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Happy New Year, mama!

Ah, a fresh new start. The perfect time to set some BIG goals for yourself. And this week’s episode of FreeMamaTV has the info you need to make sure you’re setting the RIGHT goals — and setting yourself up for real success. Here’s how to make sure you actually achieve your goals this year – 2020 Goal Setting Part Two!

Check out today’s episode to learn everything you need to know about setting SMART goals plus how to know that you’re working on the right things every day.

If you want this year to be about you crossing things off your list and turning your dreams into reality, then you definitely want to watch FreeMamaTV and 2020 Goal Setting Part Two.

Be sure to subscribe to FreeMama TV so you don’t miss a single episode.

Last week, we dove into the first part of Goal Setting — there are a couple of really important things that most people don’t know about goals and motivation, so we talked about how to set goals you can actually keep. If you want to see Part One of this two part series, check out last week’s video here!

P.S. Have you checked out last week’s blog post?! If you want to know my secret sauce on how I make BIG changes in my life and business – and how to make things happen in business for YOU – don’t miss it!

Here’s how I make BIG changes in my life and business – and how to make things happen in business for YOU!

Back when Justin and I were first married, we had an idea. We figured that when we retired, we’d get an RV and drive all over the country. 

About a year ago, we thought to ourselves, Why wait? What if we got an RV next summer and did this trip we’ve been thinking about for years?

And then we started to talk about it more and more. And the strangest thing happened: we talked about that trip so much that we’ve actually made it a reality. This summer, the Free Mama Family is hitting the road — and the biggest problem we have is what to do with our cat.

The thing is, when you have a goal, or when you’re committed to making something happen, it’s a good idea to talk about it. Because you’ll start to figure out all the little things, and you’ll start to take the necessary actions to take that goal from conversation to reality. 

We found ourselves looking at RVs, figuring out whether it makes more sense to buy or rent, thinking about space concerns, working out our route. We found all the RV camps. So many of these details no longer feel unknown or intimidating. They’re more like to-do list items we need to slot into our Daily 5 and get crossed off. 

No, we haven’t figured out everything. But we know this trip is happening. Whether we’ll leave on a Monday or a Thursday and exactly how many weeks we’ll be gone — those are details that we’ll work out. (And you know we’ll work them out well in advance of actually leaving, because TYPE A, people, TYPE A.) But we don’t have to know everything right now in order for this goal to be real. 

This strategy has worked pretty well for me over the past few years in all aspects of my life — personal and business. 

The 3-Day Free Mama Retreat came into being because I decided I wanted to host an event, and I just started talking about it as if it were a done deal. And then, it WAS a done deal. And by the way, if you plan on joining us for the second annual Free Mama Event, I highly recommend you grab your tickets now, because we WILL sell out. 

And 2020 is also going to be the year we finally launch FreeMamaRadio. I don’t have all the details, but I’m telling you now — this is happening. It’s going to be incredible.

We’re getting you the BEST resources. We’re bringing in POWERHOUSE women. We’re putting together a true DREAM TEAM of people to teach you so that you can hit all of your 2020 goals.

We’re also completely revamping the Group Coaching program and adding in some sweet bonuses for you. If you’ve been through the 12 Week program and haven’t checked your dashboard in a while, you should definitely take a look. We added new trainings, and you can always come back to Group Coaching for more support and accountability. And you definitely want to get in before the end of the year. 

So, how to make things happen in business?

When you want things to happen in your life, start talking about them. You don’t have to know all the answers or have all the details figured out on day one. But start talking, and you’ll see how quickly your actions align with what’s needed to bring that goal into the real world and crush it. 

You don’t have to be able to see everything perfectly right now to have the perfect vision of your 2020 year.  You just having to be willing to commit to taking action.

I’ll see you on the flip side, Mama!

P.S. Don’t forget to sign up for the 2020 3-Day Free Mama Retreat. Tickets are going FAST!

Not hitting those goals? Here’s why.

Christmas Eve is here, which means 2020 is just a week away. Did you set any New Year’s resolutions last year, mama?

How many did you keep?

You’re not alone, Mama — and it’s not your fault. There are a couple of really important things that most people don’t know about goals and motivation, so this week on FreeMamaTV, we’re diving in to 2020 goal setting and how to set goals you can actually keep.

You’ll learn the three tips you need to know to achieve anything you want to do — and stay motivated all year long – 2020 goal setting never looked so easy!

Want to make 2020 your best year ever? Tune into FreeMamaTV!

Be sure to subscribe to FreeMama TV so you don’t miss a single episode.

Last week, we talked about effective networking — I KNOW, networking feels SO gross! But it can actually be fun when you know what you’re doing!! If you’re ready to learn how to make networking FUN, easy — and profitable — check out last week’s episode right here!

P.S. I spilled my heart and let you in on a few of my deepest secrets in last week’s blog post – I hope will still be friends after you read it! 🙈

Okay, I’m a little nervous about this blog post. I hope we’ll still be friends after I tell you these things. I just feel like it wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t tell you, so here goes.

1. I started listening to Christmas music BEFORE Thanksgiving this year. 

I KNOW. I’m not a person who does this normally. I hate it when people blow off Thanksgiving and dive right into the the whole Jingle Bells bit in November. It’s, like, the antithesis of who I am as a person. A fundamental part of my identity is listening to Christmas music ONLY after Thanksgiving has come and gone. 

But this year, there were extenuating circumstances. 

Basically, it was REALLY cold this year.

And living in Houston means that we don’t have real winter wardrobes, so when these Arctic blasts hit us, we are totally unprepared. So, cold, and also, Christmas music is the only music that my kids will listen to quietly in the car. When it’s too cold to walk to school we drive, and when we drive, there’s a lot of noise, and I can’t handle the cold and the noise, so I just… surrendered. I started rocking out to “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town” and “Last Christmas” and the Whitney Houston version of “Do You Hear What I Hear”, and I don’t regret it.

What I’m trying to say is, sometimes you do what you need to do in the moment. I’m pretty sure it’s not actually illegal to play Christmas music in November, and it doesn’t really hurt anyone, so I did it. 

I hope you’re still with me. 

2. I used to HATE this word of the year thing.

The other week, I was on a call with my copywriter, Abbi, and I said, “So, I’m thinking about my word for the year.” I talked about what I was considering, and how my 2019 word affected me so profoundly, and Abbi got this grin on her face. 

“What’s so funny?” I asked her. 

And she said, “I remember the first time you picked a word for the year, you told me, “I’m SO not into this word for the year thing, but everyone is doing it, so I kind of feel like I have to,” and now here you are, totally embracing the concept.”

So, yes, it’s true. I have grown and evolved and changed my mind about things. It happens. I didn’t want to pick a word for the year the first time I did it. I felt like it was being forced on me. 

But once I tried this new thing, I discovered that I really liked it. And it would have been easy for me to forget that I once felt differently if I didn’t have a copywriter to remind me (someone MAY be getting some coal in her stocking…) but seriously — growth is good. It’s okay to discover that you actually like something you thought you’d hate. Like broccoli or mustard.  It’s ok to learn how to commit to change.

Okay. If you’ve made it this far, I’m grateful. And now for the big one. 

3. I used to think I’d never want a team.

Way back in May of 2017 — back before I hired a business coach, before I started the Free Mama Movement — I was on a podcast. And during that interview, I mentioned that I’d never have a team. I was super happy being in my zone, with only myself to worry about. I was making enough money doing my thing. I was happy. 

Well. 

My team is right up there with my husband and children in how much better they make my life. With a team, I’m able to support you and the other 29,999 mamas in our community. With a team, I have the freedom to breathe, to sleep, to take vacations. To focus on the things that I’m really good at, and to hand off the parts that are hard for me. 

And because so many of my team members are actually women who have been through my program, I feel incredibly good about how I’m able to help them build their own businesses. 

But it’s true — I used to feel differently. And I’ve had people who come into the community after hearing that old podcast and say, “Uh, what?”

Yeah. I grew, changed, and evolved. Again. It happened to me — and it’s probably happening to you, too. 

Think about what you thought and believed was possible a year ago — and what you know is possible now.  

You don’t have to commit to everything you think and believe for life. You’re allowed to change your mind. You just have to be willing to learn how to commit to change. And if you have a confession to share, I’d love to hear it!

Want a few tips for effective networking? Here’s how to make networking FUN, easy — and profitable.

When I say networking, you —

— hey, where’d you go, mama?

Yeah, I hear you. Networking feels SO intimidating. Gross, even. But you have to get out there and meet those potential clients, so what’s a girl to do?

In this week’s episode of FreeMamaTV, you’ll see that when you know what you’re doing, networking can actually be fun. You’ll discover exactly what you need to do to find the best networking opportunities and make the most of every single one. 

Check out FreeMamaTV to get the BEST tips for effective networking — so that you can get more clients with less stress.

Last week was all about the tech skills you need as a Virtual Assistant – skills you PROBABLY already have! You know way more than you think you do, and in last week’s episode of FreeMamaTV, you’ll see exactly how the technical skills for administrative assistants are skills you already have, and can set you up for success with clients.You can check it out here!

P.S. Do you have a word for the year? I’d love to know it! In my latest blog post, I’m talking about my word for 2019 – and what that ACTUALLY looked like in real life! You might be surprised to find that success looks very different than what most people EXPECT success to look like!

Rebel Kin Glasses, 
and sparkle hustle grow boxes,
MIG soap and warm woolen slippers,
brown paper packages tied up with string…
these are a few of my favorite things!

But seriously…they are!  I have been asked quite a bit this holiday season what my favorite gift recommendations are for clients (look at you all, putting a bow on it 😉), and so I created an entire list of my favorite things that I just know your clients will love too! Check out this ultimate fempreneur gift guide!

1. Sparkle Hustle Grow Subscription Box – such a great gift for any female entrepreneur. Jam packed with items that they will actually USE, changed out every month, this is sure to be hit!
2. MIG Soap – A super innovate way to use soap and lotion! We were gifted the Sleep Balm for 3 Day Free Mama retreat and it’s my favorite!
3. RebelKin Eyewear – Blue light is super harmful, and the amount of work that ANY entrepreneur does on the computer can cause harm. Make sure your clients are protecting their eyes with these super cute frames!

1. The Miracle TimeCube Timer is a game changer for any entrepreneur. If you are new to the concept of time-blocking, this little block will help reinforce your dedicated blocks of time, so that you don’t have to check your phone!
2. Letter Boards are always a fun, super cute gift — and a good way to make any office “Instagram worthy”!
3. Aqua Notes Water Proof Note Pad – LIFE CHANGING! I do my best thinking in the shower, and these little handy notes will make it easy for any entrepreneur to keep track of their ideas – wet or dry!

1. Greetabl is one of my favorite client gifts, and I think your clients will love them too! Completely customizable, you’re able to create a gift with a ton of love!
2. Sticker Mule is a great way to give your client a gift that means the most to them — stickers, label, and packing tape with THEIR business logo on it! T
3. Comfy slippers…because…I mean…long working days at home, amiright?

You can’t do an entrepreneur gift guide without some mindset books! Here are a few books I highly recommend:

1. The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results by Gary Keller
2. You Are a Badass®: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero
3. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck

Happy shopping, mama! If you snag any of these gifts from the ultimate fempreneur gift guide for yourself or for a client, let me know by sharing on social media and tagging me @laurengoldenfreemama!


*This post does contain affiliate links, however, all recommendations are my own! This post is not sponsored.

Want to see what success actually looks like?

Next week, I’ve got a couple of confessions coming at you — including one about choosing my word for the year. But before we get there, I want to tell you about the word I chose for 2019, what I thought it would mean, and how it actually played out.

If you’re not familiar with this whole “choose a word for the year” idea, it’s pretty straightforward. You choose a word or a short phrase that sets your intention or theme for the year, for the way you want your year to flow. 

I’m not sure who first came up with the idea, but if you hang out in any online business forums, you’ll see people talking about their words. 

For 2019, I chose the word “optimize.”

Last week, I talked about the things I’ve learned over the past four years while building and running my business, and I mentioned that 2018 was a year of accomplishment. I’d worked really hard, hit some big goals, and built something I was — I am — really proud of. 

So coming in to 2019, “optimize” was on my mind. In my head, I thought I’d be refining and optimizing my business and my life:

• I’d review my business systems and streamline them to get the most impact for every minute of work
• I’d completely overhaul the entire Free Mama 12-Week Program
• I’d roll out new offerings to meet the growing needs of my community

And at the same time, I’d spend more quality time with my kids and husband and figure out how to finally master meal prep.

Back in January, when I thought about my plans for the year, I pictured a classic growth chart — that sweet line going up and to the right. 

Now, maybe you’ve seen this meme floating around the Interwebs. 

Turns out, it’s completely accurate. 

When I stand here in December and look back at 2019, everything in my business and my life is better than it was back in January. Growth has happened. Systems have been optimized. But the journey was anything but straightforward. 

So many times this year, I found myself wanting to crawl into bed and hide under my pillows. So many times, I found myself completely overwhelmed and stuck in the down part of that chart. I was charging down paths in the wrong direction, confused and lost and struggling. Not quite how I envisioned things. 

It turns out that “optimize” doesn’t just mean “make more money” or “do new things.”

Sometimes it means, “pause” or “stop doing this” or “don’t do that.”

And when I started to hear that message and to internalize it, I found my way back. I feel clear, more confident, more in alignment, and more intentional. 

Because that’s what it means to optimize. To really think about what we’re doing, and to truly make it better — which sometimes means stopping, removing, and changing direction. 

So as we dive into December, I encourage you to think about the word you want to adopt for the year — one that sets your intentions and gives you a focal point. We’ve got a thread going in the Free Mama Facebook Group if you want to share your thoughts. 

And next week, I’ll be back with my confessions list — so don’t miss it!

P.S. This week I joined my friend Imee from Biggity Bomb Mom and a group of AMAZING women with successful online businesses to help you gear up for 2020. If you’re serious about growing your business, register NOW for this FREE summit. Imee has experts coming in to share their BEST tips on balancing work and family, shifting your mindset for growth and abundance, finding you ideal clients online, and MORE. See you there!

You already know how to do plenty of the things clients are paying for!

The idea of working from home as a virtual assistant really appeals to you, but you’re worried you don’t have the technical skills for administrative assistants. Data entry, managing a calendar, setting up client calls, sending invoices — YIKES.

Mama, relax. you know way more than you think you do, and in this week’s episode of FreeMamaTV, you’ll see exactly how the technical skills for administrative assistants are skills you already have, and can set you up for success with clients.

Want to get that freelance business up and running? Check out FreeMamaTV and see how simple it is to do some of the work clients need most. Bonus: everything you’ll see can be done with free and super-affordable software that you’re probably already using.  

Have you subscribed yet? If you don’t want to miss a single episode of FreeMamaTV, you can subscribe right here!

Last week I went over how YOU can take a stress-free vacation — even as a freelancer — without worrying about income!

P.S. If you have been thinking about taking the leap and joining The Free Mama Movement, my blog post last week was just for you! I’m sure you’ve wondered about the women who have joined, and you’ve had questions like….how did they do it? How did they afford it? Were they successful? Hear from a REAL LIFE Free Mama and how she created a life she loves!

December is here, and I’m feeling it, mama. All those end-of-the-year feelings are here. And it’s even more intense this year, because we’re ringing in a new decade. A space full of potential and promise — fresh and pristine and ready for you to make your mark. 

If you find yourself thinking about the past few years in your life, you’re in good company. Most of us seem to be spending our time looking back over the last decade, thinking about the lessons we’ve learned, and what we’ll take with us into the next ten years.  So…what have been my life lessons in online business?

Honestly, there are some days that I can’t remember if I ate breakfast, so remembering what I was thinking and feeling back in 2010 is beyond me. But I do know that in the four years since starting The Free Mama, I’ve learned a few things. 

If you’ve been here for more than a minute, you know that 2016 was a time of change for me — and most of it wasn’t easy. In fact, I’d go so far as to say 2016 was perhaps the hardest year of my life. I had just been through a traumatic miscarriage. We moved. I was pregnant again. I started this whole business thing with no real support system in place — and then I wound up on bedrest.

2016 taught me that I am strong enough to survive hard things. That I could get up again, even after a really hard punch to the gut. That I could start all over, from nothing, and somehow turn that into something real. 

The takeaway: You are stronger than you realize, Mama.  And you won’t know what you’re made of until you’re tested.

By the time 2017 rolled around, I was committed to making Houston our home. I was committed to growing my business. As Daphne started Kindergarten, I felt like we were both exploring entirely new worlds, declaring our independence, learning to stand tall on our own.

2017 was the year I committed to myself, too — I hired a business coach and stepped into being the woman I know I’m supposed to be — even though it was terrifying. I still remember how my whole body shook when I signed up for that first big coaching program. I was all in — and I had to make it work. 

The takeaway: You are worth investing in. You are worth the time, energy, and money that you put into yourself and your dreams.

And then came 2018, The Year I Worked Harder Than I Ever Have in My Entire Life. In fact, when I look back at the things I accomplished in 2018, I’m seriously proud of myself. I did more in that year than I ever imagined was possible. And I did it mostly without making myself — or the people around me — crazy. 

The sheer volume of work was staggering. I put in the hours even when there wasn’t an immediate payoff. I showed up over and over and over again, and kept moving forward. I fulfilled my lifelong dream to write a book. And I learned to let go of a few of my control freak tendencies and embrace outsourcing so that I could hit all my big goals. 

The takeaway: Overnight success is most definitely not overnight. You can’t expect to stand on the winner’s podium if you don’t show up at practice every single day.

This past year has been about some serious self evaluation. I came into 2019 ready to Do Big Things. I had loads of energy, tons of excitement, and a stellar team to help me. I charged forward at breakneck speed, smashing through goals — until I found myself asking, “Hang on. Is this the life I really want?”

I learned that it’s not only about crushing your goals — it’s making sure those goals are the right ones. It’s being intentional about what I create in my business and in my life. 

The takeaway: Take the time to consider whether you’ve set the right goals for yourself. Your path might be different from someone else’s but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong. 

So, those are my life lessons in online business! Next week, I’m going to share a closer look at 2019 and what’s coming in the New Year. Until then, stay warm!

P.S. Need a stocking stuffer for an amazing woman you know — or perhaps a little something for yourself? The Free Mama Swag Shop dropped two limited-time items just for the holidays! Take a look!

P.P.S. I just recorded a great interview with Lindsey K Porter from Enlightened Relationships podcast. It’s a quick but impactful episode where I dropped some insane value to help you succeed.

Are you dreaming of some downtime? You started freelancing because you wanted to be free, right, mama? But suddenly, you’re realizing that no one’s actually paying for your vacation days — and you can’t figure out how to vacation as a freelancer!

Sure, you can decide exactly how many days you want to take off — but how do you get away for a long weekend without destroying the business you’ve worked so hard to build? 

Guess what, mama? You can take that vacation — and leave the laptop at home. All it takes is some focused planning, and you’ll get all the details in this week’s episode of FreeMamaTV.

Check out the episode for the strategies you need to know if you want to learn how to vacation as a freelancer and enjoy some real downtime this holiday season!

Have you subscribed yet? If you don’t want to miss a single episode of FreeMamaTV, you can subscribe right here!

Last week we talked about the BIG MISTAKE that could be costing you clients!

P.S. If you have been thinking about taking the leap and joining The Free Mama Movement, my blog post last week was just for you! I’m sure you’ve wondered about the women who have joined, and you’ve had questions like….how did they do it? How did they afford it? Were they successful? Hear from a REAL LIFE Free Mama and how she created a life she loves!