Do you need a discovery call agenda? Want to turn more discovery calls into clients and cash? Here’s how!
How excited are you, mama?
After putting in the hard work to connect with a potential client, the discovery call is BOOKED, and you are ready to rock it out!
Except that you just realized that you have NO IDEA what to say or do on this call.
Or you’ve had a handful of discovery calls, but they always end with you feeling even more confused than you were before — and with NO CLUE what to do next.
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No worries, Mama. Today’s episode of FreeMamaTV will break it down for you and give you a perfect discovery call agenda. You’ll learn:
The real goal of a discovery call
Exactly what to say and do on the call
How to address the tricky budget question
What to do at the end of the call
If you’ve been struggling with discovery calls — or putting them off because you’re confused about what to do — then you need to put this episode on your binge-watch list right away.
There’s a theory out there that the universe will keep giving you the lessons you need to learn until you really learn them.
For me, that lesson is TRUST YOUR GUT.
And along the way there were mini-lessons in how to trust your instincts: Speak loudly when necessary. Stop listening to what other people think is best for you if it doesn’t feel right. Be the boss of your business and stop doing things just because someone else did them.
Basically, all these mini-lessons eventually dumped me right back at the big one: TRUST YOUR GUT.
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This has played out in all kinds of ways in my business this year. I network a LOT, which is great, because I have plenty of opportunities to talk about the Matchmaker program and help Free Mamas connect with fabulous clients.
But every so often, someone comes along and pitches an idea or a service or something that sounds exciting… but something feels off.
Each time, I would find myself halfway down a path before I stopped, looked around, realized I wasn’t anywhere near what I wanted, and then I’d have to backtrack to find the way to where I actually wanted to be.
Again. And again. And again. Call me a slow learner.
In hindsight, these situations are so clearly and obviously crying out at me. I should have been suspicious of the “easy win.” I should have stepped up as the CEO and put my foot down. I should have recognized that someone promising overnight success was a dirty, rotten scoundrel — well. I digress. I should have learned the “how to trust your instincts” lesson at those points.
It’s easy to get caught up in the moment when that easy win is being waved right in front of you, because it’s an easy win. We LIKE easy wins. We LOVE the idea of overnight success, because instant gratification is AWESOME.
Unfortunately, it’s not real.
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Overnight success isn’t a thing. Show me ANYONE who got where they are by sitting on a sofa eating bonbons, and I’ll show you a champion bonbon eater who hasn’t accomplished much else.
Success takes work, and a decent amount of it. I know that’s not exciting, but it’s the truth.
But here’s the other side of that coin: when you’re moving in the right direction, things can actually move pretty darn quickly.
Here’s what that looks like in real life. You start getting visible in Facebook groups by listening to the discussion, chiming in with real, genuine questions, providing answers and value when possible, and making real connections with people.
You do this consistently — which means every single day — for several months. It feels like forever, but you keep showing up. And then, on a random Tuesday, you get three messages from people, book two discovery calls, and sign a client within 24 hours.
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You could truly be one conversation away from your next big win — but you’ll never get there if you keep looking for the shortcut and the easy way out.
There isn’t one.
If someone on LinkedIn is promising to pay you $400 a week for 2-3 hours of work, trust your gut, delete and block.
If someone swears they can make you a millionaire by next Friday and all you have to do is sign up, RUN AWAY.
If someone says they can get you access to the secret client nirvana, THEY ARE LYING.
The big secret to success is being willing to show up and do the work. That’s it. That’s the WHOLE secret. And that is how to trust your instincts and know the truth!
Virtual assistant pricing structure….sound confusing? Well, I am about to tell you a reason I DON’T want you to follow this “popular” advice.
Oh, mama.
I just saw yet another “guru” offering the same tired advice to aspiring VAs — and it’s making me nuts.
Every time I see an “expert” telling people to create “packages,” I cringe. Sure, it sounds like a good idea up front. You’re pre-selling a block of time. You have guaranteed income! But there’s a major downside to this virtual assistant pricing structure strategy.
And in today’s episode of FreeMamaTV, I’ll tell you exactly why selling “packages” is such a bad idea — and what you should do instead.
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If you want real freedom in your business, then you need to ditch the bad advice and start using my favorite pricing structure today. This virtual assistant pricing structure is the ONLY way you’re going to be able to scale your business and earn the money you deserve for the work you’re doing.
Go watch today’s episode of FreeMamaTV. It’s basically money in the bank.
Feeling overwhelmed? Here’s why — and what to do when you feel overwhelmed.
A funny thing happened the other week, mama.
There I was, minding my own business, sitting quietly in a chair, doing nothing to attract attention when suddenly I found myself labeled as Class Mom for Henry AND Treasurer for Daphne’s Girl Scout troop in the SAME WEEK.
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Okay, maybe it didn’t happen exactly like that.
Maybe it was more that Henry’s teacher sent out an email saying that there was no class parent yet, and since Henry is The Child About Whom I Worry Constantly, the guilt overwhelmed me in actual waves, and I wrote back to volunteer myself.
And then, we were at a Girl Scouts meeting, and they needed a treasurer, and I’m thinking that it probably doesn’t involve complex financial planning (FINGERS CROSSED), and it’s probably something I can handle, so up went my hand.
The point is, I said yes — which is something I haven’t done in this situation in a while.
Back when we lived in Kansas City, I was the Volunteer Queen.
And by the way, that does not mean that I was the person in charge of picking the volunteers. No, no, Volunteer SERVANT is probably a more apt description, because there was not an empty day on my calendar. I was on over a dozen boards, and I spent many, many hours volunteering on behalf of organizations that mattered to me.
And then we moved to Houston.
It wasn’t an easy time. I was 12 weeks pregnant and violently ill all the time. I had no support system in place, kids who needed me, and a fledgling freelancing business.
Anything that wasn’t specifically for my family or my business wasn’t just a no — it was a (you should pardon the expression) HELL NO.
It wasn’t just volunteering that fell off the radar. It was social events, anything purely for enjoyment, watching television, reading books — none of it happened during that time. It was a season of no, and it lasted a good three years.
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But this year, I took a look around and realized that my family and my business are both in a good place, which means that I can start to say yes again.
You have to realize that every time you say yes to something, you’re saying no to something else — and the other way around.
For example, being Henry’s Class Mom means that I am NOT available in my business on Thursdays in December because I’ll be over at the elementary school, pinning artwork on the walls, putting canned food in boxes, and other things that require my physical presence in a location other than my beloved home office.
It’s important to honor the seasons of yes and the seasons of no in your life. When you say no to the PTA and the food drive and the babysitting your neighbor’s kids and even not signing the kids up for soccer club, you’re saying no so that you can say yes to other things.
Whether that’s building holding your newborn — or nurturing your newborn business, or investing in your marriage, or caring for an aging parent, or anything else — that’s up to you.
Give your babies — and your business — the time and attention they deserve, because they really are only little for a little while.
And the thing about seasons is that they do eventually pass. Even in the middle of winter, when it’s dark at 2pm, and you can feel the cold in your bones, you know that come May (or February, here in Houston), the sun will come out to warm the earth again.
No matter what season you’re in right now, Mama, honor it. These days matter, and the work you are doing right now is the work you’re meant to do at this moment. And that, mama, is what to do when you feel overwhelmed.
Attracting high end clients…does that feel like an impossibility? Want to know what high-end clients are looking for? We’ve got the goods!
Are you sitting down, mama?
Today on FreeMamaTV, I’m pulling back the curtain on exactly what attracting high end client takes…what they want, what they’re looking for, and what they don’t care about at all.
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It’s true.
If you’ve been wondering why other people get paid top dollar while you’re struggling, this episode will give you all the answers.
You’ll learn what separates high-paying clients from everyone else out there, what that means for you and how you position your services, and the one thing that will make YOU the obvious choice for high-end clients who are looking for help.
Even better — after you watch this episode, you’ll understand exactly why offering discounts or low prices will never get you the clients you really want.
Ready to up your game — and your prices — and start attracting attracting high end clients? Head on over to FreeMamaTV!
Have you ever been simultaneously exhausted and elated? Like, in those moments right after you have a baby, when you feel like if you could just get out of bed, you could run a marathon carried solely by adrenaline, but since you can’t get out of bed, maybe you’ll just sleep for the next 6 years.
That was me for a solid three days after we wrapped the first ever Free Mama 3-Day Retreat.
First of all, it was just plain fun to be in a room with so many Free Mamas at once. The hugs. The stories. The laughter.
But also: the learning. The growth. It was everything I could have asked for, and beyond my wildest dreams, and I’m so filled with love and joy right now that I’m a bit annoying to be around.
It was kind of amazing to meet up with mamas who started the program a year ago — to see how far they’ve come, to hear them talking about how their lives have changed, and to watch them talking to people who are just getting started in this world.
In just a year, some of these women have completely transformed their lives. They’re more confident. They know stuff. They’re true Free Mamas — and they want even more for themselves.
Which is why I had to take a huge leap and create the NEXT level program, designed to support you as you step into the incredible space you can occupy in this world: The Inner Circle.
Here’s the thing, Mama. The Inner Circle has limited spots, and 16 of them have already been claimed.
I announced The Inner Circle on the second day of the 3-Day Event, and before the end of the weekend, Lauren Lorentz signed up. She originally came to the Free Mama Movement because she was drowning in an MLM and she knew there had to be a better way.
I knew that Lauren and I were soulmates when she described The Free Mama as “a way I can have my cake and eat it too,” because you know exactly how much I love cake.
Coming into the 3-Day Event, Lauren told me she felt that stirring inside her that told her there was more to her story. “I knew I was playing small, and I wanted to know how to play big,” she told me.
Chills, right?
Jennifer Leavitt also signed up for The Inner Circle. Now, on the surface, Jennifer has it all. She has a super cozy job, and every time she thinks about walking away, they make it harder for her to go. They throw more money at her, let her work from home, and so on.
Yes, it’s an investment in yourself to join a mastermind group for women. Yes, it’s a big, huge, terrifying leap. But this is real. This is how you actually make a change in your life and get the things you’ve been saying you want.
This is how you stop playing small and start living the life you were meant for.
Camera shy? Read this for 5 super-practical tips that will cure you and teach you how to speak confidently on camera!
I mean, just how scary is it when you’re facing down a camera with a blinking red light?
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I’ve been right there with you, Mama. In fact, the first time I went live in my Facebook group, I peed my pants. #truth #alwaysclassy
The thing is, video has been the most effective way for me— and for so many Free Mamas — to connect with clients. It just makes everything so personal, so ignoring it isn’t going to work. You have to learn how to speak confidently on camera!
That’s why I’m super excited about today’s episode of FreeMamaTV, where I’m sharing 5 super-practical, super helpful tips for how to speak confidently on camera.
If you’ve been putting off making videos, or if you simply don’t feel like you’re rocking the camera, make sure you watch this episode — especially my last tip. It’ll change your life!
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Click play and check out today’s episode of FreeMamaTV! And I’ll see YOU on camera soon!
Have you been struggling to get your name out there, mama?
If you get overwhelmed every time you think about marketing your business, you’re not alone. Maybe you’re worried that it’s going to cost you a fortune — or that you’ll have to learn every little detail and nuance of Every. Single. Social. Platform.
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Good news, Mama. Today on FreeMamaTV we’re going to get you super focused on the RIGHT, free ways to market your online business — without any of that nasty overwhelm to slow you down.
If you want my best tips for getting in front of the right clients for you — plus how to do it all for freeand without making yourself nuts — then don’t miss today’s episode!
A few weeks ago, Justin and I celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary. 🥂Flipping back through our photos was definitely a laugh — but it also reminded me of how little a single snapshot can capture.
If you look at a picture of my life today, you’ll see one thing — but it’s just one frozen moment. Sure, right now, Justin and I are both doing what we love, but a year or two (or five or eight) ago, you’d have seen something very different.
Ten years ago — before kids, before a mortgage, before we started our “grown up” lives — we had big dreams. We met through a program called University of Dreams, after all. We both interned with the program in 2002, and returned the following year to run the internship program.
(Fun fact: all of our mutual friends assumed we were dating, even though we were just friends. Turns out they all saw what was happening way before we did.)
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In the early days of our marriage, it was Justin who was much more willing to do entrepreneurial things. In fact, when he talks about it, he calls it “taking risks” which tells you a little something about the different ways we see this.
And yes, I also wanted to do big things, but there was that instinct for stability that kicked in, and at first I was really happy in my job.
I think that’s been a big part of what makes us work as a couple: we’ve been able to trade off over the years. At different times in our marriage, we’ve each been the one to hold the steady job, and we’ve each been the one to go after those big dreams. It’s part of what keeps marriage strong.
And please don’t misunderstand: we love each other, but we’ve done this very imperfectly. We’ve had plenty of fear-driven arguments — no one enjoys feeling unstable!
Nearly every time I go to a Free Mama meetup, someone asks how Justin feels about my business, and if he’s always supported me. The short answer is “Yes, he’s always wanted me to be happy and successful,” but the long answer is messy and complicated and real — just like your life.
It’s easy to grab this picture and freeze it and ignore everything that came before. But that would be a bit like believing someone’s social media feed is an accurate representation of real life.
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At the end of the day, I think the biggest thing I’ve learned about what keeps marriage strong in the last ten years of marriage is that it’s about finding balance. You’re both probably not going to get everything you want all of the time, and it’s about giving each other the space and support so that you can both be pretty happy most of the time.
Which sounds straightforward, but it takes real work — and that’s the other thing I’ve learned. A strong marriage needs nurturing. You have to be on the same team, and you have to know that it’s going to take practice and patience to get where you want to go. We remind ourselves of that (sometimes very loudly) on a regular basis.
And please, please don’t think I’m trying to tell you that I know all the secrets to a happy marriage, or that mine is perfect. Like I said, our path is wildly imperfect, and we are learning more about ourselves — and each other — every day.
My friend Monica from The Brighter Side of Life is going to be hosting a marriage summit that talks all about these marriage secrets – and I’m going to be a participating as a speaker! I would love if you joined us there!
Think tactical, practical advice on optimizing your online presence to draw clients to you, how and where to go looking for opportunities, and what to say and do when you connect with a client.
If you’re serious about your business, then back away from the branding board and logo design sites, and head on over to FreeMamaTV to get the real goods, and start working on side gigs to make extra money online!
