Why I’m Massively Editing My Business
NOTE: There is a limited-time promo code at the end of this blog post if you want to skip ahead and use it.
Gather ‘round, children. It’s time for “Sage’s Honesty Corner.”
I’m normally a pretty optimistic person, but the past 2 months have made me feel more drained and frustrated than I’ve felt in years.
Most days I’ve just wanted to stay in bed instead of dragging myself to my desk, turning on my laptop, and facing the truth about my business.
I recently had a conversation with another entrepreneur who took a look at the long list of products and services I offer and bluntly said, “Why are you doing so much? You’re going to burn out.”
The responses from my recent Reader Survey reinforced to me that many of my business offerings aren’t what my Life Editor tribe is looking for.
My dear, sweet, devoted Life Editors don’t want more programs, more courses, more junk. They want me to stop acting like a carnival salesman. “Step right up, folks, ‘cuz I’ve got a bottle of magic potion for ya!”
Remember my video about how you can tell if you’re having an upper limit problem?
When it’s an upper limit problem, if you keep doing your good work then eventually those obstacles will disappear and you’ll break through to the next level of success.
But when it’s not an upper limit problem and you’re headed toward disaster, if you keep doing your good work then many more worse things will happen to make you stop. The universe will slap you in the face.
That’s what happened to me.
I tried my hardest to keep chugging along with my business until everything blew up.
- My health deteriorated and I gained a ton of weight.
- My sales dried up and I got fewer interactions on social media.
- Things that used to be fun became annoying and draining.
- I would snap at my husband and dog, and I stopped making plans with friends.
What was happening??? It was like a horrible nightmare, like the ones where your teeth fall out or you’re running and running but not moving.
I had to stop in my tracks and re-evaluate every aspect of my business and make some incredibly tough decisions.
- If something wasn’t working, then I needed to step back and feel grateful for the things that were going well.
- If a task, product, or program wasn’t leading directly to my goals, then I needed to delete it.
- If my paying customers and clients weren’t getting enough support, then I needed to add more for them.
- If I had no time for my “genius work,” then I needed to rearrange my schedule so it wouldn’t be so packed.
- If my business wasn’t supporting my health goals, then I needed to carve out my white space as if my life depended on it—because it does!
So what does this mean for you, Life Editor?
What I’m Editing
There’s no better way to explain all the changes I’m making than using my own Life Editing Process, so let’s go!
Step 1: Create a Foundation
Your foundation are the things that support you and keep you stable. They’re the things that are working for you, so be grateful for them to attract more positive support.
For me, the foundational elements of my business include (1) things that people are buying and (2) things I enjoy doing.
My business foundation includes the Life Editor Clubhouse membership site, the Edited Year Planners, and the Life Editor Academy mastermind group (plus the Life Editor Weekend retreat once a year).
In order to refocus my love and attention to those foundational products and programs, I need to delete a few offerings that aren’t pulling their weight…
Step 2: Delete Bad Influences
The bad influences in your life are the things that drain your energy, frustrate you, or make you feel bad about yourself.
For me, the bad influences in my business include (1) my group programs Life Editing for Beginners and Startup In 60 and (2) my private coaching packages.
Whoa, Nelly! I’m sure many of you are freaking out about the idea of deleting Life Editing for Beginners and Startup In 60. They’ve been around forever!
And that’s the problem. I’ve been running a live session with group calls for LEFB once or twice a year for 4 years. I’ve been doing the same for Startup In 60 for 3 years.
My followers are tired of taking the same program again and again. This year had the lowest participation in both of those group programs. It was heartbreaking to get on the group calls week after week and have no one else on the line.
I’m deleting the live sessions of LEFB and Startup In 60, but you can still go through the entire programs at your own pace in the Life Editor Clubhouse.
Now on to my private coaching.
In the 2 years that I’ve been running my Life Editor Academy mastermind group, I’ve come to notice a funny thing. The Life Editors who get the support of other ladies for an extended period of time in addition to one-on-one calls with me get better results than those folks who just have private calls with me.
There’s something magical that happens in a mastermind group where many women share ideas and lift each other up. Those ultra-dedicated Life Editors are the ones I want to work with.
I’ve decided to drop my private coaching packages outside of the Academy except for my VIP Days. Why spend time doing something that I know won’t get my clients the best results? Better to lead them to the Academy.
That brings me to another change for those of you who want to work with me…
Step 3: Add Good Habits and Routines
When you consider who you want to become and what your ideal self looks like, you can add good habits that support those goals.
Since I’m deleting my private coaching packages except for VIP Days and the Life Editor Academy, I’ve adjusted the price of those one-time VIP Days to make them more budget friendly. Click here for all the details and reserve your VIP DAY today.
Another addition are the new monthly Clubhouse Classes, which have already started. As a paying member of the Life Editor Clubhouse at the SILVER Level, you can enjoy these interactive webinar training classes where you can speak directly to me and get answers to your specific questions.
Here are the upcoming Clubhouse Classes for this summer and fall:
- The Ultimate Guide to List Making and Journaling
- How to Silence the Critical Voices in Your Head
- Side Hustles Simplified
- Good Habits Made Easy
- Type A Meditations
- 2018 Planning Pajama Party
But there’s also something new for the Life Editor Academy! I’ve gotten feedback that the 12-month mastermind group is too overwhelming for some people because it’s a full year, the price is out of their budgets, and they can’t travel to Orlando 4 times a year for the retreats.
I hear you! That’s why I’m currently beta testing a new group called Life Editor Academy Gold. This “mini mastermind” is only 6 months long, less expensive, and there’s only one in-person retreat.
Life Editor Academy Gold launches this September for those Life Editors who want big support without a big commitment.
Finally, I want to continue to focus my attention on those paying customers in my Life Editor Clubhouse, so I’ll be offering special pre-sale pricing on the Edited Year Planners this fall. Just another perk for joining the Clubhouse!
Step 4: Rearrange Everything Into a Perfect Flow
If you have all the components of a well-edited life, but things still aren’t flowing for you, then you might need to do some rearranging. This step is all about time management and using your limited minutes wisely.
One of the problems I faced with my business is that it seemed like I was always trying to sell something. Of course I was! I had too many products and programs, and they all needed launches and loads of attention.
I’ve rearranged my yearly schedule to better use my time and give myself (and you!) breaks between launches. This is much easier now that I’m not promoting LEFB and Startup In 60.
I moved my Life Editor Academy launch to September, and the programs (12-month and 6-month) begin in October instead of January.
There’s no rule that says a mastermind group has to start at the beginning of the calendar year, and this new schedule give us time to make positive edits before “new year’s resolution season.”
Step 5: Make White Space for Personal Self-Care
Finally, you must carve out white space (self-care) in your schedule to fill your cup and replenish your energy. White space is also a chance for you to do an imperfect job.
For me, by deleting a few draining aspects of my business and adding more support for my paying SuperFans, I hope to shake off this debilitating burnout.
I’m looking forward to spending more time with my family and not being so grumpy all the time. Fewer launches means more time to work on my physical and mental health.
Summary of Changes
- I’m narrowing my focus to just the Life Editor Clubhouse, the Edited Year Planners, and the Life Editor Academy mastermind group, plus Life Editor Weekend once a year.
- The live sessions of Life Editing for Beginners and Startup In 60 are being retired but you can still go through the entire programs at your own pace in the Clubhouse.
- I’m no longer offering private coaching except for my VIP Days and Life Editor Academy.
- I’m adding new monthly Clubhouse Classes, a new Life Editor Academy Gold group, new pricing on VIP Days, and a planner pre-sale for Clubhouse members.
- I designed a new launch schedule so I’m not selling as often.
- These changes will give me more time to devote to my paying SuperFans and more time to spend with my family.
Bonus For You!
In honor of my newly edited business, I’m offering a sweet promo code to make it easier than ever to join the Life Editor Clubhouse membership site.
For the next week, use the promo code SUCCESS50 to save $50 off a SILVER Level annual subscription. Click here to join the Clubhouse!
Here’s the part where I’d normally ask you what you think about these changes, but quite honestly, I’m making these edits whether or not you agree. My mental health is too important to continue running myself ragged.
Use this time to take a look at your own life and business. Are you stretching yourself too thin? Are you spinning your wheels trying to make something work without pausing to consider whether you need to do it?
We’re Life Editors! We’ll keep making small edits to become the best versions of ourselves, and I’m looking forward to this next chapter of my life story.
This post focuses on Step 5 of the Life Editing Process, Make White Space for Personal Self-Care. For more about life editing and what it can do for you, click here.