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I was at a local business today picking up my lunch. The sub shop was buzzing with orders coming in at a rapid pace. And it struck me... all of the little business lessons happening right before my eyes. 

It was such a good reminder that the world can feel so uncertain but life still finds a way to go on. Business still has an opportunity to thrive. My hope is these little lessons serve as a reminder to you in how to run your business. Instead of getting overwhelmed and distracted, bring it back to the basics.

Here's what I noticed in my experience:

• Everyone knew what their role was to ensure a good and efficient experience for all customers.
• They constantly innovated and evolved. What once was a cozy dine-in sub shop was now a bustling take out operation.
• They made it super easy to buy. In person/via phone/through all of the delivery apps.
• They managed expectations. After ordering they told me where to stand, how long the wait would be, and...

I hear it ALL the time. Kelsey, I know what I want to do, I just have NO IDEA where to start. And yeah I get it... whether you're talking about starting a business from scratch or adding an online course to your offerings, new things can feel big, scary, and daunting. 

Fear not, I'm here to offer up some advice on where the heck to start! All you need is your shiny, new, idea and a blank word doc (or pen and paper if you're old school). 

• Start big- what is it that you want people to ultimately do? Book you for their wedding? Buy your course? Hire you for graphic design? Whatever it is, you most likely need a website to direct them too. Make sure it's clear what they should do when they land there.
• Speak to your soulmate- you know, the person who would LOVE what you're doing and who you would vibe with easily. How old are they? What do they do for fun? What problems do they have? Where do they hangout? What words do they use? Get super detailed on who you are trying...

Picture this... it's fall and you're working on launching an online program that compliments your existing business. You're getting ready to kick off the new year with a bang and get all your ducks in a row. 

You know exactly what you need to work on each day to help you spread the word AND secure sales. You feel confident talking to potential customers and all your back end systems are set up to make this launch easy, breezy. 

You have weekly check ins to keep you on track and daily support to help with any specific questions. Most importantly, you have someone who has been there, done that, in your corner. Sound like a dream? It doesn't have to. This is what I offer in my VIP Coaching program (you can check it out HERE for more details.) But this doesn't have to just be a dream, it can become YOUR reality today.

It's time to stop guessing what you should be saying on social media. Or how to set up automations in Kajabi. Or how much to charge, what it should...

I get it.... The rain has come, Netflix is on, and this Pandemic is still happening. And while it's easy to not make eye contact with your business, there are some small things you can work on right now. Yes, while in sweat pants. And yes, for free.

These are my top 5 tips for working on your business from the comfort of your couch. They might feel small to you, but if executed well, they go a long way. So without further a do... here you go!

1. Personally reach out to every customer just so say hi, see how they are, and thank them for supporting you. Feeling fancy? Send them a hand written card!

2. Create systems in your business. Write out e-mail templates to common questions you get. Or upgrade your booking software to be more streamlined. Ask yourself, what tasks take a lot of my time and can they be automated? A lot can be done on Google Drive for free.

3. Plan out social media. Map out goals for the quarter, hone in on monthly specials/launches you want to promote, and...

Let's talk about the importance of rest. The ability to take a break, unplug, or play. If you work for someone else, then you take sick leave or vacation time. You also have weekends and holidays off (most often). But if you work for yourself, YOU have to create that rest. YOU have to take that time off for yourself. And this is so important because you need it, your business needs it!

I'm writing to you from one of my favorite places, the mountains. And as I sit here absorbing the quiet of nature and a strong cup of coffee, I can't help but think of all the years I didn't know how to rest. And quite honestly it's something I still struggle with. But I've learned how important rest is and it's something I now make a priority. Today I'm encouraging you to do the same!

Your business will be better if you create time for rest. You'll get more inspiration, have more stamina, and will enjoy a happier balanced life. Maybe you start with planning a big vacation each year. Or...

I'm here to give you permission. Not that, that should be my job, but I feel like it's time to talk about something important here. What I'm talking about is when to start. As in when to launch your new business.

Let me back up the train a little bit. If you're catching this in the future, know that 2020 has been a crazy year. It's left a lot of us feeling anxious, vulnerable, and stressed. But it's also caused us all to pause and reflect. And in some cases dream. Today I'm speaking to those people.

Those of you who are dreaming of quitting your day job to go full time in your business. Those of you toying with an idea, unsure where to start. And those of you with a solid hobby you dream of growing into a thriving business. You. I want you!

You see often times we spend a lot of time in the "dream" phase or the "what if" phase that we neglect the "take action" phase. At a certain point you have to put down your self-help book, tune out of the business podcast, and get...

Marketing isn't about getting more followers.

It's about building relationships, sharing your personality, and putting yourself out there. If you're trying to get more clients and you're begging people to come to you, you're doing it wrong! Which means it's time to do it right! Here's my top 5 tips to get the right clients in your chair/website/table/wherever you do business!

1. Give, give, give: So many of my clients come from a simple comment on their stories. Spend some time engaging with your current clients and dream clients every day on social. Having a hard time staying focused? Set a timer for engagement time.

2. Be authentic: The more "you" you inject in your social media, the better. People want to feel a human connection, not some corporate robot. Create boundaries but don't be afraid to share parts of yourself in your posts!

3. Know who you're talking to: Think of your posts like you're having a coffee date with your dream client. Use words they use, type how you would talk,...

It just felt like time to do a little Covid check-in. Like an update on how life has been since it changed for literally all of us. Things are weird. And unknown. And at times messy. But I would argue now is the perfect time to work ON your business. Yup. You know, the goal setting, planning, pivoting, growing, that kind of stuff. And here is why.

Maybe you actually enjoyed some down time and it made you realize you are working too much. And if your business has entered a busy season, it's made you feel... resentful? Stressed? Overwhelmed? Then you, my friend, need to make some real business shifts that will rock your world. 

More real talk... Maybe your business had to close (like salons in Washington) and you had no cash reserves. Then it's time to figure out a way to make more money in your business. And also come up with a spending strategy that keeps you in check. 

How about clients? Are there some you were hoping would kind of forget about you? They're nice and...

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I went to college. I learned so much about how to prioritize, socialize, and work with people. And yes I learned bits and pieces of business, but the real learning happened in real life. In entrepreneurship experience trumps education most days. So today I'm going to share my top ten business lessons I've learned by doing. My hope is maybe some of it will empower you in your journey of business and personal growth!

1. Learn to say no. Some might argue with this one but I've discovered you are way more powerful if you do few things well instead of a lot of things mediocre. 

2. Give freely on occasion. Giving without expectation is so empowering, remember you don't always know what others are going through. It just feels good to make a positive difference in someones life. Do it.

3. Protect your time. Do audits periodically of how you are spending your time. Maybe that means less Netflix and more books. Maybe that means setting...

I love the end of the month because it gives me a clear picture on how my business did and what my budget looks like going forward. And I manage all of that from the convenience of my mobile banking app. As a business owner I've been able to pay off debt, max out my Roth IRA, start saving for a rainy day, and so much more. I believe in creating systems that will make it easy to stay consistent. And that consistency is what will get you to your goals. Here's my 5 tips to make your month end easy, peasy!

1. Set specific goals: It's hard to know how well you are doing if you don't know what "success" means. For me, I always have a personal and a business financial goal. I sync my banking apps with an app called, Mint, that way I know what my progress is any given day.

2. Get real with your spending: Sorry this isn't a more creative one, it's just so important! Do an audit on your business spending. How much is going towards rent, utilities, phone, marketing,...