HOW I SCHEDULE MY DAYS / WEEK TO STAY OUT OF OVERWHELM

I hate overwhelm, and overwhelm hates me. I get all edgy and frustrated if I'm feeling frazzled, so when I started my business, I knew I didn't want to run it like a headless chicken. It took me a little while to figure out the best schedule that works for me, and the things I've outline below have been some of the most helpful things I've found along the way:
 

✨ 1. I only have client calls on specific days so that my energy is not mixed and unmatched. When I give to my clients, I want to GIVE to my clients and be as present as possible. I do this best when I designate certain days to focus mainly on them. 

✨ 2. I am very diligent and intentional about my mornings. I don't touch my computer until I have worked out / moved my body and done my mindset work / meditation. Period. Oh, and morning snuggles with Boo Bear and puppy. 

✨ 3. I write down my top 3 important things to do for the day, and I celebrate what I get done. I set an amount of hours I THINK each will take me, and I base my day around that. I always do this the night before.

✨ 4. I stop my workday at a certain time regardless of what I haven't finished. In order to be able to do this, I give myself enough days in advance to build anything I've promoted. Example: I won't start building a masterclass TWO days before I do it, because screw that. I give myself more than enough time.

✨ 5. I remind myself that there is no "getting there". I am always growing, and there really is NO rush to "get anywhere". That always helps me put my work into perspective and not rush myself.

✨ 6. I listen to OM chanting while I work, and I designate certain hours as "Distraction Free Time" (phone off, across the room, and no notifications. No email opened. No FB opened) 

Those are a few of my most helpful tips on staying OUT of overwhelm and IN flow and momentum. 

I'm a freedom girl, and structure + responsibility allows me to leverage that as much as I can <3

Do you feel overwhelmed and frustrated when you work, or do you set your day up for flow and ease?

xx, Alexandra 

ONE THING THAT MAKES THE ROAD TO SUCCESS SO MUCH EASIER

Have you heard the saying, "99% is a bitch, 100% is a breeze"? 

Actually, I'm not sure if that's a real (or well-known) saying, but I did see it somewhere on the interwebs, and it reminded me of an entrepreneur event I went to last year in which the speaker said: "make your success a non-negotiable. Make your business a non-negotiable. Committing 100% is far easier than committing 95%."

I couldn't agree more.

Committing 100% to your craft, your business, your path, your work does a few things on your behalf:

1. It removes any option to quit. It erases shiny object syndrome for good. It takes your focus and puts it BACK on what you set out to do. Is your business gonna stay the same forever? No. You don't have to commit 100% to the WAY you're going to do things, but just to the fact that you ARE going to do things.
 

2. It changes the definition of "failure". So many people are afraid of failure, but what that really means for a lot of people is that they're afraid they'll quit. When you're 100% committed to something, any "failures" simply become stepping stones, road blocks, or failed attempts. Any "failure" becomes just another mosquito that buzzes in your ear instead of a crocodile that bites off your leg. Weird analogy, I know, but go with it.
 

3. It makes everything "figureoutable" as the great Marie Forleo would say. It also makes everything overcomeable. When you're 100% committed to your business and something goes wrong (or isn't going right), you have ONE option, and that is to figure it out. Because quitting is off the table, it makes every hurdle fall into the category of "figureoutable".
 

4. It takes the pressure off. Believe it or not, it's FAR less mentally challenging to be 100% committed to something than it is to always have that back up plan. Sure, the road may be rocky, but the mental ease you'll feel when you make something a non-negotiable is priceless. Take the questions and internal conflict out, and you've already won so many of the battles. 
 

While I've come up against MANY obstacles, MANY fears about money or debt or failing, and MANY frustrations, I always find comfort in the fact that my business and being an entrepreneur is a non-negotiable for me, and it has been since day one. It allows me to regroup and reconnect much faster in the face of any difficulty, and THAT is priceless. 
 

What do you think? Do you think committing to your business 100% is easier than committing any less? Are you fully committed? If not, what's holding you back? Comment below - I'd love to hear from you! 
 

xx, Alexandra

PS. My investment price is going up on September 1, 2016! If you're ready to develop your inner game and your own soulful strategies to achieve freedom + success, feel free to sign up for a FREE biz breakthrough session where we can see what you're struggling with, and turn it around:bit.ly/bizbreakthroughsessions

5 INNER SHIFTS I MADE FOR A 5-FIGURE MONTH

I'm not typically one to tout the dialogue of "make $5495K in 2 days!"; I truly do believe that everyone has a different path, a different goal, and a different journey to take, and yours may be shorter or longer than the person next to you. That's okay. 

That said, I want to help you reach your goals faster. I know you want freedom, I know you want time, and I know you want the sweet satisfaction of reaching your goal of a 5-figure month. I also know you want to feel authentic, aligned and soulful while doing it, because that is where fulfillment truly lies, and I have a feeling you're not just in this for the quick cash. 

✨ 5 Inner Shifts I Made For a 5-Figure Month ✨ 

1. I DOUBLED DOWN ON MY SELF-WORTH: This was always a novel concept for me. I knew what it meant, but it always felt a little unattainable, nebulous or untouchable. If you don't struggle with this, that's incredible, and if you do, I understand. In order to really shift this I had to pull out all the stops: I told myself I loved myself in the mirror (it feels as funny as it sounds, but it works), I started doing things that made me feel amazing (eating well, writing poetry, etc), and I reminded myself daily, "I am worthy of my desires, I am worthy of my desires". 

2. I REALLY STARTED LIVING AS IF: This is sometimes a concept we preach and don't practice. We know what it means (kind of), but do we really do it? Well, it makes a big difference. I want to be clear: Living As If doesn't mean spending money you don't have. It means stepping into the role of the woman who has what she wants. And that can mean various things. For me, it meant clearing any worries about money, making reservations at the 5-star restaurants (one of my truest indulgences), trusting the Universe, and standing in my power. It also meant being MORE seen, being MORE vulnerable and being MORE available to those around me. Your 5-figure woman may look different than mine. That's okay. You know who she is, so allow yourself to become her NOW. Live as if you are her. Not conceptually, actually.

3. I FINALLY SURRENDERED: This one took me a REALLY long time. And it kept me playing small, worrying and always seemingly hitting a ceiling. You see, I didn't really know what it MEANT to surrender. I knew the concept, but I didn't know the feeling. I really had to explore that and step INTO it. Without this, I do not think I would be growing at the rate in which I am. My first step? I asked for HELP surrendering. This allowed me to surrender my control of surrendering. Sounds confusing, right? It worked. I simply said, "look Universe, I don't know how to do this. I don't know how to surrender. I need help". A week later I found myself in tears at my favorite concert (quite literally for 2.5 hours) feeling like my whole body was surrendering to the process. It was magical.

4. I GAVE MY MONEY A PURPOSE: I put the energy of purpose onto my money. I wrote down my goals, and I wrote down what each dollar was going to go towards. Of course things shifted around a tiny bit based on needs and what was going on in my life unexpectedly, but for the most part, the money went where I wanted it to go. Write down your $10k goal, and write down where the money will go. I put in business expenses as well as celebration expenses. I paid off some debt, as well as re-investing in myself. Write it down. It's also just really freaking fun. 

5. I STOPPED HIDING PARTS OF MYSELF: I've always had a love-affair with hiding. It's a story I will get into another day, but know that being seen isn't always easy for me. However, standing in your truth requires being seen. You see, I was fooling myself; I was really authentic and SEEN in some areas of my life (business), while in others I was still hiding how I felt about things. Outside of the entrepreneur realm, I would verbally diminish my love of all things spiritual for fear that people would make fun of me. Once I stopped hiding or caring, I had a surge of energy, creativity and truth. And I am convinced that allowed me to crack open and spill gold.

There you have it. Those are FIVE of the most important inner shifts I made for a 5-figure month. 

Do you struggle with any of these concepts? Comment below and let's explore it!

You got this
xx Alexandra

20 THINGS I LEARNED IN MY TWENTIES

As I rang in my 30's with the expansive ocean sitting in front of me, I reflected on all the things I'd learned in my twenties. Believe it or not, I started my twenties out as a miserable, slightly-depressed, incredibly self-conscious disordered eater who thought she'd never be loveable. 

I wanted to share some of the realizations I had throughout the decade:

1. I can handle a lot more than I think I can. We all can. 

2. Being pessimistic, angry, grumpy and shut down is no way to live life. Opening up to pain IS opening up to love.

3. Choosing yourself, your dreams, and your own path is one of the scariest and most rewarding things you can do.

4. We have way more time than we pretend to on a day-to-day basis, and way less time than we think we do in the grand scheme of things.

5. Love at first sight DOES exist, and so does falling in love with someone you vowed you'd never even date.

6. Finding out "who you are" is a lifelong process -- one we'll have the answer to all along.

7. A spiritual life is far more comforting + expansive than pretending we know everything as humans.

8. The quiet can be so scary and so necessary.

9. I am not my mind.

10. There are people who can love me unconditionally by choice, and it's pretty astounding.

11. Being in a good mood for no reason is just as possible as being in a bad mood for no reason.

12. Sometimes it takes years of hiding to finally let yourself be seen.

13. Being uber sensitive is a gift, not a curse.

14. We impact people more than we give ourselves credit for.

15. There is beauty everywhere, and we DO have the power to look at things like we've never seen them before.

16. Being kind to others is one of the best feelings.

17. Being vulnerable on purpose is one of the strongest things one can do.

18. The best contract you'll ever sign is a commitment to your dreams. 

19. Health is one of the best gifts you can give yourself.

20. Everything is always okay, even when it's not. 

What have been some of your biggest life realizations or lessons? 

xx, Alexandra

FIVE WAYS TO FIND YOUR AUTHENTICITY (and your awesome) WHEN YOU STRUGGLE WITH COMPARISONITIS

Comparisonitis is a BEAST, and one that I fought with for a long, long time. It can stop you in your tracks, take the air from your lungs, and start a flurry (read: a war) in your head that can cause you to want to crawl into bed, open a pint of mint chocolate chip, and watch Property Brothers for a week straight (this was a true story for me, circa 2015). It's not fun. 

Here are five ways to find your authenticity (and power and voice and AMAZINGNESSSSS) when you're struggling with comparisonitis

1. Stop subscribing to things - I'm serious. No need to fuel the fire. Stop looking at what everyone else is doing, and start taking action of your own. Only download what you truly need. 

2. Get offline for a bit if it's making you suffer - don't scroll through FB for four hours looking at what everyone is doing. It's great to go in there and connect / give value, but give yourself a limit if you're prone to comparisonitis. I'm serious. 

3. Journal - Comparisonitis can make us forget our own voice, and journaling can remedy that. Write out your thoughts, your desires, your ideas, etc. Connect with yourself. Listen to yourself. Hone your intuition. 

4. Address your fear - why are you comparing yourself to everyone? Are you afraid you're not unique? Are you afraid there's not enough? Address whatever fear comes up, and flip the switch. Create a statement that will SERVE you, and remind yourself daily with emotional emphasis.

5. Don't shrink - comparisonitis wants to keep you small, so be bigger than it. Yes, you will most likely feel comparisonitis at one point or another, so see it as something that is trying to hold you back, not something that is wrong with you. Ask yourself how you can grow instead of shrink. Journal the answer. Your intuition always knows what to do.

There you have it!

Have you ever struggled with comparisonitis? What was your experience?

xx, Alexandra 

WHY YOU NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT GETTING CLIENTS

Have you ever been OBSESSED with someone's content? Have you ever noticed that a random email will speak to you after being on someone's list for 398439483 years? Have you ever noticed that someone pops up on your radar over and over and over? That's the Big U (Universe) at work. That's your NEEDS and DESIRES getting met. That's the Big U putting what you need right in front of your face.

And that is what happens to your clients as well.

A recent client of mine found me as a guest on someone else's webinar. She'd never heard of me, read my stuff, or seen what I've done, but she knew she wanted to sign up to work with me. What's up, Universe. I see you there.

⚡️ It's no different for you. ⚡️

Your clients will find you if you put yourself out there. There is no going out to "GET" clients. Of course you have to pitch things and put some strategy into play, but you NEVER have to worry about where your clients are coming from, because it is not your job to go and round them up.

Your job is to stand in your truth, stand in your power, get visible, be of service, learn how to get in front of people, give your people what they want, follow your desires, trust your intuition, and SURRENDER. FEEL your way through this.

THEY will find YOU. Of course you need systems and structures to take on clients, but as long as you have those in place and you share your gifts with the world, the Universe will help you out.

It's up to you to state your desires, be clear about your intentions, open up, surrender and allow.

Comment below with one way you know you can surrender lately!

xx, Alexandra

THE EMOTIONAL BLUEPRINT OF SIGNING MY FIRST CLIENT AS A $5K CLIENT

I ran a free masterclass on July 18th in which I discussed the emotional blueprint to signing my first client as a $5K client last year, and I wanted to share some of the key takeaways from that masterclass. Emotions are something I've always been thoroughly fascinated by, and I'm incredibly aware that they are often a missing link to the mindset + strategy that so many of us know already. Why? Because emotions are the ANCHOR to any transformational change we want to make in our mindset, and our mindset is what we hope to shift in order to see results from our strategies.

In the masterclass I shared the 5 KEY SHIFTS that took me from burned out, overwhelmed and running in circles to excited, confident and open to receive.

1. RADICAL AUTHENTICITY: this has the power to completely turn around "fraud syndrome", comparisonitis and lack of confidence for so many reasons. Radical authenticity looks like this: being who you want to be (as opposed to the advice I despise of "just be yourself"), being honest with yourself, having an opinion you stand by, and owning your story (past, present, future). Of course there is SO much more that goes along with it, but I can save that for a longer post. The reason this is a powerful feeling is because it allows us to show up in the space of the expert. NO ONE WILL EVER BE MORE OF AN EXPERT AT BEING YOU THAN YOU ARE. We have the confidence to stand in our own history and own our experiences, we have the joy of feeling like an expert, and we feel stable in relying on ourselves. And, believe me, that's just scratching the surface.

2. VULNERABILITY: No entrepreneur can escape this. However, so many entrepreneurs resist it until it hits them in the fact when they least expect it. I've always said that COURAGE IS VULNERABILITY ON PURPOSE, and it can be so powerful to utilize it as a tool. Feeling into vulnerability is where courage and momentum are born, and where every action can finally spawn.

3. SURRENDER: This one took me the longest. I didn't know how to surrender for a really long time, but once I did, it felt like the biggest weight off of my shoulders. The FEELING of surrender is crisp, clear and relieving, and the result is astounding. Surrender yourself to whatever you believe in. If you struggle with it, ask for help. I'd literally journal to the Universe to ask for help surrendering. It worked. This allows the gates of receiving to be opened, and that allows the energy of money to FLOW. It also opens you up to your intuition, providing you access to the best guide and mentor you have.  

4. LOVE: I know it sounds cliché or woo-woo, but it's not. You can't build a business you hate, and you can't build a business you love if you hate yourself. Cultivate love on many different levels. Love what you do. Love what you talk about. Love who you know. Love YOURSELF. Choose things you love doing. This opens up your creativity, your momentum and your connection with others. 

5. JOY: Essentially, this helps you get clients, cash, attention, and momentum for the sheer fact that the JOY you FEEL is directly put into your work. Every time I'm living from a place of joy, I have MANY more discovery calls, MANY more yes's, and MUCH more fun. Go out and do things you love. Make it a nonnegotiable. EnJOY your life. We're here for such a short time. Believe me, your business AND your soul will thank you. 

If you're interested in ways to CULTIVATE these things, or you feel like you want to dive a little deeper, feel free to check out the REPLAY of the free masterclass and check it out. bit.ly/EmotionalBlueprintReplay

If anything struck you, pay attention. You know best where you need to put a little energy.

You got this.
xx, Alexandra

HOW TO CURE A COURAGE HANGOVER

You've probably been there: you try something new, you put yourself out there, you step out of your comfort zone (voluntarily), and the next day (or hour), you feel like you've been hit with a Mack truck. 

You're exhausted, you're headache-y, and you feel like you've generally been drinking tequila all night. 

Believe it or not, this is a good thing. 

This is what I like to call a Courage Hangover, or, what most other people would call "growth". 

However, as entrepreneurs, it can often come at inopportune times, because slowing down can be incredibly difficult when all you want to do is speed up. And, as many of you may know, doing anything with a hangover can feel like an uphill battle. 

After having been through many Courage Hangovers myself, I've found a way to manage them with ease, grace and patience, because, after all, whether we know it or not, our growth will come at some point. We might as well allow it when it does.

How to Cure a Courage Hangover:

1. LET IT HAPPEN: This means stop beating yourself up for not feeling good. This means stop thinking something is "wrong with you". This means don't try to chug 100 coffees trying to make the headache go away. Trust in the process of growth, and let the growth happen. Don't mask it, don't demean it, don't resent it. It is there for your higher good.

2. TAKE A BREAK: Every time I have a Courage Hangover, I often take a break from social media and reconnect with myself and my surroundings. This takes the pressure off of having to be "on" which can immediately shut down the natural growth process our souls are going through. Take some time off - whether an hour or a day - from pushing to get anywhere. Ease into this. 

3. SELF-CARE: Take a walk, take a bath, go out for lunch, watch OITNB on Netflix, snuggle with your puppy, take a midday nap, go to a yoga class, and so on. You know what self-care means to you. Take care of yourself. This is some serious deep transformation you're going through.

4. EAT VIBRANT FOODS: Eat well. Don't eat foods that are going to trigger your brain for negativity and low-vibes (processed foods, etc). Keep your growth capacity open by staying high vibe and nourishing your body. 

5. CONNECT OR RETREAT: If you thrive on connection with others, connect. If you thrive on retreating and spending time alone, retreat. Do what's going to replenish you. Do what's going to get the biggest impact out of this growth momentum. Do what is going to make you feel like the best version of you.

6. CELEBRATE! Whatever gave you this Courage Hangover was a BIG STEP! Don't forget to recognize that and give thanks. Don't forget to remind your head and heart that you're grateful, and that you're totally down for celebration. 

There you have it -- some of the best practices I've used to cure a Courage Hangover without ignoring the oncoming growth. 

Treat these with respect and gratitude, and you'll be back on your feet - transformed - before you know it. 

You got this.

xx, Alexandra

WHY PUTTING YOURSELF OUT THERE IS WAY MORE THAN POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA 3-5 TIMES A DAMN DAY

WHY PUTTING YOURSELF OUT THERE IS WAY MORE THAN POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA 3-5 TIMES A DAMN DAY

There are a lot of tactics out there on how to get visible, and, in fact, my first freebie was "The Ultimate Guide to FB Group Visibility", so I've doled out plenty of those tactics as well. However, over the course of the last year or so, I've learned that visibility is SO MUCH MORE than creating a posting schedule and sticking to it. Some of the things I've recognized within the realm of being visible are:

- Loving yourself enough to show up
- Standing in your power
- Feeling abundant enough to share your wisdom
- Generosity
- Creativity
- Being able to receive (attention, clients, etc)
- Living As If
- Being able to be SEEN
- Vulnerability and courage
- Confidence in what you're offering (opt-ins, courses, packages)
- Listening to your intuition
- Being authentic and aligned
AND MORE....

If you're feeling like you're getting nowhere, or you feel like you just can't muster up the courage to put yourself out there, take a look at the aforementioned, and let your intuition tell you where you need to put some focus and love.  

It IS possible to completely transform, and everything you want can be yours when you cultivate awareness and patience with your journey.  

You got this!

Xx, Alexandra
 

5 THINGS I DO AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH MONTH FOR MY BUSINESS

Each and every month, my biz and I go on a date where we chat about our dreams, our plans and what we want from each other. As with any good relationship, it requires communication, effort, attention and some love so that we can stay on the same page for the month. 

⚡️ These are the 5 things I do at the beginning of every month to start us off on the right foot: ⚡️

  1. I WRITE DOWN MY DESIRED INCOME GOALS - furthermore, I write down each and every thing that the money will be used for. Money LOVES purpose, so instead of just saying "I want $10,000",  I make a list of what the money will go towards. Restaurants? Debt? A weekend trip to Vermont? Give that money some purpose and watch it manifest. 

  2. I CREATE A LIST OF THINGS I CAN DO, AND THINGS THE BIG U CAN DO - I believe I got this idea from Mike Dooley (Leveraging the Universe), and it really helps with reminding me that I can surrender and stop trying to control every single outcome. My list can include: do my webinar, finish this PDF, follow up, etc etc, and the Universe's list can include: send me a referral, introduce me to someone who will open up possibilities, etc. 

  3. I DECIDE WHO I WANT TO BE - I take a look at where I can grow, how I've been showing up, how I WANT to show up, and what mindset shifts can benefit me. I realized awhile ago that there is no "getting there", so, now I shoot for growth. How can I grow? What will that look like?

4. I MAKE SPACE FOR WHAT I WANT - I clear out time in my schedule for the clients I want, I clean out clothes that I've been holding onto for too long, I get rid of any clutter that doesn't need to be around. Make space for what you want, and watch the Universe fill it with some pretty amazing things.

  5. I REFLECT ON HOW FAR I'VE COME - in the beginning of my business I NEVER looked back. I wanted to "get there", and I didn't have time to see how far I'd come. Now? I see how important it is to growth and continuation. Celebrate how far you've come. As often as you can. 

There you have it! If any of these call to you, feel free to use them in your own monthly routine. They can be a great way to stay on track with your personal AND your business transformation. 

You got this

xx, Alex