with like-minded professionals in a mastermind group can catalyze personal and business growth through shared knowledge and accountability.

• Adapt to Life’s Changes: Acknowledging and adapting to changes in personal life stages can create opportunities for business expansion and improved focus.

Conclusion: A Gentle Start to the Year

Stacey encourages listeners to find their unique rhythm when beginning the year. Whether easing in or launching boldly, she emphasizes the importance of aligning with what feels right for each individual:

"New year starts are awesome, but you can do them however you want. You can ease into the year or you can shoot out like a rocket. Just do what's right for you." [35:15]

She wraps up with an inspiring message, highlighting the continuous benefits of her personal strategies:

"What I have loved most about this shift within myself over the last couple of years is how working on those three things... is the gift that keeps on giving." [40:00]

Stacey's journey underscores the significance of self-improvement, strategic focus, and embracing life’s natural progression to achieve sustained business success.

Notable Quotes:

• "Sometimes things don't go according to plan... we're just not like peanut butter and jelly." – Stacey Brown Randall [00:05]
• "I am completely against New Year's resolutions, mostly just because they make me feel bad about myself." – Stacey Brown Randall [10:30]
• "Taking the first couple weeks off of the year is the perfect way to ease into the year. I think it's awesome." – Stacey Brown Randall [15:45]
• "I stopped putting down a revenue number as my yearly goal and instead focused on the number of clients served." – Stacey Brown Randall [20:10]
• "The mastermind community really allowed me to just be a little bit more open to the woo part of life. And that has certainly helped." – Stacey Brown Randall [25:00]
• "As they got older and they needed me less, I leaned into that with my business and enjoyed it." – Stacey Brown Randall [30:20]
• "New year starts are awesome, but you can do them however you want. You can ease into the year or you can shoot out like a rocket. Just do what's right for you." – Stacey Brown Randall [35:15]
• "What I have loved most about this shift within myself over the last couple of years is how working on those three things... is the gift that keeps on giving." – Stacey Brown Randall [40:00]

Final Thoughts

Episode 343 of Roadmap to Referrals offers valuable insights into starting the year with a balanced and authentic approach. Stacey Brown Randall’s personal anecdotes and strategic shifts provide listeners with actionable strategies to enhance their referral systems and achieve sustained business growth without succumbing to undue pressure or unrealistic goals.

For more resources and to join Stacey’s upcoming Referral Accelerator workshop in Charlotte, North Carolina, visit stacybrownrandall.com.

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