How to Not Get Screwed in Business with Devon Smiley

When you think of the word “negotiations”, what comes to mind? For me, I used to think that the word was more masculine, and had negative connotations. But that was before my conversation with Devon Smiley, a negotiation consultant for start-ups, entrepreneurs, freelancers and corporations.

As a negotiation consultant, Devon helps her clients “not get screwed” by helping them to figure out what they truly want and then calmly and confidently ask for it. During our interview, we explore Devon’s journey from the corporate world to running her own business, and she shares some great tips for honing your negotiation skills. 

Listen to my interview with Devon to learn:

• The super simple change she made after a rough first 6 months in business that changed everything
• What to do if you don’t feel like the deal is a 100% “Heck Yeah!”
• The key words to eliminate from your vocabulary and the language to incorporate instead
• A mindset hack to get you over your fear of asking for what you truly want
   

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The ONE THING You Need for a Successful Mindset

When it comes to maintaining a positive, feel-good, successful mindset, I’ve found that one thing above all else is paramount.

It’s not the sexiest thing in the world, but when you master it, you’re guaranteed that your mindset roller coaster will be (mostly) behind you. (We all have our days no matter how evolved we are!)

This ONE THING has enabled me to design my life and business my way and maintain a successful mindset while doing it. 3-day workweeks, 4-day weekends, 5-figure months and 6-figure years have become my reality because of this one thing.

And, I’ve come to realize that it’s something that ALL successful people have in common -- from Oprah to Tony Robbins to Bill Gates.

That ONE THING is Consistency.

Yup. That’s it. (Told you it wasn’t super sexy :-)

When it comes down to it, consistency is the name of the game for expanding your mindset and achieving the success you desire. 

You see, when you make your mindset a consistent priority -- it will change for the better. 

When you show up for your business and community consistently -- they will grow and expand. 

When you eat well and exercise consistently -- your health will improve. 

When you’re there for your partner consistently -- your relationship deepens. 

You get the picture, right?!

It ALL comes down to consistency.

So in terms of mindset, what does consistency look like?

It looks like setting aside time every single day to do what YOU NEED to set a solid mindset foundation. 

For me, that means 15 minutes of meditation every morning followed by a bit of yoga. Perhaps for you it means a walk in nature, journaling, silence, listening to beautiful music or an inspiring podcast or a hot bath at the end of the day.

But the key is to make your mindset -- and feeling good -- a priority that you make time for on the daily. And, when you do that, you leave no other option but continual growth and expansion. And that’s really what we’re all after, right?! Expanding into who we’re meant to be :-)

P.S. Tomorrow I’m hosting a FREE webinar that will teach you How to Massively EXPAND Your Business + Improve Your Mindset without a ton of $$$, time or energy! And, I’d love for you to be there. Save your seat here.

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How to Use Your MINDSET to Design Your Life

So far on this mindset journey over the last few weeks, we’ve uncovered what’s blocking you  and also gave you the tools you need to remove those blocks.

What’s the next step?

Using your new and improved mindset to intentionally design your life and business. 

As I see it, there are 2 ways you can move through life -- by design or by default -- and the thing that will take you from victim-mode to intentional designer is your MINDSET. 

I think it was Henry Ford who said, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” (That was my 8th grade yearbook quote, by the way.) Wise words if you ask me.

Your mind is incredibly powerful. It can constrict you or expand you, and today I want to share a simple process I like to use for leaning into e x p a n s i o n.

And, it all starts with asking yourself a super simple question: how do I want to FEEL? 

When you wake up in the morning, how do you want to feel? 
When you’re starting your work day, how do you want to feel? 
When you’re with a client, how do you want to feel? 
When you’re talking to your spouse, how do you want to feel? 
When you get into bed at the end of the day, how do you want to feel?

Do you want to feel in-the-flow, abundant, joyous, at ease, peaceful, lit up, inspired, adventurous, calm, clear, excited, confident?... There’s no wrong answer here!

Next, you’ll want to consider when do you already experience those feelings that you desire to feel. 

Who are you with? 
What are you doing (or NOT doing)? 
What are you thinking about or focused on? 
Where are you?

Then ask yourself, what are some simple things I can start doing to bring more of those good feelings that I desire into my life? 

List anything and everything that comes to mind. No self-censoring here, just let it flow. 

Finally, once you have your list, pick 1 to do TODAY and 2 more to do this week. (Schedule reminders for all 3 on your phone or write them in your planner. Please don’t skip this step!!!)

You may have heard me say (because I say it a lot :-) that the journey must align with the destination. Meaning that if you’re hoping to get to a place of ease, abundance, fulfillment and success, you CANNOT GET THERE feeling super stressed, anxious and worried all the time. They simply do not line up.

But, when you start to use your mindset to intentionally design your life to create more and more of the feelings you’re desiring (like I just walked you through above!), you start to align your journey with the destination you desire. Good stuff!

Now, listen to this week's live podcast episode on  my step-by-step process of How to Use Your Mindset to Design Your Life. Click HERE to add a reminder about my weekly Wednesday FB Lives to your calendar.

P.S. I’m cooking up something brand new for you that will help you Design Your Mindset for success on your terms that’ll be available later this month -- and better yet it will be offered for less than the cost of a couple yoga classes or a dinner out! Intrigued?! Click here to add your name to the “I’m super intrigued by this and want to know more” list :-)

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My Favorite Technique to Release Your Biggest Mindset Blocks

All month long we’re going to be diving into the topic of Mindset so that you can start intentionally creating the life and business you want -- like one with 3-day workweeks, 4-day weekends, 5-figure months and 6-figure years :-)

Last week, we covered the first step in the process of upleveling your Mindset, which is awareness. Basically, we need to figure out what we’re currently doing in order to change it! 

(If you missed last week’s lesson on awareness and want to catch up, you can figure out what’s blocking you here.)

Now that you know what Mindset Blocks you have, thanks to the compassionate awareness you’ve been cultivating, it’s time to release the blocks that you’ve uncovered.

Our minds are crazy powerful. The most powerful tool we have at our disposal, so if we’re constantly focused on lack of money or clients or worried about our businesses or our families, there is no possible way that we can feel in the flow of success and abundance. We’re simply not giving ourselves that opportunity.

But, now that you’ve noticed the thought-patterns that are no longer serving you, we can do something about it!

I have a really simple and helpful technique that will help you repattern your limiting beliefs starting right now.

This technique that I’m about to share with you has helped 100s and 100s of women in my community begin to shift their Mindset (and therefore the life they’re creating for themselves) from lack, struggle and scarcity to abundance, flow and appreciation. And, I know it can and will work for you, too.

You ready for it?

The technique I’m so excited to share with you today is to create personalized positive affirmations in direct opposition to your limiting beliefs. 

Let me give you an example so you can begin to see how powerful this is…

If through your awareness work you noticed that you are constantly saying to yourself “No one ever wants to work with me. It’s so hard to find clients.” Your job is to create an affirmation (or several!) that turns that idea on its ear. Like, “Clients are everywhere” or “I am a client magnet” or “My perfect clients are coming to me now” or “The right people will always find me.”

On a fresh page in your favorite journal or a clean Google Doc, write a list of the new things you’re going to say to yourself that directly oppose your most common Mindset offenders so that you start populating your mindspace with positive thoughts.

The really cool thing is our negative and limiting thoughts will start to lose their power when we focus more time and attention on what we do what to bring into our lives rather than thinking or worrying about what we don’t want.

If you want to take this a step further, I highly recommend you surround yourself with these new affirmations. Immerse yourself in them. Put them around your home or office on Post-It Notes. Make them your phone or computer background. Maybe even make a recording of yourself saying them and listen to that before bed or while you’re driving in your car. Write them again and again in your journal. Repeat them to yourself. 

It may seem a little silly or almost like a lie at first, but if you stick with it (remember these tools need to be practiced continually to be effective) you’ll turn a corner, and these new beliefs will simply be your beliefs. They’ll just be the way you think and move through the world.

After you create your new affirmations, please share your favorite one in the Facebook Group! I’d love to read what you come up with. It’s so inspiring to be on this journey together!

Now, listen to this week's live podcast episode to find out my other favorite tools for releasing your biggest mindset blocks.

I am so excited for you to try out this technique, and I can’t wait to hear how it goes for you!

P.S. I’m cooking up something brand new for you that will help you Design Your Mindset for success on your terms that’ll be available later this month -- and better yet it will be offered for less than the cost of a couple yoga classes or a dinner out! Intrigued?! Click here to add your name to the “I’m super intrigued by this and want to know more” list :-)

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How to Figure Out What’s Blocking You

I recently polled the 3-Day Workweek Facebook Group to figure out what would be most helpful for me to share with you, and the #1 thing you wanted to learn about was Mindset -- specifically how to figure out what’s blocking you from what you desire most (like success, happiness, amazing clients, love, tons of money :-)

So, here’s what I thought we’d do…

For the next month we’re going to be diving DEEP into the topic of mindset as it relates to designing the life and business you truly want for yourself. Because without addressing the mindset blocks that are currently tripping you up, there’s no chance at creating a successful 3-day workweek (or whatever is the ideal for you!).

We’re kicking things off today with some important foundational work to figure out what’s currently blocking you so that in the upcoming weeks we can release those blocks for good.

Ready to release your mindset blocks once and for all?! It’s time for the first step.

::Drum roll please::

The very first thing you need to do in order to figure out what’s blocking you is to become a student of yourself.

Ok, so let me explain…

Until you study yourself -- your self-talk, your habits, your thoughts, your patterns, your self-sabotage tendencies -- you won’t know exactly what needs to change or how to change it.

What we think about, we bring about. Basically, we need to know what we’re thinking about so we know what seeds we’re planting.

Step #1 on this journey towards your new and improved mindset is to simply become AWARE of your current mindset. Easy peasy.

To help you with this, here’s a quick 3min audio that walks you step-by-step through this process so that you can figure out exactly what’s blocking you starting right now. Listen to that below.

You see, by noticing the storylines that pop-up again and again, we can put some distance between ourselves and those negative thoughts in order to make room for NEW beliefs!

Then, join me LIVE on Facebook today at 11:30am EST where I’ll dive even deeper into this topic and answer any questions you might have as you figure out what mindset blocks are in your way. Click HERE to add a reminder about that to your calendar now.

My intention is for this month to be a truly transformative one for your mindset, your business and your life. I cannot wait to get started!

P.S. Work on this today, and then next Wednesday I’ll show you how to transform these negative thoughts and storylines into powerful tools to help you fast-forward your path to success.

P.P.S. I’ve got some brand new mindset-related tools in the works that’ll help you intentionally Design Your Mindset so that you can stop stopping yourself from reaching your fullest potential in life and business with my consistent support and guidance for a super affordable price. Add your name to the “I’m intrigued by this” list here, and I’ll be in touch as soon as more info is available :-)

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How to Create MAGIC Every Day with Natalie Roy + Kristin Hanggi

Today I am so excited to bring you two of my favorite podcast hosts, Natalie Roy and Kristin Hanggi. They are the co-hosts of the Create Podcast, leaders of the Create Workshop Series in New York and L.A. They are fantastic, brilliant ladies and have brought all of their wisdom to our discussion today.

Natalie Roy is an actress, author and spiritual teacher. She's performed and taught all over the world on stage and screen and has appeared in The Affair, Law and Order: SVU, The Detour, Power, The Following, Being Erica, Murdoch Mysteries and in two films directed by award-winning director Sidney Furie. She authored her first book: 30 Years, 30 Lessons several years ago and has since collaborated on The "I’mPossible Project."

Kristin Hanggi is best known for directing and developing the smash-hit Rock of Ages, which received five Tony Award nominations, including a nomination for Best Direction of a Musical. She has directed numerous productions of Rock of Ages, including Broadway, the West End, Australia, Toronto, Las Vegas, and two National Tours. As a film director, Kristin has directed Naomi & Ely's No Kiss List, starring Victoria Justice; the indie Grantham & Rose starring Jake T. Austin and Marla Gibbs; and the hit book series, Dear Dumb Diary into a musical movie, under Executive Producer Jerry Zucker for Walden Media. Ms. Hanggi graduated with her Masters from USC after receiving her Bachelors from UCLA in Theater. 

Natalie, Kristin, and I covered a variety of topics in this interview, including:

• How to create MAGIC every day
• Why work is the highest form of "play"
• The reason why you should put "fun" and "play" first
• When to question the “shoulds” and “have tos”
• How to know if you are living for RELIEF or HAPPINESS
• What Kristin + Natalie would say to their 20 year old selves
   

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A Love Note for You <3

Happy Valentines Day!

I wanted to take a moment to express just how much appreciation and love there is in my heart for you.

Here’s my love note to you <3

Your presence is felt.
Your voice is necessary.
Your purpose is unfolding. (Trust it.)
And, your worthiness is undeniable.

You are supported.
You are needed.
You are brilliant; unlike anyone else.
And you, above all else, are loved.

With that said, I hope you take some time today to honor yourself. Enjoy a walk in nature, a hot bubble bath, spend time with your favorite person or favorite book, sit on your cushion and meditate, enjoy a glass of wine, slow down and savor more. You deserve it.

P.S. If you want even more feel-good vibes in your inbox today, sign-up here for a spectacular free training series put together by a woman I greatly admire, Marie Forleo. This free training will forever shift the way you move through life + business. Register here for instant access + get ready to be transformed. And, as a special V-Day Gift, you’ll also receive my Sales Clarity Training as a BONUS, so you can master the art of feel-good sales conversations, too :-)
 

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My 3-day workweek + 6-figure year were possible because of THIS...

I want to get real with you for a second. Reaching the milestones that I enjoyed these past 2 years didn’t happen overnight.

I had been a serial entrepreneur for nearly a decade, and it took years of trial and error to attain 5-figure months and 6-figure years while working just 3 days a week. (So, if you’re not quite there yet, take a deep breath. This isn’t a sprint. You are moving in the right direction. I promise.)

That said, I wholeheartedly believe that creating success on your terms is possible not just for me, but for you too! And, the process can be drastically expedited if you’re willing to make just one small shift (more on that below).

I know that you, too, can picture your dream life and business -- you can feel it, taste it, smell it! -- but you’re just not sure how to make it all happen. 

Rest assured, if you can envision it, it is 100% possible for you. You are not given dreams, aspirations and hopes for no reason -- they are given to you because they are meant for you.

If you’re anything like me, someone telling you to trust and “slow down” isn’t always the advice you want to hear when you’re so hungry for success. So, I have another piece of advice for you that’ll help speed-up the process while affording you MORE ease and enjoyment along the way. 

The ONE and only shift that you need to make right now is...

Allow yourself to be supported.

For years I tried to do and figure out everything on my own. I was such a control freak that I didn’t even realize my stubbornness and type-A tendencies were majorly slowing me down and completely removing the possibility of flow in life and business.

I’ve come to realize that seeking support and learning from others isn’t a crutch, it’s a necessity for growth! 

When I look to other successful individuals that I greatly admire, they ALL allow themselves to be supported. They hire assistants and experts, work with mentors and coaches and are on a constant quest to improve themselves by aligning with and learning from others.

With that in mind, I have a very special invitation for you. 

One of my first business mentors, Marie Forleo, has put together a beautiful life + business changing FREE video training that I am honored to share with you. The first of the 3 videos is available now and honestly this free training offers more value than many paid trainings do. It’s really a must-watch. (Believe me, I’ve watched it several times already :-)

If you’re ready to accept the support that’ll take you to the next level (and beyond!) in your business I have 2 lovely gifts for you: Click HERE to register for Marie’s free training series. And, as a super special bonus, you’ll receive INSTANT ACCESS to my Sales Clarity Training so that you can master the art of feel-good sales conversations that convert perfect-for-you clients.

Gift #1 - Inside Marie’s free video training, you’ll learn…

• Why big-hearted people are wired to succeed in online business
• The shocking changes that'll take place online in the next few years. If you have an online presence, you need to know this!
• Marie’s step-by-step 6 pillar roadmap to online success. This will “clear the brain fog” and give you clarity and direction.
• 3 website must-haves for all budding entrepreneurs
• Her signature 13 keys to success in life + business
• The #1 skill you must master to make big profits and bigger impact
• Coming to you IMMEDIATELY -- click here to be the first to know when this brand new training is released, and you’ll get instant access to my Sales Clarity training. (See details below!)

Gift #2 - Inside my Sales Clarity training, you’ll learn…

• My 12 step process for confident, feel-good sales conversations
• My favorite tools for streamlining pre-sales call intake + scheduling
• The exact questions I use on my Clarity Consultation intake form
• Strategies you can start implementing TODAY that will create perfect-for-you clients
• Feel-good tactics that will leave both you and your potential clients feeling connected & excited to work together!
• Get INSTANT access when you click here. 

I sincerely hope you’ll take advantage of these amazing and generous gifts. Marie is completely brilliant, and it’s my total honor to be partnering with her to deliver these two teachings to you. She has helped 100,000s of women across the globe create a life + business they LOVE.

It’s time that you are one of them!

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