The Ongoing Saga of Swim Team, and Lessons I Have Learned

Oh, mama, the DRAMA.

You might be wondering what the swim team and relationship sales have to do with each other. Well, let me tell you. Last year, my daughter Daphne joined the swim team. I had no idea what I was in for when we started, and if you were here for that saga, you got to see it all unfold in real time.

Well, it’s time for the sequel. You can think of this as Swim Team 2: Henry’s in the Pool.

There are a few differences between last year and this year — and a big part of it is that this year, I have expectations.

For example, last year, I was stunned (and terrified) to discover that signing Daphne up for swim team didn’t mean she was on the swim team. She had to prove her worth by swimming the length of the pool, which is approximately the length of the Atlantic Ocean. 

via Gilmore Girls on GIPHY

(Maybe I am slightly exaggerating.)

Anyway, last year Daphne gave me this whole teachable moment. It was amazing. 

This year, I was super nervous about the whole “swim through the shark-infested ocean” thing… and then something incredible happened. 

We were at the pool, and all the kids were swimming with their kickboards. I was chatting it up on the sidelines, filling up my daily social needs, and not really paying attention. 

Suddenly, I realized that all the kids had tossed their kickboards to the sides and were swimming the length of the pool.

Unassisted.

Just swimming.

No one said, “THIS IS THE SWIM TEAM TEST.” No one made it a big deal. The kids just…

… swam. 

It was oddly calm.

via The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on GIPHY

We love to hype stuff up in our heads — but does it really help us when we do that?

Would it have helped if Henry were totally stressed out about the swim team test? 

When I told Henry, “You just made the swim team!” his reaction was, “Okay, cool.”

Henry focused on swimming, and the rest just happened. 

So, am I telling you to jump in the pool with your kickboard? In a manner of speaking, I guess I am. 

When you’re trying to land clients, it’s easy to hype up every interaction in your head. 

If you build up every single discovery call in your mind, and convince yourself that signing this client is a matter of life or death, you will be stressed and tense. You will NOT be at your best. 

If you're not finding clients through networking, maybe you need to know this about relationship sales - Lauren Golden, The Free Mama
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Instead, keep your focus on making a connection. You will be amazed at how much less stress you will feel. You will be able to connect — and the clients will come. That is the key to mastering relationship sales. Here’s a little more on that

Give it a try — and share your experiences in the Facebook group!

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P.S. Have more questions about starting your freelancing business and landing clients? You can find lots of answers right here. 

Messy and imperfect action

Have I told you lately how amazing you are, mama?

It’s true. You are.

You constantly blow me away with your commitment to yourself, your belief that you CAN do hard things — and the way you take action on the things you believe in.

I’m such a huge fan of action, and messy, imperfect action is probably my favorite kind. 

You know why? 

Because it’s real

It’s feeling the fear and doing it anyway. It’s showing up even when you haven’t showered or brushed your hair (or brushed your teeth, but maybe that’s just me…). It’s holding your breath and hitting send.

It’s going live on Facebook for the first time even when you are absolutely terrified.

And over 100 Free Mamas recently did just that in the brand-new Free Mama Squad. 

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If you want to talk about imperfect, here’s a story for you. 

When my right hand woman Jordan came to me and said, “Lauren, our mamas need more accountability,” I agreed with her — but I also know that I didn’t have time to plan out a proper launch. I didn’t have time to get my copywriter set up with details and build out a beautiful funnel and plan a strategy. 

So we decided that our desire to help you get the accountability you need was more important than our (my) need for things to be perfect and pretty.

Jordan and I spent a total of about 6 minutes prepping, and then we jumped in and launched that sucker. 

Over 150 mamas heard the call and answered.

They shouted “I want MORE for my family! I want MORE for myself!”

They came into the group. And then they found out that THE VERY FIRST THING they had to do, to prove to themselves and to us that they were serious, was to go live in the group and introduce themselves. 

Ready for the best accountability you've ever had in your business and personal life? Hop on the waitlist for The Free Mama Squad today!
via TruTV’s At Home with Amy Sedaris on GIPHY

So many of these amazing women had never, ever gone live before. 

But they did it.

And they saw that it didn’t kill them. 

(I think at least a few of them genuinely expected to keel over on the spot!)

Instead, it made them stronger. It gave them another reason to believe in themselves and their abilities. And goes what? Public accountability — telling people what you want to accomplish, hanging out with people who are also going after their goals — it works. 

In less than a month, we’ve had mamas celebrate:

  • Announcing their business and intentions publicly
  • Working out daily
  • Writing and sending off proposals
  • Hosting LIVE trainings online, and engaging with potential clients
  • Finishing web sites and promoting themselves
  • SIGNING clients and GETTING PAID
  • Going to bed on time
  • Posting videos and living to tell the tale
  • Booking coffee chats with potential clients
  • Negotiating with anchor clients
  • Asking for and receiving referrals from existing clients
  • Breaking up with bad clients
  • Eating better

It’s not just about business — it’s about your whole life. And It. Is. AMAZING.

And I want YOU to be a part of this amazingness, too. We’re going to re-open the doors to the Free Mama Squad in August — so get yourself ready by getting yourself on the waitlist. Trust me, you don’t want to miss your chance. 

Because this should be YOU and YOUR wins.

P.S. Make sure you get on the Free Mama Squad waitlist so that you can be the first to get in when we open the doors again!