Transcript
Speaker: I'm going to share something with you that is pretty harsh. And that is every single summer, watch women that are just brilliant, capable, so driven,
Speaker: they quietly put their businesses on pause every single summer. They do this and it's not necessarily because they want to, not because they plan to, but because the kids are home, the schedules are like all over the place. You're trying to take them to different activities to keep them busy. And then you have vacations that show up and family visits, um, Or if you're like me, most of the time the military moves are during the summer. So you're <unk>s chaotic. You're uprooting your life and you're moving to a new place.
Speaker: And then before you know it, it's September and you're starting your business over from scratch. And here's what nobody is talking about. The hardest part isn't summer itself. It's the guilt spiral that comes after.
Speaker: You know, the ah last three months feeling, i can't believe I put my business on hold. um Or maybe I'm just not cut out for this. That like creeps in too. And i have been, i have been there. And today I want to give you a different story to take into this summer as we're finishing up the school year and You know, you're putting your plans in place because summer doesn't have to be the season your business dies.
Speaker: It can actually be the season it deepens and, If you know how to protect your momentum, your summer and going into your fall season could be your biggest season yet in your business.
Speaker: So stay with me because in this episode, I'm breaking down exactly how to keep your business moving forward. Even when life is a little loud and the kids are home and your schedules look nothing like it did in January.
Speaker: Welcome to Mamas Who Lead, podcast where the essence of motherhood meets the spirit of leadership. I'm Laura Carrafino, former Department of Defense contractor, now full-time network marketer, coach, and a mom to five incredible children.
Speaker: Alongside being a proud military spouse, I've journeyed through the highs and lows of transitioning from a structured career to building a flourishing business from the ground up all while navigating the beautiful chaos of family life.
Speaker: In this podcast, we dive into the stories of women who exemplify resilience, leadership, and the unyielding power of motherhood. from insightful conversations with top income earners and network marketing to heart to heart discussions with leaders who are reshaping industries.
Speaker: Mamas Who Lead is here to inspire, educate, and empower you to weave leadership into the fabric of your everyday life. Whether you're at the beginning of your leadership journey or looking to pivot your career or seeking ways to balance your professional growth with family life, this is the place for you. Together, we'll explore the strategies, challenges, and triumphs of women who lead with purpose, passion, and a little bit of mom magic.
Speaker: So grab your headphones and let's embark on this journey together. Welcome to Mamas Who Lead.
Speaker: Okay, i want to take you back to a couple of summers ago. had a business. Of course, I had a lot of goals. I had a vision vision board, the content calendar, all the things, and then June hit. And suddenly, i had the kids at home. um You know, my husband's doing a new thing, and I'm trying to figure stuff out. I had absolutely zero structure. had a new baby.
Speaker: yeah um and I told myself, I'll just slow down a little bit for the summer. And that little turned into a lot. My email list went cold. My content kind of dried up.
Speaker: So I was a little overwhelmed. I didn't plan. and i didn't have any leads coming in. and then September came. And at the time, I was kind of doing um a lot of in-person events too. And so i had no events scheduled for the fall. And I'm like, what did I I, you know, those fall events fill up. So I need to start planning in the summertime get those events booked. And I missed out of it completely. And
Speaker: and then, you know, and was just like, oh my gosh, here is September. The kids are back in school. And I didn't just feel behind. i felt like I had to rebuild trust with my entire audience all over again because I felt like i ghosted them. And then I'm like, hi, it's me. I'm back.
Speaker: ah um You miss me and believe me. I've done that several times, actually. so if you're listening to this and you were on my team or a customer in the past, you're like, yep, yep, she did.
Speaker: And so that experience says I should say, taught me something i now teach. Every woman that I coach and that is momentum is not something you can just pick back up. It has to be kind of maintained and think of it kind of like a fire. You don't, you know, you have to keep throwing the logs on it every hour, but you do have, you don't have to, I should say, put the logs on it every hour, but um you do have to tend to it, right? You have to make sure the embers are still alive because if you walk away completely,
Speaker: you know, for like an hour or two or even a season, right? You come back to all the ashes, you know, and For us mompreneurs, summer is not the enemy.
Speaker: Just the lack of a plan is the enemy. And a lot of women who enter, you know, entrepreneurial space and usually through network marketing and because that network marketing, i absolutely love that industry. It is incredible opportunity for those entrepreneurs. Women who take it seriously and not as a hobby. And so women who take it as a hobby, they just put their business down for the summer. It's going to have a little struggle getting back up. Like like I was saying when I was at my in-person events, you know, I do a lot of um holiday, dinner events and stuff in the fall, and I failed to book them in the summer because I didn't plan.
Speaker: So today I'm going to give you the plan.
Speaker: So here's what I was talking about today. I want to redefine what momentum looks like in the summer. I know it's a mind shift you're going to kind of have to make, and it's an important one, that summer momentum does not look like January momentum per se, or even November momentum.
Speaker: And hey, In January, you might be posting five days a week, launching offers, running ads, if you run ads yet, doing discovery calls. That pace is not sustainable in July when everybody's traveling and you know doing all the things and the kids are home and trying to force it will burn you out and make you resent your business. You don't want to do that. So instead, I want you to ask yourself, what is the minimum viable version of my business that still moves the needle forward? For some of you, that is maybe two pieces of content a week instead of five.
Speaker: for ah For others, maybe it's like some sales conversations a week instead of three. like maybe one instead of three those conversation. You know, it's it's totally up to you. The goal isn't to do less because you're lazy. The goal is to do less intentionally. So you stay consistent instead of crushing. And consistency over intensity will work every single time.
Speaker: And, um you know, women who show up for her audience twice a week, all several long will always outperform the woman who goes All in for two weeks and then totally disappears. mean.
Speaker: i mean For all my ADHDers out there, i being one of them, i know we all know what that's like. You get so into your business and you're like rocking hard for consistently two two weeks and then all of a sudden you're burned, the freak out, or you are just, you get bored and something else sparks your interest and you're like, oh, I'm gonna focus on this. And then you totally forget about the main thing you've been focusing on, the one thing that can bring in that money consistently for you. And you're like, oh, I need to step back into that. Oops, my bad.
Speaker: um Let's avoid that, right? So I want to give you an action step right now. I want you to like write down your summer minimum. What are the three non-negotiables in your business that if you do nothing else, do you just, this, just these three things will keep your business running forward. For um you know for most of my clients, it's like one piece of content, one email, one sales activity per week. That's it, simple, sustainable, effective. And I also, whenever you are working with me in my cohorts, we actually develop a content plan
Speaker: 30 days in advance, we work on it and we set up a whole simple system for that. And it's more sustainable that way. And um it it avoids a lot of the comparison trap and the burnout because if you're not planning, planning to fail. And so having a simple plan in place is going to be effective and win over every time.
Speaker: So the next thing i want to about is protect your CEO hours like they're sacred. I know, I know that may be very, very hard to do in the summer, but I can tell you all of us can find time.
Speaker: And, and on this message, what I'm to share with you, this is the, this one is for the mom who says, I just don't have time in the summer. You can, you do, you will, you do have time. We just got to find it and protect it.
Speaker: So, and believe me, I hear you because I had five kids, you know, um given I have older kids, I one officially out of the house. when My daughter just graduated college and, but she's still at home. And then, I have four at home right now.
Speaker: And I have one out of the house right now. So believe me, and I have littles, have a five-year-old too, and a nine-year-old, and they keep me on my toes. Believe me, especially with the summertime. Okay. So I know every, and everyone needs something and name is being called in direction. I, I hear you. But here is what I've learned. You don't find time, you make time and then you protect it like it's sacred, right? So summer requires for you to get a little creative with your schedule. Maybe your CE hour shift from 9 a.m. to 6 a.m. before the house wakes up.
Speaker: you
Speaker: Childcare with another mom two mornings a week, you know, play dates, right? How fun would that be for your kids um and you you do yourself, are you helping one another? This is, you know, if you've heard my other episodes,
Speaker: your network, is your net worth, right? And it takes a, if you have and cultivate a good network of other moms, especially in your area that can really help one another, you guys are gonna thrive, right? So, um and maybe, um you know, your older kids have quiet time, maybe from a certain period of time, that becomes your work window. The point is you have to decide in advance when you are working because
Speaker: If you wait until you have time, summer seriously will eat you alive. And before you know it, you're doing back to school shopping and you're like, what happened to my summer? What happened to my business? And you don't want to be at that point, right?
Speaker: So I also want to give you permission to communicate this to your family. So sit down with your kids, even the little ones and say, mommy has a work time. And this is build our future because you are modeling something powerful, powerful for them. You're showing them that a woman who honors her call is showing up what a woman who honors her calling looks like. Right. And your're you're, you're,
Speaker: Showing that respecting boundaries, respecting your time and setting schedules. It's going to help them and you, right? Maybe you can dedicate a certain time for them to do a certain activity and be like, mommy is going to go work on this right now. And when I'm done, we get to do this thing together, you know?
Speaker: There's ways to work it. So block your CEO hours on your calendar right now before summer starts. I know we probably have about a week left before summer starts and treat them like doctor appointments. They're non-negotiables, right?
Speaker: And tell your family what those are. Communication is key. Um, and then, so the next thing also is use summer to build what you don't have time for the rest of the year. Have you ever thought about that? And it's, this part is my favorite because it flips the whole narrative for you. So if summer wasn't a season to survive,
Speaker: it's a season to build. So, and here's what I mean with that. Whenever you're in the thick of school year, you're in execution mode, you're posting, selling, showing up, delivering, what have you.
Speaker: And you're also, you know, everything before the kids too, right? But there are things that move your business forward long-term that maybe you haven't had time for. That backend stuff, you know, the foundations of your business. Maybe um maybe you need to catch up on your podcast. You record a batch, batch a bunch of podcasts ahead going into the fall.
Speaker: You know, get plan out, like look at a whole calendar and plan out the rest of your year and then build out your email nurture sequence so that they run on autopilot, create your freebies or your lead magnets that you've been maybe putting off you because you just didn't have time for them. Map out your entire Q4 launch strategy so you're not scrambling when it comes to October. um Invest in a course, you know take time to learn. will always learn or you know attend a mastermind that levels that levels you up you know Plan that.
Speaker: during the summer months. So when September comes and every other Montprenant is trying to get their footing again, you will already be in motion. You will have built the runway while they were standing still. And so you're like way ahead of the game. So pick one back end project to complete this summer. Just one. Write it down, give it a deadline and work on it during your CEO hours.
Speaker: And that's fun, you know, especially for ADHDers, the creative, like I love the creative piece when you're thinking and planning, that is just fun. So if you do it during the downtime of your business over the summer months, I mean, that's just a wonderful way to do it.
Speaker: um And then another point I want to talk about is one of the biggest momentum killers in summer is isolation. i know. Think about that. So when when you're not in your normal routine, it is so easy to pull back from your community, your Facebook group, your mastermind, your accountability partners, because everybody's just so busy. And whenever you pull back from that community, you pull back from inspiration. And when the inspiration dries up, so does your outfit.
Speaker: So if during the summer, if you just to stay in the room, and I've been so guilty of this, I've had this Facebook group that I bounce in and out of. I haven't been consistent with it.
Speaker: And it's because you know I wasn't posting I wasn't posting, i wasn't showing up, I took that break. And it's a huge momentum killer. So if you're not posting every day, even if you're not showing up live, just stay connected to your community, comment on other people's content, respond to your DMs, check in with accountability partners once a week, just once a week even, and just kind of keep showing up for your audience, even in a lighter way, Share behind the scenes momentum from your summer, things that you're working on. Post quick voice memos about something you learned maybe. ah Let people see you living your life and building your business at the same time.
Speaker: That is magnetic to your ideal clients. um and your ideal client is also probably your mom, right? So she's navigating summer. And when she sees you doing it with grace and intention, and she thinks I want what she has, right?
Speaker: So commit to one touch point with your audience per week this summer. So write it down. Even if it's just a 60 second Instagram story, just stay visible, stay connected.
Speaker: And then I want to close on the main content with this because I think it's the most important thing I can say is summer is long or sometimes short. kind of does go by fast, but it is long in the business world, right? And there will be days.
Speaker: Or you feel like you're losing ground where, um you know, comparison may creep in and where you wonder if it's even worth it because things have slowed down. On the days, I want you to go back to your why. Why did you start your business? What is it that you're building? Not just for yourself, but for your family, for the women you serve, and for the legacy that you're wanting to leave. Like, what's your, what's that impact? What's your purpose? You know, for me, my five kids, you know,
Speaker: Um, and i felt as a military spouse, as it i was invisible and it's the woman who gave up her dreams to support every everyone else and is finally ready to reclaim them. That is why I show up even on the hard days, even in the summer. And i just want you to remember your, why is your anchor?
Speaker: And there's going to have, going to have distractions and doubt come in all the time. And your why is what is going to keep you from like drifting and dig into something else.
Speaker: Um, so write your why on a sticky note and put it somewhere you'll see every single day during the summer, your mirror, your desk, coffee maker, let it be the first thing that reminds you who you are and what you're building. It's very important. I like to keep a little sticky note and I put it on the bottom of my computer.
Speaker: Um, and that's really worked well for me. So Here's what we covered today. Redefining momentum for summer, consistency over intensity always. Protect your CEO hours, make them, make them schedule them, guard them. Use summer to build the back-end work that sets you up for a powerful fall. Stay connected to your community, your audience, and your people. And always, always anchor to your why because that's what carries you through the hard days. Summer is not a threat to your business. It's an invitation to lead differently, to show your kids what a woman who doesn't quite look like, and to prove to yourself that you are not someone who only shows up when it's convenient. You're a mama who leads.
Speaker: Right. And leaders don't take summers off from their purpose. And there's always, oh we always plan right now. Go protect your momentum and enjoy every single second of the season with your babies. You can do both. i promise you. And now before you go, i have something for you.
Speaker: If you're listening to this and thinking, I want to keep my momentum, but honestly, I'm not even sure what direction I'm supposed to be moving in right now. That is the most important thing to get clear on first, right? and that's exactly why I created my reinvention quest. It's going to kind of help you figure out exactly where you are in your business journey right now and what's been holding you back and what the next bold move act actually needs to be because summer is a perfect time to get that clarity. So when fall hits, you're not just busy, you are intentional. So take the quiz. It takes less than five minutes and the results will give you ah a real generic one, but one that's specific to where you are right now. And the link is in the show notes. So go ahead, take it today. And if this episode spoke to you, screenshot, share, tag me on Instagram, please. I want to celebrate you for showing up even in summer, even when it's hard. So until next time, keep leading, keep growing and keep believing in what is possible. I'll see you in the next episode.
Speaker: You've been listening to Mamas Who Lead with Laura Carafino. Thank you for joining us on this journey today. Each episode, each story, and every piece of advice we share is a step towards building a community of empowered, resilient, and inspiring mama leaders, just like you.
Speaker: Remember leadership isn't just about the title or the workplace. It's about how we navigate our lives, uplift those around us and pave the way for future generations. As we close today's episode, I encourage you to carry forward the insights and inspiration you've gained.
Speaker: Apply them to your life, share them with your tribe, and continue to lead with heart and purpose. For more empowering stories, strategies, and support, make sure you subscribe to Mamas Who Lead on your favorite podcast platform. And don't forget to follow us on social media for behind-the-scenes content.
Speaker: community discussions, and much more. Until we meet again, keep embracing your unique journey of leadership and motherhood. You are capable, you are powerful, and you are exactly where you're meant to be.
Speaker: Lead on mamas.
