In fact, sometimes it can be incredibly difficult.

That’s why I’ve crafted this carefully curated list of the best gift ideas that’ll make your business-owning loved ones, both young and old, grin from ear to ear.

Ready to become a gift-giving guru to your favorite business owner?

We’ll start with a few unique gift ideas before diving into more practical ones…

1. A Tabletop Zen Garden

When’s the last time you saw a mini zen garden on someone’s desk?

These make fantastic gifts because they help relieve stress and encourage creativity.

They’re also a great way to disconnect from a busy business for a few minutes and reconnect with the simple things.

Plus, they’re super-affordable and a way better gift than a boring coffee maker

2. A Standing Desk

Anyone who owns a small business knows what it’s like to feel the aches and pains in their back and hips because they’ve been sitting all day.

A standing desk helps curb these issues by adding more activity to otherwise sedentary tasks.

If you give a standing desk, don’t forget to include an anti-fatigue mat — these are a lifesaver for feet and knees!

3. Smart Mug

A coffee machine is a cliche and overdone gift.

But a temperature-controlled mug? 

Now, that’s a different story.

If you know someone that lives for a hot coffee, but they’re always so darn busy they never get the chance to drink it, then they’ll love a smart mug.

4. An Ergonomic Keyboard & Mouse

Repetitive strain injury and carpal tunnel syndrome are common computer-related injuries in the digital age.

That said, an ergonomic keyboard and mouse can reduce the strain on wrists and forearms, preventing painful injuries.

Keep in mind, the design of ergonomic keyboards and mice takes a little getting used to and certainly isn’t for everyone.

5. Noise-Cancelling Headphones

Ah, the gift of silence.

Given the hustle and bustle of the business world, slapping on a pair of noise-canceling headphones and diving into deep work is a slice of paradise.

There are tons of choices and styles for noise-canceling headphones (and at varying prices), so be sure to do your research.

6. A Quality Webcam

A 1080p or 4k webcam is the perfect gift for that special someone that spends any amount of time in online meetings. Surprisingly, a mid-range webcam isn’t too expensive either, even at 4k resolution.

Online Zoom or Teams meetings aren’t going anywhere. Unfortunately, not every workstation is equipped with a high-resolution webcam.

And the last thing any business owner wants during video client meetings is to look like a garbled blob, so helping them look their best is a gift that’ll be appreciated.

7. Business Books

Any budding entrepreneur will probably love cracking open the latest business books for advice, motivation or inspiration.

Keep your eyes peeled for highly-rated titles or classic gems your entrepreneurial friends and family members are sure to enjoy.

Check out my list of underrated books for entrepreneurs.

8. Whiteboard

Never underestimate the power of a whiteboard.

Where some might see it as another surface to jot down their grocery list, your business-owning buddies could see a blank canvas for planning their big ideas.

9. An Ebook Reader

Ebooks readers are the perfect gift for someone who consumes books regularly but whose bookshelves have run out of room.

Convenient, compact, and capable of storing thousands of titles, ebook readers are an amazing gift, no matter how you slice it.

10. A Quality Pen Set

You may be thinking:

“Pens are gifts you give to writers, bankers or Bic enthusiasts!”

Not quite.

A quality pen (or pen set) is a classy and practical gift that many business owners appreciate too.

Imagine gifting a posh-looking fountain pen reserved for signing contracts or client agreements. Who wouldn’t want that?

11. Blue Light Blocking Glasses

Blue light from digital devices can cause eye strain, headaches and even disrupt sleep.

If you know someone that works in front of a computer or tablet all day, a pair of blue light blocking glasses will likely pique their interest.

12. A Quality Notebook/Journal

You can never go wrong with gifting a notebook.

It’s a classic, practical gift for writers, artists, business owners, or anyone who feels compelled to sketch their thoughts (or doodles) down on paper.

Whether it’s for recording brilliant or just journaling the events of the day, one way or another, if you give someone a notebook, they’re going to use it.

13. A Fitness Tracker

Do you know someone who’s step-obsessed? 

Then, a fitness tracker might be right for them.

Sometimes, entrepreneurs get so wrapped up in what they’re doing that they forget to take time for their health.

A fitness tracker is a fun way to encourage more activity and lead a more balanced life.

14. A White Noise Machine

The soothing sound of white noise helps maintain focus and relieve anxiety and stress — they also help with falling asleep.

Ask your entrepreneur friends if any of them sleep with a fan at night. If they answer yes, then a white noise machine could be their most beloved gift this year.

15. Promotional Items/Branded Merchandise

Custom-made promotional items like water bottles, bags, koozies and notepads are a great way to show support for the aspiring entrepreneur in your life. It can help them build their personal brand too.

If they already have a particular piece of promotional/branded merchandise, think outside the box and find an item they don’t have.

For example, a gym bag or a jacket embroidered with their company logo.

Check out this custom collection of apparel and gifts.

16. A Bluetooth Speaker

Know someone who owns a shop that could use some background music to set the mood?

Or maybe they’re a solopreneur who works better with some tunes or an audiobook playing. 

If so, a bluetooth speaker is probably the right gift for them!

17. A Personalized Letter Opener

A letter opener is one of those things where you wonder how you went without it once you have it.

Of course, the person you’re gifting the letter opener to will probably feel the same way.

Add a touch of thoughtfulness by getting the letter opener personalized.

Seriously, this is a super-practical and underrated gift, especially when you think about the amount of mail a small business receives!

18. A Custom Desk Nameplate

Nothing quite says you’ve made it in the business world like a custom nameplate.

The great part about this gift is that it can be as serious or cheeky as you want.

You can play it safe and get someone’s name on it, or you can fold some humor into the mix and get a nickname or funny title printed.

19. Leather Coasters

A set of leather coasters screams luxury — and you can get them at a fairly reasonable price (and with a custom design).

Imagine how classy your entrepreneur friend or family member will feel placing a custom leather coaster in front of a client after grabbing them a drink.

That’s the sort of style you’d see Don Draper from Mad Men pull off.

20. An External Hard Drive

Even though most people save everything to the cloud these days, having an external hard drive to back up vital documents is an excellent habit to have.

Even 2 TB external hard drives are pretty cheap, and they’re often on sale too.

Plus, they’re practical and fit in the palm of your hand, perfect for people that can’t stand large, space-hogging devices. 

21. An Ergonomic Office Chair

A good ergonomic office chair isn’t the cheapest thing on this list, but it’s something everyone should have.

Depending on the industry, a business owner could spend many hours sitting at a desk.

And while standing desks are great options, it’s also nice to sit in a comfy chair too.

With an ergonomic chair, you’ll help avoid back and hip strain — and that’s the real gift here.

22. Microphone

Have you ever listened to someone on a Zoom call that sounded like the teacher from Charlie Brown?

It’s not pleasant for anyone.

Give your entrepreneurial friends the gift of a clear voice for their online meetings with a quality microphone (this pairs well with a new webcam).

23. A Portable Charger

Portable chargers/power banks are among the most useful gifts for entrepreneurs who are always on the move. 

Phone almost dead? 

Tablet battery in the red?

Not a problem. Plug them into the portable charger and juice up.

It’s a simple gift, but it has a lot of utility.

24. Lighting (For Online Meetings)

A good lighting setup is an excellent and underrated gift that makes a huge difference when it comes to looking professional on video. 

So, if you’re looking for that outside-the-box gift that no one else will ever think of, this might be it!

25. Smart Daily Planner

Between the old school “pen and paper” and the newfangled scheduling apps on your phone lies the perfect blend of old and new: a smart daily planner.

A Rocketbook planner lets you enjoy the feel of writing on pen and paper but with the added convenience of modern digital connectivity.

You can reuse pages over and over by erasing your writing with water. And when there’s an important meeting or to-do you’d like to keep, the Rocketbook app allows you to scan your handwritten notes and upload them to the cloud.

It’s the best of both worlds!

26. A Gift Card

Sometimes the person you’re buying for either has everything, or they don’t want anything.

And desperate times call for desperate measures.

Instead of giving yourself an ulcer, wondering what to give this impossible-to-buy-for-business-owner, get them a gift card to their favorite store and let them spoil themselves silly.

What Are Your Fave Gifts for Small Business Owners?

I’ve given you over 25 interesting and fun gift ideas for the small business owners in your life — and not one of them was a gift basket or that poster of a cat saying “Hang in There.”

Are there any others I missed?

What is a fantastic, crowd-pleasing gift you’ve given to a business owner or entrepreneur in your life?

Let me know!

Before you go…

Get Instant Access to my FREE Dopamine Button Guide!

Inside, you’ll discover 3 little-known brain hacks that skyrocket your course engagement & sales…

Here’s the thing: the “old way” of designing and launching courses just isn’t cutting it anymore.

If you want to attract students who buy and keep buying (not to mention send referrals your way!)…

You need to do things differently.

Enter the Dopamine Button — the super-secret button in your students’ brains that you can leverage to create incredible results for them AND repeat sales for you.

Download your copy today! 

The post 25+ Best Gift Ideas for Small Business Owners in 2024 appeared first on Live Your Message.

It was part of a 2 ½ month lifestyle experiment in Europe, seeing where we could productively live and work, while building more novelty and adventure into our lives.

(I’ll tell you more about our Grand Plan in Lesson #10 )

This post is about the Top 10 Lessons I’ve learned from 10 years of work, love and life partnership — yup, we signed up for ALL of it when we said “I do” in the old bank of Louisiana on August 17th, 2013!

(one of my favorite photos from our wedding day in New Orleans ) 

Many of my entrepreneurial “sisters” have told me, “I want what you’re having” — they wanted the love and intimacy and creative partnership all rolled up in one good-looking package  

And while it hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows, I wouldn’t be where I am without the love and support of this phenomenal man (and, women, it doesn’t make me any less strong and powerful to say that) and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. 

So here are the Top 10 Lessons I’ve learned from the balancing act that is a work/love partnership…

1. The Power of a Shared Vision

They say that the best relationships have a shared purpose — whether that’s kids or fun or a cause…

And I’ll say that our relationship was defined by launching our businesses together from Day 1.

Believe it or not, our first date was on the same day I launched Live Your Message. I launched our site on October 12th, 2011 and Murray flew into LAX that night, so we could drive to Arizona to attend Jeff Walker’s Product Launch Formula event together.

I remember he arrived, we went out to dinner, I tucked him away on the downstairs couch and the next morning I was walking down the stairs to the kitchen with my laptop tucked under my right arm at the precise moment he was walking upstairs to the kitchen with his laptop tucked under his right arm and we met in the middle.

He looked at me, scanned the situation, saw that we had the same morning routines and laughed…

We hadn’t even had our first kiss yet and he already knew I was the love of his life.

As for me? I never thought of myself as the marrying type — I never imagined I could find someone that would keep me interested for a lifetime… which brings me to Lesson #2:

2. Choose Someone “Infinite”

I remember stopping in Singapore for a night or two on a trip back from visiting my mom in Thailand… I ended up in a halfway house for young expats run by a friend of my mom.

(me and my beautiful mom last year in Thailand)

They quickly scooped me up and we were off on a series of adventures — starting with Sentosa, the amusement park right in the middle of Singapore, and continuing on into the bars and nightclubs.

One of the expats started hitting on me… and it was this bizarre experience where I could literally see the gears in his brain turning as he tried to think about what he could say to get in my pants.

And when he came out with it, it was all wrong… he clearly didn’t have a read on me or a sense of what would get me interested.

It’s like he was using the same tricks he’d tried with other women before me and it was a total turn-off.

But with Murray, I’m constantly surprised. I don’t know what he’s going to say or how he’s going to find amusement in the smallest things…

I can’t see where he begins and ends as a human. He feels infinite to me — like an ever-expanding universe… and I feel infinite to him. So we never get tired of each other!

3. Adventure, Laughter & Play

Another one of the reasons we don’t get tired of each other is that we’re constantly trying to bring new things into our life. Whether that’s going to new places, trying new foods, meeting new people, reading new books, discussing new projects and ideas… or even moving when we’re feeling just a little too comfortable.

(we moved from Los Angeles to Austin, TX last fall)

We get that new inputs create new outputs and — despite our love for home and stability — we seek adventure together.

(riding high this summer in Europe)

(fulfilling my dream of riding a Vespa side car ((Murray and I have been joking about a sidecar for over a decade ))

And when we can’t go somewhere new or do something new, we play. We riff off things we see in the world — whether that’s cute little dogs or the packs of deer that roam the streets of Austin — we give them desires and impersonate their thoughts and dreams. We make up stories about them…

We have a pad of Shower Notes where one of us will start an absurd story — usually about monkeys — with just a few words or a line and the other will continue it…

We’ll work on that story for weeks until it finds its natural conclusion. It’s silly and it’s fun and it brings us closer together when we wake up and get going at different times.

4. Dream Together, Dream Apart

Another reason I think our partnership has stood the test of time is that we’ve been able to dream both together and apart.

(look at these youngsters — one of our very first pics together — 10 years ago!)

Flashback to March 2011. We met at a Brendon Burchard event and chatted for 3 hours straight one night. I guess I made an impression!

Because the night the event ended, Murray sent me an email — the most charming and blush-inducing email I’ve ever gotten.

And in that email he “future paced” our entire relationship:

      i thought i’d google your name and in this half-asleep state i’m looking at your photos of bangkok and brazil and laos and greece, seeing what you’ve seen, and thinking one single thought:  how cool it would be to go traveling together one day – you with your camera, me with mine – once we both get our content businesses up and running and no longer have any good reason to stay rooted to one spot.

       sound good?

       the only question that remains is ….  where shall we go?

He painted a picture of what our relationship could be just days after meeting me and guess what?!!??? That picture became our lives together.

But, there have been times when we had different pictures for ourselves…

You see, Murray and I have different motivations for being in business. For me, business is a deep expression of who I am. While he likes more variety — he likes to continually build cool things for people. So he eventually outgrew working with me in Live Your Message and needed to do something new.

At first I was disappointed, even devastated. I didn’t know how I could “do” Live Your Message without him since he was there with me from that very first day. He even owned half the company.

But I didn’t want him to sacrifice his dreams for mine, so we figured it out. It was his time and I was going to support “him in doing him.”

Which brings me to Top Lesson #5:

5. Cycles of Growth

Over our 10 years together, we haven’t always grown at the same pace or at the same time.

There have been times where I was like — c’mon bro, we still here?

And times when he wondered why I let certain challenging situations continue at Live Your Message — times when he wanted me to pull the plug on relationships and situations that were causing me frustration. He wanted me to take radical action and I chose to play the long-game.

There have been times when he was spiraling and times when I was spiraling and sometimes those times stretched for months — even years.

But we trusted. And waited.

We understand that the teacher appears when the student is ready. That some lessons take years to learn.

We see each other for who we are and who we are becoming — not just the schmuck who happens to be showing up in the moment (or in the season)

6. Close the Escape Hatch

When we got married, I didn’t think it would change things between us, but it did. Making that legal commitment and closing the escape hatch has changed the dynamic when we argue or when one of us is having a bad day or even a bad year.

No matter what’s going on, we’re all with each other… because true partnership is NOT a fad.

It’s not “convenient” and it’s not all about getting my needs met all the time.

There have certainly been times when I questioned things — even times when I wanted to bail. And vice versa.

But we didn’t. And we’ve evolved through the stuck points — until we hit our next stuck point lol

And along the way I’ve developed trust that we’ll be able to survive whatever life throws our way.

I think this is one of the reasons that, as a coach, I prefer “Action Guarantees” to traditional “30 Day Refund” windows in our bigger programs.

I’ve seen that when people come in with the mindset of “let me check this out and see if it’s for me,” their focus is on finding an “out.” Rather than focusing on doing the work and getting to Mission Accomplished. It puts their emphasis on the wrong thing.

I believe that real, life-changing commitment is about closing the back door and telling yourself, “I’m all in” — whether that’s in business or in relationship.

Which brings me to:

7. The Hat

OK, so I bought what I thought was a great travel hat because it rolled up. It was made of straw and it was one of those hats that was all brim and no top — perfect for keeping the sun off my face.

But, Murray absolutely hated it.

He told me I looked like an Asian grandma and he lost all sexual desire for me when I wore that hat lol

At first I thought, “Well, f* you. I’m going to wear what I want to wear.”

My dad happened to be visiting at the time and I told him about The Hat Situation… I expected him to reinforce my viewpoint, but he gave me what turned out to be a profound piece of life wisdom.

“Marisa, just throw away the hat. If he doesn’t like it that much, throw it away. It’s just a hat. Your relationship is far more important than that.”

Don’t you hate it when people are right when you don’t want them to be right?

I threw away the hat under one condition: If I hated something of his, I had “throwaway rights”.

He agreed instantly. In fact he loved it!

And then the real penny dropped — I get to do this too!

I quickly took advantage of my “throwaway rights” and tossed all the holey peak tech geek t-shirts he had since we first got together.

For the record, we both still actively practice our “throwaway rights.”

(NOT the hat in question)

8. Expensive Lessons

While a hat isn’t an expensive thing to let go of, we’ve both had some VERY expensive lessons along the way.

I’m not just talking about investing in coaching and experiences — which we do regularly — I’m talking about big mistakes that cost lots of money.

As NASA has proven over and over again, sometimes when you shoot for the stars, you burn up in the atmosphere…

My first $100K mistake was at our annual Live Your Message LIVE event, where we offer our 12-month Momentum program. I had a slide of our program booklets on the screen, and that prompted my team to think it was time to bring out the booklets…

As soon as they did, the entire room rushed the stage for the booklets and I couldn’t finish making my offer.

So, my audience didn’t realize that offer was only valid until lunch the next day and they weren’t prepared to make a decision. Our sales were way down, but worse — people who would have really benefited from working with us — didn’t sign up.

I learned from that mistake and — from that point on — we practiced the timing of the offer and exactly when to bring out the booklets…

Now, Murray’s also made some big mistakes in business… even a million-dollar mistake.

But what we’ve both learned is that those mistakes — as big as they seem at the time — are actually an inexpensive price to pay for the people (and entrepreneurs) we’re becoming.

True strength, wisdom and resilience is only forged in the face of challenge and failure.

9. Wife vs Business Partner

I’ve learned that — even though I’m an entrepreneur — when it comes to working with Murray, sometimes I have to take off my Business Partner Hat and put on my Wife Hat.

For example, that million-dollar mistake? It hurt financially. It also hurt my reputation.

From a business standpoint, it shouldn’t have happened.

And the smart business owner in me hated that I allowed it to happen.

I knew we should have pulled the plug sooner, but the wife in me understood intrinsically that we had to “allow” this to unfold for our own evolution as humans.

I somehow understood that Murray needed this to happen for him to become the man he is today.

(my love )

And that — in the grand scheme of things — a million-dollar price tag is not a lot to pay for the man I get to share my life with.

Money comes and goes but love is for life.

I’d make that mistake all over again.

10. Vision Forward

In Lesson #4 I shared how Murray and I have dreamed together and dreamed apart.

But one thing we’re committed to is co-creating both an amazing life and an amazing future…

Which means not just dreaming but creating a Vision for where we want to go — things we want to see in our health, lifestyle, finances, relationships and businesses moving forward. Even things we want for our parents.

And it’s our ability to hold onto a Vision that propels us into an Upward Spiral of Growth — of always seeing that our future will be brighter than our past.

That we’re growing together, not dying together…

And that we’re stronger together than we are apart.

I truly believe that our ability to cast (and hold) a Vision is what’s kept us going even when the current moment (or circumstances) may be challenging, because we get that we create our reality and this too shall pass.

Thanks for reading! And thanks for being a part of Murray and my shared purpose in the world!

It’s been truly an honor to devote our lives and our relationship to serving you… and changing the world one business at a time!

Let me know in the comments which lesson was most impactful for you… or share one of your own!

Before you go…

Get Instant Access to my FREE Dopamine Button Guide!

Inside, you’ll discover 3 little-known brain hacks that skyrocket your course engagement & sales…

Here’s the thing: the “old way” of designing and launching courses just isn’t cutting it anymore.

If you want to attract students who buy and keep buying (not to mention send referrals your way!)…

You need to do things differently.

Enter the Dopamine Button — the super-secret button in your students’ brains that you can leverage to create incredible results for them AND repeat sales for you.

Download your copy today! 

The post Marisa & Murray Turn 10: Lessons Learned From 10 Years of Work, Love, Life Partnership appeared first on Live Your Message.

I read this right after Live Your Message LIVE in March when I was experiencing just pure cellular exhaustion.

I couldn’t do it anymore… all of the constant pings… Slack, social media and my phone… were fracturing my attention so much that I couldn’t get in and stay in my zone of genius.

But that all changed after I read Deep Work (so much so that I taught this book as a half-day workshop to both my Momentum students and my team). 

And in this post, I’ll be sharing a game-changing takeaway from that workshop with you… all about how to experience deep rejuvenation so you’re ready to take on a new day and produce much better work. 

This is especially timely given that we’re right in the thick of the holiday season… meaning lots of distractions and exhaustion as you try to balance business with family and friend time!

So, let’s dive in…

We Have a Relaxation Problem

“The best moments usually occur when a person’s body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile.” – Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Yet, people still assume that relaxation is what makes them happy when, in reality, so many find that work is much easier to enjoy than their free time. 

Because when you’re working, you’re fully engaged, stretched and expanded. 

You’re in a state of Flow. 

But during your “free time,” that’s usually not the case. And so people tend to return to work over and over again… even though they’re supposed to be relaxing. 

Why is this?

Well, traditionally, work has built-in goals, feedback, rules and challenges, which allow you to concentrate fully and lose yourself in the work. 

But because free time is unstructured, it requires a lot more effort to actually be shaped into something that can be enjoyed. 

And if you’re not finding ways to engage actively in rejuvenation, you’ll often drift back to work where you can be fully engaged… which ends up negatively impacting the work you produce. 

Plus, it just doesn’t lead to a full and rewarding life! 

Create a Separation Between Work Time and Free Time

Are you familiar with Pigpen from Peanuts?

Just like the cloud of dirt follows him around, so does the work when you decide to stop for the day. 

You can’t ever seem to escape it! 

And that’s why to stop this from continuing to happen, you need to establish a Daily Shutdown Routine where you completely shut down your consideration of all work issues until the next morning.

This means no after-dinner email check-in, no mental replays of conversations and no scheming about how you’ll handle an upcoming challenge. 

But let’s say you have a big deadline and need more time… you can extend your workday. But once you shut down, your mind must be left free to discover the other wonders of the world (outside of work).

So even if these work dashes consume only a tiny amount of time… let’s say you stop work at 5:30 and then you do a 3-minute check-in at 6:30 and another one at 9pm… these quick check-ins prevent you from reaching the levels of deeper relaxation where attention restoration can occur. 

And this is super important, especially for online entrepreneurs. 

Because you’re NOT just taking a break, you’re actually restoring your attention by differently focusing your time. 

So only the confidence that you’re done with work until the next day can convince your brain to downshift to the level where it can begin to recharge for the next day to follow.

Think about all the times you tried to squeeze just a bit more work out of your evening… 

Let me just get this one thing done. Let me check this one email.  

We’ve all done it countless times!

But when you do this… you’re actually reducing the effectiveness of the next day just enough that you end up getting less done than if you had instead respected the shutdown. 

This is how you get stuck in this constant state of distraction, frustration and irritability.

Establish a Strict Shutdown Ritual

So, to succeed with this strategy of having a Daily Shutdown Routine, you must first accept the commitment that once your workday shuts down, you cannot allow even the slightest intrusion of work concerns into your field of attention. This includes checking email, as well as browsing work-related websites.

Because these two activities – however brief – can actually impede the shutdown advantages for a long time to follow.  Which is why you need a strict Shutdown Ritual… a ritual you’ll use at the end of each workday to maximize your chances of success. 

Your Shutdown Ritual should ensure that every incomplete task, goal or project has been reviewed and that for each, you have confirmed that either: 

1. You have a plan you trust for its completion
2. Or it’s captured in a place where it will be revisited when the time is right. 

This process should be a series of steps you always conduct one after another. 

And when you’re done, have a set phrase that you say out loud that indicates completion. 

Cal Newport’s phrase is Shutdown Complete.

And in his book, he admits this final step may sound cheesy, but it provides a simple cue to your mind that it’s safe to release work-related thoughts for the rest of the day. 

Your Shutdown Ritual can be something like Cal Newport’s (but make sure yours suits how you work best):

Step 1: Take a final look at your email inbox to make sure there’s nothing that needs an urgent response

Step 2: Transfer any new tasks on my mind or scribbled on paper to my official task list (you can use a Google doc or whatever you want)

Step 3: Quickly skim each task and then look forward to the next few days on your calendar. These two actions ensure there’s nothing urgent you’re forgetting or important deadlines sneaking up on you. 

Step 4: Make a rough plan for the next day.

Step 5: Say your shutdown phrase out loud. And you’re done!

I’ve even added a quick meditation (something like this) that I do right before I say my shutdown phrase. This has been super helpful in clearing my mind of all work considerations.

How Will You Implement This in Your Daily Life?

So I want you to think about how you can start to transition from your work day to the rest of your day.

How can you rest your mind so you know you can come back and take care of what you need to take care of… so you don’t have to keep chipping away at it all night long when you’re not really being effective.  

I recommend taking just 5 minutes right now to jot down or type out your daily Shutdown Ritual and commit to practicing it for at least 30 days.

And then come back to this post and let me know in a comment how it went! Did you stick with it? And how did it change things for you?

There’s so much more to Cal Newport’s Equally Deep Rejuvenation process (including actually scheduling your free time) that I want to encourage you to pick up a copy and read it before the end of the year (and be sure to check out my list of 11+ must-read books for every entrepreneur).

I just know it can make a monumental difference in your 2024!

Now go ahead and share in a comment your shutdown phrase (you can always change it )

Before you go…

Get Instant Access to my FREE Dopamine Button Guide!

Inside, you’ll discover 3 little-known brain hacks that skyrocket your course engagement & sales…

Here’s the thing: the “old way” of designing and launching courses just isn’t cutting it anymore.

If you want to attract students who buy and keep buying (not to mention send referrals your way!)…

You need to do things differently.

Enter the Dopamine Button — the super-secret button in your students’ brains that you can leverage to create incredible results for them AND repeat sales for you.

Download your copy today! 

The post Try This for Just 30 Days to Experience Deeper Rejuvenation (& Produce Better Work!) appeared first on Live Your Message.

Winners never quit, quitters never win, right?

Hmmm… not really!

Winners quit. All-the-time.

And it’s because they know something a lot of people don’t…

Sticking with a job, project or even a person, no matter WHAT is NOT an act of courage…

It’s an act of fear.

Fear that you’ll never find another client.

Fear of what people might say.

Fear that you’ll never meet someone new and end up alone.

But here’s what I want you to know…

When you quit a project, a relationship or a situation that’s NOT working out for you…

When it’s clear that it’s NOT in your best interest to stay…

Quitting is the BEST thing you could ever do.

When you let go of the things that are not right for you, you’re creating space for NEW ideas and opportunities to come through — people and experiences that are congruent with who you are and the life you want to live.

And speaking of “Quit Lists”, this marks the final episode in our Live Your Message Daily video series. I hope you have enjoyed these daily bite-sized tips, inspiration and success hacks.

This was a fun and exciting experiment for us, but all good things must come to an end. We’ve added Live Your Message Daily to our own “Quit List” so we can focus on engaging with you — our beloved tribe — less often, but in a deeper and more interactive format.  

Now it’s your turn, what’s NOT working out for you? What’s going on your “quit” list?

And speaking of “Quit Lists”, this marks the final episode in our Live Your Message Daily video series. I hope you have enjoyed these daily bite-sized tips, inspiration and success hacks.

This was a fun and exciting experiment for us, but all good things must come to an end. We’ve added Live Your Message Daily to our own “Quit List” so we can focus on engaging with you — our beloved tribe — less often, but in a deeper and more interactive format.  

If you want to catch up on Dailies you may have missed, or ever want to revisit an old one, check out our Facebook Page or YouTube channel.

Now it’s your turn, what’s NOT working out for you? What’s going on your “quit” list?

Leave a comment!

And always remember to go out there and Live Your Message!

The post When Quitting is GOOD for You… appeared first on Live Your Message.

I’m a visual and personal branding expert and here’s something I tell all my clients…

Take professional shots as soon as you can afford it!

Pro photographers know how to capture the energy and image you want to project out into the world with beautiful, magnetic photos.

Great signature photos on your website say you’re an expert and a professional at what you do… and not someone dabbling with a hobby, on the side!

So HOW do make sure you look great in your signature shots?

Pass on the cheese!

“Say cheese” is a common instruction when it’s time to take a photo but actually saying “cheese” forces your cheek muscles up in an unnatural way…

And you’ll end up with a fake smile

So, try this instead…

Just before the flash goes off, imagine the camera is someone you love, smiling at you…

Smile back at the camera.

It’s an effortless way to capture the natural essence, beauty and authenticity of your smile…

Do you have a favorite tip or technique that always makes you look great in photos?

Share in the comments!

And be sure to like us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel so you never miss an episode of Live Your Message Daily.

See you tomorrow — same time, same place — for your daily 60-second video espresso. Make it a habit!

The post You’ll Look AMAZING in Your Signature Website Photos but ONLY if You Pass on This appeared first on Live Your Message.

You’ve been hearing about it for years…

If you want to get to the top, you’ve got to set goals and you’ve got to go BIG.

Small goals are for wimps! No such thing as a goal that’s too big, right?

I hate to burst your bubble, but that’s not true.

Turns out size matters when it comes to goals!

Big goals can motivate and inspire ONLY if you truly believe you can achieve them.

Studies show goals that are TOO big — the ones that feel WAY out of reach — leave you feeling powerless, demotivated and depleted even before you take the first step.

The good news is you don’t have to give up on those big, bold, beautiful goals.

Just do this…

Aim for smaller goals that lead to the BIG one.

Looking to end global warming? Walk more, drive less.

Want to end world hunger? Volunteer at a homeless shelter.

Thinking of running a marathon? Run for 10 minutes a day, first.

What’s your big goal? What’s a small step you can take today?  Leave a comment!

And be sure to like us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel so you never miss an episode of Live Your Message Daily.

See you tomorrow — same time, same place — for your daily 60-second video espresso. Make it a habit!

The post Goal-Setting Will Get You to the Top… Unless You Do It Like This! appeared first on Live Your Message.

Most business coaches and internet marketing experts will tell you that if you want to create products, services and programs that sell, you must connect with your audience…

You must identify their problems through market research.

For online business owners and solopreneurs this is about learning your client’s wants and needs with online surveys via email, in Facebook groups or other communities.

You need to listen to your audience

This is true… up to a point.

What most experts fail to tell you is that it’s not enough to just listen…

You must listen to the right people.

Otherwise, you might risk driving your business into the ground – R.I.P!

There are just 3 camps or groups of people who are qualified to give you meaningful feedback in your research:

1. Your ideal clients
2. People who have substantial knowledge or experience with your ideal clients
3. And people you’re paying for advice like a business coach.

Who have you been asking for feedback and input? Have you been listening to the right people?

Leave a comment!

And be sure to like us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel so you never miss an episode of Live Your Message Daily.

See you tomorrow — same time, same place — for your daily 60-second video espresso. Make it a habit!

The post If You Don’t Do This in Your Research, You Could Drive Your Business into the Ground appeared first on Live Your Message.

Have you noticed that some entrepreneurs seem to start their business and then succeed, VERY quickly.

They build a great reputation, their income skyrockets and they attract fans plus clients and customers like magic.

These entrepreneurs have ONE thing in common…

Every bit of marketing — their sales copy, social media campaigns, emails and all the rest  — is created to appeal only to a very specific group of people.

This means you must define the kind of clients who light you up… people you really want to work with.

Don’t hold back… dig deep.

Don’t just say you want to work with spiritual people…

Say you want to work with spiritual stay-at-home moms who want to start a business.

Don’t say you like working with newbie copywriters…

Say you want to work with 20-something copywriters who care deeply about motivating people with their words and NOT just about getting a sale.

Getting crystal clear about who you want to serve is a great, strategic move for rapid growth and lasting success in your business.

Do you know who YOU want to serve? Share a quick description of the type of client you’d like to work with in the comments!

And be sure to like us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel so you never miss an episode of Live Your Message Daily.

See you tomorrow — same time, same place — for your daily 60-second video espresso. Make it a habit!

The post You MUST Make This Strategic Move if You Want Rapid Growth and Lasting Success in Your Business appeared first on Live Your Message.

Some people take to entrepreneurship like a duck to water.

They start a business and the next thing you know, they’ve hit multiple 6 or even 7-figures…

And everyone LOVES them!

It’s enough to make you think, “Maybe I’m not cut out for this?”

Not true.

Entrepreneurship is for anyone who’s willing to consciously cultivate positive personality traits for success.

Here are 3 top traits I’ve observed in every successful entrepreneur…

#1: Resilience

The best entrepreneurs bend. They don’t break. So, when things go wrong, when failure happens, they adapt, learn the lesson and move on.

#2: Intense Self-Belief

Top entrepreneurs have a very strong sense of self-belief. No one’s going to believe in you or your ideas if you don’t believe in yourself.

#3: Vision

This is about holding a vision for a different world. A better world. A vision that motivates you to keep going no matter what. Steve Jobs had a MASSIVE vision. And now, Elon Musk has one too.

Can you think of more great entrepreneurial traits that belong on this list? Leave a comment!

And be sure to like us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel so you never miss an episode of Live Your Message Daily.

See you tomorrow — same time, same place — for your daily 60-second video espresso. Make it a habit!

The post The Most Successful Entrepreneurs on Earth Share These Traits appeared first on Live Your Message.

Entrepreneurs are more ambitious than the average bear.

And I know many of you watching have dreams of starting and growing a million-dollar business!

I know I did when I first started Live Your Message but I made a MAJOR mistake that seriously slowed my journey to the 7-figure mark…

I tried to do EVERYTHING all by myself for WAY too long!

Some of you may know that my personal superhero Murray eventually, came to my rescue.

He helped me with copy and a whole lot of strategy and marketing work.

But even after Murray was on the scene, I held on to doing everything myself like Smeagol held on to his “Precious” in Lord of the Rings — special shout out to all my Tolkien fans!

If I could go back in time and do it all again, I wouldn’t change much but I’d DEFINITELY start hiring, delegating and outsourcing work sooner rather than later.

It’s what all million-dollar entrepreneurs do.

What are some of the tasks in your business you can delegate or outsource as soon as possible?

Leave a comment!

And be sure to like us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel so you never miss an episode of Live Your Message Daily.

See you tomorrow — same time, same place — for your daily 60-second video espresso. Make it a habit!

The post ALL Million-Dollar Entrepreneurs Apply this Strategy as Soon as Possible… appeared first on Live Your Message.