Have you ever stopped and asked yourself if your hopes, dreams and goals for the future are actually yours?    When we buy a picture frame, it often comes with a stock image holder that's meant to be replaced.   Sometimes I feel the same is true for our lives. We get handed this life and we’re told we can fill it however we want, but that we forget to take that placeholder image out and end up creating goals for ourselves based on the placeholder - not necessarily what we deeply desire.     As an example, as a coach I find when I talk to other coaches, all of our goals and dreams sound the same. We want to build out variations of the same ‘funnel’s and offers’ and do variations of the same things - even though we are vastly different people.    It got me thinking that sometimes what we think we want is just really heavily influenced by what others we admire are doing, and then assuming we need to do the same.    But we don’t.    We get to be our own people, who do our own wild and beautiful things, we just need to slow down, lean in and listen to ourselves more. We need to be willing to think outside the box, leave what isn’t working behind and move towards what feels right for us.    A lot of us base what we work so hard for, around what we think we’re supposed to want, do, become and have. We need to learn to let go of those things, and reunite with what is meant for us - and only we can figure out and know what that is.   That is what we are diving into on this week's podcast episode. Check it out here if you want to listen. I also go into some ideas on how to create the things we desire (financial freedom, security, meaning, purpose) without having to follow someone else's path or idea of success.    Remember that this beautiful life is yours and you get to decide how you live it. That includes what you create, how you run your business and what you do to generate income for yourself.    I believe in you!    Lana   If you enjoy these conversations, check out The Lighthouse Collective. It’s a community for socially and spiritually conscious entrepreneurs building a better world together. We talk about topics like this in even more interactive and supportive ways.   If you are interested in working 1-on-1 with me to help grow your business, I would love to connect with you on a free coaching call here. Learn more about my coaching services here

Changing The Story with Lana Dingwall

#184: Are your dreams actually just cookie cutter dreams?

Hey!    The term lazy is definitely something that haunts a lot of us, especially entrepreneurs. There can be alot of shame, self judgement and frustration that washes over us when we think we’re being ‘lazy’.    However, we need rest and I’ll be the first to admit - I love being ‘lazy. Maybe it’s because I’m a taurus and we are notorious for wanting to chill, or maybe it’s because I know we’re not machines and therefore are very deserving (without having to earn it) of rest.    But today’s email and this week's podcast episode (listen here) is actually about a different kind of laziness, or rather two different kinds.    One is the kind that is rooted in us forgetting our brilliance, and becoming disheartened and therefore disconnected.    The other is becoming busy, being busy and therefore don’t have time for matters most.  I feel these actually impact our ability to live our fullest lives and create the magic we want to see in them. Not because we don’t work hard enough, but rather because we work way too hard doing things that don’t matter, become disheartened and give up on ourselves because we forget how brilliant and capable we truly are.    To summarize that, we can get so lost in the hustle, we actually go nowhere (hamster on a hamster wheel) and start to question ourselves, our worth and our capabilities in the process.    That is a form of laziness, because it becomes easy to be distracted, detached and give up (and we all find ourselves here from time to time, so no shame).   The opposite of this would be working to wake ourselves up. Reminding ourselves, even when it's hard, that we have the ability to create the business and life we desire. We need to focus less on what others are doing, and focus more on what makes sense for us.    If you want to dive deeper into this, check out this week’s podcast episode.   And regardless please remember, you’re made from the remnant of stars, and you’re doing way better than you’re giving yourself credit for.  Lana   If you enjoy these conversations, check out The Lighthouse Collective. It’s a community for socially and spiritually conscious entrepreneurs building a better world together. We talk about topics like this in even more interactive and supportive ways. If you are interested in working 1-on-1 with me to help grow your business, I would love to connect with you on a free coaching call here. Learn more about my coaching services here

#183: Maybe you're just lazy?

If you are anything like me, everytime a new social media platform or ‘must do to grow you business’ feature comes out, you might find yourself doing a familiar dance of ‘do I, don’t I’.    It’s easy to fall down the rabbit hole of keeping up with the Joneses when it comes to social media trends, platforms, and the do and don’ts that are always changing.    What we need to learn is how to master the art of letting go. Letting go of the feeling that we need to pivot and change every time a platform tells us too.    The reality is that social media is designed to keep us on its platform and they will do whatever necessary to keep us there.    That though, isn’t your goal is it?    Your objective is most likely to connect with your audience, provide them with something related to what you offer and at some point have some of your audience buy your product or service.    Social media is a tool that we use, but it isn’t the only tool we have available to us. We all need to remember this when interacting with it.    On this week's episode we (me and my pal George Kao - a soulful dude, coach and marketer) dive into why it's okay to let go of the idea that you need to keep up with all the trends, and do all the optimizing and what to focus on instead.   There are so many moving pieces when running a business, do yourself a solid, and make it a little easier for yourself by giving yourself permission to not have to do all the things.    Oh and before I sign off I wanted to mention I am hosting my first in person event in a lonnnnnng time.  It’ll be hosted at The Yoga Attic on October 15th, where we will explore this theme of dismantling the barriers we’ve created within and around ourselves.  We will look at how what we are striving for in our businesses and life (more clients, a strong vision, more freedom, more fulfillment, more stability and wealth etc), can come to us as much as we move to it.  You can learn more about it here, and always feel free to hit reply if you have any questions about it.    As always, you’re doing better than you think! I believe in you.    Lana   If you enjoy these conversations, check out The Lighthouse Collective. It’s a community for socially and spiritually conscious entrepreneurs building a better world together. We talk about topics like this in even more interactive and supportive ways. If you are interested in working 1-on-1 with me to help grow your business, I would love to connect with you on a free coaching call here. Learn more about my coaching services here

#182: Stop chasing the white rabbit of social media trends…

We’ve all been there... that eternal battle of what you desire and your limiting beliefs going head to head.    One of the most frustrating things about being human is genuinely how we can struggle to get over what feels like our own self imposed hurdles and roadblocks.    Please know though, that we all have them - nothing is wrong with you.    One concept that has really helped me over the years is that whenever I find myself spiraling in a pool of my own insecurities, doubt, and fear I change up how I am approaching the situation with myself.   I believe our energy flows where our focus goes. If I am spending my time, energy and attention on questioning if something is possible, or if I have what it takes, I am going to be met with lots of hesitation, fear, doubt and stories that reinforce that idea. Instead I ask myself how, how am I going to do this, how does something like this get done.    It might seem small, but asking how instead of if, completely changes how you approach a situation. You spend more time and energy finding solutions and taking action than you do spinning your wheels.    This is just one of the things that I did at the start of my entrepreneurial journey and is something I still do today.    On this week's podcast episode we dive more into how I support myself through the waves of doubt, fear, anxiety and all those pesky limiting beliefs, while talking about how when I first started my business I was NOT getting the traction or results I wanted.    I believe in you, you’re doing better than you’re giving yourself credit for AND you do have what it takes.    Lana   If you enjoy these conversations, check out The Lighthouse Collective. It’s a community for socially and spiritually conscious entrepreneurs building a better world together. We talk about topics like this in even more interactive and supportive ways.   If you are interested in working 1-on-1 with me to help grow your business, I would love to connect with you on a free coaching call here. Learn more about my coaching services here

#181: Limiting beliefs getting you down? How I worked through mine when I first started my business...

Have you been feeling this pull (or maybe a push) to change things up?    Whether that be starting a new routine, creating a new offer, shifting how you do things in your business or even starting something new altogether, fall often brings a feeling of wanting something fresh.    What we need to learn is to listen to that pull, as it is our intuition guiding us in the direction we need to be moving in.   Even if some of this change might mean starting something new or starting over, we need to remember that we’re never really starting over. Every time we begin a new project, business, routine, offer or even way of living, we are building upon what we’ve already experienced, learned and who we’ve become in the process.    Change can be scary, but it’s necessary for growth and innovation.    On this week's podcast episode we dive more into this concept and talk about different ways to approach and look at where this desire for change is coming from, how you can go about it in a way that feels good and why we’re more equipped to tackle our next challenge than we realize.     I believe in you and keep kicking butt my friend.    Lana   Tomorrow is the fireside chat aka my monthly virtual meetup to answer any and all business or life related questions you’ve got. Register here, and if you have a question you’d love answered, simply hit reply.    If you enjoy these conversations, check out The Lighthouse Collective. It’s a community for socially and spiritually conscious entrepreneurs building a better world together. We talk about topics like this in even more interactive and supportive ways.   If you are interested in working 1-on-1 with me to help grow your business, I would love to connect with you on a free strategy call here. Learn more about my coaching services here  

#180: Why you should listen to that pull to change

Have you been feeling a little ‘meh’ lately?    If you have been, you’re not alone. Lots of people I have been chatting with have been feeling the same.    While there are many different factors that play into our energy and engagement levels, a few I wanted to highlight today are comparable to relationship advice we routinely hear.    You’re going to have a honeymoon stage in your business and at some point, like every relationship, the mundane will start to kick in. Now this doesn’t mean the fun is over, it simply means you have to intentionally infuse more spark into your work.    That’s often why people try out new projects or offers, they are looking to keep the excitement alive in their business.   And as with relationships, we all change. If you and your business are able to change and adapt together, it’ll work out. As you grow and learn and connect with yourself more, you’re bound to go through some growing pains transition wise with your work.    On this week's podcast episode we dive more into this concept and talk about different ways to approach and look at this lack of motivation and spark with your business.    If you’re feeling this funk, don’t panic. It’s normal and it just means you need to do some digging into what needs to shift or change, and look at how you can bring back the joy and spark into your work!   I believe in you and keep kicking butt my friend.    Lana   If you enjoy these conversations, check out The Lighthouse Collective. It’s a community for socially and spiritually conscious entrepreneurs building a better world together. We talk about topics like this in even more interactive and supportive ways.   If you are interested in working 1-on-1 with me to help grow your business, I would love to connect with you on a free strategy call here. Learn more about my coaching services here

#179: Your lack of motivation… is it you, is it your business, is it something else?

Throughout the course of our lives we change many times. As life ebbs and flows, so do we.    One thing I know to be true is that sometimes creating that change we desire can be hard. Not because we aren’t capable, but because integrating new ways of being and living can come with its handful of challenges.    The key to integrating lessons, insights, and desired ways of being in a sustainable way into our lives all comes down to creating the right containers, and routines to let them become a part of how we live. It isn’t about this big drastic change, which can be hard to sustain. It’s about finding a way to weave what we desire into what we already do and have.    How to weave these new things into our lives is what we explore in this week's episode…   How creating macro and micro routines helps us ground ourselves in what we want to change That we need to integrate from a place of knowing we’re good and whole as we are - we aren’t broken nor do we need to be fixed How small adjustments can make a huge impact in the long term   Keep flowing with all that is unfolding before you and now that changes you desire will come.    I believe in you!    Lana   If you enjoy these conversations, check out The Lighthouse Collective. It’s a community for socially and spiritually conscious entrepreneurs building a better world together. We talk about topics like this in even more interactive and supportive ways.   If you are interested in working 1-on-1 with me to help grow your business, I would love to connect with you on a free strategy call here. Learn more about my coaching services here

#178: Integration - how to put what we learn into practice

Have you ever had that moment where you realize you need to let something or someone who's been a pillar of your life, go?    There will always come moments in life when we need to let some part of ourselves that is connected to something else go, in order to make space for what's next.    It is scary, but also full of so much opportunity.    Nothing, or no one makes up the sum total of who we are, the value we bring into this world and what makes us who we are. That is what we need to remember when we are faced with needing to let something or someone go.    What happens when you let go og the thing you’re the most afraid of losing?    We let go of the identity ascribed to it. We let go of all the ways we’ve tried to make ourselves ‘fit’ in order to maintain it.    We open ourselves up to finding a way to love and accept ourselves fully, instead of using this thing or person to make us feel whole and valuable.    There is so much strength in letting go and that is what we explore on this week's episode…   Why we need to let go of the very things we feel we ‘need’ How and why I let go of the image I felt I needed in order to be success  Why I let go my old goals and views on success Remember that you are inherently valuable, simply because you exist. Nothing and no one can take that away from you.   I believe in you!    Lana   If you enjoy these conversations, check out The Lighthouse Collective. It’s a community for socially and spiritually conscious entrepreneurs building a better world together. We talk about topics like this in even more interactive and supportive ways.   If you are interested in working 1-on-1 with me to help grow your business, I would love to connect with you on a free strategy call here. Learn more about my coaching services here

#177: What happens when you let go of the thing you’re the most afraid of losing?

A phrase we hear often in the spiritual and entrepreneurial world, is to do ‘what is in alignment with you’. I am all for living and running an aligned business and life AND I am aware that those things will never look the exact same for two people.    We are similar and yet so vastly different, of course my goals and how I achieve them and your goals, and how you achieve them are most likely going to be different. That is exactly how it should be. We aren’t created in the same way, we don’t have the same hopes and desires, skills, experiences, lived realities or knowledge, therefore ‘my aligned’ and ‘your aligned’ are going to be different.    Some of us get hung up on the fact that what we want for our lives looks different than those around us, because that can make us feel as though something is wrong with who we are or what we want. There is nothing wrong with you.    In this week's episode we dive into…   How to tune into what makes sense for you  Why it's a beautiful thing that we’re all different  Why whatever you envision for yourself is perfect and awesome, just like you!   To live our happiest and most fulfilled lives, we need to learn to tune into ourselves. Figure out what we want outside of expectations and obligations and be okay with living our lives according to what makes sense for who we are and what we want.    I believe in you and whatever you desire for yourself.    Lana   If you enjoy these conversations, check out The Lighthouse Collective. It’s a community for socially and spiritually conscious entrepreneurs building a better world together. We talk about topics like this in even more interactive and supportive ways.   If you are interested in working 1-on-1 with me to help grow your business, I would love to connect with you on a free strategy call here. Learn more about my coaching services here

#176: Why we don’t have the same goals...

A lot of people are starting to reintegrate back into the world, which means that we’re starting to feel the strain of obligation creep up on us again.    Something that I have observed is that a lot of people are realizing that they feel out of alignment with some of those obligations and expectations to go back to.    There might be resistance in how you go about conducting business, spending time with particular people, dressing a certain way, or having to do certain activities. No matter what it is, there might be something that feels off.    One of the reasons for that might be because you had so much space from those situations, people, or ways of doing things that you’ve even had time to realize they don’t jive with you. Sometimes we do things not because we enthusiastically choose it for ourselves, but because we feel it's ‘just what we have to do’.    I would even say that a lot of things we do as humans are performative. Meaning, we play the role we think we need to play to fit the scenario, even though that role isn’t actually who we are.    It's important for all of us to check in through this period of reintegration and make sure we’re doing things we want, spending time with people we enjoy and most importantly, honouring who we are and how we want to show up in the world.    In this week's episode we dive into…   How some of us have ‘unbecome’ who we thought we had to be during the last year and half - and why it feels weird going ‘back’ How social expectations and norms require all of us to perform a role, over being who we genuinely are  Why we need to listen to the areas of our lives we feel residence around going back to    Be you my friend, because the world needs all that you are.    I believe in you!    Lana   If you enjoy these conversations, check out The Lighthouse Collective. It’s a community for socially and spiritually conscious entrepreneurs building a better world together. We talk about topics like this in even more interactive and supportive ways.   If you are interested in working 1-on-1 with me to help grow your business, I would love to connect with you on a free strategy call here. Learn more about my coaching services here.

#175: Are you stuck performing?

I would say that one of the things the vast majority of people try to avoid in their lives is conflict.    It sucks, it takes up a lot of energy, it causes us anxiety and all around isn’t fun.    However, conflict really is an unavoidable reality of life, and entrepresigp. You can be the kindest, calmest, most on top of everything person with the greatest of intentions and someone at some point will still have an issue with something you said, something you did (or didn’t do), or how you approached something.    Conflict doesn’t always occur because someone did something ‘bad’ or ‘wrong’. Conflict happens because we all have different experiences, expectations, ways of doing things, different values/rules we live by, ways of communicating, ways of interacting with others, we have different lens and ultimately this creates a lot of opportunities for mishaps.    On this week's episode we dive deeper into this topic.    On the episode, we discuss: How power dynamics come into play That the motto ‘the client is always right’ is a scarcity based approach to interacting with people  Knowing what our survival mechanisms are when we feel threatened and how to respond in a way that makes us feel good  And more!   Conflict is normal, so please try not to panic too much if you’re finding yourself in a situation that has it.    Breathe, extend compassion to yourself, check in about what is happening and figure out how you’d like to respond.    I believe in you - you are doing way better than you realize!   Lana   If you enjoy these conversations, check out The Lighthouse Collective. It’s a community for socially and spiritually conscious entrepreneurs building a better world together. We talk about topics like this in even more interactive and supportive ways.   If you are interested in working 1-on-1 with me to help grow your business, I would love to connect with you on a free strategy call here. Learn more about my coaching services here.

#174: Let's talk about conflict...

Have you ever wanted people closest to you, whether that be your friends, family, or partner, to support you more when it comes to your business?    One question I get asked often is how to get people around you on board with your entrepreneurial goals and one thing I have realized is that sometimes it might take a bit of time to do that.    This isn’t because these people don’t care about us, or don’t want to see us succeed, it really just comes down to the fact that they don’t understand it. For many entrepreneurs, the only people who really get it are other entrepreneurs.    Our society doesn’t necessarily encourage people to become entrepreneurs, it encourages us to become employable - but not to become the employer. For our friends and family, we might very well be the only entrepreneur they know. Which is why they might not support us in the ways we desire - they simply haven’t learnt how yet.    If you want to hear more on this topic, check out this week’s podcast episode.   On the episode, we discuss: Why it's hard for people to support us in the ways we desire (so let’s give them some grace) Sometimes people are supporting us in the ways they know best, and we just don’t realize it How wanting people to support us can actually hurt us more than help us    I mentioned this on the podcast, but wanted to say it here too.   If you’re in need of a solid pep talk to help get you through whatever period you’re currently in, just hit reply and let me know. I’ll gladly send over some words of encouragement.    I believe in you - you are doing way better than you realize!   Lana   If you enjoy these conversations, check out The Lighthouse Collective. It’s a community for socially and spiritually conscious entrepreneurs building a better world together. We talk about topics like this in even more interactive and supportive ways.   If you are interested in working 1-on-1 with me to help grow your business, I would love to connect with you on a free strategy call here. Learn more about my coaching services here.

# 173: Why Sometimes People Don't Support Us in The Ways We Want

Are you struggling to figure out what offer to launch?   Or what business to start? What career to build? What opportunity to pursue?   I hear this so often from many of my clients. They want to express themselves in so many ways, that in our one-dimensional definition of success, they start questioning their ambition for more than one passion.   We are constantly evolving beings. From the books we read, to the people we spend time with, and even how we take our coffee can change over time! We allow our tastes to change in certain areas of our lives, yet restrain them in other areas - often in our careers.   We expect perfection from ourselves and a straight line to success.   But when you’re a multi-faceted human, your success metrics are always evolving.   What if the industrialized rinse-and-repeat cycle is not the best success metric to aim for?   What if we set aside the old school masculine business methods that teach us to condense ourselves into a machine over a human?   I want to invite you to look at yourself as an artist and someone who has their own style, approach to life, and way of living and being.   As an artist, your multi-passionate self is a valuable trait. Why not take on a lens for your life and business that supports who you are rather than pushes down who you are? If you want to hear more on this topic, check out this week’s podcast episode.   On the episode, we discuss: Building multiple businesses Redefining success for yourself Finding your artistic style   I believe in you - you are doing way better than you realize!    Lana   If you enjoy these conversations, check out The Lighthouse Collective. It’s a community for socially and spiritually conscious entrepreneurs building a better world together. We talk about topics like this in even more interactive and supportive ways.   If you are interested in working 1-on-1 with me to help grow your business, I would love to connect with you on a free strategy call here. Learn more about my coaching services here.

#172: You Are Not a Machine, So Stop Expecting Yourself to Operate Like One

Last week we talked about how transformation can feel like failure. Especially when we’re in the middle of a big project, everything is looking more messy in the middle and overwhelming us. This week, I want to go even deeper in this. What happens when you find yourself in this “slump”? Think of this week’s episode as my pep talk to help you climb out of it. When I’m in a slump, the support I always reach for is shifting my perspective, grace and compassion, and getting support. There is so much in business that goes on behind the tactics and strategies. So often, the biggest hurdle is our own belief that we have what it takes to come out the other side. If you want to hear more on this topic, check out this week’s podcast episode. On the episode, we discuss: Power of perspective How expectations can drive stress Having the right people around you I believe in you - you are doing way better than you realize!  Lana If you enjoy these conversations, check out The Lighthouse Collective. It’s a community for socially and spiritually conscious entrepreneurs building a better world together. We talk about topics like this in even more interactive and supportive ways. If you are interested in working 1-on-1 with me to help grow your business, I would love to connect with you on a free strategy call here. Learn more about my coaching services here.

#171: 3 Ways to Get Through a Slump

Last week we talked about how transformation can feel like failure. Especially when we’re in the middle of a big project, everything is looking more messy in the middle and overwhelming us.   This week, I want to go even deeper in this. What happens when you find yourself in this “slump”? Think of this week’s episode as my pep talk to help you climb out of it.   When I’m in a slump, the support I always reach for is shifting my perspective, grace and compassion, and getting support.   There is so much in business that goes on behind the tactics and strategies. So often, the biggest hurdle is our own belief that we have what it takes to come out the other side.   If you want to hear more on this topic, check out this week’s podcast episode.   On the episode, we discuss: Power of perspective How expectations can drive stress Having the right people around you   I believe in you - you are doing way better than you realize!    Lana   If you enjoy these conversations, check out The Lighthouse Collective. It’s a community for socially and spiritually conscious entrepreneurs building a better world together. We talk about topics like this in even more interactive and supportive ways.   If you are interested in working 1-on-1 with me to help grow your business, I would love to connect with you on a free strategy call here. Learn more about my coaching services here.

What story do you want to be told about you and the business you created? If you want it to be one of success, one of creating a better world, one of inspiration and influence, one of making lots of money, one of having time for friends and family, one of serving others, and one that you are genuinely proud of, then this podcast is for you. This show is a platform designed to help change the story about women in business and entrepreneurship. Change the story told about us, to us and most importantly change the story we tell ourselves. This show will inspire, motivate and empower women, myself included, it will also share strategies and tools, so that we all rise together and change the story of women in business and entrepreneurship. Thank you for joining me on this journey.

hubhopper

Changing The Story with Lana Dingwall

hubhopper