The Darling CEO

Money, Business, and Life Tips for the Working Mom

January To-Do’s for Successful Working Moms

January To-Do’s for Successful Working Moms

Call me crazy but I love January. I love the feeling of renewal that comes from a brand new year. I am energized and motivated to take on the year.

Every January, I try to capitalize on this energy and motivation and knock off some tasks that help me start the year off right as a working mom.

Here are January to-do’s for successful working moms…

Declutter

We have a large family so our children get so much stuff for Christmas. To top that off, my daughters birthday is in January as well so even more stuff. Yay. During January, I try to get rid of as much stuff as possible. Old clothes, toys, magazines that have piled up, toys, old makeup, anything and everything that is not nailed down. Check out The Life Changing Method of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. Kondo provides very practical tips on what and how to get rid of your clutter.

Deep Clean

You can either outsource this or do it yourself but one to-do that should be on every working moms life is to deep clean your home. Once you have decluttered it is the perfect time to clean. I’m talking clean that you never have a chance to get to like baseboards and washing walls. This will allow you to start the year off with a truly fresh and clean space. It will also take some away some of the mental load that can eat away at you.

Set a Budget and Savings Plan

If you are like me, you are experiencing a spending hangover in January. I am so sick of spending money by the end of December, I am just ready to get back to a budget and start saving again. Take advantage of this feeling and sit down and set a budget. Start by reviewing your spending for the last year. Where did your money go? Reflect on where you could have saved more and spent less. Now set your budget for the next year. Make sure that you are paying yourself first and setting aside money in your budget to save. Start the saving program as early in January as possible either through your employer (via a 401k) or your bank (IRA or a traditional savings account).

Set a Goal

Every year I set a personal development goal for myself. Motherhood can be so daunting. When you are working, raising children, taking care of a home, taking care of a marriage, etc. it leaves very little time for you. It can be easy for moms to feel like they have lost themselves. Each year I set a goal solely for myself. This gives me a reason to do something that I enjoy and gives me fulfillment and satisfaction as I march towards achieving it. A couple of goals that I have completed are reading 100 books in a year and learning Spanish. Find something that you enjoy doing and set a stretch goal for yourself. Make sure that you keep that promise to yourself and make a plan to achieve it. And remember, a happy mom/wife/employee is a good mom/wife/employee!

Organize Your Schedule

The end of the year is a free for all. There are so many demands on your time with the holidays, school events, and work deadlines. After all of that, now is the perfect time to reset and organize your schedule. Go through your calendar and block out time for everything that you need to get done. Make sure that you are carving out time for your goal and for just doing nothing. I make sure that at least one day out of each weekend we block out our calendar to do nothing. Those are my favorite days (and my kids) and would likely not happen if I wasn’t intentional on blocking out that time.

Now is also a great time to grab control of your work calendar. Go through each meeting that is on your calendar for the new year and make sure that it needs to be there. Meetings tend to stick around a lot longer than they are actually needed. Now would be a good time to trim the fat and get rid of non-essential meetings. You should also schedule time to actually do the work. I work in a corporate environment so I sit on conference calls all day. If I don’t block off time to actually do the work, I would be bringing that home with me today. Block an hour or two a day during your MOST productive time of day to do deep work.

What are your January To-Do’s for Successful Working Moms? What do you do in January that helps set up success for the remainder of the year? Leave a comment below!

 

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Start a Side Hustle in 7 Days

Start a Side Hustle in 5 Days!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links for which we earn a small commission on your purchase at no additional cost to you.

We know that having a side hustle is essential to financial security and building wealth. The more streams of income that you have, the more you are able to avoid financial setbacks and save money over time.    But how do we actually get started on our side hustle? Follow this simple plan to start a side hustle in just seven days.

Day One: Determine Your “Why”

Before you start a side hustle, sit down and think about your long term goal. What are you trying to cause in developing a side hustle. Being crystal clear on your purpose will help you get through the inevitable hard times of having a side hustle.

Day Two: Identify what you are passionate about or good at?

Ask yourself what do you like doing?   What do you get excited about?  What do people ask you questions about?   Making quick money is cool, but having something that you really enjoy doing is critical to ensuring the long term viability of your side hustle. If you do something that you hate doing, you will eventually burn out and end up resenting your side hustle.  You are better off finding something that you are pretty good at and really enjoy doing.

Day Three: Create a Plan

What value will you add and how will you do it?  Will you be providing in-person services or doing online consulting?   Will you use social media to get customers or will you advertise in your local paper? Put pen to paper and start mapping out your plan and strategy

Day Four: Test Your Concept

This is probably the most important step.  You need to validate and test your side hustle concept. The best way to do this is to test it out on a real life client. If you are offering a service, provide a free service in exchange for their feedback.   If you are selling something,  sell a few samples.  You can also perform some market research by asking friends, family, and prospective customers on social media.   Tell them as much as detail as you can about how you plan on offering your product/service and pricing and get their thoughts.   A little feedback early on can ensure you are on the right path and people would actually be interested in your product.

Day Five: Make a Plan

Now that you have validated your concept, it is time to start making a more detailed plan.

You will want to answer the following questions:

  • What products/services will you provide?
  • What will your pricing be?
  • How will you market your products/service?
  • What will  your startup costs be?
  • What is your projected income?
  • What challenges can you foresee?  How will you overcome these challenges?

 

Day Six: Set Up Your Side Hustle

Now that you have a plan it is time to get things ready.  This is the time when you should secure your social media accounts, domain and website, business cards and other marketing collateral, etc.   Try to bootstrap your side hustle as much as possible.  Spend as little money as possible and as you start making more money you can always invest in things that will help you expand your business.  Set a budget and stick to it!

Day Seven: Start!

At this point, you should be ready to get started.  Go out and start offering your product and service. Don’t worry about being perfect at this point because you won’t be.  You will learn and refine your skills as you go on.  And always remember, everyone started as a beginner!  You will get better and learn with each mistake that you make along your journey. Have grace with yourself and push forward.

There you have it, how to to start a side hustle in just seven days.   You are well on your way to the financial security and wealth potential that a side hustle provides!

Ready to start a side hustle? What part of the side hustle journey do you struggle with or have questions?  Leave a comment below!

 

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Want To Be a Millionaire? Start a Side Hustle

Do you want to be financially secure and ultimately wealthy?  You need to increase your streams of revenue and one of the easiest (and quickest!) ways to do that is to start a side-hustle. According to a study by Tom Corley, most self-made millionaires have generated their income from multiple sources.  Think about any wealthy person and you will likely see that they have money coming in a multitude of ways (e.g. business income, dividends, rental income, investments, side-hustles).

Why is having multiple-streams of income important?  Most importantly, it protects you in the event of a job loss.  If you lose your job for whatever reason (downsizing, illness, injury), having a side-hustle or supplemental source of income will allow you to ride out the waves and stay afloat.  Most financial setbacks occur because of a loss of income.  Having a side hustle provides you with some insurance against loss of income.

Secondly, having a side hustle allows you to earn extra cash that you can use to save and invest. The law of compound interest tells us that the earlier that we can save, the more we will earn.  Therefore, having a side hustle (ahem, now) allows you to take advantage of time. For example, starting at age 23, you need to put away just $14 per day to reach $1 million by age 67. Wait just seven years, age 30, and you have to increase that amount by 50%. Hold off until age 35 and you’ll have to save more than twice as much as at 23.  Investing a little bit as early as you adds up quickly!

Another way that having a side hustle can get you a ticket to millionaire status is that earnings from your side hustle can be used to create yet another source of income, such as rental property or other businesses.  For example, through your side-hustle as an online instructor you are able to save enough money to purchase a rental property.  Now you have income from your day job,  income from your side hustle, and a monthly income coming in from your rental property. You can then take the money from the rental property and invest in dividend paying stocks, thus creating a FOURTH stream of revenue.  You can go on and on reinvesting and creating additional stream of revenue which increases your wealth and creates additional financial security.

With technology and the gig economy, the barrier to entry is the lowest it has ever been. Anyone can create a side hustle to bring more money in.  It’s as easy as posting on your town’s Facebook page that you can rake leaves or shovel snow.  You can also take advantage of services like Shipt and Doordash.   Even a few hours a week can add up over time and create financial security for you and your family.

Do you have a side hustle?  How has having a side hustle improved your finances?   Leave a comment below.

 

Top Gifts for Business Travelers

Top Gifts for Business Travelers

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Business travel can be grueling.  The constant in and out of the airport, waiting at the rental car lines, nights spent sleeping in unfamiliar beds, can be exhausting.   Anything to make this life a little easier goes a long way. Here is a list of the top gifts for business travelers.

Amazon Basics Hardside Carry On 

Every business traveler needs a good solid carry on. This carry on from Amazon Basics is study yet affordable and has a divider, three zippered pockets, and four swivel wheels.  It also comes in different sizes and colors.

 

UV Light Sanitizing Wand

Germs.  Ugh.   One of the absolute worst parts of traveling is encountering all kinds of germs on all kinds of surfaces.  This handy little device claims to kill 99.9% of germs which sounds like a win for me.  Even it if doesn’t kill 99.9% of germs, the placebo effect is still very strong. Feeling like you are in a clean environment makes a world of difference when you are traveling.

Portable Fan

I  love sleeping with a fan, in fact I must sleep with a fan. I love this little portable USB powered fan. It’s super compact and easy to pack and it can sit right on the end table. It has a rechargeable battery so you can place it anywhere without need it tethered to a power cord.   This is also a perfect size for a desk at work or cubicle.

Travel Steamer 

This little thing right here is a game changer. Much to my grandmother’s chagrin, I  do not know how to iron clothes. I  have tried and it never works out. At home, I    use a steamer if things get wrinkled. On the road? I use this little gem. This is a must have gift for business travelers. It is portable and can easily fit in a suitcase and is very easy to use. In minutes you can have your clothes ready to go and wrinkle free.

Phone Charging Padfolio

One of life’s biggest dilemmas when you are traveling on business is where you are going to charge your phone. Nothing is worse than being at an all day meeting with a dying phone.  This padfolio is a jack of all trades. For one, it is a traditional padfolio and allows you to keep jot your notes and a pen. It also has a space to store business cards that you collect or need to pass out.  The very best part of all? It is actually a power bank and has a built in phone stand and charging cables. How amazing is that?  You can charge your phone while you are sitting in any meeting, anywhere!  I wish I had this ten years ago.

Travel Power Strip 

Last business trip I forgot my phone charger. I was in Downtown Pittsburgh and I literals could not find a store that had a power adapter in stock. I ended up buying one in the hotel store for $40. I almost died knowing I can find them on Amazon for $5.   This little gadget will help you avoid that.  Stash it in your suitcase and you are covered! You can plug your phone, iPad, and computer at the same time.

Luggage Cup Holder 

There are very few times you will find me without a coffee in my hand. Although, I  am not skilled at balancing lugging my luggage with a coffee. This cup holder attaches to your luggage and allows you to cart your drink around hands-free.  What I  love most about this is it gives me a place to hold my coffee at the gate when there are no cupholders around. it’s the simple things in life <3.

Packing Cubes

Packing cubes make life so much more simpler. It saves me sanity and space in my luggage. Who would know that bags within bags could change your life?   With the smaller packing cube, I bought an extra set of toiletries that I keep in my suitcase at all time. It’s saved me so much time, money, and sanity always having everything I need.

What are your travel must-haves? What are your top gifts for business travelers? We would love to hear. Leave a comment below!

 

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Crush Your Goals by Using Smart Goal Setting

Goal setting gets a bad wrap, but it is because so many people do it incorrectly.  People throw out arbitrary goals and hope they work. Problem is, when you set a goal and don’t follow the right framework you will never achieve your goal and will only start to feel defeated and reluctant to chase subsequent goals. That is where the SMART goal setting process comes in. 

That is why I am such a fan of the SMART goal setting framework. You have probably already heard of SMART goals but let’s take a look at the framework and how you can use it to create and achieve any goal that you set.

You can use this process for any size goal- whether you are trying to to meal plan for the week, start a new job,  or launch a business.  SMART goal setting will provide you the structure to achieve it. 

So, let’s break the SMART framework down.  

Specific

Your goal should be as detailed as possible. For example, Instead of saying “I want to improve my social media” say “I want to grow by Instagram followers by 30%…”   Write down as much detail as you want about your desired future state so you can truly see where you need to go.   

Measurable

  How will you know whether you are successful or not?  You need to include some measurement of success.  Even if your goal isn’t necessarily quantifiable, quantify something within it so you can use that as a benchmark.    Why is measurement so critical?  Measurement can supply you with feedback on whether you are on track to meet your goal, but more importantly it can provide you with much needed motivation to get there.

Action-Oriented

A dream without a plan is just a wish.  You need to identify what steps you need to take to achieve your goal. Again, the more specific you can be, the more likely you will be to achieve your goal. Write down all of the steps that you will need to be successful. You can even assign measurements and timelines to your actions.  Can’t stress enough, the more planning that you do up front, the easier the process will be and the more likely you will be to achieve your goals. 

Realistic

I love lofty goals, however there is something to be said for being realistic. Too ambitious of a goal can leave you frustrated and defeated. Set your goals to a level that you can achieve but will stretch you.   You can still dream big, but near term goals should be more realistic. 

What are your thoughts on SMART goals? Do you have any additional tips that help you in the goal-setting process? Leave a comment below.

How to Prepare for a New Job

How to Prepare for a New Job

You landed the job, congrats! Now, what?  Time to get working. Your new job should begin before your first done. In fact, your new job should start the day that you accept the position. It is critical that you take the time before you begin to prepare for a new job.

Here are 5 things that you MUST do in order to prepare for a new job.

Research

The first thing you will want to do as you prepare for a new job is to research the company.  Ideally, you have already started researching the company through the interview process, but it is never too late to start.  Understanding how the company is structured, where they have serve their customers, what products they offer, and how large the company is will give you insight as you start your new job.  Check out the company’s website, social media channels, and any other publicly available information.

Research Your Industry

Similarly, you will want to research your industry. Even if you working in the industry currently, take this opportunity to refresh your knowledge and take a fresh perspective.  You will want to research the industry challenges, opportunities, key competitors, and industry technology.  Researching the industry will give you insight into how you and your compa

Wardrobe

Appearance plays a large part of executive presence and your professional image. As you are preparing for a new job, make sure to get a feel of the dress code at your new role and start curating your professional wardrobe. It’s never a bad thing to be better dressed than required so always error on the side of more professional dress.  On a budget?  Start with the essentials and add a new wardrobe piece each paycheck.  Check out  Amazon,  Target, and stores like Marshall’s or TJ Maxx for great deals on professional dress.

Practice

There is nothing worse than being frazzled on your first day on the new job. Before you actually begin, do a trial run of your new routine. Get up at the time you will need to get up, get dressed just as you would on a. work day, drop the kiddos off at childcare, grab a coffee, drive to work, and commute to your new job. This will allow you to figure out how long your new routine will take,

Skill Assessment

Another exercise that you will want to complete as you prepare for a new job is complete a quick skills assessment. You want to quickly identify where you may have some skills gaps that you can try to tighten up before you you begin and early on in your new role.  If you have time, try to identify a skill or two that you can develop before you begin. There are a ton of free or affordable resources to help you level-up your skills such as YouTube, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning.     

 

I’ve created a new online course that will walk you through all of these steps and more in greater detail. You will also receive worksheets and access to a Facebook community that will help provide you with ongoing support.

If you are starting a new job, you will want to take this resource-filled course!

Click to Sign Up for Dominate Your New Job Masterclass 

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Dominate Your New Job Course

Dominate Your New Job Course

Starting a new job is scientifically proven as one of the most stressful life events.   However, there is very little information and guidance to help people navigate this scary and exhilarating time.

Even worse,  a lot of people (especially recent college graduates) lack the corporate knowhow to help them in their new careers. They often have to learn this new world as they go and make costly mistakes in the process.

This course is aimed to help arm people starting a new role with all of the information that they need in order to adequately prepare, form positive first impressions, and develop an effective action plan to succeed in their first 90 days on the job.

I’ve create a course that will walk you through each part of the process beginning before you even step foot in your new workplace. There are numerous exercises and resources available throughout the course to help reinforce your learning.

The goal is to help you successful within your first 90 days in your new job!

What you will learn:

  • How to curate an appropriate and polished professional wardrobe
  • How to navigate the world of workplace politics and etiquette
  • How to thrive in a professional environment
  • How to develop and execute a 90 action plan to catapult success in your new role
  • How to make a positive first impression on your boss and coworkers
  • How to successfully prepare for a new role

Who is perfect for this course:

  • Anyone beginning a new role
  • Upcoming or recent high school or college graduates
  • Anyone looking to learn more about professional conduct and etiquette
  • Anyone that feels stuck in their current role want to find a new one

What will I receive?

  • 16 Lessons with over 2 hours of video
  •  6 downloadable worksheets
  •  Access to a private Facebook Mastermind Facebook group

How do I sign up?

Sign up using this link –> Dominating Your New Job

 

Best Productivity Books

5 Best Productivity Books

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Productivity and time management are areas that I’m always looking to improve.  Time is the only resource that is equally available to everyone. We all have 24 hours each day, whether you are Oprah or a high school student. It’s the only equalizer that we have.

Getting the most output from these 24 hours has always been fascinating to me for this reason. How are some people able to accomplish so much and others nothing?

As a working mother of two, I read on this topic A LOT! Below is my list of the very best productivity books.

Atomic Habits

I love, love, love Atomic Habits by James Clear.  So much that I’m going to try to fit it into every book list that I curate. Clear has an amazing story of perseverance and determination as a result of a tragic accident. It’s an excellent case study that the strategies that Clear has developed actually work.  Through the book, he provides the science behind habits and how you can use this information in your favor to develop healthy, positive, and productive habits.   Again, Clear talks about theory but breaks it down into very actionable steps that you can take.

Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time  by Brian Tracy

I  have not only read this book almost every year, but I have also encouraged hundreds of others to read this book over the course of my career, It is that good.  The entire book is based on the notion that if the worse thing you do in a day is to eat a live frog, the rest of the day should be much better.  Do your hard thing first is something that I  coach myself and others on almost daily.   Tracy also provides some incredibly helpful productivity tips and walks you through exercises that I still utilize years after initially reading this book.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Stephen Covey

I have read The 7 Habits no less than ten times so I would be remiss if I didn’t include it in my list of top productivity books. In this book, Stephen Covey gives you a framework to become more intentional with your time.  He teaches how to zero in on what is really important in your life and making decisions with your time based on that.  This is an absolute must-read.

The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich

This book was a game-changer for so many. Tim Ferris was really a trailblazer in the world of remote work and alternative working arrangements.  In this excellent productivity book, Ferris teaches us that the traditional 9-5 mentality is antiquated and provides tips for how to be more productive in less time.

The Productivity Project: Accomplishing More by Managing Your Time, Attention, and Energy

Chris Bailey has essentially dedicated his life’s work to the concept of productivity. He has completed countless experiments and studies on the topic of productivity and the results of those are cumulated n this book.  I love books that not only teach you strategies but provide ways to put them into action. At the end of each chapter, Bailey provides exercises to reinforce the concepts and get you on your way to become more productive. This is one of the absolute best productivity books.

Everyone can benefit from improving their time management so it is important that you continue to work on this critical skill. I  make it a habit of reading at least 1 productivity-related book per quarter to ensure I continue to stay focused and grow in this space.

What productivity books are we missing? what are your favorite productivity books? leave a comment below!

5 must-read productivity books. 5 books that help with time management and productivity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Best Books for Women Leaders

Best Books for Women Leaders

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links meaning that if you make a purchase using the link we earn a small commission. 

I love all things learning and personal growth so reading is one of my favorite activities. Needless to say, I have read a TON of books! I  especially love books on leadership. Even if you don’t have a formal leadership role, we are all leaders whether it be at work, home, or in my extracurricular activities.

Here is a list of the very best books for women leaders.

Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead (Sheryl Sandberg) 

Lean In is the quintessential book for women in business. Sheryl is a woman in a male-dominated field and this book details how she has been able to achieve her success all while being a wife and mother. What I love most about this book is the balance between inspiration and tactics. She not only gets you revved up to take on the world but she shows you how to do it.

 

Girl, Stop Apologizing: A Shame Free Plan for Embracing and Achieving Your Goals

Rachel Hollis is my spirit animal. I  seriously love her so much. She is super relatable, funny, sweet, and gives you the kick in the butt that only a good friend can.   Each chapter of this book walks you through the lies and excuses that women tell ourselves such as “I can’t pursue my dream and still be a good mom” or “I don’t have enough time”. She debunks these lies that we tell ourselves and provides tactics and strategies to overcome them.   This is one of the best books for women leaders and that should be read and referenced often!

Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones 

This is one of my favorite books, ever.  This book provides very practical advice and will help you make time for new habits, overcome a lack of motivation and willpower, design your environment to make success easier, and get back on track when you fall off course.  Can I  get an AMEN!   While this book is not specific to women leaders, women leaders tend to have more on their plate so it is essential to develop systems and habits.  This book will get you there!

Educated: A Memoir (Tara Westover)

Educated is a truly inspiring story and every women leader must read this book at some point. The book recounts how a girl triumphs out of terrible conditions through grit and pursuing an education.  This book shows you that you can really claw your way out of any situation and how important it is to invest in yourself despite your circumstance.

How to Win Friends & Influence People 


How to Win Friends & Influence People is an oldie but goodie. This is not only one of the best books for women leaders but is helpful for all leaders and business people.   Originally published in 1936, this book provides you very practical advice on how to gain influence and build rapport with others. Business (and you know, life in general) is built on relationships.  People need to like you and believe in you in order to work with you.   Just think about it,  reflect back on your worst boss. It is highly likely that you didn’t like their leadership because they were a jerk or you couldn’t trust them.    This book will help you identify ways that you can build solid relationships with people.  This book is so helpful to me that I have read it no less than 5 times and reference back to it regularly.

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You  (John Maxwell)

John Maxwell is hands down one of my favorite authors. When you read one of his books it feels like a good friend and mentor is sitting right beside you guiding you on your leadership journey.  The 21 Irrefutable Laws is a crash course in leadership and building a high performing team. He reinforces his concepts with inspirational stories and references to help them really resonate.   Women leaders should read all of John Maxwell’s books (many of them are super easy reads and be can be knocked out in a day or two) but this is MUST read.

While this is not a complete list of books for women leaders, this is a good start.  Enjoy!   Chevelle

 

What are your favorite books for women leaders? Leave a comment below!

 


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The best books for women leaders. Every women business leader should read these books to help develop and grow their leadership skills.