How to overcome imposter syndrome and SHINE

Want to know what you, Oprah, and Beyonce have in common? Read on…

What if I’m not good enough? Is this a question you’ve ever asked yourself, mama?

Well, if so, then I have exactly ONE thing to say to you!

Ready to learn how to overcome imposter syndrome? Lauren Golden of The Free Mama is giving you the mindset shifts you need to overcome imposter syndrome!
Ivo Adventures on GIPHY

Congratulations! Yes, really!

Feeling like you’re not good enough — like an imposter — is a sign that you’re doing new things. You’re growing. You’re pushing yourself past your comfort zone and venturing out into uncharted territory.

So it’s actually a very good thing. And it means you’re on your way to learning how to overcome imposter syndrome.

But I definitely understand that when you’re struggling with imposter syndrome, you might find yourself too scared to keep going. 

So, today on FreeMamaTV, we’ll dig into imposter syndrome, how to overcome imposter syndrome, and show you exactly how you can overcome it.

You don’t have to let imposter syndrome control your life. 

Head over to the YouTubes and check out this week’s episode of FreeMamaTV so that you can embrace your imperfection and turn it into a real strength.

Be sure & to subscribe to FreeMamaTV so you can be the first to know when a new episode airs!

P.S. If you ever feel like your past experiences were a waste of time (like that college degree you’re not using!), you’ll definitely want to check out this week’s episode of Free Mama Radio!!

If you’re looking for even more mindset shifts, check out last week’s episode all about overcoming self doubt!

29: How To Leverage Your Past Education and Life Experiences To Create A Profitable Business With Natalie Gingrich

education

Do you sometimes struggle to reconcile the money you invested in higher education or the time you spent in corporate with where you are at now? 

Let’s talk about how all of those things can work together.

I’m super excited to be here today with my friend, Natalie Gingrich. Natalie is the founder and host of The Ops Authority and has been in operation for two decades, either in health care, corporate America, or as an entrepreneur. She developed the Director of Operations Certification to equip existing ops experts to transform their businesses. 

Natalie is sharing what it was like to transition from healthcare, to corporate, to entrepreneurship, and how lessons from those earlier career paths play a role in her business today. We’re talking about priorities, mom guilt, fear of failure, and of course what it takes to be an operations professional. 

In Today’s Episode We Discuss: 

  • Having a quarter-life crisis 
  • Going from $180,000 in debt to running a successful business 
  • Lessons learned from working in a corporate environment 
  • How confidence creates momentum and momentum creates money 
  • Monetizing the things that come naturally to you
  • Preventing drive from pushing out the things that really matter to you 
  • Overcoming fear of failure
  • Why you have to be persistent
  • How to become an operations professional 
  • The importance of understanding your values

A lot of the time, the path our lives will take is unclear to us, right? You might wonder why you got a master’s degree in healthcare, or spent fifteen years in corporate America to end up in Entrepreneurship. 

But take time to connect the dots. Do you still use the skills you learned back then in your business today? Probably so! 

You are exactly where you’re supposed to be mama!

Have you heard about Natalie’s Scope Creep Solution?! This is a FREE 5-day sprint to help you defeat scope creep in your client projects and will be taking place November 16-20 so head to www.thefreemama.com/scope-creep to get signed up!

How to Connect with Natalie:

Natalie’s FREE Scope Creep Training >> Register at www.thefreemama.com/scope-creep

Get Certified As a Director of Ops >> Find out more at www.thefreemama.com/natalie

www.theopsauthority.com

www.opsinsiders.com

Facebook: The Ops Authority

How We Can Connect:

Subscribe to the Podcast

Follow Me on Instagram 

Join The Free Mama Movement on Facebook 

Subscribe & Review on Apple Podcasts

Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today, so you don’t miss any future episodes! I already have so many amazing guests and topics lined up, I would hate for you to miss a single one!  Click here to subscribe on Apple Podcasts

Could I ask a big favor? If you love listening to this podcast, please leave me a review on Apple Podcasts. I read each and every review.  Plus, you get to pay it forward because it will allow other mamas like you to find the podcast! Wondering how to leave a review? Click here to review, then select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review”.  So easy and so appreciated! 

Other Episodes You’ll Enjoy

28: The Lessons You Can Learn From Showing Up Imperfectly with Brooke Markevicius

27: Creating Space To Slow Down So You Show Up and Have More

26: Cultivating Courage and Confidence with Sara Dean


This one is hard. (Farewell, Houston)

It’s super hard to write a blog post when you’re crying.

I am feeling the feels right now, mama.

The house is packed up. The rooms all have that echo. I think about getting a glass of water wine, and then I walk in the kitchen and remember that the glasses are all in boxes.

Lauren Golden of The Free Mama is saying "Farewell, Houston" as she and her family head back to her hometown in Kansas City!
via Global TV on GIPHY

We leave next week, and it’s not going to be easy to say farewell, Houston.

When we came here in 2016, it felt like we were trying to run away from everything in our life. We were tired. We were sick of being poor and in debt. We were exhausted in the way parents of toddlers are perpetually bleary eyed. We were tired of each other, but avoided having hard conversations. 

We were stuck. We couldn’t find any good options, and Houston felt like the only way out of the mess we had somehow made of our lives. 

And when we got here, things got worse before they got better. 

Our new house broke

We needed new tires. 

It rained. It poured. (Literally. Rain in Houston is insane.)

But we started doing the work.

We worked on our marriage together, and Justin and I each worked on ourselves. 

Audrey, our rainbow baby, was born.

The Free Mama was built within these walls. 

It’s like… we had to come here, to become this version of ourselves.

And now…

We leave soon, and it’s not going to be easy to go back to Kansas City.

Yes, there are so many wonderful things about this move. I am over the moon excited to be near my family again. 

But. 

In Kansas City, people know a different version of me. They know Lauren who worked at a regular job, Lauren who was tired and run down and afraid. 

They don’t know me the way you know me, and I gotta say, it’s a little intimidating to move back to a place where people have expectations. 

Moving back doesn’t mean moving backwards. 

I’m not going to unbecome The Free Mama — that’s who I am now. I get to take all of these wonderful, difficult, amazing moments and transformations with me. 

I’m not running away.

I’m running towards something even better. 

There’s still plenty of work to do, and I’m energized. I’m excited to wake up and start every day.

And I’m looking forward to making more amazing memories in Kansas City — and with you.

Farewell, Houston.

P.S. If you feel like you lack boundaries with your time, be sure to check out my latest blog post here

P.P.S. Have you subscribed to Free Mama Radio yet?

Say Good-bye to Self Doubt

Get ready to learn the secret to taming the gremlins that hold you back and how to overcome self doubt:

You’ve heard those voices in your head, right, mama?

You know: 

You’re not smart enough to do this.

You don’t have the right experience. 

Who do you think you are, anyway?

Not sure how to overcome self doubt and stop that negative self talk? Watch this episode of Free Mama TV and learn how to overcome self doubt!
via GIPHY

Well, I have good news for you: you can wave buh-bye to that inner mean girl who keeps trying to talk you out of the success you deserve. Head on over to YouTube and check out the latest episode of FreeMamaTV, where I’m breaking down my proven strategy for clearing out the noise, getting to the heart of what’s holding you back, and how to overcome self doubt.

Once you learn this framework, you’ll be able to use it anytime you’re feeling a little bit insecure. And the more you use it, the more effective it becomes. Think of this as your own secret superpower — because it’s going to make you practically invincible!

Ready to leave those limiting beliefs behind and step into the spotlight? Tune into this week’s episode of FreeMamaTV and learn how to overcome self-doubt. See you there!

Be sure & to subscribe to FreeMamaTV so you can be the first to know when a new episode airs!

P.S. Did you happen to hear the latest episode of Free Mama Radio? It’s a good one – on showing up imperfectly!!

Also, if you feel like you’re always setting goals but never actually hitting them, check out this episode of Free Mama TV – and get ready to SMASH YOUR GOALS!


28: The Lessons You Can Learn From Showing Up Imperfectly with Brooke Markevicius

Showing up

Are you showing up imperfectly in your business? Or are you stuck feeling like your offer isn’t ready or good enough to put out into the world?

In this episode we’re going to talk about why you just have to get it out there, and to talk us through that, is Brooke Markevicius. 

Brooke is the founder and CEO of Allobee, which you might know as Momentum Market before they rebranded. It is a one-stop business solution for solopreneurs, small business owners, and startup founders. Brooke is passionate about supporting moms and businesses, so she fits right in around here. 

Today we’re going to be talking a lot about the importance of just showing up and continuing to show up imperfectly. If you are always waiting for your business to be perfect, you will never start. But when you start showing up, you will learn and grow and keep getting better and better. 

Brooke is also sharing her journey from working at a non-profit, to being one of Postmates first 100 employees, to freelancing and running Allobee.

In Today’s Episode We Discuss: 

  • How women are being forced out of the workforce in the pandemic 
  • Having a figure-it-out attitude 
  • Being a go-getter 
  • Why you have to be okay with failure 
  • Living a shame-free life 
  • Setting boundaries on how you spend your time 
  • Why she decided to rebrand 
  • Paying attention to what your market wants 

Deciding to show up and keep showing up even when you don’t have everything figured out is a challenge, but here’s the thing. . . No-one has everything figured out! And it’s in the showing up that we learn and get better. 

Brooke is a wonderful example of this, and it’s an honor to have her on the podcast today to teach us ways of showing up imperfectly in our businesses!

Have you checked out my FREE training?!  Would you like the freedom to work from home and spend more time with your family? In this training, you will learn how I became a highly paid virtual administrative consultant in just a few hours a day…. and how you can too!  CLICK HERE for instant access.

Resources Mentioned:

www.allobee.com 

Follow @hireallobee on Instagram 

How We Can Connect:

Subscribe to the Podcast

Follow Me on Instagram 

Join The Free Mama Movement on Facebook 

Subscribe & Review on Apple Podcasts

Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today, so you don’t miss any future episodes! I already have so many amazing guests and topics lined up, I would hate for you to miss a single one!  Click here to subscribe on Apple Podcasts

Could I ask a big favor? If you love listening to this podcast, please leave me a review on Apple Podcasts. I read each and every review.  Plus, you get to pay it forward because it will allow other mamas like you to find the podcast! Wondering how to leave a review? Click here to review, then select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review”.  So easy and so appreciated! 

Other Episodes You’ll Enjoy

27: Creating Space To Slow Down So You Show Up and Have More

26: Cultivating Courage and Confidence with Sara Dean

25: Stop Overthinking and Start Taking Action in Your Business with Stacy Tuschl


I can’t tell you how many times this happened to me.

Imagine that it’s Thursday morning, and you find email from your client. 

Hey you! I shared a doc with you earlier with details on the project I need you to handle. When can you get this done?

You’re a people pleaser, so before you even get out of bed, your reply: Hey! No worries — I’ll get this done today. 

An hour later when you’re at your desk and you actually look at the document, you want to stab yourself with a fork.

If you feel like you don't have control over your time, Lauren Golden of The Free Mama is going to tell you how to set boundaries as a freelancer!
via The Lonely Island on GIPHY

You have high standards. You want to overdeliver, to put a bow on it, to rock out the work. But you also want to know how to establish boundaries.

And right now, you hate your life because you created an extremely arbitrary deadline for a big project. 

You wind up working all day. You’re snapping at the kids, and it’s way past their bedtime by the time you finish.

This is NOT what you signed up for when you started out as a Virtual Administrative Consultant. You wanted to be in control of your time. You wanted to be in control of your life

Yet, here you are, working long hours and not reading bedtime stories to your kids. 

And the worst part? It’s your own fault. 

I used to do this ALL. THE. TIME. 

I’d create a sense of urgency that wasn’t really there, and then I’d force myself to get things done on the timeline I’d created in my mind. Instead of sitting with Daphne to talk about her day, I’d be staying up late to ensure the work was perfect.

Which meant I was tired and grumpy the next day.

Which…

You get the picture. 

WHY?

Look, you’re a Free Mama, so providing an exceptional experience for your clients is WHO YOU ARE. 

And sometimes, there is real urgency for a project. Sometimes, the client actually needs something to happen RIGHT NOW, for a valid reason. 

Other times? Well, it’s worth asking. 

When does this need to be done?

And then clarify things:

Right now, I’m working on these five things for you. Do you want me to set those aside and focus solely on this thing?

When you need to, ask for help prioritizing the work. Let your client decide what’s truly urgent and what can stay in the queue. 

Communication, Mama. The better you get at communicating with your clients, the better you’ll be at setting expectations and that’s how to establish boundaries that let you truly live the Free Mama life.

Looking for a little guidance as you build your Free Mama life? Check out the Free Mama Guide to Freelancing. It’s the most affordable way to get started AND get your communication, expectations, and boundaries into place. 

P.S. Want to know how to truly spark transformation in your life? Don’t miss this blog post!

P.P.S. Need even more Free Mama goodness? Check out Free Mama TV!

Get ready to SMASH your goals

Confession time, mama: I’m OBSESSED with setting goals.

I know, that probably doesn’t surprise anyone who knows me even a little bit. But it’s the truth. I LOVE setting goals, and I LOVE smashing through them. And I’ve come to realize that not everyone has the same experience that I do when it comes to goal setting. 

Want to learn how to smash your goals, in business and in life? Lauren Golden of The Free Mama   is walking you through her process of implementing goals!
via Schitt’s Creek on Giphy

In this week’s episode of FreeMamaTV, I’m taking you deep inside my process. I’m showing you exactly where to start — and how to think about the really big goals — plus, how to make sure that you actually get all the way down to crossing the right things off your to-do list.

When you tune in, you’ll get an inside look at what I do, and the rule of thumb I use when I’m setting big goals. Plus, I’ll show you where most people screw up — and how you can avoid that super-common pitfall and be a successful goal-setter instead. 

Check out this week’s episode of FreeMamaTV right here — and get excited about all the things you’re going to do!


27: Creating Space To Slow Down So You Show Up and Have More

Creating Space

Are you always looking to the future and planning for the next big thing? Are you making time in your life to sit still and just be present? 

At the beginning of the pandemic I felt called to reevaluate things in my life.  I looked at my schedule, my business, and my relationships to see what was working and what needed some adjusting. 

There was this sudden stillness thrust upon us when people stopped leaving their houses, and suddenly we weren’t so caught up in the day-to-day routines and schedules. 

And I realized that before the pandemic, that maybe I hadn’t been creating enough space to just be.

On today’s show we are covering why it’s valuable for us to be still from time to time, and how we can use this stillness to be more present in our business and with our families. 

In Today’s Episode We Discuss: 

  • The value of being still
  • Being fully present
  • Paying attention to how you feel
  • The experience and benefits of tracking how I feel
  • Being more in touch with your body 
  • How you can have more by doing less 

I want to challenge you to think about this in your own life. Ask yourself some reflective questions. How can you be present today? What can you take off your plate? How can you do less so that you can actually show up and have more? 

Remember that being present today is just as important as what you have planned for tomorrow. 

This is a message that I have felt called to share with you, so I hope you take a few minutes to tune in!  I would love to hear from you so be sure to reach out to me @laurengoldenfreemama on IG! 

Have you checked out my FREE training?!  Would you like the freedom to work from home and spend more time with your family? In this training, you will learn how I became a highly paid virtual administrative consultant in just a few hours a day…. and how you can too!  CLICK HERE for instant access.

Resources Mentioned:

Do Less by Kate Northrup

Intuitive Life and Business Coach Jullian Bolanz

Woman Code Book

How We Can Connect:

Subscribe to the Podcast

Follow Me on Instagram 

Join The Free Mama Movement on Facebook 

Subscribe & Review on Apple Podcasts

Are you subscribed to my podcast? If you’re not, I want to encourage you to do that today, so you don’t miss any future episodes! I already have so many amazing guests and topics lined up, I would hate for you to miss a single one!  Click here to subscribe on Apple Podcasts

Could I ask a big favor? If you love listening to this podcast, please leave me a review on Apple Podcasts. I read each and every review.  Plus, you get to pay it forward because it will allow other mamas like you to find the podcast! Wondering how to leave a review? Click here to review, then select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review”.  So easy and so appreciated! 

Other Episodes You’ll Enjoy

26: Cultivating Courage and Confidence with Sara Dean

25: Stop Overthinking and Start Taking Action in Your Business with Stacy Tuschl

How to spark transformation in your life

Remember when you learned about caterpillars and butterflies in kindergarten, mama?

Think about it for a second. I mean, really, think about that caterpillar, building a cocoon. It’s literally creating a new environment for itself — and I’m not really sure how comfortable it is in there. And then, inside that cocoon, that caterpillar becomes something else entirely. It’s entire body changes

Lauren Golden of The Free Mama is going to tell you how to really speak transformation in your life for the best growth and success!
via GIPHY

Wild. 

Sameness will never create change, so if you’re looking to create massive transformation in your life, you’re going to need to make some dramatic changes. 

That’s one of the reasons I love going to events and conferences. It’s a pattern interrupt — a way to break free from routines and spark transformation I need in my life and my business.

So let’s talk about the things you can do to make the most out of any event you attend — whether online or in person. 

First of all, attending an in-person event automatically forces a physical change in your surroundings. You’re up and out of your desk chair. You might be in a different city, walking and talking instead of clicking on a keyboard and working in solitude. 

But what if it’s 2020, and all the events are online? 

Well, then you have to get creative. 

  • Could you book a night at a hotel? 
  • Is there a coffee shop where you can spend a few hours? 
  • Could you change up your space at home? 

Even shifting from the couch to the dining room table, or going for a quick walk around the neighborhood can force you into a new perspective and help you see things differently. 

Create a change in your physical surroundings to spark physical change. 

TIP: At Free Mama Live, we’ve built yoga sessions and dance breaks into our days, so you’ll be up and moving regularly. 💃💃💃

Next, emotional change is extremely powerful. And to force that kind of change, you’re going to have to get a little bit uncomfortable

At an event, you have the chance to meet people who think differently than you do. Embrace that opportunity. Hear opposing viewpoints, and really listen. Don’t tune out when a speaker presents something you disagree with.

If you’ve never given meditation a try, maybe now is the time. What happens when you sit quietly and focus on the inner work? On the flip side, if you’re used to sitting still with your thoughts, what happens when you force yourself to engage with others?

How can you push yourself to make emotional change? There are so many ways for you to do this every single day: 

  • Read books that challenge your thinking.
  • Listen to podcasts that feature people with different experiences.
  • Get a mindset coach.
  • Read a Twitter feed you disagree with.

TIP: At Free Mama Live, we’ll be doing some pretty deep mindset work to confront your limiting beliefs. 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

Finally, you also want to encourage a mental change

This starts with investing in yourself. Learning new things. You’ve figured that part out. You’re checking out the trainings in the Facebook group, binging FreeMamaTV, listening to the podcast. 

But… are you implementing what you learn?

It’s not enough to just read all the books, buy all the courses, and wait for the magic to happen. You have to APPLY what you’re learning. 

So, you don’t just watch a video about Canva. You have to dig in and USE it. You don’t just listen to someone TALK about building a funnel. You get into ClickFunnels and DO IT. 

Here are a few things you can do:

  • Try out that new software or tool you just read about.
  • Teach someone else how to do something you just learned how to do.
  • Take on a project that makes use of your new skills, even if they’re not perfect yet.

TIP: At Free Mama Live, you’ll be able to participate in Skills Labs where you’ll have the opportunity to put your new skills into practice. 🎓🎓🎓

ARE YOU READY FOR TRANSFORMATION, MAMA?

Let’s do this!

P.S. Free Mama LIVE kicks off TODAY at 6pm Central. THIS IS YOUR ABSOLUTE LAST CHANCE TO JOIN US! Ticket sales close the MOMENT the doors open!

P.P.S. Did you see my last blog post? I’m giving the scoop on the one skill you absolutely need to be a successful freelancer!

The truth about work-from-home jobs

I’ve tried ALL the things, mama.

Seriously. In my quest to leave my 9-5 and make an income as a SAHM, I spent months of my life (and a LOT of money) looking into everything I heard about.

I tried network marketing (spoiler: it didn’t go well) and blogging (never made a penny).

Basically, if it came up when you Google “how to make money from home,” I tried it, and NONE of it worked. 

Until the one thing that did.  

Looking to make an income as a sahm? Lauren Golden of The Free Mama is diving into the the sahm jobs you should avoid and the best one to make money!
via memecandy on GIPHY

Today on FreeMamaTV, I’m pulling back the curtain on the BEST way to work from home and earn a real income. 

You don’t want to have to choose between family and finances — and you don’t have to. 

Check out this week’s episode of FreeMamaTV to learn how you can get started and make an income as a SAHM right now with skills you already have — without selling stuff to your friends and family.

Be sure & to subscribe to FreeMamaTV so you can be the first to know when a new episode airs!

P.S. Did you happen to hear the latest episode of Free Mama Radio? We are diving into Courage and Confidence with Guest Stacy Dean!

If you feel like you’re burning the wick at both ends, I got you mama! You don’t have to juggle everything! Grab my work from home template in last week’s episode of Free Mama TV!