MY GOALS FOR 2020

If the fact that this is only my second blog post of 2020 is any indicator of the year so far…I have a feeling it is going to be a BUSY year. When the year began, I created a vision board with all of the specific goals I want to accomplish. I use a particular vision board method to ensure I’m in the right mode for manifesting it all. Here are some of the things I am working towards this year:

BE MORE VISIBLE. I think this is something that everybody struggles with when you’re an entrepreneur. Especially today, in a very social media driven market, you have got to be online. When was the last time you googled yourself? I did today and I came across this picture of me (above) from a couple of years ago and thought to myself, “oh, wow. I haven’t done a proper photoshoot in a while.”. It’s so important to always be keeping up your online branding. So, this year, I want to make more of an effort to have professional photos taken for my business and always have all my online media up to date.

With this goal comes making sure I keep up the confidence to be more visible. Which means I need to make sure I am feeling my best as much as possible. I’ve been watching what I put into my body, making sure that my skin, hair and nails are good to go. (I love a good neutral brown powder dip polish on my nails). I also signed up for Class Pass and I’m absolutely obsessed!!!! You can join in on all the classes in your neighborhood. I’m currently into Pilates reformer classes. Sign up using this link and you can get your first couple of classes free, this is not an ad but its how I signed up and I’m hooked and if you love it, I’ll get some free classes, too.

DAILY DECLUTTERING. Look, I am no hoarder but for some reason I pile up clutter everyday. With a busy household and passion for beautiful things, I am always finding stacks or piles of things. So, its a must for me to make decluttering a daily practice. Just yesterday I realized that I had 5 different types of mascara in my makeup bag……5! I also have like 8 lipglosses that I carry with me daily. These little bits of clutter may not seem like they effect you but silently, they do. If I had just one or two glosses, I would have a calmer state of mind. This is based on scientific evidence, so believe me when I tell you to start doing little bits of decluttering every single day. It helps you, your kids, your family, your entire household. It’s important that you understand how the things in your home, affect your life. I teach a specific technique that helps you de-clutter your life and home, to put you in a high vibration in my High Vibe Home workshop.

READ TWO BOOKS A MONTH. This one is very specific for me because this year I feel like I am getting back to work. I decided to get my real estate license to add on to my design practice. Becoming a mom gave me the small break I needed to be refreshed and ready to help create beautiful homes again. I’ve always found that in any industry, its important to read motivational and inspiring books to keep your mindset at its best. I always want to be ahead of the game. A few of my favorites are:

EDUCATE ON FENG SHUI. It’s no secret I am super passionate about living a Feng Shui lifestyle. Just listen to episode 51 on my podcast and you will sure know it. I think it’s important that we all understand how our energy and the energy of our environment effects us. There is so much to learn and understand, I truly feel it is my calling to help you understand it better. So get ready to amplify your life with some Feng Shui living tips and tricks.

TRAVEL MORE. I’ve always been a big traveler but the past few years I’ve been in new mom mode and really have been home…..a lot. Being near the water is soothing to my soul, I always feel a spiritual connection when I’m near the water. We spend a lot of time at the lake but this year I’m ready to get back to taking more trips to get away and visit friends. I absolutely love eating breakfast at a beautiful hotel, sitting poolside sipping something delicious while reading a book or spending time in my journal. I want to make a conscious effort to plan little getaways to replenish my soul.

VOLUNTEERING. This year it’s important to me that I spend more time giving back to charities and organizations that speak to me. A few years ago I decorated the hospital room of an adorable teen cancer patient with an organization called Dec My Room. I loved that experience so much, I feel like this year it’s time for me to get active again. Giving is always such a good feeling and it helps to improve your own happiness. They say, whenever you’re feeling stressed, the cure is giving back.

QUALITY OVER QUANTITY. They say less is more but I am not truly a fan of that, hello 5 mascaras..?! What I do realize however, is that its important to me, to live by a quality over quantity perspective. Maybe one really good fitting and quality pair of denim jeans over a few not so great fitting ones. One really good pair of shoes over 10 of poor quality. For me, it used to be the other way around because I really enjoyed style and variety. Now, I am at a point where I have shifted this point of view for almost everything in my life. This goes for clothes, friendships, activities, events, luggage, etc.

This had a big effect on me in my kitchen. We had a ton of pots and pans in our house because I needed them. I am always making something and its hard to clean them so often. For Christmas I got a set of just a few very great quality Calphalon pans and I am obsessed. They’re fabulous, so well made, they cook evenly and are so easy to clean. I will never cook with another pan again. It’s little things like this that make my life easier and more enjoyable. Quality over quantity.

What are your resolutions? I would love to know. Share them in the comments below or over in the Blissful Living Lounge.

How to prioritize joy while building a business

There is nothing like starting your own business. I personally fully enjoy the creative birthing of a brand and a business. Thinking of a name, a concept, a strategy, every part of building a vision for a business is absolutely delicious to me. Keep in mind, fastidious effort is required to see a business through from conception to execution for it to continually grow and thrive. Starting and growing a business is just not for everybody.

Ever since I was a young girl, I had a passion for interior design. I knew that was my calling and I can remember the day I decided that is what I was meant to do in my life, it felt like falling in love. So, for the last 12 years of my life, it was my purpose and I worked my butt off to grow my interior design career/business, read more here. I went, I saw, I conquered. I set out on a dream and I achieved. I moved across the country from Los Angeles to New York City and built a blog, a business and a career in the interior design industry. Looking back I am so grateful for every minute and every single opportunity.

But to be completely honest, After 12 years, I got totally burnt out. When I got pregnant, it was almost a breath of relief for me because it gave me the opportunity for a change. So, I felt like it would be a good idea to discuss with you something that I feel like I learned the hard way…..the importance of prioritizing joy while building a business.

You see, I am a Capricorn, I thrive on hard work, I always rise up to a challenge and the word hustle has always resonated with me. It’s like who I am. But after getting so burnt out over the years, I look back and realize, I totally did not prioritize my self, my personal life and I spent zero time checking in with myself to make sure I was happy. These days, ‘sparking joy’ and ‘self care’ are at the forefront of everyones mind but sometimes I feel like it is misleading us all to take longer baths and invest in facials/beauty routines.

The truth is, when you’re a woman up to something in your life, its important that you prioritize focus at the same time you must prioritize your personal joy. What I have found, as I started my jewelry business, is that when you go within to connect to your deeper purpose or calling and find a way to make money at it, true magic happens and a blissful babe is unleashed.

I’ve been seeing it happen all around me, a sort of ‘second life’ movement going on. Women going deeper within, and a more meaningful calling and purpose emerges and their business takes off like wild fire. I’ve seen a business coach toting Chanel ditch the high life and start a purposeful vegan living movement. Or a fashion PR rep become a spiritual crystal healer. Or an interior designer become a coach for creative entrepreneurs based on her career experiences. I’ve loved watching Tobi Fairley evolve her design career, too. You must read this article on Forbes for a little inspiration.

However, a few months ago, I came to the realization that my deep passion does lie with homes, with interior design, with how people live. I actually had an astrologer read my birth chart and it says in the stars that I am meant to have a career in the home sector (pretty crazy, right?). Like my soul came to this planet with a specific purpose of helping others feel more happy within the walls of their home. I questioned myself as to why I had burn out and why I needed a break? The truth was that I wasn’t prioritizing joy in my business. I was doing the hustle, reaching goals, kicking butt, etc.

Fast forward to today, I’m reconnecting with my love of interior design and getting my real estate license this year. I’ll be serving my clients in a bigger way and I could not be more excited for what’s to come. Mamas getting back to work and it feels so right in my gut to move in this direction. So, in order to build something that fulfills me for the next 12 years, I will be making sure I prioritize my bliss and joy while building my business.

HERE’S HOW:

1) Focus on the WHY more than the HOW. It’s easy to get distracted by all the noise out there teaching you strategies for making lots of money or gaining a ton of followers. The pursuit of these things will always leave you frustrated and experiencing lack. That energy is very low vibe which completely contradicts your growth. So, instead of trying to figure out all the strategies out there, try to focus on the reasons WHY you are in business. Who are you trying to serve? Why do you want to serve them? How can you give them more? What do you want to be able to do with all the success you achieve? When you are focusing on your why, the deeper meaning behind what you do, true brilliance comes from within. These answers will help you come up with greater ideas!

2) Set boundaries. Entrepreneurship requires a lot of you. It requires long hours and all of your brain power. It’s so easy to lose yourself while building your brand and business. Decide to set boundaries for your time and energy. One of my favorite boss babe hacks is setting up business activities on certain day, like Lauryn from The Skinny Confidential does all her conference calls on Wednesdays. So you can set things up for how you want to work, I now do blog posts on Tuesdays, newsletters on Mondays, Podcasts on Wednesdays, etc. This not only helps you to stay focused more strategically but it also helps your sanity.

3) A creative work environment. If you don’t already know this about me yet, I am all about Feng Shui and the energy of your environment. It is especially important when creating a business. (Read this tip for setting up your home work space.) You need to be surrounded by things that spark your inspiration, you need your tools organized so you can work efficiently. How is work joyful when you’re always spending several minutes looking for things. When your environment flows and makes your job easy, money will flow in. So if you focus not on the money (which is not so joyful) but focus on creating a harmonious environment that inspires ease and flow, the money will flow in. Make sure to always clean your desk at the end of the day, keep your papers filed and organized. Setting aside a few minutes to upkeep your work environment will always help you enjoy being at work. Bliss Tip: I encourage you to use crystals in your home office, especially on your desk. Clear quartz helps to amplify your business intentions, Amethyst pulls in abundance and Malachite inspires flow. I also always keep an orchid on the desk, it represents life and growth, beauty and harmony, you want that energy where you work.

4) Throw parties. If I have learned anything about entrepreneurship over the last 12 years, it’s that things are more fun when you bring in others to help you. When two or more people come together for a bigger purpose, whatever they do flourishes and prospers. Plus, it creates a bond in your relationships. Thriving relationships are essential in life for overall joy and wellness. We need healthy and supportive connections to keep us motivated and going. I can speak from first hand experience, every time I have had a jewelry trunk show, a lively party with friends, bonds are made and strengthened. People love to offer a helping hand, it makes them feel valued and important. They feel part of your business and you get to share that fun experience when the even is a success. That memory is a gift that keeps on giving. I always loved helping my clients throw house warming parties once we finished their design, things like this cement your client relationships, and its so much fun, too. I love attending book parties, trunk shows, open houses, grand openings, etc. Celebrating small wins and victories and cheering others on is the best part of business if you ask me.

So there you have it, a few things you can do this year while working in and on your business. I hope you enjoyed it. If you liked this post, be sure to pop on over to the Blissful Living Lounge to continue the conversation.