Category: Work

Do you wish you had more time in your days? It can feel like building your freelance business is IMPOSSIBLE, especially when you look at the clock, and it’s already after midnight.… You want to curl up in bed —  and you feel mad and frustrated and guilty because another day has gone by, and you’re no closer to where you want to be. You don’t have to feel like this. My friend Abbi and I just had an awesome chat about WHY you might feel this way (IT’S NOT YOUR FAULT) and WHAT you can do differently. If you missed us when we were live in the FB group, you can check out the replay of our conversation right here. And, if you want to build your business a DIFFERENT way, Abbi’s running a free challenge that I think you’ll love. It’s called the Land Your Best Client Challenge. During the challenge, you’ll discover the 5 PROVEN steps that will lead to your very best client.   And it will only take you 30 minutes each day.

Also, DO NOT PANIC. You can split up your 30 minutes to suit your schedule. Like, if you need to do 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes after the kids go to bed, no problem. That’ll work. This challenge is meant to be flexible so you can look after your family and still have time to work on your goals. Click here to sign up for the challenge. It starts February, 28th!

Email marketing is a direct line to potential clients, prospective buyers, and current customers. So, why would I tell you that you should NOT start an email list as soon as you start your business?

Watch this week’s episode of FreeMamaTV to find out when is the right time to start an email marketing strategy and how I think you should go about it.    And buckle up cause I’ve got some pretty strong feelings about this.

Make sure you subscribe to FreeMamaTV so you never miss a beat and my (sometimes surprising) business tips.

P.S. Have low self-confidence? Watch last week’s episode to learn how self confidence affects your business.

And don’t forget to subscribe to Free Mama TV so you’re alerted each and every time a new episode drops!

Do you ever feel like your to-do list is nuts? You’ve got to wrangle the kids, keep them fed, clean the house, pay the bills, and maaaaaybe even have time to brush your teeth some mornings. If you’re looking for a little down time, maybe you head out to the grocery store. That’s your break. The idea was to start a freelance business so that you could earn money and control your time. And yet somehow:  Do you ever feel like your to-do list is nuts? You’ve got to wrangle the kids, keep them fed, clean the house, pay the bills, and maaaaaybe even have time to brush your teeth some mornings. If you’re looking for a little down time, maybe you head out to the grocery store. That’s your break. The idea was to start a freelance business so that you could earn money and control your time. And yet somehow:  😩 Between the kids and the house and the day job, you’re working all the time.  😩 Any time you have a minute to sit down, you feel guilty and jump up to complete a task.  😩 You’re stressed a lot of the time, and you feel like there’s no way out. 😩 Also, the idea of working fewer hours and earning more money feels like a scam. So… what if we cross a few things off your to-do list? Like, what if you DIDN’T have to…  ❌ Build a website  ❌ Try to grow your social media  ❌ Design a new logo  ❌ Follow shiny objects Because the thing is, NONE of those tasks will get you closer to your business goals. My favorite internet-friend-I’ve-yet-to-meet-in-real-life Abbi has been freelancing for a LONG time. She has over TWENTY years of experience as a freelance writer, and she’s super clear on what WORKS and what DOESN’T when you’re looking for clients. Abbi has five kids. Two of them have special needs. She lives in Israel, in a tiny little town where sometimes kids ride down the street on donkeys. She has to stay focused, or she’ll never have time to do ANYTHING. So, Abbi’s coming to the Free Mama Movement Facebook group on Tuesday, February 22 at 10:30 am Central time to talk about how YOU can focus on the things that MATTER when you’re looking for clients. She’ll help you STOP doing the stuff that doesn’t get you anywhere, and show you how to make the MOST of the time you actually have WITHOUT losing your mind. I hope you’ll join us for our live session. You don’t have to register, but if you click here, you can have Facebook remind you about the event.

Every Friday we share our #freemamawin posts in the Facebook Group, but Free Mama Live is like the Oscars for freelancing moms (fancy attire totally optional). You put in the work. You put yourself out there. You put your fears to the side. You’re DOING IT! And, as adults, there are SO few opportunities to be acknowledged for these massive accomplishments. So at Free Mama Live this year… we are going to make a BIG STINK. It’s going to be super embarrassing when I cheer so loud for you… and you’re going to love it. But let’s recap what you’ll experience at the event first: For 2 days, you’ll be surrounded by people who are ahead of you in areas of their business (and you’ll be able to encourage the mamas who are right behind you.) You’ll get to talk to me, our speakers, and award-winning Free Mamas and ask us questions about our systems, networking, outsourcing, marketing and sales strategies, and more. How cool will it be to get all of that information straight from the women who are actually doing it?    You’ll sit among the “Famous” Free Mamas… You’ll be able to talk with our 6 and 7-figure award winners during breaks… You’ll be guided by our world-class speakers on exactly how they did it… You can ask us your burning questions about our businesses (or about your business)… And network with us before and after each session… Can you imagine what you could learn (and apply) from just ONE conversation? That’s exactly how it will feel when you get your ticket and join us at Free Mama Live. Next month, moms are flying from all over the country to be together at Free Mama Live in Kansas City. But we know not everyone can make it in-person, and that’s why we added a virtual option, as well. Whatever you need to push your business forward…whether you need help with your niche, your systems, your offer, or something else… I promise you that you want to be with us so you can connect with the exact person you need to learn from. Oh, and don’t forget… The DEADLINE to submit your application for a “Free Mama” award is next Wednesday, February 23 at 11:59pm if you want to be recognized on stage at Free Mama Live! (Virtual attendees will also be recognized!!!) So if you’ve gotten your first paying client or quit your job, hit a $1k or $5k month, or grossed $100k-$1M in business, submit your application here. And if you haven’t earned our top awards yet, then FML is the absolute best place to learn the strategies to take your business to the next level without sacrificing your personal life. If you’re ready to sit among your people and connect and learn from them, then Get Your Ticket To Free Mama Live Now! We’ll see you there!

You know that feeling when you desperately want something better, but you’re sooo stuck on knowing what step to take? Brittney, a graduate of the Free Mama Movement, knows that feeling all too well This is the inspiring story of how she used her rent money to attend an event that helped her launch a thriving virtual business that has allowed her to travel, spend more time with her kiddos, and tap into the work and friendships that light her up every day.

In 2019, Brittney was working at a 9-5 that barely paid her enough to cover the bills. She didn’t have anything left over for activities for her son, let alone anything for herself. She felt overworked, undervalued, and was constantly looking for a way out. That’s when she heard about our 3 Day Free Mama event, and she knew if she wanted something to be different, she had to try something different! She believed that she could make this freelancing thing work for her, but she was scared out of her mind to spend the money to travel to Texas for the live event. Brittney was convinced the event could change her life and desperately wanted to be in the room with other Free Mamas, but what would happen if she didn’t make her investment back? Fast forward to the event, Brittney (terrified) approached one of the speakers who is a huge success in his field. She let him know that she loved the information he shared and that she would love to learn from him. She asked if he needed any additional support in his business where she could gain more experience as a VA and continue to learn from him. He became her first client, and they worked together for nearly a year! Here are just a few things Brittney shared with me about attending a Free Mama event:   The event was a launching pad for my business and put a fire under my butt   I made some great friendships that are still strong 3 years later  I was so pumped and motivated by the energy, speakers, and stories of all the other women that I gained the confidence to do scary (and necessary) things to finally make money in my business After FML, Brittney transitioned into an Online Business Manager and raised her rates, and has since completed her Director of Operations certification. Her business supports her family and the activities they now get to do together! If you are ready to experience this too, I want you to join me for this year’s event, Free Mama Live; both in-person or online March 25-26. Yes, you will walk away with a plan to grow the bottom line that will also allow you to do fun stuff. You will bond with an amazing community of Free Mamas looking to find freedom while making an impact in the world. And you’ll enjoy hearing inspiring speakers like Kathryn Jones, McCall Jones, Jordan Gill, Ryann Dowdy, Laura Couvillon, Garrett Poole, and more. These powerhouse leaders have gone through similar issues as you are now, so you can start implementing their strategies in your own business. Register to join us online or in-person for Free Mama Live and mark March 25-26 in your calendar. Oh AND  For the next 48 hours, you can purchase a Free Mama Live ticket for $100 OFF with code FML100. When you attend Free Mama Live, you get to join intimate conversations with some of our high-level guest experts. You will walk out of this event never looking at your business the same way. Use promo code FML100 at checkout to claim your $100 OFF!

Have you ever met a celebrity in real life? I have (looking at you John Mayer) and let’s just say it’s… interesting.

When the person you come face to face with in real life doesn’t quite match the picture of them you created in your mind, it can feel super disappointing. Unfortunately, the same thing happens in the virtual business world. Just last week, I had a fascinating conversation with one of my coaches who was trained by and worked very closely with an extremely famous person in the personal development space. I was telling her about my recent revelations and a renewed commitment to creating freedom from my business but confided that I couldn’t stop thinking about the quote, “if you’re not growing you’re dying” that this famous coach references often. “Oh Lauren,” she said. “I feel like I’m about to tell you Santa Claus isn’t real.” What are you talking about? “Lauren, he isn’t even happy. Not really. He isn’t well. Not at all.” My heart sank. For him? For myself? I wasn’t sure if I felt sadness or relief. I cannot stop thinking about it, because I had been beating myself up for not achieving something that wasn’t even real. We lie to ourselves all the time: “If I had more money, I could make my business work.” “If I work harder, I’ll land more clients.” “When this season is over, I’ll grow my business.” And it’s up to us to get out of our own way and ditch the excuses to make our dreams a reality. But here’s something I want you to know: I will not lie to you. I will teach you how to make a ton of money. I will tell you the pros and cons of different business models so you know which is most in alignment with your lifestyle goals. I will tell you exactly what it took for me to achieve any of the things I’ve done. I will tell you when I’m wrong, screw up, or fail because hiding it is a massive disservice to you. I will only bring people into our community who I trust and believe add value to your business or life. I will call you out when you need it. And I will always, always hold the space for you. March 25 and 26 we are hosting Free Mama Live. We’ve made huge shifts to be able to bring you both online and in-person options because some of you are dying for real-life connection and others of you are physically unable to get here. We want you “here” no matter what! In fact, we just added two more amazing speakers to the lineup who are going to share with you the inside scoop of what it takes to land those high-paying roles with dreamy clients. PLUS, this week only, you can purchase a Free Mama Live ticket for $100 OFF with code FML100. I promise you, we won’t be doing this again! If you are ready to grow your virtual business, you can’t afford to not attend this event. To grow strategically, you should be bringing in 3-10 times what you are now—without working any more hours. It is possible, and if you implement what we teach you over just 2 days together about sales, revenue streams, and systems, you can actually begin to detach your income from your time. What would that be like for you? Free Mama Live isn’t just an event. It’s a transformative experience for everyone committed enough to show up. Tomorrow I’ll tell you one of my favorite stories of all time about how the first in-person event we hosted changed one Free Mama’s life forever.

When you first start a business, everything is brand-new, because well, you just started. Your first social media post about your services. Your first discovery call. Your first proposal and contract. And when we are new to something, we tend to doubt ourselves.

But giving yourself some grace rather than letting your thoughts spiral out of control could actually save your business. Seriously! Science actually shows us that low self-esteem reduces quality of life, and can severely impact the likelihood of success. In this week’s episode of FreeMamaTV, I’m breaking down how your confidence, or lack thereof, impacts your marketing and sales, and exactly what to do about it – even if you’re brand new.

So, chin up, Mama, and watch this week’s episode for 5 ways to improve your self-confidence and watch your business flourish!

P.S. Love personality assessments? Watch last week’s episode to learn how you can implement them in your business.

And don’t forget to subscribe to Free Mama TV so you’re alerted each and every time a new episode drops!

Hey, Valentine! Question for you: Do you make decisions out of love, or fear? I always thought I showed up in my business coming from a place of service (love) and did scary things (speaking!)  in spite of my fear. But somehow through a series of small, seemingly insignificant decisions over the course of two years, I was left in a scenario that felt undesirable to me, with almost no clear recollection of how I got there. Let me back up for a minute… The Free Mama grew very quickly… not overnight, and there were years of preparation that no one even saw before I started a community with the mission to help other moms make money from home. But still, I went from no email list, no following, no webinar, no course, no coaching experience to a 7-figure business, a team of 5, a published book, and tens of thousands of followers in 18 months. I’m freaking proud of that! Except, my business was growing faster than my mindset. I started to question if I was really qualified to lead the company I had created and felt like it was only a matter of time before people realized I wasn’t. Some call this imposter syndrome. Maybe you can relate? When I first started building the Free Mama Movement, I wasn’t even sure that it would work. Less than two years later I had obliterated every goal I had set for myself and found myself struggling to figure out what the heck I would do next. So… I hired coaches, and in an effort to “get my money’s worth,” I implemented what they told me to do. I hired people, and in an effort to keep them happy, I allowed them to influence the direction of the company. I looked at my favorite students, and in an effort to keep serving them after they outgrew our current programs, I developed new offers. None of these things are inherently wrong or bad. It’s just that I did them all out of fear. Fear that I didn’t know better. Fear that if I didn’t get them autonomy, they would leave. Fear that if I didn’t keep selling, they would move on. Here’s the kicker, though. These things are all true. I wasn’t afraid that they might happen, I was afraid of not knowing how to handle it when they did. In the early years of starting a business, it’s insanely smart to follow a proven model. You simply don’t know better when you haven’t done it, so you walk the path of someone else’s repeatable success. Reinventing the wheel and stumbling through trial and error is time costly, and most people start a business to make money, amiright? But these models only take you so far. The next step is trusting yourself. I realized several months ago that I had been operating things from a place of fear. And as a result, I had gotten really, really far from the freedom I had worked so hard to achieve. Once I had the awareness, I knew I had to trust my instincts and act with love – which also required a tremendous amount of courage. It’s important to share, just because we act with love doesn’t mean everyone will like the choices you make. And in my case, loving myself and my business ended up being a costly choice. In a few weeks, I’m thinking about launching an exclusive limited-edition podcast going into all the nitty-gritty details. But before I hit record, I want to make sure the information would serve you. Would you listen? Hit comment and let me know!

Who are you? We take tons of personality assessments (Meyers-Briggs, DISC, Enneagram, Human Design, etc.) just so we can find out the answer to this question. And although these assessments don’t tell us who we are, they can give us insight into our motivations, strengths and weakness, and the lens through which we view the world. But what if I told you that you can leverage these personality assessments when it comes to making money?

That’s right, you can use personality assessments as you examine your own work style, who your ideal clients should be, and especially once it comes to time to outsource yourself. And I am breaking down how on this week’s episode of FreeMamaTV.

Keep in mind that your personality isn’t permanent and you should in no way base your entire future on enneagrams, DISC, or anything else. Hope you enjoy this week’s episode!

P.S. Needing a self-care routine as the busy freelancer you are? Watch last week’s episode to hear Lauren’s guide for self-care!

And don’t forget to subscribe to Free Mama TV so you’re alerted each and every time a new episode drops!