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Ready to stop feeling guilty about your workday? In this practical episode, Rachel Cook dismantles the outdated 8-hour workday model and presents a smarter way to run your business. Based on research showing knowledge workers peak at just 3-4 productive hours daily, she reveals how to leverage these focused periods for maximum impact. Through clear examples from her own successful practice of separating focus days from call days, Rachel demonstrates how you can structure your business around your lifeânot the other way around. Learn the proven approach that's helping women entrepreneurs get better results while working less, and finally feel confident about how you spend your time.
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Were you able to consistently show up and market your business this year... or was marketing and sales an afterthought?
Were you actually able to take time off this year... or did your schedule get so out of control that you are on the verge of burnout?
In the final part of the Plan Your Best Year Ever Challenge, we are going month by month to make sure you and your business have a real action plan to achieve your goals in 2025.
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You tell yourself This is my YEAR! I'm gonna do the dang thing!
You write down your big business goal. You put in up where you can see it constantly. You're committed to making it happen!
But then life gets in the way and that goal you set is a long gone memory.
When we only set goals once a year, we miss out on the process of going after that goal because we aren't setting ourselves up for success.
In this episode, learn a better way to achieve your overall business goals including increasing revenue, increasing profits, and increasing control in your business.
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Does it feel like your business is constantly in emergency mode and you're spending your days putting out fires?
You might be running your business by DEFAULT instead of by DESIGN!
In this episode, we are talking about how you can proactively design your business to truly work FOR YOU in 2025.
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For so many small business owners, the non-stop hustle culture has seriously caused an epidemic of burnout. The last few years have only made this worse!
The good news? You don't have to work 60-80 hours weeks to have a successful business. In fact, many of our clients are working less than 30 hours a week with more than enough time to prioritize their health, wellness, family, friends.. you know... actually having a life!
In this episode, we creating a clear vision for all areas of our life in 2025 based on our definition of success.
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With the holidays just around the corner, now is the time to look ahead and plan your business for 2025!
So many entrepreneurs set goals only to reach the end of the year and realize that they didn't follow-through. If that's you - no worries! We have you covered with the Plan Your Best Year Ever Challenge.
In this episode, we are kicking off our 9th annual Plan Your Best Year Ever Challenge beginning with the 2024 Year in Review.
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This episode was a little hard to record - I ended up starting and stopping about a dozen times.
Here at The CEO Collective and on the podcast Promote Yourself to CEO, I've spent a LOT of time talking about building a Life FIRST Business. One that allows you to prioritize enjoying your life - right now - as you grow your business. One that allows you to take time for your health, spend quality time with your family. All the fun parts.
But there is another reason why this approach is so crucially important.
Life doesn't always go as planned.
And sometimes we don't just need a Life FIRST Business - we need a Life PROOF Business.
One that's going to fully support us as we experience loss, setbacks, and the harder parts of life.
In this episode, I'm sharing more about what I'm currently navigating as I'm experiencing the loss of my dear cousin Holly and how focusing on SYSTEMS are what have allowed me to keep this business running smoothly when I'm not able to show up 100%.
Plan Your Best Year Ever! - Join the free challenge!The CEO CollectiveRacheal on Instagram and TikTokRate and review on Apple Podcasts
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Avoid Common Planning Mistakes for Small Business Success in 2025
With my big-picture plan in order for Q4, in this episode I want to prepare you for planning for 2025! As we begin that task, I want to offer you advice on course-correcting by detailing 10 major mistakes to avoid when setting business goals. The holiday season will be here before you know it, and I plan to be spending so much time with family and friends. I want to make sure that come January, my business is already in motion and I can take off with momentum. Join us for the 'Plan Your Best Year Ever' challenge to ensure both life and business goals are prioritized for sustainable success.
02:35 Seek specificity in your goal-setting starting with your priorities, and including traceable metrics
05:44 How can you break down your big goals into actionable, check-off-able items
08:17 Reviewing, adapting, and adjusting your plan must be part of the plan
10:47 The importance of tracking cashflow and financial planning in your goal-setting
11:52 Protect yourself from overwork, and how to not overload your plate
13:45 Don't compromise your long-term sustainability when working on short-term goals
16:09 The importance of involving your team in your planning process
18:11 Your Plan B in case of emergencies
19:54 Value-based, life-first considerations when planning your business's year ahead
21:57 Maintaining attention to the process, not just a final end
24:14 Introduction and Invitation to join the Plan Your Best Year Ever! Challenge -
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Hey there CEOs, Q4 is here and with the holidays fast approaching, I want to talk to entrepreneurs about effectively managing the final 90 days of 2024. I share my insights on managing business during an election cycle, taking time off for family during holidays, and planting seeds that will fruit in Q1 2025! Join me soon for my 'Plan Your Best Year Ever Challenge' to help set sustainable systems for business growth.
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You make yourself available to your clients constantly. They can email or text or call you 24/7, and you make it a priority to respond to them as soon as possible. And you might even be making great money in the process!
From the client's perspective, this sounds great. But while the constant availability works for them, it means your business isnât really working for you.
Today, I talk with CEO Collective member Dr. Libby Wilson whose functional medicine practice looked great on the surface with successful clients and cash flow. But she had to make shifts so that she could truly have freedom in her business to enjoy life. In this episode, she talks about how she turned things around over the last year to ensure that her practice not only works for her clients but also for herself and her family.
On this episode of Promote Yourself to CEO:
3:25 - Who is Dr. Libby Wilson, how does she help her clients, and where was she struggling in her business before joining the CEO Collective?
7:55 - Hustle culture created this health issue for Dr. Libby. She had to fix the root cause and talks about how the 90-Day Planner helped.
13:07 - Content creation is a major sticking point for a lot of entrepreneurs. Dr. Libby has a 12-month rinse-and-repeat content calendar, so how does she do it?
16:29 - Dr. Libby reveals something she does for her practice and that every entrepreneur needs to apply in their business. We discuss what it is and why itâs so important.
22:34 - Watching how my business runs behind-the-scenes helped Dr. Libby get away from making herself constantly available to clients. What changes did she make in her practice as a result?
30:04 - Dr. Libby discusses how making the adjustments to her business has improved her life and her mindset.
36:30 - To wrap the show, Dr. Libby reveals what sheâd say to anyone thinking of joining The CEO Collective. She also briefly discusses her new book and how she works with clients.
Mentioned in Is Your Business Really Working for You?
Best Life Functional MedicineThe Path of Intention: Five Habits to Optimize Your Health and Create a Life You Love by Dr. Libby Wilson90-Day CEO PlannerApply for The CEO CollectiveRacheal on Instagram and TikTok -
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In this episode of Promote Yourself to CEO, I invited Gabi Day, CEO and founder of Brightbody, to discuss her entrepreneurial journey. Gabi shares insights on running a non-toxic, refillable personal care line and her new venture, Hype Ma'am, which supports women in product-based businesses. Gabi reflects on her transition from healthcare administration, dealing with chronic health issues, and becoming a mother of twins. She emphasizes the importance of creating flexible systems and structures, including her 90-day operating plan and annual marketing calendar that enable her to balance business growth and personal well-being. Gabi also discusses how implementing these strategies has transformed her role as CEO and improved her team's efficiency and happiness.
10:58 Flexible Work and Parenting
23:40 Adapting to Challenges: Flexibility in Planning
27:37 Building a Reliable Team
33:28 Streamlining Operations with SOPs
42:26 Scaling Your Business with Systems -
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One of the hardest lessons to learn as an entrepreneur?
You can be your own worst enemy.
You know that more visibility is essential to growth, but you overcomplicate it to the point where you do nothing.
You have an incredible idea for a new product, program, or service, but your perfectionism keeps you from ever launching it.
You know that you have completely maxxed out your calendar - you simply don't have time to do more or work harder - but you struggle to bring on more support behind the scenes to free up your time.
And the thing is - we are all aware when we are self-sabotaging!These mistakes often stem from deeply ingrained beliefs and habits that can be so incredibly difficult to break.
That's why in this episode, I'm sharing the top 5 mistakes, how they hold our businesses back, and how to start overcoming them so you can get closer to the life-first business you really want!
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Supporting your family as a business owner is an incredible experience.
Deciding to be your own boss, delivering value to paying clients, and bringing profit home to support your family's needs and wants is just part of the reward.
For me, supporting my family goes so much deeper than paying the bills. It's why I've been so intentional about building a business that allows me to be the best mom I can be, be a present wife, be a daughter who can help her aging parents. And it's meant I've always been able to prioritize the things that matter most to me and the people who matter most to me.
And I know from experience working with thousands of women entrepreneurs that the biggest reason women start businesses is because they want that flexibility and freedom to take care of their families, to take care of their parents, to take care of their children, to live an actual life.
In this second installment of the series on a life-first approach to business, I run through ten common myths that hinder women entrepreneurs from achieving success both at home and in business, such as the myth that more hours equal more success and the necessity of hustle culture. I stress the importance of prioritizing personal well-being, family, and effective delegation, while debunking the notion that being constantly available or sacrificing personal life is needed for business success.
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In the first episode of this brand new series on Building a Life First Business!
I wanted to kick things off with my own personal story that has deeply impacted the lens that I see the world through - and is a huge part of why I do the work I do.
My mother was 31yo business owner when a car accident left her in a coma for 3 months and in the hospital for another 2 years before returning home to her family. She experienced a Traumatic Brain Injury that would leaver her permanently disabled for the rest of her life.
She survived but lost her business... and even more, she missed the early days of my and my sisters childhoods.
This episode is deeply personal but if you really want to know why I care so much about building businesses that actually allow you to enjoy your life - my story is a reminder that all we have is today.
00:00 Introduction and Series Kickoff
01:20 A Personal Story: The Accident That Changed Everything
04:10 The Aftermath: Family and Business Struggles
08:41 Building a Life-First Business
13:33 Adapting to Motherhood and Business
24:28 The Importance of Community and Support
28:32 Caring for Aging Parents
35:30 The Life-First Business Philosophy
42:44 Conclusion and Next Steps
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Want clients for life? Give your client an experience that goes beyond their expectations.
Think about booking lodgings for a vacation. Itâs one thing to book a room for your stay with all the expected accommodations. But you remember the place that goes beyond: the chocolate on the pillow to greet you as a new guest, warm and freshly laundered towels in the bathroom daily, a minifridge already full of goodies you didnât even have to buy, etc. And the next time youâre ready for a vacation in the area, you want to stay there again.
Now, itâs really easy to think that translating that type of experience into your service-based business is as simple as surprising and delighting with little gifts, like that chocolate on the pillow. But thereâs so much more to it, and today Iâm excited to have Amber Kinney back on the podcast to talk about it.
In this final episode of our customer experience series on Promote Yourself to CEO, youâll learn about how you can translate surprising and delighting clients into your business as part of your customer experience plan. Weâll teach you how to put a little more intention and thoughtfulness into the ways you choose to surprise and delight clients so that theyâll trust and connect with you and your company.
On this episode of Promote Yourself to CEO:
6:44 - Whatâs one of Amber's favorite ways to surprise and delight clients in her agency?
8:45 - I talk about a recent surprise I received when I started working with someone new. This kind of delight can motivate your clients even more!
13:01 - You can vote with your dollars when delighting your clients, too. Hereâs how we do it every year.
16:22 - How do you and your team build connection with your clients in ways that will surprise and delight them?
24:25 - I discuss another way I try to delight all the time. This one goes above and beyond, and it can stick for your clients for years!
Mentioned In How to Include Surprise and Delight for Clients In Your Customer ExperienceThe CEO Collective
The CEO Retreat
Amber Kinneyâs agency, The AK Collective
Maven Made Facial Serum
Racheal on Instagram and TikTok
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Sustainably scaling your business isnât a solo act. It takes a team to pull it off.
Now youâve probably had some help in the marketing and sales aspect of your business. Or maybe youâve hired help for the technological or administrative side of things. But are you still holding out on hiring a team to help you work directly with clients to deliver your offer? Thatâs the last place we as entrepreneurs tend to hire to help us, but itâs necessary if you want a sustainable business.
Building a team for a sustainable business ultimately boils down to one thing. And in todayâs installment of our customer experience series, Iâve invited my Director of Operations (and right-hand woman) Amber Kinney onto the show to help me cover it.
Amber and I have worked together for over a decade. And sheâs the owner and CEO of her own marketing agency where she works with lots of entrepreneurs behind the scenes. So she knows the dos and donâts of working with (and within) a business team.
In this episode of the Promote Yourself to CEO podcast, youâll learn about all the layers that go into hiring people to join your business and how to do it in a way that works for you, your team members, and your clients. Weâll teach you about transfer of trust and why it works so well to set your business up for success.
On this episode of Promote Yourself to CEO:
6:49 - Why can scaling your team be one of the biggest challenges you face? Hereâs the most likely place where you might stumble when hiring help.
12:24 - Thereâs a necessary shift you need to make to get to the point where clients comfortably deal with your team members.
16:40 - How can you start transferring your clientsâ trust from working with you exclusively to working with your team directly?
20:08 - Amber reveals how to approach bringing on someone new onto your team who you donât have a previous track record with.
23:26 - What if you have no plans or desires to hire anyone (at least right now)? Youâll still want to do this to set yourself up for success.
28:14 - I reveal a red flag thatâs a sign of more than just bad hiring practices to your clients.
Mentioned in How Strategically Scaling Your Business Team Sets You Up for SuccessThe CEO Collective
Amber Kinneyâs agency, The AK Collective
Racheal on Instagram and TikTok
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According to American Express, people will pay 86% more if you give them an impeccable customer experience. Thatâs why providing a great experience after the purchase is one of the best ways to differentiate yourself, your brand, and your business from your competitors.
So how can you improve the customer experience of your company? Itâs all in the delivery of whatever you offer, whether youâre selling a product (physical or digital) or a service. Today on the Promote Yourself to CEO podcast, youâll learn about seven ways to upgrade the delivery process of your offer thatâll have your clients or customers loving you and your business.
On this episode of Promote Yourself to CEO:
4:41 - Clear containers for your offers helps you as well as your clients or customers. How?
8:28 - With so much small business competition, how can you develop relationships with your clients so that they remain loyal to yours?
11:45 - Have a clear vision for your customer experience and create a success path to help buyers get there.
13:20 - Do you follow up after the purchase? I discuss how to create checkpoints and proactively reach out.
17:44 - Youâll need to proactively coach your clients or customers on this as well.
21:05 - What can you use to improve your customer experience on an ongoing basis?
24:57 - The last way to upgrade your customer experience is easier said than done, but it must be done for a sustainable business.
29:22 - To wrap the show, I quickly recap the seven ways to upgrade your customer or client experience.
Mentioned in 7 Ways to Upgrade Your Client or Customer ExperienceThe CEO Collective
90-Day CEO Operating System
Racheal on Instagram and TikTok
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Most people arenât talking about customer experience when they think they are. Theyâre talking about putting out fires, troubleshooting things, solving problems as they arise--all customer service-oriented stuff.
While having good customer service is important, itâs not a thing thatâs necessarily going to help your business grow or generate excitement about it from your clients. Thatâs where having an impeccable customer experience comes in!
But how do you design one for your business? There are three elements (or stages) to this: the first sets the tone for your relationship with each client, the next creates your path to success, and the last one wraps everything up and sets you (and your client) up for continued success.
In this next episode of Promote Yourself to CEO, youâll learn all about those three elements. I take you through every stage one-by-one and include all of the systems, pieces, considerations, and questions you should implement or think about for each to create an excellent experience for your clients.
On this episode of Promote Yourself to CEO:
4:11 - I talk about the five systems you need for the first element: client onboarding.
10:50 - How can your clients get the best results? This is all about setting expectations.
12:54 - Whatâs the third area to shore up in your client onboarding process? (And what is the key to making it work)?
16:32 - The final piece of onboarding is incredibly powerful to make sure that everything starts off on the right foot.
19:37 - Your path to success lies in this next element of your customer experience plan. Here are a couple of areas to think about as you map it out.
28:19 - Too often, entrepreneurs wait to do this. So youâll need to be proactive in this next step on your success path.
30:39 - How can you keep your clients committed to the process of going through your entire program? I reveal the final piece to your success path.
33:56 - I discuss four steps to think about as you complete the implementation of your customer experience plan for each client.
Mentioned in Designing an Excellent Customer Experience In 3 StagesThe 3 Essential Systems to Sustainably Scale Your Business (LINK TBA)
The CEO Collective
90-Day CEO Operating System
The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier
Racheal on Instagram and TikTok
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Are you confusing customer service with customer experience?
Right now, you might be wondering, âHuh? Whatâs the difference?â Customer service is reactive; itâs all about handling problems as they arise. But an incredible customer experience is a thoughtfully designed journey through your business that can elevate it and gain you clients for life.
So how do you go about designing this experience so that your clients will not only want to stick around but recommend your business to others? Today kicks off a new series of the Promote Yourself to CEO podcast where we discuss something that hasnât really been delved into on the show before.
In this episode, youâll learn about why creating an excellent customer experience helps you stand out from the crowd. Youâll hear about the coaching experience I heard about that triggered this topic, discover exactly how powerfully a great customer experience design can affect your business, and reveal what your revenue goals arenât telling you.
On this episode of Promote Yourself to CEO:
3:08 - Why am I digging into customer experience? I talk about the recent sales call that inspired this series.
8:03 - Customer experience matters and can be such a competitive advantage. Hereâs why!
11:58 - Everybody loves coming up with revenue goals. But youâre missing out on a lot of important information in the process.
17:11 - How does plugging the holes in your customer experience affect your profit?
20:09 - Whatâs coming up next in this series? I give a short preview.
Mentioned in The Key to Boosting Your Business and Creating Clients for LifeThe CEO Collective
Racheal on Instagram and TikTok
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Have things been slowing down in your business? What if you could start each year knowing that you have the majority of the revenue you need locked in?
Many entrepreneurs have noticed a recent slowdown in their businesses due to consumer anxiety surrounding the economy. The natural reaction to that is to market to attract new people and bring them into your business to boost revenue. But are you neglecting an easier way?
As a podcast producer for service-based businesses, Stacey Harris has noticed the downturn trend and gotten ahead of the curve. She and I have had a conversation about this recently during a retreat. But instead of putting all the attention on the front end, sheâs helping others get set up for continued success (regardless of what happens with the economy), focusing on gaining clients for life.
And now, weâre bringing our conversation to you. In this episode of the Promote Yourself to CEO podcast, youâll learn about how you can focus on bringing in more revenue by paying attention to the people whoâve already paid you. Weâll tell you about the small things you can do and shifts you can make to take advantage of this small business gamechanger.
7:52 - Some businesses like cable and cell phone companies keep making this mistake.
10:16 - Whatâs the difference between a repeating customer and a lifetime client?
16:04 - I give examples of how consumer-facing businesses can provide extra value to existing clients in times of economic uncertainty.
22:01 - We run a people-over-profit business here at The CEO Collective, which helps us stand out. Hereâs an example of how.
26:12 - How can you make things even a tiny bit easier for your clients? Stacey talks about how sheâs doing it for podcasters.
28:56 - One of the biggest shifts in my business recently came from an unexpected source.
31:38 - Whatâs the real linchpin to gaining clients for life? And how have I used it to evolve my business since the beginning?
40:01 - You can bring all of your expertise to the table to make money in multiple ways. Stacey discusses a recent example of how she did it.
43:04 - Stacey reveals the hardest part about communicating in client relationships.
49:07 - What else happens for your business when you retain clients? It makes business growth so much easier.
Mentioned in How to Gain Clients for Life with Stacey Harris
The CEO CollectiveThe CEO RetreatCustomer Experience podcast series: episode 1, 2, 3, and 4Stacey Harris on Instagram and TikTokUncommonly MoreRacheal on Instagram and TikTok - Vis mere
