← The Goal Digger Podcast | Top Business and Marketing Podcast for Creatives, Entrepreneurs, and Women in Business
The Goal Digger Podcast | Top Business and Marketing Podcast for Creatives, Entrepreneurs, and Women in Business
853: The Power of Saying No: How to Focus on What Matters Most in Life and Business
00:48:40
With Samantha Gaunt and Jenna Kutcher
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Transcript83 lines
- [00:02]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
I think for so many of us, especially like people pleasers and yes, girls, we're taught that boundaries keep things and people and opportunities out of our lives. But what I've learned time and time again is that boundaries keep us in our lives and what matters the most.
- [00:18]
Jenna Kutcher
I'm Jenna Kutcher, your host of the Gold Digger Podcast. I escaped the corporate world at the age of 23 with nothing more than a 300 camera from Craigslist and a dream. Now I'm running a seven figure online business that feels even better than it looks, all from my house in small town Minnesota with my family here, we value time as our currency. We mix the woo and the work and we are in the pursuit of building businesses that give us the freedom.
- [00:45]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
To live lives that we love.
- [00:47]
Jenna Kutcher
I've always loved turning big goals into reality and I'm here to help you do the same. This isn't just a peek behind the curtain. Come along with me and my guests as we tear the whole curtain down. Every week we tackle practical no fluff marketing strategies and host honest discussions on what works, works and what doesn't. Join me and my expert guests for actionable insights to help you grow your dream business with confidence. Pull up a seat and get ready to be challenged, inspired and empowered.
- [01:16]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
This is the Gold Digger podcast. When I think about the incredible people in the Gold Digger community, I am constantly blown away by the way that you're showing up for your dreams while navigating the real beautiful, messy realities of life. Today's guest, Samantha Gaunt, embodies that perfectly. She's a blended mom of five, a creative entrepreneur, and the founder of Simply Scaling, a business that helps mompreneurs streamline their businesses and align their passions with their monthly cycles for a strategic edge like how amazing is that? Sam reached out to me in the Gold Digger Podcast Insiders Facebook group with a challenge I know so many of us face. How do we prioritize intentional growth while protecting our energy? With so many opportunities calling your name.
- [02:01]
Jenna Kutcher
How do you decide where to focus?
- [02:03]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
How do you shift from doing it all to doing what matters most without losing yourself in the process? In today's coaching session, we explore Sam's journey as a multi passionate mompreneur and unpack the importance of saying no to good opportunities to say yes to the great ones. We dive into how to identify what truly moves a needle in your business, align your work to your personal values and create boundaries that honor your energy. We also ask some tough questions in terms of success and what it really looks like in this stage and season of life and talk about some of the harder things women entrepreneurs face, often in isolation. Needless to say, you're going to feel a lot less alone after listening to this one. So whether you're a mompreneur, a multi passionate creative, or just someone trying to balance ambition with peace, this episode is packed with insights that you can start applying today. Let's dive on in and map out a plan for Sam and maybe even one for you too. I am so excited to welcome the incredible Sam today to the Gold Digger podcast. Welcome to the podcast, Sam.
- [03:04]
Samantha Gaunt
Thank you. I'm so excited to be here.
- [03:06]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
Yes. Okay, so we're gonna do a coaching episode today, and you've prepared some awesome questions for me. And so before we dive into the coaching portion, just tell us a little bit about who you are, what you do, and where you're at in your business, and then we can dive into the questions you prepared.
- [03:22]
Samantha Gaunt
Sure. So I'm Sam. I am a mom of five and a virtual assistant, currently aspiring coach. I have worked with many women entrepreneurs in their businesses and getting the strategies to streamline them and run them efficiently so that they can have more time for themselves and their families. And kind of along the way, I noticed that sometimes me personally and my women clients would hit these walls, right? And so sometimes they would just fall off the face of the earth. They would not respond to my, you know, inquiries and things like that. And then other times they would be to the moon with ideas and creativity, and we're going to go with this. And. And so I kind of started to collect all of this information through my VA work and realized that a lot of this can be just cycled, synced, basically. So a lot of this can be just wrapped up into our cycles, our menstrual cycles. So our energy levels just ebb and flow throughout the month. And so I realized that being able to sync our cycles to our business tasks was going to be the game changer. And so I started to do a lot of deep dive research in my own life and planning accordingly. And then I have moved to helping my women business owners to do the same.
- [04:35]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
Oh, my gosh. Okay. I love this. We've done a few different episodes about this on the podcast. I think it is such a powerful tool, and I also think it's very empowering as a woman to kind of shift the way that we look at our cycles and just the way that our energy es and flows throughout the month. So I just think what you do is so amazing, and I Also think it is very needed. So let's dive on in to some of the questions you have. And as always, I always say this, but as we're going through these responses, I want you to put everything through the Sam lens in terms of what resonates, what feels aligned. I'm going to do my best to give you some great answers, but I also just want to preface this in saying you have to put everything through what makes most sense for you. So hit me with your first question and then we'll kind of go from there.
- [05:26]
Samantha Gaunt
Yeah. So my first question is, as a multi passionate entrepreneur myself, I often find myself pulled toward several exciting opportunities at once. And so my question to you is, how do you intentionally decide which pocket of your business or your life to go deep with, especially when they all feel equally important or aligned with your goals?
- [05:46]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
Yes. Okay. So I feel like so many people in my community, we are having zero shortage on ideas, right? Like, we are idea generators. We get really excited about new ideas. I'm sure everybody listening has somebody in their life who's like just an idea generator. They're on to the next thing, they're excited about the next thing. You literally can't keep up. And I feel like that is something that is a superpower for a lot of us. But it can also be a huge frustration in figuring out, one, how do I prioritize things? But two, how do I follow through? Because a lot of times idea generators are really good at the initial idea, but they struggle with the follow through. Would you put yourself in that camp?
- [06:29]
Samantha Gaunt
Definitely.
- [06:30]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
Okay. I think that's so normal. I think so many of us. And so one of the things that I try to do is when everything feels important or exciting to me, I try to filter my decisions through two main buckets. And the main buckets are impact and alignment. And so I want to figure out first, what is going to move the needle the most right now? Like, what is actually going to get me a return or give me results? And then two, what feels most aligned with my core values or what I'm saying is most important. And so I feel like impact and alignment are two really great buckets, especially for more intuitive women. And I feel like knowing the work that you're doing and just how you're kind of understanding women and our bodies and our flows, I feel like these two buckets are gonna be really impactful for you because you get to see, okay, what is actually gonna move me forward and get me results, but also, like, what is most aligned with what I say matters and what I'm going after. And so I feel like when we get so many ideas, we have to pick either the one that we're gonna get the fastest results on. And so for some people, if you are good at generating the ideas, but you struggle with actually taking any sort of action on them, I always say pick the thing that is like the lowest hanging fruit, like the easiest win that you could get, so that you see yourself as somebody who can actually follow through and you can build that consistency muscle that is only built through doing the reps. Or you want to pick the thing that you know is going to be most sustained in terms of your passion. And so something where you're like, I know without a shadow of a doubt, a year from now, I'm still going to care about this thing. It matters that much to me. And so I feel like when we have so many ideas, it's amazing, but it can also be really paralyzing. And so looking at impact and alignment and then looking at do I want a quick win or do I want more of a sustained effort that helps me kind of figure out where to go. But one thing that I've gotten really good at in my business is doing one thing really well and then systemizing and automating and figuring out like how to make this the easy, easiest lift possible. Before I add on another thing and knowing what your skill set is and seeing how you are big on systems and streamlining and helping people do that, I feel like you can probably do the same things that you're doing in your clients lives, in your own life and in your own business. Does that resonate?
- [09:01]
Samantha Gaunt
Oh yeah, for sure. It's always easier for someone else than to do it in my own.
- [09:04]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
Oh, totally. I mean, even things as like organizing your bathroom drawer, like if you're doing it yourself, you have those emotional connections or you remember how much you spent on that one concealer or whatever it is. And it's so funny because it's so much easier to go into someone else's bathroom drawer and be like, this is junk, or this is gone, or throw this away or you don't use this. Right. And so I agree that maybe sometimes we need to like hold the mirror up to ourselves and be like, okay, what would I do if I were consulting myself in this business? And I bet that you'll start to kind of uncover places that you can either systemize or streamline your processes to give you more time to work on the ideas. Oh yeah, I love that.
- [09:45]
Jenna Kutcher
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- [10:14]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
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- [10:16]
Jenna Kutcher
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- [11:01]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
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- [11:05]
Jenna Kutcher
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- [11:55]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
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- [11:57]
Jenna Kutcher
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- [12:03]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
That's gusto.comgolddigger okay, what's your next question?
- [12:09]
Samantha Gaunt
So one of the things that I hear from my clients and once again I feel myself, is the Pressure to do it all or be everything to everyone, especially as a wife and a mom. So how do you personally set your boundaries and let go of the guilt while still showing up as a leader, a wife, mom, and for yourself?
- [12:27]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
Okay, I love this question so much, Sam. And I feel like I have had to get so clear on what my boundaries are and get very confident at enforcing them. And I'll never forget my therapist said that boundaries are what protect what's sacred to you. And I feel like when she positioned it in that way of really thinking about, like, what is in my inner circle, what matters the most, and how do I kind of build the walls around those things that just protect what is most sacred? It kind of shifted the idea. And I. I said this in my book, but I think for so many of us, especially, like, people pleasers and yes, girls, we're taught that boundaries keep things and people and opportunities out of our lives. But what I've learned time and time again is that boundaries keep us in our lives and what matters the most. And so for me, I often think of boundaries almost like the bumpers. I mean, you're a mom, you have kids. I think of, like, when you go bowling and you put the bumpers up so that the ball stays going down the lane and it actually hits the pins down. Boundaries are like the bumpers in my life that keep me in alignment. And so for me, I've had to think of where do I need bumpers in terms of where am I prone to over commit or say yes when it should be a no? And so an example of this would be, like, oftentimes I'll get emails inviting me to, like, amazing events, right? Like, I am so lucky to get invited to go places. I don't like going places. I love being home. And so when I'm in my inbox and somebody's inviting me, you know, to go to the mountains of Colorado, of course I'm like, oh, my gosh, that sounds amazing. But when it comes down to it, getting on the airplane, doing the layover, being away from my family, all these different things, I end up hating it. And so I've had to really pay attention to, like, what felt aligned but ended up not being in alignment. And then how do I create bumpers around those things? And so I have literally had to sit down and create, like, templated responses that help me kindly and with grace turn down amazing opportunities and projects and invitations. And so that has helped me so much because if I were left to my own devices, I would say yes to everything and everyone. Because I want to make people happy, right? I want to make people feel loved. And so learning how to put up the bumpers in my life of where I'm prone to over commit has been huge. And then second, learning how to communicate it in a way that lets people know this is not a reflection of you, your business, your opportunity, your project, anything like that. This is only a reflection of me and what matters most to me. And so changing the language instead of just saying like, no, I can't come to your party, but like, hey, I told my kids that I'm going to be with them on Saturday and if I say yes to this, then I'm out of alignment with what I said to my kids. That helps somebody be let down easy and recognize and not let them go on that emotional roller coaster of like mad at me. Does she not like me? What happened here? And so I feel like the communication of the boundaries is the biggest key of being able to enforce them, but also being able to be respected with them. And one thing that I found is that every time I share those types of boundaries, people are inspired to re negotiate what their boundaries are or rethink about what their own. So here's a quick example, but one of my good friends recently had a book launch event and she really wanted me to come speak at it. And I was like, girl, I'm not getting on an airplane. I love you so much. I'm so excited for your book. How else can I support? And then she's like, okay, can you come on a live stream on a Saturday afternoon? And I was like, Saturdays, we always go out to brunch and we go paint at this little cafe. I am so sorry if I say yes to this, I'm going to be dreading it all day long and it's not going to be good for either of us. And so then I ended up pre recording a video and sending it to her to use for her book launch event on a Saturday. And at the end of the day she said, you're doing the right thing, like, you will never get this time back with your kids. And it was just one of those experiences where it's like my heart broke of like, I don't want her to think I'm not supporting her. I love her and I'm so excited for her, but this is just out of alignment with what I've committed to. Does that make sense?
- [16:37]
Samantha Gaunt
Yeah, for sure. Yeah. That feels deep.
- [16:39]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
Yeah. What is your biggest struggle when it comes to setting boundaries? Like where do you feel like you over commit too much?
- [16:47]
Samantha Gaunt
I feel like I. I mean, honestly, everywhere I feel like I over commit everywhere. I over commit to my work. And I think that I have more time in the day than I do. I over commit to my kids, you know, and they always say it was pretty hurtful when I had to explain, you know, they would say, okay, you lied. You said we were going to do this. And I was like, well, I didn't lie, but I over committed. My plans changed, right? And so now it's been kind of a funny thing in our house, like, oh, I guess plans changed again, you know, and so it's like, it hurts pretty deep because I'm like, okay, like I'm over committing to them, but I want them to be the last people that I over commit to. Does that make sense? And so, yeah, so. And with five of them, it's hard. And I not asking for parenting advice here.
- [17:31]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
Imagine I have zero parenting advice. You are doing so much more than I am. And like, that is. I mean, when you really think of the logistics of five children, my mind is literally blown. So I totally understand that. And I think too, when it comes to things like that and with boundaries. I even had a moment the other day, Coco. School was canceled because it's so cold here in Minnesota. And I was trying to get work done, and I was half in on work, half in with her, and she had this moment of like, you're not even looking at me. And I was like, oh, my God. And I, like, shut my computer, set my phone down. And I was like, you are so right. I wasn't paying attention to you. I am so sorry. What were you trying to tell me? And I feel like so much of the guilt creeps in when we're half in on everything, right? And so part of the boundaries, I think, is doing your best. And again, this is meant to be flexible because we're parents and parenting requires a lot of flexibility. But doing your best to create space and time where you can be all in on your work and you're not thinking about parenting and all in on your parenting and you're not thinking about work. And I think that that whole mom guilt idea sneaks in when we're half in on everything and we feel like we're not actually accomplishing anything. And so it's like, how can you create boundaries that give you a little bit more of that focus time? Because we know we can get a crap ton done, whether it's during nap time or quiet time or whatever. That is. And so figuring out, like, what does that look like? It can be so hard, though. So hard.
- [18:56]
Samantha Gaunt
Yeah, yeah, that. Like what you said there, like, I do it all and I do almost like a mediocre job at everything.
- [19:03]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
Yeah.
- [19:03]
Samantha Gaunt
When I do need to, like, shift that. To do one thing at a time fully, all in. So, yeah. No, that's a good shift.
- [19:10]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
I love that. Okay, give me your next question.
- [19:13]
Samantha Gaunt
Okay, so my next question is. So with my cycle syncing, I know that I have something unique to share about cycle syncing for entrepreneurial women and moms. But stepping into the role of thought leader feels intimidating at times, mostly because I am quite an introvert at heart. And so the other thing is with social media at play, it's such a huge one. And being an introvert, I don't love being on social media. So my question is, what steps would you recommend for building the authority and confidence in such a niche space?
- [19:43]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
Yeah, so it's funny because it might feel niche, but I would argue that it is not niche at all in a beautiful way of, like, so many people could benefit from this.
- [19:54]
Samantha Gaunt
Sure.
- [19:54]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
And so I think a lot of times too, we can trick ourselves into thinking, like, this is so hyper specific, but when you really open it up for people who menstruate, they can benefit from this. Right. And so that's a very good chunk of our population. And so I agree, I think sometimes people get surprised, but I am extremely introverted. And so I actually don't love social media either. And it is like I have to push myself to show up on there, but I would say figure out ways that showing up doesn't feel super intimidating or that you can show up consistently. So one thing I've been doing that's been working really well for Instagram is posting those carousels that kind of tell a story. So as you scroll through each slide, the story continues to build. And so taking what used to be in a caption and putting it into a carousel where the story is growing with each slide, that's been a really easy, accessible way to get a point across and to make an impact through social without having to hold my phone up in front of my face and talk into my camera. And so sometimes I think it's just that we have to get a little bit more creative as to what can we commit to doing that isn't super, super intimidating for us. And then also how can we challenge ourselves a bit to step out of our comfort zone? And one thing that I think would be really interesting for you Is that if you are feeling like an imposter or just kind of struggling with, like, stepping into that thought leader position is as you're working with people, collect their stories, and ask if you could share their stories and their experiences. Because one thing that I think helps bolster up our confidence is knowing that, hey, this doesn't just work for me. It can also work for other people. And testimonials are basically like having people be walking billboards for us and an excuse for us to talk about our own work without using our own words to describe it. And so I think there are a lot of interesting ways. I think you could do some really interesting things inside a canva and making graphics that help illustrate, you know, the different areas of our cycle or the different ways you might be feeling. One of my friends who is a past guest on this show, her name is Erin Claire Jones, and she is big on human design. And one thing that she does really well with her social is she'll just call out a certain design type, and then she'll give advice on it. And so you could even say, like, you might be in your luteal phase if. And then have a bulleted list so that people could qualify themselves and be like, oh, I understand that a little bit better. And so I think that there are different ways that you can make social media accessible. I think there are different ways that you can make showing up a little bit easier. But the last piece would be, is when you look at your business model, how big is speaking to the masses and how much does that mean to you versus working and going deeper with certain people? And so I think a lot of times we look at social and we're like, I've got to reach everybody. I've got to go really big and cast a wide net. But in reality, a lot of our businesses can run with a certain amount of clients. Like, I had a huge realization when I was a wedding photographer of, like, I don't need every single engaged couple in the state of Wisconsin to want to choose me. I literally need 20 people to work with. And that just really shifted. One, how I showed up online and how I spoke. But two, how I was able to go deeper with those people versus trying to go super wide on the Internet.
- [23:23]
Samantha Gaunt
Yeah, that's good. That makes a lot of sense.
- [23:26]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
Yeah.
- [23:27]
Samantha Gaunt
So I think I do. I think I am kind of like on that, you know, border of, like, do I want to go, am I trying to be this big thing? Or. Yeah, do I need to just step back and go deeper?
- [23:37]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
Yeah, and I think too that will reveal itself to you as you start doing more of this specific work. Like, I think a lot of times we try to scale too fast and I think that's where the message can get really diluted or we can get really overwhelmed. And so it's like if you can start and make an impact and see the changes in five clients and get those stories and start talking about it like that's how the movement really begins. And I think a lot of times people look at maybe people like me who is able to now serve the masses. And you forget like I was doing one on one coaching in my little condo, sitting at a target table, teaching photographers how to do what to do. And so it's just like, I think a lot of times we think almost too big and it's at a detriment to like the impact that we can actually make and the ways that we can test out like what our offer is, how it actually works, how it makes sense for people and the results it can give them.
- [24:31]
Samantha Gaunt
Yeah, that's good. That makes sense.
- [24:33]
Jenna Kutcher
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- [25:03]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
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- [25:05]
Jenna Kutcher
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- [27:16]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
Okay, what's your next question?
- [27:18]
Samantha Gaunt
So it just goes right off of that. So I want to grow a business that not only supports my family and my well being, but also inspires other women to reclaim their time and energy and be proud of themselves. So if you were in my shoes, what's one thing you would focus on right now to ensure that this business leaves a lasting impact?
- [27:37]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
Okay, so I think what is interesting about this and actually let me ask you a question first. So you're a va correct. And now you're introducing this. So tell me about the business model right now and maybe like what you're seeing in the next six months to.
- [27:53]
Samantha Gaunt
A year for the cycle syncing.
- [27:56]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
Yes.
- [27:58]
Samantha Gaunt
I have gone so back and forth with it. So I decided that I was just going to put a course out instead of going one on one right off the bat. So I've done like mini, I will say like mini, little coaching sessions within like the clients that I have. And then I decided that I was going to just do a course, a widespread course and sell it on repeat and maybe potentially do some sort of a coaching from then, like an upsell for one on one coaching. And so I'm going back and forth whether that's the right way. Just like we had talked about. Now I'm like internally thinking about, I'm like, well Maybe this isn't the right way. Maybe I should just go deep on one on one coaching first and then try to just do like a general masses course. I don't know.
- [28:35]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
Well, I actually think there's benefits to both ways. So I don't think there's a right or a wrong way. And that actually gives me a lot of clarity because I think that when it comes to alignment and some of the things we've talked about in terms of boundaries and feeling spread thin and all those different things, a course can solve a lot of those problems, right, because you've created that content once you get to sell that content and then that content is serving your clientele, which I think is the ultimate alignment with where you're at in your life and like what you actually need from this business. I would say it doesn't have to be an either or. I would argue that it should be like a both and because I think what will be interesting is that if you go deeper with some of the one on one clients or you did like a small group coaching or something like that, it might give you insights to make your course or your marketing even better or more clear. For me, what was interesting is like before I made my first course, I did one on one coaching for about five different photographers and I started noticing trends, right? Like you notice like oh my gosh, they're asking the same things or they need help understanding the same concept or they want to see these same templates and it becomes very obvious and something that is scientific like cycle syncing, there is, you know, your own take on it. But also there's a lot that's rooted in our experience and science. And so what's amazing about it is that I feel like if you do some of the more hands on one on one, you'll get those transformation stories that are necessary for you to really understand and own the impact that you can make with this work that I think will anchor you deeper to it and give you like that stronger why? But I also think it is highly in alignment that you've created a course that you can maybe go more volume with that and have not as heavy of a lift, especially at this stage of life. So I don't think again it's an either or, I think it's a both and. But when you're really thinking about like, okay, what is one thing to focus on right now? I would say get really clear as to like which route you want to go or what your bandwidth is. If you do go deeper with those one on one clients or if you promote the course and kind of figure out, like, what is this going to look like as this year unfolds? And I always, like, I used to be the biggest hater on annual planning. Like, I used to plan month by month because I couldn't even commit to quarter by quarter because I was just my ADHD brain. And all the ideas and things was like, what if something more exciting comes up? What if something is great? And one thing that I've realized, especially as a mom, is that, like, having more structure, structure and more plans in my business gives me more time, freedom and creativity in motherhood, which is the priority right now. I actually was researching when I was looking at your questions, but the American Psychological association reports that individuals with strong boundaries experience 50% less burnout and higher life satisfaction. And seeing kind of how your questions were really rooted in boundaries and alignment and, you know, priorities, I think that having some sort of clear plan is going to help you stay in alignment, follow through on those things, and then also be able to, like, check yourself if you feel like you're going too hard or too deep into something. So what I would challenge you to do is after this call, really sit down and you can just do a very loose map of what you want the rest of this year to look like. And what I would consider, if I were in your shoes and again, put this through the SAM filter so you can take it or leave it, is I would consider, you know, setting aside maybe one quarter to do more of the one on one coaching just to get that experience, to really get those testimonials and to anchor into, like, why this is so impactful and what you can do in terms of transformation. And then I would set aside one quarter, all devoted to launching your course. And we do one launch per quarter because I feel like there's so much that goes into it, right? Sales pages and email copy and social media and graphics and all these different things. And so oftentimes a lot of people will leave a couple weeks for a launch or maybe a month if they're being generous. But I would argue that it takes an entire quarter to execute a launch well. And so looking at the remainder of this year, I would kind of look and map out and give yourself a little bit of structure just so that if you're someone who's prone to chase new ideas or get excited about something else, you have a plan that you can stick to and follow through with. And one thing that I do, and I told my team this at the beginning of the year is I was like, I know that I'm prone to get excited or want to throw things in last minute, and I want you to challenge me if I do that. Like, really say, are you sure that that's what you really want? Because here's what you said you wanted at the beginning of this year. And so I gave them full reign to challenge me if I ever get like, super excited or try to throw something in or add chaos to our really well executed plan. And so you need to do that for yourself. Of like, am I sure that this matters? Am I sure that this is worth pursuing? Or am I just trying to distract myself or add unnecessary chaos, which entrepreneurs are amazing at? So how does that sound to you?
- [33:46]
Samantha Gaunt
Yeah, no, that's. I hits the nail right on the head. For sure.
- [33:50]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
Yeah. Why do we do that? I mean, it's interesting. I feel like I've been studying that lately. Of like, why do we like to like, light a match and watch a burn? Like, it is just fascinating to me because even the people with, like, the best boundaries who like, love letting things be easy, can tend to overcomplicate things. So I think it's just the way we're wired, but also it can be a huge detriment to us and it can create that stress and tension that a lot of us feel that often leads to burnout.
- [34:18]
Samantha Gaunt
Yeah, for sure.
- [34:19]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
Amazing. Okay, I think we have one more question, right?
- [34:23]
Samantha Gaunt
Yeah. So this one is more about you. One thing that I teach my clients is how to sync their business tasks with their monthly cycles, to work with their energy and not again, against it. So as someone who's intentional about energy management, do you have any rhythms or strategies that help you stay productive while honoring your natural ebbs and flows?
- [34:41]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
Yes. Okay, so I love this question and this is challenging me to dive deeper into this again because every time I learn about this and power of it, the more I'm like, reminded of, like, this should be in our practice, this should be in our business. We should be planning our launches around certain points of our cycle when we're most, most energized and outgoing. So this is a challenge. And it's so funny that we're having this conversation because I was literally recording a solo show yesterday talking about paying attention to your energy rhythms, and not just on a day to day basis, which I think we're prone to do in a man's world, but also in terms of our monthly rhythms. So this is very front of mine. For me, one thing that's been really Interesting. And I was kind of reflecting on it the other day is when Coco started school, she was doing half days, so it was from 8 to noon. And so I would just naturally stack my work from 8 to noon so that when she got home from school, I was available to her. Now she's in full day kindergarten. But I have kind of maintained that as like, that is my most energized window. And so what's interesting is, is that I will not do podcasts. I will not take calls after that, like one o'clock hour each day. I just naturally find, like, that is when I need to decompress or I'm better at doing like copy or review work or emails or that kind of stuff. And so I've really kind of stacked my days in terms of that morning window. And I also have really tried to cater to my energy in the morning. So even this morning I wasn't feeling great. I was like, I'm still gonna drink my protein shake. Like, I need to get protein in. And so just paying attention to, like, how do I support my body to have the right energy in the morning, especially when I need to be more outgoing. And I think for people like us.
- [36:22]
Jenna Kutcher
That are introverts, you really have to.
- [36:25]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
Like, pump yourself up to show up in this way. Right. And so, you know, for me, doing that and then also having like blackout days, which I think would actually be amazing for you as well, is back to the boundary conversation. Last year I kind of realized, like, my favorite days of work are days where I have nothing on my calendar, not meaning that I don't do anything. I actually get the most work done when I don't have calls and I'm not constantly in slack and different things like that. And so a few things that we've done is like, Mondays, I do not take calls. I rarely take calls on Thursdays. Those are my days to like ease into the week and ease out of the week. And so blocking those off to protect those times fiercely and then time blocking the days where I have calls. So yesterday I had a bunch of calls. They were all back to back to back. It's kind of exhausting. But I would rather have that and then have a totally free day than to constantly be popping in and out. And as somebody with ADHD, like, if I have an appointment at 2:00pm, it ruins my entire day, even if I have nothing for the entire morning. Yes, you too. Like, it is like, I don't, I can't describe. My husband does not understand it. But the other day I Had an appointment at 2. It ruined my whole day. All I could think about was this damn meeting. I, like, kept thinking about, like, what am I going to get done before this meeting? Like, it just derailed me entirely. And so is this relatable? Because I'm like, I don't know if people get it, but so making sure that, like, I set up my calendar in a way where I'm not wasting a day thinking about a 2 o'clock meeting and I'm actually getting things done. And so for me, it's like stacking the morning and then having free days and then stack days is super helpful for me and just consistently checking in and reworking. And I think it's interesting because so many entrepreneurs get into this for freedom. Right. And flexibility. And yet somehow we add in so much rigidity into our work where it feels like we can't be flexible, but in reality we can. And so constantly checking in and renegotiating, like, okay, what is this stage of life offering that I might need to renegotiate what this looks like in terms of how my work hours are working or what this looks like? So I would just say pay attention to those types of things and then don't be afraid with your clients too. To say, like, hey, you know, Mondays I'm going to be doing this sort of work for you, but I'm not going to be available because I want to do deep work. And I think people respect that because they're like, ooh, deep work. Like that, that's good stuff. But we don't realize how distracted we get with things like texts and slacks and emails and things coming in that we don't actually get to the deep work. Are you a 2pm appointment hater too?
- [39:02]
Samantha Gaunt
Definitely. My husband doesn't get it either. And I'm like, well, he's like, you know, what did you do today? And I'm like, I just, I waited around to go to this appointment basically because there wasn't enough time to like, start something.
- [39:12]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
Yeah.
- [39:13]
Samantha Gaunt
And I think that's what we realize is like the starting of tasks and then like, like the ending of tasks are like, so hard to do.
- [39:20]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
Yes. And I think too, like, for so many of us, I think that there comes an identity with that of not being able to follow through where we don't even recognize it. But over time, we start to count ourselves as somebody who is not capable of following through because we've done it before in our past. I know for me, like on my health journey, it was so eye opening. To recognize that, like, I had so many identities that I had tied to myself when it came to being a healthy person. Like, I just consider myself not healthy. I was the big girl. I was the friend. And it was just really interesting, kind of unraveling a lot of that and recognizing that, like, there have been patterns in my life where I've struggled to follow through on certain things. And that really weighs on us, I think, more than we acknowledge or more than we even understand. And so for people like you and I who have all these ideas, who get excited about things, I think picking things that we are actually able to follow through on even if the idea changes or we're not as excited for, there's something really powerful in seeing something to completion and becoming a person who completes something that carries us through for the next idea and the one after that. Does that resonate at all?
- [40:38]
Samantha Gaunt
Yeah, that feels good. That.
- [40:40]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
Yeah.
- [40:41]
Samantha Gaunt
Yeah. Picking the things that you know that you'll be able to follow through at least at the beginning, right? Yeah. So that you are a person who does things from beginning to end. Yeah.
- [40:49]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
Yes. And it's like, those little things. And I think, too, it's like, we get so excited about the really, really big ideas. Like, we want our work to change the world and change people's lives from day one. And I think it absolutely can. But oftentimes it's getting started with, like, the stupid, simple things that kind of feel frivolous and silly to us. But again, we get that momentum from doing the reps. And when we see ourselves doing the reps and we see ourselves be people who follow through, that confidence carries us forward and makes us more consistent. And I think that is such an underrated thing about entrepreneurship. It's like doing the reps. Like, are you doing it every single day? Are you getting the things done that you say you're going to get done? And I think that just changes how we show up, which is really beautiful as well.
- [41:35]
Samantha Gaunt
Yeah. Yeah, for sure.
- [41:36]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
Amazing. Any final questions that have popped up through our conversation?
- [41:41]
Samantha Gaunt
Yeah, I guess the only other thing. And I don't even know how to pose this as a question, so just as you were talking, as we were talking, and you were saying, you know, like, your time with Coco and, you know, like, when you were. She said that you weren't paying attention to her or whatever, like. And you were like, yeah, you're right. I'm gonna close this. And this is what my priority was right now. Like, I have. So my kids range from 4 to 14. And so as Much as I would love them to be a priority right now, I am trying to build my business in the same time. And so part of me has wondered if I'm. If I'm supposed to just be pushing off my business for a bit. Right. And still living. Because by the time my business is big enough to be kind of running in the background, my babies are going to be grown. And so I think that's a big part of why I have a hard time, like, with stretching myself so thin everywhere.
- [42:25]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
Yeah.
- [42:26]
Samantha Gaunt
Do you have any insight?
- [42:28]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
No. I mean, I think this is. I mean, I did a podcast episode years ago of like, should I shut it down or should I scale it? Of like, I think so many of us are battling that. Of like, what does this look like? And you know, having a six year old now and like, she's in kindergarten, I'm like, oh my God, it went by so fast and it doesn't feel like it. Right? Like, I can't imagine having a teenager, like, but it is a literal blink. And it's like there's only such a small window that we are their favorite people, that we are the people that form their opinions, their beliefs, all of that. And so, you know, it's interesting, I was recently talking to one of my team members and we were talking about goals for this year. And I said, you know, instead of having all these number oriented goals like, we've had in the past, like, I want this year to feel good and I want it to feel flexible and I want it, you know, and it was just like a more feminine, energetic take on the year than like the masculine of like, like, we're gonna push and we're gonna get this and this is what we're gonna achieve. And it was just really interesting to see that shift both in myself, but also in the business. And I guess my question for you then would be, like, does it need to be this giant thing? Like, could it be a side hustle? Could it be a way that you have a greater purpose and you're doing important work, but it doesn't need to be this massive thing and really maybe being introspective after this call of like, like, what does it need to be in order for me to think it's successful and am I willing to do the work to get it to that point? And I just feel like all those dang memes and, you know, the wooden signs that our moms have in their houses are so true of like, the days are long, but the years are short. And I just feel like, that is so true. And so it's something I grapple with all the time as well. And I think so many moms can resonate, and maybe that's a part of your message. And your mission is like, why is this work important? Especially if you're already stretched thin and you're trying to juggle things because you want to serve moms, right? So you're in it and you get it, and they also get it. And so I would just really ask yourself, what does it need to be in order for it to be successful for you? And really kind of look at that. And I think, too, it's like, we often just see success in such a masculine way of those big numbers or those big launches or the number of clients. But I feel like if we bring more of the feminine energy, the ease and the flow in your business could be incredibly successful if it allows you an outlet and an income that doesn't have to be massive. Right. And so figuring out, like, what is in alignment with that version of success for you right now. And I feel like in my life, I have to look at this, like, on a year by year basis of, like, am I ready to go hard or am I still hitting the brakes? Because I'm really focused on my kids and I'm dealing with that where it's like, my little one will start school in the fall, and so my days are limited. And so it's like, what does that look like? And I think for moms, we have to really be constantly looking at, like, what is my purpose in this stage of life right now? Not in my whole life. What do I hope to accomplish? But, like, like, right now, where am I best serving? And, like, how do I show up the best for that piece? And that can be a hard and brutal and honest answer for a lot of us.
- [45:54]
Samantha Gaunt
Yeah, that's good. What is my purpose right now?
- [45:57]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
That's good. Yeah, right now. Aw, Sam. Where can everybody find you, connect with you, learn more about you, check out your work, Give us all the places.
- [46:07]
Samantha Gaunt
Yeah. So I'm on Instagram. My handle is hemantha.gone. and then my website is samanthagaunt.com so you can find me there and work with me for any VA services or cycle syncing, anything like that.
- [46:22]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
Amazing. Thank you so much for being brave and coming on the podcast today. I hope this was fun for you. It was such a treat. I love doing these coaching sessions, so I really, really respect you coming on the show.
- [46:32]
Samantha Gaunt
Yeah, this is incredible. Thank you so much for having me.
- [46:36]
Host (possibly Jenna Kutcher)
I Hope you love these coaching sessions as much as I do. It is such a joy to connect with Gold Digger Podcast listeners just like sa and I absolutely just love meeting you where you're at in your business and hopefully shedding light and answering some of the bigger questions that you might be grappling with in the dark of the night. Thank you so much for listening to this episode. If you are not yet a member of our Gold Digger Podcast Insiders Facebook community, make sure you dive in there. That is where we are doing our calls to connect with listeners just like you for these coaching sessions and I would love to coach you next on the podcast, so make sure you're a member of that community so you don't miss our next call for next month's coaching session. It would be an honor to talk to you, to help you and to come alongside of you in the journey that we're in. Thank you so much for listening to this episode of the Gold Digger Podcast. If you know someone who could benefit from this show, please share this episode with them. I think there are so many amazing nuggets and wisdom and things that so many of us face, often in isolation. And of course, until next time, keep on digging your biggest goals.
- [47:42]
Jenna Kutcher
Thanks for pulling up a seat for another episode of the Gold Digger Podcast. I hope today's episode fueled you with inspiration, gave you information that you can turn into action, and realigned you with your true north in life and business. If you've enjoyed today's episode, head over to golddiggerpodcast.com for today's show. Notes, discount codes for our sponsors, free freebies to fuel your results, and so much more. And if you haven't yet, make sure you're subscribed so that you never miss a future show. We'll see you next time, Gold Diggers Much more. And if you haven't yet, make sure you're subscribed so that you never miss a future show. We'll see you next time, Gold Diggers.